[Kate!]

Joe and his wife (no kids) live next door to elderly couple Bill and Mary. Bill and Mary have a dog (breed not relevant) Mary suffers from acute depression and is housebound, Bill cares for her and both absolutely dote on their pet.

One day Joe encounters Bill walking the dog and the dog bites Joe's hand when he pets him. Joe has an up to date tetanus injection so that's not a problem, the bite isn't deep, and Bill breaks down in tears and begs him not to report it. Bill and Mary don't have any grandchildren who visit, but there are plenty of children living in the neighbourhood who like to pet the dog.

What should Joe do?

[Vicky.]

Report it.

Without a doubt. Would feel too guilty if it bit someone else and I could have stopped it

[Jake.]

I don't know of I'd have it in me to report it, don't think I could do that to a crying elderly man..

[Kizzy]

I would insist the dog was muzzled outside otherwise I would report it.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I would insist the dog was muzzled outside otherwise I would report it.

Yes Kizzy
Very Good

[thesheriff443]

the dog cant stand joe and was fed up with that nob petting him.
maybe he will now get the message!

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

the dog cant stand joe and was fed up with that nob petting him.
maybe he will now get the message!

take it seriously you terror!

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I would insist the dog was muzzled outside otherwise I would report it.

This is what I'd do, didn't want to post it in the OP as an option. Great answer Kizzy.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

take it seriously you terror!

i was
dogs cant talk so they bite.

[Verbal]

I wouldnt report it, especially when there is a good chance it would be put down. Wouldn't give a toss about the old couple, I largely prefer animals to humans, and I wouldnt be happy knowing it was me that was responsible for sending the dog to its death, for the sake of nipping me. If I witnessed attacking a child that wasn't bothering it, it would be a different matter, however if I saw kids beating it with sticks and the dog bit them, I would go to the police to defend the dog, to be honest.
Any dog has the capability of giving you a bite if you touch it when it doesnt want to be touched.

In my experience, unless the owner is breeding dogs to be aggressive in the first place, the owner will probably be more shaken up than you would be as the person that had been bitten, and would never allow it to happen again.

[Locke.]

Depends on the type of dog.

The kids these days would probably deserve to get bitten by one anyway.

[Ninastar]

Bitten because then if the dog bites a child and the injuries are more serious... He will feel horrible.

[smudgie]

If it was a nip type bite then tell yourself you are lucky.

Never pet someone else's dog.

If a dog attacks you then it is different.

My brother bent down and patted our dogwhen she was lad in the front garden, she bit him, he had to have a tetanus and anti-biotics as he is diabetic. He was the one in the wrong the dog did not know him.

[Josy]

Hmmm I'm not sure I would report it for nipping me once, it's obviously ok with the children in the neighbourhood petting it since it's never snapped at any of them in the past.

I think the muzzle ultimatum is a good idea and would go with that.