[chez]

Hey guys.
On Tuesday this week my lad was working other side of road. Finished his house and knocked the door and when the lady opened the door a big German Shepherd male ran out attacked him and bit him on the hand. Bled quite bad with one severe puncture wound and 3 smaller holes. Within 1/2  an hour couldn’t carry on (reach and wash) as it swelled up quite bad. Had to take him to A and E  and he was there 3 1/2 hours. Custy was so upset in tears, wasn’t her dog but her daughters. I carried on and did rest of the work on my own.
Anyway his hand is really bad so gonna have to miss most of this week, if not all. Docs put him on 3 lots of antibiotics cos of bacteria on the dogs teeth can be quite bad. Turns out the customer has no dog insurance which is madness if you own one of them. Incidentally we have owned 3 GS dogs so we love um but you have to be careful!
Anyone had a situation like this? We haven’t caught up yet from when we stopped work so still behind and he won’t get any pay.
Any thoughts? Really awkward situation as a fairly new customer (4 cleans)
Cheers

Edit since:
Turns out the owner has admitted she does have insurance (Can’t figure it out why she said she didn’t)  from a dog trust. Son still hasn’t worked so 2 weeks off so far. He still can’t grip with any force so is not able to work. Came out with me one day to keep me company did the sills. So unfortunately have had to take it further and the customer has accepted he will have to make a claim on the insurance. Don’t like doing it but what can you do? He may have long term nerve damage as the pain shoots up his arm. Don’t know if she will stay a customer, some what awkward, but that’s her choice. Lesson is don’t let your dog bite your window cleaner!

Cheers for all of your replies tho

[CleanClear]

Well your Son ,if he can't work through injury will have to claim sick pay. Thats the first simplest thing you have to do. Then moving foreward if you want to sue and recoup your (or his) lost earnings then you'll have to sue your customer for the amount you think he lost. Its simple and straightforward. There really isn't too much to think about. (although they are tough descisions).

[KS Cleaning]

Well your Son ,if he can't work through injury will have to claim sick pay. Thats the first simplest thing you have to do. Then moving foreward if you want to sue and recoup your (or his) lost earnings then you'll have to sue your customer for the amount you think he lost. Its simple and straightforward. There really isn't too much to think about. (although they are tough descisions).

Bit of a contradiction there😉

[CleanClear]

Well your Son ,if he can't work through injury will have to claim sick pay. Thats the first simplest thing you have to do. Then moving foreward if you want to sue and recoup your (or his) lost earnings then you'll have to sue your customer for the amount you think he lost. Its simple and straightforward. There really isn't too much to think about. (although they are tough descisions).

Bit of a contradiction there😉

No contradiction. Its very straightforeward. The "tough" element comes in when you wanna sue a customer. He says its been a customer for  "4 cleans"........ you can trade that off against what his son will lose in income. Its pretty much a binary descision, or should be. Its like wanting to leave your missus when you don't get on any more, you know what you need to do, but its tough. 

[Scrimble]

I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

[G Griffin]

I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

I think that's a long shot.

[CleanClear]

I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

"marksman" ?    Mr.Magoo could probably do it, give it a biscuit, pat it on the head then pull the trigger !!! 

[Splash & dash]

Hey guys.
On Tuesday this week my lad was working other side of road. Finished his house and knocked the door and when the lady opened the door a big German Shepherd male ran out attacked him and bit him on the hand. Bled quite bad with one severe puncture wound and 3 smaller holes. Within 1/2  an hour couldn’t carry on (reach and wash) as it swelled up quite bad. Had to take him to A and E  and he was there 3 1/2 hours. Custy was so upset in tears, wasn’t her dog but her daughters. I carried on and did rest of the work on my own.
Anyway his hand is really bad so gonna have to miss most of this week, if not all. Docs put him on 3 lots of antibiotics cos of bacteria on the dogs teeth can be quite bad. Turns out the customer has no dog insurance which is madness if you own one of them. Incidentally we have owned 3 GS dogs so we love um but you have to be careful!
Anyone had a situation like this? We haven’t caught up yet from when we stopped work so still behind and he won’t get any pay.
Any thoughts? Really awkward situation as a fairly new customer (4 cleans)
Cheers

The home owners house insurance should cover claims like this , my mum got bitten by a dog years ago on a farm that she worked at as a book keeper his insurance paid out for  loss of earnings

[Stoots]

I cleaned a house a few weeks ago. They have 2 rottweilers. Always go mad in the house when I clean.

Anyway last time I went I cleaned the front, owner saw me. Dogs were in the house. Opened back gate went though and poo almost deposited into my underwear as a rotty bounded towards me at what seemed like lightening speed. I just managed to jump back through the gate and slam it shut as the wild creatures teeth hit the gate.

Woman comes out and gives it a rub of its chops and took it back in like nothing had happened.

I cleaned the house but I'm not going back.

I don't do dogs, at least ones that are too big to boot.


I clean another house that has a little snapper that likes eating windows cleaned today slips. The letter box is like a shredder, put your fingers in there and you may as well put them into piranha infested waters.

[jonboywalton75]

I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

This happened to me once, reported to the police, custie got a warning.
Dog certainly not destroyed

[CleanClear]

I cleaned a house a few weeks ago. They have 2 rottweilers. Always go mad in the house when I clean.

Anyway last time I went I cleaned the front, owner saw me. Dogs were in the house. Opened back gate went though and poo almost deposited into my underwear as a rotty bounded towards me at what seemed like lightening speed. I just managed to jump back through the gate and slam it shut as the wild creatures teeth hit the gate.

Woman comes out and gives it a rub of its chops and took it back in like nothing had happened.

I cleaned the house but I'm not going back.

I don't do dogs, at least ones that are too big to boot.


I clean another house that has a little snapper that likes eating windows cleaned today slips. The letter box is like a shredder, put your fingers in there and you may as well put them into piranha infested waters.

I've still got the vision in my head of you breaking the gate and scrubbing the NHS rainbow off your custies windows !! 
I'm sort of understanding why some customers insist that you/we/i don't clean unless they are in !!! 

[andyM]

I would have rang the police straightaway, the dog needs destroying by a marksman. imagine if the dog had bit a small child in the face etc

A bit harsh!
But in reality because the Dog attacked a person i believe under the Dangerous Dogs Act the animal could well be taken away and humanely destroyed if reported to the Police.
It's a difficult decision but if your worker has lost earnings he should be entitled to have the losses recouped by the Dog owner. But that could be a mission in it's self depending on how sympathetic the Dog's Owner is.
I certainly don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have any financial loss repaid under the circumstances.

[andyM]

I cleaned a house a few weeks ago. They have 2 rottweilers. Always go mad in the house when I clean.

Anyway last time I went I cleaned the front, owner saw me. Dogs were in the house. Opened back gate went though and poo almost deposited into my underwear as a rotty bounded towards me at what seemed like lightening speed. I just managed to jump back through the gate and slam it shut as the wild creatures teeth hit the gate.

Woman comes out and gives it a rub of its chops and took it back in like nothing had happened.

I cleaned the house but I'm not going back.

I don't do dogs, at least ones that are too big to boot.


I clean another house that has a little snapper that likes eating windows cleaned today slips. The letter box is like a shredder, put your fingers in there and you may as well put them into piranha infested waters.

Im the same.
If i get the slightest feeling a Dog is a potential threat then i won't go back.
Better safe than sorry.

[Dave Willis]

You’d be barking mad to take the job back on.

[Richard iSparkle]

you definitely should report it to the police.

if its happened more than once with the same dog they may take some action.

if they have a big dog that runs up to people and bites them AND they dont have dog insurance they dont sound like responsible dog owners.

they certainly didn't have the dog under control

regarding loss of earnings i suppose its up to your son really and what he wants to do.

its hard to say, but i think in the circumstances, if it was myself, i would seriously consider it.

[simon w]

All sounds a bit ruff ruff on the dog to me he was only guarding his property 

[G Griffin]

you definitely should report it to the police.

if its happened more than once with the same dog they may take some action.

if they have a big dog that runs up to people and bites them AND they dont have dog insurance they dont sound like responsible dog owners.

they certainly didn't have the dog under control

regarding loss of earnings i suppose its up to your son really and what he wants to do.

its hard to say, but i think in the circumstances, if it was myself, i would seriously consider it.

Tell tail.

[Ooooooog]

Al say shun the customer. Don’t go back.

[dazmond]

most of the dogs on my round are cockerpoos and other little fluffy dogs,quite a lot of the expensive siamese cats too.......

if his hand heals after a week then surely he wont be that out of pocket just having a few days off?i wouldnt try and sue the customer as it wasnt her dog.....id be extra careful next time her property was due......personally i would probably drop the customer altogether and forget about it.......

did you phone the police and take photos?i would get the name and address of the owner of the dog in question so there is a record of it at the very least.....

[TomCrowther]

I think you should definitely report it to the Police. Nest time it could be a lot worse, small child etc.