Dog attacked two times in three weeks during walks in Adliswil. Advices to feel safe instead of terrified from now on?

https://www.reddit.com/r/zurich/comments/1j7xhs2/dog_attacked_two_times_in_three_weeks_during/

created by Silly-Sun-4596 on 10/03/2025 at 12:31 UTC

34 upvotes, 12 top-level comments (showing 12)

Two weekends ago, while walking along the Sihl, an unleashed dog ran toward my Aussie and bit her 5–6 times before the owner intervened. She suffered puncture wounds on her front leg and under her mouth. I was so shocked that I rushed home to treat her wounds, without getting the owner's information—something I regretted later.

Last weekend, I saw the same dog again, this time leashed and with a different person. I moved to a safe spot, took a picture, but didn’t confront them since I was alone and I had no one to leave my dog with.

Then this morning, another large leashed dog approached us. I stepped aside to create space, but the owner let their dog sniff mine. Trusting that Swiss dog owners should know their dogs, I didn’t intervene—big mistake. Within a second, the dog bit mine. My Aussie yelped, and the owner just pulled their dog away saying "I'm sorry." I was too angry to respond and had no phone to get her details.

Now, I know I need to react faster, but honestly—WTF is happening in this place? Why can’t we go on a peaceful walk without fearing other dogs?

Comments

Comment by TotalWarspammer at 10/03/2025 at 12:37 UTC

79 upvotes, 1 direct replies

If you don't contact the police and get the info then you are part of the problem. This stuff has been happening to people every day, it's nothing new, and unless the owners suffer consequences then the same dogs will offend repeatedly.

Comment by Mesapholis at 10/03/2025 at 12:39 UTC

27 upvotes, 2 direct replies

no offense, but when your dog is bitten once already - why do you continue to allow other dogs unsafely approach AND take them on walks without your phone?

nonetheless you should approach the police on their non-emergency contact and leave a description of the unleashed dog from the initial attack - while your dog survived with some injury, that could have been a toddler that gets mauled to death; it might not be an unknown dog+owner

I recommend you a defensive stance and insist that other owners only approach in a safe/leashed manner - including shouting at the other owner to call their dog back.

I hope your dog recovers physically - the trust in new dogs might be even more damaged and take more time tho

Comment by saralt at 10/03/2025 at 14:14 UTC

10 upvotes, 1 direct replies

That stretch along the Sihl is awful, I've seen children knocked over by large dogs (and owners just laughing it off as "he likes to play"). There's also a nature preserve area where dogs aren't allowed, but it happens there too. I recommend you call the police. I used to live there and a lady on my street that had a large dog used to take it off leash and it would go after the running clubs groups that run along the sihl on weekends, mornings and at lunchtime. A lot of people don't watch their dogs. It really sucks.

Comment by bub1q at 10/03/2025 at 12:58 UTC

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Apart from what other comments said (report, be more careful) get a pepper spray/gel. If you feel threatened by an unleashed dog or even attacked, it is an effective way to defend yourself or your dog without causing permanent damage to the animal (or a pissed owner aftewards). It is a last resort, but if an unleashed big dog that I don't know would be running at me with speed and make me feel threatened, I would not give a fuck if the owner is yelling 'he just wants to play' once the animal is sub 3 meters away from me and not stopping all while actively not getting or ignoring commands to stop from the owner. If it bites it is getting sprayed and kicked afterwards.

I love animals but there really are some shitty dog owners out there who have unbehaved and untrained dogs and no common decency to other people and their animals.

Comment by coldnorth3enf3 at 10/03/2025 at 12:55 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Call the police, seriously

Comment by Stunning_Court_2509 at 10/03/2025 at 14:16 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I hope you reported these incidents to the police

Comment by alexrada at 10/03/2025 at 14:36 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

go to police.

Comment by pustkawwolarzu at 10/03/2025 at 17:16 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

What did the dog look like?