So Ella and I were at the dog park just now and she got into a fight with another dog. We brought a ball with us (we usually do). This other guy and I were throwing it around and both of our dogs were chasing it and playing happily. Then all the sudden they started a fight over the ball. We pulled them apart though it took probably 30 seconds or so. We both did a quick peek at our dogs and they seemed ok. I apologized and he shrugged it off as being over the ball and no big deal. We both went home. When I got back I looked at Ella again and she is pretty beat up. One deep puncture wound on her nose and a bunch of shallow cuts all over her face. She will be fine, but now I'm somewhat worried about the other dog- more that she might have gotten a piece of that dog too. We didn't exchange names or any information at all, but Ella is pretty well known around the neighborhood. What I'm basically wondering is if this other dog did get bit, would the owner be able to take any legal action or anything like that? (If he was to find me that is). Both of our dogs kinda pushed up the intensity together but then his dog went for the first bite. Any other advice?

My first question -- what breed and size is the other dog?

Laws regarding dog biting is kinda all over the place in just about every state, no different in NYS, which also happens to be "one-bite state", meaning the owner of a dog that has caused injury to another animal or human knew his/her dog is vicious...this isn't your case though. Based on your description, I don't think the guy was all that upset or surprised by the outcome, so he probably won't be going after you...if he did, he would have to prove a number of things.

Keep an eye on that deep puncture wound on Ella's nose - keep it clean (you can use hydrogen peroxide), and if you notice any inflammation, call your vet. It may also be a good idea to give her some anti-biotic...oral meds you can get from your vet, and/or apply some anti-biotic ointment on the cuts.

Agree with Akasha. The sad thing is, when human beings are involved in anything, there is no way to predict an outcome because most of them are fucking nuts.

At my dog park we have a sort of "no ball, no toys, no food, no stick" rule because of the kind of thing you experienced. On rare occasions, like when the park is very uncrowded and the dogs there are very well known to each other, a game of fetch MIGHT be ok. Once, there was just a retriever, some type of (super cute) hound, and Hari. So we played a big ass game of fetch. But all theses dogs had played well together before and had no issues with resource guarding related aggression. Once another dog showed up, though, we put the ball away. It just doesn't make sense to take chances.

I hope you girl is feeling OK and that the other owner is as understanding as you!

^^^ that's part of the reason I avoid dog parks...too many butthead owners out there.

Off topic, but dog related...did you guys hear about that story (I posted a link on FB last night) out of Queens, NY, about that woman beating the shit out of her bulldog puppy with a snow shovel and the neighbor recorded the beating and called the police? I'm glad it was documented and she was arrested, but if I witness anything like that, there wouldn't be a video...not by me anyway, and if someone else is recording, they will get a video of me beating her severely with that snow shovel instead.

That is beyond disgusting and upsetting. I can't believe she's only facing 4 years.