Q: A stranger was taunting my dog by running up to it. Is this harassment? What if my dog bit him after he instigated it?
Creepy old men were harassing my gf while she was walking her dog at night. After she rejected them, they started harassing her more and began to taunt the dog. The dog was becoming riled up and became difficult to control on the leash. She's not as strong, so it was very harsh on her. Could she have let it go and let the dog bite them since they were a threat?
A: She couldn't let it go but if they got too close and the dog bit them she would have a defense. Certainly they have been harassing and engaged in disorderly conduct.
A: She is entitled to self-defense. Without knowing the exact circumstances, it is impossible to say whether she could have released the dog to attack those men in that instance. She would have to be in reasonable fear of her safety to use violence to defend herself.
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