Andy, we agree. Had a big nasty barking Alsatian go for me a couple of months back... dog owners (not all, obviously) sometimes go for the 'oh, you obviously did something to annoy it', in this case the fact that I was wearing sunglasses and sweet lovely old doggie doesn't like people in sunglasses. It was a hot bright day in f-ing August, FFS! And, yes, they do occasionally happen in England...
Or, you could, you know, take responsibility and control your bloody animal! What if the same thing had happened to an easily frightened young child?
If you can't control your animal, you shouldn't be allowed to have them. End of.