Would You Keep the Family Dog if It Did This to Your Child ?
In the News
This woman in the USA decided not to put her dog down after it mauled her daughters face
She said the dog was ill and distressed and only retaliated when her daughter tried to sit on the dog and play with it
She has upset a lot of people by keeping it and is even getting divorced by her husband because she has kept it
I tried to put myself in the same situation and am finding it hard to decide what i would do
The woman should have had the dog put down. If her dog has bitten once it will do it again. I had a very placid labrador a few years ago and when we moved home he managed to sneak out. I searched everywhere for him for 10 days. My friend went to my old address many miles away and he was outside. He was never the same dog when he came back home. After I had given birth to my 1st child, when I took my dog for a walk he attacked a smaller dog and was shaking it like a rag doll by the neck. I told my husband I would have to have the dog put down as I couldn't take the chance of him biting the baby. It broke my heart having him put down and I stayed with him while the vet put him to sleep. I'm an animal lover but I decided not to have a pet ever again. Did I do the right thing as my husband thought I would change my mind and bring him home. In my heart I made the right decision.
That's hard thing to do. Makes me wonder what happened to him during those 10 days for him to change so much.
My friend told me he had been attacked by street dogs. I had him since he was a puppy and he was so gentle. He wasn’t the same dog when he came home. I had so many happy times and we would go for two hour walks even when I was pregnant. I was amazed he found his way back to my old address as it was miles away.
Sugarbabe You made the right decision, although hard. A friend of mine had a lab for over 10 years and one day it just went to for him, there was no change in its routine, and he was a large guy, he had two young children in the house so had to make the heart breaking decision to have a well loved pet put down. He said be just couldn't take the chance of it hurting his girls.
What a vile woman. If her dog was so unwell she should have been paying better attention and not blame a child for pestering the animal. I cannot understand any parent that allows a dangerous dog around children.
Midnightflower The problem with dogs is you don't know fully how they will react under different situations M
Her daughter will never forgive her if she is scarred for life and will wonder why she put the dog before her own child. She obviously didn't know either of them well, whether the child was spiteful or genuinely playing or how much the dog could tolerate before retaliating.
When bad things happen with dogs, it’s down to the owners. A mother shouldn’t leave her dog around small kids if the dog has not been trained
I wouldn't let my children be alone with our dog when they was young even though I have never had any reason to think he could harm them if a dog attacks an adult they go for waist or lower if they attack a child its likely to be the head
Imnotcheap very true. Tbh it’s always going to be a risk as you don’t know what your child would do, and you don’t know how the dog will react. Better to be safe than sorry
hspexy I never leave my son alone with the dog. She is the gentlest thing in the world, wouldn't hurt anyone, but all it takes is for my son to annoy her and she could snap. Our dog is well trained, I don't have any reason to think she would hurt our son, but I still don't take any chances.
No my children come before anything. I definitely would not keep the dog or ever get another
I personally don't think all dogs are trainable or at least some are more difficult to train than others. Some breeds are quite laid back and non-violent other breeds have the ability to be very violent close to the surface and require a lot of training which is difficult and time consuming. As was discussed in the dog license thread a lot of us don't believe certain breeds should be available to all people and those that do have such dogs should be vetted for the right attitude and go through comprehensive training if they want such a dog. No one with a criminal record especially a violent crime should ever have access to a violent dog breed.
The law should be changed to stop criminals owning vicious dogs B , as with firearms , as both are dangerous and a vicious dog could also be classed as lethal weapon
Unfortunately it is not a life ban for even firearms and can be appealed for less than three years incarceration
Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 prohibits a person from possession of any type of firearm if you have been given a custodial sentence when convicted of a criminal offence.
If you have received a custodial sentence (including a suspended sentence) of between 3 months and 3 years then you are prohibited for a period of 5 years from the date you are released.
If you have received a custodial sentence of 3 years or more then you are prohibited for life, from the date of release.
The prohibition may be lifted on application to the Crown Court. For further advice you should consult a solicitor.
Many people think nothing of putting their 'pet baby' first. This is a good example of why I'm fearful of children being allowed to handle any dog - you never know how they will respond 
Personally I now some dogs have natural aggression weres others don't have any had German shepard pup I puppy walked for the policevfor year when came to training he just had no natural aggression full stop closed his eyes in the sense of if I can't see u u can't see me dogs generally only aggressive when not been socialised properly my springdor 3 years old is fab u think she was bouncing bout all day but no she justchills picks up how I'm feeling if dog malled it needs to go to some1 who has had alot handling of dogs an plenty eggperice in my option the women should found suitable owner 4 the dog
Honestly I don't know myself but I think it's the mums fault I wouldn't leave my child alone with my dog even tho I knew she wouldn't hurt a fly but you never know she knew the dog was ill and clearly did nothing about it
I am sorry, no question I would have the dog put down as obviously it can't be trusted not to turn aggressive and hurt someone else. My first thought would be the pain and suffering of the child.
I would of had the Animal put down If It were my Child. If It did It once It will do It again. Sick or not sick. She thought more of her Dog than her Daughter.
No question the child has to come first I don’t know how anyone could take a chance like that . She should take her warning next time it could be worse .
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
