How to handle situation with family friend's dog that has nipped/bitten various kids 3 times

[Anonymous]

We have friends who adopted a young adult dog (2 years old?) earlier this fall that was formerly a stray. Over the weekend, the dog bit their child on the face and it required stitches and a trip to the ER. This is the third time the dog has nipped at or bitten a child since they got the dog a few months ago. We are not pet owners, but, always advise our children 6 and 9, to ask before petting a dog, leave a dog alone if it seems upset or is eating, to pay attention if the dog doesn't seem like it wants to be pet, etc etc. Our concern is that this is the third time this has happened. We asked one of the parents last night when we saw them what they thought they would do moving forward, and they explained the situation saying that their dog is a stray and had been "raped" which is why it had puppies and had come into the shelter and basically suggesting the dog had street tendencies and trauma.

I think that reaction is imposing human like qualities onto a dog--stray dogs mate and reproduce! survival of the species!- and the parent basically said that they had never been bitten because they learned how to act around dogs starting when they were a child themself.

In my mind as a home that has children who are elementary age, there will likely be a number of children around for the foreseeable future who may or may not be dog savvy. I plan to strongly advise my children to stay away from the dog during future visits to their house, but, kids are idiot sometimes. Anything else I should be thinking of or doing? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

The dog needs to go. This is serious and will only get worse. The dog has bitten 3 different children? Including their own? And they still have the dog? I'm sorry but that just doesn't make any sense.
I would call Animal services and report the dog as well as the bite history. I would certainly never send my kids over there, nor would i let that dog into my home.
Absolutely negligent on the owners part, I can't tell if this is a troll post. Like....how? Why? What?!

[Anonymous]

This dog is a risk. How or why it became a risk is irrelevant. If the owners don’t understand the dog’s current triggers and have a safety plan in place, bites will keep happening. I’ve had some experience with an aggressive rescue dog that I took to a behaviorist and ended up keeping. I would never, ever let that dog out of an enclosed space with adult guests in the house, let alone children. If your friends aren’t taking this seriously, this isn’t a house where you want your kids playing. I’m sorry. I know that creates an awkward social situation. However, if they’re in denial about risks to their own child’s wellbeing, they’re not in a place to adequately protect your kids. Besides which, anyone who refers to a dog being “raped,” doesn’t sound like they’re in a reasonable state of mind about this animal (unless the animal was assaulted by a human).

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't let my kids go there if the dog is going to be unrestrained. They are idiots for keeping this dog. Truly. It's already bitten their own child in the face hard enough to need stitches.

[Anonymous]

You cant tell them what to do with their property, but you can certainly make sure your children are never around a dangerous dog. I wouldnt take my children over there at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dog needs to go. This is serious and will only get worse. The dog has bitten 3 different children? Including their own? And they still have the dog? I'm sorry but that just doesn't make any sense.
I would call Animal services and report the dog as well as the bite history. I would certainly never send my kids over there, nor would i let that dog into my home.
Absolutely negligent on the owners part, I can't tell if this is a troll post. Like....how? Why? What?!

OP here--not a troll--we didn't learn that this was the THIRD incident until we saw the family yesterday after the most recent and third bite happened on Saturday night. The parent we saw also said that every time it has happened it has involved a child approaching the dog from behind and surprising it. This incident involved their own child crawling behind the dog underneath a table.

I wasn't sure if there's more we should do to raise to the family. Our kids love spending time at their house, but, I'm definitely nervous now given what we know. And I was pretty shocked when the parent justified the aggression by saying that the stray had been "raped" just did not sit well with me all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You cant tell them what to do with their property, but you can certainly make sure your children are never around a dangerous dog. I wouldnt take my children over there at all.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You cant tell them what to do with their property, but you can certainly make sure your children are never around a dangerous dog. I wouldnt take my children over there at all.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dog needs to go. This is serious and will only get worse. The dog has bitten 3 different children? Including their own? And they still have the dog? I'm sorry but that just doesn't make any sense.
I would call Animal services and report the dog as well as the bite history. I would certainly never send my kids over there, nor would i let that dog into my home.
Absolutely negligent on the owners part, I can't tell if this is a troll post. Like....how? Why? What?!

OP here--not a troll--we didn't learn that this was the THIRD incident until we saw the family yesterday after the most recent and third bite happened on Saturday night. The parent we saw also said that every time it has happened it has involved a child approaching the dog from behind and surprising it. This incident involved their own child crawling behind the dog underneath a table.

I wasn't sure if there's more we should do to raise to the family. Our kids love spending time at their house, but, I'm definitely nervous now given what we know. And I was pretty shocked when the parent justified the aggression by saying that the stray had been "raped" just did not sit well with me all around.

They have no idea what they are doing. They should be returning this dog to whatever rescue they got it from because they are a bad fit. Instead they will keep it until something even more serious happens to one of their kids or someone else. It doesn't make sense at all. Is it some kind of small terrier that they think is ok because it's little?

[Anonymous]

If you continue to bring your kids to a home with a known aggressive dog, you shouldn't be able to blame them if it attacks your kid. You are willing to put your kids in danger? When this dog has attacked 3x already?

[Anonymous]

You don’t ever send your kids there . That’s all you can do. Don’t they contact animal control if a child shows up at the ER with a dog bite? I might consider tipping off CPS.

[Anonymous]

Dog owner and parent here. I would not let my kids go over there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who adopted a young adult dog (2 years old?) earlier this fall that was formerly a stray. Over the weekend, the dog bit their child on the face and it required stitches and a trip to the ER. This is the third time the dog has nipped at or bitten a child since they got the dog a few months ago. We are not pet owners, but, always advise our children 6 and 9, to ask before petting a dog, leave a dog alone if it seems upset or is eating, to pay attention if the dog doesn't seem like it wants to be pet, etc etc. Our concern is that this is the third time this has happened. We asked one of the parents last night when we saw them what they thought they would do moving forward, and they explained the situation saying that their dog is a stray and had been "raped" which is why it had puppies and had come into the shelter and basically suggesting the dog had street tendencies and trauma.

I think that reaction is imposing human like qualities onto a dog--stray dogs mate and reproduce! survival of the species!- and the parent basically said that they had never been bitten because they learned how to act around dogs starting when they were a child themself.

In my mind as a home that has children who are elementary age, there will likely be a number of children around for the foreseeable future who may or may not be dog savvy. I plan to strongly advise my children to stay away from the dog during future visits to their house, but, kids are idiot sometimes. Anything else I should be thinking of or doing? Thanks!

DO NOT allow your kid to go to their house, OP.

Do not socialize with them elsewhere where the dog may be present.

I'd actually step back from the relationship. If they will allow their own child to be bitten and perhaps scarred for life, they will not be protective of your child. That is YOUR job. Don't be all about being superior to the owner, step up and protect your kids effectively by not allowing them around the dangerous dog.

I assume the ER would have to report the dog bite so maybe animal control will step in at some point. Until then, I'd avoid the family or have them to your home without the dog.

[Anonymous]

I'm a former dog owner, and IMO this dog should not be in a home with kids, or around kids, at all. It's an accident waiting to happen. I would not let my kids go over to this house while the dog is still there.

Yes, it's awful that the dog has a trauma history, but keeping the dog in this home puts people AND the dog at risk (the dog is at risk of being put down for biting).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You cant tell them what to do with their property, but you can certainly make sure your children are never around a dangerous dog. I wouldnt take my children over there at all.

This.

IMHO, people should not keep a dog that bites their child no matter the situation that caused it to happen.

Also using the term “rape” for a dog is very unusual and inappropriate.

If they are that sympathetic to the dog they should realize the dog is unhappy, stressed and should not be in a home with children. The humane thing would be to re-home the dog in an adult-only home.

Regardless of what they choose to do, tell them your kids won’t be around the dog ever again. It’s their choice to keep it and yours to protect your kids (which it sounds like you will do).

It’s a shame all-around.