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

[Anonymous]

My kids would never be in that household again. Even if they euthanize their dog, this shows an incredible disregard for children's safety.

[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.

+1

With that dog’s history of biting I can’t believe you’re even considering letting your kids go to their house. That would make you negligent.

What they do with their children and their dog is their business, even though I think that dog is not safe to be around children.

[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.

I make an amendment. I agree you cannot tell others what to do about their dog.

However, if I were invited there, I would ask if there is anywhere they can restrain the dog, whether a room with a closed door, a crate, a yard, or perhaps a room that can be gated off for the dog to keep the dog away from the children playing. If the hosts cannot provide that, then you decline the invitation. If the host is willing to provide a separation of some sort between the dog and the children, I would accept the invitation.

[Anonymous]

Report them to CPS.

[Anonymous]

I had friends who reacted similarly. The dog bit a few times and then bit their child on the face, necessitating stitches. They then muzzled the dog when other people were there but not around their own kids, even having the kids on the floor around the dog so it was again at the level of their face. It was shockingly careless behavior tbh.

After another attack and trip to the ER it was reported and they euthanized the dog. It turned out it had a brain tumor.

OP, if you are considering attending the holiday party I would ask if they can crate the dog or lock it in a bedroom. I would keep your kids in the same room with you so you can leave if the dog gets out or is brought out. Or, I'd be more inclined to skip.

I'd also be leery of having your kids go to that house even once the dog is no longer there. This shows you their judgement and safeguarding attitudes.

[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

Agreed. My kids wouldn't be over there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Or how about telling their children not to do the things that the dog does not like?

We don't know if the kid was beating the dog on the head before getting bitten, or just touched a toy and the dog went crazy. It's not always so easy to not do the things a dog doesn't like. A dog who bites a kid so badly they go to the hospital, is probably not a good fit for this family.

Op said the owners kids startled the dog under the table

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Or how about telling their children not to do the things that the dog does not like?

We don't know if the kid was beating the dog on the head before getting bitten, or just touched a toy and the dog went crazy. It's not always so easy to not do the things a dog doesn't like. A dog who bites a kid so badly they go to the hospital, is probably not a good fit for this family.

Op said the owners kids startled the dog under the table

That’s the worst combination. Clueless owners and a dog that’s not a good fit with little kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dog needs to be euthanized.

Definitely don't go to their house while they have the dog.

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without saying it.

Just because this family isnt the right fit does not mean there isn't a good home for the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dog needs to be euthanized.

Definitely don't go to their house while they have the dog.

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without saying it.

Just because this family isnt the right fit does not mean there isn't a good home for the dog.

No reputable rescue would take a dog with a multiple bite history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dog needs to be euthanized.

Definitely don't go to their house while they have the dog.

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without saying it.

Just because this family isnt the right fit does not mean there isn't a good home for the dog.

No reputable rescue would take a dog with a multiple bite history.

A lot do for tiny dogs like this, especially if it's specific to kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dog needs to be euthanized.

Definitely don't go to their house while they have the dog.

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without saying it.

Just because this family isnt the right fit does not mean there isn't a good home for the dog.

No reputable rescue would take a dog with a multiple bite history.

Depends on the circumstances and how bad the bite was

[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!

Then you're a bigger idiot than these pet owners. WHY would you let your children even be there, knowing this dogs history? IT BIT A KID IN THE FACE!. The ER visit would have put that dog on the radar of animal control, animal bites must be reported. You are asking for trouble in mixing kids with that dog

[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.

Yet you have a plan for when your kids go there again. You're dumber than an actual troll

[Anonymous]

I would never go to their house again, with or without my kids. Honestly I would reevaluate the friendship with someone who has such disregard for their child’s safety.