Dog Attacks

[MrFrost]

Should a dog attack on a child be reported to the Police by the hospital? Should the Police ensure the dog is destroyed??

[Viking Don]

Go see the police.

Or the dog owner, they've been known to cough up hundreds in compo to avoid the police getting involved.

If it's a nasty dog though just report it before it gets me.

[MrFrost]

My son was attacked by his Grans dog the other day.
He is 19 month old, and the dog is a Spaniel.

He was bitten in the face and required stitches.

Now because I do not get on with my ex's side of the family, they were unwilling to tell me how this happened.

I phone the police who went round and checked the dog and have called me back to say they wont take it any further and they believe the dog is of no danger to anyone.

I do not know how they can come to this conculsion when the dog has bitten a baby in the face? Rest assured I will be pressing the matter.

[River Don]

This sounds unusual, Spaniels are normally a placid dog. There are only a couple of things that could have caused a dog like this to react like it did, if it's food was being disturbed in some way or if the animal was being harassed in some way.

With most problems with dogs it's normally a problem with the owner rather than the animal. There are very few bad dogs but plenty of poor owners. There are a few breeds that are bred to fight, I witnessed a very large pitbull cross breed of some kind see red in a crowded public space the other week. Very frightening, I've never seen a dog react like that in my life.

Spaniels though are completely the opposite. I'd be very surprised if this dog represents any kind of danger in future.

[MrFrost]

Hmmmm,
Isn't the point that the dog HAS attacked and has caused injury cause for concern. It has left my son requiring a number of facial stitches and probably being scarred for life. The fact that no one is willing to give me information as to how it happened I find very strange.

If it was my dog, i'd have it put down no questions asked.

[River Don]

I was bitten by the pet Labrador when I was little, another placid breed, I still have a small scar next to my nose to this day, I was messing about with his biscuits though. The dog was never a problem again.

Loosing the dog would probably be heartbreaking for the old lady, you ought to find out exactly what happened before you make a decision.

I'm not saying it couldn't be a bad dog. Has it ever been a problem before?

[MrFrost]

I don't know what has happened. I have asked but been told it is none of my business.
The Police basically said I was trying to score points against my ex by reporting it to them.

The fact that my son is there 2 days a week in the company of this and other dogs, I have a right to know he is safe and what measures are in place to prevent this from happening again.

[RobTheRover]

My pal at work had a \"challenging\" dog, and he took it on that Dog Borstal programme on TV.  The dog now knows its place in the family and behaves impecably.  However, my mate is ALWAYS wary of the dog with his kids (and they torment it and pull its tail, etc) and although it has never turned on them he says all dogs without exception can attack.

[River Don]

The fact that my son is there 2 days a week in the company of this and other dogs, I have a right to know he is safe and what measures are in place to prevent this from happening again.

I agree with you there. As I say it's usually the owner who is at fault, you need reassurance it won't happen again.

If it's something as simple as the food though, it's just a matter of making sure the dog is out of the way when it's fed.

[Bald Rover]

I don't know what has happened. I have asked but been told it is none of my business.
The Police basically said I was trying to score points against my ex by reporting it to them.

The fact that my son is there 2 days a week in the company of this and other dogs, I have a right to know he is safe and what measures are in place to prevent this from happening again.

Sorry if it had been my 19 month old son I wouldnt have needed to worry abour them coming into contact again or reporting it to the police as I would have visited it with a shovel!

[River Don]

However, my mate is ALWAYS wary of the dog with his kids (and they torment it and pull its tail, etc) and although it has never turned on them he says all dogs without exception can attack.

Yep, too many people think dogs are like real life cuddly toys, they're NOT. They're an animal and even the best trained dog has that innate fight or flight instinct.

[Filo]

I was bitten by the pet Labrador when I was little, another placid breed, I still have a small scar next to my nose to this day, I was messing about with his biscuits though. The dog was never a problem again.

Loosing the dog would probably be heartbreaking for the old lady, you ought to find out exactly what happened before you make a decision.

I'm not saying it couldn't be a bad dog. Has it ever been a problem before?

I bet you have n`t touched Winalot again have you?

[jucyberry]

Dogs and small children don't mix, simple as..You cannot expect a baby to understand that it isn't nice to pull tails, ears and whiskers..I know people will say but we have always had dogs and they didn't attack our little ones, but they are lucky.

Years ago my brothers beloved jack russell went for my nephew, he didn't like kids running round, it hyped him up.. Even tho it broke my brothers heart he took the dog to the vet and had him destroyed right away. ( not something my brother in law demanded, but because after that my brother knew the dog couldn't be trusted in stressful situations)..

At the end of the day , no matter how much you mught love them , they are only dogs..they can be replaced. It isn't so easy to replace a baby.

I'd want it put down, no ifs or buts, if a dog bit Ty it would be the last thing it would ever do, ex's family or not.

Ty hates dogs, they terrify him. ( my sisters is a yappy little thing and he can't cope with loud noises) I have to say I'm glad he isn't one of those innocent childern who rush up to any strange dog and try to pet it only to get nipped.

[MrFrost]

I've got social services involved, due to the lack of info her family are willing to give me, and they seem to be taking it alot more seriously than the Police did, who actually laughed at me when I suggested it could happen again.

[Nudga]

Dogs and children DO mix. The first thing an owner should do when a new baby arrives into the home for the first time is introduce the dog to the baby. Let it sniff the baby and i'd go as far as saying let the dog lick the baby, on the back of the head of course. And then give the dog loads of praise, it will accept the baby as it's own. I've done this with my three kids and I trust my dog 110% with them.
A lot of owners treat their dogs like one of their children, which is completely the wrong thing to do. A dog needs a pack leader, which should be their owner, and needs putting in it's place at an early age. Something I doubt Mr Frost's ex out-laws have done, hence the dog reacting how it did. I bet a pound to a pinch of shit that this dog is a lap dog and rules the roost in that house.

[River Don]

We live in such a risk averse society, dogs can be a danger then again so can cars AND I bet you don't think twice about strapping your little ones in even though there is probably a much higher risk of injury.

To me the thing is you have to take responsibilty, it's probably not the poor dogs fault. And the idea of having a dog put down to punish an ex partner in some way is dispicable. And I'm not saying this is the case here.

Animals behave like animals, if you can't look after them properly and see to their needs you shouldn't have them at all. Some Americans leave loaded guns around the house and then they wonder what's gone wrong when there is a disaster involving kids. It's the same thing.

Edit: Oh and you have to understand dogs and how the pack works. If you can't you shouldn't have them and there are plenty of folks who shouldn't own dogs.

[5minstogo]

I think the golden rule is to never leave a child unattended with a dog.

It's sometimes logistically difficult as we are finding with our six month old who no longer appears to stay where we leave him!

I was once told a story of a dog which attacked a small child.  The dog had no previous history of attack, was impeccably trained but did bite the toddler it had lived with for three years.  It transpires when the parents were out of sight the toddler put a pencil up the dogs arse.

I think that would make me bite

[Filo]

I've got social services involved, due to the lack of info her family are willing to give me, and they seem to be taking it alot more seriously than the Police did, who actually laughed at me when I suggested it could happen again.

Not a wise move, now they are involved, your son may well end up in care, do you really want that?

[Thinwhiteduke]

I've got social services involved, due to the lack of info her family are willing to give me, and they seem to be taking it alot more seriously than the Police did, who actually laughed at me when I suggested it could happen again.

Not a wise move, now they are involved, your son may well end up in care, do you really want that?

Speaking from a similar experience that involved a cousin of mine - agreed.

[Redandwhitewhizards]

I've got social services involved, due to the lack of info her family are willing to give me, and they seem to be taking it alot more seriously than the Police did, who actually laughed at me when I suggested it could happen again.

Not a wise move, now they are involved, your son may well end up in care, do you really want that?

So you are saying that if your 19 month old son was attacked by a dog, and no one would tell you any information you would just leave it be and let everyone get on with their lives until it happened again? And potentially was more serious the next time?

He has every right to contact Social Services if he feels his sons health is at risk under the care of his ex. I fail to see how notifying them of the situation would end up with the child being placed in care when he seemingly has a perfectly capeable parent to look after him.... What you are saying is that it is mothers care, or social care, seemingly the dad doesn't get a say in this?

What a load of shite.

[Filo]

I've got social services involved, due to the lack of info her family are willing to give me, and they seem to be taking it alot more seriously than the Police did, who actually laughed at me when I suggested it could happen again.

Not a wise move, now they are involved, your son may well end up in care, do you really want that?

So you are saying that if your 19 month old son was attacked by a dog, and no one would tell you any information you would just leave it be and let everyone get on with their lives until it happened again? And potentially was more serious the next time?

He has every right to contact Social Services if he feels his sons health is at risk under the care of his ex. I fail to see how notifying them of the situation would end up with the child being placed in care when he seemingly has a perfectly capeable parent to look after him.... What you are saying is that it is mothers care, or social care, seemingly the dad doesn't get a say in this?

What a load of shite.

You obviously don`t know how social services operate, if the child`s Mother refuses to hand over custody to the Father, social services will take interim custody of the child until everything has been assessed, that may take months, once a child has been brought to the attention of social services they will then be placed into a risk category and monitored, with Doncaster social services being in the spotlight with recent cases being in the media they will make sure they do things properly.


Yes, it`s a bad thing that Frosty`s 19 month old son has been bitten by a dog, and no one seems willing to co operate, the question is, does he really want to risk his son being taken into care? In my opinion he should consult a solicitor about gaining custody himself and explore all the avenues open to him on the advice of his solicitor

[Redandwhitewhizards]

Obviously thats on the basis that the mother would be willing to do so.... Which I am expecting that unless Mr Frost is some kind of monster, she would rather see her son in his custody than being placed into care?

Consulting a solicitor & going for custody could also take months/years, in the mean time what happens? The child is still in the same risk situation. I personally don't see, in the circumstances, what else he could have done.

[jucyberry]

I thank god every day that Adam married the drug addled waste of space that is my daughter in law...Ty lives with us, not her.. If he hadn't then I think its a certainty that Ty would be in care now..he would know how to cut his kettamine, know how to load a bong and know what goes into a spliff....Just like the little lad a year younger than Tyler whose mother is ty's mothers main kettamine partner.


it is so much harder to sue for custody as a single man sadly, but I guess it could be done. Unmarried fathers have far too little  in the way of rights, I can never understand why having a womb is seen as making for the better parent.. the best parent is the one who has the childs best interests at heart, the one who can care and nurture, not the one who wins by default because of an umbilicus.

As for the social services, be very careful Michael, once they get their hooks in they don't let go, and you could both lose out..especially as has already been said Donny SS has a lot to attone for..

[MrFrost]

It won't be Doncaster social services involved anyway.

And seeing as no one can explain how it happened, what am I meant to do. My sons safety is in question.

I made it quite clear to social services that I have no problem with how his mother looks after him, but he is left in the care of grandparents for 2 days a week, no if it means she has to make alternative arrangements for those days due to this incident then so be it.

I have at least managed to see my son and his face is a mess. I cannot believe the couldn't care less attitude of the Police who laughed when I suggested this could happen again.


I want social services to ensure he will never be put into this situation again, which is something I cannot do myself unfortunately with the other party not playing ball.

I wonder what others would do in the same situation.

[jucyberry]

To be honest? I'd want to chop the dogs head off with my cleaver.gut reaction,( wouldn't do it mind you, I couldn't hurt a fly.) Not a pretty reaction and one to offend the dog brigade, but then, I don't particularly like dogs in the first place, I do however love children.

You need to talk to your ex, calmly,threats aren't the way to go, you will only back her into a corner and she will dig her heels in. See if a solution can be reached, perhaps you could help fund the child care on the two days? I can't for one moment think that they would let the dog any where near your little boy after that, if they do well, they must be halfwitted.

[MrFrost]

Well, its a little late to change anything now as I have informed social services. She knows about this but has let me see him and has actually been ok with me, but still will not let me know how it happened.

I guess we will have to see what happens.

[donnyjay]

I'm not trying to have a go here MrFrost but it sounds like you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

Why not put it down as a one off that won't happen again?

I'm sure the grandparents feel just as bad about it as you do.

Would you be demanding the dog was put down if you and your ex were still together?

[MrFrost]

I'm not trying to have a go here MrFrost but it sounds like you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

Why not put it down as a one off that won't happen again?

I'm sure the grandparents feel just as bad about it as you do.

Would you be demanding the dog was put down if you and your ex were still together?

Spoke to a trained dog handler the other day, and his advice is that any dog who attacks a baby, especially in the face should be put down. And that is from a dog handler who works for the RSPCA.

My main gripe is that no one is willing to give me information as to how it happened. My theory is that he was left alone with the dogs, which is completely foolish.