to want a dog that bit me put to sleep?

[pickgo]

I was out for a walk with DS, DGS and mother on Sunday. We walked past a woman with 3 children and a dog on the lead. As we passed her on the pavement the dog leapt up at me and bit me on the chest.
Fortunately I had 6 layers of clothing on so it has only left me bruised, the skin is not actually broken.
The dog owner apologised. She admitted she already had a muzzle for the dog but hadn't put it on this time [OBVIOUSLY!!].
I said her apology wasn't good enough. What if I'd had a baby in a sling, or it was one of the children? What if it goes for one of her children? Told her I thought the dog should be put to sleep.
Ironically, I myself had a dog some years ago that randomly bit people. I too always kept it on a lead but one day it leapt into a pram and I was terrified it would bite the baby. That day I took my dog to the vet to ask for advice. The vet's advice was that once a dog has crossed 'the line' of biting people it will always be a possibility it will do it again. So I had the dog put to sleep. A sad, hard decision but I think the right one.
So, AIBU to want this dog put down? Surely I should be able to go out for a walk without being mauled by an animal and left injured?

My pets are more important than strangers. They are part of my family, they have fur, so what. Do people put strangers before their own family now? Well out of order

I am a dog owner and regretfully and with a heavy heart, if my dog started doing that, I would have it put down.

Clutha, my apologies. I know you'd stated yourself to be a dog trainer and rescue worker but I thought I'd read somewhere on the boards here that you are a part time dog warden. That's what I was saying, insofar as if you were then you would have dealt with such situations and communicated with the police about them and would know first hand what the police's reaction would be and why.

Very sorry if I have got you confused with someone else. :)

I do understand what you said, Sarah, though I don't agree either way. I'm not an expert in animal behaviour, but don't believe there's a black-and-white distinction between 'good' dogs that have never bitten anyone deliberately so far, and those that have and are therefore so dangerous they must be killed.

There are all kinds of reasons a dog might bite, and there are steps you can take to prevent it happening again, including rehabilitation and further training, walking on-lead and with a muzzle in public, keeping the dog out of situations and away from people where such an incident might occur. There's a middle ground between just doing nothing (as admittedly some owners would do) and immediately deciding to kill the dog.

Clearly you feel it would be your moral duty to have the dog pts, and that would be your choice to make. You have to do what you believe to be right, and I'm not implying you'd do this lightly or with any pleasure. I just feel sad that this is so often the default option and there isn't generally more of a sense of 'duty' for us as humans to find ways to coexist with dogs without resorting to killing except in the most extreme cases.

Ah!

Im with you now Val.

id completly forgotten i had a phase of posting on here for about 1 week several months back.

Yes, i was a part time evening/weekend dog warden for a couple months this summer.

you are right, that has also given me insight.

I certainly wouldn't be doing it lightly if it ever came to that. I hope I'm a responsible dog owner, I've done as much as I hope I can to ensure that my dogs are well trained, socialised and obedient. As much as I can to try to prevent anything like that happening.

Val I admire your passion, I don't think we will agree on this but I do admire you dedication and passion.

*hmc Mon 27-Dec-10 21:47:51

I am a dog owner and regretfully and with a heavy heart, if my dog started doing that, I would have it put down

Hello HMC

WHY?

Why would you not want to look into why your best friend may start doing something like that as a first point of action?

What if its something you had done wrong to cause the problem, just as one example?

Bloody hell, we need more of your type, Clutha. An evening/weekend DW is a rare breed indeed :) and desperately important since the Police no longer have any responsibility for strays.

Lucky you're not in the USA. Could just imagine you pulling out your gun and shooting the dog in front of those poor children.
Yes the owner was irresponsible in not putting the muzzle on it, but for goodness sake!

I knew an aquaintance who had her dog put to sleep for nipping her child. Normaly I would agree that if blood was drawn & a child bitten then this would warrant the possibility of euthanasia. However the circumstances were different. It was firework night & the dog was petrified. They knew their dog was like this during this time of the year. The PUPPY as he was only 5 months old was cowering under the table & the child was pulling him out by the scruff of the neck. To me euthanasia was a harsh harsh decision for such a young scared pup.
Re homing & giving the relevant information would have been better. No blood was drawn at all & they just watched & laughed the child trying to do this to the dog. The Pup was a St Bernard.

Kerrymummblesbahhumbug: What a silly question. The child of course. I can not believe you asked that.

Clutha sorry not to have responded sooner - been heavily involved with family seasonal festivities.
I'd really love to be able to pass on some positive info to the dog owner. In as much as you can judge from such a short, and stressful, meeting, she sure as hell looked as if she could do with all the help she can get with that dog. She had no control/sense!
BUT I don't know exactly where she lives and don't have the means to contact her.
I am awaiting contact from the Council Dog Warden who, the Police advised me on Xmas eve, will be ringing me to let me know what progress has been made. Hopefully the dog warden will advise her of retraining?