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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Well done Mr Alhadi.....but what kind of parents still have a pitbull dog as a pet?

330 replies

mrsruffallo · 10/02/2011 11:50

Thank God for this man walking past...but really shouldn't all parents be thinking hard about having these kind of dogs in the home?

OP posts:
MotherJack · 11/02/2011 11:43

People don't not like what you say because they put their pets before their children, but because it's absolute tosh, MummyGil.

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 11:44

You do talk bollocks, MummyGil.

Oh yes, of course, because there are thousands of good homes and rescue places, i.e. where the new home is vetted and a guarantee that the dog will be taken back and not killed is made should it not work out and where the dog is vaccinated, neutered and chipped before this miraculous rehoming, just sitting there waiting for arseholes who want to abandon their dogs owing to having children, aren't there?

Well done to the "lots of people" you know who do this, they clearly have far more, far better contacts than the thousands of us involved in rescue. Hmm

And the one vet you met who shares your crazy attitude is obviously a shining example of their profession. Clearly the huge majority who don't dump their dogs when they have kids are stupid. Hmm

You're still talking offensive shit based on hysteria, ignorance and a very, very small minority of other people's experiences which you are accepting third hand.

And don't worry about the house smelling of dogs issue. Any decent dog owner wouldn't want you to set foot in their house so it shouldn't affect you much.

MummyGil · 11/02/2011 11:46

I didn't say DH was an expert on dogs but he does have personal experience of dealing with what can happen when dog owners have small children. The whole situation is very distressing. He spent one Christmas Eve putting a little girl's face back together. Christmas Eve! It's simply not a risk worth taking.

Oh yes, I'd rehome a cat too. Children are more important than pets.

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 11:47

Oh MotherJack, THANK YOU! :)

(Un MNly hugs)

I name changed about aa week ago because a piggin' ex family member had resumed their nasty little stalking practice... I don't think it occurred to anyone who I was until I posted on this thread! :o

Ephiny · 11/02/2011 11:47

Lots of people do decide they can't be bothered with their dog any more once they have children, I wouldn't call that sensible, more like stupid, irresponsible and cruel.
These people don't generally 'rehome' their dog either, at best they dump it on a rescue run by volunteers and donations and already full and overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of dogs needing their help, and leave the problem for someone else to deal with. At worst they just tie the dog up in a park or alley somewhere and drive off. The people the dog has known and loved and trusted and tried to please all it's life.

I'm happy not to be 'sensible' if that's what it involves Hmm

MrSpoc · 11/02/2011 11:48

MummyGil just because some people you know re-home thier dogs when they have kids does not mean that is the right decision.

I bet people do this for a number of reasons i.e

too tired to walk the dog
the mess of dog and baby
the cost of owning dog and baby
the house / flat is too small for both

You are just coming across as ill informed and prejidice against dogs full stop.

fluffy91 · 11/02/2011 11:49

MummyGil

You know if stupid people didn't allow their children to climb on, pinch, pull, hit, kick, scream at, try to ride and generally abuse the family dog most of these attacks would never have happened.

To get rid of a dog just because you have a child, unless you have a particularly grumpy, intolerant animal is very unfair and silly imo.

Bit of common sense and all is fine.

Ephiny · 11/02/2011 11:50

And if people have such strong feelings about not having small children live with their dog, maybe they should consider not having children?

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 11:55

Indeed. Your husband deals with the results of dog attacks, which are still thankfully remarkably rare, and your husband hears other people' versions of events. People who sometimes aren't even in the room to see what happened/what the child might have done to cause an attack.

I see and deal with the dogs.

First hand. Up close and personal. Been bitten twice in 46 years, one a graze, one a bruise. First dog was injured and bleeding and didn't know me, I was trying to bandage her prior to moving her to get to a vet, second dog was seriously ill. I deal with 60 or more a day when I'm in the rescue, I foster, I've been known to take in pound dogs and take in dogs off the street. I work with them too and handle 30 or more different dogs a week. As well as being an owner for over 25 years, including GSD and SBT.

I think I know a fuck site more than you do about dogs and their risks.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 11/02/2011 11:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

MummyGil · 11/02/2011 12:02

Like I said, it's a choice. Some choose pets and some choose children. I have no problem whatsoever with people choosing not to bring children into their lives because they have a powerful dog. It's just a choice that I wouldn't make.

Of course most dogs never go on to attack anyone but when an attack happens it is absolutely devastating for all involved. The child is maimed (or worse) and the dog ends up being put down. With the best will in the world, it isn't possible to predict which dogs will turn on children - otherwise these attacks simply wouldn't happen.

I'm sure no one would recommend abandoning a pet. I certainly don't. I also don't know of anyone who has had trouble rehoming their pet. It may be that those who do just dump their dogs haven't tried very hard (or at all) to find them another home.

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 12:06

PMSL BabyDubs

You can add this owner to the moron list too please. They wanted to get rid of their GSD because he walks away when their child reaches out to him and they consider him a risk! Shock

This is from the appeal for rescue which I put on Biggsd, using the owner's own words and report on the poor dog. Note that the dog had been left on his own for long periods, presumably still is, only the owner considers it not alone now they have another GSD Hmm and that "Rover's" time is spent isolated from the family behind a gate, even when the DC is being supervised, and in the utility room.

Now tell me who's the stupid ones????

Rover is a 4 and a half year old KC registered black and tan German Shepherd boy. He is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and up to date with flea and worming treatment. He is in the family home in X although transport can be arranged to a new home outside of the area, subject to the completion of a questionnaire and a homecheck, under normal rescue terms.

He currently lives with a female German Shepherd in a family home. He is not accustomed to children other than his owners' 11 month old apart from on walks when he will let children come up and pet him. When out walking he will pull towards other dogs but shows no aggression - the owners say that this is out of nothing more than a desire to play. Their own belief is that Rover is quite a dominant dog.

Rover has never lived with cats or small animals. His owners say that he is not a fan of cats - this MAY be able to be overcome, as I'm sure you're all aware, and would need further investigation. He's considered an intelligent dog with a wide range of basic commands and excellent recall although he will pull on the lead. He's in good health and has never had any injuries or illnesses.

Rover's family consider that there are concerns about their child's welfare but it must be stressed that Rover has NEVER shown any signs of aggression and has NEVER attempted to hurt their child. The owners tell us that Rover will pull away from their child's attempts to stroke him and will walk away. The family's opinion is that on one occasion they felt that Rover used all his reserves of restraint in doing this and it for this reason alone that they wish to rehome him.

Rover and his housemate have always been kept behind gates and never in the same room as their owner's small child but the owners are now concerned because their child is getting more mobile and putting his arms through the gate. Rover has been living in the utility room of the owners' house where he doesn't have a bed because he likes to lie on the floor. He is very well behaved, not destructive and is house trained. Prior to the owners getting their second GSD Rover was accustomed to being left alone for long periods of time.

Finally, this is what the owners have to say about Rover overall:

"Rover is a lovely dog, he makes an extremely loyal and loving dog to the right owner. He is somewhat aloof at times but he loves a good bum rub and a brush and will let you know when he wants some affection. He is extremely emotionally aware of when we are upset angry and responds well to both! We would keep this dog if only he was better with our son, like our second dog who will actively encourage attention off of him!"

BabyDubsEverywhere · 11/02/2011 12:13

FUCKWIT LIST!!!

Pls excuse my language though Blush

MummyGil · 11/02/2011 12:14

Sometimes "morons" show themselves up through the language they use. Just saying. :)

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 12:15

"I also don't know of anyone who has had trouble rehoming their pet. It may be that those who do just dump their dogs haven't tried very hard (or at all) to find them another home."

You are spreading damaging bullshit AGAIN! I really can't believe how stupid some people are!

Many of those you know who have rehomed pets probably didn't do so responsibly. Did they go through reputable rescue (cos we've got miles of kennels just waiting for the pets of twattish owners like your aquaintances of course Hmm )? Or did they rehome privately, with no homechecks, possibly with unneutered pets, without the back-up of a rescue which could take that pet on if the new home couldn't keep him? Do you KNOW what happens without that? The pet ends up in deep shit, often put to sleep, abused or thrown out, that's what! Or at best passed from incompetent home to incompetent home.

And given your friends' insistance in dumping their dogs when they had kids I do take it that these "lots" of people you know gave or sold their dogs only to those who were childless and either too old have kids or medically certified to be infertile?

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 12:15

Yep, fuckwit.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 11/02/2011 12:15

haha, and spelling, my savage baby eating cat is all over the keyboard - ill have him rehomed immediatly, i can see hes about to turn! Grin

BabyDubsEverywhere · 11/02/2011 12:16
Grin
wannaBe · 11/02/2011 12:25

MummyGil what would you propose i did with my guide dog when I had a baby? give her up? relinquish my independence? or perhaps I shouldn't have had children?

Go on tell me, I'd really like to know.

MummyGil · 11/02/2011 12:26

You obviously mix in very different circles from me. I can honestly say that my friends who have rehomed their pets did so reponsibly. The preferred route being to their own parents from whom they inherited the love of the breed in the first place. My cousin (the vet) gave her dog to her sister (also a vet).These are people who genuinely love their pets. They just don't want to one day being faced with an injured child and a dog which they have to put down. I don't know of anyone who had to resort to a rescue centre although I do have friends who have rescue dogs.

MummyGil · 11/02/2011 12:27

A guide dog isn't a pet. As you would know if you had one.

wannaBe · 11/02/2011 12:28

"You obviously mix in very different circles from me." thank fuck for that.

wannaBe · 11/02/2011 12:29

"A guide dog isn't a pet. As you would know if you had one." It's still a dog though. being a working dog doesn't make it any less of a dog, does it? and when the dog is not working then it is essentially just like a pet.

TheButterflyCollector · 11/02/2011 12:29

WannaBe, do you have contacts in SS? Because the SW a fellow rescuer, who also happens to be a qualified vet nurse, is dealing with needs reporting.

The lady is in the last stages of adopting two infants, under school age. Her SW clearly needs, if not sacking, then to go to SpecSavers, as the lady has 2 dogs... one of whom is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier!

MummyGil · 11/02/2011 12:31

When is a guide dog not working?