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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think dogs should be banned from beaches from April to September

379 replies

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 03/06/2011 22:04

Two words: DOGS MESS!!

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 04/06/2011 17:28

I did look at the NHS site. I was particularly interested in the bit that read 'Reports of serious dog attacks, usually involving young children, receive a lot of media coverage. However, such cases are very rare in England: in 2008, there were four deaths as a result of dog bites.'

Especially when you compare that to the numbers on sitte.

Cars are much more dangerous than dogs. No-one calls for them to be banned during the summer.

4 children in 2008 were killed by dogs. 121 children were killed by cars. I'd rather take my chances owning a dog than a car.

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 17:31

Milly because I need safe water.

Fucking hell so because they're unlikely to die thats ok???My son was assulted by an alsation with big teeth and you think that's something that is ok nothing to get upset about,shrug off.It bloody isn't.

Re your balloon dangers do you have any stats to back that up? Aside from toddlers choking(so you keep balloons out of reach)I fail to see the dangers with balloons,ballons not having teeth and all.

MillyR · 04/06/2011 17:32

Both of my kids have been bitten by other people's children, and the risk from being bitten by a human is greater, because of the risk of infection. Dog's mouths are much cleaner.

DooinMeCleanin · 04/06/2011 17:32

I'm sorry about your DS Mila, but you cannot blame all dogs for the actions of 1. Much like you cannot ban all cars because a few people turn them into deadly weapons.

I hope DS recovers quickly.

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 17:34

Dooin we're not talking deaths but bites which as half of all children will suffer from one in their lifetime(as stated on NHS direct)one can hardly describe them as rare.

MillyR · 04/06/2011 17:36

I looked up the stats on it on a previous dog thread. I can't be bothered to look it up again.

I do think that the risk from dogs is a small one compared to the risks we all take in every day life. The overall benefits to society as a whole from having dogs are far greater than the risks involved to society as a whole.

I don't doubt that you are upset, and I don't claim that you don't have reason to be. But lots of things in life do have a small risk attached to them. The existence of dogs is one of those risks.

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 17:38

Oh Milly you really don't know what you're talking about Grin.

Dogs mouths are one of the most germ infested places you can get.

I've just done my Paed 1st aid which had a whole section on dog bites(due to the high frequency of occurance) we were told then re the severity of the germs and the subsequent need for a course of strong antibiotics.

We rang NHS Direct (who assured ds it wasn't his fault,it happens a lot),they also said if the skin was broken he must have urgent hospital treatment/antibiotics due to the germs and a tetanus booster if needs be.

DooinMeCleanin · 04/06/2011 17:40

I'd like to know what they count as a 'bite' dogs mouth and nip. It's not a bite, but it can be scary to a child. They do state on the same site that serious bites or bites requiring treatment are rare. They also say it is usually the family dog. Dogs randomly nipping children in parks or on beaches are extremely rare.

If we are talking nips, dd2 has been nipped. It was her own fault for diving onto the dog while he was sleeping. It was also my fault for allowing the dog to sleep on the sofa while dd2 was playing.

She was not marked or scarred in anyway. It was a 'get the fuck off me, you really hurt me' nip not a bite. He is highly unlikely to nip anyone in the park as I imagine the number of children who would somersault onto his back while he was unaware would be nil.

MillyR · 04/06/2011 17:42

Goodness, I'm not saying that dog bites are sanitary or that people shouldn't get medical attention. But there is more risk of infection if you are bitten by a human.

I think you just have to accept that your desire to remove dogs from the countryside is never going to happen, and stop getting annoyed and stressed about the fact that as a society we accept that dogs are part of life and that we will all have to encounter them as part of life. Otherwise, the only person your stress is really going to have an impact on is you and your kids.

coffeeinbed · 04/06/2011 17:45

I think loud music should be banned.
Scares my dog, you see.

hephaestus · 04/06/2011 17:46

I wonder if there's any data on how many kids are bitten by dogs which are totally strange to them and how many are bitten by dogs in the immediate family. I'd put money on the latter being far, far more common.

MillyR · 04/06/2011 17:48

MilaMae, I've just been to the NHS direct site and it actually says:

Usually, the injuries from dog bites are minor and can be treated at home.
Reports of serious dog attacks, usually involving young children, receive a lot of media coverage. However, such cases are very rare in England: in 2008, there were four deaths as a result of dog bites.

Cat bites and human bites also usually only cause minor injuries, although they do carry a higher risk of infection. Therefore, treatment with antibiotics may be required as a precaution.

fifi25 · 04/06/2011 17:50

i lived in a council estate in the 80's. Everyone just opened their doors on a morning and let their dogs out. They used to roam around in large packs shitting all over and chasing people. I can remember jumping over fences to get away from them. Ive still never been bitten nor have my 3 brothers

babybythesea · 04/06/2011 17:51

MilaMae - I do feel for you and your son. It's a horrible thing for him to have to go through, and for you to watch.

However, I do think that your suggestion that dogs are only allowed in specific places so you can enjoy the countryside in peace is a bit strong. I also pay my taxes, and I live in the countryside, and that is mainly because I love to walk, with my well behaved dog, in said countryside, including beaches. I use it every day, not just when it is sunny. To ban me from everywhere would have just as big an infringement on my enjoyment of life as inconsiderate dog owners have on yours. Possibly bigger, because I am out for at least an hour, more usually 2, every single day of the year.

This is no way diminishes your son's experience, and if you did indeed choose a dog restricted beach then that owner should have had more respect-s/he was an idiot (or stronger) to let his/her dog run free on a restricted beach. I don't mind some beaches being off limits, but please don't ban me from going anywhere at all.

hephaestus · 04/06/2011 17:52

Ah, crosspost with Dooin then. Grin

Just last night I was in a pub beer garden with one of my dogs (on a lead, tucked under the picnic bench). A small boy snuck up behind her and pulled her tail. His parents saw, called him away but laughed when he went to do it again. I had to grab his arm to prevent him doing it again and tell him to go away. I am still seething about it. His parents will find it less amusing when one day he'll do that to the wrong dog and be disfigured for life.

coccyx · 04/06/2011 17:55

Dear god , humans leave an awful lot more detritus on the beach than any dog.
get a life

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 17:56

Complications from dog bites can be serious(sepsis).

80% of bites treated are dogs,only 5% are human and these are mostly in men fighting which obviously they choose to do.

My son didn't choose to be bitten. Kids have a right to play peacefully without the risk of dogs(ie dogs not on leads and not under control).

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 17:59

Any dog bite is serious to the child. A bite is a bite and children have the right to play without the risk of being bitten. Psycological damage is just as important as broken skin.

reelingintheyears · 04/06/2011 18:06

MilaMae.....i am truly sorry your DS was bitten but i have a dog who has never bitten anyone.

I regularly let her off her lead and shockingly loads of people encourage their children to approach her and try to pet her.

I take her away from them and they say

'Oooh,is it dangerous'

'It should be muzzled if it is'

No,she is not dangerous but you didn't know that when you let your DC jump in her face.

People should exercise more common sense.

(and i'm not suggesting for one minute that this was the case with your DS)

activate · 04/06/2011 19:25

not one of my children would ever approach a dog without asking the owner if they could stroke it

it is basic parenting

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 19:43

Err my son didn't 'approach' the dog that bit him, he walked past it.

MilaMae · 04/06/2011 19:44

Mine have never approached strange dogs either,my son still got bitten.

fifi25 · 04/06/2011 19:45

Was the dog on a lead and what happened to the owner?

cherrysodalover · 04/06/2011 19:53

Yes I agree. Owners can be so indulgent as their hound runs up and jumps on my 18 month old- oh he is really friendly as he knocks my son over....no apology.

A friend of a friend is a paed plastic surgeon and one of the top three reasons she sees children is.....dog bites often to the hand or face.
The other two reasons are corners-i.e coffee tables and I can't remember the other but it was not what you would predict.

cherrysodalover · 04/06/2011 19:53

oh yeah...trapped fingers in drawers and doors mainly.

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