Absolutely devesated

[Beth2511]

Parents dog bit my 8 month old on the head, 2 bites marks on head and one on hand. Luckily there was only 1 puncture wound and no lasting damage but was so close to her eye! Took her to A&E who obviously need to inform social services.

I have felt a while my parents can't put my babies safety above the dog which was highlighted when all my parents were concerned about was whether the dog would be put down. Apparently I only took her to hospital to force them to get rid of the dog. For what its worth, I don't want the dog put down, I just want her caged when baby is around.

Is she likely to be put down? Am I in for a rough time from social services? I wasn't even there at the time.

[Lashalicious]

I would not trust them to watch my baby if the dog were still in their house, supposedly caged or in another room or not, or even in the yard, it could come running in or get loose. Don't do it. The dog of course needs to be put down, it has attacked a baby. I love dogs and there are so many dogs that are great with children, but NO, NO, NO, your parents have no business watching your baby if they are more concerned about this aggressive dog over their grandchild, or any child. Absolutely do not leave your baby there on their "promise" that the dog will be kept in another room or even caged. The dog will have to be removed from their property and even then? I'm not sure about allowing them to baby sit. Sorry, but that is a no brainer for me. Think of all the reports of aggressive dogs mauling and killing babies and children, your child could have been killed, who knows exactly what happened and what the dog would have kept doing if it had not been caught in the act.

[temperato]

I would want the dog put down. And if my parents did anything other than grovel for forgiveness, I probably wouldn't see them again I'm afraid.

[coolaschmoola]

My dad and his wife have a GSD that has barked at my dd since she was born. When she was three months old the dog jumped up and pulled her Sock off. At this point I asked that the dog be kept out of the room. When dd was nine months old my dad's wife accidentally let the dog through whilst my dd was sat on the carpet. The dog literally bounded across the room and lunged at dd. My brother was sat next to her and scooped her up - as he did the dog actually snapped - audible teeth click - luckily my brother is very quick. The dog is now caged on the odd occasion that we do go there. As a rule they come here. My dad's wife tried to pass it off as play. Play Barking, snap never happened blah blah blah. She wanted me to take my BABY to their house to work with the dog and her trainer to try to stop the 'play' Barking which was a blatantly jealous response. Luckily my dad saw the snap and agreed that the dog was not child safe and should be crated when children are in the house.

I don't like that dog, but I think my dad's wife is more dangerous than the dog because she refuses to acknowledge the behaviour, she treats the dog like a child - despite it being enormous. Had the dog bitten my child I know that my dad would take it straight to the vets and have it put down.

It would be the least I would expect. Snapping is bad - biting is game over imo.

[Lashalicious]

Your parents have you more worried about them and their dog than your own child, as if the dog attacking your baby is your fault! Your post reeks of your parents making you feel guilty about the possibility of them not getting to keep their killer dog. That is outrageous!!! OP, there is something seriously wrong with your parents!! They should have been devastated at what they allowed their dog to do! They should have apologized and been mortified and begged forgiveness and taken their dog straight to get it put down, end of!
I'm so afraid you're going to leave your baby with them again. Have you not learned a thing from this?? Your baby's safety comes before your parents' bizarre attachment to a killer dog. I would not even visit them again if they insist on keeping the dog after what it did to your baby, after what your parents allowed the dog to do to your baby.

[MrsMook]

I'd be less scared of being on my own than having a "support network" like your parents.

We're remote from family. In times of need, friends help out. Favours are mutually returned. Your DD's safety has to come first. They've just demonstrated that their loyalty is to a dog over their daughter and grandchild.

[coolaschmoola]

Posted too soon.

I also trust my dad to crate the dog, and I know that words have been had with his wife.

I can't actually remember the last time I was at their house, but they look after dd every week for an afternoon.... But never at home. They take her out.

[ColdTeaAgain]

This is awful OP, I really feel for you, they have let you down terribly.

I don't think I would ever trust them again with my children, with or without the dog. Their attitude is disgusting.

So sorry

[Imustgodowntotheseaagain]

"They've just demonstrated that their loyalty is to a dog over their daughter and grandchild."

This must be very sad for you, OP. I hope your daughter recovers soon. Presumably she is too little to remember the attack? Focus on the family you have with your husband, not your parents who have let you down very badly

[Tangerineandturquoise]

Honestly I think the two biggest issues are yours-Your self esteem is the first, your mother in law and your parents see you as a source of prey because you doubt yourself enough to come on here and see if you are being unreasonable about this.

Your parents can make you feel like poop because their dog attacked your baby-even their NDN is trying to say that dog is a menace.

Your second issue is YOU saw the need to seek medical help for your baby when you returned not them. Your baby was hurt and they didn't get her checked out, hell is going to be pretty damn cold before you should allow them to look after her again- no matter what about your job, get a nursery place or get a child minder or a nanny but don't fret about whether they can look after her, because they can't 90% of the time they are fine- but when it mattered when it counted which is less than 10% of the time- but when it actually really matters they cannot be trusted to protect your child
Your baby has had a traumatic experience, bits of that will stick around for a while- your parents are making you feel shit about it because they can. You need to stand up tall and proud and make clear that you are an adult, to be respected and you will fight to protect your child.
Right now they have put their dog above your baby and above you in this- I really wouldn't give them a second thought.

[TracyBarlow]

I've had EXACTLY the same situation with my inlaws. Their priority was the dog, rather than my child.

It unleashed a huge shitstorm. The upshot is that we now don't have anything to do with them.

Even after the police visited them and told them that they should keep the dog in a cage at all times, they still let it 'play' with the other grandchildren.

We just can't trust them to prioritise our children's' safety. It's meant massive changes to our lives in terms of now having zero childcare but I look back and I realise it was just the tip of their dysfunctional iceberg. I don't regret my actions for one minute, nor they theirs. They are apparently happy living with their dog, and without their grandchildren in their lives.

[MidniteScribbler]

Your parents have failed to protect your child AND their dog. One of the things I stress to any of my puppy buyers is that it is our job as owners to never put our dogs in a situation where they will ever feel the need to protect themselves, either against adults, children or other dogs. It sounds like the dog tried to take it's toy back, then when the baby came after it, it was trying to tell her to back off, so the fault lies with your parents who should have a) made sure there were no dog toys around that the baby could grab and b) when the child did grab a toy, put the dog somewhere it could chew it's bone (kitchen/utility room/backyard) where is could chew it's little bone to it's hearts content without feeling the need to protect it.

[MakeThemEatCake]

It's extreme but I would recommend cutting contact with your parents after this. There are so many things in your OP that are disturbing about their reactions, they are seeing their dog as the 'victim' in this, not your injured DD. The fact the dog didn't do more tragic harm is pure luck - they have put her life in jeopardy pure and simple.

You've said you won't let them care for her again, which is obviously the right thing to do, but I feel that resentment will build up in you based on the fact they let this happen, plus their unforgivable reaction. I honestly think you'd be a happier person distancing them from you. Hope your girl recovers soon.

[PiperChapstick]

Bless you OP. That's awful and I hope she's ok. Your parents are very disrespectful and sound completely deluded, I would want the dog out down or no more visits to theirs - next time your LO could be losing her eye or worse

[Ekkwhine]

I hope your LO's ok and as she's so young it shouldn't have made her afraid of dogs later on (not that that justifies it)

My dog bit my daughter. I'd never left them alone together and saw the whole thing. She didn't do anything.

It broke my heart as I'd had him for seven years at that time, but I had him put to sleep. I thought long and hard about rehoming him but couldn't guarantee that he'd have a home for life, nor that he would never be around children. It wasn't fair on him to be put in that position nor would it be safe to keep him, however careful I was. (He'd had a full check over for any underlying causes of pain)

He was put to sleep peacefully at home.

[Jacamaar]

In February last year my then 14 month old ds was attacked by our own dog.
We had owned her for 6 years and had never been concerned about her behaviour around any of our sons.
My ds just tried to hand the dog a biscuit and she turned on him it was over in seconds he is now scarred for life by his eye and his cheek and so am I on my hands.
I had the dog put down that night I didn't even question it if they have done it once I wouldn't for a second think that they would do it again and you might not be so lucky next time.
As for social services yes they will be in touch they wanted to make sure that my ds was never going to be around a risk that was the dog but we had already had her put down.the investigation lasted a month and they closed the case it felt like forever as they check everything.also I think the law changed not long after my sons attack about people being prosecuted if their dog attacks somebody but I'm not sure

[expatinscotland]

'I feel like if I react how I want to react then I'm going to be so on my own and I'm scared to do it.'

Sadly, you will need to find the strength from somewhere because these so-called parents don't deserve a grandchild.

[Jacamaar]

I should have said ss were very nice and explained everything that was going to happen and I received a report at the end.
Also ds is 2.5 now and has no fear of dogs unlike me now .
Like Ekkwhine my dog was also examined to check for pain,illness or Ill treatment but they found no cause

[recall]

Sorry to hear about your daughter - glad that there is no long lasting damage.

My Mum's Jack Russell once snarled at my toddler, and it worried me sick.
I ended up having a big row with my Mum about it. I asked her to simply separate the dog and the children when they went to her house - prevent the risk.

The next thing I knew she had re homed the dog with the Blue Cross
I felt awful, and said that wasn't necessary, but she said she just couldn't risk it. She has since herself re homed a soppy labrador from the Blue Cross that she had as a Puppy, and they guided her on getting the right dog for our circumstances. The children and the new dog now on get on great, and play together outside. I really admire my Mum, and we have had many tearful times getting to this point. The Blue Cross have reassured my Mum that the Jack Russell has gone to live on a farm with a family that don't have young children, and seems perfectly content.

Could this be a possibility for a compromise ?

[BabyFeets]

Pointless putting the dog down, it won't achieve nothing.
However I do think you should keep your baby away from their house, they can come to you. It just isn't safe please don't risk it

[RoboticSealpup]

I know this is a controversial thing to say, but in my opinion, all dogs pose a danger to babies, regardless of whether they have bitten before or not! They're animals with killer instincts and they don't know right from wrong. Your parents behaviour is beyond the pale. So many children have been seriously injured, or worse, because idiot dog owners think their snarling monster precious pup "wouldn't hurt a fly". Let them keep the bloody thing if they love it so much, but surely they must realise you won't want to visit them if they do?

[MaggieJoyBlunt]

You'll do fine on your own if you need to.

[Topseyt]

The dog was behaving totally normally and does not need put down.

The problem is your parents' utter failure to prevent or manage the situation. I would not trust them with my baby again. You've had.a lucky escape this time. You can't risk there ever being a next time.

I say that as the owner of two dogs. I like to think I am a responsible owner.

[Zillie77]

I don't get angry often, but I would be ripshit if this happened to my kid! This reminds me of stories of grandparents of ill grandchildren or babies who decline to personally get certain immunizations, thereby putting their own gkids at risk. Outrageous!

[Spartans]

This happened to my dd when she was about 7. At my mils house. Her dog grabbed dd by the head a few times. I had ds who was a baby and I was kicking it while dh wrestled it to the ground.

Dds head was bruised and there was a deep wound where her ear meets the scalp. We went to a&e who didn't even report the dog or the incident. Teh nurse said they wouldn't do anything about the dog anyway, because it was private property.

I do think that's changed though and now they can do something if it happens in a private residence. It has however damaged our relationship with mil permenantly. When we left hospital there was a stream of messages begging us not to have the dog out down, not asking how dd was. She kept wanting dd to stay over (she had never slept there before) to prove the dogs could be trusted.

She just didn't get it. 2 years later the dog got put down as it was sick but the relationship between us all will never be the same.

Personally op if I were you, regardless of the outcome. They wouldn't be looking after my child again. They obviously are more concerned about their dog, you can not trust they will keep the dog caged the entire time you child is there. Something could happen when they are letting the dog go outside etc. They are more concerned about their dog than you child's safety.