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.

[ollieplimsoles]

I cant stand people who take no responsibility for their animals, and pass off an attack on a BABY as 'just playing' or 'just excited' I'm a dog lover and was brought up around dogs.

They would never see my child again.

[MythicalKings]

I'd want the dog dead or rehomed before my DC entered that house again.

You cannot trust your parents to keep your child safe in their home so if they won't get rid of the dog they will have to visit your home to see you and DD.

[MissDuke]

Op what a horrible situation for you Just out of interest did they take dd to hospital? Poor wee pet, I hope that her young age prevents her from developing a life long fear of dogs as they are flipping everywhere!

Whether the dog is put to sleep or not, I think the trust with your parents is gone forever. They are incapable of looking after a child and incapable of looking after a pet. I will never understand why people have dogs when they won't look after them properly, which includes training.

It sounds like the neighbour needs to make a complaint too to whoever investigates the situation as she was lucky to not have ended up in hospital also by the sounds of it.

Can you speak to work about your hours in order to try and work out childcare?

[lunar1]

The question you should be asking is why aren't you parents devastated that your dd was hurt in their care? What is wrong with them that they have reacted in this way?

To me how someone reacts when you need them so step up is the measure of a person. They don't care about what could have happened or how your dd is now. What does that say about them?

[Blu]

Beth, your poor baby, how is she this morning?

All really upsetting. I would be devastated to have it suddenly demonstrated to me that my parents cared less about my feelings as their dd than about their dog. I don't know anything about dig behaviour, but it seems the dog knows where it sits in the family hierarchy and it is above you, and your poor baby.

You have had a terrible fright and an emotional shock. No wonder you are exhausted.

Gain strength from taking control. I think personally I wouldn't get into an argument over whether the dig should be pts or not, just be calm and direct about not leaving your dd with them. At all, if you are not there. And whether or not the dog is supposed to be in a cage (it won't , they will forget, 'it's only for a minute' or the dog will escape, or whatever) or not. Take pride, and strength, in making your decisions rather than accepting theirs, see them in your terms, at your house.

Have you got any RL support? Take care of yourself.

[rumbleinthrjungle]

The bottom line: you absolutely cannot trust parents to protect the baby or the dog and the baby does not enter that house again. They will have to leave the house to see her. No ifs, no buts, no negotiating or second chances, no hoping they might use a crate - if they were stupid enough to leave a crawling baby to bother their dog they aren't alert enough to handle the two together.

Hoping your poor dd is better very soon.

[MrsBigginsPieShop]

Poor you OP. An awful thing to happen.
I have to agree with previous posters. Why aren't your parents just as devestated?
I would want the dog put down; being on private property is no longer relevant. And your parents reaction should be the same.
Your baby was bitten on the HEAD for goodness sake! I'd go NC with my parents over this if they didn't show more remorse and get rid of the dog. for you.

[DurhamDurham]

I hope your baby is ok, she won't remember a thing about it but I imagine it'll stay with you for ever.
You mentioned that your parents were great 90% of the time which isn't really enough is it if they are to be trusted with your baby? I wouldn't set foot in their house again, even if they had their dog put to sleep I wouldn't want to see them because of their attitude. I can't imagine how bad I would feel if a baby was injured while in my care and yet your parents haven't shown any remorse at all. All they are thinking about is themselves and their dog. The fact that your baby wasn't more seriously injured is just sheer luck, I wonder at what point they would have felt guilty/remorse, how bad would it have to have been for them to realise that they were to blame?

[HicDraconis]

How the dog behaved is entirely predictable and the fact that your child has been bitten is the fault of your parents and not the dog.

I wouldn't race to demand the dog be put down under those circumstances, but I would insist that the dog is crated whenever your daughter is there. If you can't trust them to do this, then I wouldn't allow her there unsupervised.

[AspieAndNT]

Sorry but have I read this right??

Your daughter was BITTEN by a dog and your parents did not take her to hospital as that would be regarded as causing a fuss????

OMG - I SO hope I have interpreted that incorrectly. I would NEVER let them have sole charge again. I would not be able to trust their decisions around my child. Don't want to be dramatic but if they cant see the seriousness of an animal attack then how could you POSSIBLY trust their judgement around other normal things eg a visit to a park with a lake.

I have seen some horrific dog bites thanks to my work and I would never trust any animal or owner who is so blase about it.

[ChasedByBees]

Your parents have behaved unforgivably. You'll make new support networks - go to children's centres and make friends. We've made friends through nursery and inviting our DD's friends and their family for play dates.

[MythicalKings]

Crating the dog is not a solution. The parents just won't do it, that's the sort they are.

The dog has to go or the DD never goes there again.

[FyreFly]

I second HicDraconis - this should have been completely avoidable had there been proper supervision. The dog did not bite for no reason, it was under stress and "defended" itself. The baby is of course too young to pick up on the warning signs the dog was giving off. It was not a hunting or killing instinct that kicked in, just a defensive one.

I personally would not want the dog put down under these circumstances, however I would never be leaving a child there again. Not because of the dog but because of the owners who are unwilling to supervise that dog and ensure the safety of both children and animal.

I'm so sorry your parents are reacting the way they are. Focus on your baby first and foremost, then you can consider what you will do about them, however I would never leave their grandchild with them again, unless the dog was no longer around.

[revealall]

This wasn't a horrific bite though Aspie. We don't know what type of dog it was. A small toy dog isn't the same issue as a larger breed. Op doesn't say but presumably the dog had the opportunity to really attack the child. It didn't. It was a dog response to having it's bone taken. I wouldn't trust it around a small child but I don't think it should be put down.

[Flutterbutterfly]

Honestly I would not feel the need for the dog to be destroyed.

I would never leave you child in these peoples care. They are irresponsible and clearly don't give a shit. We would not be visiting that house ever again. I'd be making it very clear.

You were very lucky, it could have been much worse. Your primary responsibility as a parent is keep your baby safe.

[charlestonchaplin]

OP, so you were concerned about your parents' ability to protect your daughter from their dog yet you left her in their sole care in their home? It's not just your parents who have questions to answer.

I feel sorry for dogs. Apparently 'loved' by many but only within certain parameters. It doesn't take much for some people to start baying for blood. (I don't own a dog, I don't want to either, I don't even like them very close to me physically.)

[Peacheykeen]

I would want the dog put Down and I would also want nothing more to do with parents. Nothing is more precious than your child how your parents can think more of their pet than their grandchild is beyond belief your poor baby and poor you op. I wouldn't want these people in My lives again but that's just me.

[AspieAndNT]

revealall - it does not matter WHAT size dog it is. The fact that it has caused injury that has resulted in a puncture wound and antibiotics means that it was serious.

Some of the worse injuries I have seen have been by "family friendly" dogs eg Labradors. Two of the worst I have seen was a baby who ended up on life support as it's skull had had a hole ripped out. The second was a Jack Russell who managed to rip two large gashes in a child's cheek - full thickness so the inside of the mouth could be seen.

I did not say have the dog put to sleep but I would not trust the parents to protect the child.

[Blu]

I think for the OP whether or not the dog is pts or not is a red herring to some extent. The main objective for you, Beth is to ensure that never again is your dd at risk because of your pare

[tangoisnice]

This is a nightmare I'm so sorry op. The dog needs putting down. Hope your wee one is ok.

[Blu]

Sorry, phone post!
Parents' lax attitudes. If they remove the dog from their home (re homing or pts) you can think about taking her there IF you want, if not, don't take her there. Take control in the face of whatever circumstances you are met with, and based on your own choices, not their opinions.

You have no power to demand the dig be pts unless the police or courts are involved, so no point making that the fulcrum of a battle. You can be calm and clear with your parents that your dd will not visit them while the dog is resident, and they can make their own decisions. You can then take responsibility for your dd in whatever way you think best.

Personally their failure to seek medical help, and downplaying the injury, would mean I would not leave her with them unsupervised again, whatever they do.

Good luck OP: a terrible shock and you are in a horrible position. But you can maybe take it as an opportunity to rise up.

[PandasRock]

Your parents need to demonstrate to you that you can trust them again. I would not be putting y child back into a situation where I cannot trust what the adults will do.

My brothers dog bit me some years ago. It wasn't particularly nasty, as luckily my brother was stood between me and the doc when the dog attacked and managed to deflect some of it. I do not understand their decision to keep the dog (the attack was out of the blue and I certainly had never done anything to provoke the dog), but my brother and SIL have never even asked me to be inthe same house as the dog again, let alone my children (who luckily were not present at the time). They remove their dog completley, for the duration of our visits. It will never be any different, as I will not risk my children (their dog has never belfry, nor since, bitten anyone. It seems to have been a random thing). I can trust them to remove the dog, so we still visit. They have never suggested the dog should be present, even though this was years ago and no other incidents have occurred. This is the absolute minimum I would ask for in your situation, OP, but you also need to trust that it will actually happen. Without that, no visits, ever.

[Pohtaytoh]

OP i'm sorry that this has happened to you and your little one, wishing her a swift recovery.

Also please don't blame yourself, you placed your trust in your parents to look after your child. They failed. As you were not there at the time i can also only assume that a) you don't think the dog posed a major risk to your baby (as in not showing signs of aggression previously) or you wouldn't have had them in the vicinity of each other let alone leaving your LO there. This leads me to assumption b) you weren't there so you can't know for sure but it seems likely your parents also failed the dog putting it in a position it was uncomfortable with/felt threatened/ rough play. For this reason i don't think it would be right to put the dog down, but simply state you won't have them around each other again. The ball is in their court then to Rehome.

[LazyLouLou]

I think some posters need to read the update from OP. The one where she says a neighbour rang to tell her that this perfectly normally acting dog had had its teeth at her throat...

OP, you know what you have to do. You have to say/shout very clearly that as long as the dog is still in the house/alive your DD will not be visiting them. They need to have a good think about the reality of the situation.

I hope your DD is OK today. Good luck xx

[Wishful80sMontage]

I've got to say that I wouldn't be taking my dd for a visit there whether the dog was around or not- I don't care if people think it's an overreaction but your parents response to the situation would be grounds for me going no contact they are not loving grandparents or parents