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Original poster

Banned dog in playground

68 replies

comelywenchlywoo · 27/01/2017 09:31

Last year a dog bit my son, on the face, whilst he was in the school playground. He was standing still and the attack was unprovoked. The dog was banned from the playground by the head, but this morning it was back. The guy stopped inside the gate rather than going to the school door, but it was still in the playground.

Surely a banned dog is a banned dog? I'm raging!!

For context, my son has special needs so impulse control is nada and he runs straight up to dogs, but he was genuinely doing nothing when he was bitten, and I believe that any dog in a school playground should be pretty much 'bullet-proof', or don't risk it!

OP posts:
Lemon12345 · 27/01/2017 10:01

At some local schools dogs were allowed in playgrounds. At one in particular lots of parents brought their new rescue/puppy to be socialised (read show off). I ALWAYS hated it, most of the dogs were petrified but the head was always the first in the line to pet and make a fuss of the dog, even dragging over kids that were fearful so they could 'learn dogs are nice'... Once even tied up a stray one parent found in the playground and encouraged the kids to pet it then left it with them...
Bloody stupid!!! And I LOVE dogs.

nat73 · 27/01/2017 10:03

Our kids are not keen on dogs and I am fed up to the back teeth of people who let their dogs run about jumping up at kids (and I am a dog lover myself).
There should not be any dogs in the school playground. (Banned or otherwise).
I would complain to the head / governors.

Secretlife0fbees · 27/01/2017 10:06

Thanks Comely. I had assumed that if a dog bit someone it would automatically get put down but obviously not!
Dd was bitten in a park and the dog was on a lead, she was standing next to it as my parents were talking to the owners (neighbours) and it just turned its head an attacked her face. Maybe it saw her in its peripheral vision and got scared - shows it's a dog that shouldn't ever be allowed near people! My dd thankfully is not scared of dogs but she does still talk about it as she was in hospital for 4 days after the surgery.
I think you should report them to the police as they have broken the agreement....

Cakingbad · 27/01/2017 10:06

Don't wait til you see the dog again OP. Report your latest sighting to the Head and the police today. That is a dangerous dog.

icanteven · 27/01/2017 10:06

I will politely inform the owners that it's not on

Noooo - I would go straight to the school NOW and tell them that the dog is back on school property and they are failing in their duty of care, if they are allowing a dog who has ALREADY bitten one of their students on school property. Make THEM escalate it.

Mrscog · 27/01/2017 10:08

I would write to the governors asking that all dogs be banned from the playground - a busy school playground is no place for lots of dogs.

ifonly4 · 27/01/2017 10:09

You need to bring this up with the school NOW. To be honest I would have thought a complete ban of dogs would be appropriate. At our local primary dogs are not allowed on school premises at all, ie once you leave and main path and enter school grounds. Parents wait at the top and see their kids go off in the right direction if they want to take their dog out for fresh air.

tiggytape · 27/01/2017 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NanooCov · 27/01/2017 10:11

Wtaf? There shouldn't be any dogs on school grounds. Don't wait for it to happen again. If the head won't do anything, escalate to the local education authority. I doubt very much from a safety point of view they'd be too impressed at the head allowing a pack of dogs in the playground.

tiggytape · 27/01/2017 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chapultepec564 · 27/01/2017 10:12

Actually I think you need to act now rather than wait for a repeat occurrence. (Dog owner here)

Email to head teacher.

"On x date the dog belonging to Mr/s x bit my son while he was playing in the school playground. This was an unprovoked attack. Following police intervention, it was agreed that the dog would be banned from the playground as a result.
Today (or date) the same dog was again in the school playground with Mr/s x.
This dog is a threat to the physical well being of the children in the playground.
I would ask that you take immediate action to prevent this dog entering the playground again in order to prevent a future incident and to fulfil your duty of care to the children.
Please let me know within 5 days what action you have taken.
Kind regards etc

No point in "saying" anything to anyone. If it is not recorded in writing it did not happen. If you do not get a reply, escalate to the governors. I think dogs on school premises are a judgement call. But a dog with form for biting is clearly out of place.

LTBforGin · 27/01/2017 10:16

After your dc got bit in the playground and the Head is still allowing owners to bring their dogs in the playground I would be straight into the office asking to speak to the Head. After such a dangerous incident all dogs should be banned.

I'd consider going to the LA and Ofsted too tbh

JanuaryMoods · 27/01/2017 10:19

It's ridiculous to allow dogs in playgrounds. All of them should be banned. Every school I've taught at has had a dog ban.

hatethegame · 27/01/2017 10:20

Please don't speak to the owners, there's no point. They know that it's banned and yet they ignore it.

Contact the head and anyone else of any power at the school - kick up a massive shitstorm and threaten to contact the authorities again. Whatever you do, don't wait until next time - who knows what could happen next time.

IWantATardis · 27/01/2017 10:24

I'd be talking to the school rather than the dogs owner.

The school are in a better position to enforce the ban on this dog than you.

Love51 · 27/01/2017 10:25

Massive underreaction by the school. And by the owner - if your dog bites a child, surely your own sense would tell you to keep it away from children. No need for dogs in playgrounds, ever. My 5yo hates dogs as there are so many crap owners round here, and she will be moving schools shortly, she isn't happy, but if there are dogs there she might actually hate the idea!

Rednailsandnaeknickers · 27/01/2017 10:28

Don't talk to the owner. They obviously don't care!
Email Head TODAY with details. Say you will inform council/la/governors whoever is next up the food chain if the ban is not enforced. Suggest a ban on all dogs for safety.
I'm a dog lover btw but don't take ddog on school run, I take him out after! Much less stressful for everyone including DDog!

LTBforGin · 27/01/2017 10:28

You could also inform the school Governors in case it's gone under their radar.

ExConstance · 27/01/2017 10:29

Goodness! my son's school always welcomed visiting dogs and there were never any problems. The hunt used to meet there once a year and the children all romped about with the hounds.

Obviously banned dogs should not be in the playground and I'm sure the head will sort out the owner if you let them know but on the whole mumsnet seems to be a haven for anti dog hysteria.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 27/01/2017 10:30

Don't speak to the owners, they've already shown their true colours by bringing it back in to the school, and all approaching them will achieve us a scene and you feeling worse than you already do.

I would see the head straight away - I am absolutely gobsmacked that the head didn't immediately ban ALL dogs after the incident - incredibly irresponsible of him/her.

And if you don't get a positive resolution to the situation immediately I'd be raising it with the governors.

YouTheCat · 27/01/2017 10:32

Write a letter to the head.

There should be no dogs in the play ground at all. If the issue isn't resolved, write to the governors and then to the LEA or Ofsted. This is a safeguarding issue.

itsmine · 27/01/2017 10:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 27/01/2017 10:36

No dog is an out of control dog - until it is. What I'm trying to say is that you cannot say this dog can come in but this one can't - a school playground is not a place for dogs.

liz70 · 27/01/2017 10:42

No dogs or smoking anywhere in school or grounds here. I thought that was the case everywhere. Shocked to find that it's not.

Athome77 · 27/01/2017 10:45

Your child runs up to dogs and you expect him not to be bitten? I agree that it shouldn't be in the playground but you need to do something regarding your son he will encounter other dogs and can't go running up to them, he needs to learn not all dogs are going to like it.