Banned dog in playground

[comelywenchlywoo]

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!

My DD got caught up in a dog fight upon entering school grounds. There were about five dogs all tied up at the gate and as we walked in the dogs started fighting. Parents had been complaining for months about the dogs but the head teacher did nothing until this happened. I like dogs but some owners don't realise how scary dogs can be to not only children but to adults. Some dogs are face level with a child and it must be terrifying for a child. Also, I don't think it is fair on the dog to be tied up to a gate were there are large volumes of people walking past prodding them, the dog can feel threatened. The problem we have now is people bringing their dogs into the playground during club pickup times.

At home, my son has special needs and I'm working REALLY hard on teaching him about appropriate behaviour with dogs.

When we're in the street I'm holding his hand. He should be able to run and play in the school playground. He shouldn't have to hold my hand and not play with his friends because he has special needs and some dog owners are dicks.

The school playground is for school kids, not dogs.

That's shocking that dogs are even allowed on school grounds tbh. They weren't even allowed to wait in the lane outside our DDs school as it was felt to be unfair on the kids who were afraid of dogs. I would complain immediately and in writing to the Head and also report to Ofsted. If that dog was banned, it is the Head's responsibility to ensure all the children are safe from it.

we have a neighbour who's son is in my daughters class at school and they have a massive husky type dog. Last year it nearly killed my dog it was touch and go and cost hundreds in vet bills so god knows what would happen if it got hold of a child but she brings it to school everyday and ties it up at the gate so that hundreds of children pass very close to it. I report it repeatedly and it is constantly mentioned in the newsletters but everyday its there. The problem is its like a teddy bear and all the children want to stroke and poke it, it honestly puts the fear of god in me that one day it will snap and attack one of them

he needs to learn not all dogs are going to like it.

The school playground should be a safe space where his additional needs are not usurped by the "right" gorbpeople to bring in their dog.

for people not gorbpeople!

Chapulte, I really like that email. I will raise it with the owner first, as I can still escalate the issue afterwards.
I understand that's not what you guys recommend, but I just feel better telling them direct first, then they'll have no space to say 'but we thought it would be ok now' or some-such excuse when I do report them.

No dogs allowed in any of the playgrounds of the schools my dc have been to or I have worked in.

just write to the head quote the dangerous dogs act and say that despite the fact the dog bit your child its still on the premises!

Up to you op but I would visit Headteacher then immediately Inform the Governors.

If all dogs weren't banned I would report to the LA and Ofsted.

Your dc was bitten! I have a dog. I like dogs. But school is not the place for dogs and the dog owner is clearly paying no attention to the Head.

We often have dogs in my dcs playgrounds. They walk past the no dogs signs, in one school I have seen the HT go and have a quiet word, never saw that dog again, the other is happy for the no dogs sign to be ignored .
The first place you complain is the HT, then you escalate to the governors if need be. Health and safety is as wishy washy as always for dogs in a playground, very open to interpretation. But there must be a risk assessment for dogs in the playground, especially given the previous incident with your ds. Ether they have a risk assessment that they are breaking or they have no risk assessment, nether will please H&S and nobody wants H&S sniffing round. If the HT isn't taking you seriously I would ask to see the risk assessment, I would hope if you start talking about H&S might scare the HT into doing their job properly.

Best of luck OP, and ignore the victim blaming that has started.

DC schools all ban dogs - there are signs up and there's a teacher on patrol.

I would also email quoting risk assessment - reiterate DS was bitten by this dog in particular - quite health and safety and safeguarding

I would also mention your son has the right to enjoy the benefit off the playground without fear (as do all the kids)

Then I would say you will inform the police next time you see a known banned aggressive dog in the school

Email - do not phone. - they have to take responsibility as there is a paper trial

The fact that it attacked your DS without provocation is terrifying. The next child may be killed by the damn thing. Obviously with the exception of assistance dogs. No dogs should be allowed on school play grounds.
If I had a dog that bit a child. I'd be highly ashamed and remorseful.
He doesn't seem to give a shit. Standing there with the bloody dog. It'll attack again.

Its not just the danger of them biting. Its them shitting as well. Children well any really can blinded by dog shit

None of the schools in our small town allow dogs in the playground. They have to wait outside the school gate.

I can't understand why any school would allow this. You need to speak with the head though, don't engage with the owner since he clearly is happy to ignore the ban so no point trying to reason with him.

Don't raise it with the owner first - the owner has already shown that hey don't give a shit and are prepared to ignore the HT, let alone you.

Send Chapultepec's email - now. Put a bloody big title on it saying "Safeguarding Issue” and cc the safeguarding governor (usually, but not always, the chair of governors).

OP - just WHY are you "playing nice" by going to the owner first to "let them know" when their dog has already bitten your child? So what if they claim some kind of ignorance, thought it would be ok nonsense - that's bullshit - their dog has been banned, they know it, they're ignoring it. So get onto HT and let them deal with it!! You really, really don't need to play fair this time!