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Original poster

AFTER THE PIT BULL THREAD ADVICE NEEDED DESPERATLY...

309 replies

kittylette · 04/01/2007 15:50

i need advice,

BIL and SIL have a rotweiller/alsation cross, its huge,

theyve just had a baby son

weve told them the dangers (shouldnt have to really) but they sent a pic of the tiny baby lay across the front paws of the dog

i have two sons and havent visted them for 2 years because i wont allow them near the dog

in my pre-kids days the dog attacked me, tried to bite me BIL had to physically beat the dog to subdue it away from me,

its not a nice dog

im fear for the safety of my nephew

should i phone someone?

social serices?

i dont want to but how would i feel if something happened?

when you first meet the dog, you have to sit low down on the floor with your arms crossed and not give it eye contact

surely thats not right?

sjould a dog like that be near a bay?

they say is soft as anytning, its a big baby

OP posts:
nothercules · 04/01/2007 23:47

Sorry I have to post again. I am still in complete disbelief about why anyone who was of a vague sane mind would put a baby in the paws of a dog. Disbelief just doesnt cover it. It's pure fluke that the dog didnt simply pick it up between its jaws.

I agree about contacting authorities of some sort. THese people will clearly not listen to anything.

themoon66 · 04/01/2007 23:50

Very odd behaviour by dog owners IMO. What with kneeling infront of the dog and whathaveyou! Now they appear to be presenting a newborn baby as some kind of offering to bloody thing!! FFS!

untruth · 04/01/2007 23:57

I keep re-reading this thread, each time with more disbelief!

Chandra · 05/01/2007 00:11

Kitty... tell your BIL and SIL that the moment the child gets older and manage to sit higher than the dog the dog will go straight to his neck.

THe kneeling down is only reinforcing his agresive behaviour (and the need for it is the most worrying part of all you have posted). It may help them to talk to a serious dog trainer who could explain to them how risky the situation and their actitude are for all parties.

MamazonAKAfatty · 05/01/2007 00:24

I am a big dog lover and have owned a rotty myself.

That dog is an absolute danger to anyone and particularly a child.
Your Bil and sil's behaviour around the fdog is reineforcing that agresive behaviour.

dogs are pack animals and they need to understand the hierarchy within the pack. they must know that they are below their human counterparts.

i would call teh RSPCA and explain yoru concerns and ask themt o pay your BIl a visit to try and teach them some usefull hints about responsible dog ownership. I would then go and get some books on owning a Rotty and post them to them.

they are incredibly irresponsible. My own Rotty really was a giant teddy bear that i trusted with my life....but i would never leave him alone with my children....my life is one thing, my kids are another!

hunkermunker · 05/01/2007 00:26

I wouldn't trust a dog that had attacked in the past though, Fatty.

MamazonAKAfatty · 05/01/2007 00:31

i just think that they are incredibly short sighted people who may have all the best intentions but are actually doing more harm to the animal than they can imagine.

The dog has already bitten and WILL bite again. at which point the stark reality is that because of its breed the dog will be destroyed without question.

If they had bothered reading about the breed and training it correctly they could have had a well socialised animal...instead they have a killer in training.

They should be begged to hand the dog to a rottweiler rescue centre where it can be properly re trained and have the slimmest chance of a happy future.

The thought of that baby over his paws actually makes me feel ill

Edam · 05/01/2007 00:32

Kitty, I'd phone the RSCPCA for advice if I were you, and then maybe social services. You can make an anonymous call to SS. The previous aggression combined with the need to grovel to the dog suggest this animal is very dangerous.

MamazonAKAfatty · 05/01/2007 00:37

there is little SS could do at the moment. unfortunatly all that would happen is they would writte a letter saying theyhad been reffered because of the dog, the assesment team would send someone who would ask for the dog to be removed whilst they visit and they will discuss whether the dog was a danger...your BIL will explain that of course its not etc etc.

its not illegal to own a dog of this breed and until it bites and a report is filed there is little SS can do.

The RSPCA however coudl make a visit and will want to see the dog. if they have to perform all this palave in order to be in the room with it then they will asses it as dangerous. they can then take steps to either enforce training or to remove the animal if they feel it is a danger to others.

hunkermunker · 05/01/2007 00:38

Kitty, can you send the photo to the RSPCA?

twinsetandpearls · 05/01/2007 04:17

I would have no sympathy or patience and call the rspca and if theyadvise you to the police.

You may find that in the current climate the police or rspca may do a home visit whihc may have more affect tham you talking to them

hunkermunker · 05/01/2007 12:00

Kitty, have you made a decision?

Blu · 05/01/2007 12:28

Kitty, I have been haunted by this.
And the context of a MN-er having lost her dd, and your dn being at needless risk is making me feel ill. Possibly totally neurotically, but there you are.
I found out yesterday that Battersea Dogs Home run an advice line - it is about dog behaviour and aggressive dogs and doesn't specifically say they can advise about children at risk, but I expect they could have some knowledge. Certainly with regards to the whole prostrating yourself. Have a look on the Battersea Dogs Home website. The advice line does cost 25p a minute, but they would know where to turn to for help, perhaps?
Also my googling revealed a page from the clevelad police, who say they will advise about rights over dangerous dogs...so presumably your local police will too. And their site says that if ever you know of a child in danger, call the police.

I keep thinking of that Doberman used as a guard dog for an exhibition of rare teddies. Overnight it savaged every teddy to rags - it's handlers think that one teddy may have fallen off a display shelf and suprised the dog and it had just savaged everything in sight - as it would. What if your dn coughs unexpectedly and wakes the dog??

noddyholder · 05/01/2007 12:32

I would be worried as they seem to have given teh dog high status in tehir family and a crying baby taking attention away from it will anger it.My sister in law is a real animal lover but she has had and bred german shepherds for years and one of them attacked her twice in succession out of the blue and supposedly out of character and even she had to admit defeat and have it put to sleep.(and this dog loved her)Please alert someone to this the fact that they are in a confined space adds to the worry tbh

zephyrcat · 05/01/2007 12:41

Kitty I called into the RSPCA office this morning which turned out to be more of a vet, so I have just rung the number they gave me and expained the situation. She told me that you have to go to/ring your local police and report the fact that the dog has bitten or gone for you before and they will take it from there.

I can understand that you don't want to upset your family over this but please at least go and find out if you can report it anonymously. Your nephews life is in danger.

maisym · 05/01/2007 12:42

agree with zc - good luck with sorting this out.

3rdTriMossTer · 05/01/2007 12:49

Good luck with sorting it out, agree with everyone else, something needs doing and quickly.

My two dogs are pretty docile and friendly but I wouldn't put a baby in their paws. A dog that has bitten before? It's madness!

I do think though that some dog owners can be deluded when it comes to the flaws of their pets so if you say something to them, even if they mean well you will probably get something along the lines of "he only bit that time because he was ill / tired / felt threatened etc he adores the baby would never bite etc", so an anonymous call might have to be the way to go.

hertsnessex · 05/01/2007 12:56

id spk to outher family members to see what they think. dog does sound dangerous and they are putting baby at high risk.

short of doing anything illegal (i love dogs, trained as dog psychologist yrs ago)like poisoning the dog to get rid then i think you have to talkk to them directly.

but this is really out of your hands id say.

noddyholder · 05/01/2007 12:57

Let one of us do it anonymously if you prefer.We are all (most)cat able so if you need to ZC (or I am happy to do it too)can sort this out without involving you xx

zephyrcat · 05/01/2007 12:59

Yes definately noddy. Even if you want me to ring the police and just get some advice, not actually report it as such until you are ready to do it. You can get hold of me on [email protected]

poppiesinaline · 05/01/2007 13:13

I wouldnt put a baby or child in the paws of any animal let alone a dog that is tempermental

I urge you to do something kittylette.. I can completely understand you not wanting to upset family.. I would take the offer of very kind MNetters to report for you then its not 'you' who are reporting.

mellowma · 05/01/2007 13:15

Message withdrawn

mellowma · 05/01/2007 13:15

Message withdrawn

mummyhill · 05/01/2007 13:29

Maybe she has been back but decided not to post till she has made a decision as to how to best protect her nephew without a huge family fall out.

mellowma · 05/01/2007 13:34

Message withdrawn

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