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Original poster

Will a dog be put to sleep if it bites a child unprovoked?

53 replies

PinkBump2022 · 14/07/2022 17:52

My child was on her way to school when a dog ran across the road and grabbed the back of her leg. The owner had the dog on an extending leash and managed to pull the dog off. I took my child to hospital for treatment of cleaning the wound stitches and antibiotics. They said we must report this to police so we did. They are coming to take a statement soon. The woman who’s dog it was has contacted me to say she’s bought a muzzle for her dog so this can’t happen again but he’s never been like this before ever he’s an 8 year old dog she’s had him 5 years from a rescue.
will her dog be put to sleep?

OP posts:
Yodaisawally · 14/07/2022 17:57

How does a dog on a lead run across a road?

Original poster
PinkBump2022 · 14/07/2022 17:59

@Yodaisawally the lead was an extending lead they stretch quite far, it was not a large road just a quiet street. But that does not answer my question

OP posts:
GinIronic · 14/07/2022 17:59

What is your view? If this was my dog - I would have the dog PTS - I wouldn't risk another attack.

MarshaMelrose · 14/07/2022 18:00

Not necessarily, no.

Annfr · 14/07/2022 18:01

Not usually I don't think. Normally, owners will have to agree to certain things if deemed necessary (muzzle etc).

But if you're not pushing for it especially then I think the dog will be OK. It sounds like that's what you're worried about?

Hellocatshome · 14/07/2022 18:03

Not necessarily no but its very very unusual for a dog to bite completely unprovoked if it had previously been ok. I'm not saying your daughter provoked it but something may have done. If it really was completely unprovoked and no medical reason then that would worry me as the owner and seriously consider putting it down.

hattie43 · 14/07/2022 18:03

I hope not , maybe it's just had a turn in the extreme heat . It also sounds like the owner will keep it on a muzzle .

MissusPongo · 14/07/2022 18:05

I would pts in that situation.

DS was attacked by a dog in similar circs- he was playing in the park and a dog ran up completely unprovoked and attacked him (thankfully it had a muzzle on but he was still injured). It does happen.

HuffleWoof · 14/07/2022 18:05

This reply has been deleted

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rookiemere · 14/07/2022 18:09

Unfortunately in this case unless there are extenuating circumstances, the dog should be PTS.
The owner clearly has little control of it, if it's able to escape across a road and bite a child.
I'd report it to the police.

Suzi888 · 14/07/2022 18:09

I would hope not.
Why on earth was she walking her dog in this heat.

SirChenjins · 14/07/2022 18:11

Do you want the dog pts?

There's some interesting info here about dog bites in the UK - www.bestbehaviourdogtraining.co.uk/blog-post/what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-bites-someone/ and www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/dog-care/dog-law-england-and-wales (if you're in England & Wales)

CrossStichQueen · 14/07/2022 18:12

Huff

That's very unfair to the *OP!!!

I can see you are a dog lover but at the end of the day the owner was not in control of the dog and it bit the child unprovoked so badly she needed stitches!! Plus the OP has not said she wants it pts she is asking if it will be.

5zeds · 14/07/2022 18:12

I would hope so and I love dogs

ParisNoir · 14/07/2022 18:15

Hellocatshome · 14/07/2022 18:03

Not necessarily no but its very very unusual for a dog to bite completely unprovoked if it had previously been ok. I'm not saying your daughter provoked it but something may have done. If it really was completely unprovoked and no medical reason then that would worry me as the owner and seriously consider putting it down.

I disagree that its "unusual". My labrador had her head down sniffing a patch of grass in the park, wasnt even looking at the bull breed that came running over to her with purpose and almost ripped her neck out. She did not even glance at that dog and it ran over from the other side of the park and attacked her for no reason. Luckily she survived but it turned out it was the second time the dog had attacked another dog completely unprovoked. Of course there are reasons within the dog's own psyche/mental state but they dont have to be provoked for it to attack.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 14/07/2022 18:15

Suzi888 · 14/07/2022 18:09

I would hope not.
Why on earth was she walking her dog in this heat.

It's been top 19 degrees today and the sun only came out at 4. So it's been fine for walking the dog

NeedToLeaveNow · 14/07/2022 18:15

Did you read the post? @HuffleWoof

Dog bit child
Child needed stitches

I think it needs pts, another child may not be so lucky

takeitandleaveit · 14/07/2022 18:15

This will be a matter for the police to pursue. Please don't make light of what happened because you don't want the dog to be pts.

Anyway, you don't know whether the owner was telling the truth or not.

My DH was randomly bitten on the leg by a passing dog once, and that owner said the dog had never done it before either. Unfortunately she also refused to give her name or address, so although DH had to go to hospital (bleeding puncture wound) and they said we had to tell the police, nothing ever came of it.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 14/07/2022 18:16

Not always.

The owner needs to take strict measures to ensure it never happens again though.

NeedToLeaveNow · 14/07/2022 18:16

Its really not unusual at all @Hellocatshome

collieresponder88 · 14/07/2022 18:17

No they will be asked to sign an agreement that the dog must be muzzled outside of its house

blacksax · 14/07/2022 18:17

Hellocatshome · 14/07/2022 18:03

Not necessarily no but its very very unusual for a dog to bite completely unprovoked if it had previously been ok. I'm not saying your daughter provoked it but something may have done. If it really was completely unprovoked and no medical reason then that would worry me as the owner and seriously consider putting it down.

And how do we know that the owner wasn't lying through her teeth?

MugginsOverEre · 14/07/2022 18:19

Suzi888 · 14/07/2022 18:09

I would hope not.
Why on earth was she walking her dog in this heat.

OP didn't say where she was. Barely even looking like summer here and I'm UK.

OP I hope your child is okay. I don't know if the dog should be PTS but I do think the owner should be punished. The dog is out of control which is illegal. Expandable leads are bloody ridiculous too. Fine for in a field but too many use them on streets and they're as good as having the dogs loose! There was a huge stink in my local town about a woman running over a poor Jack Russel on a lead and her refusing to pay for vet treatment. People kicked off and had a go at her business etc as if she had mounted the kerb and driven straight at it. Turns out it bolted straight into the road and under her car's rear wheel as she drove by (so past the point of her even being able to see it) and the lead it was on was an extendable held by two young kids.

worriedatthistime · 14/07/2022 18:21

@AllThingsServeTheBeam that depends where you live as hotter here and I would not walk my dog in it

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 14/07/2022 18:21

worriedatthistime · 14/07/2022 18:21

@AllThingsServeTheBeam that depends where you live as hotter here and I would not walk my dog in it

Right and did op say where she was?

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