Dog Bit My Child This Morning In The Playground!

[Mummatothreecubs]

Hi, sorry if it’s in the wrong category.

This morning my child was bitten by a dog in the school playground by a parents dog. I didn’t see this happen although he was playing near the climbing frame when he dog jumped and clenched his jaw around his arm. Although his skin is not broken he’s been left with bit marks on his skin.

I raised my concerns to the deputy who was In the playground at the time and she said she would have a quiet word with the parent or may put this in our weekly newsletter.

Several parents bring their dogs to school for drop off/pick up, can anything be done about this? The school also has 2 small pet dogs which roam around on a lead.

I’m actually very concerned now and worried this could have again, he already isn’t great with dogs and now this has happened it’s going to take us a while to work on the whole safety around dogs again.

What is the rule around dogs in the playground? If there is one. Who do I speak to about this?

A lot of primary schools have a rule that dogs are not allowed on the grounds. I think that is a very good idea for this very reason and also because some children are scared of dogs.

Our school dont allow dogs onto the playground. Which is the sensible option. Was the dog on a lead?

Dogs shouldn't be allowed in the playground full stop unless guide dogs. Even pups in arms have been banned at our school.

I would not let it lie at all. The school should take serious action on this. I would inform the police.

No dogs allowed in our playground. Instead they get tied up to the fence outside and all bark at each other. Ds hates walking past them at pick up time.
But still better than having them running around the playground.

I guess if the school has 2 dogs of its own it might cause arguments to ban other people's?

What n earth? The deputy offered to have a quiet word with dog owner? And 'may' put it in the newsletter?

That is such an under reaction I'm literally lost for words

Yes odd reaction from the school

Personally I’d make a massive fuss, I wouldn’t let it go!

if they didn’t promise they’d sort it, I would take it further , even name and shame on social media

my reaction this morning! I came home vented to my husband and then wrote the headteacher a email. Also called to speak to the head but was told the deputy is dealing with it so there’s no need!

im fuming and wanted to see if im being OTT but clearly not after seeing the responses!

I need see what to do next because im not happy how she handled the situation in the morning!

If dogs are allowed in the school playground then ask to see the risk assessment...

I would also get your child seen by a doctor as a precaution.

School governor next as well as a threat to speak to the newspaper about their underwhelming response and lack of duty of care.

Ooh that's a good idea!

You are definitely not over-reacting, Op

I called the school for them to check how my child is and they’ve physically gone to check and said there is now no marks and he’s absolutely fine.

I told them I’m not happy and will be taking this further because they’ve taken to it very lightly!

expressed my concern of dogs being allowed in the playground too!

I'd log it via 101 next time it might leave a mark...

Was there an apology from the owner? Was it tied up?

I'd be fuming at the blasé response, it could easily have been your child's face. I'd certainly log it with police and I say that as a dog owner myself.

I'm sorry but what? You spoke to the deputy head? why did you do that? They are not dog wardens

Report to the police, straight away - should already have been done

And I've never known a playground that allows dogs either. When you say the school has 2 dogs, are they therapy dogs or a teachers dogs because if the latter I am not sure on the legality of that, especially for insurance purposes or how it passes ofsted inspections.

If the school dogs are trained as support dogs I would've thought that was OK? My Sil is a teacher with a support dog that goes from class to class and they had to undergo so much training for it. Also their temperament is pretty special.

I really don't understand as a dog owner, why anyone would take their dog into a playground though? My first thought was of them taking an unsanitary crap on the playground, let alone being off leash and running around.

Op, so sorry about your DS, definitely get the school to do something about keeping the playground and gate area dog free.

I would be letting the police know and tell the school to take it seriously. Dogs should never be on playgrounds.

That bloody idiot parent needs reading the riot act.

I’d be absolutely raging at this OP. The dogs shouldn’t be in the playground

I’d be fuming- dogs shouldn’t be inside school playgrounds.

I'd be reporting it with the police in case the dog does attack someone in the future. My daughters school has banned dogs from the playground, so nothing like this happens. The teacher marches the parent out of the playground if they attempt to bring one in.

Do you know the owner of the dog? What was their reaction?

I reported it to the Deputy Head as she was present on the school playground at the time!

I am now logging it with the police as we speak!

It’s Teachers dogs who work at the school and they bring them to school with them. They are always in the lead

I don't know any schools around us, or that I worked in that ever allowed dogs on school grounds. They all had a no dogs on school property rule.