My kid got attacked by a dog

[QC]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

salty87,

I just checked with Brian again. No activity going on except the TV. Luke was just "walking around" and Brian was just walking into the Kitchen after watching a minute of the Grammy's with the two girls. I don't think Brian had sat down on the couch. Jeff was upstairs as well as my 13YO and their 13YO. Melissa is 15 and was a witness and still backs up Brian's story. I don't believe that Jeff was misrepresenting anything, he just was relaying his first thoughts while he was dealing with Brian's then bleeding wounds etc.

Brian just got back from the Dr. and the bandages are off, so I just got my first look. There will be very little scarring, but the wounds show that Luke had his upper teeth to the height of Brian's ears about 2/3 of the way from the nose to the ear on his right cheek. The lower jaw was across the throat and just on the other side of his chin (left side of throat). So Luke got him with about as wide a bite as he could probably go and literally had his adam's apple area completely inside his mouth. If you take your right thumb and place it on your own throat just on the right side of your adam's apple and take your fingers almost to your left ear, that would approximate the bite . . . :% (Edit: oops got the left/right thing backwards, but same bite)

One more piece of odd but relevant info. Brian stayed at another family's house the day before and their mutt took a nip at him . . . First two times that Brian has had any dogs go after him except maybe real little puppy nipping as they played. People are asking if Brian had a weird scent on him. I don't know. Not sure that it matters at this point. Also, I just found out that Luke has growled at two other kids before . . .

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Were it my dog, you wouldn't have to ask. I'd put it down. The only thing might be an accidental bite. My daughter had two dogs that didn't get along too well. She got between them and one lunged at the other and snagged a tooth or two in her ankle. It was accidental, but she put it down anyhow. Mostly because of the Rabies thing, but also because it had a vicious streak. It wasn't going for her, but I often saw that dog act like it could. It didn't quite make a year old. It was a mutt. Spaniels are among the least I'd expect an attack from. Must've been the commotion. Is the dog old?

 

[JB]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

"Most all dogs will become aggresive and bite when someone other than their owners get that close when they're eating. "

I don't agree, EHenry. No dog that is healthy will ever attack a higher ranking being, dog or human. All pet dogs must understand that any human designated as okay by the family outranks him, all the time. If not, they are a hazard.

I once had to demonstrate to a brittany that I outranked her. After that she behaved with me, but tried to attack one of my grandsons. Fortunately, SIL intervened in time and put her down on the spot.

If a dog feels he/she is being attacked it is normal to defend. That is outside the rules of rank and might be a possibility in this case, though it doesn't sound like it.

 

[sid the squid]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

As stated above if it was my dog I'd put him down myself as soon as the doctor had completed his rabies check. If your friend can't bring himself to put the dog down, offer to do it yourself for free, a bullet isn't that expensive.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Sorry to hear about your boy QC........hope all heals well for him. As for the dogs actions a few things must be remembered. First the dog was on its home turf, second dogs only react. They do not attack for no reason. For some reason Luke perceived something you son did as a threat, either to himself or someone Luke needed to protect. Weather the person attacked (your son in this case) realizes it or not, something they did triggered the attack. Your friends have an unstable animal on their hands. They need to either figure out what’s going on with the dog and correct it, or have the dog put down. Sounds like your friends need to contact The Dog Whisperer. Again all the best to your son.

 

[JRJ]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Glad your boy is doing well. IMO its up to the owner to put the dog down or not. Curious as to what your son's wishes are.
I would have responded sooner, but I googled brittany, and, well, I digress. Wishing Brian a speedy recovery.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Man, so many thoughts on this. Fist, I am soooo glad your boy is not seriously injured. Boys that age generally don't mind scars. I didn't anyway. Thought they made me look tough.

The behavior of the dog is really strange, but the news that another (normally friendly) dog nipped at him might mean something in the way of explaining the bite. Although the reason for the bite is moot at this point as the dog must be destroyed, it am curious about the motive.

Finally, I hope there are no infections or other complications from this. And just as important, I hope your son doesn't develop an aversion to dogs because of this. I was never traumatized by a dog as a kid, and now my dog is my second best friend.

All the best.

 

[aspeck]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

The dog needs put down. Period.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Wow, QC. I just read this, very sorry to hear about your boy. Kudos to him for not panicing like you said. I guess it all depends on how strongly you feel about it, as to whether the dog should be put down. If I were the dog owner and you asked me to put the dog down, I would do it and not think twice. From his point of view, I can't imagine how hard it would be to do it. Depends on the dogs history with the family. Tough decision. I hope your boy recovers well. He sounds like a tough little guy.

 

[QC]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

I agree that there may have been a threatening move, just cannot figure out what it may have been from the version of the story I am hearing. Brian is a happy go lucky kinda dude and what he calls "walking" could have been skipping, or hopping or jumping or just about anything.

He is on antibiotics and the Dr. said it looked like there was some infection already, but he really looks pretty good. He is not acting scared at all, and I think he knows that Luke's chances are slim although I have not brought that up specifically. I really don't think there will be any scars worth even discussing although there are three scrapes where Luke's front teeth kinda scraped down his cheek that Brian actually wants to scar 8) I also don't think this will temper his love for dogs at all. We may have dodged a bullett on this one, although Luke still may catch one . . .

 

[Docknocker]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

QC, my son was also bitten by a neighbors (familiar)dog. Not on the face, but on his hand, although the damage required surgery and 7 days in the hospital. My son has grown up with my Shepard, knows and loves dogs, and had known and played with the dog that bit him for several years.
My neighbor immediately did what he felt was the right, if not hard to do, thing - had his dog put down. On his own - I had nothing to do with it as I was fully involved in my sons medical woes when the dog was destroyed.
When I next spoke to my neighbor, I asked him why he had the dog put down, as I felt guilty about it. He replied if he couldn't trust the dog with a familiar (to the dog) child, than the dog was too much of a liability and danger to keep.
If my faithful old German Shepard ever seriously bit a person familiar to her, without provocation, than I too would have her destroyed. I wouldn't want to deal with the next potential attack. I am hardly a cold person, I love dogs, but an unprovoked attack on a child is a sign of a fatal flaw within the dog, and unfortionatly, needs to be addressed accordingly. BTW, I didn't sue my neighbor, just took care of my sons medical bills on my own. I was just happy my son came out OK, and realized it wasn't my neighbors fault. He too had to deal with alot. Hope your son's OK.

 

[heycods]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Not any choice here, If a person is bitten and has to see a dr. the law becomes involved then. Dog goes to pound for evaluation at the least.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Thats terrible QC. I hope Brian is ok. Yes, the dog should be put down based on what is known.

 

[QC]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Thanks all. At this point Luke is not my call. I too will not sue and will pay my deductible etc. without a second thought. Honestly I was initially more concerned about Jeff as a) I didn't know how bad it was, b) I know it is killing him and c) the guy was watching my kid while I partied with the Mrs. in Chicago . . . Anyway, I already know I can trust Jeff. He's as much like you guys as anybody I know, and he'll do the right thing. Thanks again.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

[colour=blue]Kevin, I'm glad that Brians' injuries are not serious, just tell him that a few well placed scars will drive the girls crazy.

Seriously though, how does BRIAN feel about Luke's possible demise?

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Sorry to hear your news, and pleased the little fellow is OK.
I guess it is a tough decision for the owner. I admire you for the attitude you have taken.....it must take a bit load of the owners mind.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[davemaxi1970]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Any dog that attacks without provocation needs to be put down, here in the UK it's the law.

I love my dogs to bits but I would have no hessitation if either of them was involved in an incident like this.

I'm pleased that Brian wasn't to badly hurt.

what he said!

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

I think you need to open up a dialogue with the dog.

Have you been suppressing his rights? Taking advantage of him? Perhaps some sort of reparations are going to be required.

In the mean time, the dog should be living in your home and sleeping in your bed.

You should be in the dog house.

That's the "new" American way.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Unless your son had the animal cornered and your son was inflicting extreme pain on it and the dog was fighting for its life, that dog needs to be put down.

If you son walked by and pulled the dog’s tail and it acted like that, it needs to be put down.

If your son reached down and took away its food while it was eating, the dog needs to be put down.

If your son was a complete stranger that broke into the house to steal the TV set and the dog did that, the dog needs to be put down.

Part of the problem may be with the dog’s owner. I suspect the animal was never properly cared for, it has been allowed to assume a posture of dominance, i.e. it does not see ALL people as dominant/superior to it. The same actions from the same dog will happen again. It is not a question of ‘if’, but a matter of ‘when’. YOU WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE FOOL if you allow either of your kids to go around that animal again. And don’t think that because an adult is present it won’t happen or that the adult can stop it. The dog’s owner is a fool if he doesn’t put the animal down.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

If your son was a complete stranger that broke into the house to steal the TV set and the dog did that, the dog needs to be put down.

Say what? That must be a typo. I would personally cook the dog a steak dinner for biting a burglar!