My kid got attacked by a dog

[QC]

Mrs. QC and I were away for the weekend. My 11YO and 13YO stayed with good friends while we were away. They were both at the same house, close friends of ours and theirs. Anyway, this family has a 4YO Brittany Spaniel. Seemingly nice dog etc. My whole family loves dogs and our 11YO (Brian) has been around Luke (the dog) since he was a pup.

We were in Chicago and I got a call Sunday night at Midnight CST (10:00 PM at home). Jeff (the dad) said "sorry to call so late, the dog just bit Brian, I think they were horsin' around, and he has a couple of puncture wounds on his cheek, jaw and neck :% , and I am going to take him to emergency. He's alright, but a couple of them are pretty deep and they better get looked at". Jeff sounded really bummed and mentioned that he would "club the dog when I get back." I asked him to relax, let's worry about the dog later, and we'll talk more after you get done at emergency. Sorry you're having to handle this while we're away etc.

Brian calls me an hour later and he got a total of seven stitches, on four separate spots. Nothing we can really do at this point, we were already scheduled to fly home the next morning.

So the wounds are all covered up by bandages and I haven't seen them. Nothing close to his mouth, so I don't think the scarring will be too bad. I interviewed Brian today as I wanted to make sure what role he played in it etc. He had two witnesses (daughter of friend and her friend who corroborate his story). Apparently Brian was walking into the kitchen and passed by Luke. Brian reached down slightly to pet him as he walked by. Luke jumped up and attached himself to Brian's jawbone. Upper teeth on the cheek and lower teeth into his neck. Brian said he felt his skin starting to separate from his face so he grabbed Luke's upper and lower jaw with each hand, pulled apart until he was free and threw him to the ground!!!! I'm pretty proud of the little guy for keeping his head screwed on straight 8) Anyway, from what I can tell Brian did absolutely nothing to provoke this, and the dog went temporarily nuts :^ Doctor said that the neck wound was pretty close to, well never mind that . . . let's just say he recommended we call if Brian had any difficulty breathing.

Before I heard the whole story I was pretty sure that Brian must've been rolling around on the ground with Luke or something and got nipped with a few quick snaps. Apparently that's not the case. I was thinking that the dog just screwed up, but I am taking a different view now. Jeff is taking the dog to his vet today to talk it all over. I am not sure what story Jeff knows as I just learned it myself, but if I heard this story as a bystander, I would recommend the dog be put down. Thoughts?

 

[Reinellchris]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

any dog that bites a kid should be put down no excuse

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Wow!...
Hope your boy is OK.....
Unprovoed attack?
He should be put down, IMHO.....JK

 

[RPJS]

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.

 

[crunch]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Just demand that the dog be checked for Rabies, that will reassure you, and the dog will never bite again.

 

[imported_HammerHead1]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

wow! glad your boy is ok,
what is the history of the dog? most states forgive the first bite by law, but if the animal has a history of biting it should be euthanized,

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Check the dog for rabbies, and put him down. IMHO. JR

 

[POINTER94]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

If what you have been told is true, then the dog must be put down. He is a loaded gun in a day care. It may never happen again, but what if it does?

I sure hope your boy makes a full recovery. The dog went for the throat? Didn't the hospital take pictures? The viciousness of the attack sounds incredible. I hope this doesn't frighten you son from interactions with dogs in the future, but I wouldn't blame him if it did. I guess as long as that dog is at your friends home, you will be well advised never to let your son over there.

All the best to your son and family during this crisis.

 

[RPJS]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

I can't agree with the give the dog a chance view on this matter.
On this occasion QC's son had the inteligance and strength to release the dogs grip on him, what if it had been a younger child the dog bitten, give it a chance it may be next time.:%

 

[ehenry]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Just a thought here and please dont take this wrong..... You say your son walked in to the kitchen where the dog was. You didnt say if the dog was eating anything. Most owners can take pet their dog while the eat and even take food away from them. BUT, Most all dogs will become aggresive and bite when someone other than their owners get that close when they're eating.

I'm not taking to dogs side at all...just my experience.

I'm glad your son will recover and that the dog didnt get his eyes or worse.

I hope for the best and that this doesnt come between you and your freind's family.

 

[treedancer]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

I would make that dog road kill.:devil:

 

[QC]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Definitely no food involved. Brian mentioned that he was going into the kitchen to get a snack, so I thouhgt maybe he already had the snack. Brian says he never got to the food and that Luke was just there. No bone, no food with Brian, and no food with Luke. This was my second thought when I was learning the new story. The first being that they were playing together. At this point I am pretty confident that there was no provocation. I was just talking with my 13YO who was there but not in the room. He heard the story from the girls there and they said Brian was just petting him. Very weird. I don't think it will come between the families. Dad is a serious dog guy, and won't mess around. I have a feeling that Luke will not be coming home from the vet today . . .

 

[salty87]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

"Apparently Brain was walking into the kitchen and passed by Luke. Brian reached down slightly to pet him as he walked by. Luke jumped up and attached himself to Brian's jawbone."

without knowing any of the people or the dog involved, it sounds like there are some details missing. was there any food involved? were or had the kids been running or screaming? were they near his food bowl or bed?

i wouldn't expect kids to get the story completely straight after one of them had to pry the dog off his own throat. kids see what they see and remember what they remember. if the dog were a puppy or Brian didn't know the dog it would all seem to make more sense.

were there no adults close by to know what was going on in the house at the time? how many kids? how many kids that weren't yours or theirs?

i'd prefer to have some more details before sending Luke to his death. otherwise, i'd keep mine away from there and let them deal with it. who knows, maybe another kid had been teasing Luke and Brian was just unlucky to be the next one to reach for the dog.

dogs and kids can be a volatile mix but when something happens you have to look to the adults for answers. i'd press your buddy to find out what was going on at the time.

what does jeff say about all of this? is he paying the bills? is he scared? i would be if my dog bit a child!

 

[rwise]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

The dog must be kept for (I think) 21 days to make certain that nothing is wrong with him (health wise) Then,,, I have to agree to put it down.

Also I am glad that the young man will be ok.

 

[ehenry]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Its really strange...I've had Brittany's before and they typically arent aggressive.

The main thing is your son will recover.

 

[salty87]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

we posted at the same time, i think you answered my questions too. but, i'm still curious about the sort of commotion that may have been happening

that's sad for the dog but i'm also glad your son is ok.

.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Very odd indeed, after 4 yrs of them knowing each other? Usually someting of a extremly threating nature would cause this type of response,and perhap's even more puzzeling is the dog necking you son,

Dog's are a generally very cognative as to how hard and where they bit, aka a nip @ the hand's, or the feet usally a warning respsonse, hunting dogs do know the face and neck are vital area's and this dog hit hard (attacked), It hit hard once, i for one would put the dog down no matter how loved, or at the very least keep your children away from it,

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

Odd for that breed of dog but if I was the owner I would not be able to trust the dog around anyone again. The dog did not snap and release like it had been frightened, it went for the throat and hung on until physically overcome by the victim.



I would put the dog down.

If the dog is not put down and harms a second person the legal consequences could be very costly.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

I'm sorry the hear about your son QC and I am VERY happy that he will be ok. If I were in your shoes, I'd wait until I got home and talked face to face with your son and the then the dogs owner. If after that, you have no doubt that the dog was not provoked, by your son, or someone else, I would ask the owner to put the dog down. But if the laws do not provide that the dog be put down, it is up to the owner to do so if he wishes.
If it were my dog and he did that, unprovoked, I would have him put to sleep. I know mine hate it when kids show up, kids they have known, and start chasing each other. But because I know this, I keep them seperated.

 

[Mark42]

Re: My kid got attacked by a dog

My opinion is there is a HUGE difference between a nip on the hand or biting shoes vs latching onto the lower jaw/neck.

Almost always the hand and foot biting is caused by teasing the dog, or taking food or scaring the dog. A very common self defense reaction.

Bites to the face and neck are indicative of domination/aggressive tendencies.

After the appropriate evaluation, the dog should be put down.

Just my 2 cents.