Neighbours dog attacked my son, what to do next

sheramber

I am very surprised at The Dog;s Trust saying they would rehome the dog. Unless they just meant they would take the dog back. Dog's Trust do have do have behaviourists who work with the dogs.

However, I can appreciate that they cannot remove the dog from the owner. Only a court can do that.

A dog biting unprovoked should be checked out by a vet as it could be due to pain,particularly in an old dog.

Excusing it because the boy was wearing ear phones is all very well but they meet someone else wearing earphones.

You could try the dog warden. Our's is very good and will visit and speak to /advise when there is a problem with a dog's behaviour but not all are so helpful.

The last resort is the police, but you can tell them you do not want to press charges but would like someone to speak to the owners so they know how serious this is and must keep the dog under proper control.

That would also ensure that there is a record of it happening should it happen again.

milliemonster

Thank you for all your advice and support, it's been a very upsetting day, I've spoken with my neighbour at lunchtime to find out an update, he categorically and defiantly answered 'we are not sending him back' the only thing he is prepared to do is keep him out of my sons way when he goes and comes from school. He told me the vet has told him his dog is not aggressive. I calmly explained that I didn't find that acceptable and it left me no option but to contact the police and take further advice, he told me to 'call the police then'

So I have spoken with the police who have been extremely supportive, they have told me that they would do a full investigation which would include going into the dogs history, they would remove the dog from the neighbours for a period of 2 weeks whilst they undertake a full assessment of its behaviour by expert dog behaviour specialists for which neighbours would be charged for, following this they would decide whether the dog was dangerous or not, if it was it would be destroyed, If not it would be returned to our neighbour. They have advised that we explain this to our neighbours to try to see if this would make them come to the right decision about sending the dog back to the dogs trust. They told me also that because this has now happened if the dogs trust do take the dog back and try to rehome it, they are legally obliged to inform any potential new owner that this dog has attacked a child. They also told me they don't accept that muzzling the dog would make it more aggressive.

So I decided to take stock, discuss it with hubby when he gets home from work and then Speak to our neighbours again tonight

Whilst I was on the phone to the police I could hear my neighbour hammering on my front door but of course couldn't answer it. I've since gone out to run a few errands but my neighbour approached me as I left the house ranting that he had been knocking on my door to speak to me and phoning me and I have refused to talk to him, I explained I was on the phone to the police at the time and that I was upset at the moment and didn't want to discuss it further right now until my hubby is home, he said that I didn't appreciate how upset he was too.

I have since picked up a mobile message from him where he has said that they are going to send the dog back either today or tomorrow but I have to understand that to them he is their son (as I said earlier they have no children and really do treat the dogs they have had as a child) as my son is to me. I'm angry that they are comparing a dog with a child to be honest!

The dogs trust told me they couldn't take the dog back until the weekend at the earliest so I'm not sure what to make of my neighbour saying that he will be going back today or tomorrow.

I really don't want to cause my neighbours any distress, I know how they feel about this dog but at the end of the day I couldn't live with myself if at some point in the future I discovered it had attacked someone else

fairy_lights

milliemonster wrote: »

I have since picked up a mobile message from him where he has said that they are going to send the dog back either today or tomorrow but I have to understand that to them he is their son (as I said earlier they have no children and really do treat the dogs they have had as a child) as my son is to me. I'm angry that they are comparing a dog with a child to be honest!

You've done the right thing calling the police. No doubt your neighbours are feeling terrible about it but their feelings aren't your responsibility right now.


And I'll bet no one has ever had to go to A&E because your son has bitten them! Massive difference between an actual human child and a dog that they've had for ten months, and if they can't see that then god help them.

lisa110rry

You have been in such a difficult position, OP. You have to put your son first in this, which of course you know. Equally, your neighbours are elderly, and you quite rightly don't want to stress them more.

However, as we all know different dogs are suited to different family/home situations. The Dogs Trust never destroys a healthy dog; their behavourists will work with this dog. Your neighbours need to revisit the Dogs Trust with a view to finding a more suitable dog, clearly, one they can treat as their child, but who will behave properly. Perhaps when speaking to your neighbours this might be mentioned?

Person_one

Its completely understandable that they are devastated. If I had a rescue dog, bonded with it for 8 months, had seen no signs of aggression and then this happened, I'd be inconsolable. Of course, I would feel terrible that your son was injured, but he will heal soon and he's going to be ok thankfully. The long term consequences will be felt by them (and the dog) and its going to be really really rubbish.

You're absolutely doing the right thing by ensuring that action is taken, whether that's by them returning the dog to the Dogs Trust or the police taking the dog. Stick to your guns, but try not to get too angry with them for finding it hard, what they're going through is a kind of grief.

Dogs aren't children, but they are family members. You have a dog yourself, imagine how terrible you'd feel if your dog was the culprit, and the one you'd most likely never see again after tomorrow when things seemed fine just a few days ago.

milliemonster

Yes I absolutely agree person one, having had my dog from a pup for 10 years growing up with our children I completely understand how they become part of your family, but I also know that if the roles were reversed and our dog bit a neighbours child in a completely unprovoked attack I would at first see if a charity would take him (or the breeder as he is a pedigree) and if not as a last resort woukd have his destroyed as heartbreaking as that would be as I would never be able to trust him.

moneyistooshorttomention

You were absolutely right to contact the police and I would have done so too in your circumstances.

As another poster said - the fact your son is a certain height meant his chest got attacked, but a younger (smaller) child might get bitten on the face and that would be even worse:eek:. I really wouldnt like the thought that a pretty, confident little girl child might get this dog attacking her face and causing her injury/permanent loss of looks/loss of confidence for instance.

I understand where your neighbours are coming from - but they are being extremely selfish and short-sighted imo. If I'd ever had a dog that created an incident like that - I would have rung up and made arrangements to have it put down within the hour (no matter how attached to it I was). How can they even be sure it won't attack them personally?

Person_one

milliemonster wrote: »

Yes I absolutely agree person one, having had my dog from a pup for 10 years growing up with our children I completely understand how they become part of your family, but I also know that if the roles were reversed and our dog bit a neighbours child in a completely unprovoked attack I would at first see if a charity would take him (or the breeder as he is a pedigree) and if not as a last resort woukd have his destroyed as heartbreaking as that would be as I would never be able to trust him.

I'm sure you would do the responsible thing, but of course its much easier to say that when its just theory, and a lot harder to physically get it done when its really happening. As I say, I agree that they can't keep the dog without major changes that they don't seem willing or able to make, but right now they are in a truly terrible position and the dog will probably be making it a million times worse by being the softest and most affectionate its ever acted.

Sadly, its just one of those situations where there are no winners and no good outcomes.

Person_one

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I really wouldnt like the thought that a pretty, confident little girl child might get this dog attacking her face and causing her injury/permanent loss of looks/loss of confidence for instance.

Are you for real? That's where your mind goes in this situation?

moneyistooshorttomention

It's called "victim impact assessment" and I personally thoroughly agree with this modern idea of the victim saying exactly what impact someone else's irresponsible (or worse) actions have had on their life.