Saw a dog attack my grandchild!

[PaulB]

We've had a very traumatic day today and just back from A&E after finding my 13 month-old grandchild needs surgery on a deep face wound I saw happen this afternoon. IN MY OWN LIVING ROOM!

It was a truly sickening attack which occurred for no reason at all.

We'd foolishly agreed to babysit my sister's Scots Terrier while they're on holiday but today, we really wished we'd said no. It was a sweet thing used to babies as my sister has a seven month-old grandchild stay with her regularly but today, totally out of the blue, the dog jumped over my wife sat on the floor playing with the baby and viciously sunk its teeth into his beautiful little face! It was a truly sickening thing to see and had zero provocation.

I've been walking that dog and looking after him for five days now and never seen a glimmer of aggression with him, he seemed sweet and reliable but to switch like that today with no warning whatsoever has sickened me. My wife's in bits constantly blaming herself and breaking out in uncontrollable tears every half hour or so.

 

[keithmac]

Terrible thing to happen!, needless to say your sister can't trust it around the 7 month old after this incident (or any children for that matter..).

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[Drago]

It's a jealousy thing. If you're playing with youngsters, or even other pets, keep the dogs away.

I hope everyone's ok and the wee one makes a swift and full recovery.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Thats terrible, I hope your grandchild makes a quick and full reovery

 

[TVC]

Awful, I hope everyone can heal quickly.

 

[MarkF]

That's just awful, hopefully the injuries are not too severe, at that age it won't affect a child mentally (my son suffered similar at 2).

Ensure that the dog is put down.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Shocker for sure. Hope the baby is mending and will be restored fully

 

[PaulB]

Terrible thing to happen!, needless to say your sister can't trust it around the 7 month old after this incident (or any children for that matter..).

The police were alerted and they said that the dog had to be removed from my home immediately and if we couldn't find someone else to have it, it would have to go to police cells. They told me they could leave the decision to destroy it or not to my sister but because she has regular contact with her grandchild, there's no way she will be able to keep it herself so she'll have to find another home for it.

 

[steve50]

Horrible thing to happen, as above I do hope the baby makes a speedy recovery and any scarring heals quickly. unfortunately once a dog has done something like this it can never be trusted again, imo the only option is to have the dog pts before it gets the chance to attack another child or even an adult..

 

[Broadside]

Horrible thing to happen, as above I do hope the baby makes a speedy recovery and any scarring heals quickly. unfortunately once a dog has done something like this it can never be trusted again, imo the only option is to have the dog pts before it gets the chance to attack another child or even an adult..

I don't believe you can ever fully trust any dog with young children, not just one that has attacked. We have a Labrador and she is soft as butter but I never leave her alone with my children or any children, it is just not worth the risk.

 

[steve50]

I don't believe you can ever fully trust any dog with young children, not just one that has attacked. We have a Labrador and she is soft as butter but I never leave her alone with my children or any children, it is just not worth the risk.

I totally agree with you, I have two german shepherds, because we are foster parents, the dogs had to be assessed by dog behavioural "experts" as this breed is on the foster services dangerous dogs list. Both my dogs are certified safe and we have the certificates declaring them as such, I still would not leave any child alone with them.
The problem is even if adults are in the same room as the dog(s) it will not stop the dog attacking if it has decided to do so, as Paulb discovered, the attack can be swift and savage with no warning signs.

 

[Stephenite]

I'm very sorry for you all. A terrible thing to happen. As the child is so young the wounds may heal so well they will be unnoticable. Don't blame yourselves. And thanks for posting because it is a warning to us all.

 

[HLaB]

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Awful for everyone. I hope there are no long term consequences.

The dog has to be euthanised.