Saw a dog attack my grandchild!

[Mrs M]

How awful, sorry to hear this.
Hope the little one makes a very good recovery.
Best wishes.

 

[Oldbloke]

That's awful. Hope the little one is recovering ok

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Very sad, and I hope they recover, but I do have to wonder, if the dog had been something like a Staffie whether the reaction on here would have been so sympathetic to the OP and his sister? (And of course, by default, all other owners of said breed... Naturally).

I don't think so!

A dog is a dog, regardless of breed.


Like I say, I hope your Grandchild recovers without any lasting effects.

 

[PaulB]

Right, here's an update.

Eddy (named after the famous cyclist, Eddy Mer-you know how to spell it, I don't but it's him anyway) is now back from hospital and we've been down to see him and he's done what all children have the capability to do and is continuing to make a splendid recovery and bouncing around like nothing untoward has happened. Seen from his right-hand side, you'd wonder what the fuss was all about. Then you see his left side or full face on and while it's sad to see, looked at objectively, it's not terrible or anything. Like a little boy who's been into a bit of a scrape.

The max-fax surgeon was on hand to do some micro-surgical stitching and the senior ward nurse was full of praise on seeing him back on the ward so we're very optimistic as to the prognosis. Also, my wife is about the most senior children's nurse in Lancashire and although she can't sleep and has flashbacks on the noise of the incident mainly, when she looks dispassionately at the job the doctor's done, she's pleased at what she's seeing.

I never mentioned that while me and my sister were growing up, we always had dogs so are very comfortable around them. That's why this is such a massive shock to us. I've read about this a lot but yesterday was the first time I've ever seen such a scene. A dog viciously attacking a defenceless baby will always have the power to shake you up. Since I've been married, we haven't had a dog though because we're always out at work and consider it a bit rotten on them if you leave them in all day.

So there we are. Little Eddy will almost certainly make a full and uneventful physical recovery, we do slightly worry about the psychological element.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm glad that Eddy is on the mend, Paul. What a traumatic event!

I'm not an expert on dogs but my family members have had them most of my life so I am used to having them around. I think that they learn who is boss and to a well-trained dog that will be the humans. To a dog, it is probably obvious who to defer to - the BIG humans. I think that SMALL humans probably confuse them. The SMALL humans probably appear lower in the pack pecking order and therefore potential rivals who need to be put in their place. Unfortunately, that could result in an attack like this one.

 

[MarkF]

So there we are. Little Eddy will almost certainly make a full and uneventful physical recovery, we do slightly worry about the psychological element.

As I said Paul, my lad suffered similar at two, attacked by a dog in nursery! It split him from lip to nose, it's barely noticeable now, he's 18, & he has no memory of the incident.

The dog needs to be dead asap.

 

[steveindenmark]

Awful thing to happen.

The dog does not need to be put down. It needs to be rehomed in a place without children.

 

[User33236]

Awful thing to happen.

The dog does not need to be put down. It needs to be rehomed in a place without children.

With all due respect I disagree. The dog has shown itself to be a danger to a child and a 'place without children' does nothing to protect any child if/when the dog is being walked in a public area.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Right, here's an update.

Eddy (named after the famous cyclist, Eddy Mer-you know how to spell it, I don't but it's him anyway) is now back from hospital and we've been down to see him and he's done what all children have the capability to do and is continuing to make a splendid recovery and bouncing around like nothing untoward has happened. Seen from his right-hand side, you'd wonder what the fuss was all about. Then you see his left side or full face on and while it's sad to see, looked at objectively, it's not terrible or anything. Like a little boy who's been into a bit of a scrape.

The max-fax surgeon was on hand to do some micro-surgical stitching and the senior ward nurse was full of praise on seeing him back on the ward so we're very optimistic as to the prognosis. Also, my wife is about the most senior children's nurse in Lancashire and although she can't sleep and has flashbacks on the noise of the incident mainly, when she looks dispassionately at the job the doctor's done, she's pleased at what she's seeing.

I never mentioned that while me and my sister were growing up, we always had dogs so are very comfortable around them. That's why this is such a massive shock to us. I've read about this a lot but yesterday was the first time I've ever seen such a scene. A dog viciously attacking a defenceless baby will always have the power to shake you up. Since I've been married, we haven't had a dog though because we're always out at work and consider it a bit rotten on them if you leave them in all day.

So there we are. Little Eddy will almost certainly make a full and uneventful physical recovery, we do slightly worry about the psychological element.

Its lovely to hear that Eddy is making a good recovery.

 

[midlife]

Glad Eddy is on the mend . Just out of curiosity who was the max-fac surgeon?

Shaun

 

[pplpilot]

Terrible. Im sure little guy will bounce back.

I'm really getting to the end of my tether with dog people. Several times this year with my girls (5 & 3 years old) in the park dogs off leads come bounding over jumping up at them with 'owners' proclaiming that they [the dog] won't hurt them and it only wants to play. Yea right, tell that to the parents of children that have been bitten or worse. One woman took great offence when her scrappy little mutt jumped up and snarled at my 3 year old and I sent it off yelping after a good swift kick across the jaw. Threatened me with the police, good go on. I handed her my business card so thay knew where to find me. Never did hear anything.

 

[r04DiE]

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.

^^This, which is very easy to say after the event, but this is the way I see dogs. Not meaning to put down the OP at all, this could happen to anybody and I just wish you all the best and a speedy recovery for baby. Feel so awful for you and your wife and I hope she can eventually see that this was in no way her (or your) fault. Just a terrible thing to happen and how could either of you have known, what with the dog's past temperament, etc?

 

[PaulB]

The dog needs to be dead asap.

Awful thing to happen.

The dog does not need to be put down. It needs to be rehomed in a place without children.

Interesting differences of opinions there. My son and his wife, the parents of Eddy have both said that they DON'T want the dog to be put down. They both know the dog and have only seen the evidence of his actions. My wife though is adamant the dog should be destroyed as she witnessed the malicious destruction on the beautiful face of a defenceless baby. I could go either way. I reacted fastest of all - as described to me in minute detail by my wife - and she reckons that saved him from more damage as I dragged him off by his collar and threw him in the garden before he savaged Eddy even more while she admits she wouldn't have known what to do. Even the psychological excuses for the dog's actions though count for little when compared to the terrifying assault on a poor little baby who'd done no harm whatsoever to the dog.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Don't worry about the psychological side at all, he's too young luckily

 

[steveindenmark]

With all due respect I disagree. The dog has shown itself to be a danger to a child and a 'place without children' does nothing to protect any child if/when the dog is being walked in a public area.

But you also need to consider the circumstances. If this was a random attack by the dog on the street, I would agree with you, but it wasnt.