It seems to me that we divide into two camps - one of which sets high standards of any animal permitted to share their lives, but perhaps not always not of their children, and another which recognises that when we invite another species to share our home, we have to accept that there will be occasional incidents when behaviour will occur which is perfectly normal to that species and that allowances must be made.  Niether opinion is 'right' or 'wrong'.  I think it's very significant that the CPS say there is no case to answer - maybe they recognise that the dogs owners had taken all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any visitor to their house.

luck has very little to do with it we picked a breed known for its good temperment we got our first vizsla when my son was 1 year old she was reared along side him sadly she is no longer with us but never uttered a cross word in her life nor have our subsequant 8 vizslas! all our dogs are working gundogs who are out either beating or rough shooting the minimun of three times a week they are as you will know a gundog bred to do the job of a gundog but it doesnt stop them fitting into a family home and it certainly wouldnt excuse aggressive behaviour.
In cases like this if the breed is known as you seem to imply for a tendency to revert back to the aggressive guarding tendencies it makes me wonder why rescues are homing dogs into family situations.the ultimate thing i think here is yes children should treat dogs with respect and be observed all the time,but people have a resoponsibility to ensure there dog is not a danger to anyone we can all look back and say well i should of but it still doesnt change facts this dog has bittten a child hard enough to severe the finger this wasnt a snap! she ment it. and consequently her owners will never be able to trust her again,she could perhaps be rehomed as a guard dog! but is that what they really want for there companion,and to use you blunt terminoligy yes I would rather see one of my dogs killed than passed from pillar to post or worst still it happen again.
no one is asying they should make a knee jerke reaction but they do need to explore all possibiltys and being PTS is one of them and may ultimatley be required by law!

Sorry to disagree, but I would think a snap from most medium-to-large breeds would easily be powerful enough to sever a small finger.

This is such a dreadful situation all round. :(

Kao Kate

If you read my post correctly you will see that I  did not say that Rotties revert back to 'aggressive guarding tendencies' I said that Rotties are not bred to retreat under threat which you said your dogs would do if startled.   Rotties who ran would be as much use for their job as BCs who won't herd, Retrievers who won't retrieve, gun-shy gun dogs etc etc.

<while people condon /defend this type of behaviour >

I would not condone a dog attacking a child but we don't know what happened in this instance - did the dog growl and bite (which would generally make it deliberate).   Or did it, on being suddenly awoken, maybe when being landed, on firmly close its mouth with the poor child's hand too close.  When humans get a sudden pain they will often drawn in a breath and close their teeth - maybe dogs do the same.

I feel there are too many ifs, buts and maybes for anyone, but the people who witnessed or heard what was happening for any of us to say absolutely, what should happen to dogs in situations like this.

Same Michelled,i would have copped it to.
If blame HAS to be laid then i would put it onto the kid for opening the gate and the mum for not watching her child or at least warning her not to let the dog out.
I also wonder how the finger got bitten,if the child had fallen on the dog wouldnt her body have been bitten? Could the child have been poking the dog with her finger,hence the finger being bitten??

I think it is extremely irresponsible of people to advise having the dog put down,the easy way out may do for some,but when it comes to a living being,the easy way is the wrong way!

I have been following this post with much heartfelt sadness for you Cams.  My heart goes out to you and all those involved.  You have to do what is right for you and your family.  Whatever decision you make, it will have been a difficult one that has been well thought out.  I hope this matter is resolved without causing you any further pain.

>>I think it is extremely irresponsible of people to advise having the dog put down,the easy way out may do for some<<

Some would say it would be extremely irresponsible to keep the dog, especially with children in the house.  I certainly don't think having the dog put to sleep is an easy way out for someone who is giving it as much thought as he obviously is.

It is a very difficult decision to make either way.  I don't suppose the poster had much sleep last night after such a traumatic day.

Whatever our individual views, none of us would like to be in his position and should support him whatever decision he comes to.

Sandra

The police were rang back for me to ask why such a quick decision was taken by the CPS. The answer was.........When the police arrived to interview us the dogs were present, the police noted the precautions we had in place they also noted the type of muzzle used and also the sign in place at the front door. The police also noted the attitude the dogs had with them. The CPS were of a view that every precaution we could have taken was in place and were also of a view that the parent, knowing the dogs were in the house should have taken more care of the child, (we were not asked to look after the child) Without making judgements on the parents the child in question can be quite hyperactive at times. It was also taken ito account that the dog has no record of biting before and it was on it's own territory at the time.
The parents are obviously very angry with me and the cause of most of this is the fact that I had taken so long to come to a decision (they wanted the dog PTS at the earliest oppertunity and could not understand why I had to even think about this
I'm sorry to have to disagree with those that say a dog should be pulled about by children. A dog (in my oppinion) is a family companion and should be shown the respect it deserves.
The saddest thing about all of this is the fact that this dog was rescued by us to replace a previous rescue dog that had lived with us for many happy years. When he died our other Rottie pined terribly for him and it was so nice to see him get up and want to play again when this dog came into our family.

I think the police have taken a very calm and sensible attitude, considered the facts and not let emotions get in the way.

So  do I Jeangenie, the situation was evaluated fairly and without hysteria.

Lindsay
X

what a friend,any friend that asked me to KILL one of my dogs...well lets just say they ARE NO FRIEND,& dont deserve to be treated as such,-they should have beeing looking after their 5 yearold child. maybe theyd like to be reported for negilgence as the child was unsupervised . also if the child opened the gate & entered the dogs bit,if the dog was aggressive would it not have attacked the child then??? who knows the child could have tormented the dog then & at the later incident the dog remembered????
please dont kill your dog,youve rehomed the dog you have a responsibilty to do your best for her. they cant speak up,its for us to do our very best for them.

id fight tooth & nail to save my dogs

I would imagine a fair percentage of the parents' anger is due to the guilt they must feel at not supervising their child properly. It is often easier to pass blame than to accept it oneself.

I hope the child's hand heals well. I have a friend who lost two fingers as a child and has a perfectly normal life - except she has to wear her wedding ring on the middle finger of her left hand instead.

As we all know, non dog owning friends do not understand just how much our dogs mean to us.  To a lot of people 'its only a dog'.

which is what we were told on the phone "whats the matter with you it's only a dog" This comming from a couple that have owned and disowned three rotties in the last year. Yes this has made me sick and as you can all see there is no even remotely easy way out.

i should think a 5year old will adapt really well,people are born with  less fingers than that & go on to be artists.etc
ive known two grown men chop off half their fingers whilst chopping wood,never caused them any problems with work etc

I feel that the whole thing was a terrible accident. Years ago this is what it would have been put down to, and a child who went round opening gates etc was the one who would have been in trouble.
A friend of mine was bitten by her Golden Retriever when small because she was poking the dog whilst it ate. Her mum was cross with her, not the dog. She never teased the dog again and she loves the breed and now has one of her own. The grandmother did want the dog put down but her mother would not hear of it.

It sounds as if the dog in question is not at all aggressive normally and therefore unlikely to bite (if it let a child who tends towards huperactivity into its home and even let it open the gate there is not much wrong with the dog).

Lindsay
X

please dont get your dog PTS just because you feel guilty about your so called friends :(