Terrible Weekend

I've had a bad weekend. My dog, Carter, bit my 4yo son in the face Friday night. I had to take him to the E.R. He has a large puncture wound in his left cheek and a smaller puncture in his upper lip, near the corner of his mouth. After a visit to his pediatrician, he's doing well , no signs of infection.

Here is Ethan after getting home from the E.R.

He also had scratches from the top of his nose, between the eyes, down his cheek to the main wounds.

Here's Carter.

 

was the dog being aggressive or what happend?

 

I got bit in the face by a dog when I was a kid. Thankfully your son faired a bit better than I did. Hope it heals well and he feels better.

 

what happened??

 

I think is was a warning snap that got too close. I have a night time routine with my kids. At 9pm the kids prep for bed, while I walk the puppy and smoke. At the same time I walked out the door, I heard a bark from Carter followed by my son screamimg. My son swears up and down that he was only petting Carter's head. I didn't witness the bite.

Here's Skeeter. I should note, we've had the puppy for a week and he and carter get along great. Carter is a smart dog and relatively well behaved. He loves to play and is quite energetic. Til now, he's been a great dog, my son has forgiven and just wants to play with the dogs, but he can't and I'm afraid I have some difficult decisions soon to come.

 

wow

 

Have to wait til he heals completely before we know if any plastic surgery is needed/wanted.

 

sorry to hear that, but i think the dog have to go man

 

There is no doubt the dog has to go, the question is, putting it bluntly, dead or alive. It is not going to be an easy decision. I like him and even after getting bit in the face, my son still likes him too.

 

Too bad. Maybe the dog will have to find another home without kids, not worth taking a chance.

 

To me its an easy choice, once a dog bites a human whether its his master or a child that he has been around most of his life (idk that last part for sure) he has to go.

Dogs are smart and if they get away with it once they will try to get away with it again, and the next time whoever it is that is bitten may not be as lucky as your son appears to be right now.


A guy i know had a pit/australian shepherd mix, he had since it was a puppy. Then one day the dog was sitting by him and completely unprovoked the dog bit him.

My friend got up grabbed his pistol walked with the dog into the woods told him to laydown then shot him in the head.

My friend said that a dog that can bite his master is worse than a stranger behind you with a knife.

I guess my point is if you have a dog that you trust with your family and your kids and he breaks your trust even once then you can no longer trust that dog.
Now im not saying he is now a wild killing machine but dogs that bite plus small children could equal a tragedy in the future.

Im not saying you should do what my friend did but even if you take him to the pound you will have to report that the dog has bitten someone and that just makes it harder for a dog to be adopted.

I dont envy the choice that you will be having to make in the future. Hope your son heals perfectly and that he doesnt have a fear of dogs in the future.

 

im sorry to hear this.

I know it is tough to let go of a dog. I dont think killing it would be the answer. Maybe another home if you truly are getting rid of it.


good luck

 

i have kids too that's why i don't have dogs... sorry to hear that bro.. in the philippines if that happened there .. they eat the dog lol .. anyways hope your kid heals good.. aight peace

 

Sorry to hear about your son, luckily it wasn't higher or it may have been the eye.

I get nervous when my daughter(14 months) goes running after our dogs, a 120 lb Lab and a 160 lb Doberman, but they are as gentle as can be with her.

 

I have to keep him for ten days and report back to the health department as to whether or not he's showing any odd behavior or signs of illness. He's current on his shot's, so there is no issue there. I've been told I'll hear from animal control within the next couple days. FWIW, my son is not afraid of dogs now. He amazed me at the hospital with his composure. He never flinched when the doctor cleaned and dressed his wounds and he cooperated with the nurses, never cryed, and even refused any meds for pain. I was pleasantly suprised and very proud. He is a trooper.

 

Sounds like you have a tough young man in the family, i can only imagine how proud you are of him.

 

I see that others have already touched on the subject, but my first thought on reading your original post and seeing those pictures is that Carter looks a lot "livelier" than he would at my house.

I'm glad to hear that your son is doing OK. I've got a 3 year old of my own.

 

You've raised quite a little man. I'm sure you're very proud.

I agree with others (as you seem to as well)... the dog has to go. If it was my dog, it would already be put down.

My family has had several dogs over the years. One of my favorite dogs of all time snapped and bit a kid's face one day out of the blue. I wasn't there, but my mother was and said that the kid was just petting her head. We put the dog down the next day. It was sad, but we couldn't keep her around, and wouldn't be able to live with ourselves if she ever did as much (or more) damage to another person, especially another child.

 

I appreciate everyone's input and support. I'm still recovering from the stress factor.