Ok, let me ask you this Richard. When my dog was much younger, and before he was terrified of people, we had problems with one of the kids in the neighborhood. This little boy, who was maybe 3 years old, would sneak up behind my dog, and smack him on the ass. Keep in mind, after the first time, I was aware of this little SOB and his intentions, but even though I would watch out for him, he occasionally managed to slip out of his house or sneak around the side of the building, creep up behind us unnoticed, and hit my dog. This would happen so quickly, that he wouldn't be there one second, and he would be on top of us the next. His parents let this little kid have the run of the neighboorhood unsupervised, and the few times they saw him do this, they stood by and laughed. My husband and I had even asked his parents to keep an eye on him and to never let him do this, but they completely ignored that. Thankfully, this family is now gone, but this is probably one of the reasons my dogs is weird around people today. Do you feel that if my dog would have bitten this kid that the family should not have had any liability in the situation? As I said, my dog was a puppy at the time, and this was before he turned weird. He had been socialized with children and had never shown any aggression towards anyone at this point.

Excellent point Richard. You have dogs you have to be responsible for their actions. A kid running at a dog isn't a dangerous situation and you will never be able to say it is. Why the hell did you let your dog bite him? You had the dog under control, right? On a leash, right?

Anyway this tread is kinda silly. Nothing happened, and if it did, it would have been the handlers fault however you wanna look at it.

My question is, why did we automatically assume that this nice Rott was a monster intact kid killer?

MSpindler, your fault. Sorry. . .stupid kids and their dipshit parents will not make your responsibility any less.

If the kid climbed into your yard, unlocked your kennel, and then got bit you might have a case.

Melissa,

I agree with VanCamp on this. If they won't control the kid, don't put the dog in the situation where the kid can sneak up on you. Put it in the car and go someplace else to work.

And after telling the parents once, maybe twice, I would drag the little bastard by his left ear to his parents and explain that the dog won't be a problem.........I will!!!!

When it comes right down to it, Richard and VanCamp are right. A dog bites a kid, the owner will almost always be liable to a certain extent. While not a problem anymore Melissa, you could have documented the problem with the little sob by complaining to the cops (probably wouldn't do any good) or by keeping track of the incidents and letting the parents know what happened in writing. while this wouldn't avoid liability if your dog bit the kid, you might be able to reduce damages and transfer some of the responsibility to the parents where it should be in the first place.

**** Richy?? Sombody doesn't like you?

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Well, the problem is that this wasn't happening at a place where I was trying to work the dog, it was right outside my home. I had to take the dog out that way, even if just to get him in the car. And Richard, you can believe that there was more than one time that I wanted to smack the shit out of this kid's a-hole parents <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I just think that it's pretty bad that not only do dog owners have to take responsility for their dogs, but essentially, they have to take responsibility for the actions of stupid people too. It seems that people & their kids can get away with doing whatever they want, and still not be liable. That's not really fair, especially if it's something that happens on YOUR property, like the story someone else mentioned earlier. Dog owners are taking ALL of the responsibility. I think parents need to teach their children, at an early age, to respect animals. When you live in the type of area that I do, parents don't teach their children to respect anything or anyone. It's sad.

And I can say that even if I had children, and had never in my life owned a dog, I would still feel that a parent needs to take responsibility for their child. Otherwise, aren't we just excusing stupidity?

I actually had a friend of my "shady" neighbour climb over my fence into my yard on a Saturday nite. I have never met this man, and he has never met my dogs. I happened to have let one of my dogs out for a whiz. My other male, who is a very mellow dog, was standing in my doorway with me and saw the guy's legs in my shrubs. My male held him at the fence barking at him. He did not bite him, and the man and I exchanged words. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> He even said "I knew it was ok as they wouldn't bite me". I could not believe how stupid he was. My yard is a 6 foot high wooden fence, which is bolted, and chained and padlocked. I know I would be liable here in Ontario, and would have had major problems, demand for vaccine proof, licensing, possibly quarantine, muzzle in public order, possible fine etc. How stupid is that?

:rolleyes: You know there are some people who should be forced to walk through life with the word "Moron" tattooed to their forehead....just to warn people that they're coming. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Laureen, was this guy in your yard just because he couldn't find anything better to do? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Ok, stupid people suck, I'll give you that.

I have a question though, how were you not able to keep the child away from your dog.

Sorry to pick on you M, but in a nutshell that is my point.

You could always OC the kid and his parents, you know like a loose dog.
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Er'. . .wait a minute. . .that might not be so good of an idea. Then you really would be at fault. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />