Who's blaming the dog?
Edit: unless you plan on changing the legal code, minors are minors and thus not responsible for their actions, legally. Their parents are.
The guy who owned the dog who bit you was at fault. Period.

Brianah,

It is obvious you have strong feelings about the role some 'kids' play in dog incidents, and their culpability in unfortunate outcomes.

In truth, I share your general view when it comes to punk acting kids but that doesn't change the laws that bound dog ownership. And the reality that accompanies dog laws is that the dog will pay the price for a bad outcome.

I certainly have come in contact with children who don't know or respect boundaries. I've had to move my dog to avoid a child who just didn't seem to understand that no means no, a word my dogs understand. And I've coped with parents who are equally dense.

Lo those many years ago, children might learn the lifelong dog lessons by a good bite, and the reaction, for the most part, was that the kid shouldn't have been messing with a strange dog. That was then, and now is now.

For good or ill, the dog owner handler is responsible for the protection of his or her dog. I'm not all twisted about that responsibility because it allows me the opportunity to confirm how miserable I am. My dog, my rules. Do not mess with my dog.

I understand the frustration of interaction with smug, self entitled, over indulged, wise butt teenagers but life is what it is.

Every now and then it is possible that a dog owner handler might be a jerk and that maybe a bad outcome is the result of some sap who sends his or her dog in harms way. Another discussion for another day.

The mantra of a dog owner handler should be to keep their dog safe from the accidental or intentional actions of others whether they be adult or child. My dog, my responsibility.

The law, is the law, is the law.

Brianah;

The way you approached the Staffy is exactly what most of us here work hard to avoid. There are countless rants here about people making unwanted advances, and what we do as handlers to avoid the situation. Th at doesn't mean that you deserved to be bitten. A dog that bites should not be allowed access to strangers.

That does not excuse us as handlers if our dog bites. If I have a dog that may bite, it is my duty to protect the public AND MY DOG. If someone gets close enough to harass my Dog, I have failed. If my dog gets put down because of my inability to protect her, I have noone to blame but myself.

It is not the dog's fault, but neither is it the victim's fault. If my dog has the potential to snap, he should not be in public, or he should be muzzled.

Brianah,

Why not file a complaint of harrassment if these kids are so bad? Quacking about their behavior when a dog bites won't get you anywhere.

 Quote: Duane Hull

Brianah;

The way you approached the Staffy is exactly what most of us here work hard to avoid. There are countless rants here about people making unwanted advances, and what we do as handlers to avoid the situation. Th at doesn't mean that you deserved to be bitten. A dog that bites should not be allowed access to strangers.

That does not excuse us as handlers if our dog bites. If I have a dog that may bite, it is my duty to protect the public AND MY DOG. If someone gets close enough to harass my Dog, I have failed. If my dog gets put down because of my inability to protect her, I have noone to blame but myself.

It is not the dog's fault, but neither is it the victim's fault. If my dog has the potential to snap, he should not be in public, or he should be muzzled.

"What Duane Said, In Spades!" (SIGH) How we interact with any dogs (our own or other people's) is our Personal Responsibility and Liability, IMHO.