A large scar
By inu1711
@inu1711 (5285)
Romania
September 4, 2010 3:07pm CST
I was walking my dog Binne this evening when we met two girls. They were no older than ten. They liked Binne and asked me if they can pet her. I gladly let her play with Binne, knowing that she likes to play with children so much. The girls petted her and Binne rolled on the sidewalk and put her belly up, with her feet in the air. Both the girls and Binne enjoied the moment.
Than one of the girls told me that Binne is only a little smaller than her dog. I asked her about her dog and she said she has a Rottweiler puppy no larger than 40 pounds. She told me that her dog bit her: the dog was sleeping on the couch and she wanted to sit beside him. But the dog woke up and bit her. When saying this, the girl showed me her cheek - she had a large scar under her right eye. Oh my God! She could have lost her eye!
I was surprised the girl didn't loose her confidence in dogs and was still eager to play with them.
What do you think about the girl's story? What would you do if your dog bit your child like that?
3 people like this
9 responses
@Galena (9110)
•
4 Sep 10
this is what happened to me.
not only do I still love dogs, I still love the dog that did it.
he meant no harm, he's a jumpy sleepy. he'd never intentionally hurt anyone.
I had 13 stitches right at the base of my nose, between my eyes.
the thing is, dogs are full of love. and anyone can tell where there is malice in biting or no malice. my dog loves me. he would never hurt me on purpose. it was a horrible accident, and I can't not love his bubbly, exuberant, happy and loving soul because of what he did half way between waking and sleep.
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
•
5 Sep 10
no, I was an adult, and I think I flopped down quite hard on the sofa, but not on him.
and he panicked. there was no malice there, he's a jumpy sleeper, and he just lashed out. my face happened to be in the way.
he'd never intentionally bite someone.
but we're all more careful when he's asleep now, and talk to him when we approach him, and make sure he's fully awake before sitting down.
and it all works nicely.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
4 Sep 10
I'm sorry for your accident. I hope you'll help us understand how something like this could happen.
I suppose you were a child when this happened to you. Did you sit calmly beside your dog or you jumped and scared him from his sleep? Because if you scared him, he is not to blame, indeed.
The girl didn't tell me if she had any fault, and maybe the dog is not the only one to blame in this whole story.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
5 Sep 10
I understand your point of view. You are an adult and you can be careful around your dog when he sleeps. But what about a child? Do you think a child can be calm and play with caution around a "jumpy sleeper dog"? I still don't think such a dog is safe for a family with children. That accident can be repeted any time.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Sep 10
Inu, you know I am an animal lover, but if my dog bit my child like that, I would get rid of it. Now my puppies do bite and scratch my son, but it is in play and we work on them to not do that. They have slowed down a lot on the biting, knowing they are never to bite us, but the scratching, well, that is where we are working on them to stop jumping up on us..lol
It is amazing the girl hasn't become fearful of dogs. Then again I was bitten by a German Shepherd and never lost confidence on dogs, just black/brown shepherds..Actually it isn't a terrifying fear, but a huge respect for them. Unless it was my dog, I doubt I could do anything but a light petting.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
4 Sep 10
Oh, Carmelanirel, beleive me, I know what you are talking about. I still have my hands full of scratches and bruises from the tough playing with Binne. 
But all theese are made during playing, and she doesn't mean any harm.
But a puppy who wake up and bite his little master because she dared to sit beside him? Oh my God! 
I can't imagine what this puppy will become! The girl didn't know what age is her dog, but, as she said he is a Rottweiler and he is not much larger than Binne, I imagine he is 4 or 5 months old.
I wonder what were her parents doing when this 'accident' happened.
But all theese are made during playing, and she doesn't mean any harm.
But a puppy who wake up and bite his little master because she dared to sit beside him? Oh my God! I can't imagine what this puppy will become! The girl didn't know what age is her dog, but, as she said he is a Rottweiler and he is not much larger than Binne, I imagine he is 4 or 5 months old.
I wonder what were her parents doing when this 'accident' happened.1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Sep 10
I hope they get rid of it, because even if he doesn't bite the girl anymore, she has friends and if a friend gets bit, then they might be forced to put the dog down..
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
5 Sep 10
Well I certainly would not keep the Dog, he has done it once he will do it again
My Son was bitten badly by a Dog we knew in the Face and his leg when he was 8, the Dog was put down straight away we also had a Dog as I have always had Dogs, but my Son was fine with Dogs and to this Day he loves Dogs
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
6 Sep 10
Hi gabs, everybody seems to think the same. If the dog bite a child once, he will do this again. But take a look at Galena's response, she seems to be right, too. She said that the dog is just a jumpy sleeper and he may not be a vicious dog. What do you think about that?
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
6 Sep 10
Hi Inu
It could very well be and she is right you can always tell if a Dog is dangerous
But still I think they need to watch the Dog and also if he does do it again then it is the case that he is a vicious Dog personally I would have still let the Dog go as I could have never trusted the Dog again after that, if it had been me he bit I would have given a second Chance but if it had been a Child mine or not the Dog would have had to go
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
6 Sep 10
This is exactly how I see the matter. An adult can be carefull around a jumpy sleeper dog, but with a child you may never be sure. Children are supposed to be joyfull and playful, even if you supervise them all the time, only a second will be enough for an accident to happen. Better feel safe than sorry, right?
@chrystaltears (3392)
• United States
5 Sep 10
I don't know hw the girl could trust dogs now. I've heard so many people say they are so afraid of dogs now because they were bitten as a child. I've never been bitten, and I'm nervouse around some dogs.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
6 Sep 10
I thought the same but, if you read the other users responses, you'll see that not
any person that was bitten during childhood become a dog-phobia person. It seems that if someone really loves dogs, accidents like this can be overpassed.
If you are nervous around some dogs, I hope you'll never be bitten by one. You should try to be calm around dogs, because they somehow know when you're nervous and this can trigger an attack.
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
5 Sep 10
I cannot imagine how any family could keep a dog (no mater how loved it was) if it bit a child.
There have been lots of trsagic stories recently her ein the UK where family pets have turned on children and grandchildren, I think (don't quote me on this) that it is the law here that the dog be put down in these situations, but I wouldn't need any law to tellme to have a dog destroyed if it bit a child!
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
5 Sep 10
I agree with you, oldchem, a dog that bit a child once, could bite any child anytime. So such a dog must not live with children around. But I won't be so radical and ask for the dog's euthanasia. I'd preffer to know that the dog is given to a responsible person, from a family without children. I think with proper education and responsible handling, such a dog may cease being a threat to children.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
4 Sep 10
I'm afraid the scar will be permanent if the girl's parents don't get her to the plastic surgeon. The scar was about an inch long, and it looked really bad on her cheek.
You are right, Binne doesn't look scary 
, but we meet every day people who are afraid of dogs and they stay away of Binne, even if she is such a friendly dog. I don't blame the people who are afraid of dogs, but I think if the girl developed a dog phobia, she wouldn't came close to Binne, no matter how friendly she might look...
You are right, Binne doesn't look scary , but we meet every day people who are afraid of dogs and they stay away of Binne, even if she is such a friendly dog. I don't blame the people who are afraid of dogs, but I think if the girl developed a dog phobia, she wouldn't came close to Binne, no matter how friendly she might look...
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
5 Sep 10
I am shocked that she would pet a strange dog too. I would assume that she would be afraid of dogs after that. I would never have a dog that has bitten a child.If it were my dog that bit, I would have it put down or I would give it to someone I knew would never have children around.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
5 Sep 10
I was also surprised that she was eager to play with Binne after the accident she had. But she was so fearless, she petted Binne and rubbed her belly with no sign of fear. I suppose this is a good thing for her, and I hope she has learnt her lesson not to disturb a dog who sleeps.
Yet she was caution and asked me if she can pet Binne before touching her. So maybe now she is aware that dogs can hurt her if she is not careful.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
5 Sep 10
Hi inu~ That is kind of scary. Rottweiler's can be very agressive
and can turn on their owners. My friend has always had a them
and some were so sweet, while others wouldn't let anyone near
them. I would think that her family would have been pretty upset
that the dog bit her so close to her eye. And as you said, I'm
surprised that she doesn't have a fear of dogs after that incident!
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
5 Sep 10
As you said, Opal, not all Rottweilers are bad. I don't blame the breed of dogs, but the breeders are to blame. They are the ones who should produce only balanced dogs, in order to keep the breed as it was created.
The girl's parents are guilty, too. They should have taught the child to respect the dog when he sleeps, because his reactions may be unpredictable.
@candyfairy21 (2039)
• Philippines
5 Sep 10
Hahaha you won't believe this but as a child I wa bitten 2x by dogs in the neighborhood! They were unprovoked. Most of the dog owners here during my childhood days let their dogs run freely outside of their houses and then dogs bite people who are just walking on the streets. Like the day I was bitten I was just walking down the street doing an errand and out of nowhere this dog came and bit my leg! But I still love dogs and I am not afraid of them. In fact I have 2.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
5 Sep 10
I'm glad you still love dogs after the accidents you had as a child. Does it means that not every person who was bitten by a dog as a child develop a dog phobia?
All the people I know that are afraid of dogs said this happens because they were bitten by dogs during childhood.
Anyway, being bitten by the neighbourhood dogs is one, but being bitten by your family dog is not normal at all.
All the people I know that are afraid of dogs said this happens because they were bitten by dogs during childhood.
Anyway, being bitten by the neighbourhood dogs is one, but being bitten by your family dog is not normal at all.