Toddler Attacked By Dog In Hair Salon

[poodlefan]

LED:

I see you're not one of the "ignorant" ones around this forum.

You're too kind

How can we know for sure this child was bitten? Would a hospital report satisfy you? Well, one came back sayng that the child was treated for a cut to the side of her mouth. she might've even fallen over and bit her own self.

All good questions. I'd be leaving the answers to the medical professionals.

This is where we can't rely on the media. They blow everything out of proportion. A bite and attack would be extremely obvious on day 1 if it were the case, but 4 weeks already and still no sign of that.

True, but it does appear that something happened.

BTW: the parents have two dogs of their own at home.

Those would be dogs accustomed to sharing space with a toddler and another child they know and my guess is, that don't have resource guarding issues. Kids don't situate well, their "nice doggies' mean they treat all dogs the same way, at times to their peril.

I'm not sure what "entire" means, yes he is roughly 16months old male. I've visited him at the pound where he is kept, and the Pound carers comment on how placid and beautiful he is. They would know how to handle dogs from their own experiences.

"Entire" = undesexed. Pound carers aren't toddlers. They probably also don't make a habit out of approaching unknown dogs with bones in the dogs own territory and at the dog's face level. Dogs aren't stupid, they make judgements about who they can protect their treasures from.

These kinds of incidents are so predictable its tragic.. especially for the children and dogs involved.

[Souff]

"Duty of Care"? Does every owner of every business (any industry) has to look after other parents' children as well?

Yes, the duty of care extends to all who enter premises that are open to the public.

Souff

[♪♫LMBC♫♪]

"Duty of Care"? Does every owner of every business (any industry) has to look after other parents' children as well?

Its not about looking after other people's children, its about OH & S and it applies to adults as well. If an employee spills something on the floor and doesn't clean it up, and someone slips on it and injures themselves, wouldn't you hold that employee responsible?

[Diablo]

However, there are people who can prevent these situations occurring with children if they use their brains and that's the parents........

AND the owners of the dogs can also use their brains and prevent these situations occurring!

The owner of the dog in this case has a duty of care towards the customers who come into the salon and has taken a risk by having a dog in the salon,

a risk that can have a very high cost for the dog, for the customers or for the owner.

This risk to all would not have been there if the dog had not been there.

That my friend is the bottom line.

Souff

Depends if you want your child exposed to a biting possibility. You can only trust your own judgement, not that of a dog owner and hope for the best???.

Edited December 23, 2009 by Diablo

[Talien]

People, as a general rule, can be very stupid.

A dog being fed, in a hair salon.

A parent getting a haircut, not watching his child when there is a dog around.

Children are allowed to get away without common sense...for a time. Adults should have learnt!

[raz]

I see you're not one of the "ignorant" ones around this forum.

;) Little tearies.

Has anyone found any media updates about this story?

[Greytmate]

I think it is ignorant to trust a large breed male dog at 16 months of age unsupervised. How can anyone say that they totally know and predict and trust a dog and how it will react to others at that stage of its social development? Only somebody with very limited dog knowledge would say that.

This was an accident just waiting to happen. If it didn't happen with this toddler, it probably would have happenned with another sometime over the next few months.

[janemc]

Have any you actually gone down there and made your own investigations?

Have you? Or are you relying entirely on one side of the story. The truth is out there LED but most of us can't access it. Seems to me that the child was bitten. We're only arguing about how that occured and who was responsible.

How can you rely solely on information told by the media?

Because in the absence of personal knowledge of the event, that's all that's available.

Honestly, it angers me to think that there are a lot of unitelligent adults out there.

Seems to me that ignorance (not lack of intelligence) was the culprit here. Anyone who knows a damn thing about dogs would NEVER put dog, food and a child into a scenario and not take into account the chance of resource guarding. Strange dog + food + toddler = recipe for disaster. That's what played out.

If you were one of the many thousands of people that have patted this dog while walking up and down Chapel Street, you will say "i can't believe that husky would ever attack".

Dogs described by their owners as loving family pets kill children. Any dog will bite if sufficiently provoked. Our duty as adults is to protect dogs and children by preventing accidents such as these. A dog unused to children (if that was the case here) is even more reason for preventative action. Your average member of the public knows sweet FA about dog behaviour or body language. A quick browse of bite statistics makes that glaringly obvious. This incident is now one of those cases reported.

Did you know that this Husky hasn't been charged with an offence and yet he's locked up with 10 mins in a concrete yard to stretch his legs every 24 hopurs?

He won't be charged.. ever. If anyone is charged it will be his owner.

Did you know that the toddler in question, was treated in the ambulance, and that the ambulance was there for over 20 minutes before thet drove off to the hospital without the sirens screaming?I bet NONE of you did.

Does that mean the child wasn't bitten? Of course not. Its not her fault. Its not the dogs fault. That only leaves the adults who were there. Those of us who like our dogs to remain out of the clutches of the authorities act in their best interests by keeping them safe. That means never exposing them to situations where they may be provoked to bite. Its up to dog owners to protect their pets from the unwanted attention of children, other dogs and fools.

Kids are quick - they can be somewhere before you turn around.

Foresight is a wonderful thing.

I see you're not one of the "ignorant" ones around this forum.

How can we know for sure this child was bitten? Would a hospital report satisfy you? Well, one came back sayng that the child was treated for a cut to the side of her mouth. she might've even fallen over and bit her own self. This is where we can't rely on the media. They blow everything out of proportion. A bite and attack would be extremely obvious on day 1 if it were the case, but 4 weeks already and still no sign of that.

BTW: the parents have two dogs of their own at home.

"fallen over and bit her own self"????? now i've heard it all! And about the 4 weeks.... investigations take time. I too think the timeframe is unfortunate but there is a process that needs to be taken and that process takes time to complete.

[WoofnHoof]

"fallen over and bit her own self"????? now i've heard it all! And about the 4 weeks.... investigations take time. I too think the timeframe is unfortunate but there is a process that needs to be taken and that process takes time to complete.

A split lip from a fall is very common in toddlers, happens quite a lot actually they fall on their face and a tooth goes through the lip, cheek or gum. I've seen that many toddlers do it I'd put it at higher odds of causing that sort of injury than a dog bite, dog bites generally result in puncture wounds rather than cuts.

[janemc]

"fallen over and bit her own self"????? now i've heard it all! And about the 4 weeks.... investigations take time. I too think the timeframe is unfortunate but there is a process that needs to be taken and that process takes time to complete.

A split lip from a fall is very common in toddlers, happens quite a lot actually they fall on their face and a tooth goes through the lip, cheek or gum. I've seen that many toddlers do it I'd put it at higher odds of causing that sort of injury than a dog bite, dog bites generally result in puncture wounds rather than cuts.

sure, I understand what you are saying... I have seen that too. I guess my comment is out of frustration.

Edited December 23, 2009 by janemc

[Akayla]

Its true that at that age a dog can go through a number of changes. He is getting close to adulthood and will want to make "his place" in the pack and start to become more protective aswell.

For the most part puppies are all licks and cuddles - he is just coming from that to become the dog he will be. In no way would I go by his temperament in the past. Ive made that mistake myself - assuming because they love everyone when young that you have done a bang up job socialising. Its when they become adults that you can really tell.

[Souff]

However, there are people who can prevent these situations occurring with children if they use their brains and that's the parents........

AND the owners of the dogs can also use their brains and prevent these situations occurring!

The owner of the dog in this case has a duty of care towards the customers who come into the salon and has taken a risk by having a dog in the salon,

a risk that can have a very high cost for the dog, for the customers or for the owner.

This risk to all would not have been there if the dog had not been there.

That my friend is the bottom line.

Souff

Depends if you want your child exposed to a biting possibility. You can only trust your own judgement, not that of a dog owner and hope for the best???.

:D

*big weary sigh*

Diablo, you cannot be serious .... but then again, you probably think you are.... sigh

Diablo, if I went into a hairdressing salon with children I would NOT expect a dog to be there. If I did I might for a moment think that I had gone to the dog grooming salon by mistake.

If I was sitting in the chair and the dog wandered into the salon from the back area, I would be first to tell the owner that the dog should not be in a hairdressing salon, for more than one reason.

Dont get me wrong, I love dogs. But unlike you and a few others around here, I KNOW that not all places are appropriate places for dogs to be and that danger is not far away, not only for the children and others, but for the dog itself.

Souff

[loveseverydog]

"Duty of Care"? Does every owner of every business (any industry) has to look after other parents' children as well?

Yes, the duty of care extends to all who enter premises that are open to the public.

Souff

I understand "Duty of Care". It was a rhetorical question.

[loveseverydog]

However, there are people who can prevent these situations occurring with children if they use their brains and that's the parents........

AND the owners of the dogs can also use their brains and prevent these situations occurring!

The owner of the dog in this case has a duty of care towards the customers who come into the salon and has taken a risk by having a dog in the salon,

a risk that can have a very high cost for the dog, for the customers or for the owner.

This risk to all would not have been there if the dog had not been there.

That my friend is the bottom line.

Souff

Depends if you want your child exposed to a biting possibility. You can only trust your own judgement, not that of a dog owner and hope for the best???.

:D

*big weary sigh*

Diablo, you cannot be serious .... but then again, you probably think you are.... sigh

Diablo, if I went into a hairdressing salon with children I would NOT expect a dog to be there. If I did I might for a moment think that I had gone to the dog grooming salon by mistake.

If I was sitting in the chair and the dog wandered into the salon from the back area, I would be first to tell the owner that the dog should not be in a hairdressing salon, for more than one reason.

Dont get me wrong, I love dogs. But unlike you and a few others around here, I KNOW that not all places are appropriate places for dogs to be and that danger is not far away, not only for the children and others, but for the dog itself.

Souff

Once again, I repeat: "The dog in this scenario" was not in the salon part of the premises. I go in this salon often. And they have another level separated by steps that does not service hair. This is where we normally see the husky.

I'm not blaming the parents BUT letting your kid play on steps seems hazardous to me, with or without dog present. And the dog did not wander into the salon area. Even the father said that in his comment to the media.

[loveseverydog]

"fallen over and bit her own self"????? now i've heard it all! And about the 4 weeks.... investigations take time. I too think the timeframe is unfortunate but there is a process that needs to be taken and that process takes time to complete.

A split lip from a fall is very common in toddlers, happens quite a lot actually they fall on their face and a tooth goes through the lip, cheek or gum. I've seen that many toddlers do it I'd put it at higher odds of causing that sort of injury than a dog bite, dog bites generally result in puncture wounds rather than cuts.

sure, I understand what you are saying... I have seen that too. I guess my comment is out of frustration.

Thanks for explaining that. My child hasn't done that yet but I've seen other children that have cut thier mouths by falling.

[casowner]

The fact still stands that it is a Hairdressing Salon, not a Vet Clinic, Pet Shop or Grooming Salon you do not expect to have a dog in there, not only for the obvious reasons but also for OH&S reasons.

Diablo you still have not provided the link regarding SA and as someone in the Pet Industry in SA if that is actual legislation I would like to see it - to educate myself as I have been unable to find it.

LED is the dog desexed?

[loveseverydog]

I see you're not one of the "ignorant" ones around this forum.

:D Little tearies.

Has anyone found any media updates about this story?

Check the Stonnington Leader local paper. 2 weeks in a row.

[Akayla]

Ok so there were some stairs but what prevented the dog exactly from interacting with the public and what kept the public from playing with the dog?

[Greytmate]

Once again, I repeat: "The dog in this scenario" was not in the salon part of the premises. I go in this salon often. And they have another level separated by steps that does not service hair. This is where we normally see the husky.

I'm not blaming the parents BUT letting your kid play on steps seems hazardous to me, with or without dog present. And the dog did not wander into the salon area. Even the father said that in his comment to the media.

Steps do not make an area separate from another area, steps give easy access from one area to another.

Steps are toddler magnets too.

Perhaps the owner of the dog should have had it separated by a barrier so that children couldn't gain access to it via the steps.

[Diablo]

I think it is ignorant to trust a large breed male dog at 16 months of age unsupervised. How can anyone say that they totally know and predict and trust a dog and how it will react to others at that stage of its social development? Only somebody with very limited dog knowledge would say that.

This was an accident just waiting to happen. If it didn't happen with this toddler, it probably would have happenned with another sometime over the next few months.

I had the impression that the dog had been at the salon for years???, then someone has said it was 16 months old???. I don't know anything about Huskies, but GSD's between 14 and 18 months of age is a crucial time for high supervison levels to mould them into adult hood.