Toddler Attacked By Dog In Hair Salon

[Kelpie-i]

I shudder every time clients bring their young children to dog training. We have very strict rules about young kiddies attending and most parents understand that it is their responsibility to supervise their kids and instruct them not to approach dogs.

But there are some parents who allow their children to wonder around the training venue, left to their own devices and expect the trainers to 'babysit'. One client's young 5 year old daughter got lost and he blamed us for not watching where she went. Luckily she was found within the grounds.

Whether at a dog training school or even a hairdressing salon (with or without dog present), as a parent it is your responsibility to supervise and keep your child/children controlled at all times. No exceptions and no excuses!

I am 'on the fence' when it comes to taking dogs to work (if working in a professional place like an office or retail store). Unless you have a bomb proof dog that is socialised at ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING and has no behavioural issues, then that dog belongs at home.

[WoofnHoof]

It was an unprovoked attack on a child who wasn't near the dog, it should be PTS, we don't need dogs like that in our community, dogs like that have already caused ridiculous dog laws to be enacted.

I disagree.

[Snoopy21]

Whether at a dog training school or even a hairdressing salon (with or without dog present), as a parent it is your responsibility to supervise and keep your child/children controlled at all times. No exceptions and no excuses

So as a parent I am supposed to be some sort of superhuman? I would crate my kids to keep them safe and I'm sure that would go down really well. Leash and muzzle perhaps?

Let's be realistic. Children have rights which need to be respected. We can't tether them or cage them or gag them. It is the nature of children to explore, to shout, to run, to test boundaries and to break rules. I try my damnedest to "control" my children. I spend a great deal of time keeping them safe (buckling seat belts, supervising bathtimes, holding hands crossing the road). There are a lot of parts of their environment that I can control in order to help me with this onerous task. But there are a lot that I can't. I expect that if I go into a hair salon then there will be scissors, straightners and other dangerous items. I can plan for this and have a snack or a toy that will keep my kids busy on the couch in the waiting area. I don't allow for a dog in the salon. Especially one that is eating and not child friendly. The dog shouldn't have been there. It is the dog owner's fault that this child was bitten and their dog was euthed.

It is completely different (and stupid) to bring kids to dog training. Mine have been twice and stayed in the car.

[Ashanali]

We can't tether them or cage them or gag them.

Well actually, you can...

[Are You Serious Jo]

It was an unprovoked attack on a child who wasn't near the dog, it should be PTS, we don't need dogs like that in our community, dogs like that have already caused ridiculous dog laws to be enacted.

I disagree.

Why? From the latest information, the child wasn't near the dog, and there may not have even been food. So a dog can get up, approach a child and attack and there still isn't anything wrong with the dog? When kids annoy dogs and get a snap I don't think the dog should be blamed, but in what way do you think this is acceptable behaviour for any dog? Are you saying the child provoked the dog just by being there? What happens the next time the dog doesn't like the look of someone standing near it?

[WoofnHoof]

Given that it looks like no animal behaviour specialists were there to analyse whether or not the dog had any provocation it's hard to say, I find it odd that a dog which has been fine for years suddenly attacks for no reason. I don't really think that euthing is 100% necessary in all cases, if the owner is committed to keeping the dog secure and away from kids they should be allowed to do so. I can't guarentee my dog wouldn't ever do something like that so I aim to keep him under strict control when around kids and since I don't really have kids around it's quite easy to do.

[Are You Serious Jo]

If the facts were true, would you like to encounter that dog loose in the street, or visit their home with he dog having access to you. Maybe the owner has missed previous signals, how many times have you heard the story of someone being told a dog is friendly moments before latching onto another dog or person.

I think once a dog has bitten for no reason it's goodbye, many people just don't contain their dangerous dogs properly and why should the rest of us pay the price?

[persephone]

once a dog has bitten for no reason

But most dogs HAVE a reason.... we may not know it tho

[Are You Serious Jo]

Of course there is always a reason for the attack, but if we take out human stupidity then it comes down to something with the dog. We have to make the decision of where to draw the line, especially if the reason isn't apparent, how can you prevent dog attacks with dogs that are unpredictable.

[Snoopy21]

Well actually, you can...

Fair enough. But the child actually quite a long way from the adult in that picture. Definitely far enough to reach out to a strange dog or whatever. I hate child harnesses like that and would never use one.

[Diablo]

It was an unprovoked attack on a child who wasn't near the dog, it should be PTS, we don't need dogs like that in our community, dogs like that have already caused ridiculous dog laws to be enacted.

I disagree.

Why? From the latest information, the child wasn't near the dog, and there may not have even been food. So a dog can get up, approach a child and attack and there still isn't anything wrong with the dog? When kids annoy dogs and get a snap I don't think the dog should be blamed, but in what way do you think this is acceptable behaviour for any dog? Are you saying the child provoked the dog just by being there? What happens the next time the dog doesn't like the look of someone standing near it?

All the published media information claimed that the child approached the dog.........someone says otherwise, but we don't really know what happened for sure and certain???.

[Are You Serious Jo]

I know we can't guarantee which version is the truth, but if the person who posted saying they know the family is legit then that is the scenario we have to accept is closest to the truth. Generally unless a story is big a lot of news stories come from the same source, so I wouldn't be too quick to assume that just because there is more the news version is most accurate.

[Diablo]

If the facts were true, would you like to encounter that dog loose in the street, or visit their home with he dog having access to you. Maybe the owner has missed previous signals, how many times have you heard the story of someone being told a dog is friendly moments before latching onto another dog or person.

I think once a dog has bitten for no reason it's goodbye, many people just don't contain their dangerous dogs properly and why should the rest of us pay the price?

The salon dog is not a truely dangerous dog for the simple reason that you couldn't keep a dangerous dog in a salon as it would go everyone who walked in left unsupervised to roam around. If the dog has never reacted aggressively towards the amount of strangers that a salon would encounter for several years of it being there, the dog sounds of stable temperament. Perhaps the child may have interfered with the dog.........did the child do something to provoke the dog prior to the attack and the dog was wary of her and snapped on the second encounter..........too much information is missing to form any credible judgement on the situation. Children poke at and annoy dogs just as much as a dog will snap in retaliation???. It's sensationalism that an unpredictable aggressive dog suddenly tore an innocent little girl's face apart in an unprovoked attack.............but she could have poked her finger in the dog's eye when he approached for a pat........we don't know that???

[Are You Serious Jo]

You are right, the child provoked the dog.

[Cosmolo]

Sometimes dogs do attack with little warning, without provocation. Some aggression is unexplainable and unpredictable- its not common but it does happen. Dog attacks can also be lightning fast- the definition of supervision should be considered too- how much supervision would actually prevent an attack with a fast moving aggressive dog?

[Ashanali]

Well actually, you can...

Fair enough. But the child actually quite a long way from the adult in that picture. Definitely far enough to reach out to a strange dog or whatever. I hate child harnesses like that and would never use one.

going off topic now but...that's nice for you.

I used to see them used regularly when I worked at the airport. A place where travellers have already had to ditch the pram and it's incredibly busy so it makes sense to use a harness (particularly if you have a child who likes to take off... or like me, you have twins that like to run in opposite directions).

I don't have harnesses here and I never used them for my older boys, but I will never say never for the twins.

[janemc]

It was an unprovoked attack on a child who wasn't near the dog, it should be PTS, we don't need dogs like that in our community, dogs like that have already caused ridiculous dog laws to be enacted.

I disagree.

Why? From the latest information, the child wasn't near the dog, and there may not have even been food. So a dog can get up, approach a child and attack and there still isn't anything wrong with the dog? When kids annoy dogs and get a snap I don't think the dog should be blamed, but in what way do you think this is acceptable behaviour for any dog? Are you saying the child provoked the dog just by being there? What happens the next time the dog doesn't like the look of someone standing near it?

All the published media information claimed that the child approached the dog.........someone says otherwise, but we don't really know what happened for sure and certain???.

All published media information also claimed the father was 21 when he is 31. The published media also lead people to think that he was alone in the hairdresser, again not the case. You cant always 100% rely on the media.

[The Spotted Devil]

I was thinking about this scenario earlier, particularly with the various stories and how could they possibly match up and make some sort of sense. Not trying to cast blame or argue the point but just thinking about it broadly.

Picture this:

Dog is eating (away from child)

Child stares at dog (threatening for dog)

Dog stares at child (possibly appealing for child)

Dog averts gaze (attempts to avert threat)

Child continues to stare (very threatening for dog who has attempted to avert threat)

Dog becomes more fearful and is triggered to attack with little/no warning

[spyda62]

I feel so sorry for that poor child that got bitten and wish her a fast recovery.

I do however find this thread frustrating re.. peoples comments on dogs not belonging in hairsalons.

Surely each situation should be judged on its individual meritts.

My dogs come to work with me, and when I get my hair cut I do it on the way home from work and my mutts come in with me. They sit under my chair at my feet. Not a big deal.

Just because an accident has occurred at this salon doesnt mean we should all be penalised.

Edited November 30, 2009 by spyda62

[Souff]

As a dog owner, I find some of the attitudes in this thread appallingly selfish. We have to live in a world where there are rules of safety and as far as I can see some very basic rules of safety have been ignored here. I didn't think any of us had the right to be that selfish, but clearly I am mistaken.

It is a privilege to own dogs and often we must protect them from their own instincts, and from other people, if we are able to all live in society happily and safely with our dogs. Well that is the code that I have always lived by as a dog owner and a dog breeder and I have always had that approach in other canine activities.

Until I read of this attack, I had never thought of a hairdressing salon as being where you could be bitten by animals. Never.

I think the majority of the Australians also think this way. Nicked by scissors? Yes. Burned by a hairdryer? Maybe. Chemical reactions? Also maybe.

But bitten by a dog at the hairdressers? Before I read this thread it would never have occurred to me that it could happen.

I have asked my hairdresser who runs a busy unisex salon (a European gentleman who loves dogs) and he said he would never have a dog there because of the added responsibility of protecting his valued customers and his staff from a dog attack, and besides, centre management would only allow animals to be in the pet shop - not in any of the other shops because of health regulations and insurance issues. He also raised the matter that staff could possibly complain to their union (one angle I hadn't thought of).

It would be very interesting to know what the health regulations state on this matter and also whether the relevant union has any policy re dogs being taken into hairdressing salons (other than guide dogs/therapy dogs).

If anyone knows what the regs state, or what the unions stance is, I would love to see it posted here.

Souff