Parents sue Petco

[casablanca1]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=3863407

I'm kind of torn here. Parents need to back off; their kids do not own the entire planet. On the other hand, I don't feel particularly warm toward the person who brought a Rottie that aggressive to a Petco.

 

[jess2416]

This was in the news story:

Eyewitness News first told you about five-year-old Danielle Christian. On Monday night, a rottweiler ripped up a portion of the little girl's upper lip. Danielle just met the dog at a Petco in Bayshore, and tried to pet it.

But I believe that children do not need to try and pet a dog they just met, but on the other hand if the owner knew that the dog was aggressive they should've left the dog at home

I'm kind of torn here. Parents need to back off; their kids do not own the entire planet. On the other hand, I don't feel particularly warm toward the person who brought a Rottie that aggressive to a Petco.

I feel the same way

 

[Gempress]

I'm torn here, too.

I personally love Petco's policy. It's nice to be able to bring your pet with you, especially with stuff that requires fitting like harnesses and coats. I have met people who have a severe lack of judgment and bring aggressive animals to Petco. I posted on this forum before that I've had a small dog actually try to attack me at a Petco.

But at the same time, some of those parents just irritate me. They act like Petco is a big petting zoo, and the pets are there to amuse their children. I see that at the dog park, too.

One time at the dog park, I saw a couple bring their four young children in and say "go play with the doggies!" One lady just barely managed to grab the 2-year-old before the tried to hug her boxer. She explained that the dog was blind, so it did not like to be petted by strange people unless it got a chance to smell them first. The parents got upset, and said they shouldn't have brought an animal like that if it wasn't safe for children to play with.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I agree with what you have all been posting.
We had a toy poodle for many years who was the sweetest dog. Yet when she was in someones arms, very small children would often try and grab at her legs (as this is as far as they could reach) and she would sometimes nip.
We had to be very careful to warn kids but sometimes they run up with no warning.
I would never touch a dog I did not know without first asking the owner about their personality and then letting them smell my hands first.
Children need to be more careful around strange dogs and so do their parents.

 

[oriondw]

Children need to be more careful around strange dogs and so do their parents.

Parents need more brains... A child doesnt know by itself, a parent should teach it. If a parent is a dumbass and doesnt teach the child not to touch strange dogs... their fault that child was bitten and not the dogs fault.

 

[jess2416]

Children need to be more careful around strange dogs and so do their parents.

I agree with you, but "some" parents are hardheaded and dont think about things like that until after something happens.

 

[Debi]

agree with everything said. I remember once taking Hammie to the local fire station for the rabies clinic. I was standing in line with him, and a little child no more than maybe 2 yrs. old just rushed up. now...the child's parents didn't think a thing of it. I don't care whose dog it is...I'd never let a small child just rush up to a dog's face. I thought the parents were so irresponsible.

 

[bubbatd]

Agree !!!!

 

[Julie]

What a shame... And it really is the parents fault. Everyone knows people take their dogs into that store. All parents need to remember not to let their children pet and hug unfamliar dogs........Even if the dog owner says ohh they won't bite, this is a nice dog. I don't trust strangers and I don't trust any strange dog not to bite, cause anything with teeth can bite.

My kids know to leave all unfamilar dogs alone. And they are 3 and 6 years old. I do remind them often, however. I tell them they have plenty of dog at home to play with.

A couple weeks ago, I went to visit a friend, they have a chi. I warned my kids before we even went into the house not to even touch the dog. I said it might get snippy. The friend told my kids....he won't bite, you can pet him. Well they did not bother the dog. This friend has no kids and the chi is not around alot of kids. So better safe than sorry. Hey even a chi can scar a face.

My kids are not the least bit afraid of any dogs, but they know not to bother any of them except our own. Unless of course I have already been around the dog and give the go ahead.

I feel so sorry for the little girl and also the parents for being too trusting of strangers and strange dogs.

You know the more I think about it, I probably would not even take my young kids in there. What if a dog owner is not properly controlling his dog, and a terrible incident occurred with the kids in the middle.

Oh well, I have rambled enough.
But it is such a sad story........

 

[jess2416]

You know the more I think about it, I probably would not even take my young kids in there. What if a dog owner is not properly controlling his dog, and a terrible incident occurred with the kids in the middle.

I agree!! I dont have a Petco where i live but there is a Petsmart and there have been many times when I have seen dogs just dragging their owners around like it was nothing.

 

[Giny]

I believe it was the responsibility of both the owner of the dog and the child's parents to make sure that such an incident doesn’t occur. It's was an unfortunate situation and I feel bad for the child. Both little children and dogs are unpredictable and fast. No mater how much you teach a smaller child, by that I mean 1,2 or 3 year old, not to approach a dog for some it's far to tempting to them and with a blink of an eye they are right there in front of the dog.

My son was taught not to approach a dog without asking permission first, he's now 10. When he was a toddler he was petrified of dogs so I didn't have to worry about him getting close to one, he'd scream if he saw one a mile away in order for me to pick him up. I on the other hand was very lucky that I have never been severely bitten as a child. I was obsessed about dogs as soon as I walked. Dogs were almost a magnet to me and my parents were not horrible parents. They did try to teach me the proper etiquettes of approaching a dog but my attraction to them were to strong. I did get jump on and almost bitten by a larger dog when I was 8 years old and I think that scared me enough to know better.

It's sad that these things do happen. I love taking my dogs to the pet store with me but incidents like this can deter store owners from letting us bring our dogs in the store. As and example; our HomeDepot use to allow people to bring in our dogs. It was a great place from me to socialize both my dogs. Because of a something similar that happened in one of the HomeDepot stores we are not longer able to bring the dogs in with us.

 

[Debi]

I have a friend that always tells everyone 'don't worry, they won't bite'. I always think...how do you know that for certain?? little kids can be frightening in their quick movements.

 

[Mordy]

Dumbasses.

In most European countries you can take your dog into most stores (unless they sell food) and into almost all hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs and there is no problem with "unpredictable animals". Even my great dane was welcome everywhere I took him, despite of his size.

People just need to make more of an effort to properly train and socialize their dogs and their kids.

I can't tell you how many times people have let their kids and dogs run up to Quigley without any regard to what I was saying. But then it's my fault when he growls/snarls (at dogs) or doesn't enthusiastically welcome the kids petting him because he doesn't like his space invaded? Pfft I say.

 

[Renee750il]

I like the way you put that, Mordy

 

[jess2416]

Yeah me too! And Mordy you responded to a thread I started about the www.onlynaturalpet.com website and I was able to find a Organic food store that sold Innova that is only 20 mins from where I live. so thanks!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I don't see anything saying the owners knew the dog would bite. If the dog had, and is aggressive, I think they're stupid to bring an aggressive dog into a public area where there will be other people. That's just dumb.

However, I think the parents are largely at fault. Just because a dog looks sweet doesn't mean it is. No matter what, animals are animals. They have different languages than we do and they have the ability to do damage. When my nephew was here, and he met a dog, he sat down and talked to her. The owner explained the dog was scared of young children, so he kept away and simply spoke to the dog. You can't trust little kids with animals. When my nephew was around even my dogs, who love kids, I was always careful. Now, most likely nothing would have happened - he knows how to behave around animals, and my dogs love him - but there's still a possibility so I have to be careful. They have teeth, they have the ability to do damage. If someone stepped on my tail (if I had one), I'd nip!

I think it's nuts that these people think people should stop being allowed to bring their dogs into pet stores. It's a pet store. It's for pets. Dogs are pets. As long as the dog is well-trained and well-behaved I have no problem with it.

 

[Zoom]

Here's a thought: Petsmart and Petco are PET stores, not Toys R Us. If you don't want your kid getting bit at a petstore, leave the kids at home. Or teach them how to properly approach a dog!!

I'm laying this one at the parent's feet.

But dog owners do need to take their dog's temperment and quirks into consideration as well. If you know your dog is a little touchy, wait until an off-peak time to take them in; early in them morning or around 7pm at night.

 

[Fran27]

This kind of thing totally pisses me off. You guys put it very well, it's the parents and the owner's faults, it's not petco's fault if people are irresponsible idiots!

 

[Julie]

Here's a thought: Petsmart and Petco are PET stores, not Toys R Us. If you don't want your kid getting bit at a petstore, leave the kids at home. Or teach them how to properly approach a dog!!

I'm laying this one at the parent's feet.

But dog owners do need to take their dog's temperment and quirks into consideration as well. If you know your dog is a little touchy, wait until an off-peak time to take them in; early in them morning or around 7pm at night.

I agree, but I think kids should be taught not to approach a dog at all. Cause even if the approach is acceptable in our terms, a strange dog might not agree with us.

 

[EliNHunter]

I think stores such as PetSmart should have signs that say "Dogs Welcome. No children allowed"...