Took Dog back to rescue for biting a child, rescue place put him back on internet?

Question

I had got a dog for my children, he was about 5 months old about 30 lbs and was a sheperd mix. First I had to take him back because he was really sick, then we got him back and soon after he bit my friendds son (3 yr old) when the child was just trying to be affectionate. I took him back because I didnt want to risk it happening again. I had got him from a rescue place that also adopts out of Petmart on weekends. Well a few days later, the same dog was back on the internet with a note saying "Good with children". I couldnt get a refund, they wouldnt give me another dog either. Is this dog rescue operating unethically? What can I do? I understand that the contract was no refunds, but it just makes me mad that they would put the Dog back up for adoption saying "Good with children"

I forgot to mention, yes the dog drew blood when he bit him and it was on the ear and the head and, he probably will have a scar.

I saw it happened, and it even shocked me because it was totally unexpected as it didnt seem like the child did anything wrong. The dog seemed a bit timid to begin with and we just figured he was mellow, but who knows what had happened to him within those 5 months. I think now I know not to go through a rescue, especially having young children and not knowing what these animals temperment is.

Answer 1

Talk to the management at Petmart. .They will not want an unetical rescue using their premises.the rescue will clean up its act, or get banned. Most rescues will offer another dog, if not a refund..

Answer 2

If I were part of this shelter, I also would have put this dog up for adoption again, BUT I also would have put down that it would be best suited in a home with children over 7 or something like that. Did you see the dog bite the child? Do you KNOW that the child didn't do anything that would be threatening, or hurt the dog? As said above, children do not always know how to come up to a dog, or play with a dog, and the dog may have been trying to protect itself. And dogs and children always need to be closely watched when together, and never left alone together. If I were you, I would just call the animal shelter, and ask them about it. Let them know why you are concerned.
But this poor dog Does deserve a GOOD home, it sounds like it has been bounced around too much. He does deserve another chance at finding his forever home.

Answer 3

Actually, the biting was your fault. You really should know something about the dogs that you have. German Shepherds and dogs with shepherd blood have a VERY consistent temperament. They are exceptionally good with children BUT are exceptionally wary of strangers. It has been bred into them to encourage the "watchdog" instinct. New people need to be introduced very slowly and very carefully. A 3 year old is WAY too young to be allowed free reign with ANY dog. They are just too rough with the animals and WILL be disciplined by the older dog.

Next time, be a more responsible pet owner. Keep small children away from animals and if you have a breed that is wary of strangers (non pack members) keep it in mind when introducing strangers into the situation. Especially strangers who don't know how to approach a dog. Dogs are dogs. They ACT like dogs, not people. Keep the babies and toddlers away.

They didn't give you a "refund" because you didn't purchase the dog. Rescues accept "donations". You were not given another dog because you have now been tagged as a risky owner. They want both dogs and owners to be happy with the "fit". I think you would probably benefit from some more experience with dogs before adopting another. Perhaps you could donate some time to a rescue or shelter. You will learn a lot about dog behavior and that will help make your next adoption more successful. Good luck.

Answer 4

In the UK we have an organisation called Trading Standards which looks into discrepancies like this. Perhaps you have the equivilent which you could report these idiots to? I would also consult your local and national animal rescue charities... we have dog wardens run by the local councils here and the RSPCA, a national animal welfare society.

I am sorry you and the dog have had such a rough time of it. I had a GSD for years and he was brilliant with my children, please don't be put off of the breed by this incident. Hopefully an adult family will take on this poor dog and train it... there is probably a reason, such as past abuse, which has made him bite.

Wish I could offer more advice. Good luck and congratulate yourself for not being willing to just wash yur hands of the problem. Both the dog and the rescue centre need attention.

Answer 5

This is why it is a real good idea especially with young children to get a dog from known parents with good temperaments. That is why there are breeders who raise dogs and know the genetic dispositions in the particular lines.

I have one worse for you, someone emailed me that they put a nice pure breed on line in an ad with no fee to adopt it. I know this person well, and they do know how to pick a good home, they have more dog experience than I do and mine is 45+ years, far more experience than anyone I have ever known of in any rescue or shelter. I have seen some of the responses and we have been snooping out what we can about them from phone numbers and addresses. It seems most are rescues hiding who they are. They are posing as adopters to get the dog and sell it because it would be easy it is a pretty and friendly dog. some came out and said they were rescues and then when they got no response came back as adopters with extra email Addy's.

Answer 6

OH, so sad........it was not the dog's fault, rather an owner that did not research the breed and did not know proper obedience training.
The child got bit because hey...IT"S A PUP!!!!!! and the child did "something" to the dog that hurt it.
Did the dog viciously bite or play nip too hard? Whichever.. you paniced, not bothering to give the dog a chance.
Trust me!!! the dog was THOROUGHLY temperament tested prior to being put up for adoption.
As far as what happened with the 3 year old, that should NEVER have been allowed to happen in the first place. The dog should have been leashed around ANY new children and SLOWLY introduced. NOT...letting a 3 yr old just walk up to a strange dog!!!!!! again, they are in the rights and it was you who was in error.

Answer 7

This is a tough call...especially without knowing a bit more about the "bite".

Dogs use their mouths for everything- even playing. It's hard for me to imagine an aggressive, five month old puppy, but I can imagine a puppy who hasn't been completely socialized, yet. Just like young children may pull hair, hit or bite when they don't know any better, a young dog may, too. I can also imagine that the three year old child may not have acted appropriately with the puppy. After all, he's still learning, too.

The puppy may not have been a good match for your family, but he may not be a lost cause either.

Answer 8

I am not sure it is right they will not refund you. However, even when a child is being affectionate, it might appear threatening to an animal. Children should be watched carefully. Three year old don't understand they might be doing something the dog feels is threatening and the dog doesn't understand that the child is trying to give him a little loving.
Also children should be watched carefully around mother animals with a litter. I have heard vets say more cats and dogs are brought in for observation after biting a child because the children think puppies and kittens are toys and they are not. They might not necessarily be hurting the animal but maybe holding it in such a way as to scare it and it is squealing its head off and the mother comes to her baby's defence.

Answer 9

5 Months old is still a puppy..and puppies bite, always have and always will. This is not the dogs fault, my 6 month old kitten bites while playing, and I would NOT let a 3 year old near her..(that was not my child or grandchild).
We 'rescued a "biter" when my children were young, also an older puppy, one of my children insisted on getting in the pups space, and got bit...dogs fault, NO..mine and my sons, he learned . We ended up with a wonderful dog..for 14 years!
No- the rescue SAVED the dogs life, if they returned it to the humane society and said it was a biter, it would get the death sentence! Chances are the pup is good with children, you said he was sick, he needed his space, and as the adult it was your job to make sure the puppy had his space!

Answer 10

that is odd...I would call the rescue and talk to them about this. It is possible that the dog (who is still a puppy) took the child hugging it as aggression..it is possible to train a dog like that at that age not to do that...maybe the rescue did this?? Maybe the child did something that hurt or scared the dog? So many variables..i would talk to the person who runs the rescue to ease your mind, and to make sure this dog does not get into a situation where a child can get seriously injured.

Answer 11

that is so wrong. now we should all be extremely careful with dogs and small children, because they just communicate differently so it very quickly happens that an affectionate toddler is taken as offensive by a young dog!! but on the other side, this dog should only have been put back up for adoption after a socialization class and even then not saying "good with children" in many places, dogs who have shown aggressive behavior or euthanized simply because there are too many dogs in shelters and rescues. now this doesn't mean i'm big on euthanizing (heavens no!) but if a dog has a history of showing aggressive behavior, i think the future owners should be aware of that and this dog should only be given to someone who can deal with it - not someone looking for a dog "good with children"

i think it's very irresponsible of the rescue, like bad breeders who just want to get rid of their dogs to get the money.... so totally not the point of a rescue or shelter and therefore very unprofessional andnot to be recommended!!!!!!!! let people know, tell people about it, tell other shelters about it!!