I made a huge mistake. I went and bought my son a puppy. Now he kicks it like a soccer ball. Will I be sued?

Question

My poor son is only three. How will I show him it's wrong to treat animals like that without upsetting him?

Answer 1

Give the kid and the puppy away. They will both be better off.

Answer 2

If someone see's this happening, you can be prosecuted and sued for animal abuse, because your son, is too young, and you will be held responsible. Your son is going to end up killing, or seriously hurting the poor puppy, if a solution is not found soon. The puppy, doesn't deserve to be treated like this, no animal does. Only you know, what kind of disipline your son responds to. You need to teach him, the proper way to treat animals, and that hurting them in any way, is so wrong. It probably would be a better idea, to either find the puppy a new home, or take it back to where you got it from, until your son gets older, and understands a little better, before something tragic happens to the puppy. After your son kicked the puppy, did you take it too the vet? Your son could have really done, some serious damage already, by kicking the puppy.

Answer 3

Get rid of the puppy. Give it to someone that will make sure it is treated right. You should of never bought a 3 year old a puppy anyway, they are not old enough to know how to care for them. As far as the kid kicking the puppy around then that is lack of dicipline on your part. I would worry more about your sons dicipline problem more than i would about being sued. At three years old the kid should be taught by you right from wrong. This is animal abuse and if you continue to let your son kick the puppy around u can have charges filed on you for neglect and endangerment of an animal. Get the puppy away from the kid and teach your kid dicipline.

Answer 4

Ummm...I suggest a very harsh punishment for your son. I understand he is only three, but he has to be taught NOW that abuse to animals is NEVER ok. You shouldn't be worried about not upsetting your son, hell, I'd make sure he was upset. Children rarely retain any lesson in life if it isn't somewhat upsetting, significant or painful. You need to think about the pain he has caused to the puppy.
It was not a mistake to get the puppy. The mistake would be to not teach your son how to treat the new member of your family. You would never tolerate this behavior if it was a new baby, and you should treat this situation the same!
If someone sees your son behaving this way towards your new puppy, you can, and probably will be hauled into court. The ASPCA is in every city and town. They will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
My nephew acted this way to his puppy that was given to him on his 3rd birthday, my sister promptly put him over her knee and swatted his behind. His dad told him he couldn't do that ever again and why. He did it about a week later and the same punishment was handed down, he has NEVER kicked the dog again.

Answer 5

You are a responsible parent, and it is your duty to teach your child not to hurt animals no matter what kind they are...if he continues to treat the puppy in such a manner, you need to find a new home for the puppy for that's puppy sake!

If you continued to allow your child to abused that puppy and that puppy gets hurt really badly or worse ends up dead, then you will be held liable for what ever had happen to that dog and of course people may even think of you as a bad person for allowing this to happen.

As to rather or not you will be sued that I do not know of...but what I do know of, is that many parents often makes a mistake and think that their child is ready for a puppy, kitten, or any baby animal for that matter, kids and cute adorable baby animals do not mix well together if that child never has never had a pet.

I do not know how old your son is, you didn't state his age. if he is old enough to know right from wrong and is consider to an adult, then he can be arrested for animal cruelty and not you.

Answer 6

If you don't
A) Give the puppy back or to a rescue society your going to have a VERY dead dog soon

B) if it doesn't die - if will have severe mental & physical issues & probably attack your child -

C) someone on here or else where will report you & no you won't be sued you will be chargedwith animal abuse & have to pay fees up to $20, 000 or more & possibily do jail time as well

D) It sounds like yourchild shouldn't be around animals as young or old as he is- give theanimal away it will be betterforit inthe long rub & take it to the vet for crist sake - it could have internal damage

Answer 7

YOU have to teach your son about respect to each other and to animals. It is not just something that comes naturally. Most of the time children imitate what they see because they don't know what to do. Has he seen this behavior before? Anytime your son does something to potentially harm the dog, ie. kicking it, pulling its ears, etc. correct him. Discipline him, but not in anger. Show him yourself how he should treat the dog. Take his hand in yours and show him how to pet.
Purchasing a puppy is a decision that should not have been a flippant one. You probably had good intentions, but it backfired. You might want to consider giving the dog to a family that can take care of it, but keep teaching your son how to respect animals. It is hard, but maybe your son needs to be a bit older before you get another one.

Answer 8

Please give the puppy back or keep the puppy AWAY from the boy or he will soon find puppy BITES back! You could be fined by the ASPCA for animal cruelty and have them seize the dog from you if this situation continues or find yourself with a really mean dog on your hands, and a mean dog is a dangerous dog, a situation that can and should be prevented! A three year old child is old enough to be taught the meaning of GENTLENESS, and the importance of kindness to animals and other people.

Answer 9

If the kid is still kicking and abusing the dog after the first time then either:
1. your not discipling him properly
2. he is need of therapy and possibly even medication

and you should feel like a real heal if you havent gotten that puppy away from that hateful little boy and into a safer more loving home.

i suggest getting a big old mean rotweiler .. let your son try kickin that dog like a soccor ball and see what happens..

Answer 10

Listen Scuba Steve, Big Daddy you are not! You can't possibly be asking this as a serious question! I can't believe that I'm even typing this, but here goes: As a responsible parent, you should not let your son kick his puppy like a soccer ball.

Answer 11

Is this question for real? How can you not know that your son should not be allowed to abuse his puppy? You need to discipline your son immediately and find a loving home for that poor puppy.