Could social services get involved?

[tigwig]

My niece was recently bitten by the family pet ( a rottweiler). This was after much provocation and unfortunately she has needed 16 stitches in her face. See my other thread in animals & nature. Someone on here suggested that SS may now become involved and as I know nothing about this wondered if there is a possibility they would and if so how long it would take for them to be in contact?

[sara3]

I don't know, but I assume that the dog is now away from the family? provoked or not, it's obviously not a suitable family pet.

were the police involved/informed?

[jaydah]

The hospital normally inform police when a dog-bite patient is treated. You may receive a visit from plod.

[carmalee]

haven't read through the 60 odd posts in answer to this question but have flicked through. It's very unfortunate the child got bitten but...... a) if the child is going to be unsupervised with the dog then I suggest the child be put in a sealed playpen cos obviously the person in charge of the child has no understanding that dogs have feelings and can be provoked by unnatural behaviour (Child was pulling at the dog's face and kissing it for 15 minutes etc) b) this dog was extremely tolerant of the abuse it was subjected to and c) whoever sold/passed on or was in any way involved with this dog being in this home should be ashamed of themselves. It is clearly not a dog friendly environment for a guarding breed dog to be in and d) I'm assuming the parents wouldn't allow the child to play with a loaded weapon - maybe an unfortunate analogy but for heavens sakes, this is a big powerful creature not Bambi.

[carmalee]

sorry - should have put this on the original post about what happened - can't help with this query I'm afraid.

[B00]

My (long since gone) dog bit Mini Boo when she was about 2, on her face three times and a tooth was also knocked out.

We never recieved a call or a visit from the social services, and yes, we did tell the hospital the truth over what happened.

[tigwig]

The dog is being kept but the child (age 8) is very nervous now about what happened and as far as I'm aware she isn't allowed unsupervised access anymore. The dog is kept in the garden most of the time, with the other one they have (not a rottie).
sara I don't know if the police were informed or not, may be the hospital did? Thanks for the answers anyway, I guess SIL will find out soon enough.

[B00]

Is it fair to keep dogs in the garden all the time like that?

To be brutally frank, if it's shoved in the garden "out of the way" pretty much 24/7 the dog would be better off being put down.

[fuzzienz]

NO, i doubt it, if anything the dog would be put down and the people may be prosecuted

[China Doll]

The parents would know if SS are going to become involved generally as the A&E staff let the parents know they're sending the form and what the reason is. In this case, it would be to ensure the enviroment is safe for the child to live in. It may be in the form of a home visit or a telephone call. Or at least that's what our A&E staff would do.

And I think the parents of this child are terribly irresponsible still keeping the dog and for that reason I hope someone (SS or the plod) do pay them a visit. It's not fair on the dog or childs quality of life.