My dog bit a boy - deleted

I decided to delete this post. 

I am not interested in debating the legal ramifications.  The fact is - the laws in the US are different from the UK or anywhere in Europe.  The laws are also considerably different state to state and even jurisdiction to jurisdiction within a state.  Right now - I don't know how the local law applies to my case.  It is not prudent to get into any legal discussion.  Especially because few posters are lawyers and can only offer "hear say" opinion.

I posted this event for discussion without forethought.  I apologize.

That's terrible ... on one hand the dog was in it's own house ... on the other hand you knew the dog had issues with strangers and still allowed you're children to have unsupervised company ....

Um no - I did not allow my son to have unsupervised company. 

1.  He did not have permission to have company

2.  He only opened the door - the child entered without permission.

It was tragic and terrible but in no way was it do to any kind of permissiveness on my part. 

This is sad. :(

I feel really bad for your poor dog, who probably thought he was protecting the house/your son. My dog is also protective, but only towards other dogs. Still, I know how saddening it can be when your best friend is trying to protect the family in a way that hurts innocent people.

I don't think your dog has rabies (I just did a report on it for my biology class, and unless he got in a fight recently with a raccoon/bat, he should be fine).

I think the fact that your dog was in his own house, and that the other boy let himself in should be a strong "defense". It would be very different if your dog escaped the house and mauled a small child who was playing in their own yard...

Best of luck to you and your pooch, and I hope the other boy is okay (though it sounds like he is already)!

Rabies vacs last far longer than one year (or even three years).  Maybe a vet will step in and make sure the city knows that.

A friend of ours has a very big and very distrusting dog who will bite you if you touch him without him allowing you to do so.  They had some idiot come over for a dinner party and he kept getting closer and closer to the dog who was tied up outside and out of the way.  They repeatedly told him not to touch the dog but he did anyway.  He got bit but not severely (the dog could have taken his arm if he felt so inclined) and he filed charges.  Since the bite happened on the owners property and the person was told not to touch the dog nothing happened.

That's not the same scenario as yours but there is hope given the dog's apparentl unhappy past, the fact that you've worked with him so he's manageable and is tolerant of most guests, and the fact that the boys weren't actually allowed in the house but came in without being asked to.  Weak defense, but there is hope.

It really all depends whether or not they find you're dog to be viscious when doing the behavioral tests.  Hopefully he passes with flying colors and everyone in the household learns a very vaulable lesson. 

sorry you didn't like the what was written but i don't go in for BS people.

Unfortunately, you can't defend the animal.  One they get the idea that it's OK to bite people to the extent of drawing blood they have to be put down.   This time it was a biggish child, next time it could take exception to a baby.  You can't trust it no matter how much you like it.

Just word of support...

I am very sorry for your situation.   I love all dogs and think that all dogs are good.  Any dog (or any person) for that matter is capable of making a bad decision or a decision that seemed like the right decision at the time.  This could've happened to anyone.  I wish you the best.  That's all.  Only positive thoughts go your way from me.