Would you stay somewhere if a kid kicked your dog?

Question

Over weekend my hubby and I went 280 miles away from home to spend holiday week end with my mom. Upon arriving there was a little girl there which is the step daughter of a second cousin of mine. We had our youngest dog with us Jake a 17 month Standard Poodle. Well this child proceeded to kick him in his rib and nothing was said to her. I yelled at her to quit and she told me she hated dogs. Well after about a hour and 5-10 kicks in dogs ribs he snapped at her and nipped her on her bottom, didn't break skin and just a small red mark. well after all of this I said I was leaving and did, now family is mad at me for leaving.

Now my question is would you have stayed and been miserable or left and been miserable?

Answer 1

I would have handled the situation differently by making the child stay away from my dog.  

Answer 2

I would have left too, you did the right thing, imagine the reaction if somebody kicked the kid. to me its the same.. kudos to you

Answer 3

you did the right thing by leaving. the childs parents should teach her its wrong to harm animals

Answer 4

If she didn't stop, why did you leave you dog anywhere near her?

If it were me, I promptly would have taken my dog, announced that I would not be around a psycho child with trashy parents, and I would have left. Then, I would have called children's services for the child.  

Ok, maybe not depending on the situation.  If it was close family, I would have taken my dog, pulled the host aside and explained why I was leaving.  I also would have spread word within the family that the child is a psycho.  

Answer 5

I would have left and been miserable. There is no way I would have allowed that child to keep kicking my dog, she's lucky she didn't get anything more than a nip on the bum.

You did the right thing, your family should have understood the position you were placed in.

Answer 6

I would of left, show them to respect your dog, well i guess it depends how long you were there, if for a few days already yes i would have left.

Answer 7

i would of done the same thing as you only had a talk with the kids mum or dad an inform them that this isnt the way to treat a dog and that it could be dangerous, and that its unfair the the dog it was only doing what anyone else would do, someone hits your chest and he try to ignor it they do it anoth few times so you shout then they still do it the reaction is to defend yourself. .  i aggre with what you did .

Answer 8

You were right to protect your dog, he depends on you to keep him safe.  It's unfortunate that your family would not step in and teach the girl how to treat animals.  Her behavior was atrocious and your family allowing her to act that way is not doing her any favors (in fact, it places her in danger).  After things cool off, hopefully you can call your family and agree on a mutual set of expectations for your next visit to ensure the safety of the dog and the child.

Answer 9

I would have sternly told her to stop, and then had a firm talk with her parents. The child needs to learn to respect their elders (you telling her to stop) and to treat animals properly.

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Answer 10

I don't think that the kid would have gotten a second kick in if it was my dog.  My first concern is that your dog is so young still and a child doing this could encourage him into taking a set against children and even becoming aggressive towards children.

I don't really know how I would have handled the situation only that I would have made sure the dog was somewhere where the child couldn't get near it.  I guess if that means taking it home then I would have done so.

As for the family being upset with you for leaving then I guess maybe if you explain to them that you don't have to put up with the kind of behaviour exhibited by this child and the lack of discipline and guidance from her parents.  The fact that the child's parent did nothing to prevent her from being cruel to your dog gave you no choice but to remove the dog from the situation and it was unfortunate that as you lived so far away you were unable to return.  

Answer 11

The gathering being at your mom's place makes all the difference.  You should have taken a leash over, hooked it on the kid's belt loop and handed it to her father-informing him that if she gets away again, you'll have to ask him to take the child and leave.  There's no excuse for raising a brat and letting a child that age behave that way at someone else's home.  

Answer 12

I would have stayed.... After I KICKED the kid as many times as she got away with kicking my dog!.... Okay that's my obnoxious answer, and not by any means do I advocate doing that for real....

BUT....

That child sounds like a menace or as I tend to call children of such behavior "spawn of SATAN".  Don't get me wrong I have a child of my own who treats our dogs the same way I do with the regard that they are part of our family.  But in your case I would have left too and I would have separated the brat and your dog after the first kick.  You dog showed great restraint with only a nip.  If they are mad then they should have reprimanded the child for being such a brat and taken her home.  Since they didn't appreciate the effort you made by traveling such a distance to visit with them they should be mad at themselves for being such jerks!

Answer 13

h**l yeah I would have left.

Thats just wrong!!!

You're absolutely right. She has no right kicking your dog. Dont feel bad sweetie.  

Answer 14

I think I would have stayed but kept myself between that little brat and the dog.  I would also have lobbied to get my mom and others on my side if possible.  Additionally, I'd have gotten between the brat and dog before the dog got kicked numerous times.  Shoulda woulda coulda...

If someone is mad at you about it be sure to let them know exactly why you left, name witnesses if necessary

Answer 15

Next time just don't bring the dog. The kid was a brat.

Answer 16

you did the right thing bye leaving cause no one should have been that cruel to an animal even thou they do not like them it dose not give them the right to do that at all.

Answer 17

Well I probably would have stayed and been unmiserable. Something should have been said and you should have talked to your family about dealing with the kid kicking your dog. She needs to learn manners and be disciplined for what she did.

Answer 18

I would have trainded my dog to eat her. Lol, sorry if that doesn't help you.... But it's an option

P.S. That kid sounds like a brat. You did nothing wrong.

Answer 19

Ideally the kids parents would have been PARENTS.  Kicking a dog is unacceptable unless it is about to kill you.  To heck with them.  I thinnk you did the right thing since clearly they weren't going to do anything to the kid.

Answer 20

well if that happend to my dog things would have happend a bit differently..seeing as how my dog is a full grown pitbull..his nip would prolly have taken half her *** cheek!! lol thats besides the point though..

back to your Q, i would have explained that the dog is a family member and that we dont KIK FAMILY MEMBERS. then if it proceeded i would sternly told her that a time out was in the future if she did not stop. if  all else fails i would have gone to the parents and explained the situation to them and reasonably asked that they keep their little tirant chained up before i teach my dog that we may not kik family members but in some cases we do EAT THEM!!

too harsh? i think not!! :)

Answer 21

I would have left in this situation, actually before you did.  The kid's parents should have put a stop to it after the first kick.  When they let the kid do it again and said nothing, I would have been out of there!  Allowing a child to abuse a dog with no consequences is madness, I would not allow my dogs to stay in the same home as this kid ever.  

Answer 22

Not only would I have not stayed she wouldn't have gotten more than one kick in. Normally i do not condone spanking a kid but I would have been sorely tempted. The child is obviously undisciplined and not respectful. Let your family be mad they'll get over it