'I'm ditching family Christmas over brother's awful rescue dog - it's not safe'

23 December 2023 , 11:22

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The woman doesn't want to go if the dog will be there (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

Christmas is a wonderful time to bring all the family together, but it can cause a lot of tension if not everyone gets along.

One mum is now considering ditching her family's Christmas celebrations because her brother and his wife will be bringing their rescue dog - because she's scared it might attack her child. The woman admires that the brother adopted the dog, who has a history of being abused, but he can be "aggressive" and "doesn't always react very well to new people and environments".

Writing in to Slate's Dear Prudence advice column, the anonymous 'terrified toddler mum' explained that she herself had been bit by the dog "a few years ago", and on Thanksgiving he had bit her nine-year-old niece twice. She wrote: "She was distraught. They usually keep the dog in one of the guest rooms while people are over, but with all the kids, she inevitably gets let out at some point.

"I have the youngest child, an 18-month-old, and I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable having her around the dog." The woman asked Prudence whether it was fair to tell her family that she is considering not coming to Christmas celebrations because she is "unwilling to risk" her daughter's safety.

The advice columnist acknowledged the woman's brother's "wonderful act of kindness" in taking on an abused rescue dog, but agreed that she "owed" her child "at least as much loving care" as they are providing for their new pet. She continued: "Of course you should tell them you won't come if an animal with a history of biting children is there. Of course."

Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams

Prudence agreed it might "create some drama", but not as much it would if her child had to be rushed to hospital on Christmas day, as well as calling animal control to "make a report about their fur baby".

Children and dogs should never be left alone without adult supervision, according to the Blue Cross. It's also important to remember that it's against the law to allow your dog to be dangerously out of control in a public or private space - including your home and garden.

The Blue Cross states: "If your dog harms someone in your home or garden, you could be prosecuted. The penalty for those convicted of allowing a dog to bite someone in their home or garden is a prison sentence of up to five years for injury, and 14 years for a fatality. A court can also order a dog belonging to an owner found guilty of this offence to be euthanised and ban the owner from keeping dogs in future."

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz