https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:23:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2855039 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:10:00 +0000 Foodnerd81 2855039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: the fact that she apologized profusely is pretty big to me. I hope she thinks twice next halloween. I’m glad your LO is ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2855014 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 16:26:54 +0000 Alba4 2855014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He’s fine and the site is already healed. I wrote a note to our neighbor asking for the dog’s vax record. She apologized profusely and gave me the vax record and everything is up-to-date. I feel better. We’re lucky it wasn’t a worse situation.</p> <p>It’s a small neighborhood and we decided not to report the dog. We were on their property and the bite was benign, luckily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2855011 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 16:15:56 +0000 LindsayInNY 2855011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any update? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854614 Sat, 03 Nov 2018 09:05:21 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2854614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please follow your mommy instinct - that dog broke skin and the area is clearly red. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854570 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 23:28:11 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2854570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: Like @Pollywog: I have a dog with a bite history. He's part cattle-dog so nips at heels when new people come in the house (which he hasn't done for years because we no longer have him near the front door when new people come in), but had a legitimate bite a few years back. Long story, and it wasn't "his" fault (neighbor's idiot kid followed me up into our room where we'd stashed the dogs, screamed his head off, and my dog lashed out to protect me). I went to the hospital with them because I felt so bad and had to fill out an incident report. I didn't sleep well for weeks and we discussed giving him away, even though-again-it was a "perfect storm" situation and, had my neighbors told their 9-year-old not to follow me into the dog's "den," it wouldn't have happened. Long story short, since that day my dogs do not meet any children in our home outside of family. When company comes over, the dogs stay in our bedroom. I cannot even FATHOM letting them loose in the house during Trick or Treat. It's an incredibly stressful day for dogs, and my younger dog was on a tranquilizer (seriously) because the holiday makes her so nervous. The dog shouldn't have been there, it was absolutely the owner's fault for letting it happen, and they are responsible for the bite to your sweet kiddo.</p> <p>@pollywog: My dogs and I were attacked out on a walk a few weeks ago. My older dog (the one with the bite record) ended up with 2 bites that broke the skin. And guess what? It was a little dog. I'm SO sick of "X,Y,Z breed is an attack breed" or "little dogs don't do any harm." Yes, they do. A dog is a dog, no matter its size, and I personally find the small ones to be extra aggressive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854558 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 20:35:58 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2854558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was bitten by a dog (through my jeans) about ten years ago. It looked about the same as that.</p> <p>I went to the emergency room and was given a tetanus booster and an antibiotics prescription. There was no worry about rabies because I was in Ireland (it's been eliminated there).</p> <p>I would for sure take him in to the doctor.</p> <p>The woman who owned the dog who bit me said "Don't mind him." wtf! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854543 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 19:18:05 +0000 Mrsbells 2854543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: wow this would upset me so much. The skin is definitely broken! I cant believe the neighbours had nothing to say. Thats my biggest peeve is when people are not responsible pet owners. Why even let your dog loose with trick or treaters! I really hope your little one is ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854499 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 13:11:24 +0000 Happygal 2854499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry that happened, especially on a night that is supposed to be all fun.</p> <p>I agree with everyone else--report it and get to the doctor. A dog who bites and has irresponsible owners is likely to bite again, so you could be helping keep others safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854423 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 09:39:38 +0000 lindseykaye 2854423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: I think you stated it well here that their lack of reaction would make me MORE likley to report it and ensure they know just how serious this is!</p> <p>@Pollywog: Yes to the general attitude of small dog owners vs. large dog owners and the permisiveness and overall need for training. We also have several vet and vet technician friends and they have confirmed over and over again that it is small dogs who they are bitten by far more often than large dogs while working due to this same pattern. (edit to add this is not meant to villify small dogs or owners but to make sure people are aware of the possibility as much as they are around large dogs. I have had a lot of friends/family who are very cautious around the sweetest highly trained large dogs we know and who don't give small dogs a second thought when they really should all be treated the same) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854402 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 08:17:29 +0000 ChitownRo 2854402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m fairly certain that dog bites that break the skin require antibiotics. Def go in </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854399 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 08:01:32 +0000 skinnycow 2854399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: We have a dog with bite history also and had the same experience. I believe medical professionals are required to contact animal control - we also had to provide proof of rabies vaccine and quarantine.</p> <p>It's baffling to me that the dog's owner didn't care. I was mortified when this happened to us and we don't allow our dog around strangers at all anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854396 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 07:45:27 +0000 Ajsmommy 2854396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>100% take him to get checked AND report this incident. The owners need to realize this isn't a "non issue". They should have to show updated records and the dog should be quarantined. </p> <p>When I was younger we had a nippy dog and he nipped my cousin, my uncle reported it and we had to show proper records and my dog was quarantined for 14 days. We felt terrible he did it, we knew he was a nippy dog and always did our best to watch him and try to keep him out of these situations but we let our guard down one time and he did this... we felt that doing the f/up was fine bc our dog/we were in the wrong. </p> <p>I get so annoyed of people not stepping up and taking responsibility for things.. your neighbors are jerks in my opinion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854379 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 02:41:09 +0000 birdofafeather 2854379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would bring him in. DD2 was bit by my brother’s dog as an infant (which was totally my and my mom’s fault in terms of not restricting access) and I took her to urgent care. I knew the dog was up to date so the only worry was infection. She did a course of antibiotics just to be safe and didn’t need anything additionally. We were out of town but my oed’s offixe said they would have to report if we came in there. I felt awful, my brother (who wasn’t there) felt awful, my mom felt awful. It was a good reminder to not be lax about kids and dogs. Sorry that happened to your DS. I would have been very upset. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854375 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 23:29:12 +0000 turquoisemama 2854375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: I would definitely take your son to the doctor and yes that will probably include reporting the dog. They just need to make sure it’s vaccinated. Also animal bites can get really badly infected. You are not overreacting. I’d be really upset. She should know her dog is not friendly and should have kept it contained if she was going to be opening the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854345 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:56:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2854345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and when I was in high school, a friend's dog bit me- totally her father's fault, and my mom brought me to urgent care the next day. They did make us report the dog. I called my friend (or maybe my mom called her mom?) to give them the heads up, but they were so upset their dog bit me that they totally understood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854344 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:54:34 +0000 Foodnerd81 2854344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: We went to a house last night that was the same- they taped a sign over their doorbell saying to take a candy and don't knock. The only reason I know it was because of a dog is the owner happened to come out while we were there and chatted with us and told us her dog gets freaked out- but the dog was inside, far away from my children. </p> <p>I think I would bring him to the doctor and let them deal with reporting it. I'm sure it's fine, but it's still worth double and triple checking and they should be reported. If you know your dog gets freaked out about Halloween, turn off your lights, keep him on a leash, or lock him in another room before you answer. And if he managed to get out by some accident, you apologize and do everything you can to make it better. </p> <p>I hope your LO is OK and not too traumatized by the whole thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854340 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:31:05 +0000 Pollywog 2854340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a dog with a bite history. In her case it was provoked, but totally DH's fault. How it worked for us is that we of course paid through bill for the bite to be looked at. It was at the ER and the victim was uninsured, so it was super expensive. The bite was about half as bad as yours. The ER called animal control and we had to provide proof of rabies and quarantine for 10 days. Had she not had her vaccine she would have been put down. We put hundreds of hours of training to make sure it would never happen again.</p> <p>I've found that small dog owners are more permissive of reactive behavior and bad manners than big dog owners. I'd definitely report it and get a rabies certificate.</p> <p>And FWIW, Halloween is the worst night of the year for my dog. Nothing is as scary as people dressed in costumes knocking on her door and running. I keep my candy on a table on my front door with a sign not to knock.. I have several neighbors with similar stressed out dogs. So it likely was a one off incident,but still is an incident </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854327 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 17:05:05 +0000 Iced Tea 2854327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The skin is broken. At a minimum, I would tell the neighbors that you need to verify the pet’s vaccination records. As others mentioned, it may be best to let a knowledgeable third party contact them for the records so you can be sure the information you get is legit. </p> <p>If I felt they didn’t take it seriously, that makes me more likely to report it. The owners were definitely irresponsible to let the dog have access to the door on Halloween. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854309 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:52:54 +0000 JJ2626 2854309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a big fear of mine and I would have screamed at those neighbors and called the cops! I’d also bring your son to the ped just in case. They’re pretty serious about rabies shots with any kind of dog bite. So sorry this happened! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854308 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:51:16 +0000 foodiebee 2854308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where I live, not only are you required to report it, but so is a dr if you see one. I love my dog more than anything, but it makes me angry when people don't properly train their dogs. My DH was almost bitten twice last year by the same small dog because every time the dog misbehaves, the owner just picks it up and shrugs it off rather than actually working to train the dog and correct the behavior. I can't just pick up my lab, I have to put in the work and be responsible! Sorry, this is a total soapbox for me bc my sibling was bitten in the face at 5yo and almost lost an eye. I hope your son is okay and that your neighbor takes this seriously!</p> <p>ETA I once heard from a dog trainer that what matters isn't whether the dog breaks the skin, it's whether the dog makes *contact* with the body. That itself shows intent not to just scare the perceived threat away, but to actually do harm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854303 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:33:25 +0000 MrsBucky 2854303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my husband was bitten by a dog as he was running down the block we found out that in our county you should report dog bites to animal control because they keep tabs on these things. After a certain number of unprovoked attacks they have to take action. They obtained records of the dogs’s vaccinations to ensure rabies wasn’t a concern. Urgent care still wanted DH on broad spectrum antibiotics to treat prophylacticly against possible infections in a dogs mouth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854302 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:31:41 +0000 lindseykaye 2854302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fo@Alba4: I see where he might not think it's worth a doc visit - but even if you choose not to have it looked at you can still report the incident so it's on record. </p> <p>Also for me in that situation it is less about what actually happened to your son, and more about what could have happened. What if there were fewer layers? What if the dog jumped and bit a child in the face/eye? What if the dog is not up-to-date on vaccinations and this happened. What about next year's trick-or-treating kids? Will the neighbors have learned from this year or because there are no consequences, will they have the same attitude? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854300 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:27:26 +0000 Alba4 2854300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband thinks I’m over reacting... he doesn’t think the skin is broken! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854297 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:15:31 +0000 lindseykaye 2854297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a dog owner I would be devastated if my dog bit a person's child and theirs is the opposite of the reaction I would have. Also, we NEVER ever let our dog near the door during Halloween trick or treating or in general when we did not personally know the people on the other side so it's baffling to me how this was even possible but I know some people are very lax or very trusting of their own pets when, in fact, they are animals and can still be unpredictable especially on high stress nights like Halloween.</p> <p>That said, I would take my LO to the pediatrician and would very likely report the incident. Our family dog bit our own child a few years back. It was pretty traumatic, and we had to provide rabies vaccination proof and keep the dog on our property for one week with visits from animal services to prove that there were no signs of illness or rabies. Not sure what state/local laws apply to you but you can always call to ask prior to reporting... and reporting is not the same as pressing charges. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854293 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:08:06 +0000 Sams Mom 2854293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: I would ask about the dogs current rabies vaccination, if they can't provide one the doctors will usually take the dog for testing and start treatments on your son just in case. Rabies treatments are no easy thing, multiple painful shots to the abdomen, so I would be sure before going down that path. (Not to say I wouldn't do them to avoid the pain, but I would definitely verify the dogs immunization record before pursuing the testing route). </p> <p>You can report it to the police, and depending on your local laws, the outcome could wildly vary. Even if the dog is up to date on shots I would take him to the pediatrician if the bite looks like it is getting infected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854292 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:03:56 +0000 mediagirl 2854292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take my child to the pediatrician to get it looked at and ask their opinion on what you should do about the dog - if you should report it or not.</p> <p>Then, I would take the bill from the pediatrician to the house and tell them that you would hope they would take care of the bill for you because their dog bit your child.</p> <p>I hate people who don't properly restrain their pets. I got bit by a poodle once when I was rollerblading down the road. The owner absolutely did not care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-bite-while-trick-or-treating-f#post-2854291 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 15:01:05 +0000 Alba4 2854291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yesterday while trick or treating my 5yo was bitten by a neighbor’s dog. We were a large group of kids and parents (15 total). My DS rang the bell and when my neighbor opened the door her dog ran out onto the porch yipping and jumping. My DS got nervous and started squirming and yelling. The small dog (maybe a Maltisse or Bichon?) chased my DS down the front stops into the driveway and then nipped him on the back of his leg. It was pure chaos.</p> <p>I finally calmed my DS and got a look at his leg. Luckily he was wearing layers, but the dog broke/scratched the skin. </p> <p>My husband informed the owners that the dog had bitten my son, but they didn’t really say anything. No apology or anything. It’s just crazy.</p> <p>My husband thinks DS is fine. It’s sore today around the bite. I’m worried about rabies and am thinking of just getting a quick look at by the pedi. Not sure what to do. Do you report dog bites to the police? That dog was nuts. </p> [attach=6153/18/phj6cw.450x600.064165C5-506D-40C5-BE18-A30F0133C842.jpeg] [attach=6153/18/phj6cy.600x450.D4F9682C-AD8A-4DAF-BD3F-A6FC66887632.jpeg]