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@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).

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

@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.

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.

@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!

@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)

@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!

@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.

@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.

Any update?

@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!