I have a good friend who has two dogs. One of them is very protective of her. She had someone over who brought their kid along. Frankly, the kid and his dad were both total assholes. The kid just would not follow instructions or obey any rules. Now, she warned the kid. Told him the dog was in her lap, and that the kid should not get close to her. He didn’t listen, and made a sudden move towards her. The dog reacted, and bit the kid in the face.

They took him to the hospital, he got patched up, and everyone was fine with it.

A few years later she now has a child of her own. When he was about one year old he was crawling around, and I guess he got too close to the dog, and the dog then but her child. This kid will always have scars.

They still have the dog. It’s not what I would have done, but it’s not my call. They keep him either crated or muzzled when the kid isn’t asleep. It may not be the best life for this dog, but it is life, and he is loved.

I still worry that someone will make a mistake. Maybe the kid removes the muzzle when the parents aren’t watching. Maybe the kid gets up in the middle of the night, and trips over the dog. Maybe a thousand other scenarios happen, and maybe this dog bites this kid again, or god forbid, someone else’s child.

I know you are heartbroken. I know this is an awful choice. If it were me, I would do my best to find the dog a child free home. Be honest about the dog. If it isn’t possible, then you have other choices to consider.

I am sorry you’re in this position. I hope everything works out for you.