Should I have the dog put down?

[2xbitten]

Please help me decide. My best friends dog has bitten my son. This is not the first time the dog has bitten anyone. The dog bit me first. I had never done anything to the dog except scold her for barking. As far as I know it has bitten 3 diiferent people. I didn't count one because it was in her home and the dog may have been being protective, but at the same time it was a child. We have known this dog since a puppy but still acts as if we're new. She said that she would have the dog put down, which maybe a problem for our relationship. It's her husbands dog, (he's in Iraq) and has had to have so many dogs put down for some reason or another. Some have been medical reasons and some have been behavior problems. Part of me says he may contribute to the dogs behavior by rough play. Not only will he be upset with her but also with me. I hate to create friction between all of us, but this is unaccceptable. The animal lover in me says don't put the dog down, part of it is that they may be bad pet owners. So who should I blame, him or the dog? Do I demand that she give the dog away to people that don't have children or are not going to be around children or do I allow and demand her to put the dog down?

[Karen]

You should explain to your friend that you cannot visit her with that dog in her house until she gets the dogs some behavioral training. Let her now how dangerous it is, and that only training will help the dog, and her.

[2xbitten]

When the dog bit me almost a month ago I told her to get her dog some training but she has still yet to do it. In addition some of the people that have been bitten, including my son, were not in her home at the time. So I am somewhat against her even keeping the dog because if she hasn't done it yet, she might never send the dog to training. In addition she has children of her own, although they have not been bitten.

[Karen]

Has the dog been reported to Animal Control? Usually dog bites have to be recorded in most places.

I would then not visit her at all. Maybe that will impress on her the importance of the situation.

[shepgirl]

I agree with you telling her you can't visit as long as the dog is there. If she's already been told to get the dog some training and hasn't done it, I don't expect she ever will. As for the husband, would he rather come home in the middle of a lawsuit because this dog has caused serious damage to some other child or person...so far they have been lucky nobody has sued them, their luck won't always hold up.
If I had to choose between my childrens' safety or a friendship, my kids would be my first priority and a true friend would understand this.

[Moesha]

Is the dog uptodate on its shots?