New Rescue and Complaint From Parent

[Blackcat31]

Ok so despite all the varied opinions and how I chose to treat my animals I DO agree this is a liability issue. My only problem now that I am asking for advice on is how to deal with it. This is my solution/problem:
I would like to be able to put the gates back up that section off the kitchen. Here I will turn into a dog sanctuary where they will still feel involve with the kids (open floor plan) yet safe from accusations and also tiny hands that aren't always so gentle. I do still want to allow the dogs in with the kids occasionally throughout the day and maybe during nap time where I can closely monitor them.

My problem with this is that the family (dcd) who has claimed that she growled (whether she did or not isn't the point, its still a dangerous accusation) has a child enrolled here in a wheel chair. When they signed up I had to take the gates down so I could get her through the doorways. I told them at interview that that would mean the dog would be out with the kids but he was very friendly, I just wouldn't be able to gate him off. This was an accommodation I made for THEM (and its been a terrible inconvenience bth trying to keep the kids from playing in the kitchen, although I manage it well). I'm really leaning to putting the gates back up, but I would have to do an immediate term for this child, since access to the back yard is through the kitchen and I wouldn't be able to take her out with us and cannot leave her inside while we go out.

My contract says that I need to give 2 weeks notice for term, but would like to put the gates up immediately to avoid any further accusations... So any ideas on THIS issue/idea?

I am not sure I am understanding all of this.... so to clarify this in my mind:

You want to put your gates back up to prevent the dog from having access to the daycare kids?

But doing this will prevent DCG from being able to come in and out due to the wheelchair?

So you want to term the DCK that uses the chair because you will no longer be able to accommodate her needs?

This is the SAME family that made the accusations about the dog growling?

Am I getting this correctly?

[Familycare71]

The gated off kitchen is ideal.
As far as the family goes, what I am hearing is the dogs cannot be there unless you term. If you are able/willing to term I would just be careful not to use the wheelchair access as a reason. I'm sure someone here has a way of wording it-

OT: so happy you rescued your pup and it is going so well. Sounds like she is blessed you found her!

[Willow]

Ok so despite all the varied opinions and how I chose to treat my animals I DO agree this is a liability issue. My only problem now that I am asking for advice on is how to deal with it. This is my solution/problem:
I would like to be able to put the gates back up that section off the kitchen. Here I will turn into a dog sanctuary where they will still feel involve with the kids (open floor plan) yet safe from accusations and also tiny hands that aren't always so gentle. I do still want to allow the dogs in with the kids occasionally throughout the day and maybe during nap time where I can closely monitor them.

My problem with this is that the family (dcd) who has claimed that she growled (whether she did or not isn't the point, its still a dangerous accusation) has a child enrolled here in a wheel chair. When they signed up I had to take the gates down so I could get her through the doorways. I told them at interview that that would mean the dog would be out with the kids but he was very friendly, I just wouldn't be able to gate him off. This was an accommodation I made for THEM (and its been a terrible inconvenience bth trying to keep the kids from playing in the kitchen, although I manage it well). I'm really leaning to putting the gates back up, but I would have to do an immediate term for this child, since access to the back yard is through the kitchen and I wouldn't be able to take her out with us and cannot leave her inside while we go out.

My contract says that I need to give 2 weeks notice for term, but would like to put the gates up immediately to avoid any further accusations... So any ideas on THIS issue/idea?

Whether you remove the dogs from walking amongst the children to merely having access through a gate is moot. Barrier frustration and aggression is very real and highly likely from a young energetic dog. I know plenty of dogs that would attempt a finger amputation through a fence or crate but would never harm someone otherwise. The space becomes "the dogs space" and they will be far more inclined to be territorial and resource guard.


Your best option is to keep the dogs away from the children and families entirely. Gating to restrict the dogs will be a more dangerous option and restricting access to a disabled child will violate ADA laws.

[Brooksie]

I am not sure I am understanding all of this.... so to clarify this in my mind:

You want to put your gates back up to prevent the dog from having access to the daycare kids? For parts of the day, yes. I agree that whether or not I don't think my dogs are aggressive, clearly one accusation can be a big liability, whether its true or not.

But doing this will prevent DCG from being able to come in and out due to the wheelchair? yes

So you want to term the DCK that uses the chair because you will no longer be able to accommodate her needs? Don't WANT to term, I love this girl and family but I don't know what else to do

This is the SAME family that made the accusations about the dog growling? Yes. And while I think that looks bad, its also trying to accommodate their concern while no longer being able to accommodate a different concern.

Am I getting this correctly?

Sounds like you got it right. I wish I could show you the layout of my house so you could see and come up with other ideas... I have the big metal, very strong walk through metal gates, spent a good bit of money on them and tehy are down in the basement not being used because the chair can't get past them.... I'm thinking I might just have to get those cheapo ones you can pick up and put back down... Idk. I really don't like those because I don't think they're high enough and if they are too high I can't get in and out of the kitchen easily (which is necessary all day long). Any better ideas?

[Brooksie]

Whether you remove the dogs from walking amongst the children to merely having access through a gate is moot. Barrier frustration and aggression is very real and highly likely from a young energetic dog. I know plenty of dogs that would attempt a finger amputation through a fence or crate but would never harm someone otherwise. The space becomes "the dogs space" and they will be far more inclined to be territorial and resource guard.


Your best option is to keep the dogs away from the children and families entirely. Gating to restrict the dogs will be a more dangerous option and restricting access to a disabled child will violate ADA laws.

Well that's not possible so that too is a moot point. Guess no option is good enough.

[Willow]

Well that's not possible so that too is a moot point. Guess no option is good enough.

Why is it not possible to restrict access?

I have four dogs, two cats and a small house. It's not difficult at all for me to keep everyone separated and safe :confused:

[Familycare71]

Sounds like you got it right. I wish I could show you the layout of my house so you could see and come up with other ideas... I have the big metal, very strong walk through metal gates, spent a good bit of money on them and tehy are down in the basement not being used because the chair can't get past them.... I'm thinking I might just have to get those cheapo ones you can pick up and put back down... Idk. I really don't like those because I don't think they're high enough and if they are too high I can't get in and out of the kitchen easily (which is necessary all day long). Any better ideas?

Do you have a bedroom or unused room the dogs can hang out in for the day? Beds, toys, water, etc... And on nice days they can hang out in the yard while dck are inside?
My dogs are separated by a door but they do get let outside when we are inside if it is nice out.

[Lyss]

Personally my dog is kept separate 90% of the time for her safety. My dog is family as well, we don't crate her or leave her outside. She's a member of this family but by putting her in a situation where the children are all around her and in her space I feel like I'm creating a unsafe environment for her. Children are unpredictable, handsy, and loud and even we have days where we feel like we've had enough or need a break but we can voice our feelings or step away and regroup. :: Dogs don't handle situations like that and I don't want to create an environment where my dog may feel overwhelmed. She's never bit or hurt anyone and is great with the kids when she does get near them but it's not often.

I wouldn't argue or get into it with the family that says he growled, I had friend tell me that my dog "put her teeth on" him when he was playing with her and he seriously thought it was an act of aggression when I knew she just over bit the small toy he was playing tug a war with sometimes people interpret things differently, especially non-dog people I'd just say I'm sorry that you felt that happened, here's the options we have (2 weeks notice, separate, don't separate... whatever you plan to do) and leave it at that.

Just an FYI (& I'm not saying I agree with this), I worked in property management and over 1/2 of the national insurance companies we worked with considered American Bulldogs an aggressive dog breed and had them on their "blacklist."

[Brooksie]

Do you have a bedroom or unused room the dogs can hang out in for the day? Beds, toys, water, etc... And on nice days they can hang out in the yard while dck are inside?
My dogs are separated by a door but they do get let outside when we are inside if it is nice out.

No not really. Every time I had to let them out I would then have to go upstairs, leaving the kids unattended to bring them downstairs and outside to go potty. I think that would be even more dangerous and a violation of licensing, especially considering how often I let them out. All other rooms of the house that aren't used for child care are upstairs on the second or third floor. Kitchen is the only option.

[crazydaycarelady]

I have not had time to read all of the responses but I would just keep the dogs separate from the kids during dc hours.

I am a huge dog advocate also and foster a lot of dogs and puppies. I had a foster "cattle" dog that also looked pit bullish. He was a real sweatheart but I had a dad that went off the deep end. In that case I gave the foster back to the rescue.

If it had been my pet I would have jut kept them seperate. I have 2 Scottish terriers and a beagle and I keep them separate during dchours. My male Scottish terrier bit a dcgirl one day on the face. She tripped and fell on top of him. Stuff happens. Better safe than sorry is my motto after that.

[Familycare71]

No not really. Every time I had to let them out I would then have to go upstairs, leaving the kids unattended to bring them downstairs and outside to go potty. I think that would be even more dangerous and a violation of licensing, especially considering how often I let them out. All other rooms of the house that aren't used for child care are upstairs on the second or third floor. Kitchen is the only option.

My dogs are on my lower level and the dck walk down with me and stand to the side while I let the dogs out quickly. They get excited to see the parade of dogs walk by them .
My only sugg would be to make it part of the routine-
Other than that I'm stuck :confused:

[Laurel]

Our licensing doesn't allow pets to be around daycare children. They must be kept separately during daycare hours.

I have never had a dog nor wanted one so it is not an issue here.

My daycare liability insurance also excludes coverage if one has certain breeds of dogs.

Laurel

[Brooksie]

Personally my dog is kept separate 90% of the time for her safety. My dog is family as well, we don't crate her or leave her outside. She's a member of this family but by putting her in a situation where the children are all around her and in her space I feel like I'm creating a unsafe environment for her. Children are unpredictable, handsy, and loud and even we have days where we feel like we've had enough or need a break but we can voice our feelings or step away and regroup. :: Dogs don't handle situations like that and I don't want to create an environment where my dog may feel overwhelmed. She's never bit or hurt anyone and is great with the kids when she does get near them but it's not often.

I wouldn't argue or get into it with the family that says he growled, I had friend tell me that my dog "put her teeth on" him when he was playing with her and he seriously thought it was an act of aggression when I knew she just over bit the small toy he was playing tug a war with sometimes people interpret things differently, especially non-dog people I'd just say I'm sorry that you felt that happened, here's the options we have (2 weeks notice, separate, don't separate... whatever you plan to do) and leave it at that.

Just an FYI (& I'm not saying I agree with this), I worked in property management and over 1/2 of the national insurance companies we worked with considered American Bulldogs an aggressive dog breed and had them on their "blacklist."

I agree with you here. I think I'm going to start separating them for every ones safety. And thanks for the heads up about the insurance, although I remember looking the blacklisted breeds up when I was shopping for insurance and while pit bulls ARE on the list, I never saw American Bulldogs on their. I have a call in with my insurance agent any way because I have to add her to our policy. But I'm sure different companies have different lists.

[Brooksie]

Our licensing doesn't allow pets to be around daycare children. They must be kept separately during daycare hours.

I have never had a dog nor wanted one so it is not an issue here.

My daycare liability insurance also excludes coverage if one has certain breeds of dogs.

Laurel

My licensing only restricts my Boa Constrictor to be separated (obviously ). Last I had a surprise inspection my supervisor my dog greeted her at the door and she kept commenting on what a good sweet boy he was even after he greeted her with a very loud 'hello'. She knows and allows him to be out with the kids, its only required that I have insurance.

[AnneCordelia]

I agree with you here. I think I'm going to start separating them for every ones safety. And thanks for the heads up about the insurance, although I remember looking the blacklisted breeds up when I was shopping for insurance and while pit bulls ARE on the list, I never saw American Bulldogs on their. I have a call in with my insurance agent any way because I have to add her to our policy. But I'm sure different companies have different lists.

It is semantics. For insurance reasons most companies consider American bulldogs to be pitbulls. Pitbulls arent a breed but are a group of breeds and mixes. You might not agree with this distinguishment but your insurance won't cover you in case of a bite. Best to call and ask if your dog fits the bill.