My MIL's rescued a dog, but it's put my baby at risk

"Surely my concerns are reasonable, and this is a foreseeable event?"

"My mother-in-law just adopted a new rescue dog on Saturday," a mum begins in a controversial online post. 

"She usually watches my child on Tuesdays at our home, and she now wants me to drop her off at theirs tomorrow. She wants to have my daughter meet and be around this new dog, which she has only had for a few days," she continues. 

"In my opinion, it’s not smart to have a 14-month-old around a dog they’re just getting to know. The dog is getting used to her new owners and their new home."

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

RELATED: My stepsister named her dogs after my kids to prove a point

"I can't shake the idea of her being attacked"

The mum says she has "read about children who have been hurt by dogs that families have had for years, let alone a brand-new dog."

She also mentions that she wasn't raised with dogs and has personally had many unpleasant experiences throughout her life with the different breeds.

"I don’t trust animals I don’t know/are not familiar with. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable, especially because she is so little," she emphasises.

The woman explains that her daughter has only just started walking, and she doesn’t understand how to touch animals properly, as that can’t be taught to her at her age.

"What happens if this brand-new dog gets poked, pulled, or doesn’t like her screaming? I just can’t get the idea of her being attacked out of my head." 

Image: iStock

RELATED: I named my girl after a wild dog – people think I’m mad

After bringing this up, her mother-in-law got very ‘offended’. 

"I don’t plan to have her never meet this dog, but I think she should give the dog more time to get acclimated and for them to learn more about their behaviour. 

"My MIL will not respect how I feel and continues to push the matter. It would be different if my daughter could talk, be educated on how to introduce herself to a dog, how to give the dog space and care for it properly. But she’s so little."

The woman finished with asking the group what they would do.

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

"You're 100% right"

Readers gave the woman varying advice.

One wrote, "Give her the choice, A.) she watches your child at your house like normal, without the dog, OR, B.) she doesn’t get grandma time at all.

"You do not have to take your child to her house and you do not have to allow the dog at your house." 

Another suggested: "Not sure how to deal with your MIL but you are 100% right not to let your kid near that dog. I teach my kid 'wave to the doggies' because you never know!

"Honestly arrange alternative childcare for Tuesdays - you’ve explained the situation, you’re correct, and owe nothing else."

Others shared their personal issues with dogs, such as this woman who wrote: "I have two scars around my eye from when I was two and jumped on our sleeping family dog. I really can’t blame the dog, as I also bite people who wake me up, but I’m actually incredibly lucky my vision wasn’t affected."

This group member agreed: "She’s insane to want to introduce the new dog to a baby. Literally, the exact person who should not own a dog because she already had proven she doesn’t even understand basic behaviour.

"What if it has a high prey drive? Just a baby squeal of excitement while playing alone with a toy could be enough to kick that dog into predator mode.

"Get the phone number of a local dog trainer/behaviourist/ vet and have your MIL pose this scenario to them. Let a professional tell her how bad of an idea this is."

What are your feelings on rescue dogs and children? Tell us in the Facebook comments.

Originally published as My MIL's rescued a dog, but it's put my baby at risk