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Five-Year-Old Girl Was Bitten By Dog Inside Bunnings Store


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How unfortunate :/ There goes those privileges though. Dogs possibly unused to children?

http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/mother-claims-five-year-old-girl-was-bitten-by-dog-inside-bunnings-store/story-fnii5sms-1227601484591

BUNNINGS’ new policy to allow dogs on site has already resulted in an injury to a five-year-old girl.

Ebbie Hungerford said daughter Madeline is recovering after being bitten on the leg at Bunnings in Melton yesterday.

She told 3AW she didn’t think dogs should be in the hardware store.

“Bunnings on a Sunday is really busy... just not a good environment for a dog,” she said.

“We did a little family trip to Bunnings and weren’t aware this new rule has been in place for a week.

“She didn’t get quite close enough to the dog (to pat) and (the dog) grabbed her on the knee.

“It’s broken the skin just below her knee, she’s got two bite marks that have broken the skin and bruises and swelling.”

Ms Hungerford said the owner had two dogs in the store which she thought were Jack Russell terriers.

“It wasn’t until after that we were told dogs were allowed inside,” she said.

Bunnings has covered all of Ms Hungerford’s medical bills.

She said the owner of the dogs was very distraught and said the dog had never been violent before.

Five days ago, Bunnings operations director Michael Schneider confirmed that dogs were allowed into the hardware store.

“As long as pets are under appropriate control, are not aggressive and do not compromise the safety of our team or customers they are welcome,’’ Mr Schneider said.

But he said staff retained the right to refuse entry to any animal.

Comment is being sought from Bunnings.

Edited by Thistle the dog
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Maybe the kids should go in leashed as well. Bet there's more to the story

Whoa that's a pretty big jump to conclusions there. Yeah sure the child might have done something, however if your dog isn't used to children and or gets stressed out enough to bite someone maybe the you shouldn't take it to area where it is likely to react.

In the article it states that the child wasn't close enough to pat it but the dog grabbed the child just under the knee when it lunged.

--Lhok

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Guest donatella

Maybe the kids should go in leashed as well. Bet there's more to the story

...that's totally inappropriate...

Why? Where is the evidence the kid didn't go in to touch. 5 years olds are inquisitive creatures

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I actually find the bunnings thing really worrisome. People are not shopping, but taking their dogs there for a 'day out' or for the novelty. I'd rather them say something like we would rather you bring your dog in than leave it in a hot car, not BRING YOUR DOGS TO BUNNINGS!

I feel like such a Grinch but I've already seen dogs off lead there, one dog visibly shaking and cowering (both in one trip!) and heard people excited to take their fearful dogs for a shop at peak time, its a recipe for disaster. Hopefully once the novelty wears off its better as its such an awesome initiative to not have dogs in cars but I'll be leaving the beasts home until then.

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But the owners said the dog was never violent. Missing parts to the story....

Yup taking that with a grain of salt, most pet owners know nothing of dog behaviour. How many times do you hear from owners of dogs that bite "Oh dog has never bitten before" yet the signs were there that it was going to happen.

It doesn't take long for a dog to bite, in an strange environment where there would be lots of people and an owner who wouldn't be watching the dog while they are focused on shopping.

--Lhok

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Maybe the kids should go in leashed as well. Bet there's more to the story

...that's totally inappropriate...

Why? Where is the evidence the kid didn't go in to touch. 5 years olds are inquisitive creatures

...thanks god that they are inquisitive creatures, but it is the responsibility of the adults to keep them safe!...if the dogs were taken into the store it can be assumed that these are not dangerous dogs and somehow stress resistant...the aisles are pretty narrow and just passing would get anyone close enough. The misjudgment of the dog owner is to blame here - I don't say / know whether the dogs area aggressive or not or just not used to children, but the dog owner should know and if he / she is not absolutely sure about this: don't risk it!!! ...would I take my dog to Bunnings? ...never ever, also I know it is not an aggressive dog.

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Guest donatella

Why can America and Europe survive with dogs in public places and Australia makes a nice move and everyone in arms about it and can't cope I would place money on the fact this kid moved in, why out of all people in bunnings it went for the child. The dog was a foxy apparently. BUT this is just a one sided story. The amount of times in out open public I have to tell kids not to touch mine makes it pretty obvious that in a condensed area it would be even worse. Look forward to hearing both sides of this story not just the mother :coffee:

Edited by donatella
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I actually find the bunnings thing really worrisome. People are not shopping, but taking their dogs there for a 'day out' or for the novelty. I'd rather them say something like we would rather you bring your dog in than leave it in a hot car, not BRING YOUR DOGS TO BUNNINGS!

I feel like such a Grinch but I've already seen dogs off lead there, one dog visibly shaking and cowering (both in one trip!) and heard people excited to take their fearful dogs for a shop at peak time, its a recipe for disaster. Hopefully once the novelty wears off its better as its such an awesome initiative to not have dogs in cars but I'll be leaving the beasts home until then.

Yep, I would only take a pup in my arms for socialisation, or Luna if we'd been out somewhere with her and wanted to swing in to Bunnings on the way home.

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Guest donatella

Plenty of tradies have their dogs with them all day, beats leaving them in a hot ute

Someone is going to ruin this and everyoone can go back to the archaic view on dogs that the rest of the world has no problems with

Edited by donatella
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Why can America and Europe survive with dogs in public places and Australia makes a nice move and everyone in arms about it and can't cope I would place money on the fact this kid moved in, why out of all people in bunnings it went for the child. The dog was a foxy apparently. BUT this is just a one sided story. The amount of times in out open public I have to tell kids not to touch mine makes it pretty obvious that in a condensed area it would be even worse. Look forward to hearing both sides of this story not just the mother :coffee:

Just on this, dog ownership rates in Australia are amongst the highest in the world - certainly in Europe I saw a lot of really well bred, beautifully behaved dogs in public places but I wonder if that reflects on the general population of dog owners. I wonder if dog ownership in general and the associated responsibilities are taken more seriously.

I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than take my dogs to Bunnings - there goes my quiet browsing time with every kid wanting to pat the Dalmatian :laugh:

ETA: Certainly not going to be jumping to conclusions on this one. The only way to know the whole story is to be privy to all reports - I've witnessed this in a legal case and all the news reports were way off.

Edited by The Spotted Devil
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Its an unfortunate incident.

Im on the fence with the whole Bunnings/dogs thing.

I really don't think the vast majority of dogs/dog owners in this country have anywhere near the level of commitment to the social skills of their dog for this to work very well at the moment.

Many people tell stories of other countries where dogs are free to move around socially with their owners, both inside and outside of public and private spaces. The thing is though, the level of training of the dogs is generally excellent, as in solid down stay, sit stay etc, and no social novelty of being around other dogs. As well as just growing up with this social aspect in their lives.

The average owner/dog combo going in to Bunnings is going to have little ability to do a solid stay while they owner browses shelf items, goes through the checkout etc. Doesn't have the mindset of keeping the dog close and watching for signs of stress, instead letting the dog free range on it's leash, piss on stock, sniff and hassle other shoppers, etc etc.

Just like a lot of folks do with dog parks, people will take their dogs in to this new environment with no effort to set the dog up for success, and blame every one else when it goes wrong. The sense of I'm entitled to bring my dog, so stuff off.

Bunnings might do well to provide dog in store workshops run by dog trainers, just like they do with tools & techniques for DIY and tradies

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Plenty of tradies have their dogs with them all day, beats leaving them in a hot ute

Someone is going to ruin this and everyoone can go back to the archaic view on dogs that the rest of the world has no problems with

Don't get me wrong, I don't want it banned etc, I just won't be taking my clowns. They're too big to scoop up if there's trouble, its a totally foreign environment with other dogs in the same boat and I don't want to put them at risk as close to bomb proof as I think they are. Its not worth jeopardising that for us.

Everyone else is welcome to go for gold, haha.

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Plenty of tradies have their dogs with them all day, beats leaving them in a hot ute

Someone is going to ruin this and everyoone can go back to the archaic view on dogs that the rest of the world has no problems with

...most of the tradies park their car in the sheltered area where you drive in and out;

...and 'recommendations' like 'putting 5 years old kids on leash' are actually pretty 'archaic' and won't help to achieve a better understanding for both sides...

Edited by Willem
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Guest donatella

Plenty of tradies have their dogs with them all day, beats leaving them in a hot ute

Someone is going to ruin this and everyoone can go back to the archaic view on dogs that the rest of the world has no problems with

...most of the tradies park their car in the sheltered area where you drive in and out;

...and 'recommendations' like 'putting 5 years old kids on leash' are actually pretty 'archaic' and won't help to achieve a better understanding for both sides...

*Wwwwooooooossssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*

That's the sound over the joke going over willems head

How would that even be policed?

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