Restrain your animal abusing child before I do it for you.

[Golden Phoenix]

Hubby and I went to the local market and car boot this past weekend. We took our dog Mop. (Yup, that really is his name) Mop is a shih-tzu that had a hard start in life, this has left him with a deformed jaw, one eye and some serious body weight/condition issues, but has not dampened his love for people at all. Everywhere we go he makes friends, he loves to be admired, petted and hugged. Children are his favourite, he will even let them examine where his other eye used to be.

At the market hubby and I were walking along with Mop, hubby spots something shiny and veers off a little. I'm a few paces behind and get to witness this:

A woman and her....male child..and don't I just want to call him something much less polite, were alking almost alongside us, roughly keeping pace. Kid was about 9 or 10.

As hubby turned away the kid swings his foot out and tries to kick Mop in the face. There is enough force behind it to put him off balance when he fails to connect and he bumps into the woman, she has watched him do this.

The woman drags him away with an annoyed "Stop that" and then stops and gives the kid a freaking chocolate bar, and I quote, for "behaving so nicely".

*growls*

[Food Lady]

If that had been me my mom would've reamed me out in front of God and everyone. And I really want to hang out with Mop. That name is awesome.

[Flying Grype]

If it had been me, my foot would have been wearing the brat's ass as a hat. Also, Mop, awesome name.

[PandaExpressBabe]

I had a Lhasa-apso who was very timid. My neighbor has two kids, and when I would walk my dog, they would speed by my Monte and once ran over his tail. I "accidentally" let the leash slip. He was a vicious and fast dog. The kids' mother approached me and asked me to keep a better eye on my monster. I told her to keep a better eye on her little monsters. She stormed away [:

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I wanna meet Mop!! He sounds so cool! So glad that kid missed his target, but I hope he eventually learns his lesson. Boo to his mother for rewarding him

[BrenDAnn]

"Aww you almost abused a helpless little dog! Here's a treat, Little Johnny!"....How the effing hell does that even remotely compute? Also, I'm with everyone else--Mop sounds like a cool little pup!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

If you want to know why society is hopelessly fucked, look no further than this kid and his...female caretaker.

She rewards him for doing wrong. Kid isn't learning right from wrong. And there are many many more where they came from.

[Salted Grump]

Pardon me. I need to go find my stranglin' mitts, then we're going on safari for brat. bring your weapon of choice.

*offers a milkbone to mop*

[Golden Phoenix]

*Mop wags his tail, accepts the milk bone and barks his thanks to all the lovely posters*

[Beki710]

If that was me I don't know if I could have restrained myself from aiming a kick back at the kid. Any chances of a pic of Mop??

[Golden Phoenix]

I'll see what I can do. He's getting a hair cut tomorrow so i'll grab a pic of him looking his (current) best. He's still kinda skinny and missing a few patches of fur, he also still has some patches we haven't been able to clean up completely, he's very wary of scissors, clippers or anything like that going anywhere near him so it's a case of one or two snips every other day, it's slow but we're getting there.

Oh, his white fur is now mostly properly white! We thought he was black and tan when we got him, but it turned out he'd been chained up in his own filth, a good bath revealed he's actually a very cute black and white little guy. The last of the staining is just growing out.

[Joyius]

I know how you feel. Our dog Batty when she was a puppy, my mom took her with her to an event at the fire department, some 4 year old jumped at her, screaming and slapped her face. Luckily the parent was paying attention and did punish the child. Back then she was left scared of little kids. But now that she's too old, she's all "Eh, I don't care anymore."

[XCashier]

To the abusive brat:
To the enabling mom:

You do not reward a child for kicking at a dog. Period. I am so glad he missed poor Mop, no animal deserves that kind of treatment.

: offers Mop a Snausage and a shoulder rub:

[Moosenogger]

You know what sends snot-nosed kids into wide-eyed panic? Calling them out on their shit. Loudly. I bet the kid would have flipped out if you'd turned around and verbally reamed him at the top of yours lungs. (Why? Because obviously mummy and daddy don't do it.)

Oh, and give the caretaker a good reaming, too. Apparently she deserves it.

[raudf]

*delurks* This reminds me of my cat Dodo. A few years ago my mom, sister and I (along with my 18mth old son) were going grocery shopping. Got out of the vehicle just in time to watch this boy, at least 8 or 9, kick this young black cat. And the cat PURRED at him for doing it. My mom proceeded loudly to wonder at the child's lack of breeding (cuing a catbutt face from his mom) , while I grabbed the cat and stuffed him into my mom's SUV. I knew he'd be a great family cat, especially with a toddler. I was right. Dodo is now my very big puddle of purring fur. He loves anyone and everyone. If this cat ever hated anyone I'd call an exorcist for the person.

Oh, and the name? It was supposed to be Velcro, since he literally stuck purring to anyone who'd pet him. Only.. the kiddo couldn't pronounce Velcro and kept calling him Dodo. Guess which name stuck.