No way, the child wasn't muzzled so I would probably have been badly bitten

you have more patience than most.

I am appalled by the attitude, and what hope for the child. Yet very little surprises me now when it comes to what people think there kids can do.

http://www.ukandspain.com/dangerous-dogs/ and then you get websites like this placing blame squarely on the dog. grrr

I am actually shocked!
What a idiot.

Dear god!! What a horrible child and even worse father!! I'm afraid I'd have been in prison now for cruelty to children!!

I am amazed at the parents who don't teach their children to ask before petting a strange dog. My dog is a very cute small chihuahua mix and kids always want to pet her and she loves to be petted, but I always take the opportunity to teach kids that don't know better to ask before petting her. I always make it a point to model proper behaviour when around dogs by asking if they are friendly and if i can pet the animal. I figure if maybe more kids see adults acting properly around dogs, they will pick up on it.

I was on a crowded train yesterday with 3 dogs when a mum and daughter (aged about 9) got on. The girl asked mum if they could sit near the dogs but mum said she didn`t like them and went to the other end of the carriage.
So the girl came and sat with me (asking first) and fussed Shamus and Little Dog and told her mother she was daft for being wussy and missing out on loving animals.

Absolutely unbelievable!!!

Actually I rather think the receptionist should have backed you up.

What were this vile family doing there - presumably they already own a pet, since they were at a vet?

You certainly have more restraint than me because I would have told that bloke precisely what I thought of him