She obviously needs to learn that her daughter was at fault for being scratched. And remember that it could have been worse. I wouldn't trust that child with a peanut, much less an animal of her own. I've been bitten by an animal. I love animals now too.

She deserved to be bit for kicking the dog.

tolerating this behavior with a child of that age will only lead to further behavioral problems in the granddaughter. It is important to teach children to respect animals, especially because animals are just as capable of causing us harm as we are capable of causing them harm. I would never allow this sort of behavior in any child of mine, pets are part of your family and don't deserve to be treated badly for no reason. good luck with your stubborn daughter, op.

If an animal is being abused or provoked and fight back it shouldn't be punished. It sends the message that people can do whatever they want to an animal and not get in trouble for it but if the animal fights back it's punished or even put down. Of course, sometimes people, especially children don't realize they're doing something to provoke or threaten the animal and that's more complicated. If it's known what someone did to provoke the animal, especially if they're a child then it can be a good teaching experience. Animals often get aggressive as a way to let you know you're hurting them. If my dog whimpers and growls at me, I know that I've been too rough with him and hurt him. Animals can also be playing and hurt someone in the process. My cat scratches me all the time because he likes to playfully attack me. My Pom will nip at me when we are playing and sometimes it hurts. Of course, some animals are just aggressive and violent. My dog was attacked by another dog for no reason. My Pom is aggressive with strangers and we don't know what to do other than keep her away from them so she doesn't attack them.

The kid was 9. Old enough to know better. And personally if that was the demand, I'd tell my daughter she wasn't allowed to bring her brats over or be in the will until her monster child was destroyed.

It may be hard, but if your daughter doesn't want to admit that her daughter is a brat and that she deserved it, I say let her be stupid and never talk to either of them again. That brat should be lucky that the dog only scratched her, because it'd be a completely different story if she had gotten bit. She would've deserved it either way if she thinks she can kick animals and get away with it. Your daughter sounds like an idiot if she doesn't want to accept that what your granddaughter did to your dog was wrong, a 9 year old is definitely old enough know better.