english bulldog and baby

Question
I have almost five year old male fixed English bulldog and a 10 month old baby. I have a feeling about the answer to this question but I guess I want a professional opinion. Our dog Sig has had knee problems one was really bad so we had surgery and $3000 dollars later he has a metal knee that seems to be working. The other one is also now bad and he gets around ok but it bothers him occasionally and we have pain pills for him. We simply cant afford the surgery again. About a month after the baby came home Sig bit my 12 year old son in the foot, not bad just a small puncture because my son annoyed him. This was the first time he bit anyone. After that we had Sig fixed and he seemed to calm down immediately. Now our baby girl is mobile crawling everywhere and two weeks ago she surprised him on his bed and he snapped at her making no contact. Last week she leaned on him when he was near my feet and he growled at her. A couple days ago she was near his kennel and he growled at her again and when I went to discipline him he growled at me. We have found another home for him with no small children but I guess I just want to feel better about it. He is part of the family and we all love him but I cant feel ok with the way he has been acting around our baby. She is only going to annoy him more getting more mobile and rougher as she grows and I just cant take the chance. Do you think this behavior can be fixed or a new home the best solution. Thanks for any advice.

Answer
This dog is in no physical condition to fairly evaluate his response to your children.  He is IN PAIN; I don't see how you can rehome a dog in this condition.  WHO IS GOING TO TAKE ON THIS FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and how are you going to GUARANTY that the dog receives expensive veterinary care?  WHO are these people who want to adopt him?  GET A VETERINARY REFERENCE, a personal reference, DO A HOUSE CHECK to be sure what they tell you about themselves is true, AND THEN think twice.  I very, very much doubt anyone is going to voluntarily take on a dog with serious orthopedic problems, let alone one that is losing bite inhibition.  HAVE YOU BEEN HONEST WITH THESE PEOPLE?

This dog is IN TROUBLE.  Keep him separated from your infant ALL THE TIME and hire a professional to assess your situation and evaluate whether or not he is able to be rehomed.  Find a certified applied animal behaviorist BEFORE you consign this dog to possible HELL by putting him in the wrong "home".  Call the veterinary college in your geographical area for referral or go to this site, which purportedly checks educational credentials and professional references:
http://www.iaabc.org/

Meanwhile, take the dog to the veterinarian for further orthopedic evaluation.  He's clearly failing in this situation, most likely because of his declining health and inability to cope with the change in his environment. HE WILL NOT HABITUATE TO ANOTHER HOME WELL in his present condition.