Never leave dogs unsupervised with kids

[chicknmania]

I suppose I would probably react that way, too. We documented our very first babysitter abusing our first born son when he was nine weeks old. I wanted to kill her. Really. I would have, if I had ever seen her again. Fortunately for me, I didn't see her again. But I still maintain that the parents are negligent, although I too am heartsick for them. Don't know, maybe we have been lucky, b/c we just seem to have had very good luck with all our animals...knock on wood. At least they did manage to get the dog to the shelter, instead of kill it themselves.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I was very lucky as a teenager when our dog grabbed my arm. He left holes in my arm that needed looking at in the ER. The doctor said I was lucky as he missed everything-he bit on the underside of the arm where the tendons and what not are. The dog lived long enough to be cleared of rabies (with the ER visit there was a police report and he had to be quarentined for a certain number of days or his brain stem (I believe) sent in for exam) then the vet put him down. Even if someone would have been standing next to me they could not have stopped it and this was a dog that normally I could get to do what I wanted by whistle.

It is sad and I feel for the parents but, if the father had been standing over the baby it may still have happened. Either the baby should have been up where the dog could not reach it or the dog kept outside. I had an outdoor/indoor cat when our first DD was born. After DD was born she bacame strickly an outdoor cat.

 

[mangled]

What an awful story. That poor, poor baby.

I agree with the poster that said the dog wouldn't live to be euthanized. Sadly, as a parent, I believe I would have dismembered that dog out of sheer terror and grief.

It's easy to try to place blame, but sadly, the real victim of this whole sad story is the poor child who lost it's life.

So terrible. Sheesh.
Em

 

[2dream]

Dogs that "Don't bite" rate right up there with "Unloaded Guns".
I have the most kid friendly dog in the world. In the middle of the night I can step right in the middle of this dog and he just raises his head and looks at me like "opps, sorry I was in your way". Love him, yes, trust him "never" to bite. NO WAY. If there is a child around he is delegated to his corner of the house and they are both constantly supervised.

 

[kinnip]

I just can't believe the folks who let their kids get up in a dog's face. I'll give a dog kissy face, if they initiate it and I know the dog, even then I proceed with caution and won't continue if they appear to be over-stimulated. I wouldn't shove my face in my own dog's face. Being mauled is more than scary and dangerous, it changes a person's life and self image forever.

 

[horsejody]

Reading the article and peoples' reactions to it reminded me of an article in the news a few years ago. A family had a dog that was very kid friendly. I think it was one of the retriever breeds. It was always good with the kids and played in the yard with them. It seemed their daughter played tug of war and chase games with the dog. She came home from school and went out to play with the dog in the snow. When the parent went to check on her, she found a dead child. They believe that the dog grabbed the girl's scarf and tried playing tug of war and dragged her through the yard strangling her. That dog was not euthanised. It was rehomed. Animals do not have the same sense of reasoning we do. Even the good ones need supervision.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
I agree. To a dog direct eye contact is an act of dominance and a threat. Getting right in the face is an out right challenge. I have a Lhasa Apso that is so cute he looks like a stuffed animal, but he is a dog. I have to constantly tell strangers to not let their kids run up and grab him. Most parents are just oblivious.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I feel for that family; but I also wonder where the child was when it was attacked. And if it was me, I don't think the dog would have made it to the vet, especially not with post-partum hormones.

I've tried to teach my kids not to approach strange dogs without permission of the owners. But I've seen as many bad owners as unschooled children. If I had a dollar for every pile of dog dung between my house and the school I would be a very rich woman.

Edited to make more sense

 

[MagsC]

Very sad.

 

[Jessika]

Quote:
I must agree.....