Rottweiler attacks, kills 5-year-old *sigh*

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

Originally posted by frontierrots:
<STRONG>Ironcall enough this town has a very good non breed specific dangerous dog law on the book. However they rarely if ever enforce it. Had the town officials enforced this law when the dog bit a rollerblader last year this horrible tragedy would NEVER have occured!</STRONG>

I think non breed specific dangerous dog laws (vs. breed specific) are the way to go, but I also think that it is too much to ask for law enforcement to take the responsibility for this death.... My personal belief is that only when dog "owners" are held completely responsible for every act that their dogs commit will there be any true change. Punishing the dog? Okay, that gets rid of that individual dog. The "owners" can always get another one. But punish the "owners"? At least they will be out of commission for awhile. And the overwhelming underlying fact is that the OWNERS took on the responsibility of the dog, not vice versa!

My opinion: the laws, as well as the enforcement, need to be changed.
*Your* dog does something wrong, *you* pay for it.

[German Vanegas]

Dei,
Thank you for those words of wisdom :)

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by JMP:
<STRONG>In reading the story i could not help but be amazed how a dozen or so family members and friends accompanied the birth mother to the hospital.Wonder where all the family was when this woman lost her kids in the first place.Seems a little late to care!Its a shame they only had time to care about this boy now.No doubt the law suit is being filed as we type.Good thing she is having another!</STRONG>

It is absolutely normal for families to gather in times of an emergency, disaster or sorrow. What's so hard to believe? Or question for that matter?!

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by johnson1999:
<STRONG>I think there should be some kind of screening process for potential owners of dominant dog breeds. Futher - people should be able to prove that they are financially able to spay or neuter their dog, provide veterinary care, and obedience training. </STRONG>

That is nothing but wishful thinking. We all know that it will never happen.

Originally posted by johnson1999:
<STRONG>Innocent dogs fall into the hands of too many ignorant people who can't manage their own lives and families much less care for a dog. </STRONG>

That is a very sad fact of life. All we can do is our best to educate others.

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by Tenaj:
<STRONG>Oh, come on people. The boys' footprints were all in the feces of this dog. This dog killed the boy. Be it by his mishandling, raised wrongfully, bred by a breeder with two mean dogs... this dog was allowed to kill a baby because the owners were ignorant and careless. How sad. Instead of focusing on the fact that another of our precious young has died, you question whether this dog in all reality did indeed kill this baby. It is sad that this breed has again suffered another injustice due to ignorant people but it is also a bigger injustice done to this small boy who probably wanted to 'play with the doggie'. :( How sad is it that this baby boy couldn't even go see/pat this dog. How sad is it that this little boy had to die due to an 'adults' ignorance. This is the truly sad thing and the truly questionable thing, not whether or not the dog did it. :(</STRONG>

I concur.

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by godfreyc:
<STRONG>I'm sorry call me a nut but since when does a dog deserve more sympathy than a family grieving the loss of a beloved child. The article said that one of the children wandered away once and so they were removed from the mother's home. Doesn't the fact that this little boy again went outside without anyone's knowledge give creedance to the fact that it can happen to anyone...

...I have a 3 year old. If I'm not on my toes every minute she'd go out the door too. God help me when she's 5 or if I'm particularly tired. All I can do is keep teaching her that it is not ok to go out alone and hope she listens. The real blame here is not the biological mothers. My heart and prayers go out to that family.</STRONG>

I completely agree with you.

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by Caleb'sMom:
<STRONG>Well, I don't mean to judge either, but I firmly believe that any dog who has been known to bite should get only one more chance.

What I mean is, I think that any bite of a certain gravity should be required to be reported to the animal licensing department of the town/county, and the owner should be required by law to prove, within a certain time period of the bite, by certification of a trainer qualified in this field, that the dog has passed training, CGC, temperament, and any other justifiable testing that the town or trainer feels necessary. If the dog can't do it, and the owner can't successfully continue what the trainer teaches, it should be put down or at least relocated to someone who can handle it. Then, if there is a second harmful bite, the dog goes down. That's it.

</STRONG>

You are talking about an unjustified dog bite I hope.

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by godfreyc:
<STRONG>I know what everyone is saying about dogs and training. My feelings were based on everyone jumping on the mother for not having custody of her children and basicly saying that the family had no right to be grief stricken if the child was in foster care. You have to remember the childs parents didn't have a dangerous dog, a state sanctioned foster home did.</STRONG>

I am with you.

[winniecnm]

I wish the people on that masslive news forum could see these responses. There have been quite a few debates there about this recent attack, and some people there REALLY need an education. :(

If you'd like, post these AWESOME responses where they can be of some real help: http://www.masslive.com/forums/newswatch

While you are there, take a wild guess as to what topic is mine. :)

Acutally I just saw the update on the news and I learned that the dog has not been destroyed yet, he is being held for evaluation to see if he has been abused, then he is to be euthanized. :(

The little boy is being buried today, the biological mother is suing the foster mom's boyfriend for neglect. :(

[ June 14, 2001: Message edited by: winniecnm ]

[Caleb'sMom]

Originally posted by frontierrots:
<STRONG>Ironcall enough this town has a very good non breed specific dangerous dog law on the book. However they rarely if ever enforce it. Had the town officials enforced this law when the dog bit a rollerblader last year this horrible tragedy would NEVER have occured!</STRONG>

that's exactly right. The follow up is key, an evaluation and action.

German, I mean unjustified. For instance, I hate those criminals who sue when they get hurt during the commission of a crime. Same thing with a dog bite. I hope my dog bites the ass clean off the guy who ever breaks into my house. ;)