Rottie and Staffy save boy from drowning in Australia

[Helius]

THURS DECEMBER 13th 2007:

TWO family dogs are being hailed as heroes after they saved a two-year-old boy from drowning in a dam in Queensland yesterday morning.

Police said the dogs, a rottweiler cross and a staffordshire bull terrier, dragged the boy from the water after he had wandered into a neighbour's dam at Mackay on the state's central coast.

Max Hillier, 2, wandered from his Glenwood Park home, climbed under a fence and slipped into a neighbouring dam on a horse paddock.

Max had been missing for about 15 minutes as neighbours drove around desperately looking for him.

The owner of the property, Narelle Kay, found the boy lying on the embankment of the dam covered in mud with the two dogs by his side. "The dogs were halfway around the dam in a frenzied state. The brindle dog was pacing back and forth like it wanted help," she said; "The black dog was wet all over. I assume he was the one who retrieved Max out of the water. The brindle dog was making sure the boy wouldn't go back into the water."

Police said there were drag marks from the water's edge to where the boy was lying and small scratches on his arms from the dog's claws.

"We are certain the dogs pulled him out of the dam," a police spokesman said.

The dogs were calm while Mrs Kay wrapped up Max.

"It is an amazing story."

The Queensland Ambulance Service said the boy had been taken to hospital and was recovering at home last night.

[Inga]

That is such a wonderful story. I am glad that little Max was alright. It is so nice to see something positive like this to be printed about this breed. So often the press shows all the bad things and not much good. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[Snorey]

What an amazing story!

[bigdogweilerx2]

What a great story!in America that wouldn't hit the papers,only the bad things with those two breed make it.Here they say the rottie knock the boy in and the pit was trying to keep the boy in the water.

[sheena]

Wow great story!!
"1 year old toddler killed by a rottweiler" is on the newspapers (in Turkey) today, but no signs of this "saving"...

[KerryRob]

There have been 2 children killed in the past week by rottweilers - Surely there is a reason for this ???????? One was a 9 week old baby, the other a 1 year old. Suarely it has to be the way they are raised ?????????
I too have a rotty and a staffy and I still feel that they are the best friends my 2 year old son could have, although I will not leave them all unsupervised.

[Razzle]

I think people are putting their dogs into dangerous situations with their children because they humanise their dogs and forget that they see certain situations in a different light than we do. I know a lot of dogs that would jump up in excitement seeing a child carry a baby especially if the baby was crying or make strange noises. This dog may not have even had much to do the the baby before hand. ( where is the adult supervision).

Also if its the same story we seen here about the 9 weeks old killed in it cot that was also a very strange situation and the story changed a few times until it was said the grand parents were minding the baby. When we saw the dog led out by rangers and police with media around it was very calm and just hopped into the back of a strange van when told and was given a treat. None of my dogs would let strangers take them from the back yard and put them into a unfamiliar car so calmly. I heard that upon A Rottweiler club members investigating, the vet that was holding the dog stated the dog was very pleasant and friendly, he was under weight and didn't seem to have any blood on him. So i'm not saying he didn't harm the baby but I don't think it was a visious, blood thirsty attack. My heart goes out to anyone who has had a child injured or killed and I can only guess the pain that the families must feel but we have to start being responsible for our dogs, as much as we love them they do not see the world as we do and no matter how much we trust them they must not be left unsupervised with children , a dog treats us like part of a pack, only we break much easier. Some of the most natural behaviours for children will excite many dogs (Run, screaming, arms flying around and toys) especially if the dog isn't use to it or they are taught very rough play earily on. Also some children do things that are cruel. We once saw a case were a dog bit a child, when the dog was examined it had a pencil shoved in its ear.
Hey, maybe another problem is that some people are breeding with dogs that have an incorrect temperament the Rottweiler should be good natured,placid in basic disposition and fond of children.They should be devoted,obedient and eager to work, self assured, steady,fearless and alert. I'm sure there are many people breeding with dogs that don't have all or even most of these qualities. Sorry about my soap box speach but it saddens me so much when the lives of children and our Rottweilers are put at risk when maybe simple common sense could have prevented at least some of these tragic events.

P.s The good news story wasn't reported for nearly as long as the child death stories so I guess bad news sells.
Sorry to the families involved