Child Killed By Dog

[Clyde]

While i feel for the family, you have to wonder if the little girls didnt find the dog wandering outside, and had a play with it then took it in to mommy to do the whole "can we keep it?" when the dog was cornered in the house it was unfamiliar with, it could have become fear aggressive? Or do the people that want the breed banned think it picked out a house with people home, and knocked down the door???

Well until we know more your assumption that the little girls were out wandering unsupervised is just that.

I know plenty of intact dogs who don't leave their yard, not a lot of training and would NOT maul a child to their death. It is not acceptable from any dog no matter its background or upbringing.

[megan_]

The owner needs to be charged and jailed. Then sued civily by the family. Then the bogans who have big, strong dogs and don't look after them properly might think twice. Education won't sway these people.

I hope they look into legal action against the council too - I know my council don't enforce dog laws at all. If the existing laws had been adhered to, this incident would never have happened.

I agree we need to move beyond "blame the breed", but something needs to change. Saying "blame the deed" is too reactive - the deed has already happened.

Personally, I'm in favour or all current dog laws being PROPERLY enforced, with fines dramatically increased. If you walk your dog off lead in an on lead area, if your dog roams etc, you should face a huge fine. Then people would actually start to obey the law. Educating someone who thinks the laws don't apply to them doesn't change anything. Hit people where it hurts - their hip pocket.

[Inevitablue]

Let's also clarify.... They are not an already banned breed, they are a restricted breed.

I'm still undecided as to my position on this. No easy solution, and to hear Karl Stefanovic repeatedly mention cattle dogs this morning made me unsettled.

Also, the above argument somewhere that BSL popularized the breed is not the whole argument, what made them popular was/ is the American tough guy attitude some Aussies aspire to.

[Cosmolo]

How awful

Edited August 18, 2011 by Cosmolo

[brightonrock]

While i feel for the family, you have to wonder if the little girls didnt find the dog wandering outside, and had a play with it then took it in to mommy to do the whole "can we keep it?" when the dog was cornered in the house it was unfamiliar with, it could have become fear aggressive? Or do the people that want the breed banned think it picked out a house with people home, and knocked down the door???

That is really sick.

[Linda K]

just listening to the minister on the radio, I think you may find they will now become a banned breed - he said that in view of previous attacks and what happened last night, he will be moving swiftly to get the breed banned, and increase penalties, including making owners criminally responsible - ie potentially jail time and murder / manslaughter charges for people whose dogs cause death like this. I just see a lot more dogs now being dumped on pounds as a result to be PTS as so many more people will now dodge responsibility on properly caring for their dogs.

[krustie22]

@poodlefan, how was it laying blame? it was just an example of HOW it might have gotten into the house...

@clyde, again, not an assumption...an example...maybe i should have stated that...sorry, ill edit the post...i NEVER stated it was acceptable, and do believe the dog will have to be destroyed, along with the owner dealing with the guilt and consequences. i just feel it is unfair to blame one breed without knowing all the facts about the dog in question.

i did assume, however, that forum meant voice opinion...oh well...

[experiencedfun]

THANK YOU Poodlefan. If this was Facebook, I would "Unlike" that, just so I could keep "Like-ing" it again. When my boyfriend read about the attack, his reply was "well, it happened in St. Albans, so that's not a big surprise as to one of the "whys"."

Rep whilst I somewhat agree with your statement and I did think the same, isnt that like say all pitbulls are nasty....

so it shows that we all tend to generalise in one form or another.

edited to say I have no idea how to post so bolded Rep's comment

Edited August 18, 2011 by experiencedfun

[greytpets]

I live in an area with a large Sudenese community & I've noticed these people (both adults & children) are terrified of dogs even small ones. I'm not defending the dog or blaming the children but if they ran screaming (as I think they might have) it would have made the dog attack worse.

Sadly this will not make anyone from this community feel safer around dogs.

[brightonrock]

just listening to the minister on the radio, I think you may find they will now become a banned breed - he said that in view of previous attacks and what happened last night, he will be moving swiftly to get the breed banned, and increase penalties, including making owners criminally responsible - ie potentially jail time and murder / manslaughter charges for people whose dogs cause death like this. I just see a lot more dogs now being dumped on pounds as a result to be PTS as so many more people will now dodge responsibility on properly caring for their dogs.

That is really a possibility ( that dogs will be dumped ) but they are probably dogs who are not being cared for in the first place. If it stops another death of a child or person then it is worth it.

[Quickasyoucan]

I think PF said it all so well as usual.

Whilst the focus is on the breed we never learn why these attacks took place and attacks keep happening. I would bet my last dollar that unless something is done about looking at why these attacks take place and throwing the book at irresponsible owners even if PB's were wiped off the face of Australia these types of attacks would still take place.

[poodlefan]

@poodlefan, how was it laying blame? it was just an example of HOW it might have gotten into the house...

You've looked to the victim for the answer to how the dog accessed the house and why it became aggressive. The victim is a 3 or 4 year old child.

As Clyde pointed out, even IF this were the case, it does not provide an explanation for why a child is dead and two people are injured.

You can express any opinion you like. If, in my opinion, what you've said seeks to suggest that the victim is in some way a contributor to her death, I'll say so. I think its insensitive and unhelpful. Sue me.

Edited August 18, 2011 by poodlefan

[krustie22]

just listening to the minister on the radio, I think you may find they will now become a banned breed - he said that in view of previous attacks and what happened last night, he will be moving swiftly to get the breed banned, and increase penalties, including making owners criminally responsible - ie potentially jail time and murder / manslaughter charges for people whose dogs cause death like this. I just see a lot more dogs now being dumped on pounds as a result to be PTS as so many more people will now dodge responsibility on properly caring for their dogs.

That is really a possibility ( that dogs will be dumped ) but they are probably dogs who are not being cared for in the first place. If it stops another death of a child or person then it is worth it.

turkishdelight, i think you will find it is the ones that are cared for and owned legally that will be surrendered, and the illegally, poorly owned ones will go on to give the diminishing breed a worse name

[Angeluca]

I feel for the family, Never good to loose a child.

But as for the Pit bull slander, 2 days ago i was in my friends car holding a IV drip for her Pitty as we drove an hour to our vet's main surgery. (we live in the sticks)

He had escaped his yard and got hit by a car not sure if it was intentional.

I am not a pit bull fan for a breed I'd own personally, (But I'd have one of the before a pug or almost any small dog. ONLY by personal preference not by breed discrimination) Anyways this boy lives with 4 rough and tumble boys ages ranged from 3mths to 15 years. He is one of 5 dogs owned by the family other breeds include 2 shar pei's and 2 rescue bitza. He out of all the very safe dog is considered the safest affectionate loving dog! while his training has been minimal (recall really bad) and has even been on a pig hunt once or twice (unsuccessfully) he was never as a pup shown or allowed to show any aggression to cats or chooks.

The breeding of this dog, father a vicious pigger with strong natural instinct whom quite often has to be penned around the family, mother a trained guard dog. Delta-pup is proof enough in the right home ANY dog breed regardless has a chance to become a respectful pet dog safe for all ages. Singling this breed because of stigmata and poor ownership is the worst thing that could possibly happen for dogs in Australia.

BTW Delta-pup who looked in very bad condition with major gashes to head and abdomen, is home safe and well cuddled up on the couch with his boys. Lucky dog and Lucky family to have such a wonderful pet!!!!!

Edited August 18, 2011 by Angeluca

[conztruct]

Would have education have helped?

There are groups in society that still street race, regardless of the strong message that it is unsafe plus with the impounding/ confiscation laws.

Some like the fact that they live on the edge, be it legally or safely.

And some lose their cars if they break the law.

If you tell me this dog was unknown to council, I'll be surprised. But when we write off the attack due to breed, what's to stop this owner from getting another dog.

And how did the fact the breed was already banned stop this from happening. It didn't. It probably just ensured that this dog didn't get the kind of socialisation that well raised family pets do.

Bring on licensing for owners, not dogs.

This - the sad part is this owner will probably just think that it was the dog and not him that is responsible but the owner has everything to do with it. Any dog with even the potential to inflict damage must be kept contained and if that means having expensive enclosures etc then that's what you do as part of owning them.

We have to be extra careful (without exception) with the bigger, stronger breeds who can cause serious injury and/or death. Owners have to be responsible and capable to deal with their chosen breed (or x-breed) - PF is right on the money with what really was the cause of this - the owner.

That also includes owners of small fluffies who think it's cutsie that their little precious growls and carries on - while the little dog can't cause the same damage as a larger one, the owners have no control and are clueless - all that needs to happen is for them to buy a bigger dog and that same incompetence leads to disaster.

ETA - this has NOTHING to do with the little girl and her behaviour - she was in her home and the neighbours dog shouldn't have been there - it shouldn't have been out of it's own yard. I know we are all protective of dogs but to suggest in any way the victim contributed to this tragedy is not correct and a little offensive to be honest.

Edited August 18, 2011 by conztruct

[Brennan's Mum]

A tragedy for the family

[krustie22]

@poodlefan, how was it laying blame? it was just an example of HOW it might have gotten into the house...

You've looked to the victim for the answer to how the dog accessed the house and why it became aggressive.

As Clyde pointed out, even IF this were the case, it does not provide an explanation for why a child is dead and two people are injured.

You can express any opinion you like. If, in my opinion, what you've said seeks to suggest that the victim is in some way a contributor to her death, I'll say so. I think its insensitive and unhelpful. Sue me.

Once again...it was an example as to HOW...not WHY...the why would be the upbringing/living situation of the dog and the influences of the owner to name just a couple...i would have imagined you of all people would have understood that.

sue you? what on earth for? i think i missed something there??

[Pockets]

I live in an area with a large Sudenese community & I've noticed these people (both adults & children) are terrified of dogs even small ones. I'm not defending the dog or blaming the children but if they ran screaming (as I think they might have) it would have made the dog attack worse.

Sadly this will not make anyone from this community feel safer around dogs.

I am sorry but what do you expect a 4 year old child to do?

[Pockets]

While i feel for the family, you have to wonder if the little girls didnt find the dog wandering outside, and had a play with it then took it in to mommy to do the whole "can we keep it?" when the dog was cornered in the house it was unfamiliar with, it could have become fear aggressive? Or do the people that want the breed banned think it picked out a house with people home, and knocked down the door???

That is really sick.

I agree!!!! That is a really disturbing statement

[RallyValley]

Let's also clarify.... They are not an already banned breed, they are a restricted breed.

I'm still undecided as to my position on this. No easy solution, and to hear Karl Stefanovic repeatedly mention cattle dogs this morning made me unsettled.

Also, the above argument somewhere that BSL popularized the breed is not the whole argument, what made them popular was/ is the American tough guy attitude some Aussies aspire to.

I think Carl mentioned ACDs in that interview with lady because that is what she owns and was trying to say 'what about of this was your breed?' however he did it badly and I am not 100% sure many people would have picked up on that.

I have to say if Pitbulls are banned what next? None of us want their breeds on that list. However people equally whine about how governments want to crack down on dog owners which is the other alternative.