Yet another dog kills a child...

mani · 02-01-2007, 00:34

come on folks how long till the dangerous dogs ownership is really taken by the scruff of the neck and sorted out

A five-year-old girl has been killed and her grandmother seriously injured by a pit bull terrier at their family home on Merseyside. Ellie Lawrenson was found bleeding to death in the living room of the house in St Helens shortly before 0430 GMT.
Her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, 46, who is recovering in hospital, managed to lock the dog outside.
The owner, believed to be Ellie's uncle, had been warned in June about the dog's behaviour.
The pit bull terrier was destroyed by police immediately after the attack at the property in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6222319.stm

WillowTheWhisp · 02-01-2007, 08:10

This is the bit that sould be in letters nine feet high:

Quote:

Originally Posted by mani

The owner, believed to be Ellie's uncle, had been warned in June about the dog's behaviour.

Any dog which needs a warning about it should NEVER be allowed near a child.

***Mr D*** · 02-01-2007, 08:52

Very sad indeed.

No dog really should be left with a child un supervised.

I see they are strainght on the is a 'Pit Bull Terrior' band wagon when in reallity it is probably a cross of some description. but 'Pit Bull' gets more attention.

WillowTheWhisp · 02-01-2007, 08:57

From the newspaper reports it isn't specific that the child had been left alone with the dog unattended. She may even have gone to bed according to one report and just been in the same house. The dog was possibly spooked by fireworks.

How awful her parents must be feeling right now. They'd gone to pick her up to take her home but she'd asked to stay with her Gran.

garinda · 02-01-2007, 09:10

Terribly sad.

Dogs that have been bred primarily to fight and be aggressive should require a licence to keep one. Now everyone can, and it sad when these cases seem to be increasing.

Ianto.W. · 02-01-2007, 09:29

Why anyone would want to keep a dog primarily bred for fighting each other, as a pet, is beyond my comprehension, my late father told me that large/fierce dogs were an extension of the owners personality. To keep one in a house with young children is asking for trouble.

***Mr D*** · 02-01-2007, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Terribly sad.

Dogs that have been bred primarily to fight and be aggressive should require a licence to keep one. Now everyone can, and it sad when these cases seem to be increasing.

IMO that is totally wrong. How would you say what dogs are aggresive.

Bred primarily to fight are we talking fighting other dogs here. If so in reallity these dogs would less likely bite a human.

Dogs are like humans ALL are individual and should be treated and respected that way, not just stigmatize certain breeds.

garinda · 02-01-2007, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

IMO that is totally wrong. How would you say what dogs are aggresive.

Bred primarily to fight are we talking fighting other dogs here. If so in reallity these dogs would less likely bite a human.

Dogs are like humans ALL are individual and should be treated and respected that way, not just stigmatize certain breeds.

Man has been breeding dogs for whatever reasons for centuries, be it to look aesthetically pleasing, or to be agressive and fight.

All the terrible recent cases involve dogs that have been bred to be agressive.

You need as licence to own a gun, yet any d*ckhead can own one of these dogs.

garinda · 02-01-2007, 09:50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ighting_breeds

By the way I'm not blaming the dogs, just the people who keep dogs that have been bred to be agressive as pets.

'Rocky' has never been agressive before, he loved children.' Doesn't really wash when a child is dead or maimed for life.

WillowTheWhisp · 02-01-2007, 10:02

Look at this though. One of the breeds of dog in the list of those fighting breeds

***Mr D*** · 02-01-2007, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Man has been breeding dogs for whatever reasons for centuries, be it to look aesthetically pleasing, or to be agressive and fight.

All the terrible recent cases involve dogs that have been bred to be agressive.

You need as licence to own a gun, yet any d*ckhead can own one of these dogs.

Maybe most of the dog bite attacks dont get reported when its a alsation or collie as it doesnt make 'A Press Story'

I agree that anyone can buy a dog Inc the Di**heads happen thats what needs more control. but a licence?
I would say Compulsary Insurance Minimum Third party. and Compulsary Identi Chiping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Look at this though. One of the breeds of dog in the list of those fighting breeds

The lovably Boxer.

Notice Staffs are also on there and English Bull terriors.

Now the onlything wrong with this is the term 'bread for fighting' I presume that people and the list term a fighting dog as one that will fight another dog.

IMO anyone who did this as a hobby (I feel this is totally wrong) that dog would be less likely to bite a human, why you might ask, well a dog bred to fight, trained to fight will obviosly do so, but whould the owner of the dogs want to be bitten, want the spectators to be bitten, want a out of control dog in a group of people NO NO NO, the dog that is 'trained for fighting' is trained not to go for humans, so IMO a dog trained to fight other dogs would be a lesser risk to humans.

However a dog that is brought up to be lets say uncontrolled, IE no Disaplin, NO control then yes thats a very dangerous dog.

A dangerous dog, DOG this means ALL DOGS.

***Mr D*** · 02-01-2007, 10:38

Even dogs considered to be "family-friendly", such as Golden Retrievers, are capable of biting a child. A parent would rarely leave a child alone with an unknown pitbull, but people forget that even a cute dog is still a dog. Just because a dog typically has a good temperament does not mean that it is safe to leave a child alone with it. Since children are most easily harmed by dogs, there are a few steps that can be taken to ensure no harm comes to a child, or to the dog by extension:

Teach your child never to approach a dog that they don't know.
Always ask the owner if you can pet their dog. Owners know the temperament of their dogs.
Approach dogs from the front. They could be startled if approached from behind and at the least may knock you over.
Refrain from making sudden jerky movements. This could make the dog think you are playing or being aggressive.
Never let a child play unsupervised with an adult dog or puppy, yours or a neighbor's. An accident only takes few seconds.
Intervene and stop play if it looks too rambunctious or boisterous. Children aren't as durable as puppies. Puppies regularly bite as a part of regular play with other puppies.
Always watch children to see what they are doing with the dog, and if what they are doing is dangerous or not.

Ianto.W. · 02-01-2007, 11:58

Quote:

***Mr D *** Maybe most of the dog bite attacks dont get reported when its a alsation or collie as it doesnt make 'A Press Story'

On a lighter note, and yes I respect your right to disagree with some of us, it reminds me of a newshounds saying "dog bites man is not news" but "man bites dog is"

panther · 02-01-2007, 12:06

if the dog had a vicious reputation, what was it doing in the house in the first place????

now on the news they are saying that Determining the breed of dog is "a priority", why? any dog can turn nasty, to me its not the breed but how that dog is brought up!

SPUGGIE J · 02-01-2007, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by panther

any dog can turn nasty, to me its not the breed but how that dog is brought up!

Exactly. I was around dogs as a kid and had no problem with them. If you abuse a dog or train it to perform certain acts that rely on its instincts then this kind of sad incident will occur.