Another dog attack- 4 year old killed. Devastating

[singingsussie]

Just woke up to this news this morning. It's just so incredibly heartbreaking for all involved. Seems to be happening so much more than ever these days

I think in this case it was the family pet which has been 'humanely destroyed' (shame the victim didn't have the same luxury). I don't know when it became acceptable to not have your dog on a lead in a public place?

@KendrickLamaze But the point is that wearing a seatbelt is obviously sensible - but we can't assume people will be sensible, so we make it a requirement. People should have the good sense not to get dangerous dog breeds when they have young children. But not everyone does, as today's news demonstrates. The fact that some owners do take precautions is neither here nor there; the law shouldn't assume that everyone will behave like those owners.

@Newtonsnipple you're absolutely correct he is not my dgs dad. The dad can't have any contact with my dgs because of safeguarding concerns when he was a baby so my dgs is already know to SS sadly.

The mother will be suffering enough. We see so many people on here saying their dogs are amazing and gentle dogs who love children yet they're well known as strong dogs who can be dangerous. Is it any wonder that there are people who believe this, with sometimes tragic consequences.

May that poor child RIP. And may there be laws introduced which protect everyone from out of control, badly managed dogs.

That may give you another avenue if you can contact social services about the dog? And the intention to breed?

It is such a tragic story. I just wonder if we need a wholesale rethink of our attitude to dogs and risk to children. Like we did with cot death. The key to reducing cot deaths was mostly changing parent behaviour - tackling smoking in pregnancy so babies are born better developed, and raising awareness of safe sleeping practices and the importance of not keeping babies too warm. It took maybe ten years to get a really massive downturn but the rate of cot death in the 70s was literally ten times what it is today.

If we swamped parents and parents to be with information about dogs and children - three key messages e.g." ALL dogs can bite/children must be actively supervised near dogs ALL the time/ know the signs that predict a bite" it might change public thinking about the risks. Those are common sense but parents are not deluged with that info in the way we are the back to sleep, non-smoking message although babies and young children are much more likely to encounter dogs than they were ten years ago.

Tragedies where children are bitten or killed are not unpredictable out of the blue events from dogs who wouldn't hurt a soul. They are preventable harms to children that happen mostly in the home and do not need to.

Perhaps a better parallel is Australia raising awareness of the dangers of ungated pools which reduced risks of drowning massively. If we change the home environment we can make children much safer.

That doesn't mean don't have a dog ( or a swimming pool). But think carefully about how you will provide the supervision necessary.

My heart sinks a bit when I see people on the Doghouse asking for advice on family friendly breeds. I accept some breeds are unsuitable for young families including the border collie I have. But family friendly dogs are well trained, closely supervised dogs which come from good breeders, have had positive lives and enjoy even temperaments because there isn't a lot around to stress them out. They are not a breed they are a carefully managed outcome of hours of work and love.

Still waiting for a link confirming the breed...

Reports seem to be saying "a big brown one" at the moment. But let's face it, it's not going to be a cocker spaniel is it?

@OllytheCollie
My heart sinks a bit when I see people on the Doghouse asking for advice on family friendly breeds. I accept some breeds are unsuitable for young families including the border collie I have. But family friendly dogs are well trained, closely supervised dogs which come from good breeders, have had positive lives and enjoy even temperaments because there isn't a lot around to stress them out. They are not a breed they are a carefully managed outcome of hours of work and love.

Me too. I'm always the one saying don't get one. And I LOVE dogs.

Huskies and German shepards are perfect family pets

A friend's daughter has recently bought one of these XL's, apparently for her 2 year old to "grow up with". I am horrified, especially with the number of deaths and maulings by these monsters in the last couple of years. I have pleaded with them to get rid, but no. Apparently it's a big softie and harmless. Until the day it isn't.

Although claiming they're never left alone together, I know for a fact the dog sleeps in the child's bedroom. I've tried reporting my concerns to our local police safer neighbourhood team, but they weren't interested.

Has anyone any ideas on what action I can take to prevent what I see as a predictable tragedy?

Jesus, that’s shockingly stupid.

Why so people insist on calling those massive, ugly creatures big softies? I wouldn’t let any dog sleep in a child’s bedroom, are they mad?

OllytheCollie I don't think swamping the public with information will make any difference. The type of people who choose to buy these American Bully dogs (XLs and Pocket) or choose to have other dogs that they feel signify something about their culture and class, and their place within that, they don't listen. These paople know what these dogs are capable of, they know only too well what other people just like them are breeding into the temperaments of these dogs. The Xl bully dogs are turning up in rap music videos now. Its a marker or social signifier that they belong within this culture.

Banning breeds hasn't worked. Pitbulls are banned and yet the Bully is at least three parts Pitbull. They are now taking Bully dogs and breeding them with other large guarding breeds and dogs like Cane Corso. These people are breeding these dogs to make huge sums of money that they will never pay tax on to supplement their benefits. There is also a huge culture of competitive breeding. Breeders of named specific dogs are charging thousands.

Breeding needs to be licensed. Anyone found breeding and selling dogs from family homes where they are not paying tax should be prosecuted. This would be relatively easy to police.

In view of the fact that a few years ago it was Rottweilers, Alsatians and Staffs that were of interest to this demographic these people will move to the next breed/mix of breeds should Bullys become subject to BSL. So banning more breeds isn't the answer. Where would it stop The LabXL, the Pocket poodle !

There are huge swathes of the public that live lives that most of us probably don't fully understand because they are on the fringes of civil society. They don't work, never have worked, can't work, have no hope of working. They now don't want to, don't need to, why should they. They are disenfranchised, they see no need and there is no compulsion to work til you drop at 70, line the pockets of the bosses, pay tax for little benefit, vote in more corrupt politicians. Why bother when you could deal weed and dogs?

Iv'e always had bull breed dogs, they have characteristics within some breeds that mean that they are not all suitable family pets. I love EBTs but I wouldn't risk having one unsupervised around children. But these idiots with the XLs and the other idiots who can't tell one dog breed from another will probably see to it that all bull breeds are banned.

Oh aren't you a charmer!

I happen to live in council housing after escaping domestic violence. This was necessary due to having children, and being disabled. Have so often been told I shouldn't have had the children if I couldn't work and support them alone, but the disability came along after them.

Now I'm bed bound and no other housing options, no rich relatives. And I have a dog, my constant companion. Very well trained, very well looked after, walked twice daily, monthly vet visits.

Take your bloody snobby attitude and shove it up your arse.

@BlusteryLake no I'm not disputing that.

However several people of this great have said its been confirmed as an xl bully but I can't see anything online so am asking for a link

Large brown dog could be a labrador (it won't be)

*thread

Apologies I haven’t RTFT.

So many comments about licensed breeders on here, it’s all tosh. Your local councils are greedy and people want cheap dogs. Licensing is part of the problem. It is NOT in favour of the hobby breeders who care, health and temperament check their dogs. It supports money making, tax paying income and after you’ve got your license they don’t give a crap about the dogs or their health scores, how many litters they have, the fact they can live in kennels and never go for a walk. As long as you write it down on a piece of paper that you’ve walked them or gave them a kong they’re happy.

Not all breeders are like this, unlicensed or licensed. But let’s not act that getting a license means you love and care for the dogs more, or they’re more socialised - it’s not true. Said from experience.

Am saddened to hear another child has lost its life, I wish I had the answers. I own 3 dogs and a toddler, mine are wonderful family dogs, Labradors. I would never leave them alone with DS for a second. They have crates, daily exercise and our whole house is gated in the doorways to avoid someone leaving a door open accidentally. They have wonderful temperaments, as do the dobermans my family have always owned, but we always took precautions and always make sure the dogs needs are being met.

Oh gosh so it's apparently new to the family, 6 weeks ago, rescue and American bulldog?

I'm gobsmacked.

Absolutely gobsmacked.

Yeah, I saw the picture of the house and can immediately make a snap judgment of both the owner and the type of dog

When was the last time you saw all the police vans lined up anywhere but very poor housing where a fatal dog attack has taken pace. This is a poverty, class, education and animal rights issue

I know that estate and sadly I am not surprised … it won’t be the only unstable dog in the area

All these attack happen on sink estate type homes with people who have far too much dog for their capabilities. Keep a large, powerful breed in a tiny back yard with no training and it’s a tragedy waiting to happen. You never see this in middle class homes

Lovely comments. 😟

I live several miles from there but have close links with this estate and know it relatively well. In contrast to comments and judgments like the above, this community has spent the day together trying to support each other. The church opposite the victim's home has been open all day for people to talk and rest and has just held a candle light vigil. The local councillors have been out and about supporting people. They have been active on social media, ensuring that any speculation and judgment is removed from local pages. All a lot more humane and empathetic than this middle class website.

As expected it is a great big bulldog type, the ones that are usually involved in child deaths. Very similar to the one that killed a five year old girl a few years ago just up the road from where I live. I have no idea why parents would buy a dog like this with a small child in the house, it is beyond belief.

6 weeks ago?
What was the thought process .
Where was the basic duty of care to that child.
Not even the family pet but an unknown rescue dog.

Happens time and time again. Almost identical situation to a little girl called Lexi who was killed by one of these huge beasts a few years ago, her mum too had re-homed it and it had only been in the flat a few weeks. Absolutely shocking that this kind of thing keeps happening.

Rescues are normally so strict how did they let Such a dog go to a family with a small DC?

I think people are angry.

And I think it is justifiable.

This isn’t an unpredictable tragedy. It’s sadly all too predictable.

And. It. Keeps. Happening.

I think people are a bit sick of mouthing sympathies while parents keep repeating actions that get their children killed.

Large, powerful, badly bred adolescent/adult dog. Never exercised, trained or socialised.

Bought off but described as ‘rescued’ off gumtree/man down the pub,

Reports of dangerous behaviour beforehand.

Left within jaws reach if a small vulnerable child within weeks of being dragged into its latest ‘home’.

I lived in a sink estate. I grew up on a council estate. It’s stupid to find offence in people correctly pointing out where this dangerous behaviour and complete disregard for dogs and children’s safety keeps happening.