To be horrified and heart broken by the Frankie Macritchie case

[frillyflamingo]

Frankie Macritchie dog attack death: Mum Tawnee Willis jailed www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-52939564

I think the mother will be haunted by her actions for the rest of her life but Jesus fucking Christ, I can't believe anyone would think it was a good idea to leave a child alone with any dog, let alone a 7stone bull breed.

I love my dogs and I trust them with my life but there isn't a chance in hell I would leave them with my children for just a minute.

I'm sharing because it's easy to get complacent, especially when you have good natured dogs like mine.

I feel sad for everyone in this sad story but just desperately sad for what that little boy must have gone through that evening, alone.

I’ve read extensively about it, and can draw my conclusions about what kind of mother she is based on the facts AND the photo. So I completely disagree with you... FFS. Even with some of the face obscured you can see she doesn’t look sad as the photo is taken, doesn’t take a genius to see that.

The little boy had a heart condition and yet there was proof that he tried to fight back against this huge powerful dog. The victims are the little boy and the dog, both of them in the wrong place and circumstances at the wrong time because those who had responsibility for them didn't care enough for them.

Scumbag parents make my blood boil. I don't understand why some people have babies when they are clearly totally incapable of parenting. Thick as shit, fucking awful attitudes, those poor kids don't have a chance, even before they're born.

I want to scream at them STOP HAVING KIDS or DON'T HAVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. And the dogs? You see lads proudly showing off their hard-as-nails dogs like it makes them some kind of prize. Fucking arseholes. Would never occur to them to go and get a job.

It's too heartbreaking. That poor boy.

I love the idea of owning a dog, but I just can't. I'm worried something like this or similar will happen to my own DC.

Children should never be left alone with dogs, but if you are prepared to put in the work needed to train and socialise your dog, it won't be a danger in normal circumstances. It is hard work and involves consistency and routine - it's not something to be taken on by people who lead chaotic lifestyles, ruled by drink and drugs, which seems to have happened here. It's a cliche but there are no bad dogs - only bad owners.

I agree. I have 2 cocker spaniels. One is a only 7 months old but daft as a brush. The other is 4 and never shown aggression

I adore my dogs. They are fabulous. They are still dogs.

My brother has 2 different breed dogs. One attacked him out of the blue when it was about 13 months old. Really nasty and violently. 2 vets suspected rage syndrome. My brother adored the dog, but it had to be put to sleep after the second opinion. My brother is so soft when it comes to his dogs. But it wasnt a risk he was willing to take. Its was very sad.

He did not bring the dog back to the house where his small children were.

Oh and that's not me bragging about my perfect parenting as other on this thread its suggested.

Its being a repsonsible parent and dog owner. Which is the minimum we should be as dog owners and parents.

@Trevsadick I agree. I have two retrievers, they are soft as grease but it's for me to do right by both my children and my dogs and make sure they are never left alone together. There is no reason why children and dogs cannot live happily alongside one another but they both need to be protected from one another. My little boy often asks to take the dog to bed with him but it would be completely irresponsible to let him!

@Griselda1 completely agree with your post. An awful tragedy for both Frankie AND the dog. I read in a report that Frankie had already been told off for blowing in Winston's face. Completely irresponsible of both mother and dog owner to leave the two alone, and both should have recieved much higher sentences!

People seem to forget all breeds of dog are capable of attack, the difference is the power of that attack, a 45 kilo bull breed could very well kill a grown adult if it was determined enough, where as a pug could be easily booted away if it tried. Many bull breeds also have incredibly powerful jaws and bite force.

You culd have left that boy alone with a pug (putting aside the issue of leaving him alone at 2am anyway) and know he'd be fine even if the dog tried to attack, but that huge, powerful dog is an obvious risk, even if you didnt know its history. it was nothing short of irresponsible, wilful neglect, from both the mother and the owner.

It's disgusting they were on holiday...yet her holiday consisted of taking drugs getting pissed and leaving a 9 year old with a PlayStation to entertain himself. Fucking shameless. The dog had attacked before she knew this yet still chose to leave it alone with him hope she gets battered in prison and no she won't get sympathy in there as someone said trust me when it comes to kids they are ruthless!
It's always the same type of dogs pit bulls, staffies American bulldogs when will people wake up? These dogs were bred for fighting not to be loving family pets if you have kids don't have these fucking dogs!!
Yes all dogs can attack but these dogs go in for the kill and don't stop.

I know I resent my own mother for refusing to put a friends dog off the sofa so I could sit down, only for it to attack me 20 seconds later and leave me with life long facial disfigurement at 30, and that was just naive lack of judgement.

This case is just sheer neglect. Poor, poor lad. I don’t think this type of mother will be racked with guilt for the rest of her life.

People seem to forget all breeds of dog are capable of attack, the difference is the power of that attack

Absolutely. I often had children asking of my little dog 'Does he bite?' I always replied 'All dogs bite!' (thankfully mine never bit a person or animal in all his long life).

A well-trained and socialised dog won't bite unless it feels threatened or unwell, but where children are concerned, being safe rather than sorry is a must.

Personally it reminds me of another case where a much smaller child was left in a vulnerable position. No punishment for those parents. I wonder if the mother would have been jailed if she was only drinking wine with friends?

Personally it reminds me of another case where a much smaller child was left in a vulnerable position. No punishment for those parents. I wonder if the mother would have been jailed if she was only drinking wine with friends?

It probably depends on how long ago the case was.

The dangerous dogs act was only updated to include household members in 2014

@AmandaHoldensLips

Scumbag parents make my blood boil. I don't understand why some people have babies when they are clearly totally incapable of parenting. Thick as shit, fucking awful attitudes, those poor kids don't have a chance, even before they're born.

I want to scream at them STOP HAVING KIDS or DON'T HAVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. And the dogs? You see lads proudly showing off their hard-as-nails dogs like it makes them some kind of prize. Fucking arseholes. Would never occur to them to go and get a job.

It's too heartbreaking. That poor boy.

I felt EXACTLY like that. We struggled for ages to have children and you are constantly reminded of the scores of neglectful fuckwits like this who conceive easily but couldn't give a shit about doing the right thing for their children.

Error of judgement my arse, this woman...

Let a 9 year old stay up all night playing playstation - poor parenting by anyone's standards.
He did the above while alone in the "property."
She knew he was in there with a massive, terrifying child eating dog. Who has attached children before.
And her son is on blood thinners so extra susceptible to cuts and bruises
And all the time she was off somewhere else taking drugs to the point of passing out.

Utterly cretinous behaviour and should never again be allowed to have children.

I recall a report a few years ago saying statistically in UK most dog bites are labradors - because they are popular as a family dog and people often think they are 'safe' to be with kids unsupervised.

Jack Russells, Collies, German Sheps and Staffies also considered 'high risk' (in terms of the stats).

Of course, the bigger and more heavy jaw breeds can impart worse injury should they find themselves in a situation where they want to bite. Sadly some people own dogs without a sense of responsibility and knowledge of how a dog brain works. Sad for the dogs and the people hurt or killed by them as a result when situations go wrong.

I don’t understand it. I own a 6stone Doberman who I love dearly. I can take bones out of her mouth, food from her bowl ... I can do whatever the hell i want to her as I trust her not to snap. She trusts me not to be a cunt so it’s all good.

Would I leave her alone with a child? No fucking chance.

I’m a huge dog lover ... my dogs are my world but you can NEVER trust any dog 100%.

@SquishyBones - totally.

I only wish people had the love & respect for their dogs (and kids) that you have. What a different world that would be for so many who depend on us to be the responsible adult/leader of the pack!

Absolutely shocking and a heartbreaking tragedy. Maybe everyone should get guidance in how to spot signs of abuse and neglect (for me it's a professional requirement), with a respected provider and then people will know how to proceed. Check out learning.nspcc.org.uk/training.

@MacBlank You're too late, it's already been done to death - on this thread and a million others.

Yawn.

Ohh what did Macblank have to offer.

I hate missing deletions.

Do people really mean when they say they wouldn't leave their kid alone with their dog NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE. Like are you saying you've never walked to the next room to grab something quickly, popped to the loo etc. And left them, ever?

I must be a terrible mother.