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Original poster

Toddler dies after pet dog attack

104 replies

Caligula · 12/07/2005 21:47

toddler dies after pet dog attack

Oh god I always feel sick when I read news stories like this one - that poor family and that poor child. I feel so paranoid about DS going to friend's houses where there are dogs. Especially after what that woman from the RSPCA said about the heat.

OP posts:
serah · 13/07/2005 17:09

so sorry for your friend lilsmum. I have no idea what she must be going through right now.

lilsmum · 13/07/2005 17:13

it happened 11yrs ago, but obviously very upsetting for her even now,she was only 16 herself at the time.

lilsmum · 13/07/2005 17:16

it just mentioned in this story about my friend's baby being the last story of a child being attacked by a pet dog.

Janh · 13/07/2005 17:30

kid, that dog wasn't a Westie too, was it (like sheepgomeep's ex-MIL's?)? A neighbour of ours has one and if you just catch its eye it goes past on its lead it goes berserk. As a 4-yr-old I was bitten in the face by a Scottie - my mum said it was my fault for bending down to it and making it jump. They are bad-tempered little sods, but at least don't have the huge jaws of the bull terriers etc, and they are shorter than a toddler.

Awful for your friend to be reminded like this, lilsmum.

spidermama · 13/07/2005 17:42

OH Lilsmum how terrible. It brings it home. So sorry for your friend's terrible loss.

Your posts make sense sheep. I'm trying to get across how 'fear' is a counter-productive mechanism when dealing with children and dogs. Dogs 'smell' fear and react accordingly.

It's not easy, but parents need to avoid panic around dogs which their kids will pick up, but rather teach them to be wary of approaching any animal.

serah · 13/07/2005 17:56

All good points spidermama. I always tell kids off (gently, obviously) if they rush up and pat my dog without asking, and then show them the correct way to approach a dog after the owner has said its ok.

munz · 13/07/2005 18:26

good point spider, my DB was chased by a GSD in hyde park when he was 2, my dad simply said stand still (he was running about and the dog thought he was playing chase me) anyhow he stood deadly still the dog smiffed and then dad picked him up, all parties were fine, but until dad said stand still he was scared as the dog literally wouldn't leave him alone which is where my view of children = leads comes from.

Janh · 13/07/2005 18:35

And imagine being that 2-yr-old, with a dog at least as big as you with huge teeth running after you, you would keep going, wouldn't you? Like us being chased by a bear. Agree completely about dogs on leads in public. (And more muzzles, that seems to have fizzled out except for a few conscientious owners) (or dodgy dogs)

moondog · 13/07/2005 20:36

lilsmum
If a dog gets hold and won't let go,remember that the surest way to get it to let go is to push something up its bum. A biro,car keys,or at a push (excuse the pun!) a finger.

Hint of the day methinks.

Fimbo · 13/07/2005 20:41

Look at this story as well

Original poster
Caligula · 13/07/2005 20:58

Horrible story Fimbo.

It's all very well saying people should teach their kids to behave round dogs, but some adults who weren't brought up themselves with dogs don't know how to behave round them, so they won't be able to effectively teach them.

And even if you do know, in the panic of the moment, how many frightened children are going to remember what they've learned?

That's why it's always up to dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs, rather than expecting people (adults or children) to be able to cope with them. Although I do agree, I'm always amazed by the number of kids who bound up to dogs and start stroking them without asking the owner first. I've drummed it into my kids that they always have to ask the owner before talking to the dog.

OP posts:
mumfor1sttime · 14/07/2005 16:27

I used to own a boarder collie cross. He was a lovely dog, but aggressive with other dogs- he wore a muzzle and always stayed on a lead, it used to annoy me when other dogs would run over to him and the owner would say 'its ok, hes friendly'. Well hello my dog isnt!!! Maybe the old fashioned dog liscence should make a come back, its too 'easy' to own a pet.

tallulah · 14/07/2005 18:37

These are frightening stories. I always taught my children to check with the owner before ever approaching a strange dog, so I'm always surprised when children I don't know come bounding up to my dog & stick their faces in her face. She's always on a lead but she's a very nervous dog, doesn't like strangers & particularly doesn't like being stared at. The dog trainer we took her to said that the fact that she is on a lead (& can't get away) makes her even more nervous when this happens.

We try our hardest to walk her away from children- wouldn't dream of taking her to a play park- yet she seems to be a magnet for them. It's also amazing how many quite small children are out without adults.... but I would shout at any child who ignored our request for them to back off & leave our dog alone, because we are responsible for her actions.

lilsmum · 14/07/2005 21:02

moondog, they tried that, they also tried poking the eyes and hitting the dog with a heavy object (cant remember what they used) and nothing worked, they had to wait for the dog to let go of its own accord , now i am a huge animal lover but i swear, if a dog had hold of my baby i would have got a knife and cut its throat (as sick as thinking about that makes me feel).

The dog was my friend's mums dog and they had it from 6 weeks old (the dog was about 5 when it killed the baby), the sick thing of it all, obviously the story was in the local papers and the dog was taken away and scheduled to be destroyed, 100 or so people wrote and phoned to say not to destroy the dog that they wanted it [shocked]

shalaa · 14/07/2005 21:57

That's a horrific story Mumfor1sttime, made me cry.

Both my mother and my DP were attached by dogs. My DP was attached by a boxer and my mother by a jack russell. Both were attacked in the face and both have scars. A dog and a child should never be left alone together, dogs can get jealous of babies and small children have the habit of pulling at their fur (not on purpose). Even our cat took a swipe at DS in jealousy

shalaa · 14/07/2005 21:58

ok, that should say attacked not attached.

Also if a dog got hold of my DS I swear I would use my own teeth to rip it's bloody throat out.

Janh · 14/07/2005 22:13

I believe what you do need to do is kick it as hard as you can in the balls (even if it's a lady dog)

fishfinger · 14/07/2005 22:14

lady dog

mumfor1sttime · 14/07/2005 22:15

I agree that no pet should be left alone with a baby. I have a cat who is quite old- I never leave him alone with ds. Sorry shalaa! The story makes me upset still.

natterbox · 14/07/2005 22:16

I wouldn't normally of posted my story on this but as lilsmum has already put it on I feel as if I should have my say.

My daughter Ashley Louise was born a healthy baby girl weighing 9lb 1oz on the 23rd November 1994. I was only 15 at the time (yes a little young). I was staying at my mums for Xmas and they had an bull terrier called Dodger, who my mum had had from being around 3 months old. At the time of Ashley's death the dog was 4yrs.

On the 22nd of December me and my mum went Xmas shopping in Preston for clothes for Xmas, when we came home my mum had cooked our meal and my mum n her husband ate there food in the front room and me and Ashley ate at the dining room table. Ashley was on the floor in the bouncy chair at my feet, and the dog came underneath my chair and looked like he was about to sniff her, but as I went to shoo him away he gripped the left side of her head and clamped down. I screamed for my mum, who then ran into the room, and tried to get the dog off, I ran to the phone and phoned for an ambulance who then told me to get an adult as they was not for taking me seriously.

My mum had stitches in her thumbs from trying to sprize the dogs mouth open, and also tried to squeeze his bits and did the anal job, but nothing worked. The dog let go due to a piece of Ashley's skull coming away and he let go to swallow.
The police came and whisked her away to the hospital and we followed in my mums car. Ashley died in Preston royal infirmary at 11.05pm.
Cause of death blood loss and brain damage.

As you can imagine the press where all over us. So we stayed with relatives in a different district. Because of the news coverage hundreds of kind ppl sent flowers and cards from around the UK. 47 ppl rang the local news paper to home the dog as they said " its cruel to put the dog down".
The papers did get a lot of there facts wrong as the where never informed by me or my family direct about what had happened.
One of the police officers who attended the house retired after this event as obviously the scene was very distressing.

I just feel as I have never had my say and for years ppl have speculated what happened. So there we go.

My life, feel free to ask question and I will defo answer them, this is not a distressing subject to me, as nearly 11yrs on I can honestly say time does heel, not that I'm strange or cold hearted but to me seems like it never happened to me!

Oh n please please please I'm not being funny but don't say how sorry you are, I am not doing this for sympathy, I know it may sound snotty but please don't take it that way!

Take-care all

Paula
xx

shalaa · 14/07/2005 22:25

Paula,

Glad you felt comfortable enough to tell us what happened. Also am glad that time was a great healer for you.

ChicPea · 14/07/2005 22:25

I used to work with somebody who said that her german shepherd was attacked by a staffie and was saved by a) his thick leather collar that he was wearing and b) by a passer by who got out his lighter and held the flame under the staffie's testicles. When she told me this story, about 15 years ago, I have never forgot it as the thought of one of those dogs attacking another dog or much worst a child, is just too horrific to think about.

moondog · 14/07/2005 22:26

Paula........Jesus Christ........

Original poster
Caligula · 14/07/2005 22:26

Paula what a terrible tale. I know you don't want anyone to say they're sorry, but nobody could not be, reading that. I'm just very glad you've managed to get over it and get on with your life.

OP posts:
natterbox · 14/07/2005 22:34

thanx all, at the time I thought my life would never move on, and couldnt imagine it ever doing. But only 10 months later I had my ds who is now 9yrs and also a brother who is also 9yrs (3 weeks between them) to help us busy and get on with our life and also I think the time spent on a new baby helped me have something to live for again. x