Toddler dies after pet dog attack

[Caligula]

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.

I saw my 6ft. tall father being attacked by a German Shepherd when I was 8. He had walked down the street to return a fan we'd borrowed to a neighbour. As he passed a house, the dog got up with no provocation, w/o so much as a bark, and knocked him down. I can just remember him shouting desperately at me to run away from there. Fortunately the dog had worn all its bottom teeth down on a tree in the back green where it stayed, or it would have torn chunks of flesh out of my father's arms and legs. As it is, the bites required 180 stitches to close. He broke his right wrist, which took 3 surgeries and 9 months to heal. He spent a fortnight in hospital initially; then more time w/each of the surgeries.

It was a sunny summer day and the street was FULL of children. Dad was just thankful the dog attacked him and not one of the kids, b/c it would definitely killed a child.

This was in summer of 1979 and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

I wouldn't have thought for a moment you were posting this for sympathy Paula.

I am glad that you have been able to move on.

Paula, you are very brave to share your story and I am pleased that you have moved on with your life and found the strength to over come your tradegy. All the best x

thanks again all for your kind words. I truley hope that the parents of that little baby boy feel like I do one day, as I know what they are going through. And my deepest sympathy for their tragic loss goes out to them.