Dog Kills Child.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2487849/Leicester-girl-dies-bitten-dog-Mountsorrel.html

Yet another tragic happening, when will 'lessons be learned' and what is the answer?

It is reported that the dog was from an animal rescue centre, why did they allow a person living in a flat to take one of their animals?

[VHG]

Headline on AB one day?

"AOG posts link to happy story"

[Gromit]

Dogs have been domesticated for 30,000 years, but there have always been instances of dogs killing humans.

It is rare in this country, which is why it is reported in the newspapers. But it is a very small number of cases so we shouldn't really worry. There isn't really anymore that can be done to stop some dogs killing and at the moment the numbers are acceptable.

[youngmafbog]

Not really any lessons to be learnt. In this country we are at a level where the problem is common sense; and you cant legislate for that!

Unfortunatley some forget the dog is just that - a dog not a human. It has to taught its place int he familly(pack) and be treated that way, e.g. four paws on teh floor for starters.

I have to say though, I do wonder what goes though the minds of someone who gets a big muscular dog with small children from a rescue centre

I have a very large boxer, 42.5 KG at last weigh-in, he is docile but I wouldn't trust him with small children and I certainly would not trust him if he came from a rescue center where I would have no clue about his treatment and upbringing in the past.

[woofgang]

such a pity that the pound didn't take more care over how the dog was adopted. From what i can tell, it had a background of being abused and the family left the child alone with it only weeks after they adopted it which is stupid. Poor child, poor dog.

[Mattk]

We assume dogs are domescticated but given the right circumstances they could turn. We have welcomed wild anaimals into our homes after all.

I assume in this instance the dog saw the little girl as a direct rival to his position in the hierachy.

[Maggoty]

I volunteer for a 'dog rehoming' charity as a homechecker and fosterer. I take my 'rather large dog' (they are a boisterous breed) on my home checks to gauge their reaction and also to show them that its not easy having such a dog in the home. We would never rehome one of our dogs in a flat, no matter how nice the people are, they are just too big (and they are smaller than Mastiffs).

Feel so sorry for the family :-(

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[woofgang]

mattk you have nothing to base that assumption on. The dog's background has variously been reported as coming from a pound or bought in a pub. Dogs don't seek to be top dog or lie awake planning to take over the family but if they have been mistreated in the past, they will fear it happening again and may react with defensive violence.

[Maggoty]

There has been a lot of mis-reporting and speculation in the press reports. It was NOT the dog pictured that attacked her yet they print the picture. Bought in a pub or from the Orchard (?) rescue centre. Mum was lying on the bed with the child, the mum was in a different room. The child was playing with the dog, the child was asleep. No-one knows what triggered the attack - a firework going off in the background may have triggered it.

I am guilty of jumping in and taking the reports as correct.

as for will lessons be learned - mine is to not believe everything that is written in the rush to get the paper printed!!

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