Tragic story - baby mauled by family dog

[e.e.cummings]

Initially the grandmother (in her late 30s) was implicated as well, but I believe that the charges were dropped.

Maturity certainly had a hand in this story. But things can happen regardless of maturity of those involved. It reminded me of my brother's situation with a dog that he had. His children (around 10 years old) had friends over and one of his kid's friends was attacked by the dog - took everyone totally by surprise, they thought that the dog was well-trained (had received obedience training). It really shook up everyone involved.

I think the article speaks to the subject very well, it is worth a read.

[Kiwi Stoker]

My sister attended a friend's birthday party when she was about 6 years old. Was in the garden picking flowers when the "oh so gentle" german shepherd mauled the side of her face, almost tearing her ear off. She had been over at this friend's house before and had meet the dog.

I think I was more affected by it when the mother drove my sister to our house to collect my mother and I to take her to the doctor. She was sitting there with a towel pressed against the side of her head. Lucky all healed OK.

Apparently the dog had grown up with the children, and probably thought it was protecting it's territory but dogs are animals and all have a bit of the wild in them.

[smilingcat]

Mauling isn't restricted to big dogs.

It can happen with toy sized dog as well. And it can happen with your cat too.

There was a story I heard long ago of a new born babies lip and mouth area being mauled by a cat. Baby had just nursed and had baby formula on his face. Cat came by licked the formula and got carried away. This was told to me by my father, an MD. (I think the baby was one of his patients)

You can't let your guard down even with your family pet.

Too many sad stories... Truly tragic. The 17 YO will never forgive herself.

[bmccasland]

I can still *see* the little boy who was bitten in the face by a friend's dog, and the panicky parents who were rushing him to the emergency room, back when I was doing my EMT clinicals some 20 year ago. I was left alone with the boy as the ER was extremely busy. It didn't help matters that apparently he was to meet a doctor at a different hospital. But the ER staff wanted to make certain he was stable and arrange for medical transport (ambulance) to the correct hospital that would do the surgical repairs. The owners of the dog were equally mortified and told the police that they would just have the dog put down, that the little boy had done nothing to provoke the dog. When I was left with him, I to make sure he stayed conscious and breathing. He was amazingly calm, and not mad at the dog, and thankfully didn't seem to be in a lot of pain (he should have been). Poor lad will be horribly scarred for life.

[e.e.cummings]

Oh, it breaks my heart to read that. The good that comes from sharing these stories is that for whoever out there is unaware of the potential danger or have a 'blind spot' when it comes to pets, may think twice before leaving them unattended with children.

[Chicken Little]

I read this and am reminded of the book "The Wolves Among Us." My two greyhounds asleep on the couch in front of me are ANIMALS.
Dogs are for adults, and their interactions with children should be closely monitored.

[Biciclista]

and let us not forget that most injuries to children are not by dogs but by their parents... just saying, "the wolves among us"