You’d call and report it, right?
Tragically, that isn’t what happened this week, right here in Houma.
A 130-pound dog – being reported as a pit bull – attacked and killed a four-year-old girl inside her apartment. The dog was initially reported as “staying” at the apartment with a second dog, reported as a six-month-old pit. On the news last night, the dogs were reported as “family pets.”
When a dog kills a child, it’s a heartbreaking, devastating tragedy. What a horrific loss for that family.
There are few specific details and several pieces of conflicting information (between the printed news and television news) about the attack.
But they all circle back around to one point: It’s an ongoing investigation because there have been allegations that the dog was trained for fighting. Why a small child had to die for people to step forward…
This, of course, isn’t what I had planned to post today, but the whole thing is just so sad and so unfortunate.
I’m heartbroken over the loss of that little girl’s life. I’m going to keep a close eye on this as it develops because, in reading through comments and reactions online, there’s a very vocal “ban them all” conversation emerging.
This area certainly isn’t a hallmark of animal welfare, but this incident serves as a reminder: If you see or suspect any type of abuse, neglect, dog fighting, etc., report it! This occurred in a populated apartment complex. As details emerge on this one, I’m going to write a letter to the paper, and if something like this happens in your area, that’s a step I’d definitely recommend. Join in the community conversation as much as possible – and as much as reasonable.
Hug your pups.
Update: Some previously unreported facts have surfaced. The dog was a stud who belonged to the woman’s boyfriend. He was at her apartment to mate with the 6-month-old female who was in heat. This NEVER should have happened around a small child, among other problems with this scenario. What a heartbreaking disaster that could have been prevented.
This is so sad. I hope the little girl is in a better place now. As for the dog’s owners, I hope they pay for their wrong doings.
It’s tragic beyond belief. Regardless of the circumstances, a little girl lost her life and it’s completely horrible. NO dog simply attacks without warning or provocation, unless there is some serious medical problem. Hopefully the real circumstances are revealed so the proper people can be held accountable.
It is so tragic, so sad. For all parties involved. I absolutely would report suspected dog fighting. Or neglect, abuse, etc. Apparently the authorities did not take the allegations seriously enough.
On a side note, my friend Julie Bertram wrote an excellent FB “rant” that ended up getting picked up by the Pit Bull Truth website, in which she explains the differences in various bully breeds and how misrepresentation of bully breed dogs affects all owners. http://www.pitbulltruth.org/guest-blog-post-a-crazy-dog-lady-rant/#comments
I’m so sorry that this happened, and sorry that it’s in your community.
Hugs to you.
It seems like it always takes so long to get the facts out in a heartbreaking story like this. So unfortunate that the child and the dogs will have to pay the price for the ignorance of the adults.
I’m sorry you’re having to watch all this going on in your life. No one should have to be subjected to these kinds of things. Breeding a 6-mth old puppy? OMG. You just can’t fix stupid (or evil), can you? Yes. I said it. Unfortunately for us, our insurance company has taken care of any of its insurers having any bullies by banning “pit bulls and pit bull types” (Yes they told us exactly that broad, sweeping term) along with german shepherd, doberman, chows, and akita breeds. This little girl’s death is just another example of exactly why too. They can’t fix stupid & evil, so they ban everyone. No exceptions. For your safety, I’d recommend a CGC refresher. Like the testing every year type of refreshing. For a while people will be looking at your furbabies like they’re demons, and it’s a good idea when you have dogs that people are afraid of–at least that’s what Dannyboy’s trainer told us when I asked about overcoming people’s fears of larger dogs. If for some reason, someone’s fears find you in court for any and all kinds of complaints, the judge will look at the proof of ongoing obedience training as a deciding factor. The Airedale we had before Dannyboy was also a really large boy. After an older person was killed by a totally different breed, we had a visit from the police just because Jimmy was a big dog that barked at people when he was outside in the fenced back yard. That dog wouldn’t have hurt a fly unless you tried to do something to one of his little boys. So, I know all about what you’re liable to start going through.
Ugh, once again stupid, ignorant people are responsible for something like that happening and the dog breed will be blamed. I hate it, and the fact that the media will probably play up the dog breed as well. Do they still say dog fighting is involved….is that why the dog was being bred? It’s bad enough this happens, but how could someone do that with children around?
I hate that this happened, and so close to home for you. I admire that you plan to have your voice heard, but are waiting for all the facts to come out first too.
Completely avoidable. That poor, poor child.
Where to start? there are so many things wrong with this story. The fact that people fight dogs. People who think dogs that are trained to fight are okay around children. That it’s okay for children to be around dogs that are being bred. That you would breed a six month old puppy.
I only hope something good comes from this tragedy and that certainly won’t be banning pits.
How horribly sad that a child suffers from the stupidity of ‘adults.’ But then again, it’s always the innocent, isn’t it?
Please keep us posted on this one Maggie.
I’m so sad to hear about this. How awful and irresponsible these people were with their precious child and a large aggressive dog. It’s heart breaking.
I’m glad that Rebekah posted the link about pit bulls. The dog that was described as a pit bull (the one who killed the child) was also described as 130 lbs. Pit bulls aren’t 130 lb dogs. They are anywhere from 35-65 lbs max. That is truly beside the point, though. I hope that this sweet child gets some form of justice. Rest in peace little angel.
This is so scary and absolutely tragic. Although it is in dogs nature to fight, in all reality. Every dog is related to wolves who fight with there own packs. So that is actually natural for dogs. What’s not natural is breeding a 130 pound dog, and training it to fight.
How could this be compared to a loving family that cares about their child more than anything, and owns a German shepered and the dog attacks and kills the baby? Sometimes tragic things happen and it’s truly no one’s fault. A lot of people argue that pitbulls are just like any other bread and I strongly feel they are. Chow chows, great danes, rots, bullstaff terriers… all those breeds and many many more have killed kids. It seems owners of pitbulls are more irresponsible than most dog owners. But if people don’t have the common sense to know whether or not a specific dog should be around a child it’s not the dogs fault. The dog is being a dog. The child is being a child. And the adults are being idiots. But if we’re going to ban pits then the second meanest dog is going to keep those attack statistic up. And I’m sure people will cross bread something very similar or worse.
What about young parents or people who don’t know any better? Nanny dogs, pitbulls. I have known so many family’s that swear by these dogs. And these dogs are loyal loving, affectionate, and truly not a danger. What about the young mom who brings her child around a friend’s house who owns dogs and she doesn’t feel threatened by the dogs at all? She’s risking her baby’s life but it’s not obvious. It’s not illegal. DFS checks out the house and it’s all safe and she’s a great mom. Besides the dog that can attack her child. Is it fair for her to go to prison for life if this happens???