Another toddler killed in GA...this time by pit bulls

[dixierose]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/28/monica-renee-laminack-pit-bulls-death_n_2973723.html

Local News link:
http://www.wtoc.com/story/21812748/2-year-old-girl-killed-by-seven-pit-bulls-in-ellabell

This happened at another town near me (in the same county, matter of fact). Two children under 2 years old getting killed within a week of eachother. So sad; and both so senseless. WTF has 7 pit bulls with a child???

 

[IassaFTots]

I really can't stand those dogs.   

[chitownchica]

Those dogs scare the crap out of me.

[Conservative Libertarian]

This is tragic but it's not the breed of the dog that is the problem.

1. There was a house full of people and no one was watching the child. A 12-year old uncle was given that task but, that obviously was a mistake.

2. "The family has nine dogs - a beagle, an Irish setter and seven pit bulls or pit bull-mixed dogs". I hope that they had a big enough yard! This is just too many dogs in one yard (my opinion).

3. Why did the Sheriff only euthanize the pit bulls? Even tough the other breeds don't have the pitbull stigma, they are still dogs and could have been involved. Was the Beagle and Irish Setter the house dogs? The article didn't make such distinctions.


My sister and niece have pitbulls. They are very friendly and gentle with children. In fact, the children are theirs and they would defend them with their lives. These dogs have been treated as members of the family from day one and not yard ornaments. They may lick you to death. Even with that, the children are never left alone with them and the adults actually watch the children.

The mauling death of this little girl was tragic and was completely avoidable. The fault lies with the people that are responsible for her well being. It's not the fault of the breed of the dog. The problem is that many people get pitbulls and make them mean. These are the ones that you hear about in the news. This can be done with just about any dog. Blaming this tragic event on the pitbull breed is like blaming accidents and global warming on SUVs.

[Articulate Ape]

Of course the breed of dog is part of the problem.  Do you realize how many of these sort of stories involve pit bulls?  Hardly a coincidence, don't you think?

[Conservative Libertarian]

Of course the breed of dog is part of the problem.  Do you realize how many of these sort of stories involve pit bulls?  Hardly a coincidence, don't you think?

I agree that it's not a coincidence.

Like I said, many people go out of their way to make pitbulls mean which can be done with just about any dog. Dogs are no better than how you treat them. These pitbulls are the ones you hear about in the news. The news will never give any time for the pitbulls that are gentle with and protect children. You have fallen for the skewed coverage factor just like the reports of how SUVs cause accidents.

Are you saying that the people responsible for the well being of this child bear less responsibility for this completely avoidable tradgedy because the breed involved are pitbulls? I certainly hope not. No matter how gentle a dog is, it is never a good idea to leave children alone with them. It seems to me that these 7 pitbulls were yard ornaments and not a part of the family. The same thing could have happened if all seven were another breed. But, since they would not have been the evil pitbull, you probably would have never heard about it.

[Eupher]

CL's on target.

While certain dog breeds are more powerful, protective, and even loyal than other breeds, that does not mean that those breeds (pit bull terriers, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, and even German shepherds, among others) are automatically hard-wired to be aggressive.

Those breeds may be predisposed to aggression, but no dog comes to the handler trained out of the litter.

Those pit bulls had to have been trained in some regard, or, perhaps better said, the lack of training and socialization could very well have been the reason for the dogs' attack. Further, having that many dogs in one place is an invitation to disaster.

Dog packs, as an entity, have a dynamic all their own. These dynamics and tendencies can't be predicted with 100% accuracy.

Therefore, it's incumbent upon the human handler and responsible dog owner to take appropriate measures to protect and ensure the safety of everybody around those dogs. You simply can't expect a 12-year-old child to control a dog pack. Ain't gonna happen.

The irresponsible adult dog handler/owner in this case is the reason for this tragedy. This individual needs to be held accountable for manslaughter.

[IassaFTots]

CL's on target.

While certain dog breeds are more powerful, protective, and even loyal than other breeds, that does not mean that those breeds (pit bull terriers, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, and even German shepherds, among others) are automatically hard-wired to be aggressive.

Those breeds may be predisposed to aggression, but no dog comes to the handler trained out of the litter.

Those pit bulls had to have been trained in some regard, or, perhaps better said, the lack of training and socialization could very well have been the reason for the dogs' attack. Further, having that many dogs in one place is an invitation to disaster.

Dog packs, as an entity, have a dynamic all their own. These dynamics and tendencies can't be predicted with 100% accuracy.

Therefore, it's incumbent upon the human handler and responsible dog owner to take appropriate measures to protect and ensure the safety of everybody around those dogs. You simply can't expect a 12-year-old child to control a dog pack. Ain't gonna happen.

The irresponsible adult dog handler/owner in this case is the reason for this tragedy. This individual needs to be held accountable for manslaughter.

I agree with you completely.  And CL.  To clarify, I have been attacked by 3 different pits, at 3 different times in my life, and have scars to prove it.  For me, 3 times and you are out, literally.  I do recognize that is my own bias, and have tried to move past it.  Hasn't worked out yet, but it might someday. 

[JohnnyReb]

Whenever I see pit bulls I think two things....drug dealer or DUmmie with no weapons.

[Eupher]

Whenever I see pit bulls I think two things....drug dealer or DUmmie with no weapons.

Or a dumbass football player.

[Conservative Libertarian]

I agree with you completely.  And CL.  To clarify, I have been attacked by 3 different pits, at 3 different times in my life, and have scars to prove it.  For me, 3 times and you are out, literally.  I do recognize that is my own bias, and have tried to move past it.  Hasn't worked out yet, but it might someday. 

Your point and perspective are well-taken.

[IassaFTots]

Your point and perspective are well-taken.

Thanks.  It's kind of crazy, as I love dogs, and prefer big dogs (the 4 legged kind. ) to small "throw" dogs.  I don't have any kind of reaction around Dobermans, German Sheperds, Rotts, Danes, etc....but if I see a pit, my stomach just turns.  I am pretty positive that my fear provoked the last attack I encountered, but that was also right after he ate my roommate's cat, so that could have had something to do with it as well. 

[Ptarmigan]

This is tragic but it's not the breed of the dog that is the problem.

1. There was a house full of people and no one was watching the child. A 12-year old uncle was given that task but, that obviously was a mistake.

2. "The family has nine dogs - a beagle, an Irish setter and seven pit bulls or pit bull-mixed dogs". I hope that they had a big enough yard! This is just too many dogs in one yard (my opinion).

3. Why did the Sheriff only euthanize the pit bulls? Even tough the other breeds don't have the pitbull stigma, they are still dogs and could have been involved. Was the Beagle and Irish Setter the house dogs? The article didn't make such distinctions.


My sister and niece have pitbulls. They are very friendly and gentle with children. In fact, the children are theirs and they would defend them with their lives. These dogs have been treated as members of the family from day one and not yard ornaments. They may lick you to death. Even with that, the children are never left alone with them and the adults actually watch the children.

The mauling death of this little girl was tragic and was completely avoidable. The fault lies with the people that are responsible for her well being. It's not the fault of the breed of the dog. The problem is that many people get pitbulls and make them mean. These are the ones that you hear about in the news. This can be done with just about any dog. Blaming this tragic event on the pitbull breed is like blaming accidents and global warming on SUVs.

Well said. If you read a dog book in the 1950s, Pit Bulls were recommended for families with children. They had a good reputation until bad people owned them.

[RayRaytheSBS]

I'd say it is not the dog's fault in this case, but the people who owned them. As NHSparky always likes to say. 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes'.

What did they think would happen with that many dogs of a breed that is known for it's aggressive tendencies? Sadly, it sounds like this was preventable. And it sounds like these people have been punished enough for their mistakes.

[Conservative Libertarian]

I'd say it is not the dog's fault in this case, but the people who owned them. As NHSparky always likes to say. 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes'.

What did they think would happen with that many dogs of a breed that is known for it's aggressive tendencies? Sadly, it sounds like this was preventable. And it sounds like these people have been punished enough for their mistakes.

The sad part is that the 12-year old uncle will probably blame himself.

[Conservative Libertarian]

Well said. If you read a dog book in the 1950s, Pit Bulls were recommended for families with children. They had a good reputation until bad people owned them.

Pete, the dog from the classic Little Rascals with the circle around his eye was a Pit Bull.

My sister's Pit Bull think that it belongs on your lap. The last time that I visited, she smiled at me and then climbed onto my lap.

[Articulate Ape]

Are you saying that the people responsible for the well being of this child bear less responsibility for this completely avoidable tradgedy because the breed involved are pitbulls?

Absolutely not!  The people involved should be punished severely, regardless of the punishment they will have to endure for a lifetime due to the knowledge that their negligence was responsible for the death of a child.  All I'm saying is that having a dog, whose gene pool has been formulated through selective breeding to be a mauling machine with legs, living in one's house is no different than leaving a loaded handgun lying on the floor of a child's play area.

In short, pitbulls are prone to chew on people and other dogs, and some people are so dumb that natural selection needs to do its thing to try to spare all of us from having to endure another stupid human being.

[Eupher]

pretty good writeup by Jon Bastian on Cesar Millan's site. Millan, while controversial in the dog world, has built a career on successfully dealing with difficult, dangerous dogs, including the pit bull.

He talks toward the origin of the breed, how it got its name, the relative popularity of the breed till about 1980 or so when it began being used in drug-related gangs and in dog-fighting, a scourge that came back during the 80s, and the bad rap the breed has gotten since then.

 http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/basics/How-Did-Pit-Bulls-Get-a-Bad-Rap

ETA: clarification as to who the author of the article is. Jon Bastian, posted on Cesar Millan's web site.

[Articulate Ape]

pretty good writeup by Cesar Millan who, while controversial in the dog world, has built a career on successfully dealing with difficult, dangerous dogs, including the pit bull.

He talks toward the origin of the breed, how it got its name, the relative popularity of the breed till about 1980 or so when it began being used in drug-related gangs and in dog-fighting, a scourge that came back during the 80s, and the bad rap the breed has gotten since then.

 http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/basics/How-Did-Pit-Bulls-Get-a-Bad-Rap

A very interesting read, Eupher.  Thanks for sharing that.

[Conservative Libertarian]

Absolutely not!  The people involved should be punished severely, regardless of the punishment they will have to endure for a lifetime due to the knowledge that their negligence was responsible for the death of a child.  All I'm saying is that having a dog, whose gene pool has been formulated through selective breeding to be a mauling machine with legs, living in one's house is no different than leaving a loaded handgun lying on the floor of a child's play area.

In short, pitbulls are prone to chew on people and other dogs, and some people are so dumb that natural selection needs to do its thing to try to spare all of us from having to endure another stupid human being.

I didn't think that you did. I do agree with what you have said except that it can apply to many breeds. One should not leave children alone with dogs. I have been bitten (to the point of bleeding) only by very small breeds that are lightening fast. I wouldn't trust a small child with a chihuahua either.