And another toddler mauled to death by a dog?

[i-need-a-martini]

2 years old and killed by a mastiff cross.

The grandmother managed to free the boy from the dogs jaws and rushed him inside. The dog followed her in and grabbed the baby right out of her arms because he wasn't finished.

By all accounts a well cared for dog with no history so we can't blame the owners here.

Why do we continue to allow these dogs to be kept in homes??

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/town-unites-behind-family-of-mauled-toddler-20130806-2rc22.html

[patchoo78]

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@monman12 wrote:

More background to this tragic event, in my opinion,  is in this reported comment from the family: "the pet was usually tied to a tree but, on this rare occasion, was free in the backyard "

That is a recipe for disaster with any dog,  and compounded  with a large breed such as a bull mastiff.

Who should NOT own a bullmastiff?

  A person who intends to keep the dog outside chained up in the back yard.

Can A bullmastiff be an outside dog?

A bullmastiff likes people and needs contact with his family.

They may develop temperament problems if isolated too much

Can a bullmastiff be an inside dog?

Very definitely. They should all be inside at least part of the time so they bond with people.

I have had  dogs for many years including large breeds, and at the risk of castigation here,  have  observed that there is often an  apparent  tendency for some people to own dogs that might reflect themselves, and by extension  a few might  not be be concerned with socialising/training of their (tough) dog.

The Australian Veterinary Association

Breed-specific legislation ignores the human element whereby dog owners

who desire this kind of dog will simply substitute another breed of dog of similar size,

strength and perception of aggressive tendencies

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FINALLY! A post of yours I agree with... And about an issue I am quite passionate about... 

ALL dogs need to be socialised and deserve to be treated as part of the family. Don't buy a dog if you're going to chain it up outside, and don't leave a 2 year old kid alone with a dog, eating food or not

[karliandjacko]

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

It was a horrific thing to happen. The dog did not belong to the Grandmother, it was one of her grandson's dog.

Will blaming the Grandmother make the outcome change? The family don't blame her, why would we?

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It doesn't matter WHO the dog belonged to - a 2-year-old child SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE with a dog - ESPECIALLY if the child is eating something! Naturally, the dog will want some of the food and, if the dog is not socialized to know it's position in the pack/family, then the dog will do what's natural for it and fight for the food.

I just read above that the dog was usually tied up - so NO SOCIALIZION - NO TRAINING - NO GUIDANCE as to it's position in the pack - so, what does it boil down to? OWNER PROBLEM - AGAIN!

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

It was a horrific thing to happen. The dog did not belong to the Grandmother, it was one of her grandson's dog.

Will blaming the Grandmother make the outcome change? The family don't blame her, why would we?

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It doesn't matter WHO the dog belonged to - a 2-year-old child SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE with a dog - ESPECIALLY if the child is eating something! Naturally, the dog will want some of the food and, if the dog is not socialized to know it's position in the pack/family, then the dog will do what's natural for it and fight for the food.

I just read above that the dog was usually tied up - so NO SOCIALIZION - NO TRAINING - NO GUIDANCE as to it's position in the pack - so, what does it boil down to? OWNER PROBLEM - AGAIN!

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The family is grief stricken and traumatized enough. They don't need your castigation!
You shouting rant will acheive nothing.

[patchoo78]

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

The law has no issue with the male that owned the dog. The dog was registered and not on a list of banned dogs.

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so, it's OK for me to have dogs with NO TRAINING - NO SOCIALIZATION - KEEP THEM CHAINED UP - NO CONTACT WITH ANYONE ELSE - AS LONG AS I HAVE THEM REGISTERED? The dogs will attack anything that moves - but they are registered so it's OK. I see.

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I am with you on this one rabbit.. We can hardly expect dogs to automatically know how to act around people, they need to be socialised with people and spend time with their owners. How would any of you like being chained up to a tree all day with no interaction with anyone? Not much ..

The situation is no one's fault and everyone's fault at the same time.. 

1. The grandmother shouldn't have let the kid outside alone with an unsocialised dog

2. The dog should not be chained up all day on it's own with no interaction

[j*oono]

I think that most people would just shake their heads at this and think what the hell happened.  They let a mastiff cross be chained up in their garden and the next day they let reporters take photos in the home of  the owner, the grandmother, the mother and even give them a lovely shot of the nephew (owner of the dog) and the mastiff cross.  

What the hell!

[acacia_pycnantha]

so, it's OK for me to have dogs with NO TRAINING - NO SOCIALIZATION - KEEP THEM CHAINED UP - NO CONTACT WITH ANYONE ELSE - AS LONG AS I HAVE THEM REGISTERED? The dogs will attack anything that moves - but they are registered so it's OK. I see.

The law is an ass (and yes I was allowed to post that word so please don't report me).

It's like I'm not allowed to keep a tiger in my back yard.  . . . but, but, but,  it's a cute little puppy . awwww.

I once knew a guy who owned a bull terrier and he wouldn't tell anybody else his dog's name, in case they got friendly with it, or more to the point, it got friendly with them.

It's just not possible to legislate against willful ignorance or stupidity.

[***super_nova***]

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The family is grief stricken and traumatized enough.

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The family is not likely reading CS in this moment, but discussing this tragedy may get people thinking twice before leaving a toddler alone with a dog.  And even more importantly, some people might think twice about getting such a breed. 

The worst problem is that people get the fighting breeds not believing they could be dangerous.  While all breeds can attack, it is the fighting breeds that usually attack without any warning whatsoever and fight to death.

This dog did not just snap because the child got near his food or bone, or becuase the boy hurt him, this dog meant to kill. 

I would not want any breed to be banned, but there should be special requirements for anybody who owns such a breed.  Maybe a special licence and minimum specification for fencing of the owners' property. 

And I am so sick of forever coming across pro pit bull propaganda on FB; pictures of toddlers and these dogs with captions how laughable it is to say the dog could be dangerous. 

[karliandjacko]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

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The family is grief stricken and traumatized enough.

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The family is not likely reading CS in this moment, but discussing this tragedy may get people thinking twice before leaving a toddler alone with a dog.  And even more importantly, some people might think twice about getting such a breed. 

The worst problem is that people get the fighting breeds not believing they could be dangerous.  While all breeds can attack, it is the fighting breeds that usually attack without any warning whatsoever and fight to death.

This dog did not just snap because the child got near his food or bone, or becuase the boy hurt him, this dog meant to kill. 

I would not want any breed to be banned, but there should be special requirements for anybody who owns such a breed.  Maybe a special licence and minimum specification for fencing of the owners' property. 

And I am so sick of forever coming across pro pit bull propaganda on FB; pictures of toddlers and these dogs with captions how laughable it is to say the dog could be dangerous. 

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For sure. I agree there should be special licences or something to ensure people are educated about the breeds they buy

One family was in our paper talking about their wonderful dogs. The father looked like he was struggling to hold the dog back during the photo opp.

[rabbitearbandicoot]

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@karliandjacko wrote:

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

It was a horrific thing to happen. The dog did not belong to the Grandmother, it was one of her grandson's dog.

Will blaming the Grandmother make the outcome change? The family don't blame her, why would we?

---

It doesn't matter WHO the dog belonged to - a 2-year-old child SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE with a dog - ESPECIALLY if the child is eating something! Naturally, the dog will want some of the food and, if the dog is not socialized to know it's position in the pack/family, then the dog will do what's natural for it and fight for the food.

I just read above that the dog was usually tied up - so NO SOCIALIZION - NO TRAINING - NO GUIDANCE as to it's position in the pack - so, what does it boil down to? OWNER PROBLEM - AGAIN!

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

---

@am*3 wrote:

It was a horrific thing to happen. The dog did not belong to the Grandmother, it was one of her grandson's dog.

Will blaming the Grandmother make the outcome change? The family don't blame her, why would we?

---

It doesn't matter WHO the dog belonged to - a 2-year-old child SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE with a dog - ESPECIALLY if the child is eating something! Naturally, the dog will want some of the food and, if the dog is not socialized to know it's position in the pack/family, then the dog will do what's natural for it and fight for the food.

I just read above that the dog was usually tied up - so NO SOCIALIZION - NO TRAINING - NO GUIDANCE as to it's position in the pack - so, what does it boil down to? OWNER PROBLEM - AGAIN!

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The family is grief stricken and traumatized enough. They don't need your castigation!
You shouting rant will acheive nothing.

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I am not castigating anyone. I'm making a comment about what SHOULD BE DONE with ALL dogs, but especially with a large breed. If it was a shouting rant as you say, I hope it does achieve something - like education some on here that a DOG is, when all is said and done, an animal. THEY MUST BE SOCIALIZED to minimize this sort of thing happening. They MUST understand their position in the pack/family and that position MUST be LAST in the pack. 

But then, I wouldn't know anything about dogs. I've had Rottweilers for 40 years - and never had a bad one - why? Because we SOCIALISED THEM  right from pups. Those same pups, if not socialized could have turned out as who-knows-what. They are a large powerful animal. 

[superscanner4]

I don't know which is the worst story this week - this one or the two little boys who were strangled by the escaped pet snake while they slept.

[polksaladallie]

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@superscanner4 wrote:

I don't know which is the worst story this week - this one or the two little boys who were strangled by the escaped pet snake while they slept.

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Both tragic stories, but this one, although 5 years old, is winding up in court at the moment, and reminding us again.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/twins-starved-to-death-as-parents-played-computer-game...