Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is listed under the news articles on the forum page...

http://www.petpress.net/redirect.php?id=229

It's interesting, I thought some of you might be intrigued as well.
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Lesya & Sophie

A Dog Owner's Prayer

Author unknown
Thanks to Pattie Lawler
http://www.behaviour-problems.freeserve.co.uk/2/Poems/dogownerpray.htm

I have known about this, but feel there are to many unknowns to be able to comment on what happened.

Mostly this should be a wake up call for every dog owner to learn. We need to remember they are dogs and not little people they don't think like people and will not react to situations like people.
Any person that has multiple dogs in their home needs to stop and think about what safety precautions they have in place so that accidents like this (dogs that don't get along getting together) do not happen.
Responsible dog ownership, especially when you have large breeds can take a lot of work but we have to make sure we never take shortcuts.
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Val.
proudly owned by
Majic the Rotten
Purl - the Nottweiler (Dogue de Bordeaux)
Quest - the otherweiler (DDB)
Chrissy & Tina who have earned their wings

Thank you for sharing this information and giving us, Mastiff Owners an opportunity to share our views.

Val is exactly right!! These dogs become so much a part of our families and our lives that we tend to forget that they are dogs. They are born with instincts that dictate behaviors. Prey drive and pack behavior is something that all dog owners need to be aware of and know how much their own dogs are effected by it.

This incident was simply a case of poor judgement. When there are big powerful dogs present children should always be watched to make sure that they are not alone with the dogs. It doesn't matter that the child was 11 and knew better than to be out with the dogs. We are responsible for what our children do when they are with us and what our dogs do when they are with us.

In this case, the dogs pens could have been locked with a chain and a padlock and none of this would have happened. But it did happen.......... accidents happen. It's just unfortunate that when the accidents involve big powerful dogs, some innocent person gets hurt.

There was no malice involved. I'm positive that the grandmother feels as bad as anyone could. For the most part the Dogue de Bordeaux is not a "vicious breed", these dogs were just able to get into a bad situation.

From recent coverage that I have read it looks as though the granmother will be facing some legal repremands and repercussions. However, even if she didn't have to deal with the legal aspects she will have to live with this for the rest of her life.
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PHRottn
HRottn@PetHobbyist.com" target="_blank">My Email

Rott-N-Dogues make excellent best friends!

I would just like to restate that (IMHO) this event was not the fault of the dogs but poor management by the owner. This is not a breed commonly known for people aggression. They were put in a situation causing their "natural instincts" to kick in.

Please folks, please, make sure that you don't allow your furkidz to be put in a bad situation with people. I know that this child's grandmother must be heartsick over the situtaion.

The 2 male dogs involved in this attack will be euthanized. 3 other dogs that have been seized are being held at a local animal control shelter waiting for determination if their involvement would be cause for them to be euthanized also.

The grandmother is being charged for obstructing justice for enticing the girl to lie about the circumstances that caused the dogs to attack.

The girl that was attacked will have to undergo several surgeries and rehabilitaion.

All I can say is thank goodness she is alive and is doing very well. She seems to be a strong and courageous young lady.
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PHRottn
HRottn@PetHobbyist.com" target="_blank">My Email

Rott-N-Dogues make excellent best friends!

Intresting yes, but not something rare any longer. In WI in 2002 there was a dog mauling of a 12 year old child and the child died. The parents were charged.

I was really glad when they blamed the owners as opposed to the blaming the 'evil' breeds.

As dee said, the gates should have been locked. The child should not have gone into a breeding yard. The child should not have been in a pack of dogs unsupervised. As a breeder the owner should have realized this. I do feel she needs some sort of legal ramifications. Not doing so is basically the same as someone who allows their child to sit in a hot car while they run into the store and the child dies. Granted they have a guilty cross to bear, but they are also guilty.

I know my views are harsh, but I do feel people need to take responsibility for what their actions, intentional or otherwise, may cause.

I have attached one of the stories from the dog mauling here.
WI dog attack case

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Cindy & Brutus the bullheaded bulldoggie

Bully Breed Hearts Dont Cry!

Cindy,
I fully agree that parents and dogs owners should be held liable when it comes to the safety of children and dogs.
In this case yes there were what appears to be alot of major mistakes made and those that are responsible are having to answer to this in court. Partly the problem in my opinion on this situation is that I don't think anyone will ever know the whole truth to what happened. I have 3 working breed dogs at this time and believe that it is my responsabilty to make sure that no one is ever endangered by my dogs by doing my best to breed proper temperament and socializing and training my dogs. Also I am the one that has to make sure that my dogs are managed in such a way that problems such as 2 same sex dogs are not put together to start problems.
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Val.
proudly owned by
Majic the Rotten
Purl - the Nottweiler (Dogue de Bordeaux)
Quest - the otherweiler (DDB)
Chrissy & Tina who have earned their wings

Cindy, thanks for your input! Unfortunately until pet owners finally "get it" I fear there will be more events like this.

As Val said, proper breeding also plays a big part in the whole equation. When people just breed for money and not for the betterment of the breed the results can only be disaterous.
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PHRottn
HRottn@PetHobbyist.com" target="_blank">My Email

Rott-N-Dogues make excellent best friends!

Training also is a big thing with the breeding. People can not believe that we are still in basic obedience. I know Dee you met him! He was well behaved that day. But working breeds are called that for a reason. They need to WORK. And I think that is where the first problem is. People take their dogs to puppy obedience and leave it at that. Perhaps for some breeds that fine, but one thing I have learned with brutus is that he needs a job. When he is under some sort of command, he is well behaved. When left to his own devices he gets restless then acts stupid.

Another thing people think is funny is the CGC test. They think that is HYSTERICAL. Brutus WILL pass it if I have to kill him to do it (KIDDING!!!!)
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Cindy & Brutus the bullheaded bulldoggie

Bully Breed Hearts Dont Cry!

Ha- Cindy you stick with it and Brutus will do great.

I agree with you this guys are always thinking and if we don't keep them busy they will find something on their own.
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Val.
proudly owned by
Majic the Rotten
Purl - the Nottweiler (Dogue de Bordeaux)
Quest - the otherweiler (DDB)
Chrissy & Tina who have earned their wings