Old English Sheepdog Mix in Fatal Mauling shot by PA Police
A 14 month old baby was mauled by the family "Old English Sheepdog Mix" and died. The police tracked the dog and shot it dead. http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art ... 78/-1/NEWS |
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OMG... how tragic.  That precious baby.
These are big, powerful creatures... we sometimes forget this. So many things are going through my mind after reading this. The fact that some dogs just can't be placed with just anyone... I hope this dog wasn't a rescue... definitely an excellent reason NOT to risk placing rescues in homes with babies or small children... The harm it does to the reputation of the breed... |
| ^^ exactly
How sad. |
| Although that was a fairly extensive report, we need our Pennsylvania contingent to tell us what is going on.
I am petrified with fear that this was someone we know.  |
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| What a heart breaking tragedy.
No matter how much we love our pups we must never forget they are, animals. We should never assume we "know" how they will respond in any situation. |
| this is just too much for me today...why?????????? |
Tasker's Mom wrote: What a heart breaking tragedy.
No matter how much we love our pups we must never forget they are, animals. We should never assume we "know" how they will respond in any situation. absolutely!!! I was looking at those jaws snapping away at each other the other day and thought about how amazing it was that they are so gentle with us because it is obvious they can do great damage if they wanted to. |
| I am so very sorry |
| OH geesh!! How heartbreaking all the way around. For the baby and the dog. Too much tragedy. Soo awful. |
| that is so sad for the family, poor baby and poor dog. Even for the folks who saw the dog killed, even for the police. So sad... |
| this is terrible and scary |
| Such a tragedy. |
| How terrible! |
6Girls wrote: The harm it does to the reputation of the breed...
The pictures of an OES with blood all over its muzzle will be the thing that sticks in peoples' minds, too. I wish that they didn't show the dog like that. |
| This is unbearably sad. |
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Quote: The pictures of an OES with blood all over its muzzle will be the thing that sticks in peoples' minds, too. I wish that they didn't show the dog like that.
I agree completely! Why do people need to see this sort of thing? I think it does a huge disservice to all dogs, but especially OES since the dog really looked OES even though it was a mix. I guess it's a train wreck sort of thing, you don't want to look but you can't stop yourself. Sad really Shellie |
Shellie wrote: Quote: The pictures of an OES with blood all over its muzzle will be the thing that sticks in peoples' minds, too. I wish that they didn't show the dog like that. I agree completely! Why do people need to see this sort of thing? I think it does a huge disservice to all dogs, but especially OES since the dog really looked OES even though it was a mix. I guess it's a train wreck sort of thing, you don't want to look but you can't stop yourself. Sad really Shellie I just don't see a reason for it since it's not like the dog committed a premeditated crime! Granted, it's very sad but you just can't blame a dog like you would a person. |
| Very sad for the family and the dog. |
| How will this poor family be able to move past this, it's so heartbreaking. |
| I called & left a message for our Pittsburgh oes person. Hopefully she may have some more insight. I remember meeting some millcreek people at the pittsburgh specialty 2 years ago but never got their names. |
ButtersStotch wrote: 6Girls wrote: The harm it does to the reputation of the breed... The pictures of an OES with blood all over its muzzle will be the thing that sticks in peoples' minds, too. I wish that they didn't show the dog like that. I agree....It is definitely a true tragedy for the little girl and her family but we know our OES as kind, loving animals. I didn't need to see the dog with the blood or being pulled by the noose. I feel nauseated. |
| What a tragedy for the family!
I hope this attack can be traced to some physical problem: rabies, brain tumor and that gets reported. Otherwise the public will now see OES breed as vicious killers. Did the dog get into some poison used around the cemetery? Was the dog bitten by something rabid? As someone said, please let this not be a rescue dog! I would not place dogs in families with small children......period. Since I didn't know the dog's history, I couldn't know if it had a trigger point. |
| Such a sad story, for everyone involved, including the dog. I can't imagine the pain and heartache this tragedy has brought into their lives.
I think showing the pictures is important. It's so easy to read or hear about something and push it out of our minds, but the pictures will burn that image upon your heart and, and thats not so easily forgotten. It stirs the soul. I hate it that an OES is involved, but if those pictures, or any others could possibly prevent another tragedy, well...... When I sold my puppies I reminded their new families that the rougher they play with them as puppies, the rougher they'll play when they get older. Not a good thing since they'll be stronger than most of us. These things stimulate their "natural animal instincts." People forget that their mommy teaches these things in the wild for a reason. Survival. No matter how lovable our fur babies are, or seem to be, they're still members of the animal world and people need to remember that. Pictures, no matter how horrible they are to look, at are a gruesome reminder of a fact we'd rather not 'see'. |
| I feel so bad and horrible for this family. They lost two family members in one day. How tragic.
I dont understand one thing tho. WHen there is an animal in the city, bear, etc. They will call animal control with dart guns etc. Get the animal that way. I understand the dog killed the baby but wouldnt it have made more sense to dart the dog instead of letting the poor neighbors see this animal hunted down. I maybe off course here but I truely believe there were better ways of capturing this animal instead of shooting it many many times. Its such a tragedy. How horrible. |
cheyennebuford wrote: I feel so bad and horrible for this family. They lost two family members in one day. How tragic.
I REALLY REALLY REALLLLLLY think they could care less they lost their dog or what happened to it after what it did to their girl. Just sayin' 
I agree the whole thing is tragic. |
| When a wild animal kills or mauls, it is immediately destroyed. The tranqing if for those who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The cops have to go on assumption the dog may be rabid or some such and will attack even if tranq'ed. Yes, I agree, I would have preferred this animal be captured alive and examinesd evaluated, etc, but for public safety sake they have to act quickly. It's still horrible. The family..........the family.......as much as I love OES........there's still a dead little girl. Also even with the autopsy and questioning the family, I doubt we'll ever know why this happened. |
Joahaeyo wrote: cheyennebuford wrote: I feel so bad and horrible for this family. They lost two family members in one day. How tragic. I REALLY REALLY REALLLLLLY think they could care less they lost their dog or what happened to it after what it did to their girl. Just sayin' I agree the whole thing is tragic. I didnt mean it in that sense. I guess I dont express myself well enough and I knew everyone would have taken it the wrong way. But let me try to explain myself better. To have a pet and have it turn on one of your family members and the worse thing possible happens. I cant even begin to imagine how one would feel. Feeling like its your fault for allowing the pet there. I dont know if I explained it better but its so tragic. so sad |
I can't express how tragic this is in so many ways. With that said, I would like to know the back story. A dog with no history of issues, what happend? There are so many parents that have hurt their children and tried to cover up, I wonder.  This is all so horrible I doubt anyone will look for the truth.
OK, I'm ready for the beatings to begin........  |
Sheeps over Aces wrote: I can't express how tragic this is in so many ways. With that said, I would like to know the back story. A dog with no history of issues, what happend? There are so many parents that have hurt their children and tried to cover up, I wonder.
This is all so horrible I doubt anyone will look for the truth. OK, I'm ready for the beatings to begin........ I kind of wonder myself.Still very tragic |
| how very tragic. I feel for the family of the child, but i also feel for that poor dog. To imagine knowing it hurt the child of 'it's pack' and running in fear and being chased and hunted...... I hope when they did shoot him, that they were good shots and the dog did not suffer. |
| OMG Sad situation all around, I too would like to know the back story to know if the dog was sick or always had an agressive behavior. Boy will I be hearing alot if people read about in my neck of the woods. I feel so bad for the family losing that little girl |
| I hate to say that I am having a hard time finding sympathy for the dog after killing a baby and injuring her mother. It wasn't like a bite and release, it was obviously a sustained attack of two people.
I mean I can understand the symathy we want to have for all dogs, and especially one that looks like it is either closely related or perhaps full blooded to our favorite breed, but the damned thing killed a baby. Maybe I just don't want to have sympathy for such a beast. |
| I hate getting on people's bad sides on here, but that's EXACTLY how I feel Ron. I would have no problem killing Yuki if she went after my child. In a heartbeat, I'd want her DEAD. I do wonder what happened that made her do that, but it's not like the child was just bit once ...or the mom could stop it. The dog was out of control. Maybe the owners beat it. I don't know... but being shot several times was a lot nicer than what could have happened if they had a heavy object nearby imho. |
| Want To Help?
Friends of Addison's parents have set up an account at Northwest Savings Bank to help her family. Donations can be made at any Northwest Savings Bank branch in care of Addison Sonney donations. Checks also can be sent to Northwest Savings Bank, 2863 W. 26th St., Erie, PA 16506. BY KARA RHODES E-mail: kara.rhodes@timesnews.com (Kara Rhodes wrote the article on the following site.) I found an update on the story at: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20080726/NEWS02/807260341 A memorial page is set up at: http://addison-sonney.memory-of.com/About.aspx |
mouthypf wrote: Want To Help?
Friends of Addison's parents have set up an account at Northwest Savings Bank to help her family. Donations can be made at any Northwest Savings Bank branch in care of Addison Sonney donations. Checks also can be sent to Northwest Savings Bank, 2863 W. 26th St., Erie, PA 16506. BY KARA RHODES E-mail: kara.rhodes@timesnews.com (Kara Rhodes wrote the article on the following site.) I found an update on the story at: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20080726/NEWS02/807260341 A memorial page is set up at: http://addison-sonney.memory-of.com/About.aspx I think thats the best thing we can do. Thanks Mouthypf. I too wonder what made this dog go raving mad. It's horrible. |
| The report says the rabies test was negative. Wondering if they did a necropsy or checked only for rabies... if other things might have caused aberrant behavior in this dog. Low thyroid, epilepsy... did the child fall on the dog while he was sleeping. Not a blame question because there's no defense for what he did but wondering what might have set the dog off- any food or chews involved, was he neutered or intact, etc. Questions won't bring this beautiful child back though...
A blog indicates the family raised Oliver, the sheepie-mix, from a pup. http://www.erieblogs.com/archives/2008/ ... n_1046.php Even more tragic (does that seem possible?) is that this is not the first toddler to die this year due to being mauled to death by dogs- July in Mississippi (pitbull)- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,389482,00.html April in Alaska (husky-mix)- http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/390788.html No matter how much we want our dogs to be family, they will always be dogs first with that inherent ability bite, even kill. Most would never, ever cross that line. I doubt we'll ever know what pushed this dog over the line. |
| That is what has my curiosity. Because knowing what turned him against the child may save another child. But heaven forbid raising that question here. You just get the dog was a monster and deserved to die. Well yeah but also what happened what do we as dog owners in general need to be made aware of to prevent this from happening again. Maybe if it was some disease we can be on the look out for symptoms in our dogs. Sorrry tired of being shot down here. |
| Guest, I'm not sure what you meant by 'heaven forbid raising that question here.'
Obviously, members of this forum ARE raising the question about how this happened. Many, many of us are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles. We are all humans who care deeply about the death of a child. As dog lovers in general, and in particular, lovers of OES we are very concerned about what happened to cause this tragedy. Medical conditions, bad breeding, bad circumstances--all of this remains unknown at this time, and we all know that any of these could have contributed. A dog who was ill or injured, even if the condition was unknown to its owners, could be more likely to bite. A dog who is poorly bred for temperment or who is poorly socialized or who is mistreated also sets up the conditions for a tragedy. Was this totally out of the blue? Did the dog previously exhibit signs of aggression towards the baby? Or anybody? We will probably never know. And of course, this makes the tragedy even greater: unless we know more about the circumstances, we have few options to know how to go about preventing such a tragedy from occuring again--except to advocate for good breeding and good training programs--and constant supervision of all dog/child interactions at all times. As far as the dog attack being a cover for some abuse by the parents, I have to believe that there would be an investigation by the medical examiner and that the exact cause of death would be determined. It would be hard to disguise injuries due to parental abuse as a dog attack. However, I do also wonder exactly what was going on. |
6Girls wrote: The report says the rabies test was negative. Wondering if they did a necropsy or checked only for rabies... if other things might have caused aberrant behavior in this dog. Low thyroid, epilepsy... did the child fall on the dog while he was sleeping. Not a blame question because there's no defense for what he did but wondering what might have set the dog off- any food or chews involved, was he neutered or intact, etc. Questions won't bring this beautiful child back though...
I wonder all those things, too, Jaci. Also, the mauling could have been over in a few well placed bites, too. It wasn't necessary the cornered feeding frenzy image that I think people get when they hear the word mauling. It's not hard to kill a baby if he grabbed her neck once and shook. Mom sticks an arm in to stop it and gets bit, too. The reason I even mention this is just to stress how quickly things can happen. I'm not implying this was the case here, but I have to admit, I CRINGE when I see people put their little babies or young kids on top of their dogs or let them crawl and lay all over them. Even the most tolerant dog has it's limits and you never know what those are until the line is crossed. Like Jaci said, even the most mild mannered dog is still an animal. It may look cute to see kids with dogs like that but I think it's a poor idea at best. It puts your kids at a higher risk of possibly getting hurt and the pain of watching your trusted animal snap and hurt someone. That's not to say your dog will snap but it just isn't worth it. |
| I agree, if the dog was with the childrem all his life what happened?? I see many parents who let their kids torment a dog, what do I mean by torment..pull ears , ride like a pony and pull on the dog. This may have been what happened. The dog knew he did something terrible and ran, after being shot a few times he was scared and in a flight/fight mode. I too have had young children, and they were born when I had my first OES and were raised with big dogs all their lifes. They were taught the proper way to approach a dog and what a dogs "rights" were. I am not saying this was what happened but it sounded like this dog was a fine companion up to this horrible incident. It was indeed tragic as stated before these are big dogs that could do big damage. One of the things I do with Guinness when I visit the childrens museum is teach them the proper way to approach a dog,etc. and teach the parents too. This is indeed sad for all involved. My heart goes out to the parents of this beautiful baby. |
| Just because a couple of people have an opinion you do not share doesn't mean you've been "shot down" for chrissakes.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions here including me. Besides, just because I can't find any sympathy for the dog doesn't mean that I don't care why the dog attacked. I'm very interested in learning that. Take a cup of tea, will ya? Now I have to run, the 29232304789th thunderstorm of the month is upon us. |
Who was shot?? I prefer gin and tonic with a twist of lime. We just had a big thunderstorm here...I am going to look for a rainbow  |
| This was a MIX! This was not a pure bred OES that is renown for being the nanny dog! No OES would harm a child as outrageously protective as they may be pf them. Huge difference, all the difference in the world! I was horrified to read this. |
| First, this was a 4 YEAR OLD thread. Second, Quote: This was not a pure bred OES that is renown for being the nanny dog! No OES would harm a child as outrageously protective as they may be pf them. Yes, it was a mix but that doesn't make ANY difference. That is a very dangerous statement and totally not true. Many breeds are " renowned" for different things, but to say any dog of any breed will behave in any particular way because of breed is nonsense. Sorry, but I think you are way off base with that. Shellie |
| Poor baby! What a terrifying, heartbreaking nightmare. |
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