Boy Falls into African Painted Dog Exhibit at Piitsburgh Zoo Dies

[Sonya610]

In a million years she never would have imagined that her son would be killed by falling into a pen of wild dogs. But just a few moments of distraction and/or poor judgment changed her entire life. Certainly, she doesn't deserve any further punishment. Both parents will re-live this nightmare forever. I'm sure she'll be much more careful in the future. It's nobody's fault, just a very tragic accident.

There are "accidents" such as toddler quietly opens the door when mom is busy and follows dad outside then gets run over by the truck. Or mom was cleaning the blinds above babies crib and forgot to retie the cords.

This goes beyond that. Intentionally putting your child on the railing over a pit of wild dogs and then letting him accidentally fall in and get mauled to death is just too much imo.

I honestly can't imagine how a marriage with no other children could survive this. I know people have different standards and all, but if I were married to an individual that let this happen I would not trust them to raise future children.

 

[Sonya610]

You're right, of course, but I assume the passers-by were reacting out of shock, not a logical consideration of dog behavior.

I think it is more than that. The same mentality that says "call the authorities on your cell phone" when you or someone else is being attacked.

It isn't a lack of logical consideration of dog behavior, it is quite simply denial. If bad stuff happens someone else is supposed to come fix it, cause bad stuff like that isn't supposed to happen.

 

[Confusion]

The dogs likely aren't feeling so happy tonight either. They had to watch one of their own pack members get gunned down by the creatures that keep them penned in and stare at them all day.

Apparently these painted dogs have very close and gentle relationships within their pack -- it is safe to say this was traumatic for them and they probably miss their dead companion dog.

I think humans would do well to learn some socialization from those dogs - of course, they are basically the socialists of the canine world! There aren't many animals in the wild that will merge with an unrelated pack they meet and establish dominance without violence. After a hunt, some will also go back to the den to feed the alpha female, young, babysitter, elderly and injured. MOO

:jail:
It's totally the mother's fault for dangling her adorable son over the railing. She should be charged with involuntary manslaughter because her reckless actions caused danger to her child and caused his death. <SNIP>

I haven't seen it said anywhere else that she was dangling him over the railing, do you have a link to that? TIA

I think she should be charged.

I read in one of the news articles it's the first death since the zoo opened, in 1898!!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's the first visitor death there, but not the first death. An elephant killed a zookeeper there several years ago. I don't remember the circumstances, but I know it wasn't very pretty.

OT still - boy I sure wish I had figured out whatever that secret trick was. We even resorted to trying force feeding (recomended by vet as poor thing was starving himself).

I've heard that if you tie a string to it (or something similar) and jiggle it to cause movement, they'll often think it's live prey and attack. I've never owned reptiles myself, so I'm not sure about how well it works.

 

[Nova]

I think it is more than that. The same mentality that says "call the authorities on your cell phone" when you or someone else is being attacked.

It isn't a lack of logical consideration of dog behavior, it is quite simply denial. If bad stuff happens someone else is supposed to come fix it, cause bad stuff like that isn't supposed to happen.

Zoo visitors aren't presumed to be experts on wild animal behavior. I don't see the contradiction in bystanders screaming for animal experts to come and save the child.

I'm not at all sure from the photos I've seen that an adult could have got to the toddler in time; I'm not even sure it was possible for a full-grown adult to "jump into the pit".

I do understand your point, Sonya, but I think in the case of non-native, wild animals in a zoo, bystanders can be forgiven for assuming they should rely on experts to handle the situation.

I think my first thought would not be my own safety, but that I might make the situation worse if I could somehow get into the pit with the child and dogs. By the time I thought that one through, the child would almost certainly be beyond rescue.

When all is said and done, most of us aren't homesteaders, living in log cabins on the prairie. We live in a highly technological society that depends heavily on specialization of labor. It shouldn't surprise us that people look for the "experts" in an emergency.

 

[passionflower]

IMO, most people there were probably with children of their own.
The only reason I ever went to a zoo was to show children about animals.
I couldn't jump in to help even if I wanted to because who would care for
the little ones I had in my care?
It happened so quick.......11 wild dogs in a pack......one infant.
No time,IMO

 

[redheadedgal]

It happened so quick.......11 wild dogs in a pack......one infant. No time,IMO

there is a video on you tube that demonstrates how quickly their prey is "shared" (?) <----- trying not to be too gruesome

african painted dogs vs impala

 

[legalmania]

No one wants to take responsibility anymore. Lawyers have taught society that there's always somebody else to blame.

Fifteen years ago I started to take Paralegal classes. In my first class, Civil Litigation, we were taught to go after 'the deep pocket' and to target anyone at all who could be held liable in any given situation. Though I did very well in the class, I wasn't unethical enough to be able to make a living doing this. So, I never continued. Today I'm on disability and foster kittens for the animal shelter. And it feels so very right!

Wait and see ... this child's parents will be filing a lawsuit.

This is the problem some people think civil lawsuits are all about money, they are partly about money but mostly about justice. If you were taught to go after the deep pockets then IMO you weren't being properly taught what Civil Litigation is about, and it's probably for the best you didn't continue because, you probably would have not enjoyed your job. From the drunk who hits and kills or disfigured one of your family members to the manufacturer who makes a product that is dangerous to yourself or your children, we need Civil litigation as a form of justice. When you can't put someone in jail because of reasonable doubt, taking their money is the next best thing. Sometimes you get both, they get put in jail and can't make any money off of books or movies because of Civil litigation.


What is Civil Litigation?

Civil litigation is a legal dispute between two or more parties that seek money damages or specific performance rather than criminal sanctions. A lawyer who specializes in civil litigation is known as a &#8220;litigator&#8221; or &#8220;trial lawyer.&#8221; Lawyers who practice civil litigation represent parties in trials, hearings, arbitrations and mediations before administrative agencies, foreign tribunals and federal, state and local courts.

 

[MissExec]

I haven't seen it said anywhere else that she was dangling him over the railing, do you have a link to that? TIA

Your wish is my demand. Here is the article pertaining to mother dangling her son over the railing:

http://*************************/20...-dangled-him-over-railings-at-pittsburgh-zoo/

 

[Confusion]

Your wish is my demand. Here is the article pertaining to mother dangling her son over the railing:

http://*************************/20...-dangled-him-over-railings-at-pittsburgh-zoo/

Thanks for trying, but that's not an approved site so the link won't work. I can do a search on my own and see if I can find any confirmation.

 

[MissExec]

I'm not at all sure from the photos I've seen that an adult could have got to the toddler in time; I'm not even sure it was possible for a full-grown adult to "jump into the pit".

At least someone - mother or father - should have made a run for it, at least tried to protect their child. Paternal and/or maternal instinct # 1 is to protect your offspring.

 

[Confusion]

At least someone - mother or father - should have made a run for it, at least tried to protect their child. Paternal and/or maternal instinct # 1 is to protect your offspring.

The father wasn't there, and I doubt that the mother would have been much use against a pack of wild dogs. The African Painted Dog has extremely sharp teeth, which makes it easier for them to rip their prey apart. They're also one of the largest wild canines, I think the grey wolf is the only one that's bigger. It would be about the same as trying to take something away from 11 unfriendly German Shepherds that are trying to guard it. I don't see that any good would have come from the mother throwing herself over the railing and 10-15 feet down into the pack and getting herself killed too.

 

[legalmania]

The father wasn't there, and I doubt that the mother would have been much use against a pack of wild dogs. The African Painted Dog has extremely sharp teeth, which makes it easier for them to rip their prey apart. They're also one of the largest wild canines, I think the grey wolf is the only one that's bigger. It would be about the same as trying to take something away from 11 unfriendly German Shepherds that are trying to guard it. I don't see that any good would have come from the mother throwing herself over the railing and 10-15 feet down into the pack and getting herself killed too.

I wouldn't be able to watch I would have jumped. Even if it failed I would have died knowing I did everything possible.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Unbelievable...

A person can get charged with a DUI for using bad judgement by drinking & driving.

A person can get charged with involuntary manslaughter for being involved in an accident in which a person died.

A person can get fined for coming to a California stop & accidentally hitting another car at the same intersection/crossroad, therefore being responsible for repairs of all damages.

If a person is involved in a DUI in which a person dies that we might know & love, we demand this person be charged for the crime, yet in this instance there's a question of doing the same thing?

Why?

A child is dead bc the mother was negligent & ignored the warning signs at the zoo. DEAD! I don't just disagree that pity goes her way, I 100% think she should be charged with negligence resulting in her son's death. Jesus! Heck, you don't even need more than PURE COMMON SENSE not to stand a small child on the dang railing! So she not only ignored the safety sign, she also lacked common sense of responsibility for a young child dependent on her for his protection. So what that everybody else does it, whatever - just bc sooo many people do heroin doesn't mean I'm gonna try it, sooo many people speed doesn't mean I'm gonna floor it on 95 going 150, sooo many people get their nails done every Friday doesn't mean I will...and so on. Pure irresponsibility. Total negligence.

I feel bad for the kid that lost his life & the zoo that will be scrutinized for this mother's bad decision.

 

[redheadedgal]

the exposed railing on the overlook is even slanted 45 degrees toward the floor (to discourage this exact thing) which makes it even more difficult to place a child on it... i can only imagine how precariously little maddox was perched b/c of this...

about "dangling"-- i haven't seen any credible news source state this was the case... the witnesses on the fb page said she put him "on" the railing fwiw... but not sure if that meant he was sitting or standing...

 

[Penelope]

As others have stated in this thread -- from looking at the photos from the little boy's funeral, I believe the mother is punishing herself enough for her child's death. For almost 5 years I have lived with the guilt of having my puppy get strangled to death due to what I perceive was my own negligence -- and this is just a puppy. I would have a hard time living with myself if I was that woman, and I am sure the pain and guilt will never go away. Very sad. My prayers go to the little boy. There was no way anyone could have rescued him from the 11 dogs as they kill too quickly.

 

[Nova]

I wouldn't be able to watch I would have jumped. Even if it failed I would have died knowing I did everything possible.

But that's the problem. I haven't seen anything that proves the mother could have jumped into the pit even if she intended to do so.

Ditto with dangling, perching, standing the baby on the rail, etc.

Every report seems to invent new details and nothing I've seen gives us a clear picture of what happened. I don't believe this exhibit existed when I was last at that zoo, but in the exhibits that were there, it wasn't clear how a spectator could get "backstage" or into the animal area.

 

[LolaMoon08]

An innocent child and an innocent animal both lost their lives because of the grave mistake of one person (the mother of the child). My prayers go out to the mother and father of the child, but more importantly the innocent bystanders who had to watch what happened unfold. It will not only remain with the parents forever, but anyone else who witnessed what happened. I have sympathy for the mother, I really do, but she is 100% to blame for what happened that day. Not the zoo. Not the animal.

If a lawsuit does come up out of this, I will be livid. I would hope the zoo could counter sue if it comes to that. I pray that the mother realizes that she will need years and years of counseling to even begin to get over the guilt of her mistake, but it was HER mistake and her mistake alone.

 

[passionflower]

there is a video on you tube that demonstrates how quickly their prey is "shared" (?) <----- trying not to be too gruesome

african painted dogs vs impala

no way can I watch, but I can only imagine what I have seen on discovery channel by accident........yuck

 

[passionflower]

An innocent child and an innocent animal both lost their lives because of the grave mistake of one person (the mother of the child). My prayers go out to the mother and father of the child, but more importantly the innocent bystanders who had to watch what happened unfold. It will not only remain with the parents forever, but anyone else who witnessed what happened. I have sympathy for the mother, I really do, but she is 100% to blame for what happened that day. Not the zoo. Not the animal.

If a lawsuit does come up out of this, I will be livid. I would hope the zoo could counter sue if it comes to that. I pray that the mother realizes that she will need years and years of counseling to even begin to get over the guilt of her mistake, but it was HER mistake and her mistake alone.

I Totally agree with this

 

[eileenhawkeye]

IMO; If she were a minority and/or poor, she would've been charged.