Boy Falls into African Painted Dog Exhibit at Piitsburgh Zoo Dies

[Nova]

I am starting to think it might be a good idea for small children to be tethered to their parents in public places
:giggle:

I know some people recoil at the thought, but I always wonder why they assume the toddler will think s/he is on the leash. It's just as easy to tell a 2-year-old that Mommy needs the leash so Mommy won't wander off.

 

[Nova]

If DA puts charges against the zoo, there will automatically be a lawsuit,
and very rich parents. I really do not feel that they should profit in any way.
This was the mother's bad decision.

A criminal conviction can only HELP a civil suit, but it isn't required. The rules for civil torts are different than for criminal infractions.

I don't know how I feel about a potential civil suit without hearing the claims.

 

[Tuffy]

I know some people recoil at the thought, but I always wonder why they assume the toddler will think s/he is on the leash. It's just as easy to tell a 2-year-old that Mommy needs the leash so Mommy won't wander off.

Brilliant Nova! I've never thought of it that way, but that's mainly what it's needed for. :rocker:

 

[Sonya610]

Here is an example of why the animals need to be kept safe from idiot humans that love to gawk and take chances at a zoo. One of these cats has a rack of ribs showing and the guy thinks it's hilarious when they want to hunt. He refers to the animals as an "it" as if he can't tell the difference between genders.

[video=youtube;xw-WK3gzLxk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw-WK3gzLxk[/video]

 

[Linda7NJ]

I know some people recoil at the thought, but I always wonder why they assume the toddler will think s/he is on the leash. It's just as easy to tell a 2-year-old that Mommy needs the leash so Mommy won't wander off.

And all this time I thought that's what hands were for!


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[gitana1]

And all this time I thought that's what hands were for!


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Yeah that's what hands are for but sometimes moms need to have their hands free for a second to do something else besides grip one child's hands.

You know, I do think the mom was especially negligent here but goodness, I'm amazed at how many perfect parents there are calling for blood here.

On another note, (not related to your post, Linda) I think it is sick to accuse this mother of intentionally harming her child. There is zero evidence pointing to that.

Further, for those who state the mother should have jumped in, how do you know she didn't try? In comments to the Daily Mail article about this tragedy, a person stated they were at the funeral or saw the mom shortly after the death and the bruises all over her legs from trying to get in that pen as bystanders wrestled her back, were horrible.

 

[tlcya]

This is a tragic ACCIDENT, caused by a mother's poor decision.

The animals are not at fault IMO

The zoo is not at fault IMO

The mother IS at fault IMO

but an accident is an ACCIDENT IMO

We live in such a litigious society. Not everything warrants a lawsuit and IMO this case is a perfect example of this.

A child is dead. That is awful and horrible and senseless but an accident.

ac·ci·dent /aksidnt/

Noun 1. An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury. 2. A crash involving road or other vehicles, typically one that causes serious damage or injury.

 

[passionflower]

Here is an example of why the animals need to be kept safe from idiot humans that love to gawk and take chances at a zoo. One of these cats has a rack of ribs showing and the guy thinks it's hilarious when they want to hunt. He refers to the animals as an "it" as if he can't tell the difference between genders.

Hungry lions - YouTube

ALLOT of IDIOTS out there!!!

 

[passionflower]

I believe in accidents, I really do, but I see on the news all the time someone does go to jail because of an accident.
I know 2 boys that 15 years ago were in a car.
A 1 car accident.
1 boy died.
1 boy went to jail for 5 years.
It happens.

 

[tlcya]

I understand passionflower. It is not my position that no accident warrarnts litigation. But IMO some things people refer to as accidents, particularlly auto collisions, are not actually accidents, because they are reasonably foreseeable results of grossly negligent actions. Drinking and driving, texting while driving, etc, fall into that category for me.

While this mother was stupid as all get out IMO, I just don't feel that in this specific situation this mother anticipated this outcome as a possibility when making her extremely poor decision.

IMO there needs to be a lot more public awareness that wild animals in captivity are not cute, they are not benign, and are, in fact highly dangerous. They may even be MORE dangerous in captivity.

People lose sight of this fact when the animals are mere feet or yards away behind a glass or fence.

MOO.

 

[gitana1]

I believe in accidents, I really do, but I see on the news all the time someone does go to jail because of an accident.
I know 2 boys that 15 years ago were in a car.
A 1 car accident.
1 boy died.
1 boy went to jail for 5 years.
It happens.

Generally people will be criminally charged when they were reckless, or criminally negligent. That includes things like speeding, driving while drunk, leaving a loaded gun within reach of a child, forgetting a baby in a hot car while doing drugs in a motel room, etc.

The mom's actions in putting her kid onto a rail despite signs telling her not to was negligent but likely not criminally so. Add drugs or alcohol to the mix or a reckless disregard for the child's safety, like a parent allowing their kid to clamber up and angrily telling bystanders who warn of potential danger to mind their business and it would be different.

This just doesn't appear to be one of those cases.

Further, when the accident involves a parent who made a stupid and terrible Mistake, the reaction of the parent to the tragedy as well as the overall circumstances leading to the accident are taken into consideration when deciding whether to charge.

Hot car deaths illustrate this. Parents who had a negligent but atypical lapse may not be charged if they show societally appropriate grief. Those who don't, and/or those who recklessly caused the child to be left in the car (drugs or alcohol involved or history or pattern of social services involvement) will usuallybe charged.

SOciety's attitude about a case can play into decisions about whether to charge a parent as well. If the general public sentiment is that the parent is adequately punishing themselves, the parents are less likely to be charged because little would be served by doing so.

That, I believe, is the case here. Most of society feels the mom was negligent but not recklessly so and is suffering enough for her lapse.

She lost her son, people. In the most horrific way. There is nothing to suggest she was other than a devoted, doting mom. The continued drum beat by some to further punish this mother surprises me.

 

[Sonya610]

A child is dead. That is awful and horrible and senseless but an accident.

And one of the dogs was shot to death as a result. Not to save a life but to retrieve a corpse.

If the mother even tried to sue due to her massive "accidental" mistake I would file a counter suit if I were the zoo.

 

[Sonya610]

Yeah that's what hands are for but sometimes moms need to have their hands free for a second to do something else besides grip one child's hands.

Well in this case she used her hands to put him on the railing and then errrm....got distracted?

 

[gitana1]

Well in this case she used her hands to put him on the railing and then errrm....got distracted?

Which is why someone suggested a tether. Then someone else stated that's what hands are for. I was responding to that.

 

[Nova]

Which is why someone suggested a tether. Then someone else stated that's what hands are for. I was responding to that.

Stupid question: would a child tether actually hold the weight of a falling toddler? I didn't think that was its purpose. (And, obviously, I've never used one.)

 

[clarabelle]

Stupid question: would a child tether actually hold the weight of a falling toddler? I didn't think that was its purpose. (And, obviously, I've never used one.)

A tether would hopefully prevent a toddler from getting that far. It really is a leash like you would use for a dog and it clips on to a harness for the child.

 

[gitana1]

Stupid question: would a child tether actually hold the weight of a falling toddler? I didn't think that was its purpose. (And, obviously, I've never used one.)

I don't think so. Many are made of a light fabric. I don;t think they'd support the weight of a toddler. I don;t know.

 

[Sonya610]

Stupid question: would a child tether actually hold the weight of a falling toddler? I didn't think that was its purpose. (And, obviously, I've never used one.)

If they are made with nylon straps they would probably be plenty strong enough. Design wise I would think it could/would slip right off over the kids head though.

Regardless I don't think the child leash manufacturers would approve this usage, next thing you know people will be suing them when they drop their kid off the side of the Grand Canyon and the child strangles or comes free.

 

[Donjeta]

I've had a nylon tether that would have been strong enough but I think in many cases the weight of a falling child could be enough to cause the tether to be detached from whatever it is attached to at the other end. Say, if the parent just has the tether hanging from their wrist and isn't holding onto it firmly at the critical moment there might not be enough time to grab it and the child would fall tether and all.

 

[tlcya]

And one of the dogs was shot to death as a result. Not to save a life but to retrieve a corpse.

If the mother even tried to sue due to her massive "accidental" mistake I would file a counter suit if I were the zoo.

I am hoping the mother does not attempt any sort of lawsuit. It is my feeling that her own culpability and guilt over same will prevent her from wanting to confront the zoo and her own actions in a courtroom settings.