Boy Falls into African Painted Dog Exhibit at Piitsburgh Zoo Dies

[Elley Mae]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/0...ath-from-wild-dog-mauling-at/?test=latestnews

Boy,2, bled to death from wild dog mauling at Pittsburgh Zoo, medical examiner says

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/0...dog-mauling-at/?test=latestnews#ixzz2BTz7gqop


The Allegheny County Medical Examiner has yet to rule on the manner of the boy's death — that is, whether it was an accident or not — until police determine whether anyone will be charged.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/0...dog-mauling-at/?test=latestnews#ixzz2BTzIcVL7

 

[redheadedgal]

HOMICIDE??

from following the lisa irwin case, i became aware that the homicide division of the KCMOPD investigates all types of deaths... most likely the same case here.

http://www.kcmo.org/police/Crime/ViolentCrimes/Homicide/index.htm

 

[Nova]

I think we can all agree that this was a horrific tragedy for everyone involved. The innocent child, the people who witnessed it, the workers at the zoo.....just unthinkable. If it turns out that the mother was negligent, I doubt there is a punishment that can be inflicted upon her that is worse than what she is suffering now. That however doesn't mean that she shouldn't be held accountable. It's really no different that having your child unrestrained in a moving vehicle. Placing them in harms way is negligent. This is all MOO.

I think there's one difference: we have all been educated about the dangers of letting children ride unrestrained or with a drunk driver.

We have far less education on children and zoo accidents. Yes, after the fact it seems like common sense, but most accidents to children happen because someone is distracted and their "common sense" fails them for a moment.

 

[Nova]

I usually try to stay away from these threads about children who are hurt or die because of their parents choices. I hate pointing fingers or adding salt to the wounds when you know the mother is probably beating herself up. This story really tugs at my heart. The pain that poor little one must of went through


The thing that bugs me the most is the fact that neither the mother, father or a bystander jumped down to the child. There is no way I could stand by and watch my own child or anyone's child being attacked by wild dogs.

It kinda reminds me of those stories you hear of a person being beat up to death by a group of people and others just stood around and did nothing.

If I am reading correctly, it was a nearly 20-foot-drop and the incident was over in a matter of seconds. No doubt the poor mother now wishes she had flung herself into the pit (not that she would have been successful), but who among us--other than perhaps a professional stuntman or woman--would have made that jump in such a short amount of time?

A lot of human instincts have to be overcome to hurl one's self 20 feet down into a pack of snarling dogs. (Not to mention there's the physical difficulty of an adult getting herself over the barrier.)

This is VERY different from neighbors who hear or see a crime and CHOOSE not to call 911.

 

[passionflower]

WTAE shpowimg memorials and messages. 10,000 dollars raised on facebook.
His viewing is Friday in Scott Twp.

 

[redheadedgal]

I hope you are not suggesting that the Mother did this on purpose.

i never suggested that at all.

the zoo recently removed their official facebook page (within the last hour or so most likely due to the fighting in the comments sections) where in part witnesses were sharing their pov/experience at the exhibit when this occurred. it seems those who were saying it was clearly the mom's fault were being viciously attacked by those who felt mom did nothing wrong... everyone makes mistakes... leave the family alone... don't judge... no one is perfect etc. guess free speech isn't allowed by some ?

 

[Nova]

What do these kind of dogs eat in captivity? Dog food? Live animals?

Well, I thought I knew the answer to the question of live feeding, but then I started researching.

Here's a discussion of the morality (very anti-live feeding):

http://peterdickinson.hubpages.com/hub/Live-Feeding-To-Zoo-Animals

Apparently, it is NOT true that some reptiles refuse to eat dead animals.

Chinese zoos came under international pressure for charging spectators a fee to throw a goose or goat to the lions, but per one site, the practice has been discontinued.

I can't find a site that says so, but if US zoos practice live feeding, I assume they keep it a secret.

***

Let me just add that wild dogs are accustomed to scavenging a part of their diet. There is no reason to terrorize a prey animal by feeding it live to the dogs.

 

[Nova]

http://www.pittsburghzoo.org/animal.aspx?id=18

Food: African painted dogs are hunters. They eat antelope, zebras, wildebeest, springboks, gazelles and impala.

From their web site

That's what they eat in the wild in Africa, not necessarily at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

 

[Nova]

Unless frozen in shock, I believe I would have jumped in after my child. (It's been stated he was her only child, so no other kids to protect or remove from the area so they wouldn't witness something so horrible.) Jumping in after the child would likely not have saved him, but at least, as a mother, I would 1.) know that I had done all that I could for my child and 2.) probably have also been mauled to death, so would no longer be alive in what must be a living hell. I seriously don't think I could live after something like this.
It boggles my mind that the mother would put her baby in such a precarious position as on a railing over a zoo exhibit, but it also boggles my mind at what she and the father must be going through now.
RIP, little Maddox...I hope it was quick & you didn't suffer long.

BBM. I think that's the key phrase. Remember we're talking about a 20-foot drop. How many of us have made such a jump except into a swimming pool?

 

[Elley Mae]

That's what they eat in the wild in Africa, not necessarily at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

I found that while googling what captive african dogs are fed.

I have no idea how the meat is fed, I would only assume it is dead.


This one is more informative.


http://www.chesterzoo.org/~/media/Files/Education/Diploma/A Painted Dogs Dinner.ashx

 

[tlcya]

Well, I thought I knew the answer to the question of live feeding, but then I started researching.

Here's a discussion of the morality (very anti-live feeding):

http://peterdickinson.hubpages.com/hub/Live-Feeding-To-Zoo-Animals

Apparently, it is NOT true that some reptiles refuse to eat dead animals.

Chinese zoos came under international pressure for charging spectators a fee to throw a goose or goat to the lions, but per one site, the practice has been discontinued.

I can't find a site that says so, but if US zoos practice live feeding, I assume they keep it a secret.

***


Let me just add that wild dogs are accustomed to scavenging a part of their diet. There is no reason to terrorize a prey animal by feeding it live to the dogs.

As the former owner of many reptiles I can say with utmost certainty that IME there are certains reptiles who prefer live food, have been given live food their entire lives and refuse to eat non live food if a new owner tries to alter that diet.

Not being argumentative but just pointing out that I disagree with the cited material in regards to reptile and that BBM portion.

 

[michmi]

It seems we do not know much about anything.
Allot of details are hushed up right now.
Parents were hospitalized quickly.

I can only imagine--they are probably catatonic with grief. I'm glad they were hospitalized, I'd be afraid one or both would commit suicide.

 

[Nova]

I found that while googling what captive african dogs are fed.

I have no idea how the meat is fed, I would only assume it is dead.


This one is more informative.


http://www.chesterzoo.org/~/media/Files/Education/Diploma/A Painted Dogs Dinner.ashx

I think the cost of supplying whole zebras and giraffes to zoo animals on a regular basis would be prohibitive in Pittsburgh.

But your link discusses the importance of "whole" (not "live") foods, including dead rabbits. It says that dismembering "whole" (again, not "live") foods is an important part of pack behavior.

ETA so now ya'll have me wondering how they kill the animals that are to be used as "whole" foods? If they pump a rabbit full of the poison used to euthanize a dog or cat, won't the predator get a stomachful of that same chemical when he eats? So what do they do? Politely ask the rabbit to give up its life?

 

[Nova]

As the former owner of many reptiles I can say with utmost certainty that IME there are certains reptiles who prefer live food, have been given live food their entire lives and refuse to eat non live food if a new owner tries to alter that diet.

Not being argumentative but just pointing out that I disagree with the cited material in regards to reptile and that BBM portion.

I don't think you're being argumentative, ticox, and that was always my understanding, as well. But I found several links (including the one I posted above) that say ALL reptiles can be trained to live off whole, dead food. (Some even claim it prevents the damage that live prey sometimes does to the predator!)

I don't know what the training process is and I have no way of settling this dispute short of buying a reptile (which ain't gonna happen).

But I will repeat that my understanding had always been the same as yours.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I think there's one difference: we have all been educated about the dangers of letting children ride unrestrained or with a drunk driver.

We have far less education on children and zoo accidents. Yes, after the fact it seems like common sense, but most accidents to children happen because someone is distracted and their "common sense" fails them for a moment.

You may have misunderstood me. My heart breaks for these parents and what they are going through. I don't think we truly know exactly what happened at this point. I hope it didn't come across as my blaming the parents. In my original post I stated "If it turns out that the mother was negligent, not that she was. Negligence is defined as "a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances."

I'm not sure who will instruct or educate parent on all possible dangerous situations. Some times it just comes down to doing what a reasonable person would do.

 

[legalmania]

Five of them were born in captivity. They're endangered, breeding is extremely important.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Which leads to the question were they inbreed? All inbreeds have been known to have some kind of difficulties.

 

[passionflower]

I wonder how many people were taking pictures?
Not by choice but by accident.
My aunt was taking a video once and in the background was
a horrific motorcycle accident in the background.
I for one DO NOT want to see anything but it sure would help
LE put the pieces together of the few seconds of the fall.
Was mom distracted?
Was she taking pictures?
Is that why they were by the photo opening?

 

[Sonya610]

Which leads to the question were they inbreed? All inbreeds have been known to have some kind of difficulties.

Uhhh....are you asking if these wild canids were inbred and could that explain their extremely aggressive response?

 

[Linda7NJ]

I think the cost of supplying whole zebras and giraffes to zoo animals on a regular basis would be prohibitive in Pittsburgh.

But your link discusses the importance of "whole" (not "live") foods, including dead rabbits. It says that dismembering "whole" (again, not "live") foods is an important part of pack behavior.

ETA so now ya'll have me wondering how they kill the animals that are to be used as "whole" foods? If they pump a rabbit full of the poison used to euthanize a dog or cat, won't the predator get a stomachful of that same chemical when he eats? So what do they do? Politely ask the rabbit to give up its life?

Ummm, no. The rabbits are raised & killed the same way human food is.

 

[Linda7NJ]

You may have misunderstood me. My heart breaks for these parents and what they are going through. I don't think we truly know exactly what happened at this point. I hope it didn't come across as my blaming the parents. In my original post I stated "If it turns out that the mother was negligent, not that she was. Negligence is defined as "a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances."

I'm not sure who will instruct or educate parent on all possible dangerous situations. Some times it just comes down to doing what a reasonable person would do.

I think the fact that there isn't a pile of children beneath the exhibit ....shows the actions of reasonable persons. IMO