Boy Falls into African Painted Dog Exhibit at Piitsburgh Zoo Dies

[AlwaysShocked]

I've lived in the area of this zoo for most of my life. The management of this zoo has been questioned about various decisions over the years. And this is not the first death at this zoo. The last death was an elephant handler.

 

[Darkman00]

Former Zoo Employee Weighs In On Tragedy

November 28, 2012 11:57 PM

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A former Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium employee who has been interviewed by police in this month’s deadly accident at the African painted dogs exhibit is speaking out about safety.

It comes after the Allegheny County District Attorney said Wednesday that he is investigating possible criminal negligence by the zoo.

It was a photograph of 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh that Lou Neele says made him come forward.

“I’m a nobody, but I saw it every day,” says Neele.

The former groundskeeper worked at the zoo in 2008 and 2009. He says he passed the painted dog exhibit at least 10 times a day and always saw the same thing, parents putting their kids up onto the rail.

KDKA’s Marty Griffin: “How many times did you see it , Lou?”

Neele: “Every day.”

KDKA’s Marty Griffin: “How many mothers would you see in a day doing this?”

Neele: “Oh, you know, any given day, at least 10.”

KDKA’s Marty Griffin: “Ten mothers?”

Neele: “Oh, of course.”

KDKA’s Marty Griffin: “Putting their kids on the rail?”

Neele: “Yes.”

Neele, who has been interviewed by Pittsburgh police and federal investigators, says he told supervisors about his concerns.

“I told my boss a couple times that something like this could happen up there,” Neele said. “I was told to… his exact words were, ‘This is not your concern, go back to work.’”

Read more: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/11/28/former-zoo-employee-weighs-in-on-tragedy/

 

[Darkman00]

Number of Pittsburgh Zoo Visitors Drops After Wild Dog Attack

Shannon Turgeon, News Editor
January 25, 2013

Two months after a child was killed by African Painted dogs at the Pittsburgh Zoo, attendance has declined by thousands of people, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

In November and December 2012, only 39,066 people visited the zoo. Officials say that it is the lowest figure since November and December 2008, when 52,252 people were in attendance.

After the incident in which 2 year old Maddox Derkosh was killed, zoo officials and city police investigated his death, as written by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Visitors were evacuated and the zoo was closed on the day the attack occurred. Major Crimes Lieutenant Kevin Kraus stated that many people witnessed the accident, but an exact number could not be confirmed.

Read more: http://senecascout.svsd.net/news/20...rgh-zoo-visitors-drops-after-wild-dog-attack/

 

[serafinacat]

"The family of a 2-year-old boy killed when he fell into the African painted dog exhibit last fall sued the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium today, saying officials were aware of questions about the exhibit's safety and didn't address them."

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/parents-sue-pittsburgh-zoo-in-boys-mauling-death-688841/

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/the-derkosh-familys-statement-on-the-filing-of-a-lawsuit-against-the-pittsburgh-zoo-688843/

 

[Elley Mae]

It is my opinion that his Mother failed him not the zoo.

 

[nao]

So what are the parents saying, they were testing the rules.?
that they expect that the zoo must pay for some peoples lack the understanding of what a zoo is about. -wild animals.
If she was at a dog fight and put her child on the rails, - it would be certain death if the child fell, same as zoo.
Years of research were lost, the african wild dogs have a complex social structure, the zoo had amazingly had a breeding.

I don't think she should be charged for anything- but if they go for the zoo sue,
i gotta wonder if was the plan all along...

 

[Sonya610]

"The family of a 2-year-old boy killed when he fell into the African painted dog exhibit last fall sued the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium today

I am thinking counter suits are in order. First of all placing a 2 year old on a balcony and allowing them to fall off equates to "Child Endangerment" especially if the child is killed or injured as a result, doesn't matter if the balcony is 4 feet off the ground or 20 feet off the ground. She intentionally placed that baby on the balcony and allowed him to fall to what was ultimately his death. Grant it that is a criminal matter not civil but....I am pretty sure the statute of limitations has not expired on child endangerment charges yet.

Secondly, that act of negligence directly lead to the death of an endangered species. Criminal charges should apply. The woman should be fined for causing the death of an endangered species and sued for the cost of replacing the animal as well as sued for any overhead costs incurred by the zoo or the police including staff time, lost revenue due to bad publicity, clean up, vet bills, etc....

 

[redheadedgal]

wondering how long it will be before a lawsuit is brought forth against the zoo for not taking more precautions...

thanks serafinacat for providing the answer to my first post in this thread back in november...

 

[Perodicticus potto]

Ugh. :facepalm:

 

[Herding Cats]

Agree all the way to Sunday and back with Sonya.

Sigh.

Best-
Herding Cats

 

[AlwaysShocked]

The zoo had already been informed by an employee of what was happening on a daily basis at this exhibit (article about former worker who told his boss about mothers putting kids up on the railing is linked above.) Therefore, yes, they should have taken proactive steps to prevent a disaster like this.

Were they negligent? I don't know the law about this. I know that if you are a landlord and the sidewalks get icy, you have the duty to care for them so they are not dangerous.

Personally, I think the parents should have just gone away quietly. I would think the issue of the mother's part in this will certainly be brought up in the event of a trial.

 

[nao]

quoted from #371

The zoo had already been informed by an employee of what was happening on a daily basis at this exhibit (article about former worker who told his boss about mothers putting kids up on the railing is linked above.) Therefore, yes, they should have taken proactive steps to prevent a disaster like this.

NO- how many guardians have lost a child at a zoo? If you place a child on a hotel balcony or on your apartment window sill or anywhere that has a ledge at the same height she had her child on. The guardian made the choice to lift the child and put child on ledge.
I use the word guardian- because its neutral --because if this was a babysitter or daycare centre, that was responsible for that child. -they would of been held responsable.

i want my great, great, etc grand children to be able to go to a research zoo

 

[looneymama]

I'm sure these parents are suffering...and that poor baby suffered more than anyone, but I'm kind of disgusted by this law suit thing.

What about the other people who were at the zoo who saw this and probably ended up with PTSD?
What about the loss of money the zoo had to deal with when it had to close? What about the loss of wages people who worked at the zoo might have had to deal with when the zoo had to close. What about their families? I get that these people didn't have to deal with anything near as traumatic as they have...but this has probably affected a lot of people as well as these animals...all because this woman did something stupid.

If the people at the zoo knew this was an issue and didn't deal with it, that's a problem but you know what? Everywhere you go there are safety concerns but people use common sense and do their best to keep their children out of harms way. I'm not saying that the zoo shouldn't go out of their way to make sure things are safe, but parents need to take responsibility here.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

I do not agree with the parents suing the zoo at all. It says they are suing for "in excess of $50k" which makes me think the number can't be that much higher 'cause normally it would say if it were. I am pretty surprised they aren't suing for millions though.

 

[CuriousGrace]

I do not agree with the parents suing the zoo at all. It says they are suing for "in excess of $50k" which makes me think the number can't be that much higher 'cause normally it would say if it were. I am pretty surprised they aren't suing for millions though.

Would lawyers fees even cover that? Don't you normally start as high as possible with $$? Maybe this is the mother's way of dealing with her own guilt by attempting to put the blame and responsibility on someone other than herself, it might not be about the money.

 

[FigTree]

Hmmm... I'm not happy hearing that the zoo will be sued.

 

[HMSHood]

No one should bury their child. That being said, who in their right mind dangles their child over an exhibit with really dangerous animals? I do not think the zoo should be sued.

 

[Pensfan]

The zoo had already been informed by an employee of what was happening on a daily basis at this exhibit (article about former worker who told his boss about mothers putting kids up on the railing is linked above.) Therefore, yes, they should have taken proactive steps to prevent a disaster like this.

Were they negligent? I don't know the law about this. I know that if you are a landlord and the sidewalks get icy, you have the duty to care for them so they are not dangerous.

Personally, I think the parents should have just gone away quietly. I would think the issue of the mother's part in this will certainly be brought up in the event of a trial.

bbm (proactive steps)
There were several prominent signs in that small area (where you view the African dogs) with a picture with a big red X through it showing parents not to stand their child on the railing. There were other signs that stated this info in English. Maddox's parents stood him up there and then DIDN'T HOLD ON TO HIM TIGHTLY near one of these signs.

Pensfan (mom of 4) from Picksburg aka Pittsburgh

 

[Jersey*Girl]

There's case after case after case of people being sue happy over various issues in our country. This case in particular hits me the hardest. I can't stand this woman - how DARE she sue this zoo...what audacity! She is the one responsible for her son dying. HE DIED BECAUSE OF HER NEGLIGENCE. It is also because of her that an innocent animal was killed...blatant disregard for warning signs! Ugggh! I hate this case with a passion. If this case succeeds on the parents part, all I have to say is KARMA & may it be quickly served on a silver platter!

 

[Nova]

There's case after case after case of people being sue happy over various issues in our country. This case in particular hits me the hardest. I can't stand this woman - how DARE she sue this zoo...what audacity! She is the one responsible for her son dying. HE DIED BECAUSE OF HER NEGLIGENCE. It is also because of her that an innocent animal was killed...blatant disregard for warning signs! Ugggh! I hate this case with a passion. If this case succeeds on the parents part, all I have to say is KARMA & may it be quickly served on a silver platter!

"Karma"? What worse could happen to the mother?

The law recognizes that negligence is not black and white, that responsibility can be shared. A lawsuit in this case may force other zoos to take another look at their exhibits, thus saving future lives.