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“Girl’s Face Ripped Open By Dog” Why Is This Headline Unfair?

June 8, 2006 by Sean O'Meara

A nine year old girl was mauled by a Bull Mastiff in Manchester recently. Typically, local press have taken a hold of the story and sensationalised it, but is this unfair to responsible dog owners who cannot be accountable for the actions of people who enter their property?

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48Comments2006-06-08+13%3A48%3A04Sean+O%27Meara to ““Girl’s Face Ripped Open By Dog” Why Is This Headline Unfair?”

L Galbraith on June 8th, 2006 1:34 pm

Why should the dog be put down? The child was unsupervised and approached (against advice) the dog, in its own yard, that was eating. Has this girl not been taught about safety around dogs? Where was her mum while her daughter was off wandering? If she was going to see a friend that lived at the house why didn’t she go to the front door?
I see no reason for the dog to be put down as this little girl had made the mistake of bothering it.
AKF on June 8th, 2006 7:38 pm

A nine year old child should be responsible enough to follow the instructions of the dog’s owner and not touch a dog while it is eating. She is also at fault. A dog has a right to eat, unmolested, and certainly unmuzzled, on its own property.
kim on June 12th, 2006 9:43 pm

The dog was on HIS property, eating HIS food and minding HIS own business. This little girl should not have touched the dog while he was eating, shouldn’t have been in the yard and the mother should have (at least) watched her daughter walk next door if not go with her. Apparently the child was told to leave the dog alone so it’s her and her mother’s fault…not the dog or his owner.
Dog Lover Hyde on July 3rd, 2006 6:02 am

I live hear where this dog ‘attacked’ this girl and my friend knows the parents of both children and apparently this little girl had been told before not to approach the dog while she was eating!.

The girls mother should not have let her child to enter the property unsupervised without the owners consent.

The dog acted instinctively whilst eating, and had obviously warned her. I know that any injury to a child by a dog is awful, however we are talking about a mastiff here and if the dog ‘attacked’ her she would have had more than a bite mark on her face!

I have a ‘devil dog’ as branded by some people, however i would go ballistic if anyone entered my home or back garden without permission, if the dog was out or not.

I agree that the dog should not be put down!
Roger on July 3rd, 2006 6:19 am

This happened to my cousins daughter.
She was about 14 years old and grew up with her best friend since she was a baby. Her friend had a German Shepard and the dog also grew up with them both. One regular day calling to go out to play. The dog was having his dinner in the kitchen when she bent down to just say hello to the dog and it snapped at her face. The dog’s teeth ripped of her bottom lip. Luckily there was a good surgeon on hand at the hospital. Six months later the two girls and the dog still played together. The dog was a big softy. The dog did not attack her because it didn’t like her. I’m sure if the dog had hands it would had clip her around the ear to say (keep away from my dinner) rather that bit her. I do feel for this little girl of what has happen to her and I feel that the dog should NOT loose it life. Its an animal.
diane findlay on July 3rd, 2006 6:42 am

being an owner or both a rottweiler and a german shappard myself .. . i vcan only imagine what the dogs owners are going through ,
. although they are not vicious in any way they are ” over friendy ” and im always worried any child coming in to my gardens to say , retrieve a ball for instance maybe knocked over by my big friendly dogs ,, so i have half my garden fenced off so my dogs can play in peace this is purly for my own peace of mind , and to keep dog nappersand unauthorised people coming in to contact with my dogs , i know they wouldnt harm anyone but this society is too quick to judge an aminal for being simply that … an aminal
my german shapard is very protactive of her food , and does growl if anyone but me interupts her feeding ,,
that said they are fed in my kitchen where i can have control over who is there at feeding time ,,
Valerie Radtke on July 3rd, 2006 8:27 am

The mother of the child who was attacked is definetly in the wrong. Parents need to keep an eye on their children at all times, especially at the age of 9.
I don’t believe the owner is at fault and the dog is not at fault either.
I have 2 large german shepherds who protect their home at all times. They love children, but I would never let my grand children around them by their selves especially if they are eating.
You can never tell how a dog is feeling and if they are not feeling well or something else is bothering them, they too could attack.
amy on July 3rd, 2006 1:05 pm

The whole business of “dog bites, therefore must be killed” are in sane. I have grown up around all kinds of animals and if all those that had bitten me had been put to sleep then there there would be a long list of cats and horses……. yet noone would dream of putting these species to sleep just for acting naturally. Yet a dog, which we choose to go near to, if it acts like a dog is turned in to a demon. Humans should learn abit about dog behaviour before ever approaching them, let a lone owning them. I’ve had childern approach my dogs when we are out walking before, and not asking permission before they go to stroke them. My dogs aren’t viscious but you never know what could happen.
The majority of people are too quick to blame others for their own negligence and lack of common sense…. after all as the saying goes “never come betweeen a dog and his bone”
Christine Burns on July 4th, 2006 12:03 am

Although one wouldn’t wish to see any child or adult injured in such a way, in this instance, I feel that the child was majorly at fault by a) entering the yard uninvited, and b) touching the dog, especially while it was eating. If dog owners are keeping their dogs under control and enclosed on their own property, I believe they can quite legitimately expect that other than family members, who know the animal anyway, and postmen/ tradesmen etc, they are not going to have people inviting themselves onto their home ground…… I come from a family of dog lovers and have always had all kinds of pets, but was brought up to understand that all animals are different, and can in cases be easily frightened, and that one always asked the owner first, for instance, if a dog liked being patted. We were also brought up to realise that when the weather is hot, or in various other circumstances, an animal may react by snapping or biting, if it is startled. Moreover, whatever happened to basic good manners and courtesy? At 9 years old and indeed, very much younger, my brother and myself were well-versed in knocking at our friends’ and neighbours’ front doors, and ASKING if we could play, not just walking in uninvited - and this at a time when everyone’s doors were left unlocked anyway. It is also important to realise that although we love to humanise our pets, and although they are often very intelligent, they do NOT reason or think in the same way as humans! I can’t help feeling that the poor child injured has learned a lesson the hardest possible way, when “forewarned” could have been “forearmed”. I’m sorry, but much as I hate the thought of the child being bitten, I believe this is another case where people are rejecting their own part and responsibility in what happened. As for the sensational headlines, I believe that much of the media will state anything to sell its product - yes, even when it’s greatly exaggerated or incorrect - and the more graphic, the better. I feel that as usual, the dog and its owner have been judged without trial by the media, and in turn by the many members of the public who are receptive to these sort of headlines, and don’t seem able to form a sensible opinion without them - hardly “fair play” in my opinion. A member of the public who was getting on with their day, mindful that they had taken any necessary safety steps to do so, ends up vilified, with people baying for the destruction of a dog that one assumes hadn’t shown any aggressive tendencies before. I make no apologies for suggesting that as we all do have the luxury of freewill, sometimes we can’t put all the blame onto someone/something else, and that it is always necessary to realise that there are, or will be, consequences to our actions. If I had been the 9 year old victim in this, whilst obviously being concerned at my injuries, my parents would also have been very angry that I had not heeded their commonsense “rules”, and would not have hesitated in telling me so. It appears that many parents do not lay down groundrules, and believe that being a child gives one free rein to do as they like and never be at fault. Is it any wonder we live in such a litigious society? Why do so many people always think they are “owed” something? Where could all this lead? Will hospitals end up in trouble for not being able to keep 95 year old patients with serious illnesses alive? I find the mindset of the “Compen” culture completely incomprehensible at times. In conclusion - my sympathy to the injured girl, but also to the owner of the dog.
Lisa Baker on July 4th, 2006 12:19 pm

I hope the owner of the dog gets very good legal advice and indeed even a dog professional who can back his side of the story. I do hope someone from the dog world will be contacting the local press and giving the correct side of the story, i.e. child shouldn’t have been allowed to wonder in someones garden and tug at a dog whilst eating etc. Poor dog, some little brat tried to pull me away from some decent grub and I would probably have bitten her too!!!!
Helen Bell on July 4th, 2006 11:55 pm

This is so worrying for all dog owners. Dogs are animals and will often react defensively when they feel threatend. Children should be taught not to approach strange dogs and allow themselves to be put in danger. The only crime here is that the child was unsupervised and not correctly educated around dogs, that can not be blamed on the dog. As humans we have a responsibility when we bring dogs into our homes to ensure we treat them fairly and with respect. Children (and adults) must apprieciate that these animals are capable of inflicting horrific injuries but very rarely do, but we should not take advantage of their good will. Unfortunately, because of this one incident, a small child will be scared for life, mentally and physically, a breed as a whole will get a bad name, large legal fees will probably be incurred and alot of heartache will be had by all involved. All because of a lack of understanding and education.
Debby Sanford on July 6th, 2006 6:20 am

Why is it always the dogs fault. The press should be looking more at the mother and so should the police. Obviously the child was not taught by her mother how to follow the directions of adults. Things like this is what gives dogs a bad name. I wish Mr Saleem the best of luck with this. I’m sure he will have a fight on his hands. They should fine the mother for letting her child be unsupervised in the street.
Karen Hughes on August 26th, 2006 2:15 am

I was disgusted when I read this article. Why should the dog be PTS for protecting her food. I feel sorry for the little girl but she was trespassing on someones property and to top it off she interfered with a dog whilst she was eating. The mother was the irresponsible one. She must have known that there was a dog in there and so should have escorted her in. If the dog was vicious then it would have attacked her as soon as she entered the garden. The girl was warned to keep away from the dog when it was eating and at 9 should be able to understand instructions.

I have 2 SBT and they let anyone take their food off them as they have been taught to do this. Even my 2 children can do it but I always feed dogs in their run or in the conservatory. I have always said to my boys if they annoy the dogs and they get bit it is not the dogs fault but their own.

If people do not heed the warning s or advice from owners regarding their dogs then it is that persons own fault if they get bit. Even though my boys have grown up with dogs they still always ask the owners permission to pet the dog.

So I think that the mother should take a look at herself and think long and hard and ask her self if she had educated her dughter to listen, learn and obey instructions.
Jen on October 12th, 2006 6:41 am

ok I didn’t read everyone else’s comments but, this is obviously a family without any pets! It is common knowledge not to bother a animal when it is eating! Do you like it when someone bugs you while your eating? Sounds to me like it’s the little girls fault she’s 9 yrs. old nat a baby! She was told!!! Maybe if her face wasn’t so close to begin with it wouldn’t of happened that way! She was probably just trying to sy go away but she was too close and got bit! If it was of an aggressive nature the kid would be dead!!! Mastiff what at least 150#? 9 yr. old girl what 80# soaken wet? Maybe Mom needs to educate her daughter a little more about animals! My daughter is 10 yrs. old and she does know better!!! Even if you don’t own animals the children need to know how to behave around them! Remember children have no fear and think that they are invinsible!!! DUH!!!
Caroline on January 8th, 2007 4:04 pm

I am eleven and I know better it is the kids fault for doing it not th dog. this is why dogs are getting reputations as being vicious.
Jasmine ross on March 1st, 2007 3:11 pm

Why don’t you have pictures of rottweilers being vicious?the rason I ask is becauseI was looking for pictures for my Language arts class. In my Language Art class we had just started studing prapaganda. I decided to making a popster about how people make rottweiler look EVIL and make them sound vicious so i think that you should make it to where people are asking for pictures of vicious rottweilers they should give their reason for the pictuers
john on February 14th, 2008 12:00 pm

You know i kinda understand what you guys are saying… But i totally disagree with it all… The child killed by the dog was as stated “a child” therefore can not be held accountable, responsible nor have the understanding of an adult over such a situation.. The very fact that you have argued “the child should of known!” & “the dog warned the child?” sounds… well im sure you can understand it sounds absolutly mad!? How would the child know any of the above things as its a child that would learn (as we all do) through experience. I think this approach to dog ownership is primative and dated as we now live in a responsible world where we are held accountable for our very actions. Anyone who owns one of these “Killers” should themselves be held accountable as should the creature that did the deed… Both are equally responsible for there own actions and both are directly responsible for the result. Your all guilty as i see..
Ryan O'Meara on February 14th, 2008 12:13 pm

Hi John - just to clarify, the girl in question in this story wasn’t killed.

Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!

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“Girl’s Face Ripped Open By Dog” Why Is This Headline Unfair?

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