Family Not to Blame in Death of Baby Killed by Dog
Published on August 24, 2008 by Ryan O'Meara · 5 CommentsA coroner has issued a plea for tougher dog laws against certain breeds of dogs after hearing how tragic Archie-Lee Hirst lost his young life to a dog in the back of his gran’s garden. The coroner refused to direct any criticism toward the family of the baby and instead issued a call for tighter laws against 3 particular dog breeds.
The youngster was ‘presented’ to the dog, which had not been exercised for 5 months, by his six-year old aunt whilst his mum was in a local pub, his carer one in the bathroom and his gran was at the hairdressers.
At the time of his death his own mum, Becki, 17, was with her friends at a local pub and his gran had gone to the hairdressers.
The dog, a two-year old female Rottweiler called ‘Teddy Bear’ had been purchased in a local pub with the intention of becoming a guard dog.
Archie-Lee’s 16-year-old aunt Kara Hirst had been left to care for him in the absence of his mum and gran. She was also looking after her own sisters, aged six and seven.
Tragically, as Kara was in the bathroom, her six-year old sister went outside into the back yard carrying Archie-Lee as she believed the dog to be lonely.
When she arrived in the yard after her screams, Kara discovered that Archie-Lee with the dog and she was unable to pull the baby back.
The inquest heard that although the dog had been well fed, it had not been exercised for a staggering 5 months.
Mike Mullins, an experience dog trainer and Rottweiler expert told the inquest: “It would have been bored and frustrated and would have thought it was being offered something.
Mr Mullins went on to make his own plea that dog owners should undergo training before being allowed to own a dog.
The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death and offered no criticism toward the family.
He did however go on to make this claim: “I would like to see the law changed so there are stricter controls on dogs like rottweilers, dobermans, and German shepherds. And breeders should be controlled.”
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Tags: Animal Welfare, Breed Specific Legislation, Dangerous Dogs
What have Dobes and GSD’s got to do with this?
Reading this article it is a simple case of completely irresponsible dog ownership that resulted in the tragic death of a child.
5 months without being exercised and kept in one place would affect any dog.
A terrible accident but down to the incorrect handling and care of a dog.
don’t ban breeds, ban bad owners by introducing a dog owners test.
Absolutely spot on gnasher! the coroner should be encouraged to watch cesar milan – “excerise, discipline then affection” There should be no banned breeds but any prospective dog owner should sit a licence exam much like a car drivers licence. Ignorant f***wits like these owners should never have the priviledge of sharing their space with a K9 and they should be prosecuted for manslaughter – jesus its not brain surgery – I’m so sick of THE beaurocrats blaming the breed/dog!!
What is the point having a dog, if you do not exercise the dog. In the wild, dogs walk a staggering 9 hours a day, whilst our pampered house pets are lucky to get an hour a day, due to the busy schedule of the owners.
These are tragic accidents, which people forget, they do happen in a world shared by humans and animals. Precautions can be taken by understanding what the responsibility of having a dog with children involves. Reading that the Grand-Mother felt she needed to overdose is all because of the ‘guilt’ so casually spread around, by individuals on an Ego Trip.
How about a silence exam for people getting married or indeed having kids. Having babies doesn’t make you a good parent. Holding a wedding does not guarantee a great marriage. Taking responsibility, no matter what field one chooses, requires a learning curb. What is wrong with the world today, we were taught to respect our elders and to behave.
Animal ‘Officials’ do they care about the welfare of the animals, or basically do they only care about keeping their job? What do the animals have to say about all this? Snatched from the Mother, more often then not, thrown into a box in the kitchen, left to take care of him/herself. No siblings, no life. Is it any wonder these animals are off their heads? Then again, how many kids have been killed by dogs in the last Century? How many women were abused by their partners? How many children suffered at the hands of their own parents?
Education includes nurturing and healthy diets. Plants thrive when you add an appropriate fertiliser and relationships flourish when the foundation is based on trust. Animals too need security and acceptance from within their own culture, living in a human society. People have much to learn and a successful dog has nothing to do with its breeder or its breed, but everything to do with its education and lifestyle. Invest energy and resources into creating harmony and courage, whilst walk away from the dividing bureaucracy.
The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death AND OFFERED NO CRITICISM TOWARD THE FAMILY.
That’s just bizarre!
Should such an ill-informed individual be in a well-paid position of power?
wow, unbelievable. 5 months without a walk, used as a guard dog and the man wants to concentrate on the breed! what a tw*t