Tragic death of 4 year old in NSW

[HTCURRY]

A four-year-old girl has died after being mauled by four pig-hunting dogs in a horrific attack in NSW's Central West, police say.

The attack was so frenzied two of the large cross-breed dogs had snapped chains tying them up, police said.

The girl was attacked in the backyard of a house in Garden Avenue, Warren, near Dubbo, about 7.30pm yesterday, police said.

In a horrible twist, the dogs' owner was a family friend and neighbour who joined a search for her after she went missing from her home, police said.

The girl had played in the neighbour's yard earlier that day, police said.

The girl had been missing for about two hours when she was attacked, Bourke duty officer Inspector Greg Moore said.

"The neighbour was out helping to look for the child when he heard his dogs barking," he told smh.com.au this morning.

"He went home and discovered the child in his yard."

The girl had been badly bitten on the head, neck, and body, police said.

She was taken to Warren hospital in a critical condition, but died just after 3am today.

Three of the four dogs had been chained, but two broke free in their attacking frenzy, Inspector Moore said.

"She had very horrific injuries," he said.

"Three [of the dogs] were chained and one was roaming free.

"But apparently two of them have broken their chains in the attack."

The dogs were not a specific breed, but had been used for hunting, Inspector Moore said.

"I understand they were rather large dogs - they had been used for pig hunting in the past," he said.

The dogs had been seized by police, who were carrying out forensic investigations, he said.

Acting Commander of the Darling River Local Command Alan Cusack said the girl had been playing in the same yard earlier in the day.

"These were family friends involved and the child had actually been in the yard earlier that day.

"There had been no incident but it appears she's wandered back in on her own later on that evening,'' he told Macquarie Radio.

"Unfortunately, then the attacks occurred."

Commander Cusack said the death was a terrible thing for the girl's family and their friends.

"It's a dreadful thing for the people of Warren and especially the families involved," he said.

"We've spent some time with the family and they're in utter shock.''

Meanwhile, a three-year-old boy is in a stable condition in Sydney's Nepean Hospital after he was attacked by a dog in the city's west.

The child was attacked by a Staffordshire-type dog after falling into his neighbour's yard while climbing a tree about 1.30pm yesterday, police said.

The mother called an ambulance to their home in Campton Street, Cambridge Park, and the child was taken hospital suffering facial cuts and scratches.

Police and council officers are checking the details of the dog and will speak to the owners.

source:http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...166485402.html

this is just so sad.

[XRchic]

Yeah I just heard that.

Just goes to show that you have to keep an eye on your kids, even when they are playing in the street with people you know, at houses you know.

Mate of mine had a staffy as a pet and ended up getting rid of her after a couple of years because the dog just got too psycho around the 3 kids (one a baby/toddler). I never let my kids in their backyard once that dog had arrived.

Kids and dogs just dont seem to mix well. Especially young children and certain breeds of dogs.

Pig hunting dogs in the back yard??? Thats just wrong...

[Mechan1k]

It comes down to how the dogs are brought up and socialised.
I have seen some gentle Staffies out there ... but that's because they were brought up with way

But some dogs just shouldn't be put in backyards and chained up. Having them chained up a cruel to start with and by the sounds of it ... were probably treated like crap as well by the owners.

But looking at it another way ... the boy that fell out of the tree into the neighbours property ... I'd hate to say it ... was in a wrong as well ... and the dogs were protecting against intruders I guess.

I guess the little boy that survived has learnt that he needs to be a little more cautious around other peoples property ... and I doubt he'd try and climb "that" tree again. He's lucky to have survived the ordeal.

Unfortunately for the little girl she didn't survive ... and friends and family will be grief-stricken from it all.

I can see this thread getting out of hand eventually though.

I myself wouldn't choose to have "those types" of dogs around children myself though.

[turboute]

RIP... and condolences to the family.

I have never seen an agressive Staffy, and have read in a few write ups that they are great with kids (looking at getting one myself when my backyard is finished).

I am going to guess that their upbringing and their owners are to blame.

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by turboute

RIP... and condolences to the family.

I have never seen an agressive Staffy, and have read in a few write ups that they are great with kids (looking at getting one myself when my backyard is finished).

I am going to guess that their upbringing and their owners are to blame.

Exactly my above point.

Good mate of mine has 2 Staffys ... and they are really gentle, nice dogs.

It's just the stigma that is attached to some breeds ... and a large part of it comes down to the owner and how they treat them as well.

[jabba]

Originally Posted by turboute

RIP... and condolences to the family.

I have never seen an agressive Staffy, and have read in a few write ups that they are great with kids (looking at getting one myself when my backyard is finished).

I am going to guess that their upbringing and their owners are to blame.

I asure you that if you gat a English staffy you and raise it properly, you will have the best friend and child gardian money can by... I have 2 English staffies and both of them want to all ways be next to my 2 kids...



When I hear of these stories, I find it very hard to find the right words to describe the way I feel.... the owner had 4 killing machines in his back yard. the owner of the dogs should be made accountable for her death

[ToxikXR]

I had a staffy years ago, the nicest dog you'd ever meet. I now have a beagle and he is a cry baby.

Any dog has the potential to be the nicest dog ever, its the owners abuse and neglect that will change this.

[Mechan1k]

Always wanted a Beagle ... Bec had one long ago and said they are a great dog around kids ... and good watchdogs as well ... not a nasty bone in their body (if treated well since a pup).

[davocol]

I have two beagles X's and they are fantastic around kids, one of them is so calm and docile around kids its almost like its in his breeding. In saying that though dogs that are bred for hunting pigs and chained up during the day, well its a disaster waiting to happen if a young child is playing around them. They would simply see her as prey, its a mistake sure but its a very irresponsible mistake as well. Poor kid.

[drcook]

a tragic thing to happen and one we see all too often. although the public and certainly the media jump on the "viscious dogs" bandwagon, i personally think the parents in this case need to wear as much or more blame than the dogs.
i admit i am not a parent yet, but 1. i couldnt see myself ever getting any type of dog (or other animal) that has even the slightest chance of attacking a (my) child and 2. when my child is 4 years old i will be watching him or her as closely as possible will be paying attention to them so there is no chance they can -
a, get out of the house.
b, get out of our yard, and
c, get into the neighbours yard.

lets face it, she could of walked straight past the dogs and into a pool, or simply onto the road out the front. and seeing the report says 7:30pm, i would assume it was getting quite dark, so her walking out onto a roadway at that time of night....

[XRchic]

Originally Posted by drcook

a tragic thing to happen and one we see all too often. although the public and certainly the media jump on the "viscious dogs" bandwagon, i personally think the parents in this case need to wear as much or more blame than the dogs.
i admit i am not a parent yet, but 1. i couldnt see myself ever getting any type of dog (or other animal) that has even the slightest chance of attacking a (my) child and 2. when my child is 4 years old i will be watching him or her as closely as possible will be paying attention to them so there is no chance they can -
a, get out of the house.
b, get out of our yard, and
c, get into the neighbours yard.

lets face it, she could of walked straight past the dogs and into a pool, or simply onto the road out the front. and seeing the report says 7:30pm, i would assume it was getting quite dark, so her walking out onto a roadway at that time of night....

I agree with that, the parents should have been more responsible for a child of that age.

Having said that, with 3 kids of my own (2 of them well over 4), I can say that sometimes a kid can take off somewhere in the blink of an eye. You cannot literally stand and watch their every move all day. It is just not possible. Sometimes they are in their room when you are not with them, etc.

Some children are very adventurous and also very determined and if they decided they want to go outside or out the front, then they will try pretty hard and give it a shot. Children that age are experts in figuring out when to make the attempt.

Im just saying that very occasionally, the most dilligent parent can find that their child has escaped. That MAY have been the case with this child.

Also, 4 year olds do like to play with other kids in the street and they often go to each other's houses to play, under THEIR parents supervision. That child may have been there before (I think the report said she had been) and thought she was just going for a visit and didnt think of the dogs. At 7.30pm though, I find that unacceptable anyways. 4 year old should be nearly tucked away in bed by then.

It was very likely a complete accident and just one of those once off things when she got out.

I was sad to hear she didnt die straight away either, the dogs obviously didnt kill her outright and she suffered for some time.

Dogs that are bred to be that aggressive, and are brought up to be that aggressive should not be in suburban backyards. This time it was a little girl wandering over there, another incident involved a child falling out of a tree he had climbed... Next time it will be a family friend's child who wanders out the back on a visit or even a child who lives in the same house as the dogs and wanders out the back...

Its just too dangerous.

[HLC]

Keep in mind, these dogs were PIG HUNTING dogs. brought up to be violent, and killers. all 4 SHOULD have been chained. but 2 broke free showing the ferocity of the attack and these dogs.

and for those saying they shouldnt be in a backyard, where else can they be kept and regularly fed.



anyway, my condolences for the family. its a terrible terrible thing to happen. :(

[Kil4Collingwood]

Exactly why kids aren't allowed near any of my dogs, even the jack russels without supervision even the smallest dogs can be aggresive my sister had to get rid of one of her jack russels when she had kids because it was too aggresive so please people supervise the kiddies near the dogs for everyones sake.

[BJ]

Originally Posted by Xrchic

Dogs that are bred to be that aggressive, and are brought up to be that aggressive should not be in suburban backyards. This time it was a little girl wandering over there, another incident involved a child falling out of a tree he had climbed... Next time it will be a family friend's child who wanders out the back on a visit or even a child who lives in the same house as the dogs and wanders out the back...

Its just too dangerous.

I find this comment rather strange. You talk about dogs that are breed to be aggressive? If we look at all breeds of dog's, now bear with me on this. take the Good old Poodle for starters' Do you know what that breed was for? Killing rats and other vermian. Next Pomeranian killing rats. Next Chow Chow guess what killing rat's and fox's next King Charles Spaniel yep you guessed it killing. Now theses are all breeds we have come to know and love, and i bet we all know one of these little buggers that is as mad as a hatter. they all have the power to kill some one and do a lot of damage in the processes. What i am trying to get at here is we always think it is the big dogs that kill, well it's not. About ten- twelve years ago we lived in Tassie, there was a women who was killed by her pet, guess what it was? A golden lab. I know we all have our own idea's as to what should be done, maybe we need to take a look over the fence once and a while. Bj

[banarcus]

My Lab and little fella are best mates.

[Mechan1k]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Definitely need to supervise kids near pets.
Both kids and pets can be just as unpredictable as each other.
Bec has a Jack Russell ... great dog ... but can nip at anyone (just playing though ... but you can never trust them though).

You have to be very careful indeed. Not just with dogs though.
Cats can be just as agressive ... and we have horses too ... can never turn your back on them (even adults).

[39ClevoUte]

If you need to supervise kids near your pets then get the priority right and **** off the pets.
Also guns need to be kept in locked cabinets, so should any dog that could attack an incocent child. A nieghourhood fence is not child proof and is not intended to be, otherwise we would all have pool fence regulations applied to all fences.

[davocol]

Its amazing how in any internet based forum there is always someone that will argue someone elses point, I find it amazing social behaviour. I will agree to disagree on your first statement.

Originally Posted by 54Ghia

If you need to supervise kids near your pets then get the priority right and **** off the pets.
Also guns need to be kept in locked cabinets, so should any dog that could attack an incocent child. A nieghourhood fence is not child proof and is not intended to be, otherwise we would all have pool fence regulations applied to all fences.

[39ClevoUte]

Davocol you need to elaborbrate. However, I was refering mainly to my two points together.
Taking the fact that normal fences are not child proof, what right does someone with a non child proof fence, to have a dog that needs to be supervised, in an enclosure that is not childproof?????

[GCFordChic]

Unfortunate but preventable in more ways than one. Sad, but the circumstances will be mirrored in another incident some time down the track. Even responsible parents and responsible pet owners are not perfect because controlling a living being with their own mind and legs is not easy.

[39ClevoUte]

Actually I will elaborate.

I have a child killer at home and its called a swimming pool. Like with some dogs I have to surpervise children that are in the pool area near the pool.
However, there are extreme regulations on pool fences that I have to comply with that prevent any unsupervised children getting to my pool, these regulations cost me a lot of money and save lives.
No extreme measures no pool..... Are any linkages happening???

[nitroman]

Some people are just bloody idiots aren't they? They buy these hunting dogs to make themselves feel tough, to give themselves something to brag about and cover their own' insecurities. It's not the dog's fault and it's not the child's fault, but dogs shouldn't be tied up in tiny suburban backyards so they go stir crazy with little attention and walks. And small children have to be supervised ALL the time.
A beautiful child is no longer with us because of a few irresponsible idiots.

[GCFordChic]

Originally Posted by nitroman

Some people are just bloody idiots aren't they? They buy these hunting dogs to make themselves feel tough, to give themselves something to brag about and cover their own' insecurities. It's not the dog's fault and it's not the child's fault, but dogs shouldn't be tied up in tiny suburban backyards so they go stir crazy with little attention and walks. And small children have to be supervised ALL the time.
A beautiful child is no longer with us because of a few irresponsible idiots.

harsh words.... i assumed being in central west NSW the dogs would be used for pig-hunting as described. i didnt think it was a 'tiny suburban' backyard, i was imagining a semi-rural area... quite frankly if we want to assume, maybe we can assume (as harsh as it is, i know) that the child was a little ***** who wandered off all the time, went up to the dogs they saw earlier in the neighbours yard and started 'patting' them or p!ssing them off...from the story above we really dont have a clue what happened so i dont think 'blame' should be placed anywhere.

this is what happens without full and proper information provided by biased and tactical media entities, people form strong opinions based on little knowledge..

[39ClevoUte]

So do we all!

Fact is this keeps happening and not just in the bush!!!!

[davocol]

The main statement I was referring to was the first, "If you need to supervise kids near your pets then get the priority right and **** off the pets" Pets are like any other animals in that they are unpredictable and their behaviour is not always rational or normal, it does not mean that you cant have them it simply means you have to take due care if you do, it is not the responsiblity of your neighbour but the parent to make sure their kids are looked after and supervised at all times particularly around animals. In saying that, I completely agree with you about the pool except for the fact a fence is an extreme measure, I would hardly call it extreme. The same rules apply to dogs except it;s to keep them in and not keep others out.

[39ClevoUte]

There is no rule to make an area in your yard were your dog is Child Proof.
Yes I was a bit of wack with the first statement it was not in the right context that I was trying to get at, but by now you get the drift.

Also Garden avenue Warren is in the residential part of town according to Sennis.

[39ClevoUte]

Here here!

[MO]

The guts of the story is this......child unsupervised wanders off into a yard quite some distance from her own home....first thought why was this child not watched and brought back.

Second thought yes they are dogs of mixed breed that are trained to hunt.....child enters enclosure...trys to pat play with dogs...dogs get agitated...some break loose and ...sadly do what they have been trained to do...think about this when a pig is hit by a dog what does it do...it squeals in a high pitch voice.

What does a child do when hit by something they don't understand....squeal in a high pitch voice.....so here we have dogs trained to bring down pigs who squeal in a high pitch voice and we have a child who reacts the same....I don't care who the hell any of you think you are or you are under the mistaken belief you know about dogs.

The fact is dogs will react to the noise the same as a shark reacts to the vibe in the water.

The dogs are NOT to blame first and foremost the owner is at fault for not making the yard child proof......secondly the parent/s are to blame for not keeping watch over their child.

Alright I've said my piece ,I'm sad that a young life was lost....but lets not lose sight of the facts ppl.

Now if anyone wants to take me on....bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AC]

Originally Posted by MO

The guts of the story is this......child unsupervised wanders off into a yard quite some distance from her own home....first thought why was this child not watched and brought back.

Second thought yes they are dogs of mixed breed that are trained to hunt.....child enters enclosure...trys to pat play with dogs...dogs get agitated...some break loose and ...sadly do what they have been trained to do...think about this when a pig is hit by a dog what does it do...it squeals in a high pitch voice.

What does a child do when hit by something they don't understand....squeal in a high pitch voice.....so here we have dogs trained to bring down pigs who squeal in a high pitch voice and we have a child who reacts the same....I don't care who the hell any of you think you are or you are under the mistaken belief you know about dogs.

The fact is dogs will react to the noise the same as a shark reacts to the vibe in the water.

The dogs are NOT to blame first and foremost the owner is at fault for not making the yard child proof......secondly the parent/s are to blame for not keeping watch over their child.

Alright I've said my piece ,I'm sad that a young life was lost....but lets not lose sight of the facts ppl.

Agreed

Out in the central west its not uncommon for people to keep vicious dogs for hunting pigs, goats or whatever.
And the owners know full well what the dogs are capable of, hence the reason they have thier own yard and are chained up more often than not.

To Quote SMH.com.au
"Tyra opened the gate and climbed a fence into their yard"

I see this not much different than a pool accident.
If the fence and gate isnt good enough, then of course an unsupervised child is going to drown.

Sad truth is, more children die in pools than backyard dog enclosures.

[GCFordChic]

i dont quite agree that they should be held completely accountable, without all the facts it is hard to comment on, most of the comments here have been largely emotive as opposed to factual because of the lack of biased information.

It is almost becoming the american gun debate...lets not make it that.