Biting dog provokes rabid reaction

Few things stir people as much as their love of dogs, or mistrust of an aggressive mutt.

A story today on thestar.com says the family of a 7-year-old girl who was bitten on the face and needed 40 stitches has applied to the Ontario Court of Justice for an order to have the dog put down.

The woman was pet-sitting the shepherd-collie mix, named Panny, for people she knew and briefly left it alone with her two small daughters while she briefly went inside to check on dinner when the dog attacked.

She will argue in court that Panny needs to be “neutralized” because it could bite someone else and is a danger to the public.

Nearly 150 reader comments posted to the online story are nearly as snappish as the dog, with some questioning why the mother left the girls alone with it, while others demand it be destroyed.

“For the many people who have quickly passed judgment on the mother and dog sitter as being irresponsible, this story is not complete,” said one comment.

“There is a signed affidavit from an adult neighbour who is also a trained vet technician…and witnessed the unprovoked attack.”

“Let Panny Live!” says another. “Fortunately from the picture it appears that the girl’s facial injuries don’t look that serious,” said the reader, adding that “an adult made a stupid decision to leave a dog alone with strange children.

“I doubt that Panny was trying to harm the girl. He probably tried to pick her up in his mouth as he would do with a puppy.”

Think about that for a minute.

No matter how egregious the circumstances, there are always people who will rationalize the dog’s behaviour and put it off on someone else.

Back when pit bull attacks were often in the news, the stories would always spark an angry debate between people who insisted the dog was just trying to be friendly and those who would ban all dogs but those that’ll fit into a woman’s handbag.

For me, if the dog cannot be left alone for even the briefest time without turning on kids, then it is indeed a threat to public safety.

I’m not sure destroying it is the right thing to do, but I can certainly understand why the mother would try.

     

 

 

   

 

        

 

  

 

  

 

 

Comments

[Darwin O'Connor]

The capital punishment debate always provokes passionates responces on both sides.

[selkie]

the problem is we don't have all the facts - it is actually extremely unusual for a dog to attack anyone just out of the blue - there are almost ALWAYS mitigating factors. I'm not saying the little girl deserved to be bitten- of COURSE she didn't - and I feel for her. But the bottom line is you have a dog that has NO history of biting, NO history of bad behaviour except not feeling comfortable around other dogs and a situation where a dog was left alone with young children - I heard that there WAS another person present after the fact - and find the whole situation a big confusing. Killing a dog for ONE incident is excessive in my opinion - particularly if protocol is established that will prevent or at least circumvent future issues.