7 month infant dies from dog attack

Unfortunately, this isn't a repeat story....although the circumstances certainly seem similar.

Earlier today, a 7 month old San Antonio toddler was killed by two dogs in the family home.

The young boy was being cared for by his grandmother, who left him alone with the dogs while she went to the kitchen to get the infant some food. The woman came back to find the two dogs had attacked the child....who later died in the hospital.

The dogs are being described as "pit bulls" by the media and police -- however, one neighbor,Ramon Sanchez said the two dogs "were at least 120 pounds each" which would make them NOT pit bulls.

Most of the neighbors report that the dogs were known to be aggressive -- and one relative notes that one of the dogs bit an 8 year old niece in the face not long ago. While the grandmother regularly cared for the toddler, the dogs were usually left outside when the infant was there.

Meanwhile, the area where this occurred is a very tough part of San Antonio. The zip code where this happened is almost entirely Hispanic, and poverty stricken. The median HH income for the zip code is $23,105 -- less than 1/2 the state average.  39% of the population lives below the poverty line, and 17% live at levels of less than 50% of the poverty line. Most people who live there do not even have a high school diploma.

So in the end, we have dogs with a known propensity for aggression, that were not regularly socialized with a young child, and was left alone with the young child. It is a recipe we've seen all too often.

A couple of months ago, I did an interview with Jennifer Shyrock of Dogs and Storks -- a network of trainers that specifically work with parents on how to introduced new children into a family with dogs. It is just so incredibly important that we work to educate dog owners and parents on the best way to introduce dogs to children and children to dogs. While this is important for all households, the education is even more important in low-income, low-educated communities (often where the dog serves as part pet, part security system), where many of these cases occur.

This is the 11th fatal attack already this year. Eight of these attacks have involved children under the age of 5, with three of them being mere infants. While these attacks are very rare, it is important that we get information out to parents about introducing children and dogs in the same home.  Dogs & Storks has a wonderful CD set that helps educate parents on how to do this and warning signs on what to look for.

Meanwhile, this post wouldn't be complete without noting that while this event happened early this morning, it has already been picked up in over 240 news outlets -- which is a far cry from the mere 1 that picked up a fatality by a Husky early last week.  One San Antonio outlet is already calling the question of whether or not 'pit bulls' should be banned noting two fatal attacks in the area in just a week. Never mind that the other attack occurred with a small child who wandered into a back yard alone, unattended while his parents slept and went up to a chained up dog.  

Until we stop talking about breeds, and begin talking about the reasons why attacks occur (and most often it seems it is with an unsupervised child left alone with a dog it hasn't been socialized with), we will not get to the root of the causes of these attacks. And the media blowing up articles when 'pit bulls' are involved, but ignoring the stories by other breeds, and then stoking the fires, only increases the ignorance.

Let's stop the ignorance now -- and push for true education in these matters.

Update:  It's 10:30, CST.  About 15 hours since the attack occurred. This article has now run in 350 different news sources -- including a TV station in virtually every media market in the US and now Australia.  And folks, the newspapers haven't even picked this up yet. Remember this the next time someone says, "why is it I only see pit bull attacks in the news?"  This is why.

Comments

[Julie]

If the media ever decides to find some sort of conscience, I'll probably keel over and die from shock alone.

This is a terrible, terrible story. I don't understand how many more times this has to happen before people get it.

It is not the breed that matters.
It is not the breed that matters.
It is not the breed that matters.

....

Are we banging our heads against the wall? I really hope not.

[Selma]

Wow, 11 and it's only the end of March. We had none here in Canada in 2008 and thus far this year, none. We average one per year nationwide, but we have about 1/10 the pop of the US.

You're right on, Brent. Until social issues and dog management issues are resolved, dogs will keep getting a reputation they don't deserve and certain dogs and their owner will be scapegoats for everybody else's mistakes.

The dog and kid thing is pretty simple. The best way I heard it described was along the lines of "Picture two toddlers playing together. One of them is very coordinated and has a pair of scissors."

Nuff said.

[PoochesForPeace]

This is so frustrating!!!!!....!!!!!
Sorry, had to emphasize for a sec

I feel like us who are educated about how to look at these stories and dog attacks in general are banging our heads against the wall. It's so infuriating that one of the biggest influences on many peoples' minds (media) is so one-sided for no reason!

I can only say that if others of you are as frustrated as me about this, take the fire in your heart that it makes you feel and put it towards logically and responsibly educating as many people as you can- from individuals to local news stations to your government officials!

Your one voice can educate an endless amount of people :)

[krislars]

"Picture two toddlers playing together. One of them is very coordinated and has a pair of scissors." I LOVE this Selma!

I have to wonder if the 2 dogs in this case were also Male/Female. Whenever I hear of 2 very large dogs attacking a child I think of the SF case.

Regardless, the call of the day is education. On two fronts - all dogs bite and children/dogs. It's been said time and time again, stereotyping won't save a life/injury, but learning dog signals and taking basic precautions will.

Don't know if you saw it, or if it was mentioned on this blog already...but last Friday, Justin Timberlake was on Oprah. He loves his dogs like they are his kids and shared a photo on air. He and Jessica Biel have 3 dogs, one a pit bull terrier (that Jessica adopted from a shelter a few years ago as we all probably know). Anyway, Gayle chimed in "oh aren't you scared? i'm so scared of those dogs b/c I only ever hear about how they injure people on the news" Oprah then followed up, "yah, those dogs scare me" Justin did a good job trying to differ but Gayle chimed in again, interrupting him and said "Aren't you afraid it's just going to snap? I hear they do that". Then Oprah changed the subject before Justin could get another word in and they went to commercial.

PERFECT example of how the media perpetuates the myth.

I know there have been many 'educating Oprah' attempts, but clearly it's Gayle that we need to educate.I was so frustrated and disheartened to see this on her show.

Brent, I wish we could find a way to 'purple cow' this topic b/c NO ONE seems to get it (except for us responsible, educated dog folks!).

You know, it may be as simple as media responsiblity (ha! I had to LOL when I typed that! sort of an oxymoron those words together!). If media reported the 'why' and 'how' instead of the 'who' (ie. breed) these events happen, perhaps people would understand the REAL common thread in all these incidents they report. Then the media would be doing a service instead of creating hysteria.

Infuriating! And horribly sad.

[Brent]

Yes K. The dogs were male and female, both unaltered.

Really frustrating about Oprah...hopefully JT can spread the good word :)

[PoochesForPeace]

GO JT! I knew there was a reason I liked him.

Krislars: Great comment. Very informative. I wonder if Oprah would do anything on this topic if it stuck to a theme related to stereotyping or even about how the media is misleading. I am ignorant of her show, so I don't know, maybe she is too involved with certain channels to want to do something like that. Thoughts?

[JAL]

Just a comment about male/female unaltered etc... involved in this tragedy and others
When things happen and the dogs are intact, it's another symptom, not a cause.

Yes hormones can be an issue but I've had intact dogs and kids and never an incident.

Of course, my dogs are very well socialized and trained, I NEVER leave kids and dogs alone and I use common sense.

Until the 1980s, intact house pets and neighborhood roaming dogs were the norm. they still are in Switzerland, Sweden, denmark, Belgium etc... and you never hear about these sorts of incidents, not with this frequency.

Intact dogs do require a little more management and a slightly different training regime. Bitches are only in season twice a year for a few weeks at a time, if someone cannot manage that then of course they should alter them If they are not serious, responsible dedicated breeders it's the best choice too.

But as I said, the fact that the dogs in many of these cases is symptomatic of much more basic issues of poor socialization, training and judgement. Both the San Francisco fatalities involving intact male/female pairs involved owners whose problems, bizarre behavior and management skills for both the dogs and people were lacking in sanity, much less common sense.

The need to get the message of no kids and dogs left alone together, that dogs must be socialized to people and treated as companions, not breathing alarm systems has never been greater.
The need to get pet education and affordable veterinary care, including spay/neuter, to those most at risk and most in need has never been more urgent. Every dog owner has a stake in this. For the sake of our dogs and the lives of those affected by dogs so positively, and the tragic victims of ignorance as well.

[Carianne]

i always think oprah tries to do her best in presenting stories from all angles. think back to the puppy mill show and how she admitted she did not realize how big this issue really is. all of us should send a letter with facts about pit bulls. obviously, oprah and gayle could at least start reviewing this information. maybe, with enough outcry and proof that these fears are unfounded, she will have a show about pit bulls.

[PoochesForPeace]

Good idea Carianne. I'm in.

[Brent]

"The need to get the message of no kids and dogs left alone together, that dogs must be socialized to people and treated as companions, not breathing alarm systems has never been greater.
The need to get pet education and affordable veterinary care, including spay/neuter, to those most at risk and most in need has never been more urgent."

I wish I could have said this as well myself.