If you’re a parent of a toddler as well as a dog owner, you may find this next news distressing. In Fresno, California, a three-day-old infant Susan Kirby was accidentally killed by two dogs.
A CBS News report said that Susan’s mother thought the dogs had been secured in the backyard when she left her in the couch to go to the bathroom.
However, because it had been a warm day, Susan’s mother opened the door to the house.
Both a shar-pei and Pitbull mix belonging to the mother’s brother, the two dogs entered the house and proceeded to go to the couch.
It remains unclear whether the infant had been simply too young to handle the rough behaviour of the two dogs, or whether the infant had been bitten, but when the mum came back from the bathroom, she screamed and came running.
Susan was rushed to the hospital, but died shortly thereafter.
According to Fresno Police Sgt. Dan Macias, Susan’s uncle surrendered his dogs to the Central California Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
An SPCA spokesman Walter Salvari revealed that the dogs will be euthanised.
Authorities are still investigating the case, but they do not believe that there had been foul play involved in the incident.
Next page find out how to keep babies safe from household dogs
Infants, dogs, and safety
Owning a pet has its benefits and disadvantages, and it’s important that careful consideration must be done before any actually procuring one.
It’s also important to remember that dogs may be domesticated, but they’re still animals, and animals follow their instinct, which can sometimes be dangerous.
In 2013 alone, 32 fatalities involving children and dog bites were reported in the US, said DogsBite.org. Of fatalities 78% were associated with pitbulls.
In fact, pitbulls are the most lethal breed of dogs in the Unites States, with Rottweilers come close in second place.
However, according to veterinarian Scott Miller, no dog is safe to leave alone with either a small infant or a child.
“No matter how well-trained, they will revert to their natural instincts if they feel threatened or in danger,” he said in a Daily Mail report. “I’ve been a vet for 17 years and I’ve seen at first-hand how brutal a dog attack can be.”
Dog safety, Scott says, is like all other parenting decisions; it’s down to a mother and father’s common sense and vigilance.
He also recommends dedicating several weeks or months to prepare their dog for a baby’s arrival.
“It means training the dog to know that some rooms in the house are no-go areas — perhaps upstairs or the child’s bedroom.”
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