Dogs are commonly called man's best friend. But for these two brothers and their mother, 'man's best friend' might not be the case.
Viciously mauled by a dog
Archie Joe Darby, 4 months, was killed, and his brother Daniel-Jay was severely injured after they were viciously mauled by a dog in their home in Colchester.
Sadly, Archie wasn't able to survive his injuries and died soon after he was taken to the hospital. His brother has been admitted to a specialist hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries. Their mother, who was with them during the attack, only suffered minor injuries.
According to reports, the dog that attacked them was a Staffordshire bull terrier-type, and has since been put down with the owner's permission.
The family has since posted a statement on Facebook about the incident.
“We have lost our gorgeous little four-month-old baby and our beautiful 22-month-old boy is currently being treated for his injuries. Heaven has gained a beautiful little angel and he will be greatly missed by us all and our other little soldier is still fighting strong. Please, please, please can you all respect our privacy at this time.”
"Everyone was very upset"
The attack has left the entire neighborhood aghast. One neighbor, Scott Mills shares, "When we heard that a baby had died, everyone was very upset. It's dreadful and so tragic."
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, said "The whole community is in shock. It's all very upsetting. You are caught off guard with these things."
Mourning neighbors left flowers and stuffed toys outside of the Darby residence.
Go to the next page to learn more about keeping your children safe around animals!
Keeping your children safe
While we can't really know what prompted the vicious dog attack on the brothers, we should still practice caution not only around our own pets, but also with all pets in general, regardless of how tame they might be. Here are some helpful tips that you should keep in mind:
- Never leave a baby or child alone at home with a dog, especially if they are unsupervised.
- Be careful and respectful around dogs, even if they have been your pet for a long time.
- When meeting a new dog, make sure to address the owner first and ask for permission to pet the dog.
- If you see an unfamiliar dog, it's best to not look them in the face. You can never tell their temperament regardless of how tame they might seem to be.
- Don't look at a dog straight in the eyes.
- Teach your kids to never disturb dogs, since we can't predict the behavior of animals.
- When chased by a dog, make sure to teach your kids not to run away, as running away might provoke the dog even further.
Dogs might be man's best friend, however we still can't always predict what a dog is thinking, or how a dog feels. That's why it's always important to always be cautious and respectful when it comes to our family pets.
Sources: theguardian.co.uk, mirror.co.uk, healthypets.mercola.com
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