[News] Dog fatally mauls baby in Bourbonnais

[chloesMama]

Tragic. I can't imagine the nightmare that mother must see every time she closes her eyes.

We can all say , "who leaves a baby on a bed and not in a crib ?" But I'm willing to bet many people have went to visit a relative for the day and laid their newborn on a bed when the baby needed to nap.

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by chloesMama

Tragic. I can't imagine the nightmare that mother must see every time she closes her eyes.

We can all say , "who leaves a baby on a bed and not in a crib ?" But I'm willing to bet many people have went to visit a relative for the day and laid their newborn on a bed when the baby needed to nap.

Your right but would you leave an infant on a bed with even a toddler
running around and not be watchfull?

[YORKIE_mom_2008]

Originally Posted by Mybabyboymax

I am not turning this thread into anything, I stick by what I said as well, she must be feeling so very sad right now and woulda, coulda shoulda isnt going to bring her baby back. So yes it could have been prevented but it wasnt, and Im sure this mother will do things differently now, its sad that it cost her babys life for her to be more cautious. Im sure this thread was started so that members can keep this family in prayer, not talk about how unfit the mother is and how it is her fault was all Im saying.

I am sorry ARCHIE that is what i should have said i was just upset. (Still am but mostly just sad now)

[AvyQuinn]

Is it ok to leave a baby unattended in a room you aren't occupying? I mean, besides when they're sleeping at night safe in their crib with the baby monitor, etc.

I'm not a parent and I never want to be one lol but I thought that you should never leave your child unattended...? My husband and I just finished a very spirited discussion about this. He has a kid - 8 now - and said that he left him sleeping on a bed (unattended) lots of times. If I were a parent I would never tempt fate and leave my baby alone like that... I wonder why she didn't feel the need to separate the dog from her newborns before she left them unattended.

[mscat]

I am sickend by this incident.... I feel like it was the carelessness of the parent, leaving these precious newborns on a bed with no supervision. Of course she was not thinking of the what ifs or had any reason to believe that her Husky would go for a baby.... However, leaving defenseless little babies on a bed provides NO Protection or security .... SO the parent was making dinner in the kitchen, bedroom door open , babies left unsupervised, + owners of a big dog... Sorry but to me, this is negligence. Now the Husky, no doubt is going to be put down. No one wins .
I taught Preschool and was head of a infant toddler program, 20 yrs experience. Even when babies were sleeping we had a close eye on them all the time. Also a single parent, and had cats when my child was a newborn I always, always had my baby within eyesight 24/7. My child NEVER ever even recieved a scratch from one of the cats.
I do not blame the Husky, I will feel it is because of the carelessness of the parents that this tragedy occured. they will have to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of losing an infant to something entirely preventable.

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by mscat

I am sickend by this incident.... I feel like it was the carelessness of the parent, leaving these precious newborns on a bed with no supervision. Of course she was not thinking of the what ifs or had any reason to believe that her Husky would go for a baby.... However, leaving defenseless little babies on a bed provides NO Protection or security .... SO the parent was making dinner in the kitchen, bedroom door open , babies left unsupervised, + owners of a big dog... Sorry but to me, this is negligence. Now the Husky, no doubt is going to be put down. No one wins .
I taught Preschool and was head of a infant toddler program, 20 yrs experience. Even when babies were sleeping we had a close eye on them all the time. Also a single parent, and had cats when my child was a newborn I always, always had my baby within eyesight 24/7. My child NEVER ever even recieved a scratch from one of the cats.
I do not blame the Husky, I will feel it is because of the carelessness of the parents that this tragedy occured. they will have to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of losing an infant to something entirely preventable.

Amen! I totally agree.

[AvyQuinn]

Originally Posted by mscat

I will feel it is because of the carelessness of the parents that this tragedy occured. they will have to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of losing an infant to something entirely preventable.

I personally agree... not to mention they're lucky that the one baby is still ok.

I would like to follow this story so if anyone hears anything else, please post a link!


and...

Originally Posted by mscat

Of course she was not thinking of the what ifs or had any reason to believe that her Husky would go for a baby....

I am obsessed with "what if's"!
If there is *anything* I've learned in my life it's that anything can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Drives the husband crazy, but I would rather spend a few minutes covering ALL angles of a potential disastrous situation as opposed to going through my life without considering all these little (however obscure) possibilities and losing out on something or losing something to chance because I thought "oh THAT will NEVER happen'!

[mscat]

Originally Posted by Mybabyboymax

I am not turning this thread into anything, I stick by what I said as well, she must be feeling so very sad right now and woulda, coulda shoulda isnt going to bring her baby back. So yes it could have been prevented but it wasnt, and Im sure this mother will do things differently now, its sad that it cost her babys life for her to be more cautious. Im sure this thread was started so that members can keep this family in prayer, not talk about how unfit the mother is and how it is her fault was all Im saying.

No it won't bring her baby back. However, every bit of the reason the infant lost its life was because of the negligence of the parent . Bottom line, this tragedy did not need to occur .
I do not feel anything but anger about what happened. This was enirely preventable. I do not believe anyone should feel sorry for the parent. I feel sick the newborn died in this matter. Parents need to be more diligent about supervision and use common sense for god's sake!

[Lou]

Officials probe death of baby involving dog


Jan. 21, 2009, 11:57 am
The Daily Journal, Kankakee, Illinois
By Lee Provost
lprovost@daily-journal.com
815-937-3364


Police and state officials are still trying to piece together what happened when a 3-week-old Bourbonnais baby girl was killed by the family's pet Siberian husky.
The incident was first described as a mauling by Bourbonnais Police Chief Joe Beard. The family dog dragged Olivia Rozek, who was a twin born the day after Christmas, by her head from the bedroom through the hallway.
Olivia, who was first taken to Provena St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee, and later airlifted to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. Monday.
But Beard said Tuesday afternoon, he is not sure if mauling best describes what happened at the home in the 1600 block of Sunridge Drive. "I don't know what other word to use with this," Beard said.
Police received a 911 call at 5:45 p.m. that a girl had been mauled by the dog.
The mother told police that the twins were lying on the bed while she was in the kitchen preparing supper. She heard her baby cry and then saw the dog walking into the hallway with the baby in its mouth.
The Bourbonnais police are investigating along with Kankakee County Animal Control director Julie Boudreau's office, as well as the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Still, there may be no answers.
Boudreau speculated it was possible the dog thought the baby was an animal or a toy. It's also possible the baby was crying and the dog was attempting to take her to the mother, she said.
"We forget sometimes that they are animals. Animals do things differently than humans," she said. "These tragedies can sometimes happen."
Beard said he has not yet talked to the mother, who is distraught and unable to answer questions. He said he plans to interview the 32-year-old mother by Friday. Still, he already has a sense about the case, because while police have an option to consider neglect or child endangerment charges against a parent when a child is killed, Beard said, in this case it's not likely.
"Do we see it leading in that direction?" Beard asked. "The answer is no. I honestly don't see that. We're anxious to talk to her, but we want to allow her a proper grieving period."
The family got the 4-year-old male dog from a Chicago rescue organization in November 2007, Beard said.
The dog is in the custody of the Kankakee County Animal Control and will most certainly be destroyed, Boudreau said.
The family also has another husky, a female. The department will be looking into whether that dog will remain in the home.
Boudreau said the impounded dog appears friendly and healthy.
However, she said, people must remember that dogs are not people.
"Everyone needs to remember that as much as we love our animals, they are not people in fur coats," Boudreau said. "Their behavior is unpredictable."
In a 2007 national survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, the group estimated that while there were 74.8 million dogs in the United States, there were only 33 fatal dog maulings.
Editor's note: The comments on this story were turned off because too many of the posts violated The Daily Journal's commenting policy.

[Lou]

I find it very interesting that the paper has closed the commentary section due to violations of their policy. There must me an awfully lot of angry people in this town.

[Lexi Rae]

i bet that husky tried to help that baby not hurt her.. something sounds
fishy to me.. and then she said the dog came into the hall way with the
baby in his mouth.. cant see that happening.. . dont think it happened that
way... anyway another animal will be put to sleep for neglegence of the mother.

[mscat]

Originally Posted by Lou

I find it very interesting that the paper has closed the commentary section due to violations of their policy. There must me an awfully lot of angry people in this town.

Yes, I bet their were ! It sure made my blood boil!anyone who is a parent or has been around infants and very young children know supervision is a must at all times~

[mscat]

Originally Posted by chloesMama

Tragic. I can't imagine the nightmare that mother must see every time she closes her eyes.

We can all say , "who leaves a baby on a bed and not in a crib ?" But I'm willing to bet many people have went to visit a relative for the day and laid their newborn on a bed when the baby needed to nap.

Yes, however, with A large dog in the house + no supervision? ? ? I don't think so !

[ARCHIE]

OMG they had 2 Huskies and left the two babies unattended!

A human put both babies and animals at risk. Sorry but that's what
I see. Now an innocent infant lost it's life before it even started
and an innocent animal will be PTS because of a human not using
the brain it was given. The human is the one who was in charge
and should be held responsible for it's actions. The infant and
animal depend on the human for it's well being.
Yes, it's just terrible that these parent's will suffer for the rest
of their lives with the poor judgement made by the mother but
it is what it is. Something that did not have to happen.

[msjagg]

Very Tragic!!! My Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family.....