[News] Dog fatally mauls baby in Bourbonnais

[mypreciouspups]

This is such a sad tragic thing to happen to anyone..I am sure many are angry at this parent.. I also think she was wrong but will she ever forgive herself.. she will pay a huge price for leaving those babies on a bed and not in a crib.. this is so heart wrenching...all the way around.

anne

[chloesMama]

Originally Posted by mscat

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

Yes , I do agree with you .... I would never own a large dog or leave my child unattended around someones elses because I simply don't trust large dogs.

BUT to act like it was totally unrealistic for this mother to be making dinner for her family while her babies were napping on her bed in her home with her family pets walking around is also unrealistic. I bet the thought of her dogs doing harm to her children never once crossed her mind.

How many times have others , on this very board even , with large dogs said that their animals were loving family pets and would NEVER attack , they have NEVER hurt their children.....I'm sure this woman felt the same way or she would never have owned the dogs , that's all I am saying.

In any case it's tragic. I'm sure this mother would give her own life to bring her child back , but she can't. Now she will have to live forever knowing she made a hugh mistake in underestimating that dog.

[MeganS]

Originally Posted by YORKIE_mom_2008

That is awful! How can you say that?! Dogs shouldn't naturally decide to attack and kill a baby just because it was alone on a bed! There is something wrong with that dog. Yes, it could have been in a crib and been protected but I am pretty sure she thought her baby was safe. Its not like she was expecting her dog to attack it. Have a heart.

Carol has a very big heart.

This is a tragic incident and I feel so badly for the family...but it WAS so very preventable. I can understand that maybe the mother had to run out of the room or something...but she left her on the bed while she went to make dinner. There is no reason to not just pick her up and put her in a crib where you know for CERTAIN that she wouldn't get hurt.

My old lab Rusty never hurt a fly...loved everyone. But I have a lot of baby cousins. When they came over, Rusty was only allowed near them under complete supervision. Not cause we believed for a second that he'd hurt them...but because he's a BIG dog. It's just common sense, IMO!


Regardless, this mother must be in so much pain and what is done can't be undone. I just hope others learn from this. I will have the family in my thoughts and prayers.

[Lou]

That poor dog doesn't stand a chance. He will be put down. Did you see that he came from a rescue?

[doglvrfrombirth]

OK, before we start passing ANY judgement here on the parents being neglectful....how many of YOU are parents?? 90% of parents leave their children lying on the bed as babies....they are BABIES....they aren't going anywhere! I am so distraught over this story and it sickens me to see people on here, saying the parents, mostly the mother who was home, were neglectful. Read the articles in the papers!! The police, animal welfare AND DCFS are investigating, with NO sign of neglect thus far, and don't forsee the case going in that direction!! Or, did you just skip over that part, because you had already formed your own opinion?

This is a tragic event that EVERYONE wishes never happened, but for God's Sake....have some compassion! It was not reported anywhere that these dogs were aggressive, as a matter of fact, the animal welfare rep said the dog was friendly and healthy. Or, did you skip that part too?? I am so enraged that I am shaking. I CANNOT believe the audacity of people to blame these parents!

I also read somewhere (wish I could remember at this point) that they WERE ACTUALLY keeping the dogs in separate rooms from the babies, unless both parents were supervising the entire situation. So, apparently, somehow the dog got loose. NOT the mother's fault! This mother is experiencing so much pain, sorrow and grief, and I'm sure blaming herself, as any mother would do. But, does that give anyone else the right to blame her also and call her neglectful? NO! Why don't you wait until she is well enough to even speak to the police to give the complete story of what happened before you make snap judgements and give harsh, unnecessary opinions?

What if this was YOU?? What if people were on an online message board calling YOU a neglectful parent?? How would YOU feel? But, wait....I'm sure YOU would be such a wonderful parent that NOTHING terrible would ever happen to your child, right?

[cataholic]

My oppinion is that I think the rescue should get him back. The dog should not be put down. There is no evidence that the dog meant to hurt the baby. It sounds like maybe the dog was trying to take the baby to the mother. If one of the dogs attacked the baby, the other one would have too. I think the rescue should get the dog and evaluate it.

[Mybabyboymax]

Originally Posted by mscat

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!

No this tragedy did not need to occur like most dont. But like you I am entitled to my feelings and as a mother I feel sad for the child and parent. Everyone can sit at their desk and shake their head at this mother all they want but reality is that NO mother is perfect and we ALL make mistakes, unfortunately this mistake caused an innocent life. Do I feel in my heart to be angry and blame this mother, no all I feel is sorrow for them all. And with that I end this "debate" on my part. Im not really into calling people wrong on how they feel...not my style.

[mscat]

Originally Posted by doglvrfrombirth

OK, before we start passing ANY judgement here on the parents being neglectful....how many of YOU are parents?? 90% of parents leave their children lying on the bed as babies....they are BABIES....they aren't going anywhere! I am so distraught over this story and it sickens me to see people on here, saying the parents, mostly the mother who was home, were neglectful. Read the articles in the papers!! The police, animal welfare AND DCFS are investigating, with NO sign of neglect thus far, and don't forsee the case going in that direction!! Or, did you just skip over that part, because you had already formed your own opinion?

This is a tragic event that EVERYONE wishes never happened, but for God's Sake....have some compassion! It was not reported anywhere that these dogs were aggressive, as a matter of fact, the animal welfare rep said the dog was friendly and healthy. Or, did you skip that part too?? I am so enraged that I am shaking. I CANNOT believe the audacity of people to blame these parents!

I also read somewhere (wish I could remember at this point) that they WERE ACTUALLY keeping the dogs in separate rooms from the babies, unless both parents were supervising the entire situation. So, apparently, somehow the dog got loose. NOT the mother's fault! This mother is experiencing so much pain, sorrow and grief, and I'm sure blaming herself, as any mother would do. But, does that give anyone else the right to blame her also and call her neglectful? NO! Why don't you wait until she is well enough to even speak to the police to give the complete story of what happened before you make snap judgements and give harsh, unnecessary opinions?

What if this was YOU?? What if people were on an online message board calling YOU a neglectful parent?? How would YOU feel? But, wait....I'm sure YOU would be such a wonderful parent that NOTHING terrible would ever happen to your child, right?

Yes, in a matter of fact I am a single parent with a teenaged son who has autism .
In reality, and IMO I still feel that this was preventable . It is neglect to leave a newborn unattended . For the very reason , "animals are unpredictable." I always have been educated and taught at a very early age to supervise the most vulnerable and helpless of human beings. infants and very young are who I am referring too.
My heart aches for this family. The pain they will suffer for the rest of their lives will never go away completely. It is the worse tragedy a parent could ever face.
I still know, without any doubt this incident was preventable. Supervision, awareness, and the knowledge not to leave newborns alone with two large cannines in the home, regardless of their docile nature . the incident would not have occured.
YES, it is neglect , a harsh word to some, however it is the truth. My infant dies like that, i'd be the one responsible too.

[AvyQuinn]

Originally Posted by doglvrfrombirth

I also read somewhere (wish I could remember at this point) that they WERE ACTUALLY keeping the dogs in separate rooms from the babies, unless both parents were supervising the entire situation. So, apparently, somehow the dog got loose. NOT the mother's fault!

PPOR please.

I'd like to read what I can about this case.

[doglvrfrombirth]

Originally Posted by mscat

Yes, in a matter of fact I am a single parent with a teenaged son who has autism .
In reality, and IMO I still feel that this was preventable . It is neglect to leave a newborn unattended . For the very reason , "animals are unpredictable." I always have been educated and taught at a very early age to supervise the most vulnerable and helpless of human beings. infants and very young are who I am referring too.
My heart aches for this family. The pain they will suffer for the rest of their lives will never go away completely. It is the worse tragedy a parent could ever face.
I still know, without any doubt this incident was preventable. Supervision, awareness, and the knowledge not to leave newborns alone with two large cannines in the home, regardless of their docile nature . the incident would not have occured.
YES, it is neglect , a harsh word to some, however it is the truth. My infant dies like that, i'd be the one responsible too.

"My infant dies like that, I'd be the one responsible too." Those words are very easy to say, when it actually hasn't happened to you. Preventable? Sure. Baby monitors were made so that you could leave your infant, unsuperivsed, in a room. But, to go so far as to say "neglect" when you weren't there, and you don't know the full story, is a bit much. I just pray that a situation never occurs for any of you using this word..neglect...to where this type of judgement would be placed on you.

[Gypsy & Me]

This is so sad. I feel for the whole family.

Originally Posted by mscat

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!

I think this is a little harsh... even though it was a preventable misfortune she has still lost her child... no parent deserves that.


The mother should of ensured the dog couldn't get to the babies - I agree with that 100% but for you all to sit there and call her neglectful for leaving them sleeping on a bed I think is just plain wrong.

I have often, when visiting people, left Amelia asleep on a bed when she was a young baby and wasn't at the stage where she could roll around. Admittedly not with a large dog around. But I DO NOT for one second think that I am or have EVER been neglectful to my daughter for leaving her somewhere asleep and not in my my eyesight... if this makes me a neglectful parent in most of your eyes then so be it. I'm as best a mother to my daughter as I can be and she has never come to any harm despite my "neglect"

[mscat]

Put the whole story together.... Not saying this parent was neglectful for just leaving the babies on the bed. It is the harsh reality that newborns were left unattended where a large dog killed a helpless human being. This is what angers me.

[doglvrfrombirth]

Originally Posted by AvyQuinn

PPOR please.

I'd like to read what I can about this case.

OK fine....I'll come clean...I'm connected to this story. I won't say how...those details aren't needed, but I will let you know that I'm not the mother, nor am I related to them.

I also want to mention that every single person I have spoken with about this story, that happens to be a parent, has said that they have ALL left their infants laying on their bed. One mother even said her son fell off the bed! Things like that happen every day, all over the world.

What everyone here is commenting on is the story from the newspaper. First story stated the baby was mauled. The second story stated that it wasn't a mauling. And went on to say that the mother, WHO IS TOO DISTRAUGHT, hasn't been able to talk to the police. So, obviously, they were wrong in what they said in the initial story.....which shows you that you can't always believe exactly what you read in the paper!!!!!

I do know, for a fact, that the parents were keeping the dogs and babies in separate areas. Since the mother has not talked about this yet, we DON'T KNOW how the dog got into the bedroom. We can speculate, but we don't know. So far, they are reporting that they don't think the dog meant any harm to the baby. Dogs have stuffed animals as toys, that squeak....I know mine does. A 3 week old baby is pretty small, probably close in size to some dog toys, especially toys for larger dogs. And a dog that has never been introduced to babies may not know the difference.

All I'm asking is that you all have some compassion for these parents, who are not neglectful, but caring and loving and were so happy to finally welcome babies into their life. My gosh...what if this was you? Your family? Your friends? Your co-workers? Would you want to find a message board saying that you/they are neglectful parents? I'm pretty sure the answer is NO. Put yourself in their shoes, and truly understand and feel what it is like to lose your 3 week old daughter to a tragedy. These parents feel completely terrible and I'm sure are both blaming themselves in some way, shape, or form. Don't add insult to injury.

[AvyQuinn]

Originally Posted by doglvrfrombirth

All I'm asking is that you all have some compassion for these parents, who are not neglectful, but caring and loving and were so happy to finally welcome babies into their life. My gosh...what if this was you? Your family? Your friends? Your co-workers? Would you want to find a message board saying that you/they are neglectful parents? I'm pretty sure the answer is NO. Put yourself in their shoes, and truly understand and feel what it is like to lose your 3 week old daughter to a tragedy. These parents feel completely terrible and I'm sure are both blaming themselves in some way, shape, or form. Don't add insult to injury.

I think that all of us here have some sort of compassion here; for the dog or the lone twin who doesn't have her other half now, and some have compassion for the mother. Others don't.

This is a public forum where opinions run rampant. We all have something to say and we all would like to be considered. THAT is where the similarities end. All our opinions are legitimate and since there is this thing called free speech - we are allowed to voice them how we see fit. Don't make us feel guilty for the opinions that we hold. Things happen in life all the time and people will learn from the experiences others have in this life - the good and the bad.

[doglvrfrombirth]

Originally Posted by AvyQuinn

I think that all of us here have some sort of compassion here; for the dog or the lone twin who doesn't have her other half now, and some have compassion for the mother. Others don't.

This is a public forum where opinions run rampant. We all have something to say and we all would like to be considered. THAT is where the similarities end. All our opinions are legitimate and since there is this thing called free speech - we are allowed to voice them how we see fit. Don't make us feel guilty for the opinions that we hold. Things happen in life all the time and people will learn from the experiences others have in this life - the good and the bad.

I can't "make" anyone feel any certain way and I'm most certainly not trying to. We all have the right to our own opinions, yes, but form that opinion once you know the entire story. And...imagine yourself as the mother in this situation before you throw a harsh opinion, such as neglect, out there.

It's so easy to form opinions and make judgements on people we don't know. But, like I said...what if this was you, your family, your friend, your co-worker, etc., would you be so quick to form that same opinion?