Being responsible for the death of your own baby has got to send you straight into a living hell. Tragically, it's happened yet again, as a 7-month-old baby was attacked and killed by the family dog. The baby girl was found dead when the police arrived after her mother called 911, when their Rottweiler attacked little Annabelle Mitchell. The mother and her toddler son were also in the house at the time of the attack, but clearly not anywhere close enough to have prevented the tragic, and brutal, death.
These stories are so absolutely devastating. As a dog lover, but a realist, I have a hard time understanding putting your child at risk by even owning an aggressive dog. Leaving the baby alone in the same room as the dangerous animal is even more flabbergasting. Of course, the autopsy report has not been released, and no further details are available. So we really don't know exactly what happened. But one thing is obvious: dogs and babies do not mix.
Yes, most dogs can chill around kids. We've seen enough adorable dog and baby YouTube videos to prove that point. But if you're even slightly suspicious that your dog might not react well to a tiny child, either get rid of the dog or keep the two separated at all costs. But really, you should be getting rid of a dog that is capable of killing your baby.
Of course hindsight is 20/20, and we really don't know what went on in the house before this deadly day. But Rottweilers, like Pit Bulls, are strong and built to defend. I don't understand why people have these dogs, period, but much less around children. Unless you're an owner who is 100% responsible and trains your dog properly, these dogs with the jaws of steel can be dangerous. And while we all know someone who falls into the responsible dog owner category, there are thousands more who simply do not.
The Rottweiler was put down by the local police, thank god. Since the baby's 2 1/2-year-old brother, it seems, was simply lucky to have not been a victim as well.
Do you have a dog like this around your children?
Image via Daisyree Bakker/Flickr
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Comments 152
I am an avid dog lover, but dogs are dangerous. I did not leave my children outside of arms length away from me when our dogs was in the house. I am more lenient now that he is used to them, but i am always within eye sight of the dog and the children. you have to respect the dog's natural instinct.
we have a pit bull! and my dd is 14months old! he has never hurt anyone! the owners r always to blame the dog does wat it has been taught! im sorry for the family it is awful!!
we use to have a dog but once she after my son and nipped him that was the end. we sent her back to the shelter and we deicde right there no more dogs. now since that happen my son is afarid of dogs and will not go near them at all but he loves cats and we adopted a cat about 3 weeks and he loves her and she is really good with him too.
When I was 4 I had a chunk taken out of my leg by my uncles rotti just for walking outside (where I had been all morning). He was trained and raised with other young children but unfortunately any dog can snap and rotti's have some pretty big jaws and teeth to back it up. All dogs should be trained and watched around children.... but some breeds tend to pose a bigger risk or might require extra training. I'll stick with our sweet lazy beagle :)
Ummm...FYI April, Rotweilers and Pit Bulls make wonderful family pets. Pit Bulls used to be called "nanny dogs" for a reason FFS. They aren't "built to defend". Please do some research before you trash a certain breed. No matter what breed of dog you own, you should NEVER leave it alone with a small child. A pomeranian attacked and killed an infant. Oh god..better start banning pomeranians now. NO. This is all about parental responsibility. Supervise, supervise, supervise. Blame the deed, not the breed.