I thought this story was shocking enough when I read that a pet piranha actually bit off the tip of a toddler's finger recently. I mean we always hear about the dangers of dogs and small children, but I never really stopped to consider the fish tank. Of course, most people don't put piranhas in the fish tank ... but that's another story.
This incident happened last week in Chicago, and an 18-month-old girl was the victim. According to the Chicago Tribune, when the family first saw the bleeding remains of their daughter's finger, they feared it was their dog, a 65-pound pit bull, that was responsible. But after an ambulance whisked her to the hospital, doctors told them it was no dog bite.
The father -- who was still at home -- quickly realized what must have happened after the family called with the news, and then he did something really shocking.
He plunged his hand into that fish tank, grabbed one of the two piranhas, and gutted the thing. A spokesperson for the sheriff's department told the paper:
He had no fear; these were truly fatherly instincts. He grabbed a knife and cut it open and found her fingertip right there.
He took the fingertip to the hospital where they tried to reattach it. It's unclear whether it worked or not, but that's a pretty intense dad demonstration of love regardless.
I would hope I could do the same, but I'm not sure. Of course, I'd never keep piranhas in my house either, which sounds like a pretty bad idea from the get go with small children around. I'm thinking maybe a nice new goldfish should perhaps be their next pet.
Do you think you'd be able to do what this dad did? Do you think it's irresponsible to have piranhas as pets if you have small children?
Image via The_gut/Flickr
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Comments 83
My, my, we're judgy this morning.
Perhaps the father was at home in case they DID find that it was the dog, and the dog needed to be taken to the vet to have the finger removed from his system?
I don't understand what is so "shocking" about what this father did. It was a fish that he gutted, not the dog. And I'm sure, contrary to the reporting in the Trib, that the man didn't "plunge his hand into the fish bowl". Likely, it was a TANK, as pirhanas are too big for bowls, and he likely used a net.
This is a story about a freakish accident, that's all. The parents are not horrible for keeping either the Pit or the pirhanas. DHS investigated, if you read the attached, and found nothing amiss.
I think the people who are talking about the dangerous animal bs are stupid. I am sorry but but any dog can have a mean streak. Hell I have a little 5 pound Chihuahua that my neighbours are scared of. And having Piranhas is no different then having a snake or other "dangerous" type of animal. And on a second note----How can you talk about the father staying home---there could have been other children that had to stay home, he could have been waiting for animal control since they thought the dog bite her. Just because he stayed home does not mean he does not care or love his child. Honestly I am glad he stayed home because he was able to find out what really happened.
Um, why the hell do they have a pet piranha in the first place? #ParentOfTheYearFail
There is nothing wrong with having a pit bull and a pet piranha in the house with small children. My mom always had pets like that while we were growing up. She kept a heavy acrylic lid on the fish tank and our pit bulls were loving companions just like your average black lab or hound dog. It's all in how you take your precautions and how you raise a dog! Some people are so ignorant!
"before bashing him for not "having a locking system" google what kind of upkeep it takes to care for them"
Guess what ghostbaby? It's takes more to raise a kid than a fish, and I didn't even have to google it. That said, if you have kids and care about your fish, a locking system on your tank is a good idea. Google it! If you keep an octopus (which I have researched as well as many other specialty species) you must keep it in the tank with some kind of latching or locking system to keep it from escaping and killing itself. Why can't people go the extra mile when taking on responsibilities?
Look, just use some common sense. Put in reasonable protection for your children when you can.
t0vanal- The best practice to not get chased by any dog is to not run. Seriously. Any dogs that are aggressive (pit bull or otherwise) will run after you. And no eye contact, just pretend they don't exist. If this is a pretty regular occurance, I would put a call into the local animal control. Maybe a visit by animal control be enough to get the owners to put their dogs on a lead or in a fenced in area. I hope you have a positive interaction with a pit bull one day, I have two half pits, and they are the sweetest dogs : )
As for the pirahnas, I would not have one in my house, ever. I thought they were considered exotic animals?