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
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 83
Wild animals should NOT be pets period!
Kids can be quick and quiet, no matter how much you child proof your home your child is going to get hurt. My friends kid almost chopped the tip of his finger off in a door, so does that mean that we should take all of our doors down? Besides, A pitt bull is a very good family dog. They are loyal and protective and can be better with kids than a golden retriever. As for the fish, piranhas can be very expensive fish and whos to say if maybe they had them fish before even finding out that they were pregnant, would you be willing to flush an investment down the toliet? People say there not classy, maybe, maybe not. but they are americans with the freedom to choose whatever pets they want to have.
Pit bulls if raised properly are said to have one of the best temperments of any breed. And as for the pirranah, these fish very very rarely bite or attack unless their is blood in the water - there have been countless studies to prove this. This is hardly a question of responsible parenting.
My6Rocks lol im so confused, why did you mention an octopus? lol they are not fish nor are fish gifted with escape skills. I mean they are kinda famous for being hudinis dude, the pirahna not so much
It amazes me to see how much people don't even know about pitbulls.., fish aside an animal can react differently from what it learns from it's human. So most people don't want pitbulls cause they think their evil dogs... when really it's evil people who train the dog to become as such.
Fish though I wouldn't have a pet pirahna and I hope he just does away with them for the sake of the child.