Dog that accidently strangled young girl to be re-homed

Dukesdad

I followed this sad story recently. A six year old girl in Long Island was accidently strangled by the family Golden Retreiver when the dog playfully grabbed the girl's scarf and started playing tug of war.
Through this horrible tragedy the family did not blame the dog and has sent her off to the Helen Woodward Animal Center for adoption.

Here is a link to the story about the shelter helping to relocate the dog:
http://www.animalcenter.org/news/releases/Jesse2-2-06.aspx

Samsintentions · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 4291 Location: Texas

Oh that is so sad! Another reason dogs need to be trained. had this dog been trained to stop playing with a simple word or jesture, this would have never happened.

I really feel for the family though. Its not the dogs fault. And I don't blame the little girl. Where were the parents?

Mockingcat · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject:

The family didn't blame the dog, but still dumped it off to a shelter to rehome. Neutral

Samsintentions · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 4291 Location: Texas

That kinda made me wonder as well... Shocked

honeybears · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 3630

wow, that is a tragic story, but I am glad the dogs is being rehomed.

I would have never in a million years thought of an accident like that happenening, but now I can see that happening, knowing how much my dogs like to play tug of war and most dogs do.

Shineillusion · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject:

So tragic, and made doubly so by the fact that it was totally preventable. Another excellent illustration of why small children and dogs should be supervised at all times.

Samsintentions · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 4291 Location: Texas

Right!

Well the only thing I can say, is that I'm glad they took the dog to a rescue instead on imideately eithanizing him!!

Jamiya · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 5593

doglover1234 · Member Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

I am with Jamiya, I wouldent be able to face the dog accident or not everyday. I think they are showing a huge gesture of their love for the dog by having her rehomed instead of putting her to sleep.

Mockingcat · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject:

I guess I'm an oddball. If my (hypothetical at this point) daughter fell out of a tree and died, I wouldn't cut down the tree. But I'd have to take all the mirrors out of my house.

Jamiya · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 5593

A dog is not a tree. You don't have to feed a tree, play with a tree, interact with a tree every day. If you don't have a child, you can't know. If I lost a child, I might possibly have to move to a new place and "start over" without all the daily reminders.

Mockingcat · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject:

Jamiya · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 5593

Mockingcat · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject:

Jamiya · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 5593

Mockingcat · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject:

elizavixen · Senior Member Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 683 Location: SC

Out of sheer morbid curiosity, what would you do if it were reversed? The child accidentally killed the dog? Or even further, your child accidentally killed your other child?

I think if they truly didn't think the dog was at fault, the would keep it. Now it's like they have nothing. Giving the dog away doesn't help, it just gives them one more loss.

But of course....I don't have any children.

doglover1234 · Member Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 42

Not knocking anyones feelings, having your own child is the most powerfull feeling anyone will ever have and truly until that happens its imposible to judge that. I understand loving family members but as Jamiya said it is more powerfull whether you want it to be or not when that is your own child, your work, your tears, joys, ups and downs , it is diffrent. As a parent you do value your childs life more then others its a natural instinct , its unexplainable until you yourself experience it.

So that being said yes it would be diffrent if your child accidently killed your dog. And if your child accidently child another one of your children I wouldent even want to imagine the pain but no you wouldent get rid of that child. It is diffrent here, again I feel it shows their love for the dog in not putting it to sleep and realizing it was not the animals fault.

Shineillusion · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:20 am Post subject:

I don't know about situations where a child has killed a pet, but in families where one child has been responsible for the death of a sibling, lives are destroyed, families are torn apart, and nothing is ever the same. Even with professional help, the wounds may never heal. The child is all too aware of the blame and the resentment, and the sense of guilt may be too much to bear.

No, most people don't just give their child away, although in some situations children may be sent to live with a relative, and in some instances people relenquish their parental rights and the child ends up in a foster home. Severe, crippling depression is not unusual for these kids, as well as personality disorders and suicidal ideation.