It wasn't a pitbull this time, but the child still died

[DogMom]

Dog euthanized after mauling child

NEW PORT RICHEY - The dog involved in this weekend's fatal mauling of a 20-month-old child has been euthanized.

Pasco Animal Services manager Denise Hilton says the Rottweiler was destroyed after its owners relinquished custody to officers.

Investigators say the dog, named Willie, killed Dallas Walters at a relative's home Saturday night. The boy dropped a cookie and was attacked when he reached to retrieve it, the sheriff's office said.

The dog, a 1-year-old male, had not been neutered, Hilton said. Its body will be sent to a state lab for rabies testing.

Hilton said Willie was not registered in Pasco County. His owners told animal control that they had gotten the dog from someone in Tampa two months ago.

A person who lives at the home where the attack occurred, presumably the dog's owner, declined to comment by telephone.

"Stop bothering me," he said.

Hilton said the owner granted the county custody of the dog shortly after the Saturday evening attack.

The sheriff's office said it does not appear criminal charges are likely, labeling Dallas Walters' death an accident.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/new...-attack-121409

[Athena]

If I'm not mistaken, Rottweilers are responsible for more deaths annually than Pits.

I don't agree with the owners being jumped on because the dog was supposed to have been chained up outside. No dog should be chained consistently or for extended periods of time, but it's not unreasonable to chain a dog temporarily. My dog is an indoor dog 98% of the time. She's probably in my bedroom, loungin' on the bed as we speak. But if I'm having a get-together where there will be too many people and/or small children inside, I may leash Elke up outdoors for that period of time. For all we know, this may have been the case with this dog.

These owners should have made sure the chain was more secure, but with the information we have, we shouldn't assume this was anything more than a tragic accident.

[moonlilly1981]

From my experience little dog breeds tend to be more agressive with children then larger breeds. You just dont hear about them mauling children because they are small and dont do nearly as much damage as a large breed like a rottie.

[Athena]

From my experience little dog breeds tend to be more agressive with children then larger breeds. You just dont hear about them mauling children because they are small and dont do nearly as much damage as a large breed like a rottie.

Oh, absolutely. The top ten most aggressive dogs are primarily small dogs, wiener dogs, Jack Russels, terriers, etc. I've got a scar on my upper lip from a terrier trying to rip it off when I was 3 and leaned down to pet it at a dinner party. But, because, as you mentioned, big dogs are capable of so much more damage, they're going to get the bad rep.

[moonlilly1981]

Oh, absolutely. The top ten most aggressive dogs are primarily small dogs, wiener dogs, Jack Russels, terriers, etc. I've got a scar on my upper lip from a terrier trying to rip it off when I was 3 and leaned down to pet it at a dinner party. But, because, as you mentioned, big dogs are capable of so much more damage, they're going to get the bad rep.

Thank you Athena. Im sorry you were bit as a child. I wont have a small dog just because of my experience with them. I have never been bit ever by a dog. But I have watched the behavior of small dogs and just wont have it. Small dogs tend to be more hyper as well. It just burns me up when I see these larger breeds get ragged on by persons who have little to no experience with them. The ignorance of others is the reason why dogs like my peepaws get put down at the shelters.

[smallwonder4]

This dog was just a puppy! Already so food aggressive. So sad.

My childhood pet, a beagle, used to get to spend time chained to the deck enjoying the sunshine. I'm not opposed to that sort of short-term, supervised chaining. I do, however, think it's foolish to chain the dog up when having a party. At his age, they should have been teaching him how to fit in with people, when instead they were teaching him frustration around gatherings by chaining him up. Of course, he should have been neutered too.

[Cassy]

In 2011, dogs have killed 8 Americans so far. Of these deaths, 5 were caused by pit bulls, two by Rottweilers and one by an akita.

http://dogbitelaw.com/recent-usa-fat...atalities.html

Dog Bite-related Fatalities in the United States Year↓ Total↓ # Most fatal attacks by↓ # Second-most fatal attacks by↓
1988 1 Labrador Retriever (1) (100%)
2005 29 Pit Bull (16) (55%) Rottweiler (6) (21%)
2006 29 Pit Bull (15) (52%) Rottweiler (9) (31%)
2007 34 Pit Bull (18) (53%) Rottweiler (4) (12%)
2008 23 Pit Bull (14) (61%) Husky (3) (13%)
2009 30 Pit Bull (14) (47%) Rottweiler (4) (13%)
2010 33 Pit Bull (23) (70%) Rottweiler (4) (12%)
2011 8 Pit Bull (5) (63%) Rottweiler (2) (25%)

I was reading the individual stories, more than 1/2 of those fatalities were multiple dog attacks and the dogs were roaming. Dogs will attack if their pack mate attacks. Idiots seem to choose these breeds. They also seem to be more widely abused than other breeds, although I can find no stats to back that up.

I own a 150 pound WIMP, rotti/lab. My large rabbit used to slap him down regularly and eat the peas out of his food dish. Poor puppy!! :( My lab/chow is psycho.

Both dogs love children and small animals (I have rabbits) and have never bitten, but they're large...and they're dogs and I exercise extreme caution.

[misfirefly]

It is not the breed it is how you care for the animal. I bought my mother a pitt-mix from the pound 7 yrs ago, who was a rescue ( thwe only reason she wasn't put down is she was pregnant and ready to deliver) and she is the best dog we've ever had. If I had to say what her personality describes, I'd say gratefull to be loved.