Deseret News | Boy recovering from pit bull attack

Reader comments
Boy recovering from pit bull attack

Page:
1
2
Next >

Anonymous | 2:44 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

ANDREW IS JUST A YOUNG BOY, THE DOG SOULD OF BEEN MORE SECURE .MY SON HAS A WOLF HE IS UNDER LOCK AND KEY JUST LIKE THE PIT SHOULD BE.
.ANDREW IS SCARED FOR LIE GOD BE WITH YOU ANDREW.

Ralph | 3:21 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

People who keep such animals should do some considerable time in the clink. Four misdemeanant citations and a polite sanitized discussion regarding the demise of this cute little doggy does not render adequate justice. Tang's owner provided the usual lame excuses which are often casually thrown out when justifying the existence of this vicious breed.

ER | 5:20 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

And still we don't learn. It will happen again and again, ask any Emergency Room nurse. Until it's your family, it's just a personal interest story that one quickly forgets. Dangerous dog owner should be held responsible for their pets. If the owner did this to a 5 year old child there would be an uproar.

Comments continue below

Liability | 5:32 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Maybe a civil action against Tang- should be strictly liable for damages. No defense when damages caused by an extra hazardous dog.

Justice for all | 5:42 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Wow. What a pathological liar Tang's owner is. I hope Andrew's family files a significant lawsuit against the owner to help protect children from future attacks. I believe it would be a deterrent if there was an actual consequence to these asinine dog attacks. A "fine" and putting the dog down don't seem to stop owners from putting others in harm's way.

And to Anonymous above, your son is asking for trouble by owning a wolf.

Anonymous | 5:51 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

I think it's cool there is an account set up for Andrew. I hope the owner is the first one in line dumping most everything he owns into that account.

I am a father, and I am a dog owner (never a pit). If this happened to my child, you would be sure the lawsuit would already be filed. If my dog did something similar, even if the child provoked it, you would also be sure the dog would already be put down, and I would be doing the best I could to pay for my animal's behavior.

Anonymous | 5:52 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

This owner needs to be liable for the medical expenses as well as pay for the scars he will carry for life, both mental and phisical. Why anyone owns a dog like this is simply a mistery to me.
Vick kills a few of these dogs and looses millions. The owner that put this young boy in danger should pay a like price. It should be just as publisised as to deter this problem in the future!!!

Dog owners... | 6:14 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

OFTEN Make bad neighbors.

I mean if the dogs aren't attacking your children, they're pooping on your lawn and killing the plants in your front yard and barking at all hours of the night and day. Then your children step in the poop and track it into your house....you get the point. I see dog owners letting their dogs poop in city parks etc. all the time.

If you want to own a dog, keep it locked up somewhere where I can't smell it, see it, or hear it...PLEASE!

And if you want to own a viscous people eating animal THAT makes you an even WORSE neighbor. It should be illegal to breed and own such dogs unless they are ALWAYS locked up securely with NO chance of escape (again, where they can't be seen, heard, or smelled). Do the world a favor and euthanize your "pets". My children and ALL children will be much safer.

Signed, Someone who is sick and tired of others' irresponsible pet habits.

Very telling | 6:43 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

..... "no dog license and no proof of rabies shots"...

This in and of itself proves that Tang's owner can not be trusted to own a pet much less a breed that is notorious for attacking humans. To all the Pit Bull lovers--dont even bring up "its how they are socialized, or "its how the owners raise the dog". The key is this breed was specifically bred for fighting and killing.

Kamis | 7:34 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

I hope that guy has homeowner's insurance that will help pay that boy's medical bills.

His pet, his responsibility - regardless of whether or not the neighbor kid aggravated the dog and let him out. Tough lesson.

To: "Dog owners" | 7:53 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

What in the world happened to you to make you so bitter?

A loving pet is one of the supreme joys of life. Our furry little baby brings us infinite amounts of unconditional love, happiness and laughter. We are responsible pet owners. We walk our dog on a leash and clean up after her.

As for Pit Bulls - it depends on the owner. It depends on how the dogs are treated and trained. A friend brought his 5 month old pit bull to our house and he was just the sweetest clumsy puppy, not the tiniest bit mean. And look at Caesar Milan's Pit. The one he takes with him everywhere as a calm example to other dogs?

Mimi | 8:05 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Pit Bulls are always gentle and sweet...until they chew someone to death. An extremely unpredictable breed.

Anonymous | 8:45 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

What a beautiful child! How tragic...but he is still beautiful...those eyes are so blue. I can't quite see him letting the dog out...he is quite young.

To 7:53 | 8:52 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Thank you for cleaning up and being responsible. I'd dare say you are among the 5% that do...but I'd have to agree with "Dog Owners 6:14"...simply because I know several people that have been attacked unprovoked by dangerous breeds of dogs...and I have a lot of dog doo doo on my lawn and I don't even own a dog.

As for pit bulls...meanness is bred into them. One day they will snap and attack someone needlessly...no matter how nice and sweet they were up to that point.

Anonymous | 10:01 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

How many of these vicious maulings must be endured before these animals are outlawed in domestic settings?

No more pets. | 2:42 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I doubt anyone is going to agree with me. But, amimals belong in the wild. To me, pets are slaves. They are also dangerous, destructive, and often a nuisance. I truly wish that I could move into a neighborhood that had a no pet agreement. Perhaps I'd feel different if people truly took care of their pets, and had them trained correctly. But, too many people are not that responsible. Nobody should ever have to live next to a home with a barking dog. NEVER!

Utah Doc | 5:46 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

BAN THIS BREED!

How many children must be maimed before we rid these monsters from our society.

Pit Bulls are illegal | 6:46 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

to own in South Jordan. Good for South Jordan! Seems that city has some common sense.

Chris J. | 7:37 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I can't believe my eyes when I read the dog owner state it was the innocent 5 year old boys fault! The dog owner is at fault for rearing a viscous dog and keeping him insecurely detained, as I'm sure the misdemeanors attest.
That dog should be shot point blank, and the owner railroaded out of Utah, so he can't molest our children in this fashion.
To the dog owner: Stand up and take some responsibility for your actions (Like a REAL man).

Chris | 7:48 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I would have to agree with the dog owners....
In all my married life I have lived next to dog owners who (with one exception) always let their dog bark whenever we were outside. They barked all the time and nothing was ever done to quiet them. I have had to scoop dog poop off of my lawn almost everyday.
And you wonder why people who don't have dogs are bitter?

Anonymous | 7:57 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

"Tang's owner"? What's the individual's name?

And how can a little boy possibly release a vicious animal that's properly secured?

Anonymous | 7:58 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

A locked gate that a five year old can open is not secure enough for a dog with that kind of capability to hurt humans! If he opened it or not is not a valid argument here! The dog owner is responsible for this tragedy! Its nice there is a fund set up for Andrew's care, but the dog owner or his insurance should be paying all the medical bills. When will these dogs be outlawed? How many more children need to be hurt or killed before they are no longer allowed in neighborhoods?

@To: "Dog owners" | 8:16 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Lots of empty words. Now, try to explain to the child involved why he was mauled by a loving pet.

Anonymous | 8:23 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

These dogs are only as dangerous as their owners make them. We had a pitbull living next dooor for years and he was a very gentle dog. We also have had large part wolf dogs and they were very good and gentle dogs

Anonymous | 8:25 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Pit Bulls are notorius for attacking people and this one should be put down. My heart goes out to this little boy. My son was attacked by a dog when he was 6 yrs. old and took a piece of his scalp out. I wouldn't have a dog that would bite people.

Chance | 8:38 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

THe pit lovers will be all over this, but I have been saying for years now: Ban Pit Bulls and other dangerous dogs like Rotties. If you do the research, these animals have done some terrible things to little kids and it has happened alot, for no apparent reason often times. Kill them all. OR, lets domesticate and allow people to keep Mountain Lions for pets. Same thing.

JAIL TIME | 9:16 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Tang's owners need JAIL TIME.

PAY FOR IT | 9:17 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

... and Tang's owners should be forced to pay the medical bills!

No common sense | 9:45 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Anonymous: you are correct. How long? If put before the voters, a measure to ban these dogs would pass 80/20. The little boy will be afraid of any dog the rest of his life. At some point our elected people need to show a modicum of common sense. Ban all dangerous animals - wolves, pit bulls, snakes, all of them.

To 7:53 | 10:23 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Yeah...all dogs are cute when they're puppies. But Pit Bulls and some other breeds grow up and eat you.... nuff said

To No More Pets | 10:38 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I have pets, I've had them in the past, and I'll probably have them in the future. I don't go out looking for one - some irresponsible hump dumps them on my front porch or I see them bleeding and sick and take them in. I wish I didn't have them a lot of the time. Hair and fur and stinking poop and vet bills and then they die and I have to bury them and sob at their graves. But, that's the way it is. I, like you, wish there was a neighborhood that banned them and that to live in that neighborhood, you couldn't have a pet - outside NOR inside. Add to that children under 25. There. Now we'd be happy, wouldn't we?

I just have to say | 10:42 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

that it seems very weird to me that a 5-year old was all by himself, wondering around the neighborhood and that this happened in the first place. Where were his parents? Why was he all alone? And, just let some of you think about it for a minute - this child has probably been out doing all kinds of ornery stuff all the time. And his parents have probably condoned, taught and encouraged him in it.

Phil | 11:38 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

The said thing is that the person who is at fault, will probably never pay much. Personal responsibility does not go far when you have so many ways to get out of paying civil court judgments. The biggest question will be can this guy pay anything is it even worth a filing fee.

TO Tang | 11:42 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I am so sorry you feel so damage by this boy, the boy may have been responsible for letting this dog out. I know so many kids who go up to vicious dog pens and let them out. Oh wait how has the dog owner been damaged? He had to clean the blood off his dog.

It all depends | 11:43 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I've had neighbors with mean, aggressive dogs that frightened me, and also neighbors with kind, affectionate dogs. It all depends on the individual circumstances.

Stick it to the dog's owner | 11:57 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Only an idiot would have a dog like that. Pit Bulls are of no use except for attacking people. This kid would never have been hurt if some idiot didn't have a pit bull running amuck. I say stick it to the owner!

Anonymous | 12:37 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I have first hand witnessed kids in my neighborhood teasing my dogs when I had them locked in a kennel. They would throw rocks and sticks at them, trying to get my dogs riled up. I asked them to stop, but it was a little to late. My dog ended up biting my son in his face 2 times, and my son needed emergency plastic surgery. Needless to say, the very next day, I put the dog down. It was very hard to do, but I could not let the dog go on knowing that he could do that now. He normally was not a vicious dog, but I feel the kids caused him to get that way. Best thing, take your dogs inside, or lock them in a garage if kids are around, and can tease them. Protect both the dogs and the kids.

Anonymous | 12:49 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

One other thing, when my son got attacked by the dog, he never blamed the dog for the attack. He still loves dogs, and is not afraid of them, however, he is a little more cautious now around dogs, and shows responsibility. He honestly misses the dog I had to put down, and still cries because he misses him.

JAYEG | 1:12 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Re: Dog owners... | 6:14 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

While I would agree that it is annoying to hear neighbor's dogs barking day and night, or that their dogs might roam loose and poop in your yard...I would also say that unruly neighborhood children can also be quite annoying as well.

We have neighbors whose kids roam unsupervised. They are sometimes destructive to other folk's private property, and they are often noisy and obnoxious.

We have a number of senior citizens in the neighborhood who cannot tolerate the usual day to day neighborhood noise. If they so much as hear a neighbor's radio while he's washing his car, they call the cops. If a child so much as kicks a ball over their fence, they call the cops. If a dog poops on their easement, they call animal control.

But disruptive and destructive children, barking dogs, and the odd pile of poop here and there from is part and parcel to living in a neighborhood.

If you can't handle it...it might be better for you to consider moving where people are scarce.

JAYEG | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

As I look at the picture of this child, I thank the powers that be, and how quickly the older children ran for help, that this didn't result in another fatality.

A 5 year old child is quite helpless. And this dog is said to be 50-60 pounds. The dog took this child down in the blink of an eye, biting him beneath one armpit, and ripping his cheek off.

IMPO...regardless of how the dog got loose, or what might have transpired in the past...a dog who is running loose, and who mauls a human being, and especially a helpless child, should be automatically euthenized.

The dogs owner should be required to pay the medical costs, as well as counseling for the child. He's going to need it.

JAYEG | 1:28 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Consider this. The owner of this particular dog provided no proof of rabies shots.

This means that anyone the dog bites must undergo rabies treatment.

In the United States, post-exposure treatment for rabies consists of a regimen of one dose of rabies immune globulin and five doses of the rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Doctors administer the rabies immune globulin and the first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible after exposure. Normally, additional doses of rabies vaccine follow on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination.

This sure beats the former treatment, which involved very painful daily injections into the abdomen for a period of about 5 weeks. Quite a few side effects too.

Dog owners MUST be held financially accountable when their dog bites or mauls a human being.

Scott | 1:48 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed? The majority of these (anti-pit) comments appear to have been formulated and written by a select few, (The names being changed to protect the 'Guilty'). Check out syntax usage and spelling errors throughout most of the postings. Why do these people proudly exhibit their low IQ, and find enjoyment in sharing ignorant and unsubstantiated dialogue with the rest of us? Stop hiding behind false monikers and 'Anonymous' postings...and cite your sources. [Fools need not apply].

Anonymous | 2:08 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Maybe dog owners should be required to carry special insurance that covers everything from counseling to funeral costs.

What right do people have to take risks with other people's lives?

JAYEG | 3:05 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

RE: Anonymous | 2:08 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Some cities have passed legislation requiring the owners of certain breeds of dogs known for aggressive tendencies to carry a substantial amount of insurance.

JAYEG | 3:15 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Owning a dog is not a right. It is a privilege. Some dog owners own up to their responsibilities as dog owners. They provide proper care, training, and containing of the animal.

Others clearly do not.

The most important consideration should be the safety of our children. And it angers me whenever I see another picture of another child who has been maimed...or even worse, read of another dog attack fatality.

dan | 3:49 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

Dog needs to be put down period. it will be when not if that the dog will do it again.

To Scott... | 5:09 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

You obviously think you are a lot smarter than you really are, or you would know that pit bulls are dangerous.

Case in point...there are people that think it is a good thing to reinstate wolves into the wild. Common sense would tell a reasonable person this was unwise. One of their arguments was that "there have been no documented wolf attacks on humans". Well, I personally know two people that have been attacked by wolves. One in the wild, and one in captivity. SO why aren't these cases documented? By the way, the "reinstate the wolves" thing has turned out very badly. I suspect that there are a lot of pit bull owners out there that are so emotionally attached to their dogs that they WILL NOT accept common sense, nor will they accept the documented cases of pit bull attacks as valid. But it happens FAR TOO OFTEN. And I personall know of a young boy that was attacked by the neighbors pit bull.
So why don't you do some research yourself so that you can be as smart as the rest of us that have the gift of common sense. Pit Bulls are DANGEROUS.

Grow up | 5:38 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I hope they put down the mangy pit bull who did this horrible thing to this sweet little child. The owner of the dog has rocks in his head to try to shove all the blame onto this little boy. LETS GET SERIOUS!

A reasonable solution | 7:33 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

My wife and I have a 1/2 pit and 1/2 retriever. He's a silly dog who loves to chew on soft toys, blankets and will do tricks for any type of food. He loves everyone he meets when we are with him, but if you try and enter the backyard without us there he'll most likely tear your face off.

That having been said:
I understand the thoughts on both sides of the argument. The world would not become less of a place if we decided to neuter all pit bulls OR only allow them to breed with a friendly dog such as Lab, Retriever etc. The new offspring or new species ( example Pit Lab or Pit Retriever)is a just fine mix.

Anyways everyone knows that pure breeds have more health problems than mixed breeds.

He still loves to wrestle and fight a bit but upon the snap of a finger or stomp of a foot he comes to attention and sits still. In other words s

dog lover | 2:33 a.m. Nov. 15, 2009

I am so sorry for anyone who is bitten or attacked by any dog. I feel it is a crime to abuse any animal and people who raise their dogs to be vicious should not be allowed to own dogs. I own a part pit, part lab. I have to honestly say that she is the best dog I have ever owned. At first my neighbors were afraid of "a pit bull" I know that every single one of them would say that my dog is so well behaved and gentle that she is trusted by all. Any dog and attack and bite, pit bulls get the worst wrap. I have been bitten by other peoples dogs several times when I was younger. Never by a ppit bull.

Page:
1
2
Next >

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.