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Child recovering from dog-attack wounds Date published: 5/22/2008
BY KEITH EPPS Jeannette Brady wasn't overly concerned when her 16-month-old son wandered away briefly last week. She wasn't immediately alarmed that the child had been knocked to the ground by a neighbor's dog in the seconds it took for her to catch up with him. But what she saw moments later was something that still has her badly shaken--the dog, a pit bull, had ripped open little Jacob Brady's face, causing a wound that required reconstructive surgery and about 90 stitches to close. "This was a dog that [Jacob] and other children in the neighborhood had played with a million times," Brady said this week. "I would have never expected the dog to react the way it did." The brief but vicious attack took place last Wednesday in a trailer park on Potts Lane in Fairview Beach, King George Sheriff Moose Dobson said. The pit bull, Harley, is owned by a family that Brady said has been good friends with her family and lives a short distance away. The 15-month-old dog is currently quarantined, Dobson said. Its fate is yet to be determined. "It was a shock to everyone," Dobson said. "There had never been any complaints about the dog being aggressive before." Brady said she was outside with Jacob planting flowers last Wednesday, when she saw Jacob rounding a corner into the neighbor's yard. There is a vacant trailer between the two homes, but Dobson said there is little distance between the Bradys' and the dog's home. Jacob had reached the dog, which was on a chain, by the time his mother caught up with him. For no apparent reason, Brady said, the dog lunged at Jacob. Brady said at first she thought the dog had merely knocked the child down. Then she noticed her son was bleeding profusely. Brady said King George rescue workers responded quickly to her call and immediately made the decision to have the child flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital. There Jacob had extensive surgery before returning home a few days later. Brady said the child might need more surgery. Brady said it appears that Jacob will have no lasting scars from the incident, either emotionally or physically. The toddler plays with the family Weimaraner just as he did before. "His father and I are having a lot more trouble dealing with what happened than Jacob is," Brady said. Adding to the stress is the close friendship between the Bradys and Harley's owners. Brady said that even though they don't blame the owners and know that they are sorry, there is still a strain. Dobson said the case is being reviewed by the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, but he said it is unlikely that any charges will be filed. He said that while there are animal bites from time to time in the county, Jacob's was by far the worst in recent memory. The Bradys moved to Fairview Beach about 4 years ago from Alabama. They also have a 5-year-old daughter. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
and I can't figure out how to train her. Being nice to her is a sign of weakness ( page 9 "How to Train Your Spouse".)Being agressive results in her coming after me with sharp tongue and quick wit. I am her equal but always lose because I hate the dog house...
If your dog is well-trained, it won't dart away.
You can't train out a dog's genetics, but you can train them to ignore it. Again, dog and human aggression are two entirely different things, and human aggression was never bred into their genetics.
Look up videos of schutzund, therapy, or search and rescue APBTs. The fact that they immediately respond to any command regardless of the situation shows any "instincts" can be more than curbed. APBT, best breed.
He's off whispering to a pretty young poodle. Feisty little B!t@&. Good to see you as well!
I was reading your post, didn't check the author, and thought, Wow! what an intelligent post. Then I noticed your name. Good to hear from you. Looks like you know a little about canine micro-evolution as well. And you are right, it is near impossible to train a dog out of it's breeding. You can curb it, but it's always there. ie, I have a whippet (best breed!), obedience trained, but will still dart after any small moving object, never have been able to stop it. But I can prevent it through restraint
1. Don't chain your pets-EVER. If you plan on having an outside pet, buy a fence (I did). 2. If you live in close quarters with other properties (ex. trailer park, town house development, apartment complex w/common areas) you have to be extra vigilant when you are outside with your kids. 3.Never assume any breed will not behave in an aggressive manner based on prior contacts. Minute changes in their environment undetectable to most can mean a lot to that animal. 4. Be accountable for your actions.
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