Life 2-year-old mauled to death by wild dogs after falling into Pittsburgh Zoo exhibit - Page 9

Deberg_1990 · 11-05-2012, 09:18 AM

Wow...horrible. RIP

A 2-year-old boy was mauled to death today after falling into the African painted dog exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium.

Pittsburgh police Major Crimes Lt. Kevin Kraus said the boy's 34-year-old mother placed the child in a standing position on a wooden railing overlooking the enclosure.

"Almost immediately after that he lost his balance, fell down off the railing into the actual pit and he was immediately attacked by 11 dogs," Lt. Kraus said.

The incident occurred at 11:48 a.m. at the Highland Park complex, according to an emergency dispatch supervisor. The zoo was shut down within a half-hour of the incident and will remain closed indefinitely.

Zoo President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Baker said at a news conference shortly after the incident that the child fell over the wooden railing and off of a mesh barrier where the painted dogs were on display. A zoo spokeswoman and police said the wooden railing is 4 feet in height and the lower mesh barrier is 11 feet 4 inches above the open exhibit space.

Lt. Kraus said zoo personnel responded within minutes. The first personnel on scene were able to lure seven of the dogs away from the victim and into a secure and separated area. A second set of personnel began "throwing objects and some other techniques that they use" to secure three more dogs.

He said the final dog, which was acting very aggressively toward the victim and zoo personnel, was shot multiple times by two Pittsburgh police officers and died.

Lt. Kraus said none of the people who observed the child fall into the enclosure made an attempt to go after him. The news release from zoo officials noted that keepers attempted to enter the yard but were unable to reach the child.

One ineffective technique used by zoo personnel to lure the animals away from the child was to fire "dummy tranquilizer rounds," Lt. Kraus said.

Information released from the zoo indicated that "unfortunately, the dogs were in pack mentality and not responding."

The child was pronounced dead at the scene 12 p.m.

The incident is under investigation by police and the zoo. Lt. Kraus said it would be inappropriate to speculate on potential charges at this time and the bureau will continue to investigate to determine if anything could have been prevented.

Police said the boy and his mother are from Pleasant Hills and were visiting the zoo with relatives, an adult and another child, at the time of the incident.

Ms. Cinti described a horrifying scene that lasted a little more than 5 minutes but seemed like hours.

"We were on our way to the polar bear exhibit when we heard the most horrible piercing screams. ... Someone was begging for help, asking someone to do something," she said. The couple ran back in the direction they came from, passing the bear exhibits. The screams continued.

As they reached the painted dog exhibit, she saw a small crowd of distressed onlookers. "One woman with a baby in the stroller was screaming that someone needed to do something," Ms. Cinti said. She said she could see the little boy's apparently lifeless body lying on the hill inside the exhibit. "There were three dogs: one at his head, one on the left side of his neck and another one down by his leg. ... A [zoo employee] got there and hopped over a fence with a rake and he was banging ... trying to distract the dogs but they wouldn't move," she said.

Ms. Cinti, a student at Community College of Allegheny County, tracked the time frame with her cell phone, saying she made a call at 11:49 a.m. when she and her boyfriend first headed toward the commotion. She said her cell phone shows that the call was ended five minutes and five seconds later, when a half-dozen zoo employees arrived and dispersed the crowd.

Bart DePasquale, who was at the zoo today with his two children for a birthday party, was near the tiger exhibit when he heard screams coming from the direction of the African painted dogs exhibit.

"People were yelling 'Get away,' and 'Stay away,' and it wasn't just one person, it was an entire group of people," said Mr. DePasquale, 29, of Fox Chapel. "The screams sounded heavily distressed and the people were using profanity. They were shouting to zoo employees."

Mr. DePasquale and Ms. Cinti said they were told to go inside the nearest buildings where they were kept there for about a half hour.

"We were locked down in the building and told to stay inside. ... We thought it was a problem with one of the animals that got loose. Then we were told it was an incident with the wild dogs and that a child had been hurt."

When patrons were told the zoo was closed and they needed to leave, Mr. DePasquale said, "On the way out, I saw a mother who was distressed and crying and other people who couldn't even talk about it. ... People and anyone who had been close were almost in tears, were walking out glassy-eyed. That's when multiple people told me the dogs attacked a young child."

Ms. Baker said the zoo initially declared a "code blue," meaning an accident involving a human had occurred. That was followed with a "code red," meaning that there was a serious human emergency.

Ms. Baker said no decision has been made about the future of the exhibit.

The African painted dog exhibit debuted after the October 2009 birth of the pups. A surrogate mutt was drafted into service for the nine pups after their natural mother died of a ruptured uterus. In the spring of this year, nine of the 11 painted dogs escaped a section of their enclosure causing a brief shutdown of the zoo.

Ms. Baker said at that time on May 5 that the dogs got into a 1.5-acre "backup yard" not visible to the public, but the dogs were not out of their exhibit.

African painted dogs are an endangered species.

In September, the zoo announced that it had again been accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums after a review of its animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety.

AZA is a nonprofit organization with a team of professionals that inspect and review each zoo or aquarium seeking accreditation. Currently 224 facilities have been recognized and approved by the organization, including eight in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh zoo has been recognized by AZA since 1986.The accreditation commission evaluates every zoo and aquarium to determine if they meet accepted standards for safety policies and procedures, security, physical facilities, animal management and care, health and nutrition, veterinary programs, involvement in conservation and research and education programs.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2BMUJWMyp

suds79 · 11-05-2012, 01:13 PM

Valipass,

To your deleted comment. That's my point. It's not like I clicked on the thread, read the article "Ah that's horrible". I got all I needed to know from the headline on the front page.

Don't get the fascination to these kind of stories on here. It's the same old thing.
- Horrible story
- Followed by several bad puns.

That's what we do. Anyways, just saying it.... Carry on.

**Easy 6** · 11-05-2012, 01:14 PM

I would want a full mental health evaluation on mom, just to make sure there isnt more to this story.

She is either too stupid to be allowed to have a kid, or she did it on purpose.

**Rausch** · 11-05-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suds79

Valipass,

To your deleted comment. That's my point. It's not like I clicked on the thread, read the article "Ah that's horrible". I got all I needed to know from the headline on the front page.

I checked to see if it was Big Daddy's pits...

Imon Yourside · 11-05-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorter

There were 11 dogs. You're also leaping 14 feet down. It is a horrible situation.

I don't care if it's 3 ninja turtles, you jump in the split second you can. Sounds like the woman could have jumped onto the net and stopped the kid from falling with the dogs. Certainly an angle.

ZepSinger · 11-05-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

What if there is 0% chance?

All I know is whether there was 1 dog or 1000, I'd jump in. If you want to call 1000 dogs 0% for survival, OK. I'd still do my best to save my child. I sure as HELL wouldn't stand there watching my kid get eaten while I tried to determine my chances for survival.

EDIT: That being said, that mom is a fricking idiot who should never have reproduced.

tooge · 11-05-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Apropos of nothing but I recently was in a conversation where a person was discussing 'cornholing' as something she likes to do while tailgating.

I about fell off my ****ing chair.

Let her know I'm in the back of lot J

Ace Gunner · 11-05-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

I would want a full mental health evaluation on mom, just to make sure there isnt more to this story.

She is either too stupid to be allowed to have a kid, or she did it on purpose.

I got smart $ on "too stoopid for kid". what kind of parent leaves an unattended 2yo on a ledge above wild animals in a zoo. somebody park their car on her and leave it there.

vailpass · 11-05-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suds79

Valipass,

To your deleted comment. That's my point. It's not like I clicked on the thread, read the article "Ah that's horrible". I got all I needed to know from the headline on the front page.

Don't get the fascination to these kind of stories on here. It's the same old thing.
- Horrible story
- Followed by several bad puns.

That's what we do. Anyways, just saying it.... Carry on.

I thought you said "because I do NOT want to see them". Then when I re-read I thought you meant you did want to see them and wanted a repository to make them easier to find.

Now I see you don't like the threads, don't even want to know about them.
C'mon. Really?

Forgive my failed reading comprehension today. I need to go to the gym and settle myself down.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 11-05-2012, 01:19 PM

When dad finds out, mom might be going into the pit, whether she wanted to or not.

Imon Yourside · 11-05-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou_Zare

I got smart $ on "too stoopid for kid". what kind of parent leaves an unattended 2yo on a ledge above wild animals in a zoo. somebody park their car on her and leave it there.

Maybe she broke a nail?

**Donger** · 11-05-2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

I need to go to the gym and settle myself down.

Watch out for the cornhole, bud.

vailpass · 11-05-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Watch out for the cornhole, bud.

Ace Gunner · 11-05-2012, 01:21 PM

and oh by the way, is there any use for regulating the minimum age for entry into this place? not to be a fuddy duddy pro regulation sort, but it just seems to me the zoo with open pits is not the place for any child under the age of 10.

**Dartgod** · 11-05-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suds79

Valipass,

To your deleted comment. That's my point. It's not like I clicked on the thread, read the article "Ah that's horrible". I got all I needed to know from the headline on the front page.

Don't get the fascination to these kind of stories on here. It's the same old thing.
- Horrible story
- Followed by several bad puns.

That's what we do. Anyways, just saying it.... Carry on.

Awwww, don't go getting all sirius on us.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I don't care if it's 3 ninja turtles, you jump in the split second you can. Sounds like the woman could have jumped onto the net and stopped the kid from falling with the dogs. Certainly an angle.

I have no idea what I would do as I don't have children. Knowing these dogs and their demeanor, as well as what they are capable of physically, makes this a situation in which whoever jumped in to help their child would have died. Period.

11-05-2012, 09:18 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $164454	2-year-old mauled to death by wild dogs after falling into Pittsburgh Zoo exhibit Wow...horrible. RIP A 2-year-old boy was mauled to death today after falling into the African painted dog exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Pittsburgh police Major Crimes Lt. Kevin Kraus said the boy's 34-year-old mother placed the child in a standing position on a wooden railing overlooking the enclosure. "Almost immediately after that he lost his balance, fell down off the railing into the actual pit and he was immediately attacked by 11 dogs," Lt. Kraus said. The incident occurred at 11:48 a.m. at the Highland Park complex, according to an emergency dispatch supervisor. The zoo was shut down within a half-hour of the incident and will remain closed indefinitely. Zoo President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Baker said at a news conference shortly after the incident that the child fell over the wooden railing and off of a mesh barrier where the painted dogs were on display. A zoo spokeswoman and police said the wooden railing is 4 feet in height and the lower mesh barrier is 11 feet 4 inches above the open exhibit space. Lt. Kraus said zoo personnel responded within minutes. The first personnel on scene were able to lure seven of the dogs away from the victim and into a secure and separated area. A second set of personnel began "throwing objects and some other techniques that they use" to secure three more dogs. He said the final dog, which was acting very aggressively toward the victim and zoo personnel, was shot multiple times by two Pittsburgh police officers and died. Lt. Kraus said none of the people who observed the child fall into the enclosure made an attempt to go after him. The news release from zoo officials noted that keepers attempted to enter the yard but were unable to reach the child. One ineffective technique used by zoo personnel to lure the animals away from the child was to fire "dummy tranquilizer rounds," Lt. Kraus said. Information released from the zoo indicated that "unfortunately, the dogs were in pack mentality and not responding." The child was pronounced dead at the scene 12 p.m. The incident is under investigation by police and the zoo. Lt. Kraus said it would be inappropriate to speculate on potential charges at this time and the bureau will continue to investigate to determine if anything could have been prevented. Police said the boy and his mother are from Pleasant Hills and were visiting the zoo with relatives, an adult and another child, at the time of the incident. Ms. Cinti described a horrifying scene that lasted a little more than 5 minutes but seemed like hours. "We were on our way to the polar bear exhibit when we heard the most horrible piercing screams. ... Someone was begging for help, asking someone to do something," she said. The couple ran back in the direction they came from, passing the bear exhibits. The screams continued. As they reached the painted dog exhibit, she saw a small crowd of distressed onlookers. "One woman with a baby in the stroller was screaming that someone needed to do something," Ms. Cinti said. She said she could see the little boy's apparently lifeless body lying on the hill inside the exhibit. "There were three dogs: one at his head, one on the left side of his neck and another one down by his leg. ... A [zoo employee] got there and hopped over a fence with a rake and he was banging ... trying to distract the dogs but they wouldn't move," she said. Ms. Cinti, a student at Community College of Allegheny County, tracked the time frame with her cell phone, saying she made a call at 11:49 a.m. when she and her boyfriend first headed toward the commotion. She said her cell phone shows that the call was ended five minutes and five seconds later, when a half-dozen zoo employees arrived and dispersed the crowd. Bart DePasquale, who was at the zoo today with his two children for a birthday party, was near the tiger exhibit when he heard screams coming from the direction of the African painted dogs exhibit. "People were yelling 'Get away,' and 'Stay away,' and it wasn't just one person, it was an entire group of people," said Mr. DePasquale, 29, of Fox Chapel. "The screams sounded heavily distressed and the people were using profanity. They were shouting to zoo employees." Mr. DePasquale and Ms. Cinti said they were told to go inside the nearest buildings where they were kept there for about a half hour. "We were locked down in the building and told to stay inside. ... We thought it was a problem with one of the animals that got loose. Then we were told it was an incident with the wild dogs and that a child had been hurt." When patrons were told the zoo was closed and they needed to leave, Mr. DePasquale said, "On the way out, I saw a mother who was distressed and crying and other people who couldn't even talk about it. ... People and anyone who had been close were almost in tears, were walking out glassy-eyed. That's when multiple people told me the dogs attacked a young child." Ms. Baker said the zoo initially declared a "code blue," meaning an accident involving a human had occurred. That was followed with a "code red," meaning that there was a serious human emergency. Ms. Baker said no decision has been made about the future of the exhibit. The African painted dog exhibit debuted after the October 2009 birth of the pups. A surrogate mutt was drafted into service for the nine pups after their natural mother died of a ruptured uterus. In the spring of this year, nine of the 11 painted dogs escaped a section of their enclosure causing a brief shutdown of the zoo. Ms. Baker said at that time on May 5 that the dogs got into a 1.5-acre "backup yard" not visible to the public, but the dogs were not out of their exhibit. African painted dogs are an endangered species. In September, the zoo announced that it had again been accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums after a review of its animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety. AZA is a nonprofit organization with a team of professionals that inspect and review each zoo or aquarium seeking accreditation. Currently 224 facilities have been recognized and approved by the organization, including eight in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh zoo has been recognized by AZA since 1986.The accreditation commission evaluates every zoo and aquarium to determine if they meet accepted standards for safety policies and procedures, security, physical facilities, animal management and care, health and nutrition, veterinary programs, involvement in conservation and research and education programs. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2BMUJWMyp
Posts: 68,611

11-05-2012, 01:13 PM	#121
suds79 MVP Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $10005036	Valipass, To your deleted comment. That's my point. It's not like I clicked on the thread, read the article "Ah that's horrible". I got all I needed to know from the headline on the front page. Don't get the fascination to these kind of stories on here. It's the same old thing. - Horrible story - Followed by several bad puns. That's what we do. Anyways, just saying it.... Carry on.
Posts: 5,747

11-05-2012, 01:14 PM	#122
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $-122225	I would want a full mental health evaluation on mom, just to make sure there isnt more to this story. She is either too stupid to be allowed to have a kid, or she did it on purpose.
Posts: 98,430

11-05-2012, 01:19 PM	#129
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-1103560	When dad finds out, mom might be going into the pit, whether she wanted to or not. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,461

11-05-2012, 01:21 PM	#133
Ace Gunner First Overall Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: kcmo Casino cash: $10007271	and oh by the way, is there any use for regulating the minimum age for entry into this place? not to be a fuddy duddy pro regulation sort, but it just seems to me the zoo with open pits is not the place for any child under the age of 10. __________________ The Greatest
Posts: 10,580