Life 2-year-old mauled to death by wild dogs after falling into Pittsburgh Zoo exhibit - Page 13

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

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

It's too bad there weren't some parents there exercising their right to carry concealed weapons.

Or do you mean on the mother?

L.A. Chieffan · 11-05-2012, 03:09 PM

Heres another mom of the year winner:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/young-child...2#.UJgq6MXA-So

L.A. Chieffan · 11-05-2012, 03:10 PM

And a nanny of the year winner:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/nanny-held-...5#.UJgrJMXA-Sp

**Shaid** · 11-05-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Idiot ****ing mother. Irresponsible **** cost the lives of the child and the dog. The kid was more than likely killed from the fall -- why shoot the dog?

Who the **** are you? I mean WTF could possibly be going through your head on this one. Protect the ****ing dog when it's just mauled a 2 year old to death or near death and won't get away from the body? Stupidest post I've ever seen.

vailpass · 11-05-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaid

Who the **** are you? I mean WTF could possibly be going through your head on this one. Protect the ****ing dog when it's just mauled a 2 year old to death or near death and won't get away from the body? Stupidest post I've ever seen.

Yeah any animals that just ate a kid need to be shot on general principle.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Yeah any animals that just ate a kid need to be shot on general principle.

Why? They were doing what wild predators do. They are also endangered.

vailpass · 11-05-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorter

Why? They were doing what wild predators do. They are also endangered.

I don't have a good explanation for you. All I can tell you is if I saw an animal eat a kid and there was a gun to hand that animal just had his last meal.
No way I'm alone on this.

Richard_Cuckold · 11-05-2012, 06:04 PM

Just awful.

I bet the mother feels absolutely terrible( as she should). Horribly irresponsible.

memyselfI · 11-05-2012, 06:08 PM

I wonder how much more incited the dogs got by the hysteria and screaming of the crowd. Not that they would have been gentle and playful. No, just wondering if they were reacting to the energy they may have riled up faster and faster as more people screamed in horror. Any animal behaviorists have an opinion this.

Simply one of the most preventable horrific deaths I have ever heard.

**Iowanian** · 11-05-2012, 06:19 PM

Listen to the above poster...she knows.

African Painted dogs den in her uterus.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

I don't have a good explanation for you. All I can tell you is if I saw an animal eat a kid and there was a gun to hand that animal just had his last meal.
No way I'm alone on this.

I mean, I agree. I would do the same thing.

As for going back and killing the dogs later for revenge or whatever, no. In the moment to try and rescue the child, definitely.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Listen to the above poster...she knows.

African Painted dogs den in her uterus.

Ceej · 11-05-2012, 06:31 PM

So what happens when you get down to the ground?

Super Hero Dad toss your kid back onto the platform in which they fell from?

**SAUTO** · 11-05-2012, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJizzles

So what happens when you get down to the ground?

Super Hero Dad toss your kid back onto the platform in which they fell from?

Die with your kid.

I would probably actually want to if I was in that exact situation. (putting my child on a fence and letting them fall)
Posted via Mobile Device

Ceej · 11-05-2012, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Die with your kid.

I would probably actually want to if I was in that exact situation. (putting my child on a fence and letting them fall)
Posted via Mobile Device

For some reason I get a scene of Super Hero Dad jumping down and trying to use his super dad human strength to try to toss his back onto the platform in which they fell.

And of course the kid would be 3-4 inches short.

11-05-2012, 09:18 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	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: 66,914

11-05-2012, 03:09 PM	#182
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $4108654	Heres another mom of the year winner: http://abcnews.go.com/US/young-child...2#.UJgq6MXA-So
Posts: 17,367

11-05-2012, 03:10 PM	#183
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $4108654	And a nanny of the year winner: http://abcnews.go.com/US/nanny-held-...5#.UJgrJMXA-Sp
Posts: 17,367

11-05-2012, 06:04 PM	#188
Richard_Cuckold Banned Join Date: Sep 2012 Casino cash: $10004900	Just awful. I bet the mother feels absolutely terrible( as she should). Horribly irresponsible.
Posts: 228

11-05-2012, 06:08 PM	#189
memyselfI CHANGEd your mind yet???? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lunatics Anonymous Casino cash: $10005234	I wonder how much more incited the dogs got by the hysteria and screaming of the crowd. Not that they would have been gentle and playful. No, just wondering if they were reacting to the energy they may have riled up faster and faster as more people screamed in horror. Any animal behaviorists have an opinion this. Simply one of the most preventable horrific deaths I have ever heard. __________________ Meet the new boss same as the old boss. BigChiefDave:"Anyone who thought we would only be in Iraq for a few years is either stoned or just stoopid." "It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last 6 days, 6 wks. I doubt 6 mths." Rummy 2/7/03 Last edited by memyselfI; 11-05-2012 at 06:39 PM..
Posts: 32,000

11-05-2012, 06:19 PM	#190
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4818454	Listen to the above poster...she knows. African Painted dogs den in her uterus.
Posts: 61,511

11-05-2012, 06:31 PM	#193
Ceej BOOM!1! Join Date: Aug 2004 Casino cash: $9545541	So what happens when you get down to the ground? Super Hero Dad toss your kid back onto the platform in which they fell from?
Posts: 18,762