Life 2-year-old mauled to death by wild dogs after falling into Pittsburgh Zoo exhibit - Page 15

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

KCUnited · 11-05-2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Oh yeah you would probably die too. But who would WANT to live after basically being the major contributing factor in your child's death?
Posted via Mobile Device

Someone with more than 1 kid.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 07:26 PM

Not me. Then again, I'm not a complete ****ing waste to society and wouldn't endanger my child like that.

The mom needs to be thrown into the pit IMO.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Someone with more than 1 kid.

Or this I suppose. If I had several children, I probably wouldn't. But really, I have no ****ing clue.

**SAUTO** · 11-05-2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Someone with more than 1 kid.

Maybe. But then you have to look at your other kids knowing they know what happened
Posted via Mobile Device

ThaVirus · 11-05-2012, 09:01 PM

I could take a couple of African painted dogs if it came down to it.

No joke.

**Easy 6** · 11-05-2012, 09:09 PM

The bottom line for the naysayers, who say that its all a bunch of bluster... if my ex had been stupid enough to do that... I'M GOING IN, the hell with bluster.

Grab the nearest thing you can find, a ladies purse, whatever... and go live or die with your baby child.

Who knows, an animalistic, raging, purse slamming display in front of a bunch of wild dogs, that are also well used to taking atleast some kind of direction from humans... might just save the day.

If not, die with your kid... or live the rest of your life in torment.

11-05-2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorter

Why? The kid was dead. Probably before the dogs got to him.

Nope. Coroner said dogs caused death today.

Imon Yourside · 11-05-2012, 09:14 PM

A simple SIT UBU, SIT! would have sufficed.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I could take a couple of African painted dogs if it came down to it.

No joke.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Nope. Coroner said dogs caused death today.

Did they say the extent of the injuries sustained from the fall?

KChiefer · 11-05-2012, 09:25 PM

Someone with more than 1 kid probably had enough of a scare with the first one that they wouldn't stand their next kid on a railing without an iron grip on them.

**Shaid** · 11-05-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Why should the dogs die because of following their natural instinct. Not to mention that they are wild animals being held prisoner. They would be slaves if they were human caged up like that. They are also property. Revenue generating property and that Zoo is entitled to damages IMO if they were destroyed.

Did I say to kill all 11 dogs? There's a dog next to the kid's mauled body. Do they know for sure if the kids alive or not yet? Kill it if it won't move so you have a chance to save the kid. Also, this is an 11 foot drop, it's a ways for a little kid to drop but to say he died from the fall is a stretch. I guarantee he probably broke an arm or a leg and was probably hurt pretty bad but you do whatever you can do if there is any chance the kid's still alive. Any chance.

Imon Yourside · 11-05-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorter

Did they say the extent of the injuries sustained from the fall?

Oddly enough there was a reporter down at the bottom that asked the kid how he was doing. His reply was "I've never felt better in my entire life"

Pitt Gorilla · 11-05-2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

The bottom line for the naysayers, who say that its all a bunch of bluster... if my ex had been stupid enough to do that... I'M GOING IN, the hell with bluster.

Grab the nearest thing you can find, a ladies purse, whatever... and go live or die with your baby child.

Who knows, an animalistic, raging, purse slamming display in front of a bunch of wild dogs, that are also well used to taking atleast some kind of direction from humans... might just save the day.

If not, die with your kid... or live the rest of your life in torment.

I agree. If I saw my child go in, I'm going in as well. Zero question about that. If it's someone else's child, I'm not sure. If I found a large weapon, sure. If not, I don't know.

Sorter · 11-05-2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Oddly enough there was a reporter down at the bottom that asked the kid how he was doing. His reply was "I've never felt better in my entire life"

Autopsies are wonderful things

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, 09:01 PM	#215
ThaVirus Settle this once and forever Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $2062369	I could take a couple of African painted dogs if it came down to it. No joke.
Posts: 44,279

11-05-2012, 09:09 PM	#216
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3707775	The bottom line for the naysayers, who say that its all a bunch of bluster... if my ex had been stupid enough to do that... I'M GOING IN, the hell with bluster. Grab the nearest thing you can find, a ladies purse, whatever... and go live or die with your baby child. Who knows, an animalistic, raging, purse slamming display in front of a bunch of wild dogs, that are also well used to taking atleast some kind of direction from humans... might just save the day. If not, die with your kid... or live the rest of your life in torment.
Posts: 91,723

11-05-2012, 09:14 PM	#218
Imon Yourside WhatUneed2Hear Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: AllSoulsMatter Casino cash: $2603181	A simple SIT UBU, SIT! would have sufficed. __________________ "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" Peter 5:8 "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay" Isaiah 29:16 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
Posts: 44,237

11-05-2012, 09:25 PM	#221
KChiefer Fantastic Planeteer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Champaign, IL Casino cash: $10006721	Someone with more than 1 kid probably had enough of a scare with the first one that they wouldn't stand their next kid on a railing without an iron grip on them.
Posts: 4,943