Tragedy today at Pittsburgh Zoo

[MWB]

She was holding the kid and dropped them into the pit..

Link? Not trying to be jerky, just read a few articles and none mentioned this.

[Hockeynut!]

What did the mother do that was a mistake? I only read the linked article, so I was wondering.

The news report I saw on TV said she was holding the child on her shoulders/above her head so he could see better. He leaned forward and and she lost her hold on him and he fell into the pit.

Obviously first reports are sometimes wrong, but that's what I was basing my comments on.

[Mr. Colby]

Turns out that was my brother-in-law's cousin

[Mr. Colby]

People really suck sometimes. Tragedy like this happens and right away blame is placed and Darwinism quips are made. Wonder if anyone knows the full story of what actually happened.

The mother lifted the boy up so he could see over the railing, at which point he kicked himself free, fell over the railing onto the net, which didn't hold him and he fell 14 feet. 11 dogs ran over, 7 were called back immediately, 3 were scared into running back after a few seconds, and the last one was relentless and was shot and killed.

[mac5155]

I saw this on Ashley Hardaway's Twitter. Im trying to find a link.

[mac5155]

I wonder how the police were able to respond so fast and shoot the one dog? You would think if it was attacking the child that the damage was done.

2 year old boy, from PLeasant hills, police say mother holding on railing, and boy fell into pit 11feet 4 inches. several minutes before dogs started attacking. this is from KDKA broadcast right now.

[Spangler]

In fact, the linked article - before it was changed - heavily implied that.
You can't control if KDKA edits their content and doesn't note it, Spangler, but spare me the sanctimony.

My apologies.

[JeffDFD]

Nightmare for a parent for sure. I have to think I would have jumped in to save my own kid, but goodness...a wild pack of dogs? What if it was a larger beast? Jump in and try to throw your kid to safety and then what? Ugh...nightmares. KDKA report said a therapist was called in/used to help the parents. Just makes anyone feel sick...especially if you have kids. Just terrible

[columbia]

In fact, the linked article - before it was changed - heavily implied that.
You can't control if KDKA edits their content and doesn't note it, Spangler, but spare me the sanctimony.

My apologies.

And my apologies for a harsh response.
I certainly never would have said that, if there were any indication that this animal was shot in the act.

[ExPatriatePen]

People really suck sometimes. Tragedy like this happens and right away blame is placed and Darwinism quips are made. Wonder if anyone knows the full story of what actually happened.

You gotta love the "holier than thou" quips. Someone puts their child in harms way to such an extent that the child actually DIES, and anyone who suggests that maybe the parentts were culpable is taken to task.

The age of personal responsibility has definitely passed.

And telling other posters they "suck"'for suggesting the parents weren't exactly the most responsible parties is not exactly standup behavior itself.

[MWB]

Defend your comment however you want, it's still awful.

[MWB]

People really suck sometimes. Tragedy like this happens and right away blame is placed and Darwinism quips are made. Wonder if anyone knows the full story of what actually happened.

The mother lifted the boy up so he could see over the railing, at which point he kicked himself free, fell over the railing onto the net, which didn't hold him and he fell 14 feet. 11 dogs ran over, 7 were called back immediately, 3 were scared into running back after a few seconds, and the last one was relentless and was shot and killed.

Unspeakably sad.

[ExPatriatePen]

Defend your comment however you want, it's still awful.

Don't defend yours.

For that matter don't even address the fact that these pArents put an innocent child in harms way ( to the extent he was mauled to deAth)

That's unconscionable

[MWB]

How do you not see the "holier than though" aspect of your own comments?
There's no need to defend my comment.
And as for the parent.... Wasn't there, don't know exactly what happened, won't be the judge of a person in such an awful situation.

[Mr. Colby]

Why does someone always have to be blamed? Can't this just be acknowledged as a tragedy and people with "opinions" can just STFU?

[Gaucho]

I guess EPP has better sources than the rest of us.

[Mr. Colby]

No one cares what you think about the parenting. You have never met the parents and obviously could have no insight into their parenting techniques. The only thing you know is that their lives will be in shambles forever more. Show some **** compassion.

[Geezer]

People really suck sometimes. Tragedy like this happens and right away blame is placed and Darwinism quips are made. Wonder if anyone knows the full story of what actually happened.

You gotta love the "holier than thou" quips. Someone puts their child in harms way to such an extent that the child actually DIES, and anyone who suggests that maybe the parentts were culpable is taken to task.

The age of personal responsibility has definitely passed.

And telling other posters they "suck"'for suggesting the parents weren't exactly the most responsible parties is not exactly standup behavior itself.

These parents are mentally defective. You don't put a toddler on a railing. The father is as imbecilic as the mother. He also is a gutless coward for not dropping down there to protect his son. I'd like to see them prosecuted but that won't happen. I reserve my sympathy for the toddler who's life was snuffed out because he was born to morons. If I were a judge they wouldn't get jail time if they agreed to a vasectomy and tubal ligation.These people deserve no pity.

[MWB]

:face:

[Gaucho]

I think he's being sarcastic.

[shafnutz05]

Eh...thousand of toddlers visit the zoo without incident every year. I would find it extremely difficult to not immediately place blame on the Mama for this. Dont know the story, but really...first time this happens?

[MWB]

Dont know the story....

But gotta find someone to blame.

[Gaucho]

Key phrase being "Don't know the story".

I agree with Mr. Colby, we should just stop behaving like arseholes.

[mac5155]

lolol and was the father even there?

[JS©]

I feel terrible for the mother, but this was a really terrible mistake on her part. The dogs didn't do anything "wrong", they did what was in their nature. African Wild Dogs are very efficient and "blood thirsty" hunters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycaon_pictus

Nearly 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill; for comparison, the success rate of lions, often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 30%.

Poor kid never had a chance once he fell into their area. Reading those statistics makes me a little sick, especially after knowing what happened today.