African pit bulls eat kid at zoo

[SMKR]

So sad.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/child-killed-in-pittsburgh-zoo-exhibit-660606/

[SMKR]

Officials of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium confirmed this afternoon that a little boy was mauled to death today after falling into the African painted dog exhibit.

The incident occurred at 11:48 a.m. at the Highland Park complex, according to emergency dispatch supervisor.

A Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed one of the 11 dogs in the exhibit.

Zoo Director Barbara Baker said the child, who was about 3 years old, fell over a railing and off of a mesh barrier where the painted dogs were on display.

A news release distributed by zoo officials said keepers were immediately able to clear seven of the 11 dogs from the exhibit. Though darts were shot into the exhibit in an effort to scare the dogs away from the child, the news release indicated that "unfortunately, the dogs were in pack mentality and not responding."

Keepers attempted to enter the yard but were unable to reach the child, the release said.

Pittsburgh police officers and keepers attempted to lure the dogs away but one "aggressive" dog was shot and killed by an officer. Ms. Baker said the dog would not move away from the child.

The incident is under investigation by police and the zoo.

The facility is shut down until further notice.

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. The Pittsburgh zoo has been recognized by AZA since 1986.

[1995RedGT]

watch your kids better? it sucks, but maybe the kid shouldn't have been able to get on the railing and ledge?

[SMKR]

Parental responsibility????

[SS Junk]

watch your kids better?

Has nothing to do with watching them. It has to do with handling them in a more sensible manner. No way a kid could get over the railing unless a parent was holding them.

[Treasure Chest]

They certainly don't have cropped ears.

[roliath]

Fail title is fail, where are the pits?

[SMKR]

Fail title is fail, where are the pits?

Only pits eat kids

[roliath]

Only pits eat kids

well that is true, my pit only ate 2 kids last week. i think he's not eating enough.

[idrivea4banger]

African dogs, a pits worst nightmare.

[Sean88gt]

"He was only 3, the parents couldn't be that attached." Raum Emanuel

[YALE]

Has nothing to do with watching them. It has to do with handling them in a more sensible manner. No way a kid could get over the railing unless a parent was holding them.

Easy to say. I have a cousin that started to climb trees at that age.

[Big A]

Easy to say. I have a cousin that started to climb trees at that age.

From the linked article: "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."

To me this is even worse than a basic case of not paying attention to wjat your child is doing.

[SMKR]

African dogs, a pits worst nightmare.

I thought most were unemployed

[Buick355]

So this dumb bitch not only drops her kid into a pit of wild rabid dogs, she sat there and watched them tear him apart? I hope she gets charged with manslaughter.