Puppies aren't parents. (Photo compliments of freedigitalphotos.net)
A twelve week old puppy was euthanized this week after chewing off a four month old baby’s toes from his left foot.
It is a very sad occurrence when an injury befalls a child. All too often, parents do not accept responsibility and point the finger at anyone but themselves when a little one is harmed. Ultimately, as a mother myself, I am the first to say that the safety of our children is our responsibility.
The mother of the child, Robie Lynn Jenkins, was sleeping in the same room with the baby and her boyfriend, Tremayne Spillman, however says she never heard his cries because of the medication she had taken to sleep. The baby was laid on a fold out couch with mother and boyfriend nearby, and neither had the slightest idea as to what was going on.
The “mother” claims she didn’t discover the injury until she began to change his diaper; an unfortunate miss not to notice even while handling the baby.
The fact that the “Parents” were too drugged/medicated to not notice the event while supposedly in the same room should do more than raise eyebrows. It’s a disheartening thought that the baby was crying or even screaming and his own mother didn’t bring him comfort.
Two siblings were also sleeping in a bedroom in the poorly kept trailer and also did not hear the baby.
It was reported that the baby may have to have part of his leg amputated; however, will recover. He is in stable condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital. The parents of the baby are now facing felony child abuse charges.
Ultimately in this case of preventable injury, the only thing to blame is a sad case of poor and careless parenting, not a twelve week old puppy.
Dogs are not people; dogs are dogs. You can expect a playful young puppy not to accidentally harm an unattended baby about as much as you can expect a two year old not to accidentally harm an unattended baby. Key word: unattended.
Responsible dog owners: avoid preventable injuries by being smart about your child and pets safety.
- Know that accidents can occur with even the best trained and tempered dogs, (for example, the recent case of Lakota; a very docile family dog who removed newborn AJ from his crib and took him outside to play with him). Many of these injuries are not a product of aggression but the result of a dog/puppy playing too rough, (pawing, play biting, rolling on the floor, etc.) and accidentally injuring a child.
- Training and preparing a dog for a newborn in the home is very important, however, as a responsible parent, one should never leave a baby unattended with a dog or puppy, trained or not; period.
- Even when your child is not with you, be responsible for knowing what type of environment you are leaving them in when in the care of others. It is up to parents to be specific with instructions about not leaving babies unattended with dogs, and to only let those whom you trust will uphold your expectations, care for your young.
For more information: email Sara at dogexaminer@yahoo.com
Comments
Like you, I also have many questions about this case. What mother of a FOUR MONTH OLD would want to take medication that induces such heavy sleep that she could not hear her infant cry in the middle of the night. I question whether it was 'medication' at all. I take OTC sleep aids (diphenhydramine and melatonin) every night, but even if I have a glass or two of wine with dinner and then take my meds at HS, I am ALWAYS awakened by the tinkling sound of the dog tags on my old dog's collar when he gets up in the middle of the night to be let outside to relieve himself.
When are adults going to take responsibility for their failures to their pets (lack of training, appropriate confinement) and to their children. NEVER leave an unattended loose dog with children.
My whole life I have had dogs and children and none of my dogs have ever harmed any of my kids! If the mother was responsible then the dog would still be alive and the baby would have all of it's toes! Anyway what was the dog doing in the same room as a four month old baby!
How can anybody sleep through a baby screaming in the same room as them, as well as not noticing that there was not all or even none toes on one of the baby's foot!
This case suggests complete incompetance on the mother's part. It makes me angry to think that a mother would act like this!!!
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