lumberg48108

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 12:45 p.m.

I will make the comment again - and hope its not removed this is NOT NEWS(worthy)

treetowncartel

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.

I would also add that you never wake a sleeping baby.

robyn

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.

Unfortunately these things can happen - even with the most friendly and well mannered dogs. It should be a lesson to adults - both parents AND dog owners - to teach children not to disturb a dog that is sleeping or that they are not totally familiar with. I have taught both of my children to RESPECT our dogs - the dogs were here before the kids, I never allowed them to lay on the dogs, "ride them" like they were a pony, pull at their ears, bother them when they were sleeping or eating. I have also taught them never to assume a dog at a friend's house or park or where ever is safe to just walk up to and pet. Even when I go to sit down with our dogs, I say their name before I sit down if they are asleep - just to let them know it's me. I've also had dogs in the past and growing up that - for whatever/no reason - did not like a certain person. Don't know why the dog reacted to the person that way, but we have always made it a point to monitor our dogs around people so we didn't have any issues. We have a Lab that weighs about 120... He can hurt a child just playing, so we always make sure were around when the kids are playing here, in our yard or pool. I'd rather be over-protective than have a problem that could potentially be terrible for a child or my dog.

johnnya2

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.

Why do we quarantine the dog in this situation? If the girl startled a sleeping adult, and was in their "space", it is likely the adult would swing or take actions to protect themselves. All beings use self preservation as their basic instinct.

tdw

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.

@Tom Joad could you please site any other story where a dog bite has been rationalized? just curious

jcj

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 7:26 a.m.

@amccauley I made my comment before your post.I had not seen your post. I was commenting more in sarcasm at the posters that did not think this was newsworthy. That was why I put old news in parenthesis. I should have made that clear. I share all of your concerns and would never have made the comments I did if I had seen your post first. I was not in anyway making light of the dog bite. I too know first hand of the trauma a dog bite can have. The biggest concern all of us should have is the welfare of the child. And I pray that she will not have permanent scares from this physically or psychologically.

Tom Joad

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.

I love it how any dog bite can be rationalized.

81wolverine

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 6:42 a.m.

The old adage "let sleeping dogs lie" was created for a reason. Obviously, a young child would not necessarily know this, and it's awful what happened. But, based on one commenter's experience, things could have been MUCH worse in this case. I think the dog is probably perfectly friendly the vast majority of the time. Dogs biting when disturbed during sleep is an instinct - nothing more. We've had two golden retrievers that have the sweetest dispositions. But, I've seen them on rare occasion snap instinctively when they were disturbed. No harm to anyone was ever done, but we learned to be a little careful when they were sleeping.

dading dont delete me bro

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 5:36 a.m.

hence the quotation, "let sleeping dogs lie"... http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/let+sleeping+dogs+lie.html

amccauley

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 4:38 p.m.

In response to jcj: "Sometimes news is better late than never! Sometimes no news is good news. The bigger question is. Why are OUR lives so slow we have nothing better to do than comment on "old news"?" Perhaps YOU can answer your own question since you seem to "have nothing better to do than comment on "old news"?" Old news or not, this is a very important piece of news because it gives some insight to those who may not know/understand what can happen when a sleeping dog is startled. As I stated in my previous post, my Dad's dog was a very laid back, easy going, lovable Lab-Collie mix, but that didn't stop the natural instinct in him when he was startled awake by the movement of a 10 year old child. It was over in less than a minute, but the damage had already been done and now this child has to live with these scars for the rest of his life. Don't you think that educating people about the unpredictable nature of animals is important enough to report whether it's old news or not? I certainly feel it's worth reporting.

jcj

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 4:04 p.m.

Sometimes news is better late than never! Sometimes no news is good news. The bigger question is. Why are OUR lives so slow we have nothing better to do than comment on "old news"?

amccauley

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.

Unfortunately, I know first hand what can happen when I sleeping dog is startled. My friends 10 year old son was the victim in this dog bite and it happened in my living room right next to my 10 year old son as I watched horrified from about 4 feet away. The child reached down to pick something up off the floor next to the dog (that was sleeping at the time) and it startled the dog and the dog's first instinct was to protect itself. As soon as the dog realized what had happened he let go of the child's face and dropped his head in shame. It was the most horrific thing I had ever seen in my life! One bite was all it took for this child's face to be ripped apart on both sides. The dog was always an easy going, happy dog, but it just goes to show that ANYTHING can happen. Sadly, my Dad chose to have the dog put down after that because he was afraid that it could happen again. I felt horrible for my friend's son AND for the dog! This happened on Jan 11, 2009. The scars on the child's face are fading (but it will take years for them to be less visible. He ended up with over 100 stitches in each cheek. Oddly, he is not afraid of dogs, but I am now terrified of them (something I never was before this). I hope and pray that this little girl can get through this traumatic experience without the fears that I now have of dogs.

arborlib

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.

The dog was asleep! She scared it! Don't blame the animal. I learned at a young age to never approach/pet a sleeping dog.

dading dont delete me bro

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 3:01 p.m.

last week? it was 11 days ago...doh!

justaposter

Mon, May 31, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.

Nothing new in this story - is it so slow that we have to rehash last weeks news lol?