Mickey
RIP
Posted on 07/15/2007 3:19:52 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
A family's celebrations turned to tragedy when their dog was killed defending their daughter from a pitbull attack.
Jo and Gary Russell say they are heartbroken at the loss of their silky terrier Mickey but are relieved their daughter Laura, who had been celebrating her 13th birthday, escaped unhurt.
They want to know why a Manukau City Council call centre operator told her to approach the stray pitbull-type dog after Laura called for help.
DSS Animal Management carries out dog control for the council. It recommends no one should approach unfamiliar dogs.
Laura, a pupil at Farm Cove Intermediate, had been hosting a sleepover at the Russell's Half Moon Bay home when the attack happened on Saturday.
She and three friends were out walking with the family pet when they came across the stray dog on Sunderlands Rd.
The girls rang the council call centre asking the operator what they should do with the animal that at first seemed friendly.
"She said to take it to the nearest house, so we tied it up really tight and gave it water," says Laura, who took it to a friend's house.
But the dog, thought to have been a cross between a pitbull and a bull mastiff, broke free and went for the teenager.
Terrier Mickey leapt to her rescue but was crushed instantly.
The father of Laura's friend, Peter Jones, heard the girls' screams and ran to help. He tried to release Mickey from the dogs' jaws.
It only relented when Peter's wife Jodie punched the stray on the nose.
By then the terrier had suffered massive internal injuries.
"It happened within just two minutes of us arriving home," Mrs Jones says. "If it had happened two minutes later the girls would have been in huge trouble. Someone would have got hurt."
Police officers were called to the scene and pepper-sprayed the dog to calm it down. It later strangled itself in a struggle to get free.
Father of three Mr Russell says his daughter has had trouble sleeping since the ordeal and is devastated after losing their pet.
It had been a replacement for the dog they had to leave when they emigrated from Scotland.
Mr Russell says he will be 'eternally grateful' to the Joneses for intervening and is calling for a ban on pitbulls and similar breeds.
"How many kids need to become victims before we stand up and demand that these animals require special permits and controls?"
Mrs Russell has vowed their dog's death won't be in vain. She wants the council to review how they handle calls.
"Some of those dogs are vicious killers - even adults don't stand a chance."
Howick councillor Sharon Stewart agrees and says she was given similar 'poor' advice when told to catch a pitbull-type dog running wild in her street.
She believes the children's ordeal could have been worse.
"If it hadn't been for the neighbour getting hold of the dog it probably would have attacked the children."
Council organisational performance director Robyn McCulloch says she has spoken to the family.
She says the staff concerned are being interviewed.
"We're obviously deeply concerned about the outcome for the Russell family and the loss of their dog. "It's a distressing time. We are taking this matter seriously and carrying out a full investigation."
What a heartbreaking story.
> Unbelievably, when they were released from the hospital they told the newspaper how good it was to be back home with their dog. Idiots.
Astonishing. There is no limit to the stupidity of some people.
Mickey
RIP
Yeah, it strangled itself. That's their story and they're sticking to it.
the Brits'
and their bretheren, the
Canadians,
Australians
and New Zealanders,
aversion
to the use of
paragraphs?
“My life for pack.”
This is the second Mickey I have known about who was killed.
Cue the idiots who claim that because once, sometime in the last 50 years, a golden retriever attacked someone, that Pit Bulls are no worse than any other dog.
> aversion
> to the use of
>paragraphs?
I dunno. Why ask me?
It tried to attack a person and killed another animal. They should have shot it on sight.
When the dog finally kills them, they can qualify for the Darwin Award.
> It tried to attack a person and killed another animal. They should have shot it on sight.
Agreed. But chances are the cops did not have any firearms handy, as our cops generally patrol unarmed. Pepper spray was probably the extent of their handy weapons at the time.
Just like England.....
We live in Upstate NY and I don’t EVER recall seeing an unarmed cop.
What’s the use anyway? You might as well not spend all the money on fancy uniforms.
> What’s the use anyway? You might as well not spend all the money on fancy uniforms.
Our police have access to firearms if they need them. But, strangely enough, they do not want to carry because they feel that it “ups the ante” and therefore invites an armed response from the perpetrators.
They are armed with pepper spray and a small truncheon, and they are only just now field-testing tasers. Aside from that, they can use a good right uppercut and harsh language.
Hmmm....
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