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Cops: Girl Died While Playing With Family Dog
AP ^ | 1/25/06

Posted on 01/25/2006 10:45:07 AM PST by iPod Shuffle

Cops: Girl Died While Playing With Family Dog

(AP) MANORVILLE A six-year-old girl playing with her dog in the backyard was strangled - when the pet apparently grabbed her scarf and playfully pulled her down to the ground and dragged her around the yard. Suffolk County Homicide Detective Lieutenant John Fitzpatrick calls it "an absolutely tragic story."

Police say the accident happened in the backyard of little Kaitlyn Hassard at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon. The girl came home from school wearing the scarf and the dog began pulling on it. The girl's mother put the dog in the backyard and a few minutes later Kaitlyn asked to go out and play with the dog, which weighs about 70 pounds.

The one-and-a-half Golden Retriever named Jessie, again began playing with the 40-pound girl tugging on her scarf.

Lieutenant Fitzpatrick says the girl was in the yard for no more than ten minutes, because the family was going to run an errand at the Post Office. When her eleven-year-old brother went to the backyard to get his sister, he found her lying on the ground.

The boy called his mother who called 9-1-1 and began CPR. The girl was pronounced dead at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. Lieutenant Fitzpatrick says "there were no injuries inflicted by the dog." He adds "I don't believe the dog's actions were intentionally malicious."

The dog has been brought to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: childdeath; cps; dds; dog; goldenretriever; longisland; manorvilleny; scarf; strangulation; suffolkcounty
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To: Howlin

"they poke and pull my dogs and cats; when my dogs snap at them or the cats scratch them, should I put the animals to sleep?"

From what I know of dogs, a scratch or snap will not seriously hurt a child. Taking a child's head in its mouth may. It is a much larger act of aggression and quite serious in my opinion.


241 posted on 01/25/2006 9:17:15 PM PST by dervish (when did Osama start writing the lefts talking points?)
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To: dervish

Well, you must not have had many pets them.


242 posted on 01/25/2006 9:20:19 PM PST by Howlin (Why don't you just report the news, instead of what might be the news? - Donald Rumsfeld 1/25/2006)
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To: iPod Shuffle; 4woodenboats; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; abletruth; Accountable One; Aeronaut; ...
RIP Prayer ping.


Rest in Peace
 Kaitlyn Hassard

My prayers go up for all who now mourn the passing of little Kaitlyn.  

Blessings,
trussell


If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

243 posted on 01/25/2006 10:56:52 PM PST by trussell (Work for God...the retirement benefits are great!)
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To: webstersII

Quote: : "It's a reasonable foundation when someone suggests that a family who has been through this kind of tragedy deserves to be suspected of a crime in lieu of any evidence."

Purely your opinion, and an uniformed one at that.

It also has nothing to do about "deserving", it has to do about obtaining facts. Something you don`t seem to care too much about.

Given the crimes that are committed against children in this country every single day, you have to rule out certain things in the event of a childs death, or any death for that matter. And I am sorry to inform you, but the family did go through a preliminary investigation. If they didn`t, the police did not do their job, as I originally stated.


Quote : "There was no mention of any contradictory evidence, so you have no reason to suggest they pursue this as though there was foul play."

So we are back to the since there is no contradictory evidence mentioned in the article, there is no way a crime could have been committed here... You need to get out in the real world more often. There are any number of cases where a child has been killed and made to look like an accident , when in reality, a crime was committed.

And just because some beat writer for some newspaper didn`t include any contradictory evidence, doesn`t mean it doesn`t exist.

I should suspect that you are a heartless, sick person for not caring about making absolutely sure this child was not the victim of foul play.

You base your assumption on a few words in a newspaper article. That is your foundation? I ask some questions, and I am the bad guy... Give me a break.

Quote : "You just showed how clueless you are with that comment."

I have that same feeling about some of your comments. I guess we are even....

Quote: "As I mentioned more than once, there is a difference between a fishing expedition and an investigation. There has to be some evidence or reasonable suspicion, or else you can't start an investigation."

What? You are kidding me right? That there was a completely idiotic statement.

If a child is killed , you have to investigate it, period.


Quote: "A fishing expedition is what the Democrats like to do with Republicans, for example, when they appoint a special prosecutor and the guy goes on a fishing expedition for years trying to find some wrongdoing."

I am afraid both parties do that.

But we are talking about the death of a child! I could give a rats behind about the democrats or republicans bickering, petty games.

A democrat also tries to make absolutely idiotic comparisons to bolster their argument by the way.

Quote: " But you said you don't have a problem with a fishing expedition."

Sometimes you have to go fishing to catch a fish, that is correct.

Quote: "There's a principle of assumption of innocence in the legal system."

Did I say otherwise?


244 posted on 01/25/2006 10:57:35 PM PST by Bud Krieger
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To: Howlin

you're too busy watching the grandkids and nobody's watching the grandpa!!! hope he's ok!


245 posted on 01/26/2006 4:05:44 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: Joan Kerrey

I think you are wrong - we have a 36 pound Border Collie puppy that is strong. I have 2 kids - one 7 yo that is 45 pounds, and a 4 yo that is about 40 pounds. Neither can walk the dog - he is too strong. The dog romps and plays and knocks them down, he gets wound up and they have to stop playing with him because he (like all puppies) can't calm down. I can easily see how a dog twice a child's size could be playing and a tragic accident like this could happen.


246 posted on 01/26/2006 5:06:21 AM PST by Cathy
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To: Gabz; xsmommy; Texan5

Really Sad Ping. May she RIP.


247 posted on 01/26/2006 5:08:13 AM PST by tioga (Speaking out from the god-forsaken frozen tundra of the Hildebeast.)
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To: trussell

I join in your prayers for the family and loved ones!


248 posted on 01/26/2006 7:05:54 AM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Bud Krieger

"Quote: : 'It's a reasonable foundation when someone suggests that a family who has been through this kind of tragedy deserves to be suspected of a crime in lieu of any evidence.'

Purely your opinion, and an uniformed one at that. "

You need to reread what I wrote. I wrote: "when someone suggests that a family who has been through this kind of tragedy deserves to be suspected of a crime IN LIEU OF ANY EVIDENCE"

If you disagree with that, then you think it's okay to suspect someone of a crime in lieu of any actual evidence. That's very strange to me.

"And I am sorry to inform you, but the family did go through a preliminary investigation. "

Why are you sorry about that? The police did what they were supposed to do. A preliminary investigation is to look for inconsistencies in the evidence. If they find such, then they should do a full investigation. I'm not sure why you think that what they did was not adequate and more investigation is required.

"I should suspect that you are a heartless, sick person for not caring about making absolutely sure this child was not the victim of foul play."

You are living in some alternate universe. I never implied any such thing.

"Did I say otherwise? "

Yes, when you said that you think fishing expeditions are a valid way of looking into crimes (notice I didn't say "investigating crimes"). Your ideas as stated are more close to some of the European models of criminal investigation than to the US, where everyone is guilty until they establish their innocence. Just because something bad happens doesn't mean you automatically suspect foul play and force everyone in the vicinity to prove themselves innocent. If there are pieces of the puzzle which don't add up, i.e., stories which contradict evidence at the scene, then you need to do an actual investigation. Check out the legal definition of "reasonable suspicion".

So my suggestion is for you to change the channel on the remote to something besides crime dramas like CSI.


249 posted on 01/26/2006 7:18:32 AM PST by webstersII
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To: Soul_of_Chogokin

lol - you're trolling now.


250 posted on 01/26/2006 7:22:41 AM PST by Frapster (Don't mind me - I'm distracted by the pretty lights.)
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To: iPod Shuffle
This story doesn't pass the smell test, imo. Yes, maybe I'm cynical, but the cops are paid to investigate. I hope they do a little bit more than just accept the family's story at face value.

I second that.

251 posted on 01/26/2006 8:32:20 AM PST by Minuteman23
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To: Soul_of_Chogokin

Stuff I did as a kid:
Skiing on golf course
building ski jumps on golf course
jumping ski jumps on golf course
using sleds on Ski jump
using tobaggans on ski jump
chaining sled together and using ski jump
chaining tobaggans and using ski jump
Cross country skiing
Playing zeros and p38s with sleds
using sleds ( 12 or so) playing crack the whip at about 45 mph.Woohoo!
when using ski jump with sled, rotating upside down in the air, then rotating rightside up (rarely made it).
Made forts of snow, then hardened them with a garden hose.
Hardened snowballs with said garden hose.
When attacking the "enemy igloo" it was legal to crash in the sides.
Climbed one hundred foot cliffs without a rope.
Wading through snake infested swamps in the dead of night.
Chasing said snakes.
Spelunking


252 posted on 01/26/2006 9:24:26 AM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: Soul_of_Chogokin

I don't know WHERE you are coming from? The girl was six! She wasn't one! Sheesh. This is what is called a "freak accident" and who knows what happened. There are millions of kids playing with big dogs every day and nothing like this ever happens.


253 posted on 01/26/2006 10:24:51 AM PST by Paved Paradise
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To: Soul_of_Chogokin

LOL. Do you kiss your children with that mouth?


254 posted on 01/26/2006 12:31:05 PM PST by dmz
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To: Soul_of_Chogokin

I would not allow them into a situation were I know a potential threat can arise. I am there to prevent such an accident
____

So you don't drive, I take it? Or go outside on windy days (tree limbs falling)?


255 posted on 01/26/2006 12:35:42 PM PST by dmz
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To: dervish

I was thinking the same thing. I've had a handful of goldens in my 47 years, and as soon as you go limp playing with them, they've all stopped and come over to see why I wasn't playing anymore.


256 posted on 01/26/2006 12:47:33 PM PST by dmz
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To: Howlin

Somebody come and arrest us.
______________
I'm on my way.

What's for dinner?


257 posted on 01/26/2006 12:53:48 PM PST by dmz
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To: iPod Shuffle

My prayers are with the family this evening, that the Lord will bring them comfort and strength in this terrible time of loss.


258 posted on 01/26/2006 2:21:25 PM PST by GreenHornet
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To: dmz

259 posted on 01/26/2006 2:22:39 PM PST by Howlin (Why don't you just report the news, instead of what might be the news? - Donald Rumsfeld 1/25/2006)
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To: TexanToTheCore
A 6 year old with a golden retriever is quite safe normally. Acually, really, really safe.

Well in most cases yes, but the age and personality of the Golden need to be taken into account.

Case in point, my 6 yr old niece and my 22 month old Golden can't be trusted together. They are both brats. I even call them each others names, I call my niece Maggie a lot it seems. My niece just can't seem to let Maggie settle down after the first round of jumping, knocking over and licking is over.

I don't trust either of them left alone together unless one or both were sleeping.


This most likely wouldn't have happened with an older dog.
260 posted on 01/26/2006 4:43:01 PM PST by CARDINALRULES (Tough times never last -Tough people do. DK57)
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