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.
I was doing great until I read some of these posts........LOL.
How about you?
Sad, sad story. Prayers for the little girl and her family
>>>Sad business. I see that the breed was not mentioned, so it's probably not a pit bull. >>>
Yes they did, a Golden Retriever.
What makes you think they didn't?
If you think that common sense says that a girl is in danger by playing with her pet golden retriever, then I can't help you.
But maybe these folks can.
http://www.captainsafetysite.com/
"So it very well may just be a tradic event. But the police need to follow up on other possiblities. If they don`t , then they are not doing their job."
The parents are devastated with grief.
And you want the cops to come in and do the whole bad cop/good cop routine, accuse them of wrongdoing, shake the tree and see what falls out?
You are one absolutely heartless, sick person.
A very sad doggie ping
"Freak accident, no one's fault."
Well, according to your logic, they should have investigated the family, anyway. They should have brought all of you in and put you under the bright lights until someone confessed.
"Police say the accident happened in the backyard of little Kaitlyn Hassard at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon."
Well, today is Wednesday. If they did "investigate", it was about a thorough as the Park Police investigation of Vince Foster's "suicide". The cops have already released their "findings" to the media.
Maybe they should issue a regulation bubble for this posters children, if and when they have them.
I was going to comment on what a ridiculously absurd post this is. A six year old child is quite old enough to be outside by his or her self, that this was a freak accident that no one could have predicted, and the parents most certainly should not be charged with manslaughter unless there is more to this story that we don't know.
However, I see others have already said essentially the same, and I wouldn't want to be accused of piling on.
Poor baby. What an insane accident.
And you have a problem with their findings?
What exactly are you credentials so we can all decide just exactly how much weight to give to your posts on this thread?
Come on now, you're so quick to condemn, let's see your resume!
I agree.
The parents should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
I disagree.
It doesn't have to have anything to do with the type of knot. If the dog was pulling on the scarf, the scarf just has to put enough pressure on the throat to restrict air flow, the knot doesn't have to get tighter. Even a single knotted scarf pulled the wrong way could do this without coming untied. It is a terrible tragedy.
Prayers for the family...
LOL!
The dog was left at the local shelter though. Wonder what it's chances are now of a finding a home? Goldens are great dogs.
Tragic accident.
Maybe this can help too.
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,3934,00.html
How bout you put down the crack pipe, step away from the keyboard and not make us suffer anymore from your ridiculous posts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.