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Mother: Ferret, not pit bull, gnawed off baby's toes (I am speechless)
The Dallas Morning News / The Associated Press ^ | 12/20/06 | Associated Press

Posted on 12/20/2006 8:54:01 PM PST by paulat

Mother: Ferret, not pit bull, gnawed off baby's toes

BENTON, La. – The parents of a month-old girl whose toes were gnawed off while they slept apparently disagree about whether the culprit was their ferret or their 6-week-old pit bull.

Mary Hansche, 22, told KTBS-TV on Tuesday that she thinks it was the ferret. "The way the bite marks were on her foot. The ferret being out of its cage. I knew it wasn't the dog," she said.

[snip]

"We were told that the puppy had blood on its fur. But when the officers arrived there, the animal did not have blood on its mouth," he said.

Natale said which animal did it won't affect charges against the Hansches, who were booked Dec. 10 on charges of child desertion and criminal negligence and remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bond each.

[snip]

Their daughter has been released from the hospital and is in state custody.

The Hansches were asleep on a mattress on the floor and the baby in a carrier next to the mattress when her cries woke them, police have said. They were not tested for alcohol or drugs, since such tests would not be needed to prove the charges, Natale said Wednesday.

Defense attorney Pam Smart said she is waiting for results of a hair analysis to back up the couple's statement that they were not using drugs.

[snip]

She also said their bonds are too high for misdemeanors. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled next month.

Both pets were released from quarantine but will remain in the Bossier City animal shelter until the court case is over, Natale said. Either the court or the city may decide their fate, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: child; dogs; ferrets; idiots; pitbull; rdo; stupid
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To: solosmoke; All
A bit OT, but have you seen the movie Bombon...

It was filmed in Argentina using largely nonprofessional actors.
The lead character is the directors chauffeur.
It is in Spanish with English subtitles.
A delightful little film. I found it at Blockbuster.

361 posted on 12/29/2006 6:22:19 AM PST by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: LowOiL
Oil, your own stats condemn you.

If Pit Bulls killed only 66 people in 20 years, that is a damn small price to pay for the many hours of pleasure and pride these brave, trustworthy, and gentle pets provide to their owners! What the heck is a maimed mailman or two, or two or three hundred chewed and scarred tots, when weighed in the cosmic balance with loyal companionship and neighborhood status?

Now, as to your totally prejudiced spin on the criminal ownership of Pit Bulls, etc:
Any fair man can see the solution there. When the owners get convicted, let them share their cells with their dogs.

Get your priorities straight, dude! Waddayou, some kind of insurance underwriter?

362 posted on 12/30/2006 12:50:12 PM PST by Kenny Bunk ( Republicans could use an attack dog right about now.)
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To: paulat; JRandomFreeper; KJC1; Shadowstrike; billorites; TXBlair; diggerwillow; KarlInOhio; ...
Pinged because you posted on this thread and may be interested in this update...
Parents of infant girl who had toes gnawed off plead guilty January 3, 2007

BENTON -- The parents of an infant whose toes were gnawed off by a family pet pleaded guilty today in Bossier District Court to one count of child desertion.

Mary and Christopher Hansche agreed to sign over their pets to Bossier City for adoption, pay a $100 fine plus court costs and serve six months in jail. All but 48 days of the jail sentence were suspended. And the couple must undergo 60 days of unsupervised probation.

"It was a horrible accident. I'm sorry it happened," Bossier District Judge John Robinson said. "I believe the plea agreement is appropriate. Your punishment will be ongoing every time you look at your baby's feet. Now you know what could happen."

The Hansches were charged after they awoke Dec. 10 and discovered that three of their daughter's toes were gnawed off. Doctors were forced to remove another toe.

Initial reports indicated that a 6-week-old pit bull puppy did it, but some have questioned whether it was the family's pet ferret.

The child was released from the hospital in mid-December and put in the care of a grandparent. It will be up to juvenile court to determine final custody, authorities said.

Robinson also ordered the couple to complete a parenting class and submit proof of completion to him within 60 days.

The Hansches are expected to be released today from Bossier Parish Maximum Security Facility due to a "two for one" time-served policy.


363 posted on 01/03/2007 3:06:11 PM PST by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: kanawa

I personally don't find any justice in this sentence. I hope the baby stays with the grandparent if they are more capable of caring for her then these so called parents. I am glad the animals won't be returned to them. Shaking my head here.....Prayers for the little baby. ~~Pandora~~


364 posted on 01/03/2007 3:12:04 PM PST by pandoraou812 ( zero tolerance and dilligaf?)
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To: kanawa

Thanks for the update!


365 posted on 01/03/2007 3:21:21 PM PST by MissEdie (Liberalscostlives)
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To: adopt4Him
Something evil about those two breed mixes.

That's a bunch of hooey. There's something evil about the kind of people that tend to keep these breeds and encourage their aggressiveness. (e.g. dogfighting rings, etc.) and breed them for profit (as opposed to show and hobby breeders, who breed for temperament).

Besides that, a puppy that age doesn't have it in him to do something like that.

You should watch Cesar Millan - even BAD dogs can be made good again, with correct leadership. He has a pack of about 40 of them, most of which are pitbutlls that started out as unwanted because of aggression/behavior problems. He rescued and rehabilitated them and they're the best, most well-balanced dogs you could ever see now. It depends on their pack leader.

http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

366 posted on 01/03/2007 3:24:04 PM PST by Terriergal (All your church are belong to us! --- The Purpose Driven Church)
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To: pandoraou812
I think it isn't the dog as much as what people do to the dogs.

Amen. Have you ever seen Cesar Millan in action?

367 posted on 01/03/2007 3:25:15 PM PST by Terriergal (All your church are belong to us! --- The Purpose Driven Church)
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To: kanawa

Thanks for the update.


368 posted on 01/03/2007 3:28:01 PM PST by BlessedBeGod (Benedict XVI = Terminator IV)
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To: kanawa

Good they needed to be punished for stupidity and neglect. It doesn't matter whether the dog or the ferret did it, the parents were responsible.


369 posted on 01/03/2007 3:32:42 PM PST by Ditter
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To: Terriergal

Yes I have. We watch the show here quite a bit. I wish people took more time to determine if a certain breed is the correct one for them. That cute little puppy can grow up to be a real big dog and end up at the shelter. That is just heartbreaking to me.


370 posted on 01/03/2007 3:33:56 PM PST by pandoraou812 ( zero tolerance and dilligaf?)
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To: pandoraou812; kanawa

Thanks for the update, as well. I hope those grandparents learned something over the years. They don't seem to have done so well the first time around. I hope they do better this time.


371 posted on 01/03/2007 3:36:26 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Terriergal
I belong to the Cesar Fan club. If you haven't read his book...do it. It's a quick read, and about more than dogs, imo.
372 posted on 01/03/2007 3:40:05 PM PST by pollyannaish
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To: metmom
I was thinking the same thing. I truly hope this child gets a better chance in life then the one she started out with. At least she hasn't been given back to them yet and at least the animals won't be returned. I am praying we never have to read another story on this family again. ~~Pandora~~
373 posted on 01/03/2007 3:41:00 PM PST by pandoraou812 ( zero tolerance and dilligaf?)
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To: kanawa

Thanks for the update. I'm still flabbergasted that parents would leave a tiny baby where ANY pet could get to them. Goodness common sense isn't so common....
susie


374 posted on 01/03/2007 4:01:44 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: kanawa

Sounds like a good compromise.


375 posted on 01/03/2007 4:56:23 PM PST by RobRoy
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To: Terriergal

Cesar rocks!!


376 posted on 01/03/2007 4:57:19 PM PST by paulat
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To: kanawa

Thanks for the update. The story still makes me sick. Poor little child to have to live like that forever.


377 posted on 01/03/2007 5:32:57 PM PST by Rte66
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To: kanawa

Thanks for the update. At least the puppy has a chance now of getting a decent 'parent', moreso than the poor baby will.

And I have to agree with those who say this was not enough as far as punishment for the biological units - I refuse to call these people parents - I say they should be thrown in a cell with some Louisiana wharf Rats and have their toes nibbled off.


378 posted on 01/03/2007 7:45:16 PM PST by Shadowstrike (Be polite, Be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
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To: kanawa

Thanks for the update...


379 posted on 01/03/2007 10:54:43 PM PST by LowOiL (Paul wrote, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil" (Rom. 12:9))
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To: kanawa

Thnx for the ping.

Pretty much a slap on the wrist. They should have had to sign over the baby for adoption too.


380 posted on 01/04/2007 12:04:26 AM PST by abigailsmybaby
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