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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: Terriergal

Yup! And I'm convinced he should consider writing a parenting book next!


381 posted on 01/04/2007 7:06:58 AM PST by TNdandelion
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To: Terriergal
You'd have to be a fool to let one of those "rehabilitated" dogs alone with an infant.

There is something about those breeds, pits and rotts...and its really simple. They have a purpose and that is to be dangerous. German shepherds have it too to some degree.

People who want these dogs as household pets are fools for the most part. In the old days they had a name for these kinds of dogs. they were called band-dogs, or sometimes tie-dogs. That's because they lived their whole lives tied to a stake, or banded(or bound) to a stake or post. They were only let loose when there was believed to be an intruder on the property.

In my opinion, no one should own any dog that they are not capable or willing to control, by force if necessary, in totality if the dog should go completely berserk for some reason. Very few people meet that requirement with a pit. A powerful dog requires a powerful master.

What really gets me about so many of these scumbags, is that they will get two or three such dogs when they themselves would obviously be totally defenseless against one of them should it turn on them. So I know darn well that when I walk past their property that they wouldn't have a prayer in restraining their dogs should one of them decide to attack me. They are idiots.
382 posted on 01/14/2007 2:05:01 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: adopt4Him; kanawa
Anytime i'm out in public with my kids, I have to deal with their irresponsible and outrageous attitudes and behavior.

Now, that is good to hear. I wish more people would deal with their kids' irresponsible and outrageous attitudes and behavior in public. Mother of the year award right here, folks. I appreciate your attitude, ma'am. If we had more mothers like you, then folks like me would be in a much better mood in restaurants and grocery stores.

383 posted on 01/14/2007 2:15:18 PM PST by maxwell (Well I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation...)
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To: All
Latest update: Jan23/07...
Pit bull puppy, ferret in news to be adopted soon

A ferret and pit bull puppy that drew national attention last month when authorities tried to determine which of the two gnawed the toes of a month-old baby should be adopted next week.

Both pets remain at the Bossier City Animal Shelter, but officials are making preparations to hand the kit over to a ferret rescue organization and the puppy to similar group for dogs, said Mark Natale, Bossier City spokesman.

“We are still holding on to both because we were waiting for the dog to get old enough to be neutered,” Natale said. “The pets should be ready, and the adoptions completed hopefully by the end of next week.”

Mary and Christopher Hansche signed the pets over to Bossier City for adoption this month as part of a plea agreement.

The Hansches were charged with child desertion after they woke up on Dec. 10 and discovered that three of the baby’s toes were gnawed off. Doctors were forced to remove another toe.

The couple pleaded guilty to one count of child desertion and gave up their family pets.

Authorities initially planned to euthanize the animals, but later determined there was no reason to put either to sleep, especially not knowing which one did it.

Several people called the animal shelter wanting to adopt the pets, Natale said.

“A lot of it has to do with who contacted us first,” he said. “The phones were ringing off the hook, and the majority of the calls were from different types of rescue organizations.”


384 posted on 01/24/2007 7:12:57 AM PST by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: John Robertson
Someday someone will explain to me how the pit bull assholes hijacked this site.

You surely can ban all us "pitbull assholes," if you'd like.

385 posted on 01/24/2007 7:21:33 AM PST by Trailerpark Badass
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To: kanawa
I am so glad to know that the dog will be adopted,and not killed.I have a pitbull(4 months old),and he's the sweeteset thing ever.I have had four other pitbulls in my lifetime,and NONE of them ever harmed a fly.It is all in how you raise them.Just as it is with a child.

386 posted on 01/25/2007 8:40:23 AM PST by lilmama
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To: lilmama

Welcome to FR, lilmama.


387 posted on 01/28/2007 7:09:26 AM PST by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: Tribune7

As the proud owner of 5 ferrets, I'd have to disagree wholeheartedly with your perspective! Ferrets actually have atrocious PR in many areas. They're banned in Kalifornia, and I believe they're either banned or you need a permit to have them in NY. So many stories of "feral ferrets" sneaking into cribs and killing babies while they sleep make these relatively docile animals seem like killers.

Truth is that the only thing my ferts have killed were cockroaches, and while they'll chase stockinged feet around the house all day, they'd never bite.

Ferrets and pits are on the same continuum: they can be vicious or they can be sweet as sunshine, it all depends on their environment! My cousin has 3 pits, and they are the most even-tempered dogs I've ever met. And they're amazing around the little ones! It's all about upbringing.

String up the parents, regardless of which animal did the nibbling. A dog could do the damage, but I doubt a ferret could. One ferret eats about 1/4 C of dry kibble per day. Human toes don't fit their normal menu, unless the owners starved it.


388 posted on 01/28/2007 7:25:14 AM PST by rarestia ("One man with a gun can control 100 without one." - Lenin / Molwn Labe!)
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To: KJC1
Pits are not by nature human-aggressive

The concept of "human-aggressive" as opposed to "aggressive" is a fiction. Aggression does not intrinsically distinguish between objects. I understand that pit bulls got their name for being bred to fight. That means they were selected for their aggressiveness.

I have no reason to believe that they single out or go after human targets as opposed to dogs or other animals; but if you think that being "human" somehow exempts you from their aggressiveness, you are fooling yourself. A dangerous thing to do.

389 posted on 01/28/2007 7:39:48 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: paulat; MizSterious; Kokojmudd; brytlea; Darnright; Sensei Ern; sangrila; rattrap; dervish; ...
Ping to an update.
(btw while looking to see if this had been posted I ran across this FR article from July 2002...http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/725656/posts)

Mother of baby injured by ferret now charged with theft
08/01/2007

Mary Hansche, the young woman who made national headlines last year when her baby had some of her toes bitten off by the family's pet ferret, has been arrested for stealing from a charitable group that helped her pay her electric bill.

Hansche, 22, was arrested in DeSoto Parish on identity theft charges, accused of using a computer to steal $611 from the group that helps people down on their luck. Sheriff's Lt. Toni Morris said the investigation, which began after a minister noticed irregularities in the group's bank statement, found unauthorized internet transactions.

Hansche had contacted the charitable group in Logansport, asked for help in paying her electric bill and was given a check, Morris said. Six on-line bank transactions were traced to her, Morris said.

Hansche and her husband, Chris, were arrested in Bossier City last December after their month-old baby girl lost four toes to a family pet. It's believed the family ferret got out of its cage while the parents slept and attacked the baby, who was in an infant seat on the floor.

The Hansches spent three and a half weeks in jail before pleading guilty to misdemeanor child desertion. They got out of jail and were ordered to take parenting classes. The baby, who stayed with relatives while her parents were in jail, is now living with them, Morris said.

The ferret and a pit bull puppy originally blamed for chewing off the baby's toes, were given up and adopted.

The Hansches were vilified after their arrests -- they received death threats from around the country and their house was broken into three times while they were in jail -- and they relocated to DeSoto Parish. Mary Hansche is a native of DeSoto Parish, Morris said.

additional info...

The investigation into Mary Hansche, 22, started when a minister noticed unauthorized Internet transactions on a bank statement. Freedom Mission gave Hansche a check for $100 to pay the electric bill, DeSoto sheriff's Lt. Toni Morris said.

She picked up the check and used it to pay the bill. "But she retained the information off of the check and got on the computer and used it to conduct some business using someone else's information," Morris said.

Wayne Jones, director of the mission, noticed electronic payments from the church's account paid to such companies as cell phone and TV service providers.

The six transactions total $611, which makes it a felony offense, Morris said.

Hanshce denied knowing about the transactions but later confessed, Morris said. An arrest warrant was signed Monday. Hanshce was arrested Tuesday morning.

She was booked into DeSoto Detention Center then released on a $2,500 bond.

390 posted on 08/20/2007 1:09:18 PM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: kanawa

What a piece of work.


391 posted on 08/20/2007 2:28:16 PM PDT by abigailsmybaby (I was born with nothing. So far I have most of it left.)
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To: Trailerpark Badass
You surely can ban all us "pitbull assholes," if you'd like.

He'll find that difficult to do in his present condition...

http://www.freerepublic.com/~johnrobertson/

~snicker~

392 posted on 08/20/2007 2:41:22 PM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: adopt4Him
what are you smokin'? as a mother of four, i am weary of those of you lunatics (and I mean this literally) who still defend the pit bull breeds (i know there are many which are considered a pit). Are you just stupid, or function illogically? Are you parents? Do you have a brain? I don't get it. Truly. 1 + 1 = 2. Period. And if you chose NOT to believe pits are a deadly weapon, than why wouldn't you at least accept responsibility for owning a dangerous animal, and make sure it is muzzled and chained up 100% of the time? Do you hate society and the innocent so much that you think your right to own an animal is above our right to not be mauled by your evil pet?

Wow, lady. You rant and rave like a DUer. You don't back up a single one of your overly-emotional assertions with fact. What a persuasive argument. Congrats.

393 posted on 08/20/2007 4:37:24 PM PDT by SIDENET (More fun than a beer left in the freezer.)
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To: kanawa
SWEET!

;-)

394 posted on 08/20/2007 4:39:52 PM PDT by SIDENET (More fun than a beer left in the freezer.)
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To: lilmama

Cute pictures!


395 posted on 08/20/2007 4:41:18 PM PDT by SIDENET (More fun than a beer left in the freezer.)
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To: kanawa

What a POS


396 posted on 08/20/2007 5:06:46 PM PDT by Shyla
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To: SIDENET

I knew I liked you!


397 posted on 08/20/2007 5:09:10 PM PDT by Shyla
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To: kanawa
Thanks for the (shudder!) update...

...we are not surprised....

398 posted on 08/20/2007 5:53:38 PM PDT by paulat (I'd rather spend my vote on someone who CAN ACTUALLY BE ELECTED)
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To: Shyla
I'm here to help.

:-)

399 posted on 08/20/2007 6:08:49 PM PDT by SIDENET (More fun than a beer left in the freezer.)
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To: SIDENET

You do great too!


400 posted on 08/20/2007 6:14:07 PM PDT by Shyla
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