Big, friendly dog frightens students

AP ^ | 12/5 | AP

[ambrose]

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?display=rednews/2002/12/05/build/local/85-dog.inc

Big, friendly dog frightens students

Associated Press
LIBBY (AP) - Twenty-six children are nursing scratches, bruises and other minor wounds from a big, playful dog that tried to join the lunchtime football game at Asa Wood Elementary School.

"The dog wasn't attacking kids," Principal Ken Foss said Wednesday. "The dog was actually playing tug-of-war. It's a big pup, a year or a year and a half old, and very friendly.

"But it got very aggressive and played rough. It took the kids' (foam-rubber) football, grabbed at their coats and their legs. The kids screamed and ran, and he chased them."

Foss said he did not mean to minimize the incident, which occurred Tuesday.

"It was a serious incident - 26 kids were traumatized," he said. "There were some bruises and cuts, but by the same token they weren't attacked."

A teacher's aide grabbed the dog around the neck and shooed the first-, second- and third-graders into the building, but the dog broke away and followed them inside, Foss said.

Other teachers sidetracked the dog into an empty classroom and closed the door to await Libby police officer John Graham, the school resource officer.

"He came in expecting a vicious dog," Foss said. "He opened the classroom door and here's this dog with its tongue out and tail wagging."

Graham turned the dog over to animal control officials, and it is being held while the investigation continues. He said it weighed about 70 pounds and appeared to be a Stafford or bull terrier.

The dog had not been vaccinated against rabies, so it will be quarantined until officials are sure it does not have the disease, he said.

The dog escaped that morning from its residence just outside town, Graham said. Graham had not filed any charge by Wednesday, but he said he was still investigating. He declined to identify the owner.

"We had a total of 26 students who had some type of bruise or mark, scratch, pressure indentation or puncture wound of some type," Foss said. "Of those 26 we had 10 we identified with wounds that broke the skin, scratches and so forth."

Foss and Graham agreed that even the wounds that broke the skin were minor, but said some of the children were frightened. Three had torn coats or pants.

"We had a couple of students who were pretty distraught - pretty shaken up," the principal said. "Counselors visited with them, and they seem to be doing fine.

"The biggest thing we tried to get across yesterday was it's safe to go outside. It took place at lunchtime. We have afternoon recess about 2 o'clock, and all the kids went back outside and played, which was a really good sign."

The school has 350 students from preschool through third grade. Foss said about 275 first-, second- and third-graders were on the L-shaped playground, but the dog entered the short part of the L, away from most of the children.

Foss sent a letter home with every student Tuesday afternoon detailing what happened.

"The parents have been wonderful," he said.

Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[sarasmom]

I would have shot the dog.

I might have also shot the dogs owner, if he/she did not show sufficient remorse.

But I am just a "playfull" parent, who got loose and wanted to join the "fun" of 26 children enjoying a stray animal exibiting natural agressive exuberance and biting children!

I once owned and trained a beautifull German Shepherd.He grew to 130lbs.He was awesome!I loved him.I trained him, and I controlled him.If he had acted out at a schoolyard in this manner, I would have killed him.

I see nothing humorous about an animal threatening children.The owner deserves the legal nightmare coming thier way.They are lucky my child was not on that playground.I tend to avoid courts and lawyers.

[FITZ]

The kids screamed and ran, and he chased them

They're lucky this was a playful dog ---it's sad so many kids don't know how to behave around animals. Screaming and running could provoke a less tame dog into attacking.

[socal_parrot]

My 80 lb. Golden Retriever can knock me for a loop when I get home.

[Dianna]

I see nothing humorous about an animal threatening children.The owner deserves the legal nightmare coming thier way.They are lucky my child was not on that playground.I tend to avoid courts and lawyers.

It's obvious that this dog is not well trained, and if the dog had been more aggressive it could have been a nightmare. But the school sent in counselors for these "traumatized" children. Doesn't this seem a bit excessive to you?

[MarkL]

I've got a friend who's 13 year old son is terrified of dogs he doesn't know, and if he had been among those kids, he would have been seriously traumatized. He's just barely able to deal with his dad's Golden Retriever, the world's friendliest dog, but he will not be alone with the dog.

The problem is that we know nothing about the kids and their former experiences... You can't just expect a child to "walk it off."

My friend's son's experience was being attacked by a rotweiller when he was about 4, having an ear bitten off, being partially evicerated, and actually having died on the operating table and being revived, after having being "life-flighted" to Children's Mercy Hospital in KCMO. More than 170 stitches.

Mark

[Dianna]

I've got a friend who's 13 year old son is terrified of dogs he doesn't know, and if he had been among those kids, he would have been seriously traumatized. He's just barely able to deal with his dad's Golden Retriever, the world's friendliest dog, but he will not be alone with the dog.

I can understand that. And if one or two children in particular were absolutely terrified, then of course they should have some comfort.

My problem was with the idea that the children in general all needed "counselling". I hate to think that we are raising kids to think they need a professional for every experience which is unpleasant.

[weikel]

Yeah dear god what a bunch of p***ies.

[weikel]

Are you sure your a convert as your name suggest?

[Skooz]

I see nothing humorous about an animal threatening children.

He wasn't threatening anyone. He was playing.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"Counselors visited with them, and they seem to be doing fine.

With PhD's in "Friendly Dog Encounter Trauma and Recovery Counseling", no doubt.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I've made raising alpha males my life's work.

Careful, Al Gore may want to call you in as a consultant prior to the next election.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The youth of America are soooo weak...

Yah! Vee must get zeese kinder into an organization zat veel toughen zem up! </sarcasm>

Seriously though, elementary school age kids are soft, and sweet and huggable. Very easily damaged. The principal was probably going out of his way to avoid using the words "dog bite".

[Jacvin]

Gee, you must be pretty tough. I'm sure everyone is impressed.

Tell you what, as a father of a four year old, I'm sick and tired of irresponsible dog owners letting their giant dogs come charging towards my boy. I would kill a million damm dogs to stop my son from getting "scratch's and bruises" because of your irresponsibility.

I'm sure had a concerned parent iced the damm dog, as is their right to do in protection of their children,the dog owners would sue.

A word to all dog owners. I don't know you. I don't know your dog. I don't want to know you or your dog. I don't care if you say "he dosen't bite". I will not risk my son's death or disfiguration to be nice to you.

Keep your mutt on a leash or risk it's death.

[rintense]

Yep. A counselor for the kids???? Oh dear Lord.

[weikel]

Troll.

[Jacvin]

Your mother's a troll

[weikel]

My my your resplendent IQ and wisdom are showing through to all on this thread.

[Skooz]

I'm sure had a concerned parent iced the damm dog, as is their right to do in protection of their children,the dog owners would sue.

Sue? Are you serious. There wouldn't be enough left of them to sue.

[Skooz]

play    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (pl)
v. played, play·ing, plays
v. intr.

1. To occupy oneself in amusement, sport, or other recreation: children playing with toys.
2. 1. To take part in a game: No minors are eligible to play.
   2. To participate in betting; gamble.
3. To act in jest or sport: They're not arguing in earnest, they're just playing.
4. To deal or behave carelessly or indifferently; toy. See Synonyms at flirt.
5. To behave or converse sportively or playfully.
6. To act or conduct oneself in a specified way: play fair; an investor who plays cautiously.
7. To act, especially in a dramatic production.
8. Music.
   1. To perform on an instrument: play on an accordion.
   2. To emit sound or be sounded in performance: The band is playing.
9. To be performed, as in a theater or on television: A good movie is playing tonight.
10. To be received or accepted: a speech that played poorly with the voters.
11. To move or seem to move quickly, lightly, or irregularly: The breeze played on the water.
12. To function or discharge uninterruptedly: The fountains played in the courtyard.
13. To move or operate freely within a bounded space, as machine parts do.

[Jacvin]

You started the name calling first my friend.

I assume you did because you don't have an answer to my post asserting the right of parents to protect their children.

Unless you're some kind of PETA nut, my right to protect my family trumps your right to illegally let your dog roam free.

Many parents of small children have similar feelings. It has nothing to do with liking or not liking dogs.
It has everything to do with children being attacked every day in this country by dogs. after every attack, the owner whines "he's never done this before", "the child shouldn't have run", "he was just playing".

P.S. I don't mind being flamed. But at least attack me accurately. I'm to the right of Atilla the Hun.
Troll is sort of a bizzare attack considering the topic.