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.

[Jacvin]

I would have drawn first though my friend.

[Jacvin]

Again, an animal nut misses the point.

You don't decide if my child plays with your dog.

I DO.

[Skooz]

And I would have drawn the last.

Are all people on your planet such panty waists?

[Jacvin]

MEET YOU ANY TIME ANY PLACE TOUGH GUY.

[Junior]

Seriously though, elementary school age kids are soft, and sweet and huggable.

Dunno. When I was just a itty bitty thing, if I fell down and smacked the sidewalk, my dad would rush over to make sure I hadn't cracked the sidewalk so he wouldn't have to pay the city. It worked on me, and it's worked on my kids. "Walk it off" is not a bad thing. Life's tough and kids need to understand this.

[Jacvin]

Matter of fact. I live in Boca Raton, Florida.

Any of you cyber-toughs want to freep mail me and let me know when your on your way, and I will be happy to accomadate you.

P.S. Make sure you bring your dog.

[Jacvin]

"And I would have drawn the last."

Maybe while looking up at the clouds you would have.

[Skooz]

LOL! Your pathetic remains would be dog food.

I live in Shreveport, La. Drop by anytime. Really. Freepmail me for the address.

[Skooz]

You threatened to kill my dog. I never threatened you in any way.

[Jacvin]

What's your trailer number.

[dinodino]

Knock it off with the personal threats, Skooz. You want to fight, take it offline into private messages.

[Skooz]

I said to drop by anytime. Better yet, I could mail you the key and you just come in, say, 2 or 3 am when Django is asleep on the couch by the door, mmkay? That would be fun.

[Skooz]

I am not the one making personal threats. He is. Read.

[Jacvin]

I threatned to kill any strange animal that charges my four year old.

Really don't know why that is an unpopular opinion.

I know there are a lot of responsible dog owners, but I see too many irresponsible ones that seem to think they get to decide what risks my child takes.

My little brother has a two inch scar down one side of his cheek from when he was small and a "playful dog that had never bitten anyone before" ran up to "play" with him.

[Skooz]

Look, I'll just knock it off. I posted an emotional response, to which you posted an emotional response, and I retaliated with another emotional response.

We probably agree on this a lot more than we know. It's no big deal. Sorry.

God bless and have a great day.

[OregonRancher]

OK! This is for all the parents: We have a huge golden, 10 years old and mellow as jello. We also have two younger working dogs - border collie and blue healer.

All three dogs in the back of the truck and off to town for a little shopping. None of the dogs would think about leaving the back of the truck. It's their truck!

Mother going by lifts her little cutie pie up the side of the truck so she can pet the cute little doggies. I barely made it there in time to halt the whole charade. Took me about three minutes to explain to the air head mother that no one should ever let children get close to strange dogs period in any situation. This lady ?? was most unfriendly and basically told me to go to H### and that I should not have had "my viscous dogs out in public". Go figure.

[Jacvin]

You're right.

emotional topic for me also.

Peace.

[Jacvin]

That's not the sort of scenario I was talking about.

Sadly, there are also irresponsible parents in the world.

[FITZ]

I tell my kids never to run from a dog they don't know. I think in this case the dog was friendly and playing but when the kids ran and screamed, the play turned rougher because that's how it is with dogs. Kids who respond this way are likely to be attacked. I don't like stray dogs much because I'm in a semi-rural area and some are bad dogs but running and screaming is only going to provoke some response from any dog. Even in play the kids became the pretend prey as far as the dog could see.