I Remember Dominic.

Frank Z

I remember Dominic as the very active, precocious, fun loving little tyke that would sneak out of his mom and dads house when they weren't looking. He'd take off down the street and make a bee-line for our house looking for my daughter Rebecca...Is 'Becca home?....Can 'Becca play?....Where's 'Becca?

I can still here him yelling Hey Mr. Frank to get my attention....and he always wanted my attention, and I always gave it to him...110%, cuz I adore kids.

I remember taking him and his Dad on their first ever off-road trip. We had a great time showing them parts of the state that most people don't ever see.

I remember 'Becca riding home in Dominic's Jeep to help make the drive home easier for his Dom's Dad.

I remember Dominic invading every room of our home every time he came by with his folks, cuz he was just lookin'!

I'll remember you always Dominic even though you were only here for a little while.

God bless you and keep you. I'll see you again some day and we'll talk about 'Becca.

Dominic was 4 when he was mauled by a dog and couldn’t be saved.

steveinaz

Sad story, sorry man....

cfrizz

God Frank I'm so sorry! After they are done putting down the dog, I hope someone goes & does the same to the owners of the dog!

danger boy

that is the saddest thing i've read in a long time..

I know there are lots of dog lovers out there.. I am one too. I don't currently own a dog. but sometimes around small children dogs need to be chained up or muzzled.

So sorry to hear about that.

Frank Z

Cathy,
The dog was owned by Dominic's Uncle.

We just found out about it today but it actually happened a few months ago. Dominic's Mom and Dad are coming back to town soon. They're coming home to visit the house they still own 3 house away from us. We we're told they're coming to get a bit of closure (Gawd how I hate that phrase) The family had moved to Montana because Dominics grandfather was ill. Dom and his family were supposed to move back after a year or so because they loved it here and want to make this their permanent home.

I wish that we had found out about it sooner, I would have liked to say good bye to my little neighbor.

You really had to meet him to appreciate this wonderfull little boy. My heart aches and yes the tears are flowing.

ohskigod

not knowing more particulars, its possible the dog might have just snapped and the owner didnt know the dog was capable of it. but a mauling to the point a kid is killed, thats pretty thin. going with the assumption that the owner knew, or purposly made his dog viscious (it makes the most sence), I just dont understand the fascination of owning a dog that has the inclination to do so much harm.

I have a 100 lb german shepard, and unless you attacked me with a hatchet, the worst he would do to you is jump on your lap and touch you with his unusually large balls. hate to joke around, buts how I react to this type of tragedy. 5yrs old, and gone. that sux, and I dont even know the kid. you do frank, I dont envy what your going to go through, especially watching the parents suffer in ways you couldnt imagine

ohskigod

Frank Z wrote:

Cathy,
The dog was owned by Dominic's Uncle.

Christ, I would not want to be that family. It puts things in persepective.

Skynut

I worry about that constantly.
I have a 100lb Rott and raised him to be gentile. He has never been rewarded for any agressive behavior and has been repremended many times for barking at people who come to visit.
He never shows agression around people in the house but I still worry about some child pushing the right button.
He is a big dog and comes with alot of responsibility and I respect that.

I would have a hard time living with myself if my dog hurt a child and I could not bear it if he hurt a family member.

I feel for you and your friend, it is a horible story.
I feel for the uncle also, I do not know the specifics but I am going under the assumption that the dog just snapped, if the dog was trained to be agressive then I loose my pity for the uncle.

I am truely sorry to hear about your little friend.
I hope his family has the strength to deal with this tragedy.

cfrizz

What I have come to realize is that pets & young children should be kept as far apart as possible.

You are talking about 2 different creatures that have about the same amount of reasoning at that time.

I remember seeing my best friends daughter Probably 3-4 yrs old at the time, pulling a cats tail. I told her to STOP that she would get hurt if she continued. So she did, until my back was turned. When I next looked, she had the cat by the tail again, laughing away. I went to grab Viki to swat her hand, but the cat beat me to it.

Needless to say, she then went crying to her mother that the cat ATTACKED her, & I told her mother that if she hadn't been pulling the cats tail as I told her not to it wouldn't have happened!

Naturally after learning a painful lesson by being scratched by the cat, Viki didn't go anywhere near the cat again!

Young children are dumb as stumps & can't help themselves by wanting to torture defenseless animals. Said animals will ALWAYS instinctively defend themselves from said torture.

The lesson? keep small children away from pets, do not get pets until the children are mature enough to realize that these animals are NOT toys to be thrown around, even if they think it's a fun thing to do!

Skynut

Our 10 year old boy was playing ruff with the new puppy. The puppy felt threatened and snapped at the boy; bit his lip enough to swell up but not enough to bleed.
He cried and I gave him a good "I told you so" (which does not help stop a crying child in case you are interested).
Bottom line is I have not seen him play ruff with the puppy again and he never tries to play ruff with my Rott. (he has seen me get hurt doing that)

criverajr

I also have a rotty and it's all in how your raise them. I remember my little ones 2nd birthday party, he has always been around my rotty and pretty much grew up with him in his room as I traveled alot and wanted him to be somewhat protected, well as the party started I forgat the rotty was in the yard but in his dog run when quests my rotty didn't know started picking up my son hid friend he just about snapped, I had to physically take him out of the yard. My son is 8 noow and the dog is older and slower but he sleeps by my son's bed no matter what. All in the upbringing. Frank I am very sorry about the yound boy. In this case the dog should be put down, and the uncle should be made to answer some questions about the upbringing.

CRj

Drumingman

quit trying to cheer me up

Frank Z

I know that the subject of which dogs are a dangerous breed can stir up alot emotions so I will not post the breed here. I don't want this thread to become a battle ground for that arguement.

Thanks to all for your comments, thoughts, support, and prayers.

cfrizz

Almost any dog can be dangerous when sufficiently provoked. Or cat for that matter.

bobman1235

cfrizz wrote:

Almost any dog can be dangerous when sufficiently provoked. Or cat for that matter.

One could say the same about most humans

wingnut4772

Man! That's horrible all around.

1996blackmax

I feel very bad for Dominic, his parents, and your family that was obviously close to his. I have a daughter that just turned five and would just loose it if something happened to her. I know how it is to watch a parent loose a child. It happened to my family. Seeing my parents go through that was/is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. The hardest was loosing my brother. I will keep Dominic, his family, and your family in my prayers.

Frank Z

Thanks again to all.

It's been a very difficult day here. Rebecca is realy taking it hard. I held her while she wept, all she could say was too young.

mrbigbluelight

the pain of the parents.

Frank, you mentioned taking Dominic and his Dad to parts of the state that most people don't ever see. That was a wonderful gift.

Dominic now goes to a far, far better place than he's ever seen before.
He'd probably like to share that with you and his Dad, too, but he can't.

Just rest assured, that he has no worries or fears now, and he would wish the same for you.
It would appear that Dominic was a person who, when gone, is missed. That's a compliment to Dominic, as are your, and your wife's, tears.

schwarcw

Very sad story. I pray for the little boy and his family.