6 Year Old Killed By Service Dog

**ILGHAUS** · 02-01-2012, 06:57 AM

6 Year Old Killed By Service Dog That Attacked
by Kim Gebbia
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn- Police said a medical service dog that mauled a six year old to death had no history of violence, but professional trainers said that doesn't mean they can't or won't attack.

6 Year Old Killed By Service Dog That Attacked - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

Soldier's Therapy Dog Euthanized After Killing Six-Year-Old Boy
Susy Raybon
A specially trained German Shepherd that attacked and mauled to death a six-year-old boy in Oak Grove, Kentucky on Sunday has been euthanized.

Soldier?s therapy dog euthanized after killing six-year-old boy - National Military Community | Examiner.com

Many of us were afraid of actions like this happening. Training facilities and new trainers are popping up all over the place for vets & PSDs. Some are good and are choosing and training correctly. Others, well ...

Some are pushing to bring in a pet and teach it a few tasks and wow a SD in 6-8 weeks. Many go on about how every vet needs a SD to help them. People are pulling from shelters not knowing how to properly evaluate and are more in tune to "Save Two Lives" then to stop and follow a thought out stratergy. Dogs are being pushed through that are not suitable for the work.

Under the current push there is going to be others injured - both people and SDs out working in the community.

And ... SDs are not Lassie's or furry angels. They must be viewed as a dog first and the same safety measures taken as with other dogs.

**jocoyn** · 02-01-2012, 07:59 AM

Oh, dear God

I hope this is a catalyst for making these dogs have to go through some formal certification and temperament testing process as well as training for the owners and a real assessment about the NEED for the dog in the first place.

I shudder thinking about my grandkids (my own grandkids but also others) being placed at risk because of some such dog brought into Walmart or whatever and something happens.

So what, specifically, should we do! I am willing to write letters, make calls, even visit representatives but am so tied up with other things that, like many, I can't make it a primary cause (in other words, a lot of us can be followers in getting something done)

**Andaka** · 02-01-2012, 12:04 PM

But we don't want certifications to be required. It can be dificult for those of us who train our own dogs to get to places where the certifications are given.

However, if you are going to train dogs for a fee, then perhaps some sort of licensing might be in order.

Xeph · 02-01-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

However, if you are going to train dogs for a fee, then perhaps some sort of licensing might be in order.

THIS I agree with, and find it very sensible. I do not agree with a national licensing type deal for the dogs

Ingrid · 02-01-2012, 12:43 PM

Unfortunately many service dogs are poorly trained, not proofed in multiple situations and/or have bogus certifications that their owners have purchased on-line. This (medical service dog training) is a completely unregulated industry, open to all kinds of scams and bogus trainers.

Mrs.K · 02-01-2012, 01:00 PM

Is it a Therapy Dog or a Service Dog?

I hate when the two terms are thrown together like it's one and the same.

Did you hear some of those statements the trainer made?

mysweetkaos · 02-01-2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

Is it a Therapy Dog or a Service Dog?

I hate when the two terms are thrown together like it's one and the same.

Did you hear some of those statements the trainer made?

This one bothered me...
Patterson says it's easy for children to trigger dogs like German Shepherds, even if they are well trained.

What a sad situation. I agree service dogs and therapy dogs are different, but any of them trained correctly and of sound mind should not be easily triggered by kids.

Mrs.K · 02-01-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysweetkaos

This one bothered me...
Patterson says it's easy for children to trigger dogs like German Shepherds, even if they are well trained.

What a sad situation. I agree service dogs and therapy dogs are different, but any of them trained correctly and of sound mind should not be easily triggered by kids.

yeah and the "making the screaming" stop part too.

Dejavu · 02-01-2012, 02:02 PM

What a horrible situation!

Little kid left alone and unattended with a large strange dog? Why??

I don't know about the training part, my dogs are not as well trained as most of the dogs here and they have been around many kids of all ages and sizes (my nephews and nieces and even their friends),those kids scream a LOT, and my dogs either just ignore them or follow and play with them.
So this must have to do more with socialization or temperament.

Ingrid · 02-01-2012, 02:12 PM

"Is it a Therapy Dog or a Service Dog?

I hate when the two terms are thrown together like it's one and the same."

The definition of a service/therapy dog varies so greatly from state to state that it becomes hard to diferentiate between the two groups and unfortunately they end up getting thrown together by the general public and in the press.

02-01-2012, 06:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
ILGHAUS Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Central FLorida Posts: 8,296	6 Year Old Killed By Service Dog 6 Year Old Killed By Service Dog That Attacked by Kim Gebbia CLARKSVILLE, Tenn- Police said a medical service dog that mauled a six year old to death had no history of violence, but professional trainers said that doesn't mean they can't or won't attack. 6 Year Old Killed By Service Dog That Attacked - NewsChannel5.com \| Nashville News, Weather & Sports Soldier's Therapy Dog Euthanized After Killing Six-Year-Old Boy Susy Raybon A specially trained German Shepherd that attacked and mauled to death a six-year-old boy in Oak Grove, Kentucky on Sunday has been euthanized. Soldier?s therapy dog euthanized after killing six-year-old boy - National Military Community \| Examiner.com Many of us were afraid of actions like this happening. Training facilities and new trainers are popping up all over the place for vets & PSDs. Some are good and are choosing and training correctly. Others, well ... Some are pushing to bring in a pet and teach it a few tasks and wow a SD in 6-8 weeks. Many go on about how every vet needs a SD to help them. People are pulling from shelters not knowing how to properly evaluate and are more in tune to "Save Two Lives" then to stop and follow a thought out stratergy. Dogs are being pushed through that are not suitable for the work. Under the current push there is going to be others injured - both people and SDs out working in the community. And ... SDs are not Lassie's or furry angels. They must be viewed as a dog first and the same safety measures taken as with other dogs. __________________ TJ Karl's Kids Program Inc Animal Services 2000 Education * Community & Emergency Services Member of Assistance Dog Advocacy Project (ADAP) ADAP Blog Last edited by ILGHAUS; 02-01-2012 at 06:59 AM.

02-01-2012, 07:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,048	Oh, dear God I hope this is a catalyst for making these dogs have to go through some formal certification and temperament testing process as well as training for the owners and a real assessment about the NEED for the dog in the first place. I shudder thinking about my grandkids (my own grandkids but also others) being placed at risk because of some such dog brought into Walmart or whatever and something happens. So what, specifically, should we do! I am willing to write letters, make calls, even visit representatives but am so tied up with other things that, like many, I can't make it a primary cause (in other words, a lot of us can be followers in getting something done) __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

02-01-2012, 12:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Andaka "I like Daffy" Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Douglas, IL ( near St. Louis) Posts: 2,435	But we don't want certifications to be required. It can be dificult for those of us who train our own dogs to get to places where the certifications are given. However, if you are going to train dogs for a fee, then perhaps some sort of licensing might be in order. __________________ Daphne and the Gang at Andaka Where Beauty and Brains Come Together http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...&results_in=10 Home of Ch Natty; Ch Doll; Jag RA (ch ptd); Sara RN (ch ptd); Bella (the new one); and Fisher (Mr. Evil) At the Bridge: Ch Kahla CD; Ch Keno UD HSAs OA; Ch Kizzy HSAs RE; Ch Tag CD RAE2; Ch Pharra; Bee PT; Ch Red the Dachshund

02-01-2012, 01:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mrs.K Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,381	Is it a Therapy Dog or a Service Dog? I hate when the two terms are thrown together like it's one and the same. Did you hear some of those statements the trainer made? Last edited by Mrs.K; 02-01-2012 at 01:05 PM.

02-01-2012, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ingrid Master Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 650	Unfortunately many service dogs are poorly trained, not proofed in multiple situations and/or have bogus certifications that their owners have purchased on-line. This (medical service dog training) is a completely unregulated industry, open to all kinds of scams and bogus trainers.

02-01-2012, 02:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dejavu Master Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: MX Posts: 688	What a horrible situation! Little kid left alone and unattended with a large strange dog? Why?? I don't know about the training part, my dogs are not as well trained as most of the dogs here and they have been around many kids of all ages and sizes (my nephews and nieces and even their friends),those kids scream a LOT, and my dogs either just ignore them or follow and play with them. So this must have to do more with socialization or temperament.

02-01-2012, 02:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ingrid Master Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 650	"Is it a Therapy Dog or a Service Dog? I hate when the two terms are thrown together like it's one and the same." The definition of a service/therapy dog varies so greatly from state to state that it becomes hard to diferentiate between the two groups and unfortunately they end up getting thrown together by the general public and in the press.

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