4-year-old dies after mauling by family's 130 lb. dog

[GregoryHouse]

http://www.wistv.com/story/25077600/...ampaign=buffer

HOUMA, LA (WAFB) -
Authorities said a child is dead and her mother is in the hospital after their dog attacked them Tuesday.

A four-year-old girl died Tuesday night after she was attacked by a dog named Niko, according to the Houma Police Department.

The attack happened around 7 p.m. at a residence in the Highland Apartment Complex. The girl has been identified as Mia DeRouen.

Police say the 2-year-old, 130-pound dog attacked DeRouen inside an apartment. When her mother, 27-year-old Megan Touchet fought the dog off her child, the dog attacked her, too.

Touchet was able to get away from the animal and barricade herself in a bedroom where she screamed for help. She was able to hand over the little girl through a window to medical personnel. Touchet suffered moderate injuries and was released from the hospital.

Mia received facial and head injuries in the attack and was taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center, where she died. She would have celebrated her fifth birthday next week.

Officers on scene say the dog was running loose inside the apartment and acting in a vicious manner. Officers fired at least 10 shots at the animal, killing it.

Animal control officers removed a second dog, a female, from the residence. A police spokesperson said there are no indications that Niko was being abused or used for fighting. The female is currently being held at the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter and officers suspect she may be in heat.

Officers counselors will be available for the officers who responded to the scene, describing it as "horrific."

sad news

[RGHoskins]

When are people going to learn to keep these dogs away from children?

[CockLurker]

Originally Posted by RGHoskins

When are people going to learn to keep these dogs away from children?

when are people going to learn to not put their kids in a car
when are people going to learn to not let their kids on a plane
when are people going to learn to only let their kids have liquid food
when are people going to learn to never let your kid outside

?

[RGHoskins]

Originally Posted by CockLurker

when are people going to learn to not put their kids in a car
when are people going to learn to not let their kids on a plane
when are people going to learn to only let their kids have liquid food
when are people going to learn to never let your kid outside

?

I'm unaware of any recent incidents where a car or a plane ate a child's face off until he or she died.

[markp_vip]

Originally Posted by RGHoskins

When are people going to learn to keep these dogs away from children?

Very sad story. As a pitbull owner I agree that many pit owners do not realize the amount of responsibility and supervision necessary when you have dogs and kids. I don't think I would have pits if I had children, but I know lots of people who do and have never had any incidents. My dogs have never shown any aggression towards people, but I don't take it for granted that nothing could ever happen. From what I have heard the female dog was in heat and that is what set the male off.

[RGHoskins]

Originally Posted by markp_vip

Very sad story. As a pitbull owner I agree that many pit owners do not realize the amount of responsibility and supervision necessary when you have dogs and kids. I don't think I would have pits if I had children, but I know lots of people who do and have never had any incidents. My dogs have never shown any aggression towards people, but I don't take it for granted that nothing could ever happen. From what I have heard the female dog was in heat and that is what set the male off.

Exactly. I'm not at all saying the dogs are "mean" but they are very powerful and if they do snap, well, you get what happened here. Based on the article, there's no indication that this dog has ever shown any aggression either but a 4 year old certainly is dead.

[Gamecocks1137]

Keep your dogs in check, remember we domesticated them, not the other way around.

[usc90grad]

Sorry but I would never have a viscous bred of dog around my kids. If you own a pit bull or similar dog and you have children, you are rolling the dice. Common sense goes a long way. My heart breaks for this poor child.

[TheMule]

My philosophy on dogs is to never have a dog that I can't physically overcome and kill it with my bare hands.

[GregoryHouse]

Originally Posted by TheMule

My philosophy on dogs is to never have a dog that I can't physically overcome and kill it with my bare hands.

You stole that quote from Mike Vick

[markymark550]

Very sad. Always hate to hear things like this where a child cannot defend himself/herself.

Wasn't clear in the article, but it almost seemed that the child was left with the dog unsupervised. I don't know how a parent could leave their small child alone with a 130 pound dog.

[ccured]

Originally Posted by GH

You stole that quote from Mike Vick

So wrong yet so funny

[Master Bedroom]

The worst part about these stories is it could have been avoided. It's similar to the way I feel about leaving a loaded weapon unattended around a child. You shouldn't have to be told not to leave any large animal around a child unattended. Also, 130 lbs is not normal for a pit bull terrier

[Master Bedroom]

Originally Posted by GH

You stole that quote from Mike Vick

Actually I think his quote was "I have yet to meet a dog that I can't physically overcome and kill with my bare hands"

[GarnetSwarm1990]

First of all. No true pitbull should EVER be 130 lbs. Shot 12 times to get it to go down......Hmmm that is by far not normal. That dog from the picture is an American Bully pitbull. They were crossed with bulldogs to get that thick stocky frame and to be more aggressive. Those are not true pitbulls. True pits weight anywhere between 35-70 lbs give or take a few for the biggest male dogs. Those Bully Pitbulls can weigh up to 150 lbs. They are too damn big and nobody can control an aggressive unpredictable dog that big.

By nature, pitbulls are not aggressive toward their owners. I know this for a fact, if you disagree feel free to do some research. When they were first being bread way back when, the owners would kill the dogs that would show aggression toward humans to get that out of the blood line. Properly bread and raised pits are some of the sweetest dogs on the planet.

That American Bully breed needs to be bread out. They are very unpredictable and dangerous because that is how the breeders wanted them to be. They can flip on a dime and are very, very strong. If you ever buy a pit pull people please do some research on the breeder and the dog, know which breed of pit you are getting.

[Travelin]

This happens in the UK at least a few times a year. Extremely sad and very avoidable. I wouldn't even blame it on the breed, but the dog itself. You must know your own dog, what it's capable of, especially if you have kids. My ex-wife got a dog when my son was 8. She got a female Staffie from the rescue center. As soon as I met this dog, I had absolutely no worries at all. The dog couldn't be any more good natured. However, that's not the case when dogs attack kids. In nearly all circumstances these dogs have a history of violence. Many dogs are simply intimidated by children. Look at Jack Russell's. A lot of their owners have to get rid of them as soon as they have children. Most of the owners are all to aware of what their dogs are capable of. It's sad that the innocent kids have to suffer, much like an irresponsible gun owner who leaves loaded guns laying around the house with kids milling about everyday. Same damn thing.

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by Master Bedroom

The worst part about these stories is it could have been avoided. It's similar to the way I feel about leaving a loaded weapon unattended around a child. You shouldn't have to be told not to leave any large animal around a child unattended. Also, 130 lbs is not normal for a pit bull terrier

Ha-ha. I was actually thinking if she had had a loaded weapon she could have saved her kid.

[ccured]

Like others have said that is not a normal pit bull. Pit bull is a catch all for four breeds or mix there of: American pitbull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, and a bull terrier. None of those dogs come even top 80 pounds. That dog just doesn't look right. Bad breeding at its finest. Also just throwing this out as a public service announcement hypothyroidism can cause aggressive dogs. It is usually thought of in dogs at least 4 years old but it is on the rise in dogs that are only 1 and 1/2 to 2. It also on the rise because of bad breeding. If your dog behavior suddenly changes either way get it checked. Sad story here for sure. sorry for that family

[GamecockInHell]

My ten year old 70 lb. (OK, she's fat and overweight) pit would tear the face off anyone that tried to hurt my 3 year old grandson. Or anyone that tried to come unwanted into our house. Other than that, she's just a 70 lb. lap dog.

[roosterdude21]

Terrible


Even if the female dog was half the size of male, that's 200 lbs of animal living in an apartment, breeding. Why?! Good lord, clearly a child shouldn't be raised in a situation like that. It's Louisiana, plenty of land, go use your government stipend for a house with a yard