Of Kids and Dogs-When There Is No Right Answer

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"Onion" depicted with the victim, Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan.
“Onion” depicted with the victim, Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan.

I am sure that everyone has been there at some point in time. Someone you know has had a death of a family member or a close friend. What do you say? I am sorry for your loss. Is that enough? Is there anything I can do to help you? In the past couple of years I faced this type of crisis several times, but then again I am older than dirt so I should know how to handle them, right? Well I don’t. I probably never will either. My guess is that no one ever gets to the point that they feel comfortable with what to do or say when confronted with that situation. So, being the old, somewhat sentimental geezer that I am, my old thumper took a hit when I read this story. Both because I love my dog and because I love my grand kids, and I could see this happening in many situations.

It seems that in Henderson, Nevada a toddler named Jeremiah was wandering in a dark room and stumbled and fell on a mastiff-Rhodesian mix canine by the name of Onion. He then proceeded to pull himself up by the dogs ears. The startled dog then grabbed the child and shook him ferociously killing him. Naturally the parents, the child’s grandmother, who owned the dog, and of course the City of Henderson were very upset. The City of Henderson wished to put the dog down as a vicious animal but the grandmother granted ownership of the dog to an animal rights group out of New York named the Lexus Project, who fought the city’s decision to euthanize Onion.

The court case has lasted over two years and finally the City of Henderson has given up saying, “It doesn’t want to put the family through the pain of reliving the event again” in terms of testifying in court. The case went all the way to the Nevada Supreme Court which threw it back to the local courts. The issue was whether or not the owner voluntarily gave up ownership.

So, Onion is on to a new home and Jeremiah’s family will be celebrating his second birthday in April without him. What do you say? I am sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do? Or, what do you say to a dog that was startled while sleeping and something falling over him and pulling at his ears? I don’t have the slightest idea of an answer to any of the questions.

There will be some who will say that the dog is vicious and should be destroyed. I would disagree. Fall on top of me and pull at my ears and I might do something horrible too, but then, the child did not intend to stumble over Onion. I might ask, where the hell were the parents when this child was wandering through a dark room where a 120 pound dog was sleeping. I do know that when My grandkids are around I know where Rascal is and where the kids are. He is either playing with the kids or he is hiding where they can’t find him.

So, this is one of those situations where there probably is no right answer. There is no one that is the right one to blame. Regardless of whether you are an animal person or a person person, there is no right answer.

About Post Author

WAFormby

WAFormby has spent his life trying find out what he wants to be. When he determines that he will let everyone know, including himself. Most of his life he has been an educator and still enjoys bringing the light of knowledge, as he knows it, into the darkness of ignorance, as everyone else knows it. Despite his wealth of experience, education and knowledge he is humble and tries not to take himself too seriously.
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10 years ago

It wasn’t Onion’s fault. It was an indescribable tragedy but it wasn’t Onion’s fault.

Bill Formby
Reply to  Norman Rampart
10 years ago

That’s the point I was making Norman. It really wasn’t anyone’s fault. There is no good answer here.

Carol Maietta
10 years ago

Bill, this is a sad story but have heard it more than one time. Maybe not to the point of death but certainly severe injury. It’s always with huge dogs because of their power when scared or fearing attack. I agree that the parents were too casual about where the dog and baby were.

Bill Formby
Reply to  Carol Maietta
10 years ago

I know Carol, but it leaves such an emptiness with no response.

smith
10 years ago

just because a dog is a family member, never forget they are predators.
soooo make sure the dog in your house is not big enough to kill you.

Reply to  smith
10 years ago

I would not be as concerned about the dogs as the cats. If they ever learn to operate can openers, they will murder us in our sleep.

On a more serious note, people often say their dogs think they are people. Not at all, they think we are strange-looking dogs.

Keep that in mind and learn about their natural behavior in packs. Then, a lot of what they do makes sense.

Bill Formby
Reply to  James Smith
10 years ago

I agree James. Dogs simply accept us as part of as part of the pack. Cats, ehhh, not so much.

Bill Formby
Reply to  smith
10 years ago

I don’t consider my dog a predator. He is a a singular being who is too be too respected as such, and my best friend.

Reply to  Bill Formby
10 years ago

Dogs are predators only if placed in an environment that requires them to hunt for food. My dogs only have to hunt for their dishes after I put the food in them.

Reply to  Professor Mike
10 years ago

You hide their food dishes? Do they enjoy that game? My dogs are too lazy to hunt for anything.

Jess
Reply to  Professor Mike
10 years ago

If I hide the dishes like that, they will just sit there looking at me like ok are you bringing us the dishes or do we have to sit down right here and just wait or what. My cats are worse about it, those treacherous little bastards will start pawing at my legs and flop on the floor like they are in the throes of death.

Jess
10 years ago

I’ll just leave this here since I have no words for this.

Reply to  Jess
10 years ago

Thanks a lot Jess. This was well worth the look 🙂

Jess
Reply to  Professor Mike
10 years ago

I am thinking when I have all the sad feelings about any story I am going to find something cute to override it, which may or may not be posted wherever I am.

Reply to  Jess
10 years ago

Not a bad idea at all….

Bill Formby
Reply to  Jess
10 years ago

That says enough Jess.

10 years ago

I relate completely to this incident. Even our dogs, can be dangerous when startled. The older one, now blind and very dependent, bit Dora so hard on the finger she had to be taken to the ER for stitches. He was ling half asleep on her lap while she was searching him for tics. They are rare here but not unknown.

She found one and, instead of waking him and doing a proper removal, tried to simply pull it loose. That’s when he bit her. Mind you, she has had him from when he was 6 weeks old and he knows and loves no other person as well.

Reply to  James Smith
10 years ago

A lot of people love to put their faces into their dog’s faces and that’s not always a good idea. Dogs are complex creatures, and people have been bitten by kissing their dogs on the nose. If you know what you’re doing you can still kiss your pup’s nose, but make sure to hold his/her ears tightly. This will discourage the dog from biting precipitously, and even if they do you will be able to control the movement.

Bill Formby
Reply to  James Smith
10 years ago

Dogs, like people are not good with surprises. At least I am not.

Admin
10 years ago

Bill I agree with Rachael. This is a fine article and one that speaks to the larger problem of kids and dogs. The latter don’t view the former as people, but rather as peers, and as such tragic accidents such as you describe do occur, more often that most of us know I suspect. As a result parents and caregivers should understand the risks of having dogs around children, unsupervised. Even small dogs can inflict a painful wound, often to the face, that could disfigure or even blind a baby or a toddler. It’s not all that difficult really, protecting your child from the family dog. Just make sure when the dog’s around a toddler, you’re around.

This case is particularly sad because, as the pictures show, this family loved their dog, and of course their child. They never for one minute saw the dog as a potential threat, but rather as a protector I suspect. So, they didn’t think twice about their baby being in the same room as the dog, and I’m not sure I would have worried about it either. The end result, tragically, is now there for all to see, and hopefully learn.

Bill Formby
Reply to  Professor Mike
10 years ago

Very true Mike. I see Rascal as my best friend but I also respect him as a singular being.

Rachael
10 years ago

Bill this is a wonderful article. I wept when I read it both for the poor little boy and his family as well as for Onion who was only doing what dogs do from time to time. Thanks Bill.

Bill Formby
Reply to  Rachael
10 years ago

Thank you Rachael. It really got to me also.

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