A wolf-dog hybrid (not Dakota). Photo: Katie Brady, flickr
Though he suffered a skull fracture, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, contusions and cuts, A.J. is recovering fully at his parents' house. Shortly after the incident, the baby's father, Michael Smith, told Good Morning America that while he harbored no ill feelings toward Dakota, who is staying at the Jessamine County SAVE Center, he said "there's no way she can come back in the house."
This week, though, it seems Smith has had a change of heart (and possibly, sanity). The Lexington-Herald reports that Smith now wants Dakota back at home with the family. It is a move opposed by both local authorities and the Jessamine County SAVE Center, which want Dakota to go to an animal sanctuary.
"I cannot imagine what the father is thinking," Sarah Wilson, a dog expert and trainer with 23 years of experience, told Paw Nation. "You do not bring an animal into your home who -- for whatever reason – almost killed your child."
The unfortunate incident is also scaring people into thinking dogs are dangerous around children, says Wilson, who has been receiving calls and emails from concerned dog owners. "One pregnant woman has a 12 year-old Labrador retriever who has been nothing but wonderful his entire life and her family is telling her to get rid of this dog now because it might kill the baby like Dakota tried to kill the baby," says Wilson. "They don't understand that Dakota is a wolf-dog hybrid who was working off of predatory instincts that most dogs do not have."
Dogs are very safe with children, says Wilson, who provided Paw Nation with tips for introducing your dog to a new baby. "Dogs do not deserve to lose their homes and their lives over people being irresponsible with their hybrid."
As for returning Dakota to the Smiths? "There's no question in my mind that the baby would be in serious danger," Wilson states, invoking a scary comparison. "[The Smiths] left a loaded gun on the coffee table and now they're going to leave it there again. It almost cost them their baby already. It is pure, dumb luck that A.J. is alive."
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Can't Miss Galleries
Today's Popular Articles
PetLINENS Pet Bed Giveaway- PetSmart Employee Fired for Bringing Dog to Work
- AKC's Top 10 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. in 2009
I feel that the dog thought the baby was it's cub and was dragging it to safety.
I agree with Debbie. I believe that is one of the reasons vets recommend a female have a litter of puppie before getting spayed. Put Dakota through some training classes, test her to the max and see what happens. If Dakota wanted to kill that baby , he would have done it.
Oh Debbie, get a grip! They do not injure their cubs like it did this child! Did you read all of the injuries this poor child endured?
I had a wolf, and yes IF the baby was crying and being ignored or was hungry it (the wolf) will try to care for the smao child or get the parents attention. The parents apparently ignored the wolf-dog and the child.
That is horrible that the father even thought about taking the dog back. He is risking his son's life. If the dog did it once, their is no knowing that he won't do it again. If a dog ever did anything to my children or anyone else it would be out the door that second. I am an animal lover, but if a dog did something that terrible I don't think their is any way to communicate to that dog and let them know not to do it again.
Don't be silly, Debbie: if that dog wanted to hurt that baby, the child would be dead!
sorry, that comment was meant for JB
To ALL of you who think the dog was just trying to save the child I have to ask ... what color is the sky on your planet?!?!
I suppose it was only due to the dog's enthusiasm moving the child to safety that he suffered a skull fracture, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, etc?
I agree with the Susan ... take the baby away from them and give them the dog back.
Better yet just take the baby away from them. They would probably buy a boa constrictor if they don't get the dog back.
Debbie, you are an IDIOT if you think this wolf-dog thought it was her cub and carried it to safety. When any wild animal carries its cub to safety, it gets there carried alive and without injuries. I bet your parents dropped you on your head when they took you from room to room.
I remember when this happened thinking the dog did not mean any harm to the baby. The injuries were probably due to the baby being taken off the bed by the dog and (I believe) down the stairs, not due to mistreatment by the dog. Agreed, if the dog had wanted the baby dead, the baby would be dead. When the parents tried to take the baby back, the dog made no attempt to stop them. The baby was alone in the room and perhaps the dog was concerned the baby had been abandoned. After all, DOGS have more sense than to leave THEIR babies alone. I hope the owner is able to get the dog back. Parents, don't leave the baby alone. Your dog and your child could have paid a terrible price for your poor choice.
These is exactly what it was doing.........If the hybrid wanted to kill it would of. Hybrids are just like wolves in packs. They are family oriented and protect each other. Somehow this hybrid felt the baby was in danger. They are the second to the smartest, the first is wolves.
How ever any baby should have never been left alone with any animal, regardless. It takes a responsible person to care for both child and pet in the first place. Think ahead people..........
If the dog has been monitored and exhibited no other bad behavior, it is probably safe. The dog probably considered the baby to be a "puppy: that needed to be protected and nurtured. The dog was taking the baby to what it considered a safe place. If it wanted to KILL the baby, the baby would be dead. The baby is probably as safe around this animal as it would be around any other dog. Youg babies always have to be watched carefully in a house with a dog. My grandson lives in a house with a pit bull, and there have been no problems because the parents used common sense.
You're kidding right? The child was perfectly safe where it was....in the house. Also, the injuries were so extensive that I doubt the dog was just "carrying" the baby. Large dogs can, and do, carry large objects without biting hard enough to crush them. The baby had collapsed lungs and a skull fracture. That dog was not on a rescue mission.
Hey, Glennzo, there are more people in this world who treat babies a helluva lot worse than that dog ever did! The difference? The people MEANT to hurt the baby, the dog did not. A baby is more frail than a wolf cub, I would think. If Dakota wanted the baby dead, it wouldn't have bothered to carry it away, it just would have killed it. Dogs do not premeditate murder. Anyway, I read the original article, and it actually said she was probably carrying it away like she would a cub. Now that the people have learned from that mistake, I doubt they would let it happen again. I have never gotten rid of a dog, and I never will.
Ok here is the deal in black and white. I am a RVT and have worked with this "breed" many times. It is not due to the breed, however I do not recommend anyone having this breed due to other issues, but the dog wasn't trying to help the child! Dogs have feeling and resentment to anyone knew in the household just like another child would. However, another child might kick or hit the new baby because the have an active consious. However, a canine does not. He didn't want to kill the infant, however it is obvious to anyone in our profession the dog did want to injure the child. Dakota the dog should be relocated to a house without children or other pets.
It's sure nice to know you know more than the expert. According to him it was pure luck the baby wasn't killed.
If that dog had gotten away with the baby he would have killed it. As for saying it was trying to drag the baby to safety or something, that's just ridiculous.Are you saying their house was on fire??? Please, it's a WOLF-dog.
There is no way that animal should be allowed near any child ever again. It was only by the grace of God that they have their son with them today. This just another reason why hybrids shouldnt be bred. They are very dangerous animals and not good pets. The father should go get himself a bit of mental help for even thinking about bringing Dakota back into the home.
I agree with Debbie. She thought the baby was a cub.
I had a pair of chow chows who had similar reactions to the new baby in the house. I just NEVER left the baby alone with the dogs. If I needed to be away from the baby - the dogs went outside or I shut a door. It wasn't hard or any extra work.
Savannah, there is NO reason to let a bitch have a litter before she is spayed...if she is spayed before she ever comes in heat it cuts the chance of mammary tumors out totally..if your vet recommends having a litter...find a new vet....
That's definitely true. The dog wasn't taking the baby away as a snack. Either way though I would feel extremely uncomfortable with the dog around my baby after that. I figure that they want it back so it isn't put down. If they do get it back they better keep it away from that baby, far away.