Not constants in the strict sense of the term but certainly dogs display trends and predispositions with degrees of consistency.

Yet it happens in the majority of cases. I expect Jim Rehill's dog would have appreciated an assesment.

Information and understanding that may help to stop another child losing their life.


Any insight gained will be a 'true insight'. whether it will be representative of the circumstances that led to this tragedy would depend on the skill of the assessors.

I rather try to understand why dogs that were considered by you to be trustworthy would do such a thing as it may help me in the future to determine which dogs are more trustworthy and which are less so.

I'm not talking about what the dog deserved. I'm talking about what we, the public, deserved. We deserved a comprehensive investigation into why this happened and that is now not possible.

I am not an apologist for dangerous dogs (despite the misrepresentations that several posters seem to have ascribed to me). Dangerous dogs have no place in open society but if we keep doing the same things then the same things will happen. We need to try and learn from these awful events and destroying the main piece of evidence before it can be examined is a crazy way to proceed.

They did a post-mortem on Rueben but not to look for tumours - it was a PR exercise to establish breed type. Other than that I have not heard of post-mortems being conducted so I think there is considerable room for doubt.

looks like it is was a bull breed:

"Dog handlers and armed response officers attended the house in Ashgrove at 12.24am and, after a safety assessment, killed the dog. Officers are trying to establish the type of dog involved. Neighbours described it as a pit bull type, which is thought to have belonged to Jon Paul's uncle, a serving soldier."

It's just unimaginable.

poor boy, poor family

here here, me being a scouser but seriously, I just want to reiterate what everyone else has said and hope that it wasn't a bull breed

As all this happened around 12.30 or so this morning, what was a 4 year old doing wandering around at that time of the day ??

Another child in a Grandparents home being attacked by a "family"dog ! Jeez Thank doG I don't have any kids, no knowing what happened but I bet the dog gets the blame & not the stupid owners.

I trust my dogs, but I don't trust children especially toddlers around tham, having had more than one of my dogs injured by an under 5(one with a Stanley knife & the other with a lolly stick pushed up her nose & neither did anything in retaliation)

Hmmmm??? I know where Ashgrove is


This area of Liverpool is, shall we say, not one of the nicest anymore, although it used to be when I was growing up. such a shame for all concerned.

x

Omg!!! how ridiculas.

Sorry, anyway being serious for a moment.

As if any keeper of hot (venomous) snakes are going to let any child just stick their hand in a vivarium containing a rattlesnake or gaboon viper, when they sure as hell, wouldn't do that them selves.

Venomous keepers, know their animals are potentially lethal, they also know, that the animals know they're venomous as well. It is far harder to get a dwa licence, to keep venomous snakes, than it is to go out and buy a dog.

Most people who get a dog, don't expect it to attack them or their kids, so in that instance, venomous keepers, are far more aware of the potential dangers of their animals, then a lot of dog owners.

If you would really like to know what'd happen, to a owner of a venomous snake, and to the snake itself, if it bit and killed a child. Then, I'll quite happily, ask the dwa keepers on the exotics forum I'm a member of, most of whoom, have years of experience of working with them, either in the wild and or captivity, and know the law insideout

I'd also like to know what experience you've got wit reptiles, or, are you just going off the same overexagerated media hipe, as surrounds dangerous dogs.

Well i grew up in the area

Luckily not all children are like that- my son is very good with my dogs.
However, I fail to see how a child could provoke your 'average family dog' into killing them..but i guess this will turn out to be not your average dog.

Johnderonden: I was merely giving an opinion when i used my dogs as an example. If i had even the slightest doubt on their temperament i would not have them with a 2yr old child.
I also dont believe you would see the dogs true temperament in those situations..the same way as you dont see the true colours of the dog with kennel stress and hyper behaviour..get him in the home and hes a different dog.
The same as after a dog fight- both dogs can likely fight again due to the high adrenaline levels- it can take hours and even days for them to return to normal. And also the same as if you take a sensitive dog away from home surroundings, in the company of strangers you would not be able to assess the dog correctly..for instance, i know my GSD would probably not do herself any favours in that situation- that would not reflect how she is at home.

My thoughts go out to the family Poor Little Boy.....

Just one thing though.....Adult supervision? There is no way any dog would attack my kids without getting through me first. I just don't understand x

A report I have seen has said they dog is thought to be either a Pitbull or Mastiff type.
They said it belonged to the boys uncle who has just started in the army.

The local radio have been on the phone to me already.

I just hope an other amnesty is not on the way.

As I said, I know the dogs actions were wrong but as always in these types of circumstances the full blame always ends with the dog. It is another classic example of why you don't leave dogs alone with kids regardless of how much you trust your dog or your kids.

Obviously this dog had some issues but I highly doubt it attacked for no reason.

It is a terrible tragedy and I really feel for the childs family but I think it is all too easy these days to put 100% blame on the dog and for humans to ease their own guilt in doing so. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but it's just my opinion.