Is the parent to blame?
By ravinskye
@ravinskye (8237)
United States
November 5, 2012 7:03pm CST
Yesterday there was a tragic accident at the zoo. A two year old boy was mauled to death by a pack of African painted dogs. He was at the zoo with his mother and at the exhibit for the african painted dogs, she put him up on the fence to look at them and he fell 14 feet down into the enclosure and was immediately attacked by the dogs. The zoo staff was able to get 10 of the 11 back into cages but police had to shoot one that would not let up on the boy. By the time they got to him it was too late. People are really upset about what happened. Some blame the mother and others just feel bad for her. I think it's one thing if her kid got out of hand and crawled up there on his own, but she actually put him up there to look, which is against the rules and unsafe. There are signs posted about not being on the fence and keeping watch on your children. People were also upset that no one jumped in to try to help the boy out of all the adults standing around watching. What do you think, is it the mother's fault? I'd hate to see the zoo suffer and take the blame if she put her own child in danger.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/child-killed-in-pittsburgh-zoo-exhibit-660606/
1 person likes this
11 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
6 Nov 12
Well the zoo could have made the exhibit a little safer by putting taller fences so nobody could fall. At our zoo the fences are all 10 feet tall or taller.. some of the more dangerous animals are completely enclosed with fencing ontop of their exhibit also, or they're completely surrounded by glass.. such as the lions and tigers.
I don't think the zoo should necessarily be blamed though.. maybe just make them put in taller fences like I said.
I don't really want to put blame on the mom either. She certainly didn't mean for this to happen to her baby. I can't imagine what she's going through now.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
6 Nov 12
It doesn't say how tall the fence was to begin with but there were signs there saying not to be on the fence. I think common sense would kick in not to let your two year old on a fence that leads directly to a dangerous animal. I don't think the dogs were all that dangerous unless you entered their area by surprise like the kid falling in did. They also had a gap between that the kid ended up falling over. I'm sure she is going through hell right now.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
6 Nov 12
Signs don't stop people from doing things.. especially when the person can justify it by thinking they'll just hold the child while it stands on the fence so nothing bad can happen.
I see this as simply being a terrible accident where nobody is really to blame. I am sure the mother will spend the rest of her life blaming herself. I really don't think we need to step in and judge her as well, especially since we weren't there to witness it or know what she was thinking/feeling at that moment.
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
24 Dec 12
I personally think that the majority of the blame does lie witht he mother - at the end of the day, there are signs posted everywhere NOT to do exactly what she did and then something terrible happened which, if would not have done had she obeyed the signs. That unfortunately is the simple truth.
I guess you could say why didn't any of the other adults try to go in but, then did she??
I think she will always live with her mistake so that is something she will now never forget and that alone is harsh enough - such a a shame for the poor child.
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
7 Nov 12
Yes, the parent was to blame because there was a sign warning. Sorry it happen and the mom had to learn a hard lesson. Warning signs are there for a reason. I bet they will have to put up taller railings because that one mother decided to ignore the warning signs.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
7 Nov 12
I think that we all make mistakes and if it was hers...she is certainly paying for it. I can not imagine how she must feel. I don't think she was in the right but we never know what can come from a choice that we make. It might seem very innocent at the time and have huge repercussions. Wanting your child to see better and then something like that happening has to be devastating. All in a moment.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
6 Nov 12
The mother suffers a lot and had had enough to put the blame on her.
On the other hand- it is clearly known that it was her fault since she violated the rules for putting up her child on the fence.
But blaming her and shouting to her face would be too much for the mother- she suffered a lot and already been haunted by nightmares.
Maybe the fences should be much taller with dangerous animals to avoid another accident.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
6 Nov 12
I would blame the mother, too. The safety signs aren't there for nothing. They are there because there are dangerous events, and they want to prevent them. People are so careless. They don't even read the signs because they think they know everything better. I hope these kinds of tragedies set an example, and people would look for the signs more, especially in a setting where there are bigger dangers. The mom was careless for putting the kid on the fence... didn't she think about that anything could happen, and the kid could fall down? Sad...
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
6 Nov 12
That is a sad story but a example for other foolish people that cant see danger if its standing in front of them . I would not have put a child up like that , even if I wanted him to see better . Sings where there and they are there for a reason , so why break the rule just to see better .
I feel sorry for the mother though , I dont think she was imagining that could happen but how can some people be so stupid .
@Youreyes4Today (2356)
• United States
6 Nov 12
It is called an accident. As with many parents that bring their children to the zoo they want to give them the best experience they can. I am sure if you ask or had looked before the child fell, that, that child was not the only one in that position. What happened is the child fell off the railing into the enclosure.
As far as the zoo goes. Some will say it is their fault. As anyone knows you can put signs in front of everyone, thing is not everyone is going to follow those rules. Many try and push it. Thing is to me there should of been more of a barrier between the animals and this railing. Sounds like the railing was constructed in a manner that it could be stood on.
Both are at fault in my opinion.. One child should not of been on railing without being held. Two there should of been more security between railing and animals.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
6 Nov 12
I feel so sorry for the kid. I am sure that the mother's intention was only for his boy to be able to see the animals. The only thing is she did not follow the rules imposed by the zoo. As much as it is hurtful to the mother, there is no one to blame but her.
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
6 Nov 12
It's definitely tragic but I do believe it's the mom's fault. Most zoos have signs to not even lean over the railing and this woman had the stupid idea of sitting her son up there. She could've held onto him so he didn't lose balance or she could've not even put him up there to begin with.
What I don't like are all the news stories calling the dogs "savages", "beasts", etc. They are wild animals and only acting off instinct. They're not some housepet gone wild. I don't think the animals should be blamed because they're wild and they really don't know any better.
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
6 Nov 12
Another friend posted this as well on another site as she has been to this zoo. She said there is another viewing area for the hunting dogs that is glass. The mother could have taken the child there to view them better. The child was obviously not at fault, they're 2 they don't know any better nor did they climb up on the railing like that. The mother however is at fault, she was meant to be a responsible adult and used her common sense. I'm pretty sure there would have been signs as well warning against doing things like that.
The zoo however should make their enclosures more idiot proof for those who lack the common sense and better judgement.
I also find it cruel that they would shoot the animals because of a persons stupidity, these animals are wild and carnivorous you can't expect them to not act instinctively. Accidents do happen all the time, some such as this one could have been avoidedby both parent and the zoo. But I've not seen the enclosure to make a better judgement to how safe it was.
