MUM TELLS HOW SHE SAVED TODDLER FROM DOG ATTACK
BRAVE toddler Jay Smith sits up in his hospital bed without a tear or whimper just TWO WEEKS after his tiny body was ripped to shreds by two snarling hounds.
Cuddling him is his young mum Jenna Lund, who literally saved him from the jaws of death.
She bears her own terrible wounds inflicted by the frenzied Staffordshire Bull Terriers when she desperately tried to wrestle her little boy, aged two, from their razor-sharp teeth.
It was only when courageous Jenna - who you can see with Jay on video below - forced her FIST down one of the beasts' THROATS that they loosened their grip on Jay. By then the the attack had lasted 10 MINUTES.
But as petite Jenna held his lifeless, mangled body in her arms, little did she think he would even SURVIVE, let alone be well on the road to a full recovery just days later.
She told the News of the World: "I honestly thought they'd killed him. And when the doctors later told me he may be paralysed or brain damaged, I remember thinking, 'At least he is alive.'
"I never thought we'd be in this position. He is such a brave boy - I am so proud of him."
Following the horror attack, Jay needed ONE HUNDRED stitches and had skin from his stomach grafted on to a gaping wound on his scalp during a seven-hour operation. During a second op the next week, his lungs collapsed and he nearly died again.
See Jay on video below
Meanwhile his mum Jenna, 20 - who calls her son Jay Jay - under-went four hours of surgery on her arm and hands after the dogs gnawed her flesh down to the bone.
She explained how Thursday, October 15 started as a normal day for her and her litle boy. After seeing Jay's dad Andy Smith, 21, off to work, they left their home in Wakefield, West Yorks, to pay a visit to Jenna's uncle, Neil Finnerty.
He lives 15 miles away and is the owner of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers, called Buster and Mollie.
Whenever Jay visited he kept the dogs in the garden.
Jenna, who weighs just 7½st, said: "Jay loves animals and especially dogs. He calls them 'woof woofs' and always wants to stroke them.
The two dogs tore at Jay like pure snarling evil.. but I snatched my baby from jaws of death
"His grandma has got a little West Highland White Terrier called Casper, and Jay would play and fight with it and even let it lick his face.
"I was always comfortable with that because it is such a small and friendly dog - but I am afraid of big dogs. So when we went to Neil's I made sure he kept the dogs in the yard.
"I had been round to his house around four times before and there had never been any problems.
"But I remember saying this time the dogs were being a bit noisy outside, but I was told they were OK."
Neil, who'd had Buster and Mollie for two years, went to a Jobcentre to sign on - leaving Jay and Jenna in his house with his partner Kayleigh.
Jenna said: "Jay had been a good boy all morning so we decided to take him to the shops to get some sweets.
"Kayleigh said she had better bring the dogs into the kitchen if we were going out so and she opened the door. What happened next was like a horror film.
"The dogs ran in and went straight for Jay, pushing him down against the cooker. They didn't make a sound. Their eyes were rolled back into their sockets, they were completely white, showing no colour.
"The dogs were just biting, biting, biting at Jay's head and thighs. There was no barking, they were just snarling evil. Within seconds they had striped my little boy bare, his clothes were like rags."
As soon as the dogs struck, Jenna jumped in to try and rescue her baby. Kayleigh ran outside to get help. Jenna recalled:
"I was trying to pull the dogs off but they had no collars and I couldn't get a grip of them. Jay was like a rag doll as they pulled him from side to side with their jaws.
"I wouldn't let go of him but this made the dogs more and more angry. They saw me as getting in the way.
"I desperately tried to grab a knife - anything I could use against them but I couldn't find anything.
"I punched down on Buster's head but it was so hard it was like hitting a rock. Buster then started to attack me, tearing into my arm. It was as if he was attacking me to get rid of me so Mollie could have Jay.
"Buster locked his jaw on my arm and I was dragging him across the room with one arm while I held on to Jay with the other arm.
"The dog was so heavy it felt like my arm would come off and there was so much blood on the laminate floor that I kept slipping as I was fighting them."
"They had bitten into Jay's head and there was blood pumping from his scalp. Mollie wouldn't let go and was biting him relentlessly.
"At first Jay was screaming but as the attack went on he started to whimper. I knew they were trying to kill my baby and then, when he started to go limp, I thought he was dead. That was about ten minutes into the attack, and I just wanted to give up.
"If Jay was dead I wanted the dogs to get me too."
But she suddenly had a burst of energy from nowhere and seized her chance to grab Jay.
"I pushed my hand down Buster's throat, forcing him to choke, and threw him across the room.
"The shock of seeing Buster being thrown meant Mollie let go of Jay for a second and I was able to drag him out of the kitchen and into the living room - slamming the door behind me.
"Then I had to lean against it to stop the dogs forcing their way in. They were running at the door trying to pound their way in.
"I knew I couldn't move, if I did then we would both be dead. I just slipped to the floor with my back against the door, holding Jay in my arms begging him not to die. He was whimpering but there was so much blood I didn't know if he would live."
Five minutes later her uncle Neil arrived home to the gory scene and immediately ordered the dogs upstairs.
Jenna said: "It was unbelievable. As soon as Neil was there and told the dogs to go upstairs, they stopped trying to attack us and obeyed him.
"It was then, once the dogs had gone, that the pain began. I looked down at my arm and the cuts were so deep I could see the bone.
"I began to cry: 'Save my baby. Neil ran in with a towel to stop the bleeding and an ambulance was there within minutes."
Tears
At Leeds General Infirmary, Jenna and Jay were put in adjoining rooms for emergency treatment.
"I could hear Jay Jay crying and whimpering, then it suddenly stopped," Jenna recalled. "I was terrified, I thought he had died. I was in tears, crying for my baby.
"But the doctors told me not to worry, they'd sedated Jay Jay and they were taking him for surgery."
Meanwhile police had gone where the little boy's forklift driver dad Andy worked to tell him the terrible news. They rushed him to hospital - and he has been there ever since, with his girlfriend at their son's bedside.
He said: "When the police arrived and said they wanted to speak to me, obviously I feared the worse.
"They took me into the canteen and told me my son had been mauled by dogs. I was devastated. They weren't even able to tell me if Jay was dead or alive - they just rushed me to the hospital as quickly as they could.
"When I got there, around 20 people were around Jay. I wasn't able to speak with them - I just had to let them get on with it. When he came out of the op I got to the side of his bed and broke down in tears. I was so pleased to see him alive."
Jay spent four days in intensive care before another operation. His lungs collapsed during it but the skilled doctors managed to save him.
Jenna recalled: "The first thing Jay Jay said when he came round after the first op was, 'Mummy'. Then he said, 'Sorry' as if the attack was his fault. Now he just keeps cuddling me and his dad all the time. Every time he closes his eyes he panics and screams for his mum.
"It is going to take a long time to get him back to normal but we are determined to get him back to the happy, carefree boy he was.
"We are just so grateful for his recovery - the staff at Leeds General Infirmary are amazing."
Birthday
The couple now hope he will be allowed home in a few days. Jenna said: "We can't wait to get him home to his own bed. We'd just done his room out for him in the style of the Disney Pixar film Cars for his birthday.
"Once he is home, he can start making a full recovery. I know he will want to be running around like his hero Sportacus in the kids' TV show LazyTown.
"He loves his fruit and veg because of Sportacus and won't share his carrots with anyone. Even now all he wants to eat in hospital is grapes. That's why we know he is on the road to getting back to himself.
"It is still shocking to see his injuries but we hope he is young enough that they'll not leave him too damaged."
Then she smiled and added: "Jay Jay has always been tiny but he is a giant to me and his daddy now."
Staffordshire Bull Terriers were originally bred for bull-baiting but, unlike pitbulls, they are not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The two that attacked Jay and Jenna are scheduled to be put down by the authorities at Neil's request. Police say there will be no charges.
Neil told us: "I'm devastated this was done to my family by my dogs. It was a terrible, terrible accident.
"Walking into my house and finding what the dogs had done was the worst moment of my life. I'll do everything I can for that little lad and Jenna - I love them to bits."
Meanwhile, Jenna is planning on teaming up with West Yorkshire Police for a campaign highlighting how important it is that dog owners to train their pets properly.
Showing the same single-minded determination that saved her son Jenna said: "If any good can come out of this, it will be that no other family has to suffer in the way we have."
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This article has 143 comments
They made the mistake of putting the dogs out when the little boy was there at the end of the day it is the dog's home and they don't understand why they are being put outside. I have a 1yr old son and also a 4yr old staffie bitch and from day 1 she has been included in what's going on so there is no jealously between them but I would never take my eyes off her for a second and not because she is a staffie but because she is an animal who's behaviour you cannot predict. I think people are too quick to judge staffies without doing their research into the breed. I worry also that all this will result in responsible staffie owners having to part with beloved pets. It was very unfortunate what happened and the most important thing now is that little boy recovers well.
By Lauren. Posted November 16 2009 at 2:48 PM.
Jamie some owners should be banned to
what breed do you have ?
do you think that your dog or its breed are incapable of biting ?
because i can assure you and dog can be dangerous from chauwau's up
people like you really need to grow up and do some research .
the dog should not be banned but bad owners should be named shamed and made to pay teh penality for not bringing their dog up ad training it correctley .
i have children under 5 with my staffy and where they go she goes , she runs round the house like a loon at night playing when the kids are in bed yet in the day she is as gentle as a lamb .
get your facts before you start demanding breeds to be banned . i am admin on a forum staffiezone.co.uk feel fre to come and chck out the videos and the pictures placed by members of their staffies with children my own included and try reading up on them .
By joanne. Posted November 14 2009 at 12:15 AM.
poor poor child .i own a staffie also a very gentle dog but this should not be an argument about dog breeds this is about that poor little boy and his family .get well soon jay and a big hug to his family xxxxxxxxx
By charlene. Posted November 13 2009 at 8:02 PM.
shannon if you are so ignorant about dog breeds and training then maybe you should read up on it a bit, it is not the breed it is the owner and the training the dog has had in its life, I have a staffy and he is the most loving and amazing dog with adults and kids alike, even if he is trying to sleep. eat etc it doesn't matter he would never snap at a person, so what about the poodles, labs, westies, scotties, poms, chihuahas etc, it doesn't matter how they react?? Just because pit bulls are banned it doesn't mean all terriers should be banned, try reading proper info about them and how loyal they are to people!!!!!!
By Lorna. Posted November 11 2009 at 11:51 PM.
A four year old girl was attacked near me recently, this dog belonged to a neighbour of the girl.
The dog jumped on her and was biting her head, it ripped her jeans and top, and left cuts to her head and face.
It took three people to get the dog of her.
Luckily the little girl didn't need hospital treatment and her mother didn't want to report it.
She is now terrified of this dog and is afraid to walk past the house. I personally would have reported it as this dog is a timebomb waiting to go off. The family who own this dog think it is ok to feed their dog a load of rubbish, the dog is untrained and is full of unspent energy due to not being walked. These are irresponsible owners, these are the type of owners who think a dog is a plaything and treat it as such.
If while reading this you are thinking, Staffie, Rottie, English bull, or any of the other breeds deemed to be "DANGEROUS" then you are totally wrong.
The dog that attacked this little girl was a SPRINGER SPANIEL. This was a true case of it being the owners fault not the dogs. If he had been trained and walked and fed a healthy diet it is most likely that this dog would not have attacked this child.
It is down to the irresponsible owners of all dogs not just the bull breeds.
How many more cases are there like this one, that don't get reported because it isn't on the "Dangerous" dogs list.
Think about it before you condemn a breed just because it is misunderstood.
Think about how many Staffie's are owned in the uk alone and how many have attacked.
It is a tiny percentage, and it is always down to the owner.
By Karen. Posted November 7 2009 at 12:19 PM.
Shannon very childish coments and ignorant .
but ignorance is bliss isnt it ,
read other reports on this case and things that were in that house may change your views .
it wasnt the breed that was wrong here it was the deed
By joanne. Posted November 7 2009 at 10:12 AM.
this is not the first time that such abreed of dogs do such an eveil act on children or even to adults check the incident records on this for the past 30 years all over the world and you will be shocked so expect lots of such incidents, now u guys have to choos between children and such breed of dogs how many people should be teared apart till you guys wake up or does it have to happen to you or to on of ur kids first be4 u decide???? such dogs should be in cages they are no pets keep them in the zoo next to tigers and wolfs.
By shanon Romans. Posted November 6 2009 at 11:35 PM.
aww it is such a sad story ... he is a very brave little boy and the the mum for fighting the dogs..... hope he feels much better soon. also i got to say the dogs may have not had not been brought up with children and a child in there inviroment if they are not used to it makes a big difference but thats no excuse to attack a child
By chez. Posted November 6 2009 at 11:26 PM.
I feel for the family and this little boy it is a very sad situation and one none of us would like to find ourselves in. I owned a wonderful Staffie for eleven years having had dogs all my life he was the best dog I ever owned. In the past I have been bitten by a poodle, two crossbreed terriers and another mixed breed. Any dog can attack if it hasn't been trained and socialised properly. How about we ban all the thugs that really give these wonderful dogs a bad name, clean the streets up of the scum who have a total disregard and disrespect for human life, the ones who daily make others lives a misery making it unsafe for decent people to walk the streets, the ones who will stick a knife in your back for a few quid, or the gang who will beat you to death for protecting your own property,read the papers and watch the news nearly every day there is something about these scum, 99% more than dog attacks. Then we would be getting somewhere. Oh no sorry we can't do that can we as it would be against their human rights. What about the rights of the law abiding citizens who just want to own a fantastic family pet, who have abuse thrown at them just for owning a Staffie. What about their human rights. Instead of jumping on the "ban the Staffie soapbox" and assuming that every Staffie is going to attack, try researching the breed, read the stories from people who have actually owned these dogs and have first hand experience of them. Then if you still feel the same about the breed, you have the right to comment until then your comments are just ignorant.
By Karen Berry. Posted November 6 2009 at 3:34 PM.
This comment is for fishman who posted a comment to me on Nov 5th;)... I suggest you read my comment again and this time read it PROPERLY!!!
I think you will find that the comment you were referring to was NOT written by me and was actually written by Trudy who posted a comment before me!!!!
By Liz. Posted November 5 2009 at 11:31 PM.
Its obvious the dog has been brought up in a bad enviroment or its been brought up different i dont think a dog would just attack a little kid for nothing i might be wrong because i never read the article lol but i stick up for the dog and the baby but mostly the dog :D all you who dnt agree with me thats your choice but this is mine
By kayleigh. Posted November 5 2009 at 2:56 PM.
aw thats so sad i feel sorry for that baby get well soon :'(
By krystal . Posted November 5 2009 at 2:45 PM.
this comment goes to liz who posted a comment on the 31st of oct what a stupid comment a dog builds a friendship then attacks thats just pathetic youve been brain washed by all the staffy haters that are out there .ive owned staffy for most of my life and love the breed .the only reason they are picked is because of the few people who use them for status dogs .any breed can be dangerous .as for the comments about lock jaw thats a once apon a time story they dont have lock jaws they are just powerfull .the breed is known as the nanny dog for there love of children and are recommended by the kennel club as a family pet .dont pick on all the breed for the sake of a few badly brought up dogs its the owners fault they need training as well as the dog!!
By fishman. Posted November 5 2009 at 9:27 AM.
ALL U STICKIN UP FOR THE DOG SHOULD GET A GRIP A BOY ALMOST LOST HIS LIFE, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND IT CAN BE WHAT EVERYONE SAYS IS THE SOFTEST DOG THAT TURNS NASTY DOGS ARE JEALOUS EVIL CREATURESW AND SHOULD BE PUT DOWN..
HOPE JAY MAKES A FULL SPEEDY RERCVOERY
AND MUM IS V.BRAVE
X
By Zoe. Posted November 4 2009 at 10:25 PM.
Im a owner of a 9 year old staff which i have had since a pub, I have brought him up with children, socialized him in every way i can.I am a landlady in a small village pub and in our village there are around 6 staffie's ages 18months mine being the oldest,my boe is down in the pub with me at all times and is very well liked by all,sometimes a bit crazy when they all in with their owners at the same time but no violence at all amongst the dogs.would just like to say dont blame the breed it is how they are brought up.they are so loving with many feelings for a family life.all they need is to be loved attention and lots of play.
By dawn martin. Posted November 4 2009 at 9:39 PM.
oooo look at the evil snarling dog from hell raurghhhhhh LOL get real, the mum should of been watching the kid more closely, it isn't the dogs fault, it is just nature, get over it we're all animals at the end of the day, just happens that dogs dont think like us so people get real.
By db. Posted November 4 2009 at 8:11 PM.
I own two staffies and a rottweiler and have four children under 10 the youngest being two and they all get on like a house on fire. The dogs are loving and very patient with my children. Children IMO should never be left alone with any dog regardless of breed and I do not think children should be introduced to guard dogs ever. I am worried that if people keep on being this irresponsible with their Staffies that they will be banned just like the Pitbull.
My heart goes out to this poor boy and his very brave mother.
Debxx
By Deborah Keith. Posted November 4 2009 at 7:42 PM.
sorry Jamie but i take you know nothing about the breed to come out with a comment like that.
yeah its so sad about this dog atack and a small child but staffie's are not evil dogs,sure there might be a few but there are with any breed not just staffordsire bull terriers.
By Darren. Posted November 3 2009 at 11:01 PM.
THESE DOGS SHOULD BE BANNED THEY ARE EVIL YEA DONT GET ME WRONG I AM A DOG LOVER IVE GOT A DOG BUT THESE DOG'S ARE EVIL NEED TO GET BANNED!:@
By jamie. Posted November 3 2009 at 9:34 PM.
Kirsty, people get frustrated because the breed are only ever in the spotlight when there has been an incident. There are never pictures when they rescue children from rivers, protect families or visit sick people (PAT dogs).
Surely the fault must lie with the 'heroic' mother who took her son to a house with a resident drug dealer who has two guard dogs - very responsible!
By Jo. Posted November 3 2009 at 8:18 PM.
It's not the dog's its the owner's! I'm very sorry to hear about this attack but I am sick and tired of people and newspapers portraying staffie's to be "evil" Any dog has the potential to be dangerous it all depends on how their owners treat them! I have had staffordshire bull terriers for years and they are the lovliest dogs who in my experience have a very sweet nature!
By Hazel Morgan. Posted November 3 2009 at 5:17 PM.
awwwwww i heared about this and i just had to say get well soon baby Jay xxxxxxxxxxxx
By Shannon . Posted November 3 2009 at 2:35 PM.
im a dog lover and is an advocate of nurturing a child is heroic, i cant seem to weigh of how beautiful creatures could of too much danger to that very brave child. Im glad that the kid is ok and hope that he will forget this devastating experience, to the parents, you're doing such a great job and jay is so lucky indeed for having you.
By monandtim. Posted November 3 2009 at 2:22 PM.
My heart goes out to little Jay. I am willing to bet that one of the dogs was an entire male; a very high percentage of attacks are carried out by entire male dogs and usually when the master in this case the uncle is not around. An entire male dog of this breed in particular coupled with a bitch, is like a bomb waiting to go off if you’re experienced at handling dogs. It will bring out the most basic instinct to dominate and be territorial; this behaviour is heightened when the master is not around.
Once again we see another example of powerful dogs in the hands of people who have no idea what they are doing.
By Michelle Jones. Posted November 3 2009 at 1:18 PM.
Best wishes to Jay and his mum and wish you both a speedy recovery.
I'd just like to add that a few people seem to be upset by all the comments left defending Staffies.
The Media hype and bad name given to these lovely dogs (and the picture included with this article is a classic example!) has caused responsible, caring Staffy owners to be scared. They know too well that their dog is well socialised, friendly, loveable and wouldn't hurt a fly, but the general public don't. The Media - fuelled frenzy against Bull Breeds has caused feelings of persecution and fear. Any dog in the wrong hands is capable of harm, and sadly their image has also been tarnished by the young lads who covet them, also largely due to the media hype that has made them out to be just the right dog to go with the hoody and the Nike Trainers. The Staffy in general is a gentle, loving, and infinately patient breed - one of the best you can have with children. But hey - that doesn't sell papers, does it? That doesn't go with the tough image and the studded collars! Admittedly, something awful happened here, but the reason so many are leaping to defend the Staffy is because of the witch hunt against them.
By Julia Sowden. Posted November 3 2009 at 1:44 AM.
why do people like these horrible nasty dog i cant understand it they are bred to fight.
By shez. Posted November 2 2009 at 11:35 PM.
these dogs should not be allowed horrible nasty dogs
By shez. Posted November 2 2009 at 11:29 PM.
I can honestly not believe that the topic of conversation going on here is all about the breed of this dog. Have you people forgot the real victim behind this terrible ordeal. That poor child has been ripped to shreads, and all you seem bothered about is the dogs. In my opinion a child is far more precious that any kind of dog. I'm appaulled that the majority of posts on here are all about defending the breed of these dogs and your concern about what peoples opinions are about them. I know that I am certainly more concerned about this little boy that has very nearly been mauled to death and as a result, almost lost his life. You people need to take a step back and take a look at your priorities. Some posts do not even mention the child. Get a life, stop this pathetic bickering and send something worthwhile to the victim and his family.
I hope your feeling better soon sweetheart. Stay strong, you are a very beautiful, brave little boy. Sending lots and lots of love xxx
Jenna, what an amazing mother you are. To take on these dogs in order to save your child is a truly heroic act. It just proves that a good mothers instinct to protect her child, can surpass any challenge that gets in it's way. I'm sure your son is very proud of you. Well done! x
By Kirsty. Posted November 2 2009 at 11:08 PM.
i have a staffie who is 3 years old and i have two children.our staffie is fab with my children and he gets so excited everytime they come home from school and just licks them into submision.like other have said who know about the sbt breed,if trained right they are the most perfect loyal do you could ever ask for.even my mother couldn't believe when i told her i had bought a sbt puppy and when she came round she was always scared of him but soon has she got to know him and how he is round children and other people she has said he is a really good dog and very loving and a lot more trusting than her border collie that can snap at people
By Darren. Posted November 2 2009 at 11:08 PM.
Some Of You Are SOOOO Ignorant! You may say I am biased as I Have an 18 week old staffy Pup But I Am Fair! I do not think the breed should be banned not because I own one But because its not their fault! We do not get the whole story only what the media want us to see we are not told how the dog has been raised or whether they have previous history of aggression! No dog is born bad they are made - I will say that Staffie rotties And german shepards Are Strong dogs - Both mentally and physically They need owners who Know what A Dog Needs and how to train one not people who just like the look of them or want a status symbol. If Any Of You watch Cesar Millan You will see he has around 30 dogs as a pack most of them Pitbulls , with some rottie GSD and other breeds - He keeps them in check because he knows what a dog needs! Its about socialisation , how the dog has been raised - That being said I dont think any dog should be trusted alone with strangers or young children becuase anything could happen! You Cant Say Ban All Strong People because they can do damage thats stupid! Someone may be strong but depending on how they were raised, socialised and other things will depend how they behave same with a strong breed. Im Trying to raise My pup in a way that he will be just a softy - No tough guy just my buddy =]. Dont tar them all with one brush - PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED!
By Jade. Posted November 2 2009 at 10:52 PM.
We are a group of Staffordshire Bull Terrier Owners, who all have at least one of these dogs. We are very sorry for Jay and hope that he recovers soon from his ordeal.
I do however have to point out that this is extremely out of character for a SBT. They are usually very good with children and people in general, they are the only dog that the Kennel Club recommends with children and they have the nickname 'The nanny dog'. As usual in this instance we have not been told the full story, we have no details as to how the dogs were brought up, and the media will now once again jump on the anti-staffy bandwagon. There are attacks on people by dogs every day, why does it not make the national press when a labrador, collie or poodle bites?
The statement about Staffs locking on is also totally un-true. An SBT does not lock on, you can check this on the Kennel Club website, they do have a powerful bite it is true but their jaws do not lock.
The breed is misunderstood and very much slated by the press, the vast majority of staffs are happy, friendly family dogs and the time has come to make a stand for responsible owners.
By Jan. Posted November 2 2009 at 10:12 PM.
I'm glad Jay is okay - his wounds are horrific but they should heal well in time and with the right medical care.
I just have to say though, the one thing that really jumps out at me from the video "the dogs had lock-jaw on my arm." No dogs have jaws that 'lock' in this way - there is no 'lock-jaw.' Staffies, Pit Bulls, any dog you care to mention has exactly the same jaw structure as every other breed - myths like this need to be stamped out immediately. I even have young lads telling me they got such and such a breed 'cos of their lock-jaw, innit.'
I'd also just like to add that I'm sure this mother has learned her lesson - but WHY were the dogs being let into the house when they were purposefully left outside before? I know, I know 'they were going out' - but why would you let them in while the child was still in the kitchen if you'd purposefully been keeping them outside to keep them away from the child?
I don't live very far at all away from the area of the attack - my next door neighbour is a taxi driver and told me the day after the attack he'd picked up girls from that address the week before who'd been talking about fighting dogs inside that house; and what's more the people who live at that house were arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis after the attack. I don't know the full story, but I don't for a second think the reports of fighting and drug growing/dealing are unrelated to the temperament of those dogs - even more reason why the dogs should never have been allowed near that child in the first place. I go so far as to say if I had a 2 year old I would never, ever set foot in that house.
By Dawn. Posted November 2 2009 at 10:00 PM.
Almost any breed of dog is capable of doing this NOT just Staffordshire Bull terriers. Just seems only these dogs are ever reported!!!! No dog should be trusted with a child ever!!! Get well soon Jay X
By Michelle. Posted November 2 2009 at 9:02 PM.
i live in the village where this happened to little jay, and all i can say how devastated the village was to hear of this story, it hit home to hell of alot of people how easy something like this can happen. i`m just so glad to have read this article and to see how jay is recovering. a 2 year old has plenty of time to heal and with the fantastic plastics at the LGI he will hopefully grow up with hardly any marks to remember his horrific ordeal. you will treasure your little boy more than ever now!!!
By ctol. Posted November 2 2009 at 7:33 PM.
So sorry to hear about your little boy. Your son will give you a medal of love everytime you see him You are very brave. I am thanking god that Jay Jay has you as a mum, for the knowlede of the staff at leeds general hospital. God blessing to you and your family!
By susan . Posted November 2 2009 at 3:37 PM.
I hope you get better soon jay jay you are very brave.
As for staffs its the stupid 'hard' -chav owners who make them act like it just look around any high street and see what type of people own them? not little old ladies just STUPID CHAVS
By sue. Posted November 2 2009 at 2:59 PM.
any dog can turn no matter what breed i have a german shepard so very soft that soft she let a burgler in late one night when i was in bed asleep thy took money and my handbag . but still i would never leave my dog with any age child in the same room she is 13 and have never shown any aggresion to anyone but still not to be trusted its down to owners not the dogs
By kaineobe. Posted November 2 2009 at 1:31 PM.
LIZ........................
I said this message is to liz ,and all others who say staffies are evil i did not say you stated they are evil that message was posted by tara on nov 1st 1 29 pm .
By mary. Posted November 2 2009 at 12:36 PM.
mimicing other comments i hope they do make a speedy and full recovery.
sadly the sbt is a powerful dog i know only too well as i have one x and one full the full sbt i ahve is huge and purely muscle and is as soft as muck!!!!the only reason we hear about this story is because of the damage these dogs CAN do you dont ever hear about a jack russel etc attacking because these stories arent as devastating as these dogs arent as powerful sadly any dog can turn doesnt matter about the breed my mun had a small dog and that was phsycho and was bought up very well sadly it is just is some dogs and that is down to the owner to spot i do things with my dogs like taking away there food while they are eating get close to thier faces ( i get licked to death lol) i basically do things they dont like any sign of agression at things like this and you know they can turn!!!! luckilly mine just give me a puzzled look as if to say what are you doing mum!
By kt. Posted November 2 2009 at 10:54 AM.
Think all you god damn ignorant people who are arguing over bloomin dog breeds should get a bloody life. That poor little boy and his family are going through hell and all you can do is bicker on and on.
I would like to wish Jay Jay and all his family the best of luck for the future, lets hope you are home soon and have a fantastic christmas. Jo from Morley Leeds
By Jo. Posted November 2 2009 at 11:00 AM.
Best wishes to Jay Jay i hope you recover and your mum too.You will both never totally forget but i hope the memories dont haunt you.A dog is just that a dog,not a baby substitue.Any dog is a lethal weapon if not correctly trained and any dog showing vicious tendancys should be put to sleep immediatly ANY BREED.
All dogs sould be kept on a lead and not allowed to roam or cause nusiance,it will only be a matter of time until it takes control because it hasn't had the right guidance.Ignorant single minded people making nasty comments should come and walk with my staffords,they are on lead at all times and under my control but we are constantly hassled by labs,gsd,collies and mongrels who growl and jump on me and them with no apologies from ignorant owners who also dont clean up after them.None of my dogs have been allowed to do any of this and will never be allowed to.They are also brought up with my children and never left alone as they are dogs not play toys.
Also just to add this was not the baby or parents fault and i wish you all the best.Well done to the dogs owner for doing the right thing too.Best wishes Jay Jay and family.
By mel. Posted November 2 2009 at 10:23 AM.
Reply to sap's post dated November 1 2009 at 8:43 AM.
I'm a moron?- ditto to you then!
Yes undoubtedly these breeds do fall into dangerous hands but there has also been many cases highlighted where they have been a family pet for years, known to a child and treated absolutely fine before attacking. My dispute is over the damage these dogs can do if they turn for whatever reason- especially to small children. Most sensible parents wouldn't risk having any kind of dog or cat for that matter when their kids are young. It's not worth taking that risk, however tame or loving that animal may be.
Believe me i've done more than my fair share of research. Was in the police force for several years and over that time encountered many dog attack incidents on other animals/humans and the majority of the breeds which attacked were staff's/cross breeds and rotti's. Many of these incidents had been in the family or relatives homes. So no it's not just the papers dramatising it all making them out to be the worst to sell more copies.
As for the scum that abuse kids- don't get me started. Yes they would all be "put down" in a ideal world. Failing that castrated/sterilised while serving a much tougher prison sentence then most currently get.
By Rach. Posted November 2 2009 at 2:23 AM.
Meanwhile, Jenna is planning on teaming up with West Yorkshire Police for a campaign highlighting how important it is that dog owners to train their pets properly.
a quote from the paper Jenna if you read this our message to you as a dog owner and mascot to our forum if wecan back and support you with this we will .
and to all those condeming the breed the mother hasnt condemed them if you read she wants them to be properley trained and i agree with her and back her 100%
By . Posted November 2 2009 at 12:10 AM.
I cannot believe the sheer ignorance of some of the people that have commented.
Go out and spend some proper time with a well looked after Staff and I can guarantee that every single one of you haters will have changed your mind by the end of it.
Stop being so narrow minded to think Staffies 'just turn' and stop being do damn gullable to believe that your precious Labradors and King Charles Spaniels would not hurt a fly.
By Amy. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:26 PM.
Mary....) Posted Nov 1 10.30 pm.
I did NOT say Staffs are evil !!!!!
I suggest you read my post again and this time
READ IT PROPERLY !!!!!!!!!!
By Liz. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:29 PM.
God help him, that must have been awful! I will say a pray for him.. :(
By Alisha Mc Fadden. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:35 PM.
I have always stood by the statement that it is not the dog, it is the owner. I have 2 staffies and an alsatian, they are all loyal friendly dogs who have never ever harmed my sisters children or any other. I introduced them to children from puppies and they are as cuddly and gentle with them as they are with adults. It makes me so sad to see staffordshire bull terriers being slandered because of owners who do not know how to train dogs properly. If this continues, I'm very scared that the government will issue a ban on this breed as they have done with the Pitbull. Please let this story be a lesson to all Staffordshire Bull Terrier owners that you need to introduce your dog to children on a lead with plenty of supervision.
By Jessica. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:53 PM.
To the people saying why did the owner run out of the house.She is a friend of mine and she insists she was trying to pull the dogs off and got covered in blood trying to help.Why would she lie about that and also dogs do not attack for no reason.Just a thought.Of course this is a sad event and am so glad Jay is doing well.
By A. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:06 PM.
illegally blonde I own a staffy forum and I also have hell of a lot of members with two staffies and more with children and where better to preech than here to people who dont understand what they are saying because they have never been fortunate enough to own such a placid beautiful breed
By joanne. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:50 PM.
this message is to liz and all the others who say staffies are evil what happened to this little boy was discusting but not all staffies are like this as a message says above they are the only dog stated by the kennel club to be very good and loving with children i have a 2 yr old staffie x pitbul and she lick you to death she is so friendly whenever were in town all elderly ppl come up to her as just by looking at her you can see how friendly she is where as my mum have 2 staffs and 1 of them cant go out in the daytime as my stupid brother had him at first showing off with him and making him look tough and now the dog is still soo agressive 6 years later so when they get the nasty streak you cant get it out of them but not all of theese dogs are like this its the way you look after them staffies are loyal and loving not an ugly and evil dog as another comment says and the peopple who are so un educated to think all theese dogs are evil are just as bad as the owners who make them like it!
By mary. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:30 PM.
my thoughts are with the family, its not the staffies!!!! any dog can turn and if staffies are bought up right just like any dog they are a wonderful friendly family pet, i have a staff had him from a puppy, hes nearly 4 nw and also i have 4 children which 2 have been born in the past 4 years, my staff is a pleasure 2 have as a pet, a jack russell can turn, all dogs could have a bad tummy or feel a bit off just like us! dont give staffies a bad name because of 1 incident people need to look at the owners aswell, its how u bring a dog up!!
By emma. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:22 PM.
I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he is the most loyal,kind and fun dog a girl could ask for, he loves and adores people he'd only be guilty of licking them to death! Any dog can turn and cause harm they are animals after all it isn't just staffs,dobermans,rottweilers etc, why don't the media show any good stories/pictures and videos regarding these so called "dangerous" dogs! I will always have a staffy and recomend them to all a dog isn't born violent just like children aren't it's up to the owner to control and teach them.
By Natalie Howard. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:09 PM.
i too have owned the sbt for over 25 yrs my eldest girl lived to the old age of 13 and 3 other consecutive dogs lived to good old ages i have a boy now who is 6 yr old i also have had 4 children and other small breed dogs and in all these years ive never never have a problem with my trusted loyal sbt but they also have been treat as a dog not a gaurd dog or a status symbol but a dog a pet with ground rules its owners who do not put ground rules and stability into learning any dog whats exspected from them
By dw. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:04 PM.
Such a horrific story! I wish Jay n Jenna a speedy recovery from their injuries and trauma.
Everyone who is defending staffies, you should be on some dog forum website singing their praises...instead of commenting under a picture of a toddler who has been badly mauled n ripped apart by this breed of dog.
By illegallyblonde. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:36 PM.
People can try to defend their own dogs and thats fine but the amount of people that dont have their dogs on leads and say oh dont worry they wouldnt hurt a fly!!! no please dont take the risk with my children, what you do in your own home is one thing but dont put other children in danger, it only takes one second for a dog to snap and change and that is not going to happen with my children no matter how soft they say their dogs are
By tracy. Posted November 1 2009 at 9:53 PM.
Why dont most of the notw readers go back to school your spelling is absolutely terrible. Cant you even bother to use spellcheck.
By Vijay badhan. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:51 PM.
I too feel sorry for this family but really any dog can do this, Staffies are the most loveable adoring dogs ever, the only crime my staffie is guilty off is licking people too much, why do the papers never put a picture of a staffie playing or with a child cuddling it, they are the 'nanny dog' after all ... there are too many people who are naive and stupid and just jump on the bandwagon not knowing anything about the breed .. as Ceaser Milan would say .. 'it's not the breed it's the owner'!!
By Michelle. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:51 PM.
I am furious at some of these comments. As a responsible owner of both a staffordshire bull terrior & a a shitzu x I cant beleive that there are so many under-educated people in this country to make such narrow minded, inane comments such as, 'Staffies should have been banned years ago'.
Staffies are one of the only breeds recommended by the Kennel Club to be kept around children as they are naturally nanny dogs. I, personally do not like children, but would usually reserve my right to say that kids who are brought up by scum, to become scum should be eradicated. However, as someone already seems fit to hit out at potenially loving, stable, sociable dogs....I shall just follow suit.
Honestly though, it really is down to the owner how the dogs are brought up. My 2 year old boy loves kids and other dogs. He is constantly attacked by other, not so well brought up dogs and I will happy bring a baby into my household and feel that my lad would be more than stable around it.
By Vernell. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:17 PM.
well if i wanted a guarddog id have bought a goose ,
yes my staffy will tell me theres someone there but as soon as she saw them she would give them a famous staffy wash .
she lives with 6 kids one of which is 16 months old and to be honest she is more dangerous that my dog .
and as for nanny dog i have personally seen where they gte that title if the kids are ill she is there will not leave their side if they cry or hurt them selves she is there again and if anyone tells me she is just a dog then your wrong she is more than that she is part of my family and i am sure she knows when they are hurt or ill as she will constantley do the things that usually make them laugh like tickle them with her tongue or run round in circles like an idiot and when they dont laugh she has a look of concern and will lie calmley next to them .
the problem staffies have are bought on by bad owners
By joanne. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:17 PM.
Get Well Soon Jay-Jay xx
By Leigh. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:54 PM.
Liz
they got the pit banned due to ignorance , now its the turn of the staffy if they ever get it so they are banned it will be another breed and so on and so on
one very big vicious circle .
if people only realised that it is the other end of the lead that is the problem but until they do unfortunatley its going to go on and on . until stronger laws and penalities are bought in instead of the slap on wrist that they get now the dog is sentanced to death the owner laughs and walks away only to gte another dog and so it goes on
By joanne. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:22 PM.
this really annoys me when i hear people giving staffs a bad name, IT IS ALL DOGS that can be aggresive towards humans and other animals, there is no difference between a chihuahua and a great dane only size,All dogs originate from a small number of female wolves living in East Asia some 15,000 years ago. what people forget is most dog attacks are from dogs that have not been brought up well they havent had enough social interaction with people and other animals or have been miss treated! and for the lady called lucy, i have two staffs which are put in place by my mothers cairn terrier a dog not that different from yours. the only bad experiance ive ever had with a dog was last year when a westie yes a westie attacked my late staff of 8 years old, we had to have her put down due to her injurys did i blame the dog no!! i blame the owner who i found out had been miss treating the dog!!!
By jonatan England-Walsh. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:37 PM.
In response to a comment made by Tara, you obviously have no clue about dogs and Staffies in particular. To say they "turn on family members", "the breed should be banned" have you not read any of the comments posted here before you posted your own very ill informed comments? Where do you get your information, or do you just make it up because that is you opinion? There are plenty of websites out there where you can increase your knowledge of Staffies, and any breed for that matter if you so wish. Try starting with the Kennel Club Website before you start making very rash statements please.
By Paul - Fife. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:27 PM.
Jo....You should be more careful in future,check you have got it right BEFORE you have a go at someone! However i accept your apology,anybody can make a mistake!!!!
I agree, people who are saying that staffs are evil are ignorant!! They have obviously never owned one so therefore are not qualified to make that judgement!!!! Heaven knows what made those staffs attack that poor little boy but for people to say that the breed should be banned full stop is ridiculous!!!
By Liz. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:05 PM.
i really do feel for the little boy and his family. this SHOULD never have happened!! there seems to be a lot of unanswered questions but i doubt we will ever know the full story. I am a RESPONSIBLE staffy owner & have 3 kids, my girl is amazing with my kids and other peoples kids too. its so sad because now ALL good, responsible staffy owners will feel the backlash of this attack. the reason most people slate staffies is their lack on knowledge on the breed :(
By chrissy. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:05 PM.
My deepest apologies Liz. I read the name at the top of the post rather than the bottom - Sorry
The post I am referring to was made by Trudy who obviously has no idea!
Juneburman - It may suprise you that staffies are not very good guard dogs, and why don't you see reports of labs attacking children? Because it won't sell papers. I also think you are wrong to beleive that you can pull a labs face without it doing anything - that blaise attitiude is how children get injured. I used to work in kennels for the RSPCA and found a lot more breeds were aggressive, JRT, Collies, Cocker Spaniels & Boxers to name but a few.
By Jo. Posted November 1 2009 at 6:21 PM.
i feel for the family too very much so
but why does everyone have to keep condeming staffies ? i have worked in rescue with all breeds and the most agressive dogs we had in were jack russels and the like we were over run with staffies most of the time and i can honestly say we never had a bad one its not the dog its THE OWNERS
any dog can do this if made bad but cute little dogs dont make good headlines do they collies too are known to bite badly do you feature them oh no of course not and to those who say staffies are evil GET A LIFE they are not hand on heart in my 44 yrs i have never ever met a bad one and belive me i have known worked with and met thousands where i live there must be 100 plus all awesome dogs that i would trust with my kids although no dog is to be totally trusted with little kids
STOP BLAMING THE DOGS AND START LOOKING AT THE IDIOTS ON THE OTHER END OF THE LEAD !!!!!!!!
By dee quinby. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:27 PM.
my heart goes out to the mum and to that gorgeous little lad . but the comenst on here make me laugh buy a cat save yer kids rofl cats can kill or didnt you know that they can cause more damage than a staffy .
staffys are chav dogs ?? wrong staffys are pets im far from a chav im a mother with 6 children and have a staffy as they are the best dog to have with kids not only is this a statement from the kc but also from experienced sensible owners .
before you all start condeming think about the owners of this dog or any other dog that attacks for that matter stop looking at the wrong end of the lead and wake up .
this goverment needs to stamp down on bad owners the druggies the chave the general scum maybe then we will hear the good stories for a change
like my dog saved my daughters life but then i supose half of you who have blamed the dogs and condemed all staffies wouldnt want to read that would you.
i am admin on a staffiezone site giving all the information about this particular breed that how much my love and respect for them goes .
so all of you who dont like staffies but have never owned one get off your high horses and research you would be amazed at what you will find .
By joanne. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:24 PM.
I see many of these dogs running loose around Mumbles, Swansea; the owners don't care, but I care because if one got hold of my little Jack Russell then she wouldn't have a chance.
If you love your dog then you would ensure (like I do) that they are always leashed in a public place. Also if your dog is trained, part of the family and loved I doubt you'd have problems.
These bull-type dogs are not toys; yes, every dog can bite, the difference is that with most dogs you can PRISE their jaws apart; bull-dogs you can NOT.
I love animals before people but wouldn't trust a Staffie EVER!
By Heather. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:04 PM.
There is good and bad in everyone there are plenty of humans out there that have done the same and even worse than what these dogs have done doese that mean humans should be put down and made to stop breeding.....?
By christopher.. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:09 PM.
I feel for the little boy and the family, but please get off the bandwagon with Staffies they are known as "Nanny dogs" because they get on so well with children and people. Those dogs were obviously not trained to be wellbehaved dogs. I have two of them and the most dangerous thing about them is their tongues.
Lots of dogs attack people and children just because it's a "Staffie" it front of all newspapers, my dogs have been attack by these so called nice friendly small dogs and have resulted in vets visits, but that is never front page news is it? No dog no matter what size or shape attacks for no reason. Mistreating a dog will often make them of uncertain temperament.
It's the owners of dogs that should be fined and or sent to jail because it is the owners that make their dogs the way some of them are. I am just very sick of people blaming staffies for everything that goes wrong!!
By Jackie Huxham. Posted November 1 2009 at 6:34 PM.
What a horrid thing to have happened to this sweet boy. It is very sad! and unfortunate. I hope he recovers quickly!
Why are there no pictures of the dogs involved? Why is there no report on the dogs living conditions and circumstances? Were they loving family pets or tethered outside for protection? There is a great deal of difference between a beloved family pet and a security/guard dog! Are staffies once again to blame for a human's stupidity?
By Theresa. Posted November 1 2009 at 6:40 PM.
after drying my paper out i have just read this article, my heart goes out to this lovely little boy and his very brave mam. BUT i have to say i have 2 children and a very loving staffie. i can only go off what i know, staffies are loyal and loving dogs. they love kids and love affection. i cant stand it when i go into town and see staffies with big black studded collors with owners who think they are an accessory. any dog can turn, but it always seems to be staffies in the paper. There are too many staffies being interbread ie mothers with sons it is turning out to be a money making thing. there are too many chavs waiting for these dogs and its them we should be blaming. staffies are not accessories.
By alex. Posted November 1 2009 at 6:13 PM.
i had a staffy and i had him from the day he left his mum,3 weeks ago he bit my boy in the face! i was distraught but fortunatley my boy didnt need stitches and his face is now healing up but i had to get my dog put down as i wouldnt have risked this happening again to my boy or anybody elses kids,i must stress my dog was the most loving loyal dog and i miss him terribly! the whole thing has devestated me! my dog wasnt ill treated or vicious in any way so when he bit my boy it was a huge shock!
so i dont think you can blame the owners for the way the dog is i think something in the dogs head just snaps?
dont get me wrong some owners teach there dogs to be visious but thats mostly the NED owners but not all owners of dogs are the same!
By wendy. Posted November 1 2009 at 5:47 PM.
the dogs should be put down so it cant happen again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fair play to the mum i have a liitle boy and and would do any thing for my boy... the power of strenth a mum can have when they see there little one under attack is un real, undiscriberble so well done to the mum. and very glad to hear the little lad is doing well.
By haz. Posted November 1 2009 at 6:00 PM.
ok, lets hope this child makes a full recovery from this terrible incident. But do not portray every staffy with the same comment as any dog could turn on a person. I own a staffy and they are the most loyal breed you could ever wish for. The pictures shown in the paper always show a snarling dog, but you never print a picture of a kind staffy. Do not blame the breed, blame the owner !!!!
By zlick. Posted November 1 2009 at 5:07 PM.
What a lucky boy to have such a brave mother who fought so hard for her little boy.
Shame on the other women who ran away from her own house and dogs.
By Mark. Posted November 1 2009 at 5:05 PM.
it really enoys me that when thers an attack they find such nasty pics ov the staffs and it not fair any dog can attack thers nuffin worse than little ancle biters like yorkshir terriers i own 2 staffies and they so soft great around my 2 year old son who adors them an they adore him.i understand that ppl are scaerd because they can do more damage than other dogs. but id be mr sceard ov a yorkie than a staffie.i feel for little jay and his mum get wel soon x
By lindz. Posted November 1 2009 at 5:03 PM.
First of all of would like to wish the little lad a quick/full recovery.. I would be devastated if this had happened to one of mine, and came 100% sympathis with his family...
Secondly it would be very interesting to see a pic of these 2 dogs, in these days anything Brindle/Pied and wearing a studded collar is deemed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There are so many X breeds out there that are being called SBT. That everytime there is a dog attack by one of these so calleds!!!! the SBT gets the blame..
Was ever one of these dogs purchased from a repitual breeder??
Having had this much maglined breed for 28 years, and never having experienced any such vicious behaviour, it makes me wonder Where these 'Proper SBT'S' or ????????????? ones
By Elaine. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:59 PM.
I was sorry to read what had happened to this little boy and am glad he is on the road to recovery.
I have a staff and she is as soft as muck. These type of dogs always get a bad reputation but a lot of it is down to the owner. All staff's should not be tarred with the same brush.
I keep my dog on a lead if children are about and she is put in another room if children she is not familiar with are in the house. This is not because i dont trust my dog its because i dont trust the children not to wind her up.
By R Girard. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:56 PM.
Firstly I want to wish Jenna, Jay and Andy all the best and I hope that Jay and Jenna recover from their injuries quickly.
I do have 2 staffies and 3 children. My dogs are family pets BUT are both crate trained and kept in them whilst indoors during the day. They have their own area fenced off in the garden so that a) I don't have to clear up every time the kids go out to play (lol) and b) they are not loose with the kids. They do play together but never unsupervised. The dogs come in with us in the evening once the kids are in bed.
When we first had our eldest son we had a Yorshire Terrier - a lovely dog but she hated him with a passion. She retired to live with my parents as she could not be trusted not to attack him - and we were not prepared to put her in a position where that could happen.
By Tracy. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:06 PM.
I am a dog owner and staffie's are not a dog i would have. Personally i wouldn't have a staffie if i was paid to have one, however i do think it is about training. Astaffie is naturally a dominant dog so needs a dominant owner to be higher in the pack. When any dog attacks another for no reason it usually is because it is higher in the pack than the owner and is protecting the owner. Yet the owner thinks he's higher in the pack because the dog is protecting him. All dogs can be aggressive and no matter how laid back any dog is they shouldn't be left alone with children. A child hand moving quickly can trigger instincts in a dog to attack before we even realise whats happening. All dogs can be loving or aggresive no matter what the breed. Get well soon both of you. I commend the uncle for having these dogs put to sleep straight away having bitten his family. Some people don't.
By Karen. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:19 PM.
I would just like to have my say and i agree with many people on here ti doesnt matter what breed the dog is at all. My first dog was a lab and labs are meant to be loyal and what not ive heard. basically this dog was aggressive and sometimes uncontrollable and had to be put down after 18 months. After a few years i got a staff trained it exactly the same and it turned out to be the most perfect dog in the world she responds to any command given by any person she doesnt just obey one person. basically in my experiance its not just how the dog has been brought up but also just the dog itself. eg as humans some people are born naturally agressive i beleive this to be the same with dogs. it just baffles me that people judge staffies on how they look, i just dont thnk it is necessary.
By alan. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:00 PM.
This is sad, sad news. I own 2 staffs and they are fine. !One is 7yrs and the other is 2yrs, both are dogs. I would not swap my staffs for anything they are clever and effectionate animals. My 7yr old is a rescue dog and he was obviously treated exceedingly poorly and his rehabilitation was a long process, enough to say that he is still not fully trusting of males and do you know what, he is least trusting of ME and im his owner for 4 years. I am probably guilty of his reahabilitation taking this long but i was adimant that my wife and I and my three kids would not molly him or allow him to have equal status within "our pack" .HE is the lowest member of the pack and he knows this because we let him know his status through our actions towards him. None of what we do involves nasty cruelty to him or anything like that, it is just about being assurtive and assured with a strength of character. He likes this as he has a purpose, a position within a secured enviroment. This i feel applies to ALL canine animals, WE make them pets and forget what they are. DONT!! , treat them first for what they are and as pets second. Oh, and staffs were bred to pull carts and such, not to KILL, so any of you guilty of saying that in your post i have something to say to you, "get an education". Hope the lad heals well and quick, he will probably be scared of dogs for the rest of his life ,and that is a shame.
By kraig. A. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:42 PM.
shaun
i hope ure little jay is ok u were brave to fight the dogs back off jay
i do not no y a dog wid do that to a litte toddler
get well soon
By shaun . Posted November 1 2009 at 3:41 PM.
It really makes me sick to hear people trying to defend breeds like Staffordshire Terriers and Rottweillers with the pathetic lines like, "I have owned one for years, lovely creature, blah blah blah. "
Every time I pick up a paper and see another child has been mauled I instantly know it will be one of these breeds of dog which has done the damage. Can't the owners of these dogs see how things really are? They are naturally very powerful and naturally very bad tempered and to have such dogs in the presence of small children is very risky indeed. Why anyone wants one of these animals as a pet is beyond me. Guard dogs, yes, household pet, no chance. If a tiny child smacked a Labrador in the face or pulled its ears you could virtually guarantee the Lab would totally ignore the kid. Same situation with a Rottweiller or a Staffy and the outcome is much more debatable. Before you owners of such breeds decide to once more embark on your pathetic crusade to defend these dogs as 'cuddly' 'nice' and 'friendly', take a look at the little child in this article again. Maybe you should think twice.
By juneburman. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:34 PM.
I'm 21 & have 2 german shepherds, ive trained them both myself since they were pups & i only learned how to it by doing research, going to classes (putting the effort in). i also know many people who have dogs to look hard and use them as weapons, they cant control them & don't care if they cause harm or damage & i agree there should be some sort of ban on them. But i don't agree with a ban of the breed. I noticed in the article that the dogs snapped out of the attack when their pack leader(the uncle) came home This shows the dogs won't step out of line with him. Even though my dogs are good with children I would never leave them alone together as you never know what could happen, even though the mum was with the little boy she is not a dominate leader in the dogs pack, they would never listen to her. i trust my dogs with my life but every dog owner should no the risks & use every precaution to not let them get out of control.
By Taylor. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:35 PM.
How many people realise that Staffordshire Bull Terriers were used during victorian times as Nanny Dogs, and also still known as "The Nanny Dog"
I have 3 and half year old stafford, which we use for flyball and also recently entered for agility. I also own an English Bulldog, yet he also gets the same treatment of some of the narrow minded people in the UK, that because he is a bull breed he is evil. both of my dogs are great around my disabled niece, she pulls them around and they lay there and allow her to do this.
At the end of the day it is not the breed that should be blamed, it is the owner. Any dog is capable of attacking any human, whether it be Lab, Poddle, Chiahuahua.
There should be tighter laws and legisation on people owning particular breeds to stop these horrific attacks, and the owners should be made to go on a training course.
Just remember a few years ago it was not the stafford it was the Rotti that was getting the bad press and was known as the devil dog.
By Matt. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:29 PM.
Everyone has the right to speak but can we please spare a thought for this boy instead of trying to defend our animals who were not there at the time these animals attacked. All animals are different but all of them can attack equally to cause damage and upset to humans.
By missy. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:10 PM.
I have just returned from time away to read this horrific story. My heart goes out to this poor little boy. You are so brave and a little fighter to pull yourself through this ordeal the way you have. I wish you a very speedy recovery and I send you all the best wishes xx
Now, on a different note, there seems to very little sympathy from some people towards this child. Yes dogs are pack animals, yes dogs can turn at anytime FOR ANY REASON, and unfortunately some breeds are naturally stronger than others thus causing more damage, but you can not justify this dogs actions for any reason. Or indeed blame the owner. By the sounds of things he had them very well trained, and it was unfortunate he was not there at the time. His mother is also to be commended for her bravery.This child has suffered horrific injuries and trauma by the animals he had always loved and in turn had shown him affection. Perhaps there was a reason prior to them entering the kitchen that had unsettled them and when the child was knocked over he became a unforseen target to their agitation?? We are a nation of dog lovers. I have a 3 yr old rottweiler, I bred german shepherds for 7 years the only dog we had put down was a border collie who bit my son when he was 7. She had been unsettled by a firework outside and when he entered the kitchen another one went off and she bit him on his cheek. There was no lasting damage fortunately, but I could not take the risk of it happening again.
By missy. Posted November 1 2009 at 2:45 PM.
Posted by Jo Nov 1 @11.01 am:)
WHAT the HELL are YOU going on about ?????
You have had a go at me for NO reason !!!!
WHERE in my post did i bad mouth staffs(or any other dog for that matter)??!!!
I blamed the OWNERS !!!! So i suggest you read my comment again and THIS time read it PROPERLY!!
By Liz. Posted November 1 2009 at 2:04 PM.
It's not this breed of dog that should be banned, it's the irresponsible owners and so called chavvy youths of today that should be Banned from owning one in the first place, because they obviously haven't got a clue how to look after them and think they are just some sort of fashion accessory!!! Also the greedy scumbags who use them for illegal dogfighting that give them such a bad name and reputation.
By Louise. Posted November 1 2009 at 2:18 PM.
Our staffy has been attacked 3 times by other breeds but i cant report this because its always the staffs fault in some peoples eyes.Our dog wouldnt bite you if you were covered in meat paste. Get the neds and chavs sorted out not brand everyone.
By Johnbo. Posted November 1 2009 at 1:53 PM.
Anyone who believes their small child is safe with any type of dog is living in cloud cuckoo land. A dog is a pack animal. It may perceive the child as a threat to its position in the pack. Animals do not have the same type of feelings as humans. Their loyalty is not unconditional but is based upon the dynamics of the pack, the dominance of the primary owner and the submission of the other pack members. In dog packs, certain members will be used to weed out inferiors and the like. The dog would not recognise any family/pack connection with the offspring of its owners family. This is a problem of humans (the mother primarily and then the uncle) not dogs.
By Andrew W. Posted November 1 2009 at 1:41 PM.
OMG, i cannot understand why people still stand up for these nasty dogs,how many other breeds do you hear of that attack in such a evil way,this breed should be band from breeding, and as for being the perfect pet,YEAH RIGHT, these are the one's that turn on family members with no warning,and they cant understand why. CUS they are breed to kill.
And that poor little boy will have to live with his scars forever,there is no competition here the dogs must go,
God bless you jay i hope you get well soon.x
By Tara. Posted November 1 2009 at 1:29 PM.
This Kayleigh person ran outside for help. The attack lasted 10 mins. Did she return at anytime with this help ? or is she still running ....
By julie. Posted November 1 2009 at 1:17 PM.
i see this sort of thing everyday, kids now days walk with dogs that they cant control. they use them as weapons. Rusheymead in Leicester has seen a new trend of indian kids buying these dog's.
the kids smoke weed and are in the age from 11 to 23. Rusheymead has become the NEW BRAUNSTONE. SAD
By minesh. Posted November 1 2009 at 1:15 PM.
Well said Elena!
I can't agree more :o)
I have a German Shepherd, and unfortunately he has been attacked on three separate occasions by three different staffies- unfortunately for the majority of this breed they tend to be owned by brainless chavs (yourself obviously not included!) who haven't got a clue how to treat or disclipline them.
By rachel. Posted November 1 2009 at 12:44 PM.
There is nothing wrong with staffies it is the way they are bought up by there owners. I have three kids and am the proud owner of a staffie he is the most daftest dog you can meet same as a lot of other staffies i know. I wish people would stop giving the breed a bad name i am fed up of narrow minded people crossing the road when they see him coming towards them. It is sad what happened to this little boy and his mum and i and my family wish them a speedy recovery but people must remember ANY dog can and will attack.
By kelly scrivens. Posted November 1 2009 at 12:48 PM.
I think that dog should be put down!!!!!!!!
By Qwin. Posted November 1 2009 at 12:36 PM.