Parents Sleep As Pup Chews Off Baby's Toes

I don't see why the officials are having such a hard time understanding this - it's pretty safe to assume the baby will be cared for, loved, and have a full life. Since the fate of the child is pretty secure, people are expressing concern for the uncertain fate of the puppy. It's too young to have intentionally "mauled" someone- for cripes' sake, it's only 2 weeks older than the infant! But it may well be killed for this. I'm sure there are many many people praying for the little girl's recovery too. They just don't feel it's urgent to intervene to plead for her life, as do those asking about the puppy.
Is that really so hard to understand?

I can see both sides of this ... the people who feel it's importanat to voice their concern for the life of the puppy, and the people who feel it's sad that the puppy seems to be getting more attention than that of the child. I'm not saying anyone is "right" or anyone is "wrong" in the matter, just that I can see both sides.

It is indeed a terrible tragedy that the puppy may be put to sleep for this. Of course, it would be far better simply to re-home the puppy into an anonymous, good home and let it go at that. Of course it's not the puppy's fault, and it should be punished in no way for this.

OTOH, I do not necesarily think it is as cut and dried with the baby as some may think it is. As anyone who is at all familar with the social services system knows, there are far, far more children needing foster care than there are foster families available. The road from negligent home to foster home (almost always more than one), to hopefully adoptive family is a long road, riddled with red tape, court hearings, legal loopholes, and heart-wrenching problems for the children involved. Of course the baby is in no fear of losing his life, but his life is by means going to be easy. Not to mention the fact that he will have a physical handicap for the rest of his life. No one knows, of course, at this point how severe it will be or what can be done to alleviate some of it, but I don't think there is any doubt that losing toes is going to be a physical problem. Toes are actually crucial for balance, although most of us don't ever think it about it that way.

I would imagine the social workers who spend their long days seeing all types of abuse and neglect of children are especially focused on children ... just as people who spent their days dealing with animals are especially focused on animals. I think it is neither wrong for one to be more vocal about the puppy or the baby ... both are innocent victims.

Did anyone listen to the guy in the video explain that their animal
shelter has a practice of NOT adopting out any pit bull animals. So the
people calling about adoption won't be given a chance to adopt this puppy.

They don't adopt out pit bulls is the nice (?) way of saying the pup will
be put down. :( All this hurt & sadness because of two stupid people. :(

It is still the differences between losing one life and there being no risk at all for the other. That's why people are focusing on it.

I guess I just don't see how there's no risk at all to the baby. Either way, though, I've voiced my concern for both baby and puppy. Both are victims. (And, that is all I'm saying. :D )

There was an update on the news saying that the ferret was indeed the culprit of the bites, NOT the puppy. I now wonder what will happen to the pup? Will it be able to be adopted out, or still be euthanized because it is a pitbull? It should be at the shelter in the first place. It did nothing wrong!

BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana (AP) -- A couple whose baby's toes were gnawed off by a family pet will accept a deal from the prosecutor and plead guilty to improper child supervision, their attorney said.

Under the agreement, Mary and Christopher Hansche would plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of improper supervision of their child, perform community service, attend parenting classes and give up their pets -- a pit bull puppy and a ferret.

The charge carries up to six months in jail and a $250 fine.

They will remain jailed until the January 3 hearing and a judge will decide if they do more jail time after that, as well as who gets custody of the baby girl.

Public defender Pam Smart told KTBS-TV she met with the Hansches on Friday and they agreed to plead guilty in the case.

The Hansches were arrested December 7 after they woke up and saw that one of their pets had gnawed off four of their month-old daughter's toes. The couple had been asleep on a mattress on the floor with the infant in a carrier next to them.

Mary Hansche, 22, said the ferret did it. Police said Christopher Hansche, 26, thought the dog was responsible.

The animals will be offered for adoption rather than be euthanized, Bossier Parish District Attorney Schuyler Marvin told the news station.

Marvin said he believes there were enough mitigating circumstances in the case to offer a plea agreement, with conditions. "I certainly don't think they had the intent to cause harm to their child," Marvin told KTBS. "A lapse in judgment, I think, is what happened."

The baby was released from the hospital this week; she and her 2-year-old brother are now in the care of a grandparent.


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What do you think? Do you think they will really offer the dog for adoption or do you think they will go ahead and euthanize it? If indeed the ferret did do this it should be available to a family that does not have small children...just in case the pet ever does escape.

Just so nobody gets confused.. Shreveport and Bossier City, although in diff parishes (technically) are right next to each other. It's like Dallas/Fort Worth or Eugene/Springfield.

Bossier City Animal Control has a policy of not adopting out pit bulls because of the crime and dog fighting and junk in this area. But I think because this has been overwhelming and they *may* adopt him out. We have some competent rescues in the area so I hope one of them is able to get him and into a foster home.

Im glad the parents are being held accountable, and that there is a ray of hope for the poor dog that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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Originally Posted by Wenisrubber

or Eugene/Springfield.

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I love how you used Eugene and Springfield, LOL. :p

That is good news that the parents have pleaded guilty to improper child supervision. I hope all works out well for the pup and the kid.

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

I love how you used Eugene and Springfield, LOL. :p

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Hehe! I knew ya would! :p

This makes me feel sick to my stomach, the poor baby.

How could the parents be sleeping right next to her when it happened?

I am just at a loss for words.

Wow....nothing like that happens here in
Aussieland !!!!

I do hope that animal control stays true to their word and lets those pets find new homes.

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Originally Posted by ramanth

I do hope that animal control stays true to their word and lets those pets find new homes.

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Me too!!