Neglect is a word that comes to mind. Then again, I savour the idea of a safe community where our young ones can run around free without risk of crime; in a place where neighbours watch not for judgment and gossip, but for community. Tyra lived a long way from Sydney, a long way away from the source of mass media. I doubt that I am able to pass any judgment not having lived in a small rural centre with children; is any other capital-city dweller qualified to do so?
The media is a fickle lover. The headlines sell, the comments decide the verdict and, in this case, NSW Parliament reacted with a 'guilty before proven' regulation to declare dogs dangerous if they only appear threatening. That was 2006, when a four year old (allegedly) left unsupervised for several hours in a small town in sheep & cotton country NW of Dubbo (allegedly) climbed in an enclosure with several (alleged) pig dogs that she had (allegedly) known for years.
But now, in the first day of a coronial inquest into the child's death, one paper reported: A parent's supervision of a girl mauled to death by trained hunting dogs was "questionable," with the girl and her siblings allowed to roam the streets for extended periods, including at night.
The media is a fickle lover. The headlines sell, the comments decide the verdict and, in this case, NSW Parliament reacted with a 'guilty before proven' regulation to declare dogs dangerous if they only appear threatening. That was 2006, when a four year old (allegedly) left unsupervised for several hours in a small town in sheep & cotton country NW of Dubbo (allegedly) climbed in an enclosure with several (alleged) pig dogs that she had (allegedly) known for years.
But now, in the first day of a coronial inquest into the child's death, one paper reported: A parent's supervision of a girl mauled to death by trained hunting dogs was "questionable," with the girl and her siblings allowed to roam the streets for extended periods, including at night.
- Will we find out that an unsupervised child taunted (i.e. played) with dogs with a hose and/or a dead chicken?
- Will we find out that fencing was not 'adequate'?
- Will we find out that everyone did what was right and responsible and this was an accident - an accident and like most, painful for those involved.
2 comments:
There is a lot of talk about dangerous dogs and the sadness associated with putting themi down. The reactive policies of local and state govt are only that reactive, but what about the dog trainers who fight these ridiculous allegations by retraining dogs thus accused and defending them in court? Why arent they mentioned and utilised as they have been around for a long time and do a good job. Is it because paying money to save a dog is asking too much? Do people really care, or are they as doubly responsible for their dogs deaths and other dogs restrictions by not going to the effort necessary to avoid accusations against their animals and to combat such accusations by training them first and retraining them if or when it happens?
THE FINDINGS:
FORMALLY FIND THAT TYRA KUEHNE DIED ON THE 20 JULY 2006 AT WARREN DISTRICT HOSPITAL OF MULTIPLE INJURIES SUFFERED ON 19 JULY 2006 IN THE BACKYARD OF 29 GARDEN AVENUE WARREN AS A RESULT OF BEING ATTACKED BY A DOG OR DOGS BEING HOUSED AT THAT RESIDENCE.
Recommendations under Section 22A of The Coroner’s Act 1980
To the Minister for Local Government and General Manager Warren Shire Council
I RECOMMEND THAT A REVIEW BE CARRIED OUT BY THE MINISTER AND WARREN SHIRE COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT COUNCILS AND COUNCIL OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE COMPANION ANIMALS ACT ARE ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 33 OF THE ACT IN RELATION TO HUNTING DOGS BEING HOUSED IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
M.MACPHERSON
CORONER
22 August 2008
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