Seattle Metblogs says a couple is looking for witnesses to a dog attack at Magnuson Off-Leash Dog Park last Sunday. They said their Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix puppy was attacked by a black lab or lab mix around 4 p.m. Their dog suffered broken bones and a torn kidney and passed away later that day. The couple says a second dog was also attacked, and the dog that attacked theirs was later seen with a muzzle, which indicates that the owners knew their dog was potentially dangerous. The couple has posted fliers looking for witnesses to either attack. If you saw what happened, please contact 206-484-9428 or 425-772-2389.
My sympathies to the folks who lost their dog in this cruel way. And a hex on another unaccountable dog-owner with a dangerous dog - probably related to those people who say "not MY child...." Safest to keep the little ones at home. And if your back yard isn't big enough for your dog, get a cat. I love dogs, but not at all a fan of off-leash parks.
I was there walking my dog, I saw those A holes with no muzzle on their dog before the attack and it attacked a dog, It upset me so much I took my dog and left as they were being very irresponsible, as I was leaving I heard a horrible yelping and saw a different little dog on its back with the other dog attacking it. I watched her carry the lifeless dog away while she was crying and I asked "is your dog ok?" and between her tears she managed a "no..." I will be calling first thing tomorrow. How F%*king DARE they do that!!!!!!!!!!! Just because you have a damn dog doesn't mean you can take over the park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This happens too much. This is the first I have seen a dog die but I have seen many dogs hurt by irresponsible owners! Time to end this!
Once you turn our parklands over to off-leash dog-runs, that is city parks that can't be use for any other purpose. They're unsafe and the grass is covered in urine and feces.
Time to reclaim our parks.
tragic, but i agree with Gene: giving public space to dogs sets up these tragedies while making the space unusable for all others.
im afraid it will take many more tragedies like this before anything is done about this
My heart goes out to the family that lost their dog. I frequent this park on a weekly basis and often times encounter dogs with aggressive behavior. Some of the responsibility has to go to the owner of the dog. I would never let my dog get that badly injured at the park. One swift kick in the head would surely get the aggressive dog to back off.
I paddle past that park often, and always wondered how these dogs all got along so well.
Geez! I think it's a crime for these homeowners, who KNOW that their dogs are dangerous, to let them roam around like that. Wouldn't they just as easily attack and maim a child? Makes the bears in my neighborhood seem safer.
Off-leash park? Isn't that pretty much every park in Seattle? I don't believe I've ever been in a park where there wasn't at least one dog running loose.
My Boston Terrier is doesn't have the best of manners with other dogs. People are always telling me to go to the dog park with him to get him used to other dogs. I wonder if the owner of the dog who attacked was given the same advice. Now I know I won't take my dog there! He'll just have to play with people! He doesn't know he's a dog anyway.
Reply to 2006Kurtz,
Really? You are blaming the owners? You don't have any idea how hard we fought to get our little girl out of that dog's mouth. We hit, we kicked and I even sat on the attacking dog and tried to poke it's eyes and pry it's jaws open. I have nightmares every single night about what happened.
Sadie actually did survive the attack for a bit. We rushed her to the hospital where she went into surgery. In the end, her injuries were too much, but she fought like hell and so did we.
Liza was kind enough to post this in the hopes that someone with info would come forward, not so that people who don't even know the story can pass judgement. How would you feel if you lost someone you loved to something this aweful? Would you want people blaming you or would you want people like Liza who have compassion and class to help you out? I'm guessing you'd want the help.
We've learned now that this dog has attacked before and that the owner had a muzzle with him. Stop blaming us and help us find this guy so that the next blog doesn't read "toddler killed by dog".
Thank you again to Liza for posting this and to everyone who has helped us out with information and compassionate words.
Dog parks are a necessity for areas of urban growth. Not all of us are lucky enough to have large fenced yards in which to let our dogs roam; even so, some of us have dogs who were born to RUN and need more open space than a yard could ever allow.
My dog and I frequent Marymoor park, and we do occasionally see a dog/owner who shouldn't be there due to the dog not being socialized, and the owner not controlling their animal. The "regulars" tend to have a word with those owners to head off bad things happening. 97% of dogs and owners are great, and 3% are just plain yahoos you need to avoid or strategize around. Doing away with dog parks is NOT the answer.
My heart goes out to these poor owners who lost their beloved pet, and I hope some witnesses step forward. Irresponsible owners with out-of-control dogs must be dealt with swiftly and severely to prevent further tragedies - canine and human.
Dog parks are a necessity for areas of urban growth. Not all of us are lucky enough to have large fenced yards in which to let our dogs roam; even so, some of us have dogs who were born to RUN and need more open space than a yard could ever allow.
My dog and I frequent Marymoor park, and we do occasionally see a dog/owner who shouldn't be there due to the dog not being socialized, and the owner not controlling their animal. The "regulars" tend to have a word with those owners to head off bad things happening. 97% of dogs and owners are great, and 3% are just plain yahoos you need to avoid or strategize around. Doing away with dog parks is NOT the answer.
My heart goes out to these poor owners who lost their beloved pet, and I hope some witnesses step forward. Irresponsible owners with out-of-control dogs must be dealt with swiftly and severely to prevent further tragedies - canine and human.
To the owners of the dog who died, please ignore the ill-considered post of the person who blamed you in part for your dog's death. I read your post, and I believe that you did all that anyone could have done. Thirty years ago my dog attacked another dog during a walk. Like you, I tried everything to get my dog to stop attacking the other dog, all in vain. There is little non-lethal force a person can use to stop a determined dog in the midst of an attack. The other dog survived, but I still feel horrible about it even though both dogs are long dead and even though my dog had never exhibited dog-to-dog aggression before that day. I'm sure you gave your puppy a wonderful life and that she was a lucky dog indeed before this terrible tragedy.
Off-leash parks are wonderful things to have, both for dogs and their owners. There are not very many in the city, and they are well marked. People who do not like dogs have plenty of parks they can use which are not designated off-leash areas. In fact, most off-leash parks are only partially open to dogs. The majority of the parks do not allow for off-leash use.
Please do not let this one unfortunate incident, which appears to have been caused solely by the irresponsible owners of an aggressive dog, convince you that off-leash parks should be blamed.
I just wanted to say how very sorry I am that this happened to you.
The ignorance being spewed off here really blows my mind.
I'm very sorry to hear this happened, but the owners of the killed dog are partially to blame. For the most part, small dogs do not belong running with the larger dogs. This is why Magnuson has a designated "Small Dog Area". It keeps those smaller dogs safe from all manner of incidences. To take such a small dog into the open space filled with rambunctious dogs 10 times as large as the smaller one is just asking for trouble! At the worst, something like this happens. At the least, the smaller dog can get trampled or crushed when the larger dogs all take off running.
Those who are being alarmist about this "killer" dog being a threat to humans really need to get a grip on reality. This dog did not attack a human, it went for a much smaller dog that it probably viewed as a prey animal. Many dogs cannot understand that small dogs are not dogs at all! They see a small squealing fur ball and think of it only as prey. How many of your dogs see a squirrel or rabbit and give chase? Same idea with this. It's not bad/good, it's just animal nature. Most dogs still have some drive to chase after prey animals and kill, which is precisely why these "Small Dog Areas" are there and absolutely be used.
Lastly, owners really need to be proactive and monitor the dogs around them while at the park. There's always going to be someone that brings something that is going to cause trouble with the other park visitors. Whether that something is a dog-aggressive dog, toys, small children, or food, if ever I visit a park I make sure to steer clear from these individuals. If I cannot get away from them, I leave the park. Too often, people don't realize that most dogs have some possessive tendencies towards food/toys, and will fight for them (not understanding that it is not their food/toys). Learn how to read dog body language, and don't take under-socialized dogs to these parks.
The ignorance being spewed off here really blows my mind.
I'm very sorry to hear this happened, but the owners of the killed dog are partially to blame. For the most part, small dogs do not belong running with the larger dogs. This is why Magnuson has a designated "Small Dog Area". It keeps those smaller dogs safe from all manner of incidences. To take such a small dog into the open space filled with rambunctious dogs 10 times as large as the smaller one is just asking for trouble! At the worst, something like this happens. At the least, the smaller dog can get trampled or crushed when the larger dogs all take off running.
Those who are being alarmist about this "killer" dog being a threat to humans really need to get a grip on reality. This dog did not attack a human, it went for a much smaller dog that it probably viewed as a prey animal. Many dogs cannot understand that small dogs are not dogs at all! They see a small squealing fur ball and think of it only as prey. How many of your dogs see a squirrel or rabbit and give chase? Same idea with this. It's not bad/good, it's just animal nature. Most dogs still have some drive to chase after prey animals and kill, which is precisely why these "Small Dog Areas" are there and absolutely be used.
Lastly, owners really need to be proactive and monitor the dogs around them while at the park. There's always going to be someone that brings something that is going to cause trouble with the other park visitors. Whether that something is a dog-aggressive dog, toys, small children, or food, if ever I visit a park I make sure to steer clear from these individuals. If I cannot get away from them, I leave the park. Too often, people don't realize that most dogs have some possessive tendencies towards food/toys, and will fight for them (not understanding that it is not their food/toys). Learn how to read dog body language, and don't take under-socialized dogs to these parks.
Sorry for the double post, the first comment just showed up.
For Those of you blaming the owners of the small dog. Just like to point out that the park is for big and small dogs alike. There is an area designated to small and shy dogs, but if you've ever been there, you know that the entire park is for all dogs. I've posted a few of the rules as well.. you can find all of them here... http://www.seattle.gov/parks/publications/OLArules.htm
Rules for Off-Leash Areas
YO, HUMANS!
You are liable for damage or injury inflicted by your dog(s) (SMC 18.12.080).
You must be in control of your dog(s) at all times (SMC 18.12.080).
You must muzzle dogs that exhibit dangerous or aggressive behavior; biting, fighting, and excessive barking are not allowed (SMC 9.25.024).
Interesting... YOU are liable for damage or injury inflicted by YOUR dog... sounds reasonable..
Also, in reading Dog Lover's post, it seems this dog attacked before. Wouldn't that fall under the 3rd rule of muzzling dogs that exhibit dangerous or aggressive behavior, biting, fighting and excessive barking? Umm.. yeah, I think it would. If you own a muzzle, it's for a reason dumba**.
Oh, btw, I'd like to point out that your "claim" of prey is bs. Dogs have a built in system for distinguishing what is and is not prey. They don't sniff each other simply because they like the smell of butt!
Last point is this. You obviously have no heart if you're blaming people who just lost their dog to a vicious attack instead of the irresponsible owner who broke the rules and brought an aggressive dog into the park.
This guy is liable for damage and injury. This not only means that he should be paying the bills for these people, but that he should also be held responsible for not taking action when his dog showed aggressive behavior in the first place. Had he done this, the 2nd attack would not have happened.
I am very sorry to hear about this incident. Irresponsibility isn't unique to dog parks so "taking back our parklands" is not even relevant. I have frequented Magnussen and Marymoor dog parks for years and I've noted more than once that the dog park areas are often the most used areas of each park. Rain or shine we love to take out dogs out for a little socialization. I have only seen unmanaged aggressive dogs a handful of times out of dozens and dozens of visits. I am glad Seattle is progressive enough to notice how many dogs live here and provide places for responsible humans to take their beloved dogs. Just as we take our children to play on the public play structures. Or we take ourselves to picnic on the beach. Please don't be so small minded that you can't see this is about one or two irresponsible people who should have started out with the muzzle on their dog instead of falling back on it after the damage was done. I hope the owner of that poor deceased dog finds out who owns the dog that hurt it. But don't go overboard about the virtues of people parks vs dog parks. The same kind of irresponsible people frequent people parks too.
I am curious what you would expect to happen if you did find out who the owner was.
Do you want them to pay for the hospital fees?
Do you just want to talk to them?
I personally would not handle this situation very well...and if perchance I found the owner of the attacking dog, I would need to be physically restrained.
I had 2 rottweilers and took them to this park often. My female became progressively more aggressive, and so I had to stop taking them. It saddened me, but I knew she was just getting worse. I wish this owner would do the same, and hopefully is now shamed away...I am so sorry for your loss.
No solid leads yet, but it sounds like this dog may have attacked several other dogs in the area and may have even killed another dog before besides Sadie.
If we do find the owner, we will be asking for him to pay the almost $3,000 we spent that night trying to save Sadie. We wouldn't want to ask for anything more though b/c then it's about money, not about his actions. So no ridiculous lawsuit asking for him to refund us how much we bought Sadie for or emotional damages, etc.
We also would want to see him charged as he broke several Seattle laws. He had a muzzle, so he at least knew his dog could be dangerous. He didn't put the muzzle on or take the dog away after the first attack and he allowed his dog to come up to ours and attack, knowing that it was aggressive.
I honestly don't know what will happen to the dog though. Because there were no warning signs (no bark, no growl, hackles were not raised, relaxed ears and posture) we are worried that this dog is more dangerous than we thought. If it will go up to another dog and attack without warning, what else could it do? What if a small child goes up and ends up annoying it? It's honestly a huge concern that the owner didn't care about the safety of others.
Anyways, for all of you who have been supportive, thank you. We have been starting to heal and can now look at pictures of Sadie and smile. We were blessed to have her and while she was taken away too soon, she will always be in our hearts. If we never do find the owner, at least we'll know that people care and are looking and are committed to helping make the parks safe for everyone who goes there, no matter their age or size.
All I know is that if my dog attacked a dog or a human (and did it unprovoked) I would be the first one to offer help and pay the medical bills. I couldn't live with myself otherwise. The ignoranamous that has this dog should not be allowed to own a dog since they obviously have no clue. Unfortunately we have no laws that prohibit idiots from owning an animal or bearing a child for that matter.
Come on already whoever you are fess up to these people as the sound like they are reasonable people and not trying to get something they aren't due. How can you sleep at night? You will for sure be going to hell (and I am not even religious) if you don't step up and make this right.
I've had to pull my dog out of day care as she has developed agression towards small dogs. For this very reason I will be muzzling her if I ever do decide to risk going to a dog park again.
So sorry for the owners loss! As the attacking dog gave no warning, has anyone considered that the attacking dog may have rabies? If so, the dog is naturally a threat to all animals as well as humans. It would be interesting to know if the Emergency Vet looked at that possibility. A second possibility is that the attacking dog has purposely been trained to attack - have we forgotten Michael Vick last year? All for the sick "sport" (pleasure) of some sick human. My sympathy to the owners for their loss.
I read the comments again on this & I just want to say to the person that said "The ignorance being spewed off here really blows my mind." and is putting partial blame on the owners of the small dog. BITE ME!! Well behaved small dogs have just as much right to run around w/the big dogs and yes fights may break out but bottom line is that if you do have a dog that has a strong prey drive(and I do have a 2 year old 65 pound dog which has recently developed such a problem). It is now on me to take precautions if I decide to go to a dog park or a dog daycare. I will have to be responsible and muzzle my dog. Seriously I can't expect everyone with a small dog to fear the worst when not all large dogs have this problem. I have never seen a sign at these parks that say big dog area only. What next do the schools have a separate playground for the smaller kids?
My heart goes out to the people that lost their beloved family member. I know what it's like but it will get easier over time.
I just wanted to ease everyone's mind about the possibility of rabies. The vet did check it out not only for the safety of our dog, but also because my fiance and I had bites from the attack. The tests turned up clean.