US soldier ignores German law, 7 y.o. child suffers for it (rottweilers)

[lebkuchen]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=19809

Tech. Sgt. Sean Hansen saw the two Rottweilers tearing at the flesh of a boy outside his off-base home in the Würzburg suburb of Höchberg on Sunday morning. “I kicked into dad mode,” Hansen said the next day, fighting back tears. “I didn’t think of him as some other kid. I just thought of him as my own.”

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German police shot and killed the two unattended dogs that belonged to a U.S. soldier who lived nearby.

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According to the German police report, the man had placed the dogs in an outdoor kennel when he left the house about 10:30 a.m. Sunday but had forgotten to lock it. Somehow the dogs managed to open the door and escape.

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The Main Post quoted Stichler as saying the two dogs apparently had not been registered with local authorities as required by law in the German state of Bavaria.

[Military Brat]

1. Irresponsible dog owners drive me up the wall

I've had 3 Rottweilers, kept them socialized and friendly. They were always welcome around the children of the neighborhood, because they were trained to be gentle.

Makes me crazy when someone buys Rotties just to "be tough" and someone else suffers the consequences of their ego trip.

[underseasurveyor]

2. Thank goodness that Sgt. was there

to save that little boy. Rotties are big powerful dogs. The Sgt. is lucky he came through it fairly unscathed.
Hope that little boy recovers alright. What a scary thing to have happen. Imagine being the size of a seven year old looking at a Rottweiler. Poor little fella.

Suppose the guy that owned the dogs will face charges?

[Donkeyboy75]

4. I sure hope the US gov't doesn't intervene on his behalf

I have a boxer, who in this area (Chicago) have been know to be vicious fighters. We raised ours to be loving and friendly with people. I can't stand people who raise awful dogs. This guy needs to be arrested.

[underseasurveyor]

5. I have two boxers

and neither one of em have a mean bone in their body. One of the friendliest, lovingest fur baby doggies I've ever had.

But yea, I hope he is charged and held accountable for his dogs.

[lazarus]

6. I've been saying for years

It's not the dogs, it's the owners.

If we outlawed and destroyed all breeds but poodles, some idiots out there would raise poodles that would attack and viciously kill children.

[Name removed]

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[Kellanved]

7. actually yes

Cause Rottweilers are "List 2" dogs in Bavaria. That includes a test for aggressivity, and, should the dog be found capable of attacking humans, a hefty tax (ruling out three dogs), a training requirement and compulsory leash and muzzle .

[Muddleoftheroad]

14. Irresponsible ownes

Will be irresponsible no matter how many laws you make.

[lebkuchen]

15. They can choose to be irresponsible, but they will pay a price for it

The soldier who allowed his dogs loose on a 7 year old is going to be very short of cash for a very long time. Under SOFA, he could be court martialed and lose his job.

The German laws protect the victims. How does it work in the U.S., like with car insurance?

[RebelOne]

8. I have a Rottweiler and she doesn't have a mean bone in her body.

It is the owner's fault if the dog is vicious. As the old saying goes: There are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

[Spentastic]

9. I'm sorry

But it's this very attitude that gets children killed by dogs.That saying seems to be very popular among people that wish to keep potentially lethal pets.

You cannot ever entirely surpress the instincts of a dog. You may know your animal pretty well and it's entirely unlikely that you'll ever suffer any problems. Given the right stimuli however, your rottweiller is entirely capable of killing a child.

I'd suggest that in the majority of cases it's commonsense to keep children away from dogs that have the ability to kill them quickly.

[RebelOne]

10. I know exactly what my dog is capable of.

And she is never left unattended with small childrren.

[Spentastic]

11. Excellent

But surely that illustrates the problem with the "no bad dogs" statement. If anything I suppose ALL dogs should be regarded as "bad".

[cryofan]

12. i call BS on that

animals are HIGHLY instinctual. THey do not have control of their actions to the degree we do, and that is because their brains are not the same as ours.

I think dogs should be banned from cities and other congested areas.

[lebkuchen]

13. Whenever I see someone walking a rottweiler, pit bull, or bull terrior

I steer clear, and go the circuitous route. Members of the military transporting these dogs overseas must abide by the laws of the host country, like it or not.

The soldier who owns these two (dead) rottweilers will be dealing with the German courts for some time to come. He's responsible for all the doctor bills and damages that the child may incur years down the road.

If anybody can link me to a story about a couple of French poodles, dachsunds, golden retrievers, dalmations, or labs (any color) attacking a child (and gnawing on the bloodied clothing left behind), I'd like to read it.

[arko]

16. And just why are our troops there

WWII ended a long time ago. The USSR no longer exist. Isn't it time to bring those troops home.