Keeping your children safe when you have a family dog is an urgent matter. It is not enough to assume that just because your dog knows you and your partner, your dog will acknowledge your child right away. Your dog’s behaviour needs to be trained so he will not harm other people, including you and your loved ones. Thus, it is crucial to know how to prepare your dog before having a child. Not only this, remember that it is also not safe to welcome dogs in your home if you have a baby to avoid unwanted incidents, like what happened to an infant in Ireland.
The unexpected attack
According to Breaking News, three-month-old Mia O’Connell was mauled by a dog inside her room in the wee hours of the morning on June 7, 2021. Paramedics arrived at the scene and treated the infant before taking her by ambulance to Cork University Hospital. However, despite efforts to save her from her injuries, she was pronounced dead after 3:15 AM.
The village of Clashmore in Country Waterford was devastated to hear the news—it could have been their family member who died, after all. The plans of parents Rhys O’Connell and Ella Wood for their young daughter were cut short due to the dog’s attack. The Irish Mirror said the dog was not owned by the family, but it was staying there at the time of the incident.
Investigation
Their residence was cordoned off on that same day as gardai watched the property during the investigation conducted by the Garda Technical Bureau. A file is expected to be sent to the Coroners’ Court, and an inquest will be held as well. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster administered the post-mortem on O’Connell the following afternoon.
According to the An Garda Síochána, the results of the post-mortem will not be disclosed to the public for operational reasons. Gardai have appealed for the community to respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time. The Irish Examiner reported that the dog who attacked O’Connell is understood to be destroyed by now.
Community support
Father Milo Guiry, the administrator of the parish that includes the village of Clashmore, said the locals were surprised after hearing what happened to the poor baby. He described what happened as “terribly, terribly sad.”
Neighbours said only about 1800 people live in their area, and they support anyone who undergoes a tragedy such as this one. They were terrified to hear what happened because they have gone through other challenges as a community already. One woman shook her head in gloom and said this could have happened to her because she has small children, too.
Waterford Independent Councillor Seamus O’Donnell told Breaking News that he spoke with the locals and heard the shock they all felt as a result of the incident. He stated the family of O’Connell is new in Clashmore as they are originally from Youghal. Meanwhile, Waterford Fine Gael Councillor Pat Nugent told the news outlet that the death of O’Connell happened just hours after a day of festivities and a bank holiday in Clashmore. It was truly unexpected.
O’Connell was buried on June 9, and her family thanked the community for the support they received. Her mother’s aunt, Diane Wood, told Belfast Telegraph that they can really feel the warmth of the community in these trying times. She also set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the baby’s funeral.
Conclusion
This devastating incident shows the importance of preparing a dog before having a baby. It also reminds people not to take in dogs from friends or anyone when they have young kids, especially babies, at home. Complacency is never welcome to a family that wants to keep everyone safe. Your dog could be loyal to you and your partner, but your dog does not know your child yet. It is all the more dangerous when the dog on your premises is not yours—the animal is not familiar to you or your child.
Moreover, keep in mind that training dogs is essential if you want to ensure dogs will behave properly and will not bite your friend, a mail carrier, or your own child. Book a training session with Jay Lowe today.
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