Parents warning over pet dogs (From Campaign Series)

Parents warning over pet dogs

12:23pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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THE PARENTS of a baby mauled to death have again warned not to leave children with pet dogs in a statement released after the inquest.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the inquest of Jaden Mack the three-and-a-half month old baby from Ystrad Mynach. Jaden was mauled to death by his grandmother Denise Wilson's two pet dogs at her home in Ystrad Mynach in February after she dozed off. When she awoke she found the baby on the wooden floor but all attempts to resuscitate him failed.

At the inquest in Newport, the Gwent coroner, David Bowen, urged parents not to leave children unsupervised with pets because as pack animals they can unpredictably revert to basic instincts.

Mr Bowen heard that when Mrs Wilson awoke after dozing off, Jaden was no longer on the cushion and blanket she had left him on a table.

The baby was mauled by a Jack Russell and Staffordshire bull terrier, who grabbed him from the table.

A post mortem examination revealed that Jaden who was born with a heart problem, died as a result of being mauled.

Mr Bowen told the child's parents Chris and Alex Mack that the evidence showed that the child would have been unconscious after falling to the wood-effect floor and would not have felt any pain whatsoever, or been aware of what happened next.

The inquest heard evidence from Mrs Wilson stating the Staffordshire bull terrier, who was called Tyson, was as "docile as a dormouse".

Mr Bowen said: "Any criticism of thoughtlessness that may be levelled at Mrs Wilson pales into insignificance compared to the self-recrimination and guilt that will undoubtedly be carried to her grave."

He added: "The dogs' actions were not foreseen nor were they anticipated, therefore the proper verdict is that of accidental death."

In a statement after the hearing Chris and Alex Mack reiterated the coroner's warning about family pets being left with children.

"We would like to stress to all families with young children and pet dogs that no matter how much trust you have in your dog, something like this is always possible.

"We never thought it could happen to us, but we are now grieving the loss of our "little man" who will always be in our hearts and loved very much by all of his family and friends"

No action will be taken against Jaden's grandmother.

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