http://www.newsnet5.com/news/4184524/detail.html?subid=22100405&qs=1;bp=t


911 Operator Calls Mother 'Stupid' After Pit Bull Attacks Boy
Mother Says Operator Made Her Feel Like 'No-Good Mom'

POSTED: 11:25 am EST February 10, 2005

CINCINNATI -- A Cincinnati 911 dispatcher faces discipline after a mother who made a frantic call for help said she was outraged by the dispatcher's response.

The mother called to report the family's pit bull had attacked her 18-month-old boy.

The operator quickly dispatched an emergency crew, but she's in trouble for calling the mother and her husband "stupid people," WLWT-TV in Cincinnati reported.

Video:911 Call

"Like I was to blame, I'm worthless, a no-good mom or something," said the mother, Samantha Osborne.

Osborne said the dog, called JD, had never been aggressive in 10 years with the family.

"He was good with my kids -- all three," she said.

But in a split-second, the pit bull turned on Jesse, attacking his face.

"Three people were right there and the dog out of nowhere went straight for the baby," she said.

SURVEY
Should The 911 Dispatcher Be Disciplined?
Yes, there's no excuse for what she did.
Yes, but as her boss said, I can see how dispatchers can get emotional.
No, she did her job.
No, I agree with her "stupid people" remark.
I don't know.
Results | Disclaimer

Here's what was said when Osborne called 911:

Dispatcher: "What kind of dog attacked him, Samantha?"

Dispatcher, repeating: "What kind of dog attacked him, Samantha?"

Samantha to her husband: "What kind of dog is JD?"

Husband: "He's a pit bull."

Samantha to operator: "He's a pit."

Dispatcher: "Stupid people."

Tom Rapp, the dispatchers' supervisor, called the remark "unacceptable" and said the dispatcher could be suspended.

Even though it's no excuse, Rapp said, emotions do get the best of his dispatchers sometimes.

"Any call you take involving a kid becomes 10 times more emotional. You find yourself wrapped up," he said.

When Osborne listened to a tape of the frantic call again, the entire nightmare was replayed: a little boy scarred for life and a mother trying to overcome the guilt.

"I never want someone else to hear those words from a 911 dispatcher, to feel the way I'm feeling. It's not right," Osborne said.

The little boy is out of the hospital after getting 17 stitches on his eyes and mouth.

The family dog was put down.

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Comments: Common sense: Pit-bull + 18-mo old = trouble.

They are stupid people. You can tell me they can be trained to be gentle dogs all you want, but they were bred to be viscous as far as I have heard. I'm sure the dog was aggresive at some point in time. Just like every murderous teens mom says "he was a good kid, never in any trouble" :rolleyes:

I hope the kid is doing alright now

I think she called them stupid because the woman calling didn't even know what kind of breed her dog was, not to mention they have had the thing for 10 years. I'm sure the dog attacked the 18 month old boy because it was getting more attention than the dog, I think this is pretty common.

hmm, I was thinking it was because they owned a pitbull with kids around. I thought about it being because she didn't know what dog it was, but then thought that the dispatcher would have said stupid lady or something since the husband obviously knew.

Someone needs to break the tie :D

I think you're probably right because she said stupid family.

I've never seen a mean pit bull in my life. I used to work at a training/grooming center, and more than once walked into a 3ft. wide/3ft. long retaining pen with un-neutered male pit bulls in them (who had never seen me before). They were just big, goofy lap dogs. German Shepards and Golden retreivers are more agressive than pits. I'd love to have one.

Chances are, there's far more to the story than the dog "just turning" on a small child. I've heard of kids playfully hitting a chained pit bull over the head with a plastic baseball bat, and the dog just played along without a problem. They're sweet animals.

*rant off*

I've never seen a mean pit bull in my life. I used to work at a training/grooming center, and more than once walked into a 3ft. wide/3ft. long retaining pen with un-neutered male pit bulls in them (who had never seen me before). They were just big, goofy lap dogs. German Shepards and Golden retreivers are more agressive than pits. I'd love to have one.

That may be your experience, but the fact is there are lots of mean pit bulls. That's why they are banned here in Ontario. I know people will say, they're viscous because the owners train them that way etc etc. But, the reason they choose this dog is because it is good at being viscious and was created to be so.

Here's an incredible flash animation I came across a long while back: http://www.deviantart.com/view/11454716/

*disclaimer* this is a very intense presentation. It left me in tears the first time I watched it...

That may be your experience, but the fact is there are lots of mean pit bulls. That's why they are banned here in Ontario. I know people will say, they're viscous because the owners train them that way etc etc. But, the reason they choose this dog is because it is good at being viscious and was created to be so.

You're right, there are very many mean pit bulls. But, there are also mean Rottweilers, Dobermans, Labs, and Chihuauas. You have to remember, the pit bull wasn't bred to attack humans, it was bred to attack other dogs. It's not born "wired" to kill anything that moves. But, unfortunately, it is very easy for a negligent or malicious owner to take advantage of that trait and make them that way... :( Which is what I'm quite certain has to be the case here. Any dog that's shown unconditional love by it's owners will return that. Any dog that's abused or exposed to pain, anger, etc. will reflect those traits as well. I just think it's too easy to make this particular breed into a scapegoat. I dunno...

Anyways, I don't want to turn this into an argument of any sort. Just wanted to toss in my $0.02 USD. :D Dogs rule!

my RX8 could have outrun that PitBull....

You have to remember, the pit bull wasn't bred to attack humans, it was bred to attack other dogs. It's not born "wired" to kill anything that moves.

There's hundreds of other breeds of dogs that aren't bred to kill anything. They're bred to herd, fetch, point, guard, or be cute. Any dog bred to attack *anything* shouldn't be a family pet around children. Perhaps you've never experienced it personally, but there's a good reason why pit bulls (and Dobermans, and German Shepherds before them) get the bad press - they earn it by attacking people, often unprovoked.

Regards,
Gordon (Yes, I have a dog - a herding breed. He does try to herd people on occasion. I can live with that! ;) )

You're right, there are very many mean pit bulls. But, there are also mean Rottweilers, Dobermans, Labs, and Chihuauas. You have to remember, the pit bull wasn't bred to attack humans, it was bred to attack other dogs. It's not born "wired" to kill anything that moves. But, unfortunately, it is very easy for a negligent or malicious owner to take advantage of that trait and make them that way... :( Which is what I'm quite certain has to be the case here. Any dog that's shown unconditional love by it's owners will return that. Any dog that's abused or exposed to pain, anger, etc. will reflect those traits as well. I just think it's too easy to make this particular breed into a scapegoat. I dunno...

Anyways, I don't want to turn this into an argument of any sort. Just wanted to toss in my $0.02 USD. :D Dogs rule!

Yeah I love that flash myself. It pisses me off whenever I see animals abused though. The thing with pit bulls though is that they're more dangerous than most other breeds. The whole problem is you never know when/if they'll snap. If you chiuhuahua has a bad day and "snaps" you get a few bites. If your golden retriever does, you get more serious bites, but you're not likely to die. If your full grown pit bull or rottweiler does, well... chances of you dying or getting VERY hurt are high. I know someone with a pit bull (actually she's only 75% pit bull I think) and while petting her I could tell that she was BUFF. Damn those dogs are strong.

You really never know if your pet will turn on you especially if it's just a short thing. I watch a crap load of animal planet and one of the things on Emergency Vets a while back had this lady bring in her dog of many years. Recently it's been really aggressive and would lash out at people randomly. They later found out it was some condition that was treatable by medicine. But if that happened to your pit bull, it might kill you instead of just give you a bite or two.

But yeah, dogs rule. :)

The dispatcher gets the "Stupid Comment of the Day" award. It was just stupid and tactless to say something like that in her capacity of a 911 operator.

On the other hand, I can understand her emotional reaction. Yeah, it DOES sound stupid that people with a toddler also have a pit bull in the house. IMO, that's an accident waiting to happen. Too bad they had to put the dog down though. :(

I say disciplinary action is probably the best action for the 911 operator! Even if you think it, you should reserve that for when you are no longer on the line with a distressed person calling about an emergency situation!

As far as Pit Bull goes I think they are a bit of a victim! I've heard of a particular Pit Bull having some chemical imbalance. When I hear things like that I start thinking the problem with Pits that start snapping at people might be in how they were bred! The beloved Dalmations are the meanest dog I have ever come across (Chihuahaus are next but I've seen at least a few friendly ones). The thing with Dalmations that make some of them mean is in fact inbreeding. I think that Pits are in a high enough demand that they might be a victim of this as well and there are some that are dangerous but like I said most I've come across have been like big babies not vicious killers!

I personally laughed out loud when I heard the 911 call...damn they are stupid people

these dogs should not be bred to hate, bred to fight, in fact they should not be bred at all or kept as pets...not every animal is meant to be domesticated and this is one of them

I bet everyone at that dispatcher facility had a good laugh after they heard what the dispatcher said :) then she probably got a minor reprimand and the supervisor made it out to the media that the dispatcher got a serious reprimand :) that is what I would do if I were the supervisor

I would have to agree that pits bulls just shouldn't be bred at all. 9 out of the 10 reports on dog attacking kids, its pit bulls. They might now be trained to attack people, but they should do attack kids. I probly would have said stupid people over the phone to.