Dog Strangles 6 Year Old Girl

[matcom]

<snip>

A 6-year-old Long Island girl with a "heart full of love" was tragically strangled by her beloved dog, who fatally tugged on a scarf knotted around her neck, police and friends said yesterday.

The limp body of first-grader Kaitlyn Hassard was discovered by her 11-year-old brother at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the backyard of their Manorville home, triggering a frantic attempt by their mother to save her.

Cops said Kaitlyn's mother, who is a nurse, tried to revive the girl with CPR. She died upon arriving at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital.

"Kaitlyn Dorothy Hassard was an energetic, beautiful young girl who always had a smile on her face, a skip in her step and a heart full of love," said a family friend, James Palamini. "All who knew her will never forget her, she will be sorely missed by her entire family and circle of friends."

Police said the 40-pound girl had been playing in her backyard with her 18-month-old, 70-pound golden retriever, Jessy. Kaitlyn was wearing a scarf around her neck to keep warm.

"The dog apparently grabbed the scarf that was around the child's neck, dragged her around the backyard for a period of time and asphyxiated her in the process," said Suffolk County Police Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick.

The grieving family could not bear to keep the pooch and turned him over to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter. "The family has informed the animal shelter that they don't wish to bring the dog back into the house," Brookhaven Deputy Town Supervisor Mark Grossman said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/385970p-327479c.html

[Shell Beau]

1. How terrible. What a freak accident.

Poor family, poor girl! :cry:

[Midlodemocrat]

2. That is awful. That poor family.

What a tragedy.

[ComerPerro]

7. It is a horrible situation

[RebelOne]

3. And now the poor dog, who was only playing, and did not do it

intentionally, is going to pay for it. It's a given that he will be euthanized at the shelter.

[LisaL]

5. Maybe not.

The dog is a golden retriever, it's a popular breed.

[ComerPerro]

6. I hope not, and I doubt it. But you never know

But I can see why the family doesn't want it around.

[Shell Beau]

9. I don't see why. If it was an accident, and they do give it to

a shelter, goldens are very popular and likely would get adopted. At least I hope.

[LisaL]

4. Scarfs can be dangerous. I have heard of people killed

when their scarfs got stuck in an elevator, or a car door.

[ChoralScholar]

8. Maybe I don't wear scarves to know any better,

but who ties their scarves in a knot? I thought you just wrapped them around a time or two to keep warm, and that was it.

How tight WAS this thing?

[Lars39]

10. A six yo might.