Boy, 2, Killed In Mauling At Pittsburgh Zoo

[BB1]

This is just too sad to even read. 1. Its hard to fathom seing one's own son getting mauled by things that wish to kill 2. I wish that the boy was not inside this incident period. There is a reason why we dont like things that kill things, they kill us. 3. My prayers go out to those who are affected by this.

[Browntggrr]

Mother will not face charges:

A prosecutor declined to bring criminal charges against the mother of a 2-year-old boy who was killed after falling into a pit of wild dogs and mauled at the Pittsburgh Zoo, but he said on Wednesday he was still determining whether the zoo was at fault.

http://news.msn.com/us/mother-avoids-charges-after-dogs-kill-son-at-pittsburgh-zoo-1

[The Interpreter]

Observation Platform To Be Removed:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/observation-platform-at-pittsburgh-zoo-african-painted-dogs-exhibit-to-be-removed-665217/

[Browntggrr]

Pittsburgh Zoo attendance declines sharply after fatality

Attendance at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium dropped by the thousands in the two months since a pack of African painted dogs mauled a toddler to death.

Officials at the facility in Highland Park attributed the decline to wintry weather and said it would be difficult to determine whether the mauling kept visitors away.

http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/3201216-74/attendance-zoo-weather

This whole story is just sad....

[Browntggrr]

The record surprised zoo officials, who budgeted for 11,000 visitors at the Highland Park attraction. The total of 15,389 surpassed the zoo's January high of 13,353 set in 2007 when it opened the Water's Edge exhibit.

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/3386226-74/zoo-record-attendance#axzz2JPxQt2xb

[Browntggrr]

Not a big shock:

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium should have known its African painted dogs exhibit was dangerous before a 2-year-old boy fell in and was mauled to death in November, according to a lawsuit the boy's family filed Thursday.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/parents-sue-pittsburgh-zoo-in-boys-mauling-death-688841/

[Voicetek]

Here's a thought, don't lift your kid up and try to let them stand/balance on the railing. It's obvious, if I remember correctly from the initial reports, that the zoo had railing that was slanted inward to prevent parents from letting their kids stand on top of them. People think its ok to break the rules or feel that they can break the rules and still be safe, until something like this happens then all of a sudden it's someone else's fault. I do feel bad about what happened and know the family is suffering a terrible loss, but sometimes there are consquences to your actions. Should/could have the zoo done more to this exhibit to make it safe? Maybe. Should the parents have let their kid climb up on the railing? Probably not.

[AintNutinElse2Do]

So by the standards of this lawsuit if I'm at a hotel and I go out on the balcony. I then decide I could get a better view by standing atop the railing. I then fall and break my leg. It's the hotels fault for not putting a sign up saying that action would be dangerous? Is it also the fault of the city if I jump in front of oncoming traffic if there isn't a sign saying I shouldn't do that? If the mother truly believes the basis of the lawsuit then I'm afraid she wasn't ready to raise a child. Then if she wasn't ready for such I truly hope that this wasn't a "way out" for her.

[The Interpreter]

Claims made in a lawsuit tell only one side of a story.

Many defenses would appear to be available to the zoo, from comparative\contributory negligence to obvious hazard to wild animal doctrines.

The sad thing is that even when a recreational facility wins this type of action, it still loses--from bad PR, to litigation expenses to distraction from the organization's mission\business. And the public loses, too; from increased costs to more

barriers put between them and exhibits (to more and more draconian restraints\lessened ride forces in amusement parks\on fair rides).

There is no legal advice intended for a particular client or situation contained herein. Consult a competent attorney in your jurisdiction if you have, or think you may have, a legal problem. The author is not engaged in the private practice of law in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia or any United State. Legalzoom.com is not a substitute for legal representation and is not engaged in the practice of law, nor is it a name for a waterpark attraction at your friendly, local

law school.

[Diamondbacker27]

If you look closey at most almost every zoo in the US there is a way for an accident to happen. For Example, at the Louisville Zoo, The Lion cage is just a deep hole with concrete rocks building a formation and the only barrier to keep you from falling in is thin wooden sticks poking out of the ground. The rocks are like 20 feet away from the edge of the barrier, I'm sure they think about these kind of things, but not very well.

[The Interpreter]

If you look closey at most almost every zoo in the US there is a way for an accident to happen. For Example, at the Louisville Zoo, The Lion cage is just a deep hole with concrete rocks building a formation and the only barrier to keep you from falling in is thin wooden sticks poking out of the ground. The rocks are like 20 feet away from the edge of the barrier, I'm sure they think about these kind of things, but not very well.

Not very well? Are you serious?

People in the business are good people whose own kids go to the facilities.

Why on earth would you think the industry doesn't think about safety very well?

[The Interpreter]

Pittsburgh Zoo: Boy's Mauling Death is Mom's Fault:

http://nation.time.com/2013/09/12/pittsburgh-zoo-boys-mauling-death-is-moms-fault/?iid=obinsite

[Diamondbacker27]

Terp,I know they think safety. I mean like its extremly easy for people to climb or fall into some of their cages

[medford]

I feel sorry for the parents, but what's the saying?

"Can't fix stupid"

I don't care that there were wild animals down there, if you're going to lift your child up high enough to ensure they can see an exhibit that is well below the level you're standing on, you don't get close enough to the edge where an accident would allow them to fall over the barrier. Never, ever, ever do you do that. I'm sure the parents feel terrible, how could you not, but the lawsuit and any potential money that comes out of it will not fix the loss to their family.

We attended both the Indy zoo and the Cincy zoo this year. There are several exhibits at each zoo that would fit a similar description to what is being described at the Pittsburgh zoo. Several times I lifted my 5 year old son onto my shoulders or up in my arms so that he could see better. Never was he close enough to the edge in a position where he could fall over the edge. If we were up close, he was in my arms, off to the side w/ my body at an angle, so that if he was to squarm he'd fall straight down onto the ground, not onto and potentially over the barrier. If we were a bit further away, he'd go up on my shoulders and a several steps back so that if he were to squarm, I could make sure he wasn't falling onto and potentially over the barrier. The parents put their own child at risk, there were tragic results to their poor decision, now they are looking to blame somebody else.

I don't think I'd make it on the jury for a case like this.

[RailRider]

I think the judge was wise in not proceeding with this case, because no good can come from it being drug through the legal system. Yet here it goes. As a parent I do not wish to imagine the loss they feel and that last thing in my mind would be lets sue over something that I could have prevented...

[The Interpreter]

The judge hasn't ruled, to my knowledge. Those are the zoo's arguments.

[RailRider]

Yes you are right. I was referring to this quote from the story.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. investigated the boy’s death and deemed it a “tragic accident” in deciding not to prosecute his mother or zoo officials on endangerment or other charges.

Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/09/12/pittsburgh-zoo-boys-mauling-death-is-moms-fault/#ixzz2fFVRLPiS

[upstop]

At one time the reptile house at the Cincinnati zoo had alligators in an open pit with a railing (haven't been there in a while so I'm not sure if it is still there.). A lady was holding her baby and standing with the child sitting on the railing. I was with someone and the two of us struck up a conversation about alligators and how they jump up to snap on raw chicken carcasses at an exhibit in Florida, and how that child was a little bit bigger than a chicken. Got a rather dirty look, so, and since she wasn't getting the hint, we told an attendant and moved on...there is only so much you can do short of grabbing the child away from someone.

[faeriewench]

^I've seen similar at the Cincy Zoo with those gators too. It often bugs me how a lot of people go to zoos thinking the animals are cute cuddly teddy bears that won't bite. I kept my distance from this one mostly because I know they are wild animals they all have instincts they follow but I do feel for the mom.

[upstop]

I think these incidents are why Busch Gardens in Tampa is redesigning a lot of their habitats. They had a lion exhibit in a pit at one time, but that has been changed to one where visitors can look through glass at the animals face to face. It's more exciting for the kids and much safer.

Here is a lion exhibit.

[Tanna]

I am not as trusting of that glass as that kid's parents evidently are.

[faeriewench]

I am not as trusting of that glass as that kid's parents evidently are.

While on the topic of viewing glass/windows (and this post is purely for fun)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_IxcqLyDnk

"Today is the day", affirmed Puffles the polar bear. The temptation of the little hot dog cart across from his pool had taken its toll. After several months, Puffles could no longer endure the torment. "Buns, wieners, buns, wieners EVERYWHERE. FOR EVERYONE BUT ME! I shall procure mountains of those juicy, beefy treats! A bear can only take so much!" The plan was simple. Simple but quite effective. "I'm gonna take this big ugly rock and smash that stupid glass. I'll ride the wave like a boss face first into the bun warmer. I'm going to eat the **** out of those hot dogs! Chili, cheese, relish, onions, tomato, ketchup...IT'S GOIN' ON!"

[medford]

Both the Cincy zoo and the Indy zoo, have glass displays at certain points in their tiger/lion display where you can basically stand face to face w/ the animals (if they're in the mood). Probably not fare to call it glass though, it is (I assume/hope) something significantly stronger and as the polar bear video showed, is designed so that if it does break, it doesn't shatter, but holds together like a windshield does in a car wreck.

[faeriewench]

Following the 2010 attack at SeaWorld Orlando they started installing glass around the Dine with Shamu pools at the parks. I keep thinking plexi glass but I am not exactly sure if it is, just know that it is nowhere near flimsy and seems to be a pain in the rear to clean.

[Tanna]

I am not as trusting of that glass as that kid's parents evidently are.

While on the topic of viewing glass/windows (and this post is purely for fun)

"Today is the day", affirmed Puffles the polar bear. The temptation of the little hot dog cart across from his pool had taken its toll. After several months, Puffles could no longer endure the torment. "Buns, wieners, buns, wieners EVERYWHERE. FOR EVERYONE BUT ME! I shall procure mountains of those juicy, beefy treats! A bear can only take so much!" The plan was simple. Simple but quite effective. "I'm gonna take this big ugly rock and smash that stupid glass. I'll ride the wave like a boss face first into the bun warmer. I'm going to eat the **** out of those hot dogs! Chili, cheese, relish, onions, tomato, ketchup...IT'S GOIN' ON!"

Wilfred Brimley seems to be taking it well, even pointing out the damage to us.