AP NEWS: BAKERSFIELD CA APRIL 1 2007
GREAT DANE INVOLVED IN INCIDENT WITH CHILD AT AKC EVENT

Police were called today to the Kern County Fairgrounds to investigate an incident involving a Great Dane dog and a 9 year old child. The American Kennel
Club sanctions the event, held by the Kern County Kennel Club annually.

Thousands of exhibitors and spectators attend yearly.According to witnesses,
the child was walking near the show rings unsupervised when she suddenly came face to face with the 150 lb Great Dane dog. The child threw her arms around the dog's neck, reports say, when the unthinkable happened. The dog began enthusiastically licking the girl's face as his tail wagged briskly."It was awful", said one bytander, "there was nothing we could do. That dog was just giving that child every ounce of love he had and no on did a thing to stop it."

Another witness, who took video of the event, said "This happens all the time, I don't know how it hasn't made the news before now".

One spectator, who declined to be named in this interview, told reporters, "The sounds were just heartwrenching, all that laughing and giggling. It made me smile so hard my face hurts. I plan to sue for pain and suffering."

The handler of the dog admits this is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and that the owners were "well aware of the stable, loving and patient temperament of this dog". The owners were unavailable for comment.

Police state that the handler, who was noticeably unrepentant, was cited for Reckless Entertainment. The dog was given roasted chicken treats and was not taken into custody

ROFL! (I'd put a smiley here but they're not working for me today)

I loved this part:

One spectator, who declined to be named in this interview, told reporters, "The sounds were just heartwrenching, all that laughing and giggling. It made me smile so hard my face hurts. I plan to sue for pain and suffering."

And this part too!

Police state that the handler, who was noticeably unrepentant, was cited for Reckless Entertainment. The dog was given roasted chicken treats and was not taken into custody

What's the fine for Reckless Entertainment?

Cripes, you scared me!

One year when we were camping, there was a family there with a huge Great Dane and my girls thought he was awesome. But we asked each and every time they wanted to touch them, which is something I think kids should be taught of every dog. The owners would stand by him, said he wasn't used to kids, totally understandable. Even my German Shorthair, he loves them but if they rough-house with him too much and he's not in the mood, he'll growl at them, get up and leave. We have to teach both the dog and the kids.

Thanks for that... :lol:

There are a few Great Danes in my neighbourhood. Whenever I see them I smile.

:D And here I was thinking...oh great, the Danes are going to get the same crap reputation Rotties and Pits have now.

I was thinking the same thing...


Very nice story... Danes. :D

hehehe You had us fooled Danes! :P Too bad you didn't post this on Sunday. ;)

:lol:

When I was really little, the age where you're still in a stroller, whatever that is :), my mother used to take me to the park with our neighbor. The neighbor had a black Great Dane who used to sit by me in the stroller and keep an eye on me. Mom and the neighbor thought that was just so cute.

My mom thought I was a huge piggy, because I kept asking for cookies every few minutes "Cookie, mommy, cookie", until she noticed that I would take a bite of the cookie and then wave it around as children do. The Dane would then gently take it out of my hand... no wonder that dog hovered around me, I was a tiny food dispenser. Mom says I didn't get mad, just asked for more cookies.

To this day Danes are one of my favorite breeds.

Sarra, I can see one of my Danes doing this. Yeppers they would be glued to your side with a steady source of cookies.

Three, I wish more parents would teach their kids to ask first before running up to dogs they don't know.

:rofl:

I grew up next door to a couple of great danes. One was my family's dog (Free) best friend. It was a sad day when Sadie and Free went off to run around the neighborhood (we lived on a dead end and everyone knew the dogs), but then Free came back alone all crestfallen, without Sadie (Sadie was the dane BTW). After a few hours of searching, with help from Free to kind of lead us where we needed to go, we found that the dogs had snuck through a hole in the fence at the end of the street to the train tracks and Sadie had gotten hit by a train. :cry: It was a sad day as the whole neighborhood gathered around to say goodbye to Sadie.

But then Free got a new best friend when Baron moved in next door, a distant relative to Sadie, but another Dane as well. :D


I so wish I could keep dogs now, but I'm allergic to their hair. Growing up it wasn't so bad. I had my meds, and could keep them out of my bedroom and away from my clothes. But I really couldn't maintain a household with them. Fortunately, I've found bunnies to be just as lovable as I always remembered my dogs to be! :wub: