very well stated iluv. I could not agree more,very very sad outcome. However the dogs were protecting their territory. Dogs are valueable in many ways. Pets and family members but also protectors of their people and home. I feel awful about the outcome, but the parents should have been watching their children a bit more closely. Also, I have the families in my prayers.

Yeah, I have mixed feelings..I have Rottweiler watchdog who is also my best friend..and a very calm gentle animal...BUT he is a watchdog and will do his best to protect his turf.
My (and his) yard is fenced with a 5' chain/wood fence...and is always locked. I can't be sure what might happen if someone managed to scale that fence into the dogs turf.

When a tragedy or an accident happens, too many times we feel the need to place blame. In this case, there is no need to blame the owner, the dogs, the boys or their parents. They all had a part in the unfortunate outcome. But none should be held responsible for the outcome.

A rottweiler attacked one of my mini schnauzers last night. They were on opposite sides of a fence, so the damage was minimal. We were very lucky. A poorly trained Rott can be very dangerous.

I think what history has shown is that poorly trained humans are more dangerous.

Interesting info:


Temperament
According to the FCI Standard, the Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, it is very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self assured, steady and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness. [7]

The American Kennel Club says it is basically a calm, confident and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. A Rottweiler is self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in its environment. It has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially suited as a companion, guardian and general all-purpose dog. [8]

Rottweilers are a powerful breed with well developed genetic herding and guarding instincts. As with any breed, potentially dangerous behaviour in Rottweilers usually results from irresponsible ownership, abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization and training. Inherent breed characteristics are not a factor.

The breed has received some negative publicity. In the US, in a report by the CDC, the Rottweiler was listed as the second most likely breed of dog named in fatal human attacks, following pitbulls. The report backnowledges that the broad popularity of the breed may contribute to high numbers of fatalities, but suggests Rottweilers are still disproportionately represented in attack figures. Breed-specific bite rates are not known, and less responsible owners being drawn to certain breeds may be a factor.[9] American insurance company Allstate (depending on the state) may not insure homes with Rottweilers as well as Pit Bulls, Boxers, Akitas, Chow Chows, Dobermans, or wolf hybrids.[10]

The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, and negative press has added to their negative publicity. This has led to Rottweilers being banned in some municipalities and are sometimes targeted as dangerous dogs by legislation, such as in the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. However, the Dutch law has since been changed as of 2008. On the other hand, not all mainstream media has portrayed the breed in a negative light: for example, a gentler side of the Rottweiler's personality was observed in the movie Lethal Weapon 3 where a Rottweiler guarding a gun smuggling operation was placated by the main character, played by Mel Gibson, with dog treats. The dog was subsequently rescued and de facto adopted by the protagonist. Also, in the HBO series Entourage a rottweiler is a dear pet of the main characters. Cujo the loveable family dog and voice of the official website in the TV series Kath and Kim, is played by National Rottweiler Council (Australia) Champion and Dual Champion (Tracking) Goodiesway Basko (AI) C.D.X. E.T.


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"Boys will be boys" indeed. Knowing this to be the case, was it reasonable to have freely roaming animals capable (physically and behaviorally) of killing a human being? In my view it wasn't, and the owner must be held responsible for the actions of his dogs as if he had done the deed himself. I see it as manslaughter (in British terminology - not sure what it would be in American).

Once we agree and accept that death is an appropriate punishment for trespass then I might let the owner off. Not till then.

Gosh Peter - the dogs were not 'freely roaming animals' nor had they previously been known by the vet, the owner, or others familiar with them, to be dangerous animals. It is a terrible tragedy and placing blame on anyone would just add more injury to an already sad event. The owner surely had no idea the boys were trespassing nor that his dogs would react in that manner. I'm glad you are not in any official capacity to make judgement on anyone with your harsh outlook on what is clearly a horrible accident. Had the dogs been roaming outside of the owner's property and fence, I would agree he is 100% responsible. But that is not the case here. Trespassers take enormous risk by engaging in the activity - sadly, the boys were unaware of the risks due to their lack of mature perspective, and I won't even take it further as to the supervising adult's part in this, surely everyone is feeling great pain and regret and charging anyone will not change the fact that Dualvin has passed away.

Peter wants the dog's owner convicted of killing. Cool wants the dogs killed. Someone maybe wants the boys encarcerated for trespassing and others wanting the adults responsible for teaching the boys not to break the law punished.
And then there is me looking at it as a terrible tragedy where none acted in a way deserving any of those punishments. Maybe I am getting soft in my later years. Or maybe others will be able to think more reasonably in their later years.

I can't see how any action against anyone or thing is warranted - let the families heal in peace and move past what might have been if not for... no need for more bloodshed or punishment laid to anyone - it was an accident and a very young life is no longer.