Parents for Dog Bite Awareness

It was 2019.

At a 🏕️ campsite, I found myself stuck in a conversation with a self-proclaimed supermom of five kids. She couldn’t contain her excitement about getting a Belgian Malinois puppy, practically glowing as if she’d discovered the holy grail of canine companionship. You could hear the ego swelling in her voice; she genuine love believed owning such an “intense” dog made her a better parent. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

That moment hit me like a lightning bolt – the pitvirus was infecting the Malinois community, and the absurdity of it all was alarming!

Fast forward to 2024, and what do we have? Two pediatric Malinois attacks already. One case involved a brutal mauling of a toddler who survived. The other took the life of poor Little Elle.

Sweet Elle was 7 months old on June 16th when her family strapped into her safely into a carseat and brought her to visit another home. As she was set onto the floor (because every decent caregiver knows NOT to place a car seat on an elevated surface), the homeowner’s Malinois went straight for her face, severely mauling her.

She was rushed to the hospital 🏥 where a team of dedicated specialists tried their best, but they ultimately lost the battle. 😥 The mal was humanely dispatched afterwards.

And as the maligators join the ranks of pitbulls in their bloody rampage, it’s high time to wake up! You have a responsibility to protect your children in your own home AND when visiting others.

Always, always ask:
Do you have a pet?
What breed?
Will the pet be unleashed when we arrive?
How do you plan to contain your dog?

Sure, it might feel awkward, too direct, or even rude to ask about pet safety as a guest. But I bet Elle’s parents would give anything for the chance to ask those questions.

So, don’t hold back. Make your child’s life your top priority. Good people will see the sense in it; as for the bad ones? Why risk your child’s safety around them anyway?

Respectfully,

-JL DBA Editor ©️

News article: https://people.com/baby-7-months-dies-after-being-bitten-by-pet-dog-in-england-8667744