Girl Mauled at DLR Petting Zoo by dog?

[prettyprincessbelle]

I just saw this on the news...

HERE and HERE..

This story sounds a little fishy to me.. I never have been to the zoo at Big Thunder Ranch, but uh, dogs aren't really petting zoo animals? And why in the world would Disney get a STRAY to put in their petting zoo... Wow, so many questions...

What do you guys think?

ETA: Reading the PDF of the lawsuit, it says the dog was used in parades WHILE fireworks "exploded over head".. Uhh. Since when does Disneyland do fireworks AND parades with DOGS in them at the same time? If this happened in September 2006 like it says the parade was and is still POD and the fireworks was and still are RDCT...??? I don't get it....

 

[jernysgirl]

How wierd....

And the article states that the parents decided to leave.... Why were they leaving and not watching their kids????? I'm sure the kids were suppose to be coming with them when they left, but even in DL I would never turn my back to my 2 year old.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wierd

 

[keegro94]

Since when does BTR have a petting zoo?

 

[Mom of three]

People obviously looking for some extra cash.

This kind of stuff drives me crazy...people getting all sue happy, trying to take advantage of a situation for their own personal financial gain.

It was an unfortunate accident, plain and simple. Cleary Disney would never just "let" something like this happen.

Ugh...so irritating. Who the heck leaves their kid alone anyway?

I have to go find a lawyer now because reading this thread has obviously traumatized me and my well being. I am seeking puntative damages to the extent of an undisclosed amount....oh yeah, and free DL tickets for life.

Gimme a break.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ok idk about any one else but i smell something fishy here. I would never think dl would let a dog in an area where kids can play with it. DL isnt stupid.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Since when does BTR have a petting zoo?

I do recall an area with a cow and a donkey and maybe some other animals in pens. It's not a petting zoo per se, but you can reach in and pet them if they're near the railing. I've never seen a dog there, though!

 

[bumbershoot]

It was an unfortunate accident, plain and simple. Cleary Disney would never just "let" something like this happen.

If it even happened...

I do recall an area with a cow and a donkey and maybe some other animals in pens. It's not a petting zoo per se, but you can reach in and pet them if they're near the railing. I've never seen a dog there, though!

Yeah, I imagine it's in the same basic area where they keep the reindeer at Yuletime.

A dog on a box? It just doesn't sound like something Disney would do. And I had my second day trip to DLR in October of '06 and was on various boards quite a bit to prepare, and read nothing about this. You would think that there would have been *something* about it, ya know?

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I think they have goats too? I don't know, I've never even gone over there...

But, it seems weird to me.. Obviously something did happen to this little girl, but I find it weird about them having a stray from a shelter dog at DL.. Disney is pretty tight with safety..

Plus it says the dog performed in parades.. I've never seen a dog in POD..?

I think it's weird too, Molly, we're just hearing about it now. If it was me and my baby daughter got hurt because of someone big like Disney's "neglect" I would be sure the public heard about it ASAP..

Weird Weird Weird...

 

[biolabetty]

When the Big Thunder Ranch area is open, you can go pet the goats. I've never seen any other animal in the petting area other than the goats. They let you look at the reindeer at Christmas, and you can see a horse sometimes, but they won't let you near them.

 

[Cloei_13]

Hi,

I have never heard of this story before, but we were in Disneyland on September 29, 2006 and did see what may be this dog in the Big Thunder Ranch area. My daughters were all over petting this dog and he was being walked around on a leash by a Cast Member, near the petting zoo. I recall the CM mentioning that he was from a shelter and to be careful around the dog as he was new to Disneyland. The name Hemmingway does ring a bell, but I do not know for sure. I do not recall this dog being in parades or around during the fireworks, he was just being walked around where the kids were decorating trick-or-treat paper bags and the pumpkin carving station.

I do not know how to post photos on here, but I put the link to my facebook photos (you do not need to be a member of facebook to view them).

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158002&l=3fd6e&id=878810622

 

[Gisele]

Why is it that we are hearing about this alleged canine incident now? when it allegedly occurred back in 2006? I personally have never seen a dog in Dl. unless it is a guide dog, or the like.

Thunder Ranch does have a petting zoo, I went to visit it last month, and I was having a fine time, petting a plethora of goats, chiefly Jane and Wendy, and a very large sheep whose name is George, they were all very tame, and not a wild one in the bunch, also at the time was a beautiful young bull black, cannot remember the breed right off, he you cannot pet, and believe me, I have some experience with bulls, even the friendly ones, can become a bit perturbed by people in their facial, or even just being around them, I have a story that goes with that statement, actually more than one, for I love animals, especially horses, and have spent countless hours, and many years with and around horses, and other animals as well. There was also a very pretty cow, cannot remember her name right off, and the bull, (no, they are not kept in the same pen! ) if I am remembering his name correctly, is Fernando, sorry bull, if I remembered incorrectly, am quite sure that is his name. The cow at the time, was not interested in being pet, but that is o.k. that is the way cows are anyway, they are like sheep, being sheepish, in nature. Cows are interesting that way, for they can follow you in a pasture, but unless you are the one that feeds them, as soon as you try to pet them, forget it, they back up, and leave. Allot of it has to do with the kind of cows that they are, being not the breed, but rather if they are not handled like a pet, on a regular basis, they are a tad bit wild, but those that are worked with like a pet, are especially nice to be around, for they do not act like you are some alien.

 

[disney-inspired]

Why did they wait 2 years to file a lawsuit?

That sounds somewhat suspicious.

 

[disney-inspired]

Hi,

I have never heard of this story before, but we were in Disneyland on September 29, 2006 and did see what may be this dog in the Big Thunder Ranch area. My daughters were all over petting this dog and he was being walked around on a leash by a Cast Member, near the petting zoo. I recall the CM mentioning that he was from a shelter and to be careful around the dog as he was new to Disneyland. The name Hemmingway does ring a bell, but I do not know for sure. I do not recall this dog being in parades or around during the fireworks, he was just being walked around where the kids were decorating trick-or-treat paper bags and the pumpkin carving station.

I do not know how to post photos on here, but I put the link to my facebook photos (you do not need to be a member of facebook to view them).

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158002&l=3fd6e&id=878810622

Interesting how they said the girl just went in to say goodbye and it just bit her in the face. Look at the picture, at least five children are petting it.

I have a feeling these kids were teasing the dog, but it was a dumb decision on Disney's part to bring it in the first place.

be careful, if that family finds your pictures, they might want to use them in court to identify "hemmingway"

 

[Gisele]

Stupid people that tease nice animals, deserve to be bitten or kicked!

 

[disney-inspired]

Stupid people that tease nice animals, deserve to be bitten or kicked!

Surprisingly, I'm siding with the family on this one. That little girl was 2 years old. I don't blame her mother for letting her child pet the dog. After all this IS Disneyland, I could understand her not seeing any danger in it.

I think Disney was extremely stupid for bringing this dog in.

 

[bumbershoot]

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158002&l=3fd6e&id=878810622

omg that dog's ears are scaring me even though it's been 2 years since the pic was taken.

Interesting to have such confirmation!


As for the late lawsuit, I would imagine that Disney was taking care of reasonable bills out of the kindness of their hearts (it's pretty obvious they got the dog away from people!), but perhaps now the family has decided that they should be paid for the girl's fear? (Or maybe her costs have gone over what Disney wanted to pay?)

Hey, does the possible fear thing mean I could sue my DAD? My son was totally fine with dogs until he saw one of my dad's abused golden retrievers (and yes, he's the one that has abused them but not necessarily in a way I could call the authorities about) mouth my arm while I was trying to get out of the house to the gate (I grew up with malamutes and our last one was nutso and not trained b/c of my stepdad, so I know how to deal with a "normally" mouthy dog). He thought Shiloh had bitten me and ever since then, he's scared of bigger dogs and is jumpy about small ones. So that's it, I'm suing my dad.

 

[disney-inspired]

but perhaps now the family has decided that they should be paid for the girl's fear? (Or maybe her costs have gone over what Disney wanted to pay?)

Hey, does the possible fear thing mean I could sue my DAD? My son was totally fine with dogs until he saw one of my dad's abused golden retrievers (and yes, he's the one that has abused them but not necessarily in a way I could call the authorities about) mouth my arm while I was trying to get out of the house to the gate (I grew up with malamutes and our last one was nutso and not trained b/c of my stepdad, so I know how to deal with a "normally" mouthy dog). He thought Shiloh had bitten me and ever since then, he's scared of bigger dogs and is jumpy about small ones. So that's it, I'm suing my dad.

yeah, the whole "intentional infliction of emotional distress" is reaching. Yeah, you got scared but it isn't something that would cause a person to be sent to therapy.

If it was the case, I'm suing the LA County animal shelter. The dog I adopted from there attacked my puppy and my dad. I'm still afraid of bigger dogs now but I'm not going to sue anyone over it.

 

[perlster]

Hi,

I have never heard of this story before, but we were in Disneyland on September 29, 2006 and did see what may be this dog in the Big Thunder Ranch area.

I do not know how to post photos on here, but I put the link to my facebook photos (you do not need to be a member of facebook to view them).

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158002&l=3fd6e&id=878810622

Thanks for that link. A lot of people needed to see that - although most are on another Disney board. These people were denying that any aspect of the complaint could be valid, including that there was never any dog at the ranch. They are so Disney-obsessed that they can't fathom anything negative about Disney being trure.

 

[perlster]

As for the late lawsuit, I would imagine that Disney was taking care of reasonable bills out of the kindness of their hearts .

You have got to be kidding!

Under California law, the party responsible for the dog is automatically 100% liable for any damages caused by an attack. This is not limited to physical injuries.