Re: that dog attack in Houston:

'The boy's mother heard her son's screams and ran outside to find him being attacked by the pit bulls...

'...Pedro was playing with his 2-year-old brother in a cul-de-sac near their home... '

Irresponsible dog owners + irresponsible parents ... what a great recipe for disaster.

This woman didn't have a clue as to where her two little kids were, or what they were doing, or what dangers they were facing. They could just as easily have been picked up by child molesters or run over by a car. If the kids hadn't screamed, how long would it have taken her to realize that something was wrong? Hours?

If parents want to reduce the chances of their kids (esp toddlers) drowning, getting kidnapped, injured or killed, then they're going to have to take some responsibility for them, aren't they?

The victims of most dog attacks are children 10 and younger, with 2 years of age being the optimum (!) age for dog attacks. Most of the victims have been left alone with the dogs.

When something happens to a child, the one sentence that you hear over and over is: "But I just left him alone for a couple of seconds". And it's a lie. The number of parents who have no idea where their little kids are at any given moment is astounding.

If parents don't want their child attacked by dogs, try this:

1 - Don't leave your child alone with your dog, the neighbor's dog, or ANY dog.

2 - Teach your children not to abuse dogs. I wonder how many dog bites started with a pulled ear or tail?

3 - Teach your children not to run up to any dog, strange dogs especially. I am constantly amazed how often the idiot parents allow and encourage this.

4 - Got a dog? Get it spayed or neutered. Most dogs who attack are unneutered males. Don't want to neuter the poor little guy? Try growing a brain -- no one is suggesting YOU get neutered.

5 - Know your local dangers. Got neighbors with pits or rotties or other aggressive dogs? Tell them that the first time their dog gets into your yard, he's dead, and all the crying and whining isn't going to bring him back.

6 - Keep your children confined to your property. Got a fence? Use it and childproof the gates. Don't have one? Install one. Can't install one due to covenants? Move.

7 - Know where your kids are... ALL the time. They've learned how to open the front door? Install a chain lock and use it religiously.

8 - Live in CA or TX? They're the #1 and #2 dog attack/fatality states in the entire country, and have been since 1965.

Most dog attacks of children are preventable... their parents just didn't care enough to do the job.

Sue