Did Puppy Bite off Baby's Toes

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:12 am

BOSSIER CITY, La. — A pit bull puppy chewed off four of a baby girl's toes while the child's parents slept, police here said Monday. The parents were booked on charges of child desertion and criminal negligence and were being held in the Bossier Parish Jail pending an initial court appearance.

Police said the parents were sleeping on a mattress in the living room of their residence and the month-old girl was in an infant seat beside them when the puppy began chewing on their baby's toes.

Mary Shannon Hansche, 22, and Christopher Wayne Hansche, 26, told police they woke up to the sound of the baby crying, found her mangled foot and took her to the hospital about 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

"They did not see the dog injuring the child," police spokesman Mark Natale said.

The girl underwent surgery Sunday at Sutton's Children's Hospital in Shreveport. There was no way to reattach the child's toes, Natale said Monday.

The puppy was 6 weeks old and had no record of receiving its shots and will be quarantined for 10 days to check for rabies. Natale said he did not know what the puppy's fate would be after that.

"The puppy itself was just several weeks old! I mean this was essentially a puppy," Natale said.

"This puppy might have been trying to nurse on the toes of this baby," veterinarian Michael Dale speculated. "I know that sounds a little far fetched, but that's the first thing that comes to my mind."

Teresa Miller, who sold the puppy to the Hansches, was skeptical the dog did it. "He didn't chew on anything while he was with me. Out of all of them (in the litter), he was the least chewy."

Another veterinarian, Dr. Valri Brown, said if the puppy chewed off the infant's toes, it would not have happened quickly. "It would have to be a period of time — maybe at least an hour," she said.

Meanwhile, the puppy's been quarantined at Bossier City's animal control office for the next 10 days to check for rabies. Natale said he did not know what the puppy's fate would be after that.

When she is released from the hospital, the child will be placed in a foster home until the case against her parents is settled, officials said.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:21 am

I thinkt he Puppy was indeed nursing or thought she was.

How awful the parents are to blame for letting the puppy roam about at night in the house and in the the babies room. You would think the baby would have been screaming bloody loud.. TRAGIC

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:22 am

Of course it's a pit.

I saw the photo of the little guy. I know puppy teeth are sharp but I gotta wonder how long one can sleep through a baby's cry when they're right next to it? That dog must have had ample time to chew off four toes. The baby would have alerted the parents immediately I would think.

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:24 am

CARLA;486119 wrote: I thinkt he Puppy was indeed nursing or thought she was.

How awful the parents are to blame for letting the puppy roam about at night in the house and in the the babies room. You would think the baby would have been screaming bloody loud.. TRAGIC
Those parents must have been really "sound sleepers" for "both" of them to not hear the baby crying! :wah:

WonderWendy3 · Post by **WonderWendy3** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:42 am

Something doesn't jive with me about this, while tears are forming of course (such a sappy girl I am).

Have they made sure the teeth marks match, what if a rat or some other type of creature got in there...I know alittle far fetched, just hard for me to believe that even pit puppy teeth are that sharp, of course it's not the teeth, jaw muscle is what gives them power, but wouldn't think that young of a pup would have it...who knows...

Just really sad...so sorry for the baby and the pup and the sound sleepers!! (I was a very light sleeper when babies were little-that's just me)

Mystery · Post by **Mystery** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:52 am

I can't imagine that baby not crying loud enough to wake up those parents. Something's very strange about this story.

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:07 am

Mystery;486151 wrote: I can't imagine that baby not crying loud enough to wake up those parents. Something's very strange about this story.
Maybe they were on heavy meds! :wah:

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:16 pm

This is awful! Just awful!

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:51 pm

They must have been passed out after a night of heavy drinking...

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:26 pm

Did Puppy Bite off Baby's Toes

I dont know. I dont even have a puppy.

Or a baby.