Puppy flushed down toliet!

Wow....

 Glad the pup is okay, but... where were the little boy's parents when all this happened is what I want to know!! ?

Well, yeah, that was my first thought.  Where the heck were mum and dad??

That house looks a lot like David's was in England and his full bath was literally about 2 1/2 feet from the kitchen.  She likely could have been a few feet away and not known what he was doing.  But if this pup were only a WEEK old, what I'm wondering is where is the PUP's mummy!! 

And my second thot is, can you just imagine this poor dog's reaction the next time someone either flushes a toilet or tries to bathe him??? phew.

My first thought was 'where is the pup's mom?' as well. I didn't see it anywhere in the video clip nor did they mention anything about reuniting the poor thing with it's 'family.' I'm glad the little guy is okay though, what an ordeal!

I was so mad when I saw that story....  I get so sick of people making excuses for young children just because "they're kids, and kids do stuff like that."  A four year old child shouldn't even be around a one week old puppy unsupervised!  He could HURT a puppy that young without even meaning to.

And what is this rubbish about giving a one week old puppy a bath because it was muddy?  How does a one week old get muddy?  They lay in a pile by their mother and don't move all that much.  If it got dirty it's because the boy probably chucked it in the dirt.

Kids at that age tend to enjoy experimenting to see what sorts of things they can flush down the toilet.  I don't believe this was an "accident" at all -- I believe he simply wanted to see if the puppy would fit.

Obviously the parents are just as much to blame if not more so -- but seriously, I can't believe how society just says, "oh well, he's just a boy and he said he's sorry."  WATCH YOUR CHILDREN, people.

I about cried when I saw the video of the puppy laying helplessly on his back in the drain pipe.

KarissaKS

And what is this rubbish about giving a one week old puppy a bath because it was muddy?  How does a one week old get muddy?  They lay in a pile by their mother and don't move all that much.  If it got dirty it's because the boy probably chucked it in the dirt.

You obviously haven't been around one week old puppies.  They do get dirty, it's called poop.  With a litter of pups, there is a lot of poop.  When my girl had her litter, rinsing of puppies under the sink faucet happened more than once.  A child may have a hard time reaching the sink, but they can certainly reach the toilet easier.  Sounds very plausible to me. 

I too wondered about the momma and the littermates......

IMHO and in my experience, momma cleans the poop off the bottom of the whelping box AND off the pups.  I've never had one that didn't.  At one week old, I wouldn't be running water on them.  At a couple of weeks, I have taken a warm damp face cloth and used THAT, but only with a warm from the dryer fluffy towel to hold them in and warm them with.

Sunshinegirl

I was fuming when I saw this story.... it reinforces my feeling that most households w/small children should not have pets - because, in large part, there is a lack of supervision, especially when it comes to kids and pets. I know this is not a popular opinion, but it's how I feel. I've just heard too many stories like this one. Yes, there are some exceptions, but I won't change my mind. Those animals should have been taken from them.

I really don't want to start an argument, and I was pretty upset and angry about that poor puppy too when I watched the video! But when you say most households with small children shouldn't have pets, my question to you is, what about the households that had pets first and then had children of their own, should they give up their pets? When my husband and I decide to have children, we will teach them when they are old enough how to be polite and respect the dogs, and vice versa. No pulling Teddi's tail, no grabbing Maggie's ears really hard, etc. I also understand that not every household teaches their children the proper way to pet or play with an animal, but if most households gave up their pets when they started a family, there would be so many more pets in shelters.

The week-old cocker spaniel's young owner, Daniel Blair, thought the puppy needed a wash after it got muddy playing in the garden, so he put it in the toilet and flushed it.

WHAT was a 1 week old puppy doing "playing in the garden"?  This stinks.

Sunshinegirl

I was fuming when I saw this story.... it reinforces my feeling that most households w/small children should not have pets - because, in large part, there is a lack of supervision, especially when it comes to kids and pets. I know this is not a popular opinion, but it's how I feel. I've just heard too many stories like this one. Yes, there are some exceptions, but I won't change my mind. Those animals should have been taken from them.

Wow, way to make friends and influence people!  Watch it - those bristles are getting in my eye and you're getting tar in my hair.

*I* have pets and a 2 year old son.  Who do you suggest I re-home?  Perhaps you would like to try to come and take MY animals off me?  Go right ahead.  I wish you luck.

Hmmmm, I missed the part about the puppy playing in the yard.  Based on that, yeah, I agree the animals should be taken away from these people.  That's freaking criminal.  That pups EYES weren't even open yet.  Idiots.

I am very careful when I place pups, and I have to go with my gut when it comes to families with small children.  Some...ain't no way, but others, if I feel that the parents are hearing me and taking to heart what I say, then I'll give it further thought.

I don't think we can make a blanket statement that people with children don't deserve pets.  Gosh, I always had animals when my kids were small, and since.  I never have an animal injured, frightened or flushed by a child because I taught my children to  that the animals deserved to be treated with respect.  As I'm sure the majority of parents do also.  But, shoot, some people ought not to be allowed to have kids either.....

I think that the bottom line here is that we all are entitled to our opinions as long as they are expressed without malice.  And hopefully we can all respect each others right to that opinion even if we think that person is full of it. And I am absolutely not saying that anyone isn't doing just that.

I certainly do not think that couples who have pets prior to or after having children should get rid of their pets, unfortunately it happens all the time. It's sad and horrible, BUT if it's in the animals best interest, then so be it. I think that those who bring a child into a household with pets have a responsibility to make a commitment to educating their child on how to care for their pets, do's and don'ts and so on..... As a mother of two grown daughters, I can say from experience that it is difficult to be in the same room as your growing kids 100% of the time - it just doesn't happen and kids will be kids. You hope that what you've taught them is enough to guarantee the pets safety, but it's not always the case.

I took my dogs w/me to a friend's house for a cook out a few weeks ago and his sister's 1.5 year old toddled up to Layla and slapped her right in the face!!!! The kid's mom was sitting right there and didn't say a flippin' word!!!! I said nicely, "please don't hit the doggie, it hurts her." Then we got up and moved away. Fortunately Layla didn't bite him for obvious reasons. Needless to say, I was pissed that the mom didn't say or do anything - she saw the whole thing and just sat there!! In fact, I think she was mad that I said something to her kid........ I do know people who have kids and pets, some have issues a few don't. I would fathom to guess that idoggers here would (and do) do just fine - I believe that we are all supremely dedicated to our pets and we are the exception. My friends think it's crazy that I cook for my dogs........... nuff said.........

 I agree that THIS family should really not have animals.  There are SOME families who have young kids and should not have animals, but I do not think they are in the majority.  I disagree with such a broad, sweeping statement as MOST families with young kids should not have pets.  To begin with, that denies those children the advantages that living with a pet - particularly a dog or cat - can bring.  Look up the health benefits for yourself if you don't believe me.

Now I will also agree that MANY families are unrealistic when it comes to what is OK behaviour from child toward a pet and what is reasonable for the pet to put up with.  That doesn't mean that they should not have any animals.  Most are open to education.  I CRINGE when I hear "Oh, Bess is truly wonderful with the kids, they pull her about and climb all over her and she just puts up with it.  They can do anything to her."  I respond with - "oh dear, poor Bess!" and "the moment they try that on any other dog they will get bitten, and probably in the face".  Such an approach is much more realistic than expecting or hoping or expressing the wish that these people had their animals taken from them.  All that is going to do is get hackles up, seeing as there are so MANY people who have both kids and pets.  Also, as a poster above pointed out - where would all those homeless animals go?!