AIRDRIE, Alta. – An Alberta couple whose pet husky killed their two-day-old baby says all the dogs in the home went through training and obedience classes.
Rob and Rhonda Fradette say in a news release that they also attended seminars by the Calgary Humane Society, including one on how to bring a new baby into a home with pets.
The baby boy was attacked Feb. 15 at the couple’s house in Airdrie, a bedroom community just north of Calgary.
The Fradettes own several huskies and run a home-based business called Urban Mushers that sells dog-sledding supplies.
They say they have been too busy grieving to discuss whether the dog that attacked their baby should be destroyed.
A court date has been set for March 15 to determine the animal’s fate.
Below is the complete family statement:
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“The Fradette family would like to sincerely thank the Emergency Response unit, EMS, RCMP, Alberta Children’s Hospital staff especially everyone in the intensive care unit, Airdrie Victim Assistance Society, AHS South Mobile Response Team and all those that helped with our son’s care.
We would also like to thank the countless family members, friends, fellow mushers and dog trainers, neighbors, the community of Airdrie and complete strangers who have reached out their arms and shown us love and support during this extremely difficult time.
The death of our son was an unthinkable, tragic accident. We will never know what our family pet was thinking nor will we ever know why she did what she did. We now have to accept what has happened and move forward in our grieving and healing.
Both of us are very experienced regarding the Husky breed and canines in general. Over the years we have been to numerous educational seminars including the Calgary Humane Society’s “Old Pet, New Baby” seminar. All the dogs currently in our family have gone through numerous training classes including obedience classes in multiple levels, rally, tricks, agility and of course have been trained in pulling sports.
We have not yet entered into any discussions regarding the future of our husky, as both of us are still grieving the loss of our newborn son. There is a behavioral assessment still to be done, and a court date set for March 15th, 2012, to determine the fate of the dog. Once the fate of the dog is determined, a further media release will be sent out.
We hope that this message will answer some of the questions the media has asked, and now simply hope for peace to remember our infant son, and to grieve his loss. At this time, we respectfully request privacy, so that we can grieve, heal and come to terms with our loss at this most tragic time. Thank-you for your support.
In memory of Baby Fradette donations can be made directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital http://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/goto/Fradette”
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