Suburban firefighter mauled to death by mastiff had just taken in the dog (Illinois)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Nov 15, 2012 | Stephanie Lulay

[KeyLargo]

Suburban firefighter mauled to death by mastiff had just taken in the dog

By Stephanie Lulay

slulay@stmedianetwork.com Last Modified: Nov 15, 2012 02:24AM

A far west suburban firefighter was mauled to death in her home by a 130- to 140-pound dog she and her husband had just taken in to avoid it being put down, authorities said.

Dawn Brown, a firefighter with the Bristol-Kendall Fire Department and a paramedic with the Big Rock Fire District, was found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs in her Big Rock home Monday afternoon.

The Kane County sheriff’s department revealed Tuesday that Brown hadn’t fallen. Her mastiff — one of three dogs in the home — killed her.

After authorities arrived, it took four officers to get the mastiff under control to remove it from the house, Kane County Sheriff’s Lt. Pat Gengler said.

The dog was “all muscle, very intimidating” but had no history of being aggressive, he said.

[KeyLargo]

The couple should have turned the animal over to a professional rescue organization instead of taking it into their home.

Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue http://www.glmr.org/Home.html

[Obadiah]

A terrible tragedy, but things like this happen when your decisions are ruled by your emotions.

[expat1000]

>>he couple should have turned the animal over to a professional rescue organization instead of taking it into their home.

Excellent advice.

I wonder about the dog ‘not having a record of being aggressive’. Then why was it about to be put down? If it was stray or abandoned then how would anyone know the history of the dog, or were they just talking about a short period of time at the firehouse?

[rarestia]

Mastiffs are not aggressive by nature but they are exceptionally protective of their homes and owners.

I had a chunk of flesh taken out of my chest when I was a kid thanks to our Old English Mastiff “Pee Wee” mistaking me for a bad guy.

I forgave him immediately. He knew he’d done wrong and was at my side every day until his death.

[ari-freedom]

They had a pit bull but it was the mastiff that did it.

[ari-freedom]

http://stcharles-il.patch.com/articles/dawn-brown-memorial-set-bristol-kendall-fire-department-dead-firefighter-bull-mastiff

Weekend Memorial Set for Dawn Brown, Firefighter Found Dead in Her Home

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Ditter]

There are 2 of these huge dogs next door to me. I feed them treats through the fence so they will like me. Last time I was over at their house one of them jumped up and kissed me on my face. Scared me half to death but it really was a dog kiss.

[Arm_Bears]

If Ms. Brown couldn’t handle a 130-140 pound dog, she had no business being a firefighter.

[donozark]

I do not disagree with what you say re: mastiffs. The generic term as used by the newspaper. However, depending on the specific type of mastiff, it could in fact have been more aggressive. Take for instance the Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso). A giant dog. 180 pounds sometimes. Descended from ancient Tibet. Used to protect monasteries and monks. Known to engage in combat with boars and bears. Romans used them. Guard dogs and beyond.

If you happen to come across any article more definitive, please give me a heads-up.

[Bigg Red]

Good point!

[rarestia]

Our Old English Mastiff grew to 175 lbs. at one point and was a mountain of a dog. Sweetest thing you’d ever meet though. He used to play with our ferret. Never once hurt her. He knew his limits.

[Tupelo]

Man, talk about an ingrate. A real son of a bitch.

[sheana]

Friends of ours had a mastiff that preferred men to women. Most of her friends were terrified of him. I would walk in their door, grab him by the face, say how ya doin rosie, and give him a big old kiss. He loved me.

[treetopsandroofs]

My first thought as well.

They need to be able to carry people, willing or not.

God help us all in our politically correct stupidity.

[Gargantua]

"Man, talk about an ingrate. A real son of a bitch."

He ain't nothin' but a hound-dog! Said he was "high-class," but that was just a lie...

;-\

[Theoria]

In other news:

Aishat Maksudova said the wolf did not frighten her

Grandma in Russia kills wolf with bare hands and axe

[tflabo]

Up in NH today—was doing my morning walk in a neighborhood where one lawn had a sign up “Firemen for Obama/Biden”. Curious as to how the deceased firefighter voted—FWIW. Can dogs be rabid leftists? eheheheh.

[peeps36]

I've been a Cane Corso owner since 1992 and they are not naturally aggressive. When I bought my first dog there was only a handful of breeders in America. Today there are hundreds of breeders and many are breeding for size and aggression. It's a shame to see such a good breed being ruined by greedy people. A Cane Corso shouldn't weigh more then 120 or 130 pounds and it should be leery of strangers and loyal to its family. They won't hesitate to protect the family but they don't attack for no reason.