Puppy allegedly killed by 3 boys, ages 6 and 8

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tricksterpup

tricksterpup

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From Minneapolis' Star tribune.
Puppy allegedly killed by 3 boys, ages 6 and 8
The dog was beaten to death in North Branch, Minn. Her owners say they plan to take legal action against the children's parents.

Chao Xiong, Star Tribune
The Darwins picked out Bella when she was three days old, making trips up to Askov, Minn., to visit and photograph the puppy they hoped to bring to their home in North Branch.

She arrived April 29, a slightly under 1-pound miniature pinscher that would crawl up into the crook of their necks, curl up and fall asleep.

She quickly became part of the family, but their time together ended June 12 when three neighborhood boys, two 6-year-olds and an 8-year-old, apparently beat her to death. Amy Darwin said it looked like they had used a stick and a rock slightly smaller than a cantaloupe. Bella, who had grown to about 3 pounds, suffered a broken leg and was pronounced brain dead and put on a ventilator that afternoon, Darwin said. The family decided to disconnect the ventilator, and she died about an hour later.

"I was just devastated," Darwin said. "It was awful. And to know that they were 6 and 8, it was just awful. It's scary that they are capable of this."

Bella was normally kept indoors in a kennel when the Darwins left the house, but Monday they decided to tie her in the back yard behind a 5-foot privacy fence, Darwin said.

Piecing events together

The family of four, including 3- and 7-year-old sisters, left for the grocery store about 1:30 p.m. When they returned about two hours later, Bella was lying in her bed unresponsive. Darwin said she picked up Bella's head and it dropped back down. Bella struggled to breathe.

While they waited at the veterinarian's office, Darwin said, they started piecing together what happened. A key piece of evidence: A bicycle glove that belonged to a neighborhood boy was found in their back yard, Darwin said.

The police were called, and the alleged perpetrators were identified. One of the 6-year-old boys went to the Darwins' house that night to apologize. His father, who did not want to be identified, said that he is crushed about what happened and that his son knows that what he did was wrong although he doesn't fully comprehend the impact. The father doesn't dispute what happened but offered his condolences and financial restitution for his son's role.

The other 6-year-old boy's mother, who also did not want to be identified, said her son was there but was not involved in the beating. Both boys' parents said that their children have been grounded.

Case referred to county

Police said they had referred the case to Chisago County Attorney Katherine Johnson, said she could not talk specifically about the case because it involves juveniles. She said the consequences for juveniles can range from counseling to criminal charges.

The Darwins said they have never had problems with the boys before and don't know why their dog was targeted.

The incident has shaken the Darwins so much that they put their house up for sale the day after Bella died, Amy Darwin said. They plan to stay in North Branch.

"We don't want our kids to live down the street from people like that," she said. "They [the boys] need some help."

Family plans legal action

They also plan to take legal action in small claims court or on the TV show "The People's Court." The Darwins contacted the show and have been told there is interest in their case. If nothing else, the boys should get community service, Darwin said.

"She was a big part of our family," she said. "It's a big void."
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Here is a picture of the puppy, when they first got it.
2605689.standalone.jpg
 
I have a Min Pin and I would freak if someone did that to him or one of my cats.... I think kids can be some of the most evil depraved beings out there.... Just look how they pick on a kid they percieve as weaker than them....JMO
 
They need to pursue legal claim against the parents and make sure something is done about these kids. :rant2: They need serious therapy and monitoring. There have been studies where doctors have found a connection that serial killers had been known to torture and kill animals when they were growing up.

6 & 8 yr. old kids can understand what they did. My grandson new about death when he was that age when his pet rabbit died.
 
Unome said:
They need to pursue legal claim against the parents and make sure something is done about these kids. :rant2: They need serious therapy and monitoring. There have been studies where doctors have found a connection that serial killers had been known to torture and kill animals when they were growing up.

6 & 8 yr. old kids can understand what they did. My grandson new about death when he was that age when his pet rabbit died.
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There is a difference between understanding death and comprehending it. They are kids; lets not overreact and start comparing them to serial killers. Legal action shouldn't even be an issue here, what do you hope to accomplish by this? Bringing up criminal charges on a 6 and 8 year old? What will that even do? And what about the parents? Don't you think the shame and embarrassment involved isn't enough, so you have to bring up charges on them? Given parents are responsible for their kids, but some things are just out of your control. I think the real issue here is why the kids did it. Was it just for kicks? Venting frustrations? Maybe the dog was biting at them and they didn't know what else to do (remember they are 6 and 8, they think a lot differently than an adult). The recipe for a serial killer involves more than just killing one animal (I don't know why but that comment just rubbed me the wrong way). If the kids know that they did something wrong, feel bad for it and probably won't do it again. Then really there isn't anything to do.
 
OMFG! What kind of a$$holes would do that!! I have heard about kids killing sharks in aquariums, kids killing ferrets, and now kids killing dogs! It's not the kids fault it's the parents fault. Parents these days seem like they really don't want to teach there kids right from wrong. The parents said the kids will be grounded, if they were my parents I would probably be in jail or something. I hope that family sues them for a LOT of money.
 
msouth468 said:
There is a difference between understanding death and comprehending it.
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I'm sorry to disagree but, if you understand death, you comprehend it...and what what action will bring it about. Those kids are old enough to understand right from wrong and knew what their actions would do. I doubt very much those children have 'learned a lesson' or feel bad other than they got caught and now are suffering though a grounding...which IMO, hardly comes close to a proper punishment. Killing an animal intentionally is NOT a normal thing.
msouth468 said:
And what about the parents? Don't you think the shame and embarrassment involved isn't enough, so you have to bring up charges on them? Given parents are responsible for their kids, but some things are just out of your control.
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Heavens, I think the parents SHOULD be embarrassed! No way should a 6 and 8 year old be 'out of your control' (we are not talking teens here) much less have an opportunity to beat a small puppy to death! I could care less about how embarrassed the parents feel, they are not the issue! I feel for the family who lost a beloved pet...
 
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msouth468 said:
Maybe the dog was biting at them and they didn't know what else to do (remember they are 6 and 8, they think a lot differently than an adult).
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This isnt even an option because they went into the owners back yard and killed the puppy. It's not like the dog was running loose. I do believe there should be legal action taken. Someone should be held responsible. What if it were your dog? How would you react?
 
It's fundamentally the parents' fault. At 6 or 8, yes, you can understand death, and know something is wrong. BUT, and this is a major but, it is not the same as the comprehension you would have if you were 10 or 12, let alone an adult. I know it's a little different and infinitely more serious than killing a dog, but it is this different view of death and morality that led, and still leads, to children being recruited as soldiers, most notably in Africa. Because to them the impact of the killing they carry out is not fully clear. It's like a game.
 
momar said:
I know it's a little different and infinitely more serious than killing a dog, but it is this different view of death and morality that led, and still leads, to children being recruited as soldiers, most notably in Africa. Because to them the impact of the killing they carry out is not fully clear. It's like a game.
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I'm not sure this is a fair comparison; we are talking different environment and social norms*. Furthermore, children understand pain and know what causes it. I think there is a difference to a child beating and intentionally causing pain (like a wimpering or crying puppy) than a child not understanding what a weapon can do…it is not as ‘personal’ and most children don’t understand the danger. But all kids know what it feels like if they get spanked or hit by another child.

*also, most of these children are forced into this life-style, it's not a volunteered thing...*
 
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