Thursday, May 23, 2013
Maddox Derkosh, 2 years old, fell into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last year and was killed.
The parents of 2-year-old Maddox, who was killed after falling into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last fall, have filed a lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, according to WPXI. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Jason and Elizabeth Derkosh of Whitehall Borough claims that zoo officials had ample warning that parents routinely lift their children onto a rail overlooking the exhibit so that the children can see the dogs better, according to the report. The lawsuit states that zoos across the country have more and better safeguards in place to keep children safe. The family is asking for damages in excess of $50,000 on each of six counts, citing wrongful death, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress, among …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Two-year-old Maddox Derkosh died after falling from the platform into the painted dogs exhibit.
The Pittsburgh Zoo observation platform from which 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh fell into an African painted dogs exhibit will be removed, according to a spokesman at the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office. "In an effort to facilitate the ongoing review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Maddox Derkosh at the Pittsburgh Zoo, District Attorney (Stephen A.) Zappala (Jr.) met this morning with Dr. Barbara Baker and the City of Pittsburgh police officers who responded to the scene," said spokesman Mike Manko in an email to reporters. Maddox, of Whitehall Borough, was visiting the zoo with his mother on Nov. 4 when he fell from the top of a platform railing into the dogs exhibit and was mauled to death. "The meeting, which …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The dogs mauled a 2-year-old visitor to death in early November.
Less than a month after 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall Borough was mauled to death at the Pittsburgh Zoo, news has surfaced that the zoo's 2013 calendar features African painted dogs, the same species that killed the boy in early November. Zoo officials say that the calendars, featuring the dogs in its March spreads, had already been printed and made available to patrons before Derkosh's death, according to Huffington Post. Maddox was visiting the zoo with his mother on Nov. 4 when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of the dogs' exhibit, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Pittsburgh police said that the child lost his balance after his mother lifted him in a …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Trucks can be donated now at Slater Funeral Service in Scott Township OR at Maddox Derkosh's funeral Mass Friday at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon.
The Derkosh family of Whitehall Borough is asking that interested parties, in lieu of flowers, give toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in the memory of 2-year old Maddox Derkosh, who died tragically at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday. The trucks are being accepted now at William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott Township. They will also be accepted at Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon at 10 a.m. on Friday. Friends will be welcomed for a viewing of Maddox at Slater Funeral Service from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, according to Maddox's obituary on the funeral service's website. Trucks can also be dropped off at the Whitehall Police Department lobby throughout Wednesday. Maddox was …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium CEO Barbara Baker said the African painted dogs will remain in quarantine for 30 days. The zoo will reopen Tuesday.
The African painted dog that mauled a 2-year-old visitor to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium will not be euthanized, but all of the zoo’s African painted dogs would remain in quarantine for 30 days, zoo CEO Barbara Baker announced Monday. The boy, who neighbors told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review was Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall, was with his 34-year-old mother, when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside the pit in the dogs' exhibit, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Police said the child lost his balance after his mother lifted him in a standing position onto the 4-foot-high wooden railing that overlooks the enclosure. "The child was caught by the safety netting below the railing," …
40.487113
-79.920468
1 Wild Place, Pittsburgh, PA
/articles/zoo-tragedy-officials
/locations/8106921
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Two Patch readers explain what they saw when African Painted Dogs attacked a 2-year-old boy who fell into their exhibit Sunday at the animal attraction in Highland Park.
As Pittsburgh police continue their investigation into the death of a 2-year-old boy who was mauled after falling into the African Painted Dogs exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, witness are telling their accounts. Two of them commented to Patch. A person using the name Dreamweaver wrote: "I was at the zoo today in the restaurant right outside of the Painted dog exhibit and witnessed it...very scary. We have often thought just how unsafe that exhibit is, nothing to stop anyone from falling. Nothing I want to witness again." Kathleen Lucas was another witness who shared her comments on Patch. "I was there, at the exhibit. It did not take several minutes for the dogs to attack, they did so immediately. It was a horrible scene …
The 2-year-old fell into the painted dogs exhibit and was mauled, according to Pittsburgh Police.
UPDATED: A 2-year-old child was killed at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Sunday morning after being mauled when he fell into the African painted dogs exhibit. "It is with heavy hearts we report that a tragic accident occurred this morning at 11:45 a.m. when a young child fell into the African painted dog exhibit area and was killed," the zoo stated on its Facebook page. "The accident is under investigation by both the Zoo and the Pittsburgh Police Department. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will remain closed until further notice." The child was with his 34-year-old mother, of Pleasant Hills, at the African painted dogs exhibit when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside the pit area, according to a statement …
40.47982
-79.919649
1 Hill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA
/articles/child-killed-in-pittsburgh-zoo-exhibit-87ddb402
/locations/8103414
The Pleasant Hills boy was being balanced on a railing by his mother when he fell 11 feet into the African painted dogs exhibit.
UPDATED: A 2-year-old child was killed at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Sunday morning after being mauled when he fell into the African painted dogs exhibit. "It is with heavy hearts we report that a tragic accident occurred this morning at 11:45 a.m. when a young child fell into the African painted dog exhibit area and was killed," the zoo stated on its Facebook page. "The accident is under investigation by both the Zoo and the Pittsburgh Police Department. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will remain closed until further notice." The child was with his 34-year-old mother, of Pleasant Hills, at the African painted dogs exhibit when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside the pit area, according to a statement …
lori di battista
12:34 am on Friday, May 24, 2013
I don't think the zoo holds any responsibilty in this. I think the mother should stop looking for a reason to blame others. It's bad enough to lose a child, but to drag the family through this kind of mess is just wrong. more ›