Probe Continues Into Baby's Death

There are new details on how police are investigating the death of Zane Earles.  The News On 6's Emory Bryan reports he's the little boy who died Monday after he was bitten multiple times by a small dog.

Tulsa Police Child Crisis detectives are handling the case and while they're waiting on a report from the medical examiner, they are done with the examination of the dog that was involved.  That part of the case, regarding the handling of the dog, has attracted a lot of interest.

Tulsa Police continue to investigate the death of a two-month-old little boy who they say was killed by a family pet, a black lab puppy.

As word of the case has spread, hundreds of people have expressed sympathy to the family on-line, while at the same time questioning why the dog involved was immediately euthanized.

"The lab would not have been available for adoption considering the circumstances and the decision to euthanize was made immediately," said Jean Letcher with the Animal Welfare Shelter.

The policy at the shelter comes from a city ordinance which requires any animal that bites a person to be euthanized.

In this case, the need to examine the stomach contents and check the brain for rabies left no other choice.

"We know the animal involved did bite the child and we could not take a chance of that happening in another family.  No matter how calm or sweet the animal appeared, we just couldn't take that chance," said Jean Letcher with the Animal Welfare Shelter.

While some have questioned why the lab puppy in this case was euthanized, the reality is that many more labs come through the shelter and are euthanized because no one stepped forward to adopt them.

Many people have questioned whether a puppy not much older than the one involved could cause injuries that would kill a child.  Tulsa Police say the examination left no doubt that the child's severe injuries involved the black lab that was euthanized.

"We are certain the lab was involved," said Jean Letcher with the Animal Welfare Shelter.

Services for the little boy who was killed are being handled by a south Tulsa funeral home, and they will be private, for family only.

Related Story:

07/28/2008  Puppy Kills Baby Boy