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Pittsburgh Zoo

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Pittsburgh Zoo Will Remove African Painted Dogs Observation Platform

The district attorney's office said the observation platform of the exhibit will be removed out of respect for the Derkosh family, whose 2-year-old son was mauled to death by the African painted dogs.

The observation platform at the Pittsburgh Zoo from which 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall 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) Zappala 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 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 dogs exhibit and was mauled to death. "The meeting, …

ella

11:57 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I'm a bit disappointed by this decision, though I respect that it was not easy for anyone to make. I don't cast a blame on the Derkosh family or on the zoo; this was a very tragic accident. However, I think it would be wrong to rob other people of the privilege to see these majestic animals in one of the few places in the United States where they are kept. I sincerely hope that a safe visitor …   more ›

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pittsburgh Zoo's 2013 Calendar Features Painted Dogs That Mauled Child

The African painted dogs mauled a 2-year-old Whitehall boy to death in early November.

Less than a month after 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall 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 The 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 …

PK

11:48 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

No..these are wild animals acting naturally... it is tragic....but parents shouldn't be lifting kids above barriers meant to keep them safe!   more ›

Monday, November 12, 2012

Slater Funeral Home Still Accepting Toy Trucks for Mauling Victim

William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott will continue for the immediate future to collect toy construction trucks in memory of Maddox Derkosh, who was mauled to death at the Pittsburgh Zoo earlier this month.

William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott Township, the place where friends and family visited 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh on Thursday after his tragic death at the Pittsburgh Zoo, will continue for the immediate future to collect toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in Maddox's memory. Original plans were to collect trucks at Slater Funeral Service through Thursday, but a representative of the funeral service said on Friday that the toys collection will continue "indefinitely." The same can be said for the Whitehall Police Department, which serves the Derkosh family's home municipality of Whitehall Borough. A representative of the police station said that trucks can continue to be dropped off at the …

Valerie Radtke

10:58 am on Monday, November 12, 2012

such a nice thing to do in memory of Maddox   more ›

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Family of Mauling Victim Asks for Toy Trucks to be Donated to Charity

The family of 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh is asking people to donate toy construction trucks to a children's charity in memory of their son, who died tragically at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday. Trucks can be donated at Slater Funeral Service in Scott.

The Derkosh family of Whitehall is asking that interested parties, in lieu of flowers, donate toy construction trucks to a children's Christmas charity in memory of 2-year old Maddox Derkosh, who died tragically at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday. The trucks are being accepted right now at William Slater II Funeral Service on Greentree Road 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. Maddox was visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo with his mother when he fell from the top of a platform railing to …

Mike Jones

10:42 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

This photo by WTAE-TV's Kelly Brennan of 1,500 toy trucks around the funeral home is amazing. The thoughtfulness of this family during their unbelievable grief is amazing... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1297730&l=d7621ae91b&id=435873183139967   more ›

Monday, November 5, 2012

UPDATE: Child Killed at Pittsburgh Zoo Exhibit

Here's an update on the 2-year-old boy from Whitehall who fell into the painted dogs exhibit at the zoo and was mauled.

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 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 from the Pittsburgh Bureau of…

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m

12:03 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012

The kid was still alive , local kdka radio with marty griffin had a witness that said the 2 year old was in a bracing position with his arms over his head , no one came for quite a while and when someone did come it was a female veternarian with cruches hoping on one foot with a tranqulizer gun having a hard time loading with no tranquilizer and then fired in the air , while the kid was still …   more ›

Friday, September 7, 2012

RADical Days Offer Free Admission to Pittsburgh Attractions

Find out which Pittsburgh area museums, galleries, parks and other cultural venues are offering free admission on specific days in September and October.

Want to take advantage to visit some of Pittsburgh's greatest assets—for free? Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) is offering the chance to do just that during 2012 RADical Days, which runs from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13. Here are some of the featured places around Pittsburgh you can experience for free on specific dates. Participating assets are not offering free admission every day and guests are advised to check listings for each asset’s free date, times and limitations. Admissions are first-come, first-served. Some admissions require advance reservations. Parking fees might be charged at venue lots. We have listed many of the attractions and events below... Sept. 20: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland Sept. 23: The …

Mike Jones

3:00 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012

I've never been to the Warhol, so I'm also looking forward to going there. But I'm really looking forward to hitting up the Fort Pitt Museum. Love that place.What's your favorite museum on the list?   more ›

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