There is no ‘justice’ when tragedy strikes

Even young children have a strong sense of justice. When we are small, maybe we think in terms of fair or unfair, rather than just or unjust. But our expectation for a level playing field is part of our makeup as humans from a very young age.

When we come across situations in life that are unfair or unjust, it is part of our nature to work to level those moral playing fields.

Tragedy and justice travel different arcs. Although we may look for justice when tragedy strikes, we seldom see the two together.

Where is the “justice” in a tragedy at a local day care center that claimed the life of a small girl? A police investigation found no wrongdoing on the part of the business involved. We are reminded of this young family as we report on another family struggling with tragedy while seeking justice.

We see the May incident at Apex Kennel owned by Iditarod veteran Jake Berkowitz as a tragedy. We believe both families would undo this tragedy, would make the child whole, would keep a loved dog from being killed or causing injury to another person — if it were with in their power.

But none of us has the power to undo that day in May that left a child seriously injured and a community in shock. What we can do is review this incident to see if there is anything in this experience we can use to prevent another child from being injured in the same way.

Whatever the ultimate fate of the dog, Wizard, we believe that all dogs bite, given the wrong circumstances. We’ve seen the damage one, two or three dogs can do to a grown man when the wrong circumstances occur. Given the strength of dogs’ neck and jaw muscles, it make sense to us that it is children who are most often killed by dogs. Their bodies are less able to sustain the assault. According to a 2007 study by the state of Alaska Epidemiology, there were nine recorded child deaths from dog attacks in Alaska from 1991 to 2002.

Whether it is the owners of dog kennels themselves or the Mat-Su Borough that licenses them to operate, we see a need to make it clear to people — especially parents with small children — that visiting dog lots can be dangerous, and especially so to small children.

We don’t let children around heavy equipment in construction zones or on factory floors. Maybe the same logic is applicable to dog lots. But many of us have dogs that protect our homes and families, dogs we consider family. Perhaps that is why we have been slow to recognize the danger posed by dog lots.

Sled dogs are family to the mushers who train and race them. But they have been trained to work as part of a team for their human master. It is very different than the rules for behavior that you taught your German shepherd; that clumsy ox of a dog that grew up protecting your kids.

Dogs only know what we teach them, but humans have the capacity for critical thinking. A small child suffering grievous injuries while visiting a dog lot is unmistakably tragic.

But if there is any justice here we will come together as a community to put in place rules for ourselves that help protect all children who might visit a dog lot.