Maddox Lamar Derkosh was a two-year-old American boy killed in an animal attack after falling into an African wild dog exhibit at The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on November 4, 2012.
When the family reached the painted dogs enclosure, Elizabeth wandered past the warning signs with Maddox and lifted him atop the rail of the viewing deck.
It was, according to zoo staffer Lou Nene, not uncommon to see parents hoisting their kids up onto this exhibit's railing to view the dogs, despite numerous warnings from staff about such behaviour.
A catch-all safety net below was only intended to rescue small objects like cell phones, cameras and sunglasses dropped by visitors, and was not sufficient to sustain the weight of a human child.
[7][8] Maddox slipped from Elizabeth's grasp, bounced off the safety net, and landed on the ground of the enclosure several feet below, where the dog pack immediately proceeded to attack him.
Eventually it was revealed that Maddox had still been fully conscious after the fall, and that the dogs had torn his body apart while mauling and biting him, after which the boy was finally approached when it was safe to attempt a rescue.
[12][13] Maddox's killing triggered a lengthy debate between the Derkosh family and The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, which escalated into lawsuits and court filings.
Elizabeth, in turn, argued that the zoo was irresponsible in the design and operation of the enclosure and viewing deck; her lawsuit, which sought damages of US$300,000, brought to light that there was only an "ill-fitting window" to prevent visitors from getting too close to the railing, and that the painted dogs were roaming loose.
[14] In response to the allegations made by Lou Nene, which became integral to Elizabeth's lawsuit, the zoo denied claims that officials had received any warning from staff that parents regularly lifted their children onto the unprotected area overlooking the wild dogs exhibit and did nothing to protect them.
At no time have any concerns or violations regarding this exhibit been identified by the regulatory agency," said Public and Media Relations Manager Tracy Gray in defence of the zoo.
Unfortunately, the painted dogs would have been a continuous reminder of the accident and would distract from educational opportunities to learn about this wonderful and endangered species," stated The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.