Pit Bull Babysits Toddler While Man Allegedly Goes Drinking

Palm Coast, FL — In a weird and potentially dangerous “home alone” incident, police arrested a man for allegedly leaving a 10-month-old baby in the care of a pit bull while he went out to a bar for a few cold ones.

The suspect, identified by NBC Miami and other news outlets as James R. Irvine, 41, was apparently charged with one count of child neglect for the incident that occurred on Saturday. He was released on a $1,500 bond.

WESH Orlando reports that he was supposed to be watching the child for his girlfriend while she was working:

“According to investigators, the baby’s mother left Irvine in charge while she went to work. The woman told investigators when she got home, Irvine was trying to get in the garage door and admitted he’d been at a bar.

“Officials said Irvine told the baby’s mother the baby wasn’t alone, because the pit bull was watching him.”

NBC adds that “a bar employee verified that she had served [Irvine] five Coronas and one Bud Light.”

When the mom arrived at the resident, “the dog was sitting outside the room, the door was shut and the baby was crying,” according to WESH.

Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the allegations.

The man in this case is just a suspect at this point, but do you think the mother involved should seriously consider making other childcare arrangements in the future? Do you believe that leaving a dog — especially a pit bull — to watch a baby is in any way equivalent to the child not being left alone?

[generic pit bull image credit: Dante Alighieri]