Dogs that killed boy featured in zoo's calendar

PITTSBURGH The Pittsburgh Zoo is featuring the animals that fatally mauled a 2-year-old boy earlier this year on the March page of its 2013 calendar.

Zoo officials say the calendars featuring pictures of African painted dogs had already been printed and made available to patrons before the Nov. 4 death of Maddox Derkosh.

The boy died after falling off a railing and into the animals' habitat, where he was attacked.

Zoo President Barbara Baker tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that officials considered scrapping the calendars after the boy's death but they'd already been on sale beforehand.

Baker says the dogs are an endangered species and the zoo is responsible for helping protect their survival.

The exhibit remains closed.

Speaking to CBS Pittsburgh, Martin Noone, the boy's grandfather, explained how the family is coping with the tragedy.

"If I see a picture, if I read something, those are the hardest time," he said. "I think as a grandparent, it's just moments. I don't even know what it's like for Elizabeth and Jason."

"The one thing I want the people to know - that Elizabeth and Jason were fantastic parents. They were fantastic parents, every day they loved that boy. ... I don't want my daughter to blame herself," said Noone. "I don't want my daughter to feel she let him down. Those are my two biggest fears."