Pets are often considered family members. When someone disturbs or frightens them unnecessarily, it can trigger an instinctive protective response.
Shannon framed the situation not as playful interaction, but as intentional annoyance directed at an animal that was “minding his own business.”
Supporters of Shannon argued that her response was proportionate. They emphasized that water is not harmful in itself and that she mirrored the child’s action rather than escalating it.
In their view, the response was immediate, harmless, and educational—a real-world example of cause and effect.
