Pit Bull Attacks.......Have you Heard???

[Mr. Bootie]

There have been some horrible Pit Bull attacks here in California. I'm wondering if anyone has heard about them? One of the most recent ones involved a young black kid. He had his ears bitten off, and he is in the hospital in Critical condition. I'm not a dog hater, but something has to be done to help stop these attacks. Do we eliminate this breed of dog? How do we stop these attacks? Has anyone heard????

kgboot

 

[Laurel]

The dogs themselves are actually very friendly. It's the asshole owners who beat them into ferociousness that are the problem. They need to start charging the owners with felonies & giving them lots of jail time & fines when their dogs attack & main or kill another. The families of those maimed/killed need to start suing the morons for civil damages. If serious punishment was doled out, people would probably think twice about turning their dogs into "fighters".

 

[Andra_Jenny]

Here here! Agreed Laurel!

I have some friends with many dogs who have a neighbor who raises fighting cocks. The dogs came home with a cock, and they went to the nieghbor to apologize. His reply,

"I don't want none of the slow ones."

 

[willfulbrat]

I hadn't heard of that one, kgboot. But last week my boss was bitten in the face by a pitbull. Lucky for her, he just grazed her nose, instead of taking it off. I am a pet lover -- have 2 dogs and 3 cats -- but I do think that some breeds are too dangerous to own as pets.

I'd rather have a breed eliminated (not by destroying current pets, but perhaps manditory sterilization of all members of the breed) than to have more children suffer such vicious attacks. Although any dog has the potential to bite, Pitbulls do far more than their fair share of the most horrendous attacks.

 

[Andra_Jenny]

Dogs are the product of thier environment. My spouse raised Pit Bulls and yes, they have quirks, yes they need attention, but so do all pets. Too many make the mistake of treating them like a cocker spaniel or a collie. And my dughter's granny has a cocker spaniel that will go after anybody that moves towards my daughter. I can't even spank her at granny's.


Gotta get that dog!

 

[TaffyJ]

I was a vet. assistant for a while...

We saw lots of Pitt Bulls who had gotten into fights with other animals, but never heard of a local case of humans being attacked. I think this breed is naturally prone to attacking other animals, but even the scared and wounded ones never so much as bared their teeth to us and I know they were in pain while we poked and prodded them. Laurel is right. Yes, it's the owner's fault. They should get sued and the animal should be destroyed if it attacks humans, no matter if it is not its fault.

I've seen a LOT more Rotts, Sheperds, Dalmations and Chows try to bite my face off than Pitts, but I know Pitts are bad in their own way, too if not raised correctly. I think it takes a weak pussy of an SOB to train an innocent animal to attack anything. Why get the dog to do it? Be human enough to handle your own confrontations, and have the intellect to do it with civility.

 

[Laurel]

I'd rather have a breed eliminated (not by destroying current pets, but perhaps manditory sterilization of all members of the breed) than to have more children suffer such vicious attacks. Although any dog has the potential to bite, Pitbulls do far more than their fair share of the most horrendous attacks.

True, but I think that's because people raise Pit Bulls as attack dogs - for self-protection or for show or for whatever reason. If you eliminate that breed, people will just find another solidly built dog and do the same thing.

People are the problem. If your animal kills or maims another, you should be punished for the animal's actions, just as if you yourself had committed them.

 

[Andra_Jenny]

My dogs hunt! They bring home game. They are Lab and Dalmation mixes and are almost as feral as my cats. City folks have some misconceptions about dogs and cats when left to thier own devices.

 

[Angel]

People are the problem. If your animal kills or maims another, you should be punished for the animal's actions, just as if you yourself had committed them.

Thank you Laurel.

 

[TaffyJ]

Sorry for soap-boxing...

I just feel strongly about this. It's bad owners who give a breed a bad reputation. As soon as a dog breed gets popular, greedy breeders start cranking out low quality pups just for the money. That usually ruins the breed's temperment. For example, remember how popular Dobermans were about 15 years ago? It was hard to find a well mannered Doberman then. I'm seeing lots of young Dobermans with excellent disposition now that that breed isn't such a cash crop anymore. I expect Rotts will become more even tempered once their popularity cools off too. Only the consciencious breeders will handle them then, mostly. Those who really know what the breed should be like.

 

[Laurel]

Re: Sorry for soap-boxing...

For example, remember how popular Dobermans were about 15 years ago? It was hard to find a well mannered Doberman then. I'm seeing lots of young Dobermans with excellent disposition now that that breed isn't such a cash crop anymore.

That's a perfect example - I forgot about those days! I remember when I was a kid, Dobermans were the "scary" dogs...now I don't even think twice about petting my aunt's big, beautiful red Dobie. It's all breeding and training...

 

[Problem Child]

Here here! Agreed Laurel!

I have some friends with many dogs who have a neighbor who raises fighting cocks. The dogs came home with a cock, and they went to the nieghbor to apologize. His reply,

"I don't want none of the slow ones."

I know how he feels, I've had a few dogs go after my cock before.

Ba-dum!



"Oooh, stop it, stop it, you're hi-jacking a serious thread with all your childish humor!"

 

[Andra_Jenny]

Oh pleeze! lol! I am trying to relax and get into bed and everyone is turning into Letterman (he's still on right? the tv's been off a while now).

 

[Mr. Bootie]

Wow , Laurel posted on my thread!!

Now I think that I've broken thru. I'm also glad to see that the other more experienced lit members are posting. This is exciting!!!

I just heard on the news tonight, that the kid has spoken for the first time. He IS getting better. However, they say that he will need to have a lot of plastic surgery. Especially in the ear department.

I agree with you all. It's not the breed of dogs, but how people are raising them. But, How do we enforce the already existing laws?? For instance , In several counties in California it is ILLEGAL to have a pitbull. That is not stopping people from owning them. It seems as though something awful has to happen before something get done. It's like taking your car to the mechanic...They can't fix anything untill your car stops running.
Am I sounding bitter?????? I hope not, I'm just concerned.

kgboot

 

[Bigdog]

Pit bulls aren't the problem!

Stupid owners are the problem, and the media isn't helping things. According to the AKC, true American Pit Bull Terriers are considered too friendly to be effective guard dogs. Does this sound like any pit bull story you ever heard on the news? Hell no! The majority of pit bull owners these days don't have purebred animals, they have an amalgam of rage, hate, psychosis and abuse wrapped up in a four-legged creature with incredible jaw strength.

The frenzy surrounding pit bulls won't be going away anytime soon. Some cities and counties around the country have banned the breed. Many homeowners insurance carriers have begun asking their customers about their dogs' breeds and training (mine has, I lied). As was stated earlier, other breeds over the years have had bad reputations; pit bulls will be in the hot seat longer because of the massive destruction their jaws can inflict. We humans have a tendency to destroy that which we do not understand.

I know what it is like to be attacked by a dog. Of my four, only one has ever bitten me. It wasn't the Pit Bull, it was the Chow. My Pit Bull wouldn't bite me if I was covered in peanut butter, the Chow would fight me for a cornflake (but six months of training made her much more docile).

kgboot, I have heard of the case you mentioned. The owner of the dogs saw what they had done, loaded them into his car and took them away, leaving the kid for dead. They should hang him in the town square. He is the criminal, not the dogs. They are just a product of their environment. As for your question of what to do, I think we should set up a program similar to the new gun ownership laws. Before you can buy one, you have to take a course showing you how to be a RESPONSIBLE owner.

 

[Lajo]

Ok, as an Animal Control Officer, I have taken thousands of animal bite reports. And the pit bull is not the most common breed to bite. The American Pit Bull Terrier was bred specifially for dog fighting (a felony in California). The breed tends to be good with people (owners lose points if their dog is aggressive towards people in the pits) but VERY animal aggressive.

But as most everyone has said...it is the owner's who create the aggressive dog. This is true to a large degree. It is the owner who either intentionally or inadvertently, re-enforces the aggressive behavior. This is usually done through training or through a lack of training and socialization.

And unfortunately...when a pit bull does bite, their bites tend to be a little more serious and publicized. Education is the big key in resolving the problem. Education, responsible ownership, training, and common sense.

Ok...enough preachin. On another note...if you were ever to encounter a dog you feel is aggressive, avoid direct eye contact, but don't turn your back to them. SLowly move away and try to avoid sudden movements. If you are attacked, protect yourself if you can. Get on top of something. If you will be bit and you KNOW you will be bit...shove your fist down the dog's throat. If it lookse like it will be more severe....curl into a ball and use your hands to protect your neck and head.

 

[TaffyJ]

Thanks for the info....

I hope I never need it.

 

[TaffyJ]

By the way, Lajo...

I sense you are hesitant to answer this , bit what is the most common breed that bites? Since you are an animal control officer, you have factual information on this, and you are not stating an opinion but simple truth. You shouldn't get flamed for it. Not by sensible people, anyway.

 

[Starfish]

I don't mean to be an asshole, well, usually, but did anyone even realize that kgboot asked a question? What you are all saying is true and all, but did anyone hear about what happend to that kid?

Oh, and I agree.

Big dog, it isn't ironic that your chow bit you and not a pit.

Purebread Chows usually are, and can snap into being very agressive, very easily...

Breed a Chow with another breed (mix it up a bit)... and you get Pure wonderfullness.

 

[Purple Haze]

I heard somewhere that the American Cocker Spaniel has the most reported bites. It makes sense because it's another over-bred dog. I still don't think any dog is born mean. You have to make it mean. Big dogs are generally less aggressive than little ones, and it stands to reason.

I was a paperboy and a pizza delivery guy, the only time I was ever attacked was a by small dog. I said to the owner "Your dog bit me."

She said "Oh just kick'em."

I should have kicked her.