Another Pit Bull Attack

[Paladin1950]

An employee at the nursing home where I work, is out for awhile. She was attacked by a pit bull. Sometimes these attacks reminds me of The Hound of the Baskervilles. She got her hand tore up pretty badly. I don't know who made the decision, but I heard the damn beast was put to sleep. Good riddance. You have a dog like that, you could end up being the target of a lot of law suits. I stumbled upon this one article that claims that 68% of all dog attacks are by pit bulls.


The Problem With Pit Bulls

 

[Packerjohn]

Oh dear. In the country where I live there are more dogs than children. Sad situation for the future but hey, here come the plane loads of immigrants so all is well? Maybe?

 

[Sippican]

The sad part is the same people that come on here and say 'the owner is the problem, not the dog', are the same ones that say, 'Its the gun, not the person shooting the gun'

 

[Purwell]

Pit Bulls are illegal in the UK but there have been a number of recent attacks here that are attributed to dogs described as Xl Bully. Nobody seems to be sure exactly what they are, some sort of cross between bull terriers and mastiff maybe. There are moves to get them banned but they have to come up with a workable description first.

 

[VaughanJB]

The sad part is the same people that come on here and say 'the owner is the problem, not the dog', are the same ones that say, 'Its the gun, not the person shooting the gun'

Only if you like you jump to conclusions with a complete absence of evidence to support it. But hey, you do you.

Banning dogs sounds like a good idea, but policing it is just almost impossible. We're really talking trying to police genetics in a market where anyone can breed whatever they want in their own homes with no oversight. Folly, imo.

The only way to handle it, I think, is through consequences. Significant jail time, and/or significant fines. The dog itself is just being a dog, and the ultimate price there is euthanasia .

 

[Paladin1950]

I've always preferred cats over dogs. But over the years I have seen a lot of dogs of other breeds that were just wonderful loveable pets belonging to people. They would come up to you just wagging their tails wanting to greet you. You can't help but love a dog like that. But when a certain breed has the reputation for being a danger to humans, especially little children, you have to act upon that, and pass some laws and issue some fines. There are so many other breeds of dogs that are wonderful pets and companions. Do we really need pit pulls?

 

[fuzzybuddy]

It's not the dog's fault. It's an animal. It did not go to Harvard, where it got a degree in theoretical ethics. It's a dog. And that fact that it is a big, fr****en dog, with huge jaws, still means it's a dog, and it's going to act like a dog. A little dog may try to nip at your socks, a pit bull may rip your foot off, it's dog behavior. And if your stupid enough to keep a huge dog, which can act like a dog , it's not the dog's fault because it is a dog; then you should get bit.

 

[Myrtle]

I've always thought that it was a good thing that my mother's chihuahuas didn't weigh 75 pounds.

 

[Lara]

It's not the dog's fault. It's an animal...and it's going to act like a dog. A little dog may try to nip at your socks, a pit bull may rip your foot off, it's dog behavior. And if your stupid enough to keep a huge dog, which can act like a dog , it's not the dog's fault because it is a dog; then you should get bit.

It's not the size of the dog that is the problem nor that "dogs will be dogs"....just like Myrtle alluded in post#8 regarding Chihuahuas. It's their statistical bent for aggression that far-and-away beats out the statistics for all other dogs.

Saint Bernards and Great Danes are gentle giants. I know some Pit Bulls can be very sweet but can't be trusted around anyone other than their owners....they'd have to be kept inside 24/7 and that would be an unsanitary situation of massive proportions and totally abusive to the dog. It should be against the law to sell them in this country or anywhere.

 

[Lara]

I'm sorry to members who own Pit Bulls here but I'm emotional right now about this subject because my daughter had jury duty yesterday.
It was about three Pit Bulls that had gotten in a fight, tore each other up, leaving them all dead. My daughter was tricked into staying for the courtroom drama because they couldn't get anyone to stay for it.

My daughter is a very sweet and gentle soul. She cried as she had to view photos they showed. She was so traumatized by it. She is a dog lover and has a pomeranian and a miniature maltese. These images, she couldn't even talk about, will be emblazoned in her brain for life. She's only 40. She has a lifetime to deal with this now.

 

[Packerjohn]

I've always preferred cats over dogs. But over the years I have seen a lot of dogs of other breeds that were just wonderful loveable pets belonging to people. They would come up to you just wagging their tails wanting to greet you. You can't help but love a dog like that. But when a certain breed has the reputation for being a danger to humans, especially little children, you have to act upon that, and pass some laws and issue some fines. There are so many other breeds of dogs that are wonderful pets and companions. Do we really need pit pulls?

Good Point, Paladin 1950. There have been many dog attacks recently but to be honest, I haven't heard even of 1 little pussycat attack. Don't you just love it when they purrrrrrrr!

 

[caroln]

Good Point, Paladin 1950. There have been many dog attacks recently but to be honest, I haven't heard even of 1 little pussycat attack. Don't you just love it when they purrrrrrrr!

Well, sorry to say you're about to hear about this one. I was sitting on the couch with my daughter, my Persian laying on my lap, when he turned around and looked at me like this: Then proceeded to lunge at my neck. No warning, no reason, just went for the jugular. A day or so later my husband was petting the cat and it got that look on it's face again. My daughter and I both said, "look out, he's going to attack" and my husband caught him mid lunge. He was only 3 years old and healthy as far as I know. He finally just ran off. So....there ya go. Your first "pussycat attack" story.

 

[Lara]

Yes I knew a cat like that too, caroln. Your's was a male cat but the one I knew was a female mother and I think the root of the problem was that all her babies were given away so she was bitter all her life about that. She would go back to the spot where she birthed and nurtured them only to find they weren't there. When she moved away she got worse. Some of us don't realize that pets have deep feelings just like we do.

 

[Blessed]

Any dog that shows agression is a danger. I am lucky that I have not had a problem with a mean dog in my life. That said, if you know your dog could really hurt someone you have to have the courage to put the animal down. Don't turn them onto the street or take them to the pound, do the right thing. A good vet knows that sometimes this is not a choice but a necessity.

I am a dog lover, I have three. One of them is a 90lb chow. Many say that this breed is a danger. Many of them are. This is the 2nd one I have owned and they both have been excellent gentle giants. I think a lot depends on how the dogs are bred and raised/socialized.

 

[Lewkat]

Much as I love dogs, pit bulls, whether full blooded or mix, I'd never have one. I do not trust that breed. Dalmatians are not my favorites either.

 

[hollydolly]

Well, sorry to say you're about to hear about this one. I was sitting on the couch with my daughter, my Persian laying on my lap, when he turned around and looked at me like this: View attachment 308029 Then proceeded to lunge at my neck. No warning, no reason, just went for the jugular. A day or so later my husband was petting the cat and it got that look on it's face again. My daughter and I both said, "look out, he's going to attack" and my husband caught him mid lunge. He was only 3 years old and healthy as far as I know. He finally just ran off. So....there ya go. Your first "pussycat attack" story.

I really dislike cats.. they kill other animals , birds etc.. they scratch and bite.. their owners.... and they defecate in other people's gardens... Ugh!... ..

 

[oldaunt]

Any dog that shows agression is a danger. I am lucky that I have not had a problem with a mean dog in my life. That said, if you know your dog could really hurt someone you have to have the courage to put the animal down. Don't turn them onto the street or take them to the pound, do the right thing. A good vet knows that sometimes this is not a choice but a necessity.

I am a dog lover, I have three. One of them is a 90lb chow. Many say that this breed is a danger. Many of them are. This is the 2nd one I have owned and they both have been excellent gentle giants. I think a lot depends on how the dogs are bred and raised/socialized.

My 3rd Chow is 15 this year. All 3 have been gentle souls and never harmed anyone. Funny thing, all 3 of them also had their own pet cats.

 

[Lara]

Much as I love dogs, pit bulls, whether full blooded or mix, I'd never have one. I do not trust that breed. Dalmatians are not my favorites either.

When I read this it occurred to me that I’ve only seen one Dalmatian in my life and that was when I was in college 1970. Is it because they aren’t good family dogs?

 

[Naturally]

Not sure which is more dangerous in these pictures ...
Me or my 12yr old purebred dual registered (UKC, ADBA) American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) that sleeps with me every night
They aren't for everyone, which can be said of most any pet that requires training and care I suppose.

It's up to us to protect our pets, not the other way around.
I've owned other dogs, other breeds, mixed breeds, and none have ever been allowed to free roam.
None are ever off lead in public.
The fences around my yard are at least 6ft tall all the way around and allow lots of open area for exercise and bonding.
I have gates within my house wherein I can isolate my dogs from any and all visitors until carefully acclimated on a case by case basis.

Is ALL this necessary? ... maybe, maybe not, but doesn't matter. I will go to any length to protect my friend and companion regardless of breed.
I wish all pet owners did the same. Some dogs can become a liability one can ill afford when not properly cared for and trained.
Punish the deed, not the breed.

 

[VaughanJB]

I really dislike cats.. they kill other animals , birds etc.. they scratch and bite.. their owners.... and they defecate in other people's gardens... Ugh!... ..

Don't want to derail the thread, nor lose the few friends I have here, and I'm a dog lover who has never had much time for cats. But cat owners can be a strange bunch. For one, a good number just let their cats roam free outside, only coming home for food. But with my dogs, I've got to always have them on a leash. If I let my dog free roam, I'd be considered an irresponsible owner and I'd end up losing the animal. But if it's a cat, "it's natural to let it roam". Well, dogs will do that too if you let them, they weren't bred to live in kennels of living rooms.

I've never understood it. When a child, our dog took a nip at a cat in our garden. The owner of the cat knocked to complain. As I say, cat owners can be strange.

(NOT all of them, cat people, not ALL!) I must say, if my dog attacked a cat outside, say while walking, I'd consider that "natural". Biting people, not!

 

[oldaunt]

Biting people is just as natural to a dog as biting a cat. They don't see a difference.

 

[Myrtle]

I love dogs and cats, horses, goats, donkeys, most animal life. I even loved those noisy little would be killers called chihuahuas. I think children who are given a chance to develop compassion and empathy for animals turn out to be better people.

 

[oldaunt]

I love dogs and cats, horses, goats, donkeys, most animal life. I even loved those noisy little would be killers called chihuahuas. I think children who are given a chance to develop compassion and empathy for animals turn out to be better people.

I agree. Anyone who hates an animal for being what it was intended to be isn't much of a human being. Humans had no say in creation, after all.

 

[Jules]

Jmo, on FB it’s become a status symbol to adopt a dog from a shelter and even more so if the dog is part pit bull. Instead of saying that it’s a Heinz 57, the first thing they do is qualify that a pit bull is not the problem, it’s the people. One of our family bought this mix. I hope the other 56 genes are dominant.

 

[hollydolly]

I love dogs and cats, horses, goats, donkeys, most animal life. I even loved those noisy little would be killers called chihuahuas. I think children who are given a chance to develop compassion and empathy for animals turn out to be better people.

it always makes me laugh when Chihuahuas are referred to as devil dogs et al..lol... ours couldn't be more gentile.. she just wants to be hugged all the time..

this is her as a puppy...so tiny the flip flop is bigger than she is...