Pit bulls and children do not mix
Posted
May 31, 2006 at
9:33 am by
Jessica
People own pit bulls to use as a weapon and if you are part of the few that doesn’t own a pit bull for a weapon, then know you’re amongst the majority of trash that does. Nobody thinks, “Gee, a pit bull would be a GREAT family dog.” A pug is a great family dog, a pit bull is not. In fact, why not just go out and get your family a bear or a tiger? And if you’re fortunate enough to live in an area where one of your neighbors owns one of these weapons of mass destruction, then do yourself a favor and move (your property value isn’t going to soar with pit bulls running around anyway) or get your village to sign an ordinance banning these animals. Children deserve better. People deserve better.
From the website dogbitelaw.com, here are some stats on dogs that kill:
As stated above, there are two problems that have been reported as though there is only a single problem, namely there are canine homicides (i.e., dog bite related human fatalities) and the dog bite epidemic. The dogs responsible for the bulk of the homicides are pit bulls and Rottweilers:
“Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996….[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities.” (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA 2000;217:836-840.)
Other breeds were also responsible for homicides, but to a much lesser extent. A 1997 study of dog bite fatalities in the years 1979 through 1996 revealed that the following breeds had killed one or more persons: pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Doberman pinschers, chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas. (Dog Bite Related Fatalities,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 30, 1997, Vol. 46, No. 21, pp. 463 et. seq.)
Owners of such dogs should be aware that if their dogs attack a person, the attacks may be scrutinized by law enforcement. The reason is that irresponsible behavior with or toward a dog whose breed is known to bite has caused a rising and unacceptable injury and death toll, which authorities are determined to stem.
“Irresponsible behavior” is defined differently from place to place. In California, for example, it can be a felony for a person to possess a dog trained to fight, attack or kill that, because of the owner’s lack of ordinary care, bites two people or seriously injures one person. (See Felony prosecution of attack dog owners.)
In different parts of the United States at the current time, there are a number of parents who are on trial for manslaughter because their dogs have killed their children. In these cases, the prosecutors have taken the position that the parents behaved irresponsibly because they left their children in the company of dogs most likely to bite.
There is an 8 out of 10 chance that a biting dog is male. (Humane Society of the United States.)
And here is the tragic story, brought to us by WTHR-Indianapolis, that tells a true account of just one out of thousands of tragedies that involve a child mamed or killed by a vicious dog each year. As a society, we fight for safer streets, safer schools, safer immunizations, safer foods, environment, homes, cars and so on, we need to keep ban dogs that are most likely to kill a child. People cannot be trusted to keep your children safe from their dogs. If you think the kind of person that chains up a pit bull or a rottweiler in their yard is of a level of sophistication that they keep innocent people in mind, then your are sorely mistaken.
Indianapolis - A toddler’s life is on the line after a pit bull attack. The victim’s family wants the owner held accountable.
It happened Friday afternoon in the 13-hundred block of South Belmont near Lambert Street on the city’s southwest side.
Police say the animal took control of the toddler and wouldn’t let go. His young victim’s blood was still on it’s snout while teams at Riley Hospital worked to save 2-year-old Amaia Hess.“She sustained serious injury to her face and it appears she may have been bitten on other parts of her body too. One of her eyes is missing at this point. The other eye is seriously injured,” said Sgt. Mathew Mount of the Indianapolis Police Department.
The little girl was in the stroller with her mother. A man opened his door and the dog, named Ozzie, ran out straight for the little girl.
“I seen the baby in the dogs mouth and the dog shaking the baby like a rag doll, just shaking, shaking, shaking,” said a witness.
Amay’s great uncle calls her a sweet loving child facing a long struggle.
“One eye was completely tore out but the pupils were good so they can do some reconstruction on that,” said the uncle. “The doctors said that there’s many many surgeries there to do.”
It’s the second pit bull biting at the house in a year.
Tags: dog-attacks, dogs, family-dogs, fighting-dogs, pets, pit-bull-terriers, pit-bulls, Social Issues |
1. Mezz said:
June 1, 2006 @ 7:11 pm
Jessica, you’ve evidently never spent much time around a pit bull or Rottweiler or (I would be willing to bet) had much exposure to dogs as a whole. Your view is the typical, short-sided opinion most often held by people who have no experience with the dogs that they’re so quick to vilify. Having been fortunate enough to be the guardian of 3 pit bulls and a Rottweiler mix (as well as many other breeds of dogs, some of which were considered “dangerous” by the mainstream big-dog-fearing pulic) over my lifetime, I take acception to you informing me that my dogs were “weapons of mass destruction” or implying that having such dogs would cause my property value to decline.
I suggest that you do some more homework instead of hopping on the most recent pitbull-hating article that you run across and you’ll find that the MAJORITY of pitbull guardians (as well as the guardians of Rottweilers and other oft-feared breeds) are responsible and loving and their dogs make excellent family pets. Rottweilers are even known for “herding” small groups of children in an effort to keep them together and therefore safe (in their eyes). All of my dogs have had sweet dispositions with the larger ones (pit bulls and Rott mix) especially font of children. It’s my smaller dogs (Manchester terrier and Basset hound) that tend to nip when children inadvertantly pinch their hide or pull on their ears. Larger breeds typical don’t feel threatened as easily and are therefore much more tolerant of beings smaller than they are.
Better than scouting the internet for dog-bite articles, try volunteering at a shelter and actually meeting the loving animals that you’re so quick to compare to bears and tigers. Talk to local pitt bull and Rottweiler rescue groups and you’ll see that the reputation for these dogs is undeserved.
To ban a breed of dog that has been trained to maim another animal (human or otherwise) is akin to banning a particular car model because its driver has run down an innocent pedestrian. It’s unfair and inaffective.
2. Erika said:
June 4, 2006 @ 6:17 pm
I agree with the last poster. People who make ignorant statements like Jessica bring the IQ curve down. Most of the pitbull/rottweiler fears come from the media who desperately wants to grasp ratings from reporting horrible stories. There are thousands of pitbulls and rotweillers in this country that do not harm anyone.
In fact, it’s not the animals at all, it is the owners who train these animals to fight or become vicious. Pitbulls and rottweilers are NO different from any other dog. ANY dog can become vicious if trained. I have grown up with dogs since I was a child and I’m in my 30’s now. It irks me to get these one-sided, narrow minded views from people who either don’t own dogs or who have never been around pitbulls or rottweilers. I am a true dog lover not someone caught up in thinking only small dogs are the best pets and that big dogs are vicious or difficult.
Before you make ignorant statements, get your facts straight and stop being hypnotized by the media’s tricks. Better yet, go adopt a puppy that’s a pit or rott or any other big dog and learn for yourself what type of dogs they are, instead of writing what you hear. Then you can write about what you know.
3. Meg said:
July 3, 2006 @ 9:39 am
The two posters above have the correct way of thinking. Jessica, are you really that stupid to think that only pitbulls and rottweilers can be trained to kill, or maim? ANY dog can be trained to bite, those silly little pugs too. As the mother of four small chrildren and the owner of a pittbull/rottie mix, I’d just like to say that your ignorance is unbeliveable, my dog was raised as a loving family pet, not a ” weapon of mass destruction”, he would probably lick you to death before biting you. You need to attack the owners of these vicious dogs (of ANY breed, I might add) before attacking the dogs themselves. My cat is scarier than the dog. A dog is a very faithfull animal that will do whatever makes it’s owner happy. You should think twice about calling anybody “trash”.The only trash we are among is narrow minded uneducated idiots like you.
4. Jessica Carlson said:
July 3, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
See, the difference between a pug getting snippy with years and years of companionship breeding is that a pug can have a bad day and at the very worst, you’ll have a bunch of mosquito-like bites on your ankle (although I have never even heard of this happening, but I suppose in theory it can). A pit bull (or rott) has a bad moment and children are tortured and killed, regardless of the intent.
5. Tanya said:
July 13, 2006 @ 7:33 am
I am the guardian of a pit/rottie mix and he is the most benevolent creature I have ever known. My dog is almost 2 and has NEVER bit anyone. He is great with my toddlers and even will chase them down and hold them by the back of their pants when they try to run away too far. He was with the kids since he was born and he has been very protective and loving around all of the children that he has ever been around. He is non agressive when being fed. He is also non agressive towards other animals. It is all about how any dog is raised. In fact the only dog that has ever attacked me personally was a tiny chihauhua. So much for your theory of “weapons of mass destruction.”
6. Chris said:
August 8, 2006 @ 3:10 am
The problem with this poor and abused breed, come from people that have the horrible views you have! I have a 2 1/2 year old pit. We had a roomate that had a kid. The dog did not grow up with her. But he loved her, they played, and slept together. And you want a story how about this…
The most horrifying example of the lack of breed predictability is the October 2000 death of a 6-week-old baby, which was killed by her family’s Pomeranian dog. The average weight of a Pomeranian is about 4 pounds, and they are not thought of as a dangerous breed. Note, however, that they were bred to be watchdogs! The baby’s uncle left the infant and the dog on a bed while the uncle prepared her bottle in the kitchen. Upon his return, the dog was mauling the baby, who died shortly afterwards. (”Baby Girl Killed by Family Dog,” Los Angeles Times, Monday, October 9, 2000 , Home Edition, Metro Section, Page B-5.)
Yeah I bet that makes you happy. I am a plumber. I go to peoples houses. I have NEVER felt threatend by a pit. I have been bittin by more little dogs than anything else. German Shepards scare me. But not the old mean pit. There are some bad ones out there. But that is because of the owners. Do research. They were breed to bait bulls, kill bears. They are a strong breed. But were also breed into being great around people. When they first started fighting them, you had to be able to control your dog. As stated above the only reason you hear about pits is because they will cause damage. But the owners are the ones that need to be dealt with! And people with your complete lack of knowledge. I bet you heard about a story about a young kid getting attacked by a pit. That is what the paper reported. But the real story was They kid was attacked by the other family dog. The pit then attacked the other dog to get it off the kid.!! You really need to be around the breed. They are the coolest and most compasionate dog out there. They are very loyal.
7. XYZ said:
August 16, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
I think the bottom line here is potential for damage. It’s not about pit bulls (any dog can bite), it’s not about how people raise their dogs (even the best behaved and most socialized dog can go nuts and attack), bottom line it’s about damage control. If you own a chihuahua and it loses it’s mind one day and attacks the kid next door it would be a terrible thing but after a few stitches the child will recover. Maybe the child will have a scar, maybe the child will be afraid of dogs, but the child will be able to go to school the next day. On the other hand, if you own a pit bull and it loses it’s mind one day and attacks the kid next door, then that child’s parents will be planning a funeral and you will be spending some time in jail. It’s a considerably worse ending for everyone. Why take the risk?
8. Matt said:
August 18, 2006 @ 1:28 pm
Most of the other posters here have said what I would have. What I would like to do is invite everyone to read this wonderful article on pit bulls and stereotypes that was published in The New Yorker a few months ago by the excellent writer, Malcolm Gladwell.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060206fa_fact
And I’ll add that I’m a proud owner of a 3 year old female pit bull mix. Everyone who meets her absolutely loves her including the mothers of toddlers in the park. She’s great with kids, cats, people and other dogs. Don’t believe the hype.
9. Yes said:
September 1, 2006 @ 6:06 pm
Ah ignorance. This is what’s wrong with America. ‘Children deserve better…people deserve better?’ What sheltered world have you grown up in? I have lived with a pit bull for 11 years and never felt threatened by her. They are loving animals and great with kids. Do you seriously think you can discriminate against an entire breed becuase of a statistic? Let me guess Jess, are you also afraid of certain ethnicities because of higher crime ratings? This kind of thinking is completely insane. You know, though you’re not alone in this way of thinking. In fact, there was this cool cat named Adolf (perhaps you’ve heard of him) his solution was to put the groups of people he despised in concentration camps. Espero que su pug muerda su cara.
And dear XYZ, we humans are also capable of going insane. Why take the risk of having a child when it could go crazy one day and stab the kid next door to death with a knife? Actually why take the risk of getting to know anyone at all? The world is full of what ifs, you can’t seriously base your whole life around them.
10. Jessica Carlson said:
September 1, 2006 @ 6:29 pm
Please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_Law
11. Jeff said:
September 8, 2006 @ 2:44 pm
Wow, I was just doing a little more research on breeds and just had one of the worst cases of tired-head ever.
The only reason to post is that it’s ironic that pugs and pits are mentioned in these above posts and I recently adopted an angel from a local shelter that is a pug/pit bull terrier mix.
12. Michael Norton said:
September 13, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
Hi Jessica,
Five years ago I would have agreed
with you 100 percent untill I was given a Pit Bull
puppy. I did not seek one out and probably would never have done so, but a friend of mine gave me
one of his pups and I just fell for the little guy.
Junior was most gentle dog I have ever owned
and could be controlled with just a stern look.
He was great with my kids and my nephews and had
no enemies. He greeted everyone as a new freind.
The only bad experience that good people who
own pits have is usually from people like you.
We get greeted on the street with looks of disgust and treated with contempt.
The criminal element who actually encourage
agression in these dogs should be the ones who get punished and not the breed itself. if you
just gave pit bulls the benifit of the doubt and
met a responsible owner of one I believe your
opinion would change.
The alternative is what’s called “breed
specific legislation”. Towns and cities would
ban pits and then the morons who encourage agression in dogs would just jump to the next big
breed. Rotties then German Shepherds, Cane Corsos
Mastiffs, Dobermans and on and on untill every
dog is banned. Speaking of Dobermans, they were
the media darling back in the 70’s, you always
heard about Dobermans ” turning ” on their master. What happened in the last 30 years?
Did they all of a sudden become gentle or was the
whole thing just media hype and bullshit?
The truth is any dog can be encouraged
to be agressive and be a danger. Even Pugs.
Punish bad owners not the breed itself.
13. Christina Economou said:
September 26, 2006 @ 9:47 am
Most of the posters above have said what I would have liked to day earlier than today. I am the proud owner of a 70kgs male Rotweiller and the proud mom of a 22 month old boy. Last week, a TV channel got us on camera where the 2 of them were playing together like best friends. Both of them are very affectionate toward each other. For instance the kid gets the Rottie’s kong from inside his mouth and runs away; when the Rottie tries to get his Kong back my son gives him his binky in exchange. Then he decides to give the kong back so he extends his arm and the rottie just reaches out very gently and gets the kong back using his huge teeth being extra careful not to exert any pressure on my son’s hand or fingers. Then the dog rolls on its back with the kong in his mouth and moves his forelegs up in the air like crazy so that the game is resumed. I write all this just make a point with regards to the “weapon of mass destruction” phrase! I am a professional dog training instructor (hint: I train people to communicate with their dogs because all dogs are just fine adn inherently social animals; it’s always the people who need the training) and also run a program of Pet-Assisted Therapy which also involves kids(from ages 3,5 to 14)
14. Brandon Frost said:
November 8, 2006 @ 9:07 am
JESSICA, congratulations on writing one of the most ridiculous and funny articles “weapons of mass destruction” just like the media! You obviously have no idea of the breed, or enough that would make you change your little one sided mind. Do yourself a FAVOR?! And get your head out of your ass and look at the dog world a little better. I’m sure you’ll find that it’s the owners that are to blame for making them violent/aggressive dogs. Blame the stupidity of people for not knowing how to train or treat their dogs as a whole. DO NOT blame the breed, blame the irresponsible owners.
15. Jessica Carlson said:
November 8, 2006 @ 7:48 pm
Oh, don’t worry Brandon Frost, I blame both.
16. Meg said:
November 10, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
Jessica Carlson said “Oh, don’t worry Brandon Frost, I blame both.” Does that mean that we should blame both you and your parents for your stupid ignorance, rather than just you? Same thing isn’t it?
17. Jessica Carlson said:
November 10, 2006 @ 7:33 pm
The analogy doesn’t work because I don’t think pit bulls are appropriate family pets around small children. Kinda works in my favor.
18. Janel Scott said:
November 29, 2006 @ 1:39 am
I got a dog a few months ago. Quite a few people have told me that he has pitt in him. He also has the pug features. He is brindle colored and is over all a good dog. I was wondering if anyone had a picture of a pitt pug mix. I have children and am curious about the breed.
19. Kelly Carr said:
December 10, 2006 @ 8:15 pm
I just had to put my Rot/Pit mix to sleep due to him no longer being able to walk. Taz was the best dog and I miss all of the 15 years of joy I had with him. Everyone that knew Taz loved him. I think the only thing that will stop me from crying and missing Taz is to get another Rotweiler/Pit bull mix. He was so affectionate and loyal to the end. He was my baby. Please, Please contact me if you know where I can get another TAZ. Good Bye TAZ I MISS YOU.
20. Jessica said:
December 12, 2006 @ 2:26 pm
I agree with you, Jessica. I just came across this post while looking at the blog. I think the entire breed of pit bulls should be banned.
I am one of those people who gives Pit owners dirty looks ont he street. I will admit it to anyone and everyone every time I am asked.
I have had two pitts come into my yard and both are very lucky that I am against owning guns (for the same reason I am against pitt’s–they kill) because I would have killed each of them without a second thought. One of them, came up while I had my, then 6mos old, in an activity center. My husband was out back grilling and the dog got in between my daughter and I. I started yelling at him and he continued towards my daughter and I continued towards him. Only when my yells became shreiks did he start back down my driveway. I ran after him, letting him know what would happen next time he came in my yard.
Breed specific legislation. get RID of these child killers!!!!!
21. dog lover said:
December 13, 2006 @ 2:57 am
Jessica, the information you presented has merit. In Trinidad, West Indies, the only dog bite related death, an there were a few, was Pit bull related. A law was since passed to prosecute owners of the dog should injury be sustained from these dogs.
I appreciate this info.
Thanks.
22. Karen said:
December 14, 2006 @ 1:03 pm
I don’t think Jessica is saying ALL pit bulls are mean, just that they are more likely to be that way. We have a neighbor with 3 pit bulls and we have called Animal Services because of them was actually killing the smaller one. It was ripping it limb from limb as we watched in horror as the white snow turned red.
It in known that pit bulls are more likely to be aggressive. Not that they ALL are.
Small childen should never be left alone with a dog no matter the breed or how well you think you know the dog. We keep a baby gate between our dog and our toddler at all times.
23. Carmine said:
December 14, 2006 @ 1:30 pm
prej·u·dice (prj-ds) KEY
NOUN:
An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.
A preconceived preference or idea.
The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions. See Synonyms at predilection.
Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.
24. Carmine said:
December 14, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
Ignorance 1) is a lack of knowledge. Ignorance is also a “state of being ignorant” or unaware/uninformed. Ex: “In debate class Bill lost the debate because he was ignorant in (without knowledge of) that subject.” In such a case the term is not pejorative, and may even be used as a self–descriptive term, as in “I am ignorant of (some subject or topic)”. Ignorance can also be more than a lack of knowledge. It can include a deliberate intent to ignore knowledge or facts that conflict with what someone believes or wants to be true.
(pejorative definition) Ignorance 2) is the choice to not act or behave in accordance with regard to certain information in order to suit ones own needs/beliefs.”I know better but I choose to ignore that and do/say/act in a way that behooves me.”
In politics, it is almost always used as a pejorative label, but some political movements have raised it to an ideal, for instance some peasant and agrarian movements. This is usually simply a rejection of academia and professions and other power structures that assume they are intellectual superiors, that should be accorded deference by others.
Ebenezer Scrooge encounters “Ignorance” and “Want” in A Christmas CarolIn philosophy, the study of ignorance is paired with the study of knowledge, both of which are central to epistemology. Secular philosophies generally condemn ignorance as illustrated in the classic story, A Christmas Carol where the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals to Scrooge the childlike personifications of the major afflictions of the world, Want and Ignorance, and the fact that the latter is more harmful
I hope you can open your eyes
25. Carmine said:
December 14, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
The bottom line is anyone with a dog or other pet should know the breed and be a responsible owner there is NO breed that is at fault. ANY animal can be a threat. I’m not protecting Pits some times It’s the way there raised (Dogs in general)or like us we all have different personalities Also if you do any research at all you will find that reports will call a dog a Pit Bull or a Rottie when in fact they are not. I’m sorry if you “Jessica” or anyone else had a bad experience with this breed. I’ve known many people who have owned Pits and most of them have kids. I’ve not heard of any problems. The problem use to be with Shepards then Dobermans, Rotties and now Pits, I wonder what breed is next.
26. Snuffles said:
December 16, 2006 @ 12:28 am
I’m with Jessica on this one. Although the owners of these dogs are the ones to train it to attack, pitts are BUILT to fight! Their muscular system is rock solid and thier jaws exert SO much pressure when they bite that many times it is “almost” impossible to get them to release until THEY are ready to. These dogs have been bred for their temperments and the “traditional” pitt breeder/trainer/fighter does NOT want a gentle pitt!
Many people tout how loyal and protective these dogs are without realising that YES, they may be loyal and protective of you, your family and circle of friends, but are NOT tolerant of others and will “protect” thier loved ones from anything they percieve to be a threat, such as a stranger, be they adults or children.
The handful of pitt owners that have posted here only represent a small percentage of people that own pitts. Pitts have been around in this country for decades and thier past includes being bred and trained to fight. Because the majority of people believe this to be wrong, you must think of the type of people that traditionaly owned pitts. Because of their ability to be a destructive machine, the criminal element was inclined to get that dog for protection during thier criminal jaunts. Someone mentioned Dobermins earlier and why we don’t hear much about them being vicious anymore. That’s because the criminal element moved from Dobie’s TO Pitts BECAUSE pitts are more dangerous! That left Dobermins for “normal” people who knew to treat the animals properly, thereby reducing the attacks by Dobies. However, as with pitts, the status of owning a Dobie was for those that wanted to “be cool” or “look tough”.
For those of you that have attacked Jessica here, how dare you?!?! YOUR dog may have never bitten anyone, but how can you deny that pitts have caused fatalities? You and your “not MY dog” attitudes, are the families that are SHOCKED when these tradegies happen and you’re on the losing end of a law suit.
27. Amanda said:
December 26, 2006 @ 11:25 pm
I agree that anyone who owns any animal has a responsibility to protect that animal and others. I don’t believe it is one particular breed that is more dangerous than others. Anything that has teeth, will bite!! Should we ban 2 year old children becaue they have the potential to be aggressive and bite!! Let’s be real. Pitts and rotts have gotten a really bad name. Why? Because a lot of times these animals are used for fighting and are abused. I have had a varity of dogs, some were very protective and some were not. The ones that were protective, did not go around other people. I have had 2 pitts and one rott in my life and all three were very loving animals. The humans that abuse these animals should be banned, not the animal!!
28. Johnny said:
December 30, 2006 @ 2:36 am
i have a 2 year old female rottweiler. I’ve had her sense she was about 3 months old. Shes the biggest baby. I adore my dog but sometimes I laugh at what a baby she is. She is scared of other dogs and will run away from any type of fight. She just wants to play all the time. My niece and other small kids can pull my dogs ears, grab her paws, even lay on her and the dog doesnt care. My 6 year old niece has taken away my dogs food while shes eating. My dog just sits there and waits patiently for my niece to put the food back. Dogs are just like people. You cant generalize and some one breed is bad. Rottweilers dont bite the most its just that when they do bite they cause more damage. My dog has never bitten anyone. My sisters 10 lb poodle bites all the time. The stupid dog has bitten me twice for no reason. Rottweiles are very smart and have big hearts. If you raise them right they will never hurt anyone.
29. Vanessa said:
January 10, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
this is the craziest heap of crap i have ever read.. jessica and jessica are a couple of EXTREMELY closed minded idiots… get over yourselves and open your eyes to what the real problem is.. i have never owned a pit, would love to tho. i have friends that have pits and their friends have pits and all of these people have pits in houses with CHILDREN! theres pictures of these dogs surrounding and sleeping with these babies… and i look at these pictures and i cant ever imagine that those dogs would ever DREAM of doing anything to hurt those babies their protecting so hard… people are punishing the wrong end of the leash here.. its not the dogs fault it was born and raised to kill, its the moron that bought it and raised it to kill. and not everyone raises their pits to kill. i think a pit bull would make an awesome family pet… grow a brain before you post more stupid garbage like this…
30. rick said:
January 14, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
You and the rest of the dog lobby are in denial. Every time there is news of a mauling, we hear the refrain, “poor dog, bad owner.” In other words, the alibi for the dog and the breed is that the owner mishandled the dog.
Is it really scientific to say that because an animal can be classified as a “dog” that it can be presumed that the animal therefore is sufficiently domesticated so it is safe to have the animal cohabitate with us in our neighborhoods? I think not.
So, how are we to decide if a presumption of domesticity is unsupportable?
Here, as they say, are just the facts Ma’am, though the dog lobby has never succumbed to the temptation to let facts get in the way of their logic.
Data indicates that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of the human dog bite related fatalities (”DBRF”) in the United States between 1997 and 1998. “Thus, there appears to be a breed specific problem with fatalities.” (from an article appearing in JAVMA (2000;217:836-840) entitled “Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks between 1979 and 1998.” (Sachs, Sinclair, Gilchrist, Golab and Lockwood)). (JAVMA = Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association). Now, it is far more credible that this statement was made by veterinarians if you consider that to speak this way against bully breeds or rotty’s, that the vets are biting the very hands that feed their profession.
Then the government reports that the chance that a victim of a fatal dog attack will be a burglar is 1 in 177. The odds that the victim of a fatal dog attack will be a child are 7 out of 10.
I have also read what pit bull breeders have to say about their own animals. A person has to wonder why they oppose sensible laws to protect the public based on their own admissions that have been published for the rest of us to read and become informed by experts in their field.
From a special edition of “Dog Fancy” magazine, which was issued under the title “Bully Breeds,” Vol. 21, published in 2002, (ph. 949 855 8822) I read the following:
“The largest problem, and the one that requires the greatest understanding and dedication from the owner, is the inherent tendency toward dog aggression. Dog aggression can be difficult behavior to control, and when the dog is muscular and determined not to let go of the dog it is fighting with (a special tool called a parting stick is sometimes used to open the jaws of fighting dogs to release their hold), the results can be deadly. Owners must understand not only why this form of aggression arises, but also how they can keep from escalating into a dangerous or out-of-control situation.” (page 47)
Attributing the following to Steve Stone, a breeder from New Mexico:
“The key to preventing a Stafford from becoming highly dog aggressive, .. is to “keep the dog out of its first fight.” Fighting, unfortunately, is a self-rewarding activity for these dogs, and if a dog is accidentally allowed to scuffle with a dog, the situation becomes exponentially more difficult to control even for a dedicated owner. “To a Stafford, nothing in life is as good as a fight. Once they get a taste of it, they love it.” From day one, therefore, an owner must walk his or her Stafford on a leash “as if they have a hand grenade with the pin pulled out.” [quoting Stone again]. (pages 47-48)
The publication then continues:
American Bulldogs are similar to Bull Terriers in that acts of aggression to humans are rare, but if they arise, they are usually the result of a self-confident, dominant dog that tries to bully its owner. When the owner crosses a dominant dog (regardless of the breed) after a long time of allowing the dog to rule the roost, the confrontation may escalate until the dog bites to get its point across. (page 49)
Next, quoting another expert, Katie Dinneen of San Francisco, president of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls (BADRAP) and director of animal care at the San Mateo County Humane Society:
“There is a genetic component with temperament.” Although the environment in which a dog is raised can strongly influence how the dog develops, a dog’s genetic pre-wiring can only be modified so much; it can never totally be overcome. Dinneen adds that it’s heartbreaking to see a good family do everything right in raising a dog only to have temperament problems. (page 50)
Breeders and owners of pit bulls are fond of pointing out that 16 to 20 or so deaths per year nationally do not rise to the level of a public danger. But that’s only seeing so much of the iceberg that appears above the surface. Besides deaths, how many maulings must the public endure like that which took place in Cary?
If Ford or GM made any of the bully breeds, the government would have them recalled in a New York minute, and the last time I checked cars had greater social utility than dogs.
Firestone had tens of millions of its tires on the road, and there were only a score or two of accidents each year leading up to the recall ordered by NHTSA. Also, NHTSA did not accept the excuse that the owners of cars are at fault for driving too fast, or in not having their cars maintained or inspected their cars.
It’s a given for the government (and by the courts in support of the government against car manufacturers) that consumers (car owners) will NOT often do the right thing all the time to make the operation of their vehicles perfectly safe. Thus, even though the danger from the Firestone tires likely was augmented by the aggressive or fast driving habits of some SUV drivers, the federal government did the right thing for all the rest of us. Regardless of what car owners were doing to add to their own or the public’s risk, Ford and Firestone were told to get the tires off the road.
Also, NHTSA will require a recall of millions of vehicles even if less than a hundred cars are known to be affected by an unreasonably dangerous defect if the car manufacturer otherwise lost or failed to maintain the ability to trace the defect back to specific vehicles.
Given all the care and concern shown as to unreasonable danger present on our highways, it is logical to ask why should dogs and owners and breeders of dogs, who may have a rare but unreasonably dangerous temperament problem, be exempt from being found responsible by a community in presenting too great a risk to our neighborhoods in the same way Ford and Firestone were found responsible by Congress and NHTSA for subjecting the driving public to unreasonably dangerous tires? And how different is it for dog owners to argue that not all dogs are dangerous, and that the matter instead ought to be an issue over the owner’s duty to control the dog, versus the argument made before NHSTA and Congress by Firestone that none of the tires contained a design or manufacturing defect, and that owners of SUV’s contributed to their own risk?
I think there is no difference. So after someone is mauled or killed by a dog, and I hear the alibi offered in defense of the dog from owners and breeders that the dog’s owner alone should be singled out, my reaction is “no, you still don’t get it!” If the danger is great enough, and with human mistakes or errors likely to occur, and if the harm is severe enough, then the public is warranted in taking action to abate the risk to a more certain degree by removing the possibility that another dog owner’s mistake will lead to someone’s death or severe injury. That’s the reasoning used by the federal government in removing dangerous risks on the highway. WHY SHOULD THAT PRINCIPLE NOT APPLY TO UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS DOGS?
The problem, as I see it, is that car owners don’t “adopt” their cars into their family, don’t name their cars “Pumpkin” or “Tiny,” and when an owner takes the keys out, we can be sure that the car will basically sit still and not leap over a five foot fence (that’s happened with Pit Bulls and Rottweilers) or rush out a door and maul someone with unrelenting fury. Other dogs may bite, but bully dogs and Rottweilers maul and kill.
Then I also ask the dog lobby to please explain why at least there should not be improvements to our different state laws establishing conclusively the strict liability for owners of dogs who attack children and severely injure them, if not adults too; and explain as well why insurance making sure the owner can pay at least some fraction of the cost for medical expenses is not made mandatory as well for the benefit of victims of dog attacks. Note, I’m not asking that dangerous breeds be banned, only that “responsible dog ownership,” a common refrain of owners like you, is translated into legislation yielding some semblance of reasonable protection for the rest of us. Note, too, the story reports that one of the dogs had been neutered. So much for that theory of dog temperament control.
Still, if we wanted to go that far, BSL is constitutional. Dogs are property. As such, they are subject to regulation through the exercise of the police power held by legislatures. The exercise of this power over property is subject to a less stringent constitutional standard than the standard applied to laws prohibiting or curtailing speech, or which are suspected of discriminating against individuals on the basis of race, gender, creed, or nationality.
Properly drafted, BSL is constitutional, at least where judges don’t have to worry about retention elections or recalls organized by vocal special interest groups sponsored by the AKC. In contrast to some state court decisions in Ohio, you should read the case of Vanater v. Village of South Point, 717 F. Supp. 1236 (S.D. Ohio 1989). It was written by the Federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. That court is one step removed from the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s the only federal circuit court of appeals I know of that has ruled on the matter of BSL.
Federal judges, being appointed for life, are not subject to the political pressures many state court judges are subjected to. They do not come up for retention votes. No amount of campaigning by the American Kennel Club will work to have them removed. They also are viewed as more competent in deciding the constitutionality of legislation.
The 6th Circuit Court in Vanater saw no constitutional problem with a village ordinance passed in Ohio that was banned specific breeds. The Ohio state courts are split on BSL. Some in favor, some opposed. Still, however, most state courts that have decided the issue have ruled the same as the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Its remarkable that the later Ohio state court decisions finding BSL unconstitutional made no effort to either criticize the 6th Circuit Court’s opinion in Vanater, nor attempted explain how the BSL before the 6th Circuit was distinguishable from the BSL struck down these Ohio state courts.
31. Brittany said:
January 21, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
As an owner of two pit bulls, reading comments like these really angers me. How about looking up some statistics on how many pit-bull abuse/animal cruelty cases there are? Perhaps the terrible pit-bulls that you refer to and have come into contact with live with crappy parents. I have a two and a half year old pit bull that is one of the best dogs that I have ever had - he loves everyone and everyone loves him. My eight week old is following in his footsteps. I would just like to remind you that ANY breed of dog can be mean. A pug is a perfect family pet? Why? Because it’s small? My grandmother had a Boston Terrier that would put a hurting on you!
You can’t beat pit-bulls into submission. Swatting another breed of dog may cease bad actions, but it only fuels a pit-bull’s fire. If you’re interested in getting a good dog who will be loyal, sweet, and give you the best wet kisses (there are no kisses like a pit-bull’s), then get a pit-bull - but buy a training book specifically for pit-bulls so that you can know what you’re doing. And buy it from a reputable breeder - not someone who has their dogs tied to treadmills and a fighting ring in the back yard. A pit-bull isn’t a lab or any other type of dog. They’re unique - and that’s what makes them a joy.
And on one last note, your statement that pit-bull owners are “trash” is offensive and presumptive - keep talking that way and no one’s going to read your little blog.
32. Home made dog treat recipes said:
February 14, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Jessica, I tend to agree with most people who have commented here.
Personally I only believe dogs become bad due to bad owners. And although I would never trust a small child with any dog, and I mean any dog, I don’t think PitBulls or Rotty’s are any different.
At the age of 3 I was bit by a Lassie (Collie). It was my fault as I picked up his bone.
People can be raised as killers and so can dogs. Bad parenting is normally the cause.
Regards
Justin Bryce
http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au
33. Erin said:
February 27, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Everyone is entitles to their own opinion so I’m just gonna leave all that alone. I just wanted to say that this past summer my boyfriend and I adopted a pit/rott mix from the pound. He was alread a year old when we got him and I swear he is the most loving, obidient, and socialable dog with everyone and everything. He’s the best dog I’ve ever had. The biggest mush ball you’d ever meet. It breaks my heart to think what would have happened to him if we didn’t give him a chance.
34. KAREN said:
February 27, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
jessica, i just wanted to make a comment on your artical you have posted. honestly i have a pitbull and a akita along with a child. i will have to tell you that both dogs are wonderful with my daughter. i KNOW they would never harm her. It is true that these dogs are aggressive but with the proper training and love they are wonderful pets and yes they will do what ever they have to, to defend their home. but these dogs are bad because of the owners and it is a shame because both of these breeds are very loyal to their family. you really should spend some time with pitbulls and any other breed that you think you know about just becasue of what you read in the paper. have a wonderful day.
35. KAREN said:
February 27, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
HELLO AGAIN JESSICA I HAVE FOUND A WEBSITE THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT http://www.paw-rescue.org/petbulls.html
36. Allison said:
February 27, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Sorry, I just gotta say, though, I don’t trust any pitbull. Call me “closed minded”. I don’t care. I was doing dishes the other day, and Dh and the kids were in the driveway and front yard. I looked out the window and here comes a big brown pitbull running right into my yard with toward my kids. I hollered out the front door “Get that F***ing dog outta here!” The owner had him off her leash and was calling it from all the way down the street!
Now, I realize any dog can be an asshole, not just a perticular breed, but I’ve seen enough stories like the one posted above to take any chances. I gave that lady a good long glare as she took the dog away. The safety of my kids is waaaaay more important to me than hurting that lady’s feelings.
It’s called a leash, people. Use it!
37. Mike said:
February 27, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
Allison,
Your 100 percent on the money, unattended children and any dog breed don’t mix.
I used to own a pit but he died of cancer right after my first son turned a year old. I trusted him with my life and my kid but never left them unattended. Any unknown dog is never a safe chance around children. Pits as a rule get a bad
rap and the news tend to call any mutt with muscles a pit bull. But a dog with size and strength can hurt children with just rough play never mind full blown agression and thats why any dog
owner with kids needs to be careful. Set boundaries and rules with your Dog that establish the kids as pack leaders and never treat the dog as anything but an animal. It’s not a little human folks it’s a dog. Applying human emotions to it will just confuse the dog and lead to trouble. A proper well socialized dog would never intentionaly hurt a child ( including a pit bull ) Although I know you said you don’t trust
pits but they truly are a great breed. I was just like you, I never would have bought one but I was
given one and couldn’t return him. It turned out to be the best dog I have ever owned and Ive had
lots. You sound like a good mom I only wish you knew a resposible pit owner as these poor dogs need all the good press they can get.
38. Jessica said:
February 27, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Now, I realize any dog can be an asshole, not just a perticular breed, but I’ve seen enough stories like the one posted above to take any chances. I gave that lady a good long glare as she took the dog away. The safety of my kids is waaaaay more important to me than hurting that lady’s feelings.
It’s called a leash, people. Use it![/quote]
LOL, Allison, you are too funny!!!
39. Jessica said:
February 27, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
40. KAREN said:
March 1, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
i just wanted to make one more comment about akitas and pitbulls. alot of people seem to think that these dogs just attack humans and animals. well i have a quick story….i was washing my dogs in the front yard over the weekend and two black labs had ran into my front yard, well my pitbull was lying in the sun, she seen the dogs come in and she chased them out of the yard (she did not leave the yard at all). so it really boils down to how the dogs are trained and along with how they were brought up….again these are wonderful dogs…give them a chance before you judge a book by its cover :O)
41. jacob said:
March 1, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
u dont know not thin about a pit if u think they are bad with kidz because i saw a web with over 100 kids go see it if you real think that at strongerthanall.com
42. karen said:
March 2, 2007 @ 11:13 am
honestly sweetie i have had over 4 pits in my life and never had a problem with one. you really should do some research on pitbull (no about them attacking) type in your seach engine and put pitbulls and health and you will see alot of facts about them.
43. Christina said:
March 9, 2007 @ 12:52 am
My husband and I have three children. Our children’s ages are 5, 6, and 7. I am very disgusted with the media in which has portrayed our society into thinking that ALL Bully Breed Dogs are vicious. Our American Pitt Bull is the one of the most loving, loyal, willing to please, intelligent animals. Jessica’s racist comments about “you’re amongst the majority of trash that does and nobody thinks, “Gee, a pit bull would be a GREAT family dog” is completely out there. One fact is intelligent people do research as well as the needs for a dog.
One, who does not want to be active or spend time to train a dog, will not get a Pitt Bull. Jessica I really wish that you would get more educated on Bully Breeds than to discriminate against all Pitt Bulls. My one daughter was bit by an American Cocker Spaniel but, we have an American Pitt Bull and our dog is her best friend! It is a shame that only the negative attention has portrayed these animals.
44. KAREN said:
March 9, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
i agree with christine jessica you are talking about a bully breed like you know what your talking about. have you ever been around a pitbull and have you done any research about this breed (besides reading attacks) please just for you own knowledge search the internet about the breed’s facts…not just websites that have negative information. and christine i know what your talking about when you say the dog is your daughters best friend. my daughter and pitbull are undetachable. well enjoy your dog and family, and i just wish everyone else would give this breed a chance.
45. Christina said:
March 11, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
Thank you Karen for agreeing with what I have written. Once our family did the research we knew the challenges that lied ahead. We wanted to make a difference in our society. My American Pitt Bull has completed Puppy Training. He is now in Intermediate Training, and Agility Training. I myself am working on becoming an Ambassador of Bully Breed Dogs.
Our one daughter is disabled and our dog “Rocky” her quote on quote “Best Friend” works with her. I will eventually have my dog certified. When I stated that “Bully Breeds are a lot of work; I meant it.” It was sad to see that Scholastic had a pole where they asked children should Bully Breeds Be Banned? 96% said yes. Reason being “my parents told me there bad dogs.” NOT GOOD ENOUGH PEOPLE. Educate your children and yourselves! Only 4% said no. Reason being children stated “It is not the dog’s fault.”
I guarantee you will see my name one day! I will fight tooth and nail to claim that these dogs are the most intelligent, willing to please, lovable dogs out there. Question for those people who want a lap dog or another type of breed; can you have people come over your house without telling someone “O watch out he or she bites?” I can tell people proudly “Look at my marvelous Rocky; he would not hurt a soul!”
46. Bebe said:
March 14, 2007 @ 1:05 am
TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY JANEL SCOTT, JESSICA & CARMINE–PLEASE READ….
TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATS–OVER 67% FATALITIES FROM ONE BREED (AS RICK NOTED EARLIER, AND WHICH I NOTED FROM SEVERAL SITES PRIOR TO COMING TO THIS ONE)?? COME ON PEOPLE–WAKE UP & SMELL THE COFFEE! I DID.
UNFORTUNEATELY, I DID SO AFTER OUR PIT/CHOW/LAB MIX BIT MY 12 YEAR OLD SON IN THE FACE–UNPROVOKED!! THIS DOG HAS BEEN DOCILE AND FRIENDLY AND SWEET SINCE DAY ONE. WE ADOPTED HIM FROM THE CITY SHELTER, WHICH HAD HIM NOTED AS A “LAB MIX.” HE LOOKS LIKE A CHOCOLATE LAB–CUTE AS A BUTTON. OPEN HIS MOUTH, HE HAS A PURPLE TONGUE, FAR BACK WHERE I COULD NOT SEE WHEN WE DECIDED TO ADOPT (FOR THIS REASON I ASSUME HE IS PART CHOW). AFTER HIS FIRST VET VISIT-VET SAID, “OH HE IS DEFINITELY PART PIT BULL”–HIS FACE HAS “PIT-BULL” WRITTEN ALL OVER IT!!
WELL, I BELIEVE WHAT MANY OF YOU PIT-LOVERS BELIEVED–IT’S THE OWNER, NOT THE BREED, TYPE OF MENTALITY. PLUS, THIS DOG WAS STILL VERY YOUNG WHEN WE ADOPTED HIM–6 MONTHS OLD, AND VERY TRAINABLE. WELL, TODAY HE IS 3 MONTHS OLD & OVER 30 POUNDS, COMES UP TO MY KNEES.
MY SON WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET AWAY & RECEIVED ONLY SUPERFICIAL CUTS TO HIS LOWER EYE, CHEEK, AND LIP. I DON’T EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT MY SWEET LITTLE BOY’S FACE WOULD LOOK LIKE NOW IF THIS DOG HAD LOCKED ONTO HIS FACE OR IF THE DOG WAS OLDER AND FASTER!!
WE’VE ONLY HAD THIS DOG A SHORT WHILE, AND WE LOVE HIM, BUT NOW I HAVE TO FIND A NEW HOME FOR HIM. THIS WAS A WAKE UP CALL FOR ME. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO BREAK THE NEWS TO MY CHILDREN, AS THEY HAVE RECENTLY LOST A YOUNG DOG POST SURGERY–THIS WILL BE ANOTHER HEART ACHE FOR ALL OF US TO BEAR. THE CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW YET, BUT I AM EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A GOOD HOME, NO-KILL SHELTER, OR RETURN HIM TO THE POUND. IT HURTS ME TO THINK OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO CHICO, BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I AM NOT WILLING TO TAKE THIS TYPE OF CHANCE WITH MY CHILDREN, WHO COME BEFORE ANY DOG, ANY TIME.
THOSE OF YOU THAT SAY THIS “BAD RAP” IS A RESULT OF “IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP”–I AGREE, PARTLY. BUT, THIS HERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT NOT BEING THE OWNER’S FAULT–IT’S THE BREED!!
MY POINT BEING THAT PIT BULLS ARE BRED TO BE AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS OTHER DOGS. DOGS NATURALLY RUN IN PACKS. OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE A PACK IN THE EYES OF CHICO–I AM THE ALPHA DOG. MY CHILDREN, IN THE EYES OF CHICO, ARE HIS PEERS, OR, DOGS JUST AS HIMSELF. AND THIS DOG BELIEVES THAT HE IS AN EQUAL TO MY CHILDREN (7,9,12 YEARS OLD)
IT’S ALL VERY SIMPLE. MY CHILDREN CAN NOT LIVE WITH THIS DOG. IT IS UNFORTUNEATE, BUT THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS. AND I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT PUT THIS DOG IN FRONT OF CHILDREN WITH THE HOPES THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
SOMEONE WHO WROTE EARLIER COULDN’T SAY IT BETTER. THEY SAID SOMETHING LIKE THIS. YES, ALL DOGS ARE ANIMALS AND HAVE THE POTENIAL TO BITE. HMMMM, LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS. DO I WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF A PIT BULL LOCKING HIS JAWS INTO ONE OF MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN’S FACES, OR A BREED WHOSE ANATOMY IS NOT AS POWERFUL (WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE A “SPECIAL” INSTRUMENT TO PRY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS) AND WITH A LESS AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITY TOWARDS “OTHER DOGS” WHO RUN IN HIS PACK (MY CHILDREN)??
MY POINT: PITS & CHILDREN DO NOT MIX. AT LEAST NOT IN MY HOUSE!!
47. animal lover said:
March 14, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Well Bebe unfortunatly your veterinarian has no clue on what breed or breeds your pet is mixed with. He is not a breed specialist he deals with the SCIENCE of how an animals body works. I own two American Pit Bull Terriers one male one female and one Pomeranian mix, guess which dog a veterinarian thought was a bird dog mix, my female APBT when she was ten months old. There is no way to know your dog’s breed unless you have a copy of the geneology history that only the breeder has. So for the dogs found on the street or at a shelter you might as well not even guess. It’s not fair that you blame the dogs behavior on the breed because all animals bite it’s up to you to have control over your animal and only allow them to do what YOU want. You have to treat dogs as what they are, DOGS, they are not your little babies as most would say. I personally would not leave my child alone with any dog no matter what it is because accidents happen and it would not be fair to blame the animal or the child. You have to be the leader for both. Take a look at the show DOG WHISPERER maybe you might have a different opinion. He has a pack of Pit Bulls and Rotties and CHILDREN.
For those who think banning or muzzeling the Rottweilers and Pit Bulls is a good idea to keep people from being attacked look at this website http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/Files/Information/Compare.pdf it shows the dog attack statistics. Looks like the next breeds to be demonized will be Labradors, German Shepherds, and Dobermans.
Rick the info the government published is dog attacks in general not one type so are you saying get rid of dogs. Also Rick about the Dog Fancy magazine that is DOG aggression NOT HUMAN aggression. If you would have done a LITTLE more research you would know that’s what they were bred for ORIGINALLY and it’s up to the owner to take the initiative to socialize the dog. Not everyone has the will or the capabilities to do what it takes to keep dogs and people out of the line of fire the nicest person can have an out of control dog or a mean child.
Again the owner has to be the leader and not confuse the dog with human emotions. Whether it’s a Pug or Pit doing the biting it does not make it right, you shouldn’t discriminate towards the bigger dog because you may think the smaller one is cuter.
48. KAREN said:
March 15, 2007 @ 11:46 am
I HAVE READ THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS ON HERE. NOW FOR CHRISTINA I THINK THAT IS SO WONDERFUL THAT THIS DOG IS THAT PRECIOUS TO YOUR DAUGHTER, THAT IS THE SWEETEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD. IM HAPPY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE BULLY BREEDS AND MAKE THEM SERVICE DOGS, THAT IS GREAT. HOPEFULLY PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT THESE DOGS ARE NOT BAD. ALSO FOR BEBE I AGREE WITH ANIMAL LOVER, YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT THE BREED IS FROM A SHELTER AND AGAIN YOU HAVE TO SHOW THE DOG WHO IS BOSS…ALL I KNOW THAT MY PIT BULL AND AKITA ARE GREAT AND I WOULD NEVER OWN ANY OTHER TYPE OF BREEDS. ALSO I HAVE A LADY WHO HAS A DAYCARE RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND THEY KIDS PLAY WITH MY DOGS ALL THE TIME (OF COURSE SUPERVISED) WELL THE DOGS ARE PROTECTIVE OF ALL THE KIDS THAT ARE OUTSIDE WITH THEM…THE KIDS ARE ALSO ABLE TO TAKE A BALL OR STICK FROM THE DOGS MOUTH AND PLAY WITH THEM. AGAIN ITS ALL IN THE OWNER. IM NOT SAYING THAT BEBE DID ANYTHING WRONG BUT YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE PEACE AND RESPECT BETWEEN THE CHILD AND DOG. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY ALL.
49. Sonia said:
March 15, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
Wow, touchy topic.
As a life-long fan of dogs, I can see how so many people have great things to say about pitbulls and other large dogs. But I think we all need to take a step back and see that Jessica has a GOOD POINT HERE. Yes, any dog can attack any person- provoked or not/ well-trained or not. Many posters have noted that, especially when mixed with children, who are also unpredictable, constant supervision is a must.
I support the idea that pit bulls can be just as sweet as a miniature poodle, but I’d prefer to have my child live a safer life surrounded by dogs that don’t have such powerful jaws. If my beagle attacked my 2 year old, her small jaw could only do surface damage, and my son would most likely survive (while my beagle would NOT). If a pit bull attacked my 2 year old, the dog would likely be able to crush his skull, tear off his limbs and do the sort of damage that most large breeds have the ability to do.
Love the pit bulls, and train them to be sweet and docile. But don’t hate me for being extra cautious when you walk by my child. It’s not a prejudice with malice; I wish only the best life for every breed of dog. It’s a prejudice with love for my child and everyone else’s; and the hope that someday we will stop hearing about how another child was killed, tortured and maimed by another large breed dog.
50. Sonia said:
March 15, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
And another thought to those who breed pit bulls and other large breeds who are known to be more aggressive: you know that you can tell what personality or temperament a puppy will likely have as an adult. If you breed pit bulls, and the like, and find a puppy with a severely dominant or aggressive temperament, I would suggest that you put them down.
After meeting with many breeders of various breeds, I know that puppies are put down for other defects, so don’t go all crazy on me for suggesting this. Our beagle was going to be put down for a jaw deformity, but we promised the breeder that she would be spayed and would never be touted as a ‘papered’ pure bred.
I think that having a group of pit bull (and such) breeders that are so passionate about the gentility of their breed that they will selectively breed for docile temperaments would do more for the so-called prejudice against “bullies” than anything else I can think of.
51. Michael said:
March 15, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Bebe your right, dogs do view us all as members of the pack but remember the dog is never treated as an equal to children but are always subordinate in the home pack pecking order. Our jobs as Pack leaders is to let the
Dog know he is subordinate to everyone in the home. Not by being mean or abusive just by being firm and consistant.
Your dog wasn’t a pit, it was a mutt or mix breed. When mixed breed dogs bite they are always called a ” pit bull type ” how many actual times has a purebred pit bitten a human being ? No one knows because its much easier to paint in broad strokes and call all these mixed breeds ” pit bull types “. How about Chow type or Lab type ? Nah doesn’t have the same ring for the 6 oclock news. Who we gonna scare with Chow type ? Simple facts are a shelter dog of uncertain blood has just been thrown in the same boat as purebred pit bulls and that’s not right.
To clear a few things up a Pits jaw does not
lock. The jaw strength / bite force of a pit is
just the same as most other breeds of comparable size. The only thing that keeps a pits jaw closed on whatever he’s biting on is determination and courage. Two traits that are the result of being bred to fight. When pits were in the dog fighting ring in the old days people had to be in there with them and that meant no human agression of any kind was tolerated. Human agressive pits were put down simply because they couldn’t make money if no one trusted them. Hundreds of years of this type of selective breeding and you end up with a breed that has a stronger than normal tendancy for dog agression but lower than normal human agression. They represented our country in world war 1 . Hellen Keller also owned one, I wonder what a deaf mute was doing with with the most dangerous dog in the world ? Pete from the old
black & white tv show ” Our Gang ” Man do you think Spanky and Alfalfa know how close they came to getting their throats torn out ?
Give us all a break folks these are just
dogs. Don’t throw every mix with muscles in the pit bull pot, it’s not fair. 67% ? Bullshit !
Bebe God bless you and your son, Im glad he’s
ok, but a Mutt bit your boy not a Pit.
52. KAREN said:
March 16, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
I FOUND THIS ARTICAL ON A SITE…PLEASE READ IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE THE BULLY BREAD. Excerpt:
The goal of pit-bull bans, obviously, isn’t to prohibit dogs that look like pit bulls. The pit-bull appearance is a proxy for the pit-bull temperament—for some trait that these dogs share. But “pit bullness” turns out to be elusive as well. The supposedly troublesome characteristics of the pit-bull type—its gameness, its determination, its insensitivity to pain—are chiefly directed toward other dogs. Pit bulls were not bred to fight humans. On the contrary: a dog that went after spectators, or its handler, or the trainer, or any of the other people involved in making a dogfighting dog a good dogfighter was usually put down. (The rule in the pit-bull world was “Man-eaters die.”)
[ed.: This is an example of what Temple calls 'informal selection pressures,' or culling.]
A Georgia-based group called the American Temperament Test Society has put twenty-five thousand dogs through a ten-part standardized drill designed to assess a dog’s stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness in the company of people. A handler takes a dog on a six-foot lead and judges its reaction to stimuli such as gunshots, an umbrella opening, and a weirdly dressed stranger approaching in a threatening way. Eighty-four per cent of the pit bulls that have been given the test have passed, which ranks pit bulls ahead of beagles, Airedales, bearded collies, and all but one variety of dachshund. “We have tested somewhere around a thousand pit-bull-type dogs,” Carl Herkstroeter, the president of the A.T.T.S., says. “I’ve tested half of them. And of the number I’ve tested I have disqualified one pit bull because of aggressive tendencies. They have done extremely well. They have a good temperament. They are very good with children.” It can even be argued that the same traits that make the pit bull so aggressive toward other dogs are what make it so nice to humans. “There are a lot of pit bulls these days who are licensed therapy dogs,” the writer Vicki Hearne points out. “Their stability and resoluteness make them excellent for work with people who might not like a more bouncy, flibbertigibbet sort of dog. When pit bulls set out to provide comfort, they are as resolute as they are when they fight, but what they are resolute about is being gentle. And, because they are fearless, they can be gentle with anybody.”
Then which are the pit bulls that get into trouble? “The ones that the legislation is geared toward have aggressive tendencies that are either bred in by the breeder, trained in by the trainer, or reinforced in by the owner,” Herkstroeter says. A mean pit bull is a dog that has been turned mean, by selective breeding, by being cross-bred with a bigger, human-aggressive breed like German shepherds or Rottweilers, or by being conditioned in such a way that it begins to express hostility to human beings. A pit bull is dangerous to people, then, not to the extent that it expresses its essential pit bullness but to the extent that it deviates from it.
Catherine speaking: over Christmas vacation, we visited Bob B., who is one of our best friends in Los Angeles. Bob and his family have become devoted lovers of pit bulls - they have 3 of them!
Having met those dogs, we’ve become pit bull devotees, too. They are incredible dogs, astonishingly focused on humans. Vicki Hearne is right: the dogs we met were fearless, resolute, and gentle.
Unfortunately, given the fact that criminal breeders are now deliberately mixing dog-aggressive pit bulls with human-aggressive breeds like the Akita, I’d be too nervous to buy or rescue a pit bull myself. I wouldn’t feel confident that we’d be able to know what kind of genetic mix we were getting. We have 3 kids, two of them with autism; plus we have lots of kids coming to the house; and we have lots of neighborhood dogs walking by. Bob lives in Topanga Canyon where he can keep his dogs separate from other people and other dogs.
So we’re going to be living a pit bull-free life for the foreseeable future.
But these are incredible animals.
53. KAREN said:
March 17, 2007 @ 11:11 am
HERE IS SOME MORE POSTIVE INFO ABOUT PIT BULLS
little dogs bite more often. big dogs don’t bite AS often, but they kill sometimes, so they get a bad rap.
taken from fataldogattacks.com-but remember, the fatal ones aren’t representative of all dog BITES.
“FATAL DOG ATTACKS”
The Stories Behind the Statistics
by Karen Delise
THE STATISTICS - FATAL DOG ATTACKS IN THE U.S. FROM 1965 - 2001 *
The study covers 431 documented human fatalities from a dog attack.
Location of Attack
25% of all fatal attacks were inflicted by chained dogs
25% resulted from dogs loose in their yard
23% occurred inside the home
17% resulted from attacks by dogs roaming off their property
10% involved leashed dogs or miscellaneous circumstances
Number of Dogs
68% of all fatal attacks were inflicted by a single dog
32% was the result of a multiple dog attack
Victim Profile
79% of all fatal attacks were on children under the age of 12
12% of the victims were the elderly, aged 65 - 94
9% of the victims were 13 - 64 years old
The age group with the highest number of fatalities were children under the age of 1 year old; accounting for 19% of the deaths due to dog attack. Over 95% of these fatalities occurred when an infant was left unsupervised with a dog(s).
The age group with the second-highest number of fatalities were 2-year-olds; accounting for 11% of the fatalities due to dog attack. Over 87% of these fatalities occurred when the 2-year-old child was left unsupervised with a dog(s) or the child wandered off to the location of the dog(s).
Boys aged 1 - 12 years old were 2.5 times more likely to be the victim of a fatal dog attack than girls of the same age.
Reproductive Status of Dogs
Overwhelmingly, the dogs involved in fatal dog attacks were unaltered males.
From 2000-2001 there were 41 fatal dog attacks. Of these, 28 were attacks by a single dog and 13 fatalities were caused by multiple dogs.
Of the 28 single dogs responsible for a fatal attack between 2000-2001;
26 were males and 2 were females. Of the 26 males, 21 were found to be intact (the reproductive status of the remaining 5 males dogs could not be determined).
this is from a different site, but once again, only FATALITIES
# registered No. of Fatal Attacks Breed Percentage
240,000 12 Chow Chow .705%
800,000 67 German Shepherds .008375%
960,000 70 Rottweiler .00729%
128,000 18 Great Dane .01416 %
114,000 14 Doberman .012288%
72,000 10 St. Bernard .0139%
5,000,000 60 American Pit Bull .0012%
Only registered dogs were included. In this finding, the number of the breed is expressed
first, then the number of fatal attacks by the breed and the percentage of dogs in that
breed who administered the fatal attack.
54. KAREN said:
March 28, 2007 @ 11:15 am
hello jessica have you done any research on this breed yet? if so what have you found out. have a wonderful day all.
55. Christina said:
April 3, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Karen I am happy that you showed some statistical numbers. I would like to also know geographically the statistics. For Sonya, yes this is a very touchy topic indeed. This gets people more educated though. I believe that some people who write have no idea about the Pitt Bull are being ignorant. For you, you understand that yes Pitt Bulls can be dangerous if not properly trained. Regardless of what breed a large dog is you prefer not to go near one of them.
A question for all people on this site who are afraid, non educated about the bully breed, and completely judgmental: What will you do if you are in the hospital, regardless if you were in an accident, critically ill, and so on, and someone like me who has a certified helping dog which happens to be a Pitt Bull to help you; will you finally get it through your head, or freak out ignoring the fact the hard work and training the dog has gone through?
What will people do when the Pitt Bull is gone? The media will portray another dog as a killer and society will then ban that breed. What one does not realize is yes big dogs have big teeth and jaws, but little dogs such as the cocker spaniel bites more frequently and aggressively. When asking a veterinarian one will say yes small dogs are much worse. One has to understand how much social activity any dog needs. If people would take the time out to actually walk his or her dog, get him or her trained, maybe put him or her into a Doggy Daycare, one will see life in a new perspective.
Please people understand CAPS means you are yelling. Please calm down, take a step away from the computer, collect your thoughts, and then write. You are just getting your self and everyone else upset. I can understand that one does not want his or her child around a Pitt Bull. OK get on with your life. Also you have to understand you all are talking about MIX breeds. I am speaking of the Full Blooded American Pitt Bull. When you have mixed breeds they also need a lot of interaction with society and other dogs. I personally did not get a mix breed because I would then have to know the ins and outs of the different kinds of breeds in my one animal.
Bebe you can not live with a Pitt Bull. Where are you getting your statistical figures? You stated “MY POINT BEING THAT PIT BULLS ARE BRED TO BE AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS OTHER DOGS.” My take is; Society would rather believe that Pitt Bulls are born blood thirsty killers, rather than understand that this is due to cruel training techniques. I know that I did not have a breeder breed just to raise aggressive fighting dogs. I understand how upset you must be to have a dog like this attack your child. The fact of the matter is though is that you had a Pitt Chow Lab mix. THIS IS NOT A PURE PITT BULL!!!!!!!!!!
Anything can happen regardless of what breed of dog. For dog owners to get a dog and not have done his or her research on what the back ground of the breed he or she is getting shame on you. When ever someone gets a dog a lot of research should go into what the dog needs, should have, and what the owner should do. So do not be bias against the owners of pure Pitt Bulls because we know and understand what our dogs need! We did our homework and give our pets what they need. We took that responsibility when we brought our pet home.
56. Deirdre said:
April 17, 2007 @ 10:50 am
I completely agree with the last comment. It is all in how you train a pitbull. Obviously the statistics are going to be high for pitbull attacks, when many people TRAIN them to attack. A pitbull is not inherently an evil dog, it is the person that makes it that way. I also think that you should volunteer at the SPCA, or another animal shelter, and learn for yourself that these dogs have the best demeanor, and they deserve better.
57. Cody said:
April 20, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
Its really just this bad name they’ve gotten. There’s been so many attacks involving pitbulls because they’re so popularly turned vicious. And when these dogs get mean, they can really hurt someone. The stories are so bad, they get put all over the news. People get scared, and everyone starts thinking that pitbulls should be banned. Also, Golden Retrievers scored lower on the Temperment test than pitbulls. But noone says Goldies are bad. Its all about this media.
58. Christina said:
April 21, 2007 @ 8:18 am
Substandard quality of life for the Pitt Bull is an outrage. Cruel methods of training
techniques have left the Pitt Bull Terrier group as the main attraction in society. As the media
feeds society with listed Pitt Bull attacks the media fails to indicate how these animals have been brought up, or even why these incidents happen. Ultimately leaving these individual uneducated about these breeds, but leaving him or her feared, ready to discriminate, ban, and kill these animals. Pitt bulls are not born these viscous killers that they are made out to be; rather they are made.
Regardless of a breed no child should be left alone with an animal though. Children have a tendancy to pull, yank, and so on. But this is where the media strives off of a dog just acting out.
59. Karen said:
May 8, 2007 @ 10:40 am
good afternoon all. just another true story the other day my friend and her child were over and her son is 3 years old. he accidently pulled on my dogs neck and she yellped, i thought she was going to do something. the only thing she did was stand up and shoved the kid with her nose and moved. see again pitbulls are not all bad. i just like to share this information with people that do not know facts about the pitbull and believe all pitbulls are bad. have a wonderful day chritina. how is your daughter doing :O) good i hope. bye bye for now :O)
60. cecilia said:
May 13, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
I began to read this and it just went on and on. Just wanted to add that my pit/rottie mix is my 2 daughter’s “big brother” according to them. he is afraid of his own shadow, and did nothing but wag his tail when 1) fire fighters had to break open the door of the apartment he was staying in when the buiding went on fire and 2) another apartment was having some work done and complete strangers broke through the drywall with sledge hammers. I thought you might all get a kick out of how dangerous he is.
61. Larson Hicks said:
May 14, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Why not push for a law that is stricter on holding dog-owners responsible for their pets’ actions? I would happy sign a petition or vote to pass a law permitting the death penalty for dog-related deaths or injuries. I’ve got a 3 year old pit bull that I bought after doing lots of research on dog breeds and have been amazed - she is by far the best dog I’ve ever known - athletic, obedient, great with kids, adults, dogs, cats. We have a 2 year old and a 10 month old at home and she is as delicate and conscious of them as any person. The idea of stereotyping a dog based on breeding that has done nothing more than produce a certain shape, size, and temperament (which is obedient and eager to please) is like wanting to legislate against certain races - why don’t we look at the statistics and see what the demographics of prison look like, then legislate against whatever race comes out on top?! Ridiculous!
62. mitch said:
May 18, 2007 @ 11:42 am
PITBULLS are dog aggresive not people and this can be cured with the simplist training it is not the dog but the owners to be responble to take that simple step the sad think is a bunch drug dealers and thugs miss use this breed and this gives the dog a bad name its a satisic fact that labs are more likly to bite you then a true pitbull and i have raised 3 children and my grand children and a few nephews around the breed over the last 20yrs and i would not own another breed of dog ever and i have raised many breeds of dogs and by far the pitbull is superior among the k-9 breed i challenge you to own 1 then see if you have a change of heart
63. Jessica said:
May 18, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
I’d much rather advocate for the safety of children over a dog with a genetic mutation which makes it predisposed to aggression.
64. animal lover said:
May 21, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
If you believe pit bulls are more of a libility to children, why own any pet? All of them have the potential to hurt a child. The first women to get a face transplant was due to her dog attacking her and it wasn’t a pit bull. Your reasoning seems to be bias. It doesn’t make any sense to me. Safety of children is important but animals are living breathing beings who have emotions not expressed through our way of communicating. Does that make them less important? Who are you to say that one of Gods creatures do not deserve to live? Our country is based on the higher power and also freedom to live.
65. animal lover said:
May 21, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
If you believe pit bulls are more of a libility to children, why own any pet? All of them have the potential to hurt a child. The first women to get a face transplant was due to her dog attacking her and it wasn’t a pit bull. Your reasoning seems to be bias. It doesn’t make any sense to me. Safety of children is important but animals are living breathing beings who have emotions not expressed through our way of communicating. Does that make them less important? Who are you to say that one of Gods creatures do not deserve to live? Our country is based on the higher power and also freedom to live.
66. pitbull luver said:
May 22, 2007 @ 11:37 am
listen all you pit bull haters i have two of my own and they are really sweet dogs if you raise them the right way if you have a chaotic home then they are going to be very chaotic but if your home is calm then they will be in all situations so before you go and judge a breed of dog or any animals you need to stop and think about all the positives instead of just the negatives ind balance them up just becuz a pits look scary doesnt mean anything
don’t judge unless you wannabe judged
inferring all pitbulls are aggressive and might as well as be a tiger or bear
your bascilly saying nigger only refers to black people and it doesn’t
67. Ciarán said:
May 22, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Lots of “I have lived around pit bulls for 20 years and had kids” stories, but then my grandad smoked 40 cigs a day and lived to be 96, still wasn’t a good idea though, and there are always exceptions.
Asessica said, it only takes one moment and the consequences are drastic or deadly.
68. pitbull luver said:
May 23, 2007 @ 10:25 am
just because your grandpa smoked 40 pack of cigs a day that doesn’t change the fact that these dogs are being judged because of their breed. they can’t help it if they were born the breed they were its not right to punsih such dogs i think anyone who discriminates oghta have the crap beat out of them. pitbulls look mean but they aren’t they are absolutely innocent when brought up right
69. lisa said:
May 23, 2007 @ 11:15 am
They’re smart, too! Apparently one of them has learned how to type.
70. meg said:
May 23, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
There is no need for that shit Lisa, everyone has a right to there own opinion. That was dirty.
71. pitbull luver said:
May 24, 2007 @ 8:30 am
they are smaert my pitbull brings me my cellphone when it is ringing my keys when i am leaving and knows how to climb the fence like puts her paw in the links and climbs.
my other one listens really well she obeys me becuz i traind her
pitbulls are very obiedient dogs
72. Jessica said:
May 26, 2007 @ 10:27 am
my other one listens really well she obeys me becuz i traind her
pitbulls are very obiedient dogs[/quote]
Yep.
That ’bout sums it up right there.
73. anthromomma said:
May 26, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
Lol, Jessica.
74. animal lover said:
May 28, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Hi Jessica you seem to ignore non emotional arguments made about pit bulls and other dogs. Do you only respond to the emotional pit bull owner speaking about how their dog is? Then you add a “smart” comment or two. Why bring up a topic if you are not willing to listen to rational speaking or debate. Is it that you yourself have no real argument?What do you have to say about the comments on numbers 47, 52, 53, 64?
75. A. G. said:
May 28, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
[quote comment="85551"]What do you have to say about the comments on numbers 47, 52, 53, 64?[/quote]
I think this boring fucking debate has gone on way too long. Shit! Even cheese has a fucking expiration date!
76. T. D. B. said:
May 29, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
The pit bull’s unusual breeding history has produced some bizarre behavioral traits, described by The Economist’s science editor in an article published a few years ago, at the peak of a heated British controversy over dangerous dogs that saw the pit bull banned in England.
First, the pit bull is quicker to anger than most dogs, probably due to the breed’s unusually high level of the neurotransmitter L-tyrosine.
Second, pit bulls are frighteningly tenacious; their attacks frequently last for 15 minutes or longer, and nothing…hoses, violent blows or kicks…can easily stop them. That’s because of the third behavioral anomaly: the breed’s remarkable insensitivity to pain.
Most dogs beaten in a fight will submit the next time they see the victor. Not a defeated pit bull, who will tear into his onetime vanquisher!!! This, too, has to do with brain chemistry.
The body releases endorphins as a natural painkiller. Pit bulls are extra-sensitive to endorphins and generate higher levels of these chemicals than other dogs. Endorphins are also addictive: “The dogs may be junkies, seeking pain so they can get the endorphin buzz they crave,” The Economist suggests.
Finally, most dogs warn you before they attack, growling or barking to tell you how angry they are—”so they don’t have to fight,” ASPCA advisor and animal geneticist Stephen Zawistowski stresses. Not the pit bull, which attacks without warning.
Most dogs, too, will bow to signal that they want to frolic. Again, not the pit bull, which may follow an apparently playful bow with a lethal assault.
Geneticist Zawistowski gives the upshot: “Irresponsible breeders have let the dogs’ block against being aggressive to people disappear. They’ve created a kind of pit bull with what I call `undifferentiated aggression.”
A Milwaukee man learned this the hard way in January, when he tried to break up a fight between his two pit bulls and had one forearm ripped off and the other so badly mauled that doctors later had to amputate it.
These bull-and-terrier crosses became renowned for fighting prowess and soon were the only dogs used in organized dog fighting in England and later in the United States. To preserve the bull-and-terrier’s pugnacious traits, the dogs were bred only to dogs of the same cross. Thus was born the pit-bull terrier.
Pit bulls have become enmeshed in the brutality of underclass culture, magnifying the breed’s predisposition to aggression.
You all wanted homework….please do yours prior to calling others “ignorant”.
77. animal lover said:
May 29, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
[quote comment="85606"]
I think this boring fucking debate has gone on way too long. Shit! Even cheese has a fucking expiration date![/quote]
What is your purpose? Do you have some issues needed to be worked out other than pit bulls? Why are you even on the site if it bores you? How much sense does that make? It’ll be okay don’t worry just don’t hurt anyone for talking about it. I’ll pray for you.
[quote comment="85967"]The pit bull’s unusual breeding history has produced some bizarre behavioral traits, described by The Economist’s science editor in an article published a few years ago, at the peak of a heated British controversy over dangerous dogs that saw the pit bull banned in England.
You all wanted homework….please do yours prior to calling others “ignorant”.[/quote]
Thank you for doing your homework. You have proved everyone or anyone should not own a pit bull. If one does choose to own one of these animals they should do their homework as well. Responsible, knowledgeable people should be the only ones to own this powerful breed. Some of those “facts” were a little exagerated, because every last person would have been attacked by their own dog. High pain tolerence is also a good thing due to the fact if someone were to mistakingly pinch or hit the dog they would not be bothered. I have to ask though, how many sources did you use? Will you list those for me?
78. trae said:
June 1, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
your lack of information is matched only by your obvious bias.
and yes, we’re another family with a breed considered “weapons of mass destruction” (really? are you proud of that piece of literary triumph?)
79. JKAT said:
June 4, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
I HAVE 5 PITBULLS THEY ARE THE BEST DOGS I HAVE EVER HAD I AM IN LOVE WITH THE BREED AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN WHEN I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER HOME FROM THE HOSP. I WHENT AND GOT MY FRIST ONE HER NAME WAS TIA SHE WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT TELLING ME WHEN THE BABY WAS CRYING IF I WAS OUTSIDE OR IN THE OTHER ROOM SOON AS THE BABY OPENED HER EYES TIA WOULD COME AND GET ME TIA PASS AWAY IN 98 NOW I HAVE 5 PITS AND 5 KIDS MY YOUNG’S IS 7 AND HE LOVES TO PLAY BALL WITH THEM JASMINE IS HIS DOG SHE IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD MY POINT IS THAT IT IS NOT THE DOG IT IS THE DUMBASS PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEM TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THEM AND DON’T KNOW HOW TO TREAT THEM YOU JUST CAN’T GET ONE AND TIE HIM UP AND DON’T PLAY WITH HIM OR FEED HIM THEY NEED LOVE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE DOES
80. pitbull luver said:
June 6, 2007 @ 10:11 am
now who is this jessica bitch she don’t know me to be being a smart ass animal luver you tell it how it is the dumbass jessica is just wanting attention so she has to get everyone in the world hyped up about it.
always
the blonde with two pitbulls
81. vicky said:
June 6, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Whew! Thank goodness you clarified you were a blonde. By the look of the nonsense writing and the lack of captal letters and punctuation, I thought an actual pitbull had made its way to its owner’s keyboard in defense of itself.
82. Jessica said:
June 6, 2007 @ 11:20 am
83. I LOVE My Pitbull said:
June 6, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
I’ve had my pitbull for 5 years now and he is the most gentle dog I’ve ever had. Every night we get into bed together and I smear peanut butter all over myself and he licks it off me SO gently! He would never think of hurting me and that’s why I love my pitbull!
84. Jessica said:
June 6, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
Far be it from me to stick up for all those classy pit bull owners, but c’,mon, don’tch’ya have anything better to do?
85. Lori said:
June 6, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
[quote comment="60601"]From a special edition of “Dog Fancy” magazine, which was issued under the title “Bully Breeds,” Vol. 21, published in 2002, (ph. 949 855 8822) I read the following:
“The largest problem