Golden retriever don't make the news because for the most part they don't kill people.

Whenever I read a terrible story like this I blame the parents.

I don't care what breed the dog is, you never leave a baby or toddler alone with a dog..not even a small dog. Dogs are animals and no matter how much a part of your family they are, they are still animals!

So are golden retrievers, but they never seem to make the news

Take a look at any dog bite statistic website. Any one. Every single one lists the pit bull, by a wide margin, responsible for more attacks and fatalities than any other breed. The only other that even comes close are wolf hybrids.

Amanda,

These dogs are breed to kill whereas a Golden Retriever is a family dog. This is a dog that should no longer be breed, fatalities are WAY to common from this dog. Sure it won't take long for someone to REpost fatality facts (Thanks in advance)

I say, best just by a goldfish next time.

This story sucks. I hate it that this type of thing happens so...

Yup, I agree with Sally in Chicago. There is no way on this green earth that I would ever leave a baby and a pitbull in the same place. The story did say that it was a family member though. It could have been a sibling who doesn't even have the same instinct about this sort of thing that a parent might. Add to that the distraction of the police visit and you have a situation.

God be with the family.

Go away with your idiotic ideas.

You cherry-picked one old report. Do a search....I dare you. I did just before I posted to be sure I was right...I am. Of course there were less pit bull attacks back when that report was filed....there weren't as many pit bulls owned when it was done.

You know who name calls? People that know they have no argument.

Alex:

Purebred pits bred by licensed, responsible breeders are almost universally calm, even tempered, well-mannered and non-aggressive. They breed for intelligence, strength, even temperaments and I have never seen an aggressive, out-of-control purebred in five years of volunteering and a year on Animal Control dispatch for an inner-city municipality.

It's the ones who are produced by backyard breeders and ghetto breeders (who breed for the enlarged adrenal gland in order to use them for fighting) and then encourage production of rampant testosterone by not only leaving the male intact, but also with massive shots of steroids, maltreatment and abuse. These backyard-bred dogs can make good pets, but without knowing temperament of parents and what sort of home situation the parents were in, the puppy is an unknown quality.

In cases like these it is rarely ever the exclusive fault of the dog, nor the exclusive fault of the owner. There has to be poor genetics on the dog's part and poor ownership (and possibly poor genetics) on the owner's side as well. And the poor genetics on the do's side is rarely ever the dog's fault--the dogs' parents live with people and people can prevent them having puppies.

I've had dogs for 40 years and also have trained dogs. I can tell you certain breeds are genetically more aggressive, period. Just like, cats. Would you put a well trained cougar in your house? No, the cougar will not behave like your tabby. Get real, people. Pit Bulls do have more aggressive genetics.

I was at the local Animal Shelter a couple days ago--the Pit Bulls there scared me and I'm usually not afraid of dogs. Several were extremely aggressive, charging at people walking by (thank goodness for strong cages) and a few others just glared malevolently at the people. Not one of the 7 or 8 there acted even remotely gentle or friendly. No thank you! I will leave the Pit Bulls at the shelter!

"Purebred pits bred by licensed, responsible breeders are almost universally calm, even tempered, well-mannered and non-aggressive."

We've heard that from every owner of a Pit Bull that's attacked someone. But Office He's always been " calm, even tempered, well-mannered and non-aggressive" I just don't understand it.

Pit bulls are just misunderstood, they say. They get unfairly depicted as prone to mauling people and other animals, they say. Other breeds attack and/or kill people just as much as or more than pit bulls, they say.

Uh huh. Sure. That's why we almost always hear only about pit bulls killing people when it comes to dog attacks, because the news simply doesn't cover the deaths of humans at the hands of any other animals. Just pit bulls.

Bull. @!$%#.

Across the street from us is an inbred yellow lab female that has been determined BY THE POLICE to be agressive and potentially dangerous. The owners built a fence to stop the visual menacinig the dog was doing and they have been taken to court, and fined TWICE and they still have the dog....OWNERS are the problem...dogs like the pit that killed the boy or this local piece of dog crap should be controlled by the OWNERS.

Pit bull breeds (there are more than one, "Pit Bull" is not a breed) were once the most common American family dog...Pete the Pup was a pit bull (Little Rascals).

WorldTravel07, you are an idiot and you must be a terrible animal trainer. How can you compare a cougar that is born in the wild to a cat that is born to be in a home? Dogs are made to be man's best friend. Wolves are born in the wild. If a wolf did this, it wouldn't be shocking as they are wild animals. Dometicated dogs are not wild animals. WILD humans bread dogs that behave like them. Like, again, in this story. At least one of the adults in the "domestic dispute" is aggressive. That energy is transfered to the dog who then acts aggressive and I am positive this aggressive behavior has been in the home a long time and the dog was never trained to not behave this way.

People that own pitbulls are trying to make up for their own short comings, little dick, low self esteem, no guts, under educated and any amount of crap people can make up to own these dogs. Pitbulls were bred to kill, it's their instinct.

Well, I rescued a little pit girl, she is never mean - I also rescued an Italian Mastiff - or Cane Corso, he is a huge sweetie, bred to fight along side a Roman soldier...I can't trust him with any person but myself - yet he loves my other dogs...

Let's talk about Cocker Spaniels - they seem to have their own "Cocker Rage Syndrome" ... along with Rage from a Lhasa Apsos - family dogs!!!!

I do not have "a dick," I am very well educated - thanks (think beyond Graduate School - although I do have an MBA as well). My little pit (she was dumped way too young) only lives to be under a blanket, and lick my German Shepherd... so stop with the stereotyping.

I have 5 dogs - all on a watch list, Doberman mix, Shepherds, Pitt bull and the Mastiff (another - I like to sleep all day dog). They are wonderful dogs, they have never bit another dog or person....BUT I also have a double 6 ft fence so little arms (I lived next to some bratty children before - ) can NEVER reach the dogs - even though my neighbors don't have children - they are house dogs and never left alone outside, and I don't have children.

I have family who has a vicious shih tzu - yes, it bit me.... Pitt Bulls are not bad - you can have bad owners...who puts a 3 month old unattended on an adult bed? I thought cribs were for babies that young!

All that said - would I trust a child randomly around my dogs - NO, I wouldn't trust an adult either. I have to go with "it's not the dog, it's the owner!"

Any dog can and will bite humans. I know because my cousin and I used to torment my grandmother's chihuahua when we were very young and it would latch on to our ankles. But pit bulls are prone to deadly attacks, that's why they always make the news. Pit bulls have killed adults - unprovoked. There is a law in Texas now about keeping your dog, of any breed, properly restrained either in a fenced yard or your house because a pack of pit bulls owned by the 78 year old woman's neighbor attacked her while she was mowing her yard on a riding lawnmower. She died at the scene. She never saw them coming for her.

The county filed criminal charges and convicted the man, but it was overturned on appeal because there was no law to charge the man under - hence the new law. Successful prosecutions have been carried out under this new law. However, this pit bull was restrained in the owners house. That law was not violated in this case. I suspect a family member will be charged under reckless endangerment of a child.

I agree that owners have a great responsibility to the training and control of their dogs (regardless of breed). Me, I have a doberman who is sweet and well socialized with other dogs and humans, but I am always watchful when she shows signs of dislike for anyone. So far the only dogs that have been a problem for me have been unaltered pit bulls (both male and female). So far we've been attacked in our front yard and at the dog park (three times in one year). Fortunately neither of us were hurt, but we sure were scared. For those of you who defend your Pit, do the rest of us a favor and spay or neuter (My Miss Copper is spayed). The world will be a safer place.

BP said;

I pretty sure your baby is safe in a room with a poodle or one of them there taco dogs or any number of dogs.

Heh. Tell that to the delivery guy in my municipality who lost a testicle to a chihuahua pack. the pack had been a neighborhood nuisance for years, their owner was one of those you simply cat reason with. The two oldest were the mothers of the two in the middle, but the two youngest were a product of a daughter mating with her own father. those Chis are not safe with ANYONE. They've killed and eaten cats and attacked other dogs in the neighborhood (including pits.) their owner is fighting to make sure we don't euthanize them after the VDHB hearing because she says her darlings wouldn't have hurt the delivery guy if he hadn't been in their yard.

Well she shouldn't have ordered a pizza knowing the dogs were in the yard and that there has been six years worth of animal control complaints, fines, citations and court cases for The Pack attacking people, children other dogs and cats. The nastiest are the two youngest for whom the father is also the grandfather.

Just because a dog is an "animal" doesn't mean it will eat your baby. Oh and People are animals also so I guess you can't leave your baby with anybody.

Look at all the pedophiles, child molesters and babies dying because the babysitter shook them. Look at abuse in daycares. Nope. Can't leave our kids with anyone. I have a son who's autistic. Absolutely can't leave him with just anyone.

American Pitbulls are a dangerous breed. BP said it, every Pitbull owner will say "Mine is calm, even tempered, first time" Look at the numbers! How can you say there is no correlation??

These dogs are breed for fights (hence the name). Programming dictates their actions. Needs to stop being breed. Period.

There is nothing wrong with this breed. Pit Bulls are great pets. It's the media that never reports on attacks by other breeds that makes Pit Bulls seem vicious.

As with any dog, the behavior is a direct result of the owner and the discipline.

Like greyhounds are bred for racing, Labs are bred as bird dogs, Pit Bulls are bred for fighting unfortunately. But if not subjected to this type of training or negative environment, they make great companions.

I trust my Pitt over my Mastiff - any day! If the dog does not have a human alpha leader, the dog will take the position - any dog will, large dogs, dogs running in packs and dogs with a "lock jaw" like a pitt ARE dangerous if their human beats them OR loves them so much they forget it's a dog NOT a child. Dogs need boundaries - not flexi-leashes with their omega owner trailing behind....get a grip!

What's sad is that some with consider these owners victims. They are hurting right now but they gambled with their babies life and are now paying the price . . . . .

I pretty sure your baby is safe in a room with a poodle or one of them there taco dogs or any number of dogs.

You clearly know nothing about dogs.

Just because a breed is named Poodle, doesn't mean it's as cute as its name is. Poodles are an aggressive breed. Also, those "taco dogs" as you call them, can be very anti social.

Just concede the fact that any breed can be a threat to a baby.

Enma said:

I was at the local Animal Shelter a couple days ago--the Pit Bulls there scared me and I'm usually not afraid of dogs.

Several were extremely aggressive, charging at people walking by (thank goodness for strong cages)

Some things to think bout;

1) Were they charging at the cage walls with fur bristling, teeth showing, snarling and growling?

2) Could they just have been hoping for someone--anyone--to take them out of the cage for a little while?

3) Could they have been lunging because that's the only exercise they get all day?

4) Were they young enough to have lot of energy with nowhere and nothing to expend it on?

5) Were there toys to keep them mentally stimulated and prevent boredom?

6) Does that shelter have volunteers who walk the dogs, let them out to run and play? Or are they just stuck in a cage 24/7?

7) Are there enough volunteers to make sure the dogs get out? (Here's a hint--if there was fecal matter on the floor that dog has not been able to get out of that age in hours.)

and a few others just glared malevolently at the people. Not one of the 7 or 8 there acted even remotely gentle or friendly.

Now, if there were only seven or eight, then chances are also fairly good that they were all pulled from the same home, may even have been pulled from a dog fighting situation. Such dogs would not make good pets, but they can't be euthanized until the court case is over. They may also have been sitting in their kennels for so long having not been adopted that they could have developed 'cage rage'.

No thank you! I will leave the Pit Bulls at the shelter!

You cannot judge an entire breed of dog by how they react when they are in 'doggie prison'. Just like a Martian wouldn't be able to judge all humans by seeing how the ones in prison behave. You would need to see a number of them in all different settings before you could make the determination to never trust one of the breed.

Amanda the point still stands. Answer this for me, if you had a 10 month old child would you rather leave it with a poodle or a pitbull. All other things constant, I would love to hear your answer.

Spare the f*&% out of me, Pa-leeeze. Those who say pit bulls are no more dangerous than any other breed need to have their personal parts covered in gravy and put in a cage full of pit bulls. Why don't you place a bunch of loaded guns in the house and invite a bunch of three year olds over. You never hear of a cocker spaniel killing a baby, or a poodle, or a beagle. People who choose pit bulls as pets are making a statement - "I'm weak and afraid. My self esteam needs to be bolstered by the presence of this fearsome animal. I'm a jerk".

Sorry Amanda for singling you out but your statement - "Golden retriever grabbed a baby who was sleeping in a swing and dismembered it late last year. Packs of wild beagles terrorize neighborhoods located near hunting grounds--they didn't perform the way their hunter/owners wanted them to so the hunter abandons them, they form feral packs and terrorize people" just may be one of the most asinine things I've ever read here.

Even if what you say is true, you've selected out some highly unusual events which do not represent even the smallest example of the typical behaviour for these animals.

"Judging a dog by another dogs actions is like judging a person that knows a
murderer...pointless. And it makes you look like an @!$%#."

Some of you scared people need to pull your heads out of your ass. Very fast. You are liable to choke on all that bs you have stored up.

How idiotic, anyone who owns a pitbull does so because they feel weak and want people to see their dogs and think omg please guys do not mess with him, hes a pure bad ass... give me a damn break you clueless people.

Fubo I agree with you on Pitbull's being the most dangerous dog, but you are WAY out of line to say that about gravy and cages. This is a rational conversation, leave if you can't behave less savage than the animals we are speaking about.

Pit Bulls are bred for agression, they are a coiled spring that can snap at any time and have no place in a family home.

Pit bulls are a vicious and worthless breed. Kill all pit bulls.

BP said:

We've heard that from every owner of a Pit Bull that's attacked someone. But Office He's always been " calm, even tempered, well-mannered and non-aggressive" I just don't understand it.

I have dealt with a lot of pits through volunteering at the animals shelter and working at Animal Control. I have heard that from the owner of every animal that has ever bitten anyone (except one, he was dead.) I have never heard this from a licensed, registered, dog show breeder of purebred pits.

Without a single exception every pit bull I have heard that about has been a backyard-bred mutt.

Alex said:

Amanda the point still stands. Answer this for me, if you had a 10 month old child would you rather leave it with a poodle or a pitbull. All other things constant, I would love to her your answer.

I'm not leaving a child in the same room unattended with either. I believe I've said that all over this message thread. NEVER EVER LEAVE A CHILD OF ANY AGE WITH AN ANIMAL of ANY KIND!!!

For the sake of argument though...

How long have I known the poodle? How long have I known the pit? How old are they? Are they male or female? Are they backyard bred or purebred? Has either one had shots, vet care, neutered/spayed? Have either been around children before? Been raised around or with children by responsible owners? Is there a gate between the room the baby is in and the dog?

Fubo said:

You never hear of a cocker spaniel killing a baby, or a poodle, or a beagle.

You may not have. I have.

Sorry Amanda for singling you out but your statement - "Golden retriever grabbed a baby who was sleeping in a swing and dismembered it late last year. Packs of wild beagles terrorize neighborhoods located near hunting grounds--they didn't perform the way their hunter/owners wanted them to so the hunter abandons them, they form feral packs and terrorize people" just may be one of the most asinine things I've ever read here.

And it is asinine how? The poster above said they had never heard of a golden retrieve who killed a baby. I enlightened her. Now she can say she has.

Even if what you say is true, you've selected out some highly unusual events which do not represent even the smallest example of the typical behaviour for these animals.

And attacking humans is not typical behavior for pitties either.

Probably already been said, but they should have also euthanized the owner.

Amanda, Your dodging the question...

I said all things constant. You don't have the luxury in this scenario to say "Neither" that is a cop out.

Please tell me your real answer



Baby Girl Killed by Family Dog

October 09, 2000
A 6-week-old girl died Saturday night after she was mauled by the family's dog, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The attack occurred in the girl's home in the 15500 block of Fellowship Street in Valinda, an unincorporated area between La Puente and West Covina, Deputy Cruz Solis said.

An uncle baby-sitting the newborn left the child on a bed unattended while he went to the kitchen to prepare a bottle for her, Solis said. When he returned, he found the family's Pomeranian dog on the bed attacking the baby, Solis said.

The man freed the child from the dog and called for help. The baby died shortly after at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, according to Solis.

The parents of the child, whose name has been withheld by officials, were

TexasLaw said:

How idiotic, anyone who owns a pitbull does so because they feel weak and want people to see their dogs and think omg please guys do not mess with him, hes a pure bad ass... give me a damn break you clueless people.

No. There are lots of volunteers at my shelter who own pit bulls because they came into our shelter abused, maltreated and scared and they took pity on the dog and took it home to foster, care for, and even eventually adopt because they like the dog, doesn't matter what breed it is. Last month someone found a five year old Pit who had been dumped in a garbage can--he weighed 20 pounds from long term abuse, starvation, malnourishment, his legs are deformed because the lived in a crate too small to stand up and stretch his legs in.

You think anyone is going to look at the volunteer who took this dog with deformed legs home as a 'badass'? Dog can't even walk in a straight line.

alex:

But you didn't tell me what those constants are.

And never leave your child alone with any animal is not a cop out, it's common sense and it's what we live by at the animal shelter. I'm a firm believer in it and I never leave my kids alone with my min pins.

Amanda thats not what I was saying, I was replying to someone else saying that anybody who owns a pitbull does so to make people think they are tough. I was saying, that it is absolutely idiotic to even think such a thing.

People believe what the news wants them to believe. Most have never owned or even spent a lot of time with the animals in questions. Most only know and hear what they read from the news.

To all those saying kill the breed... pucker up and kiss my ass.

TexasLaw: Sorry, I did misunderstand. My apologies!

(I wish they had an option where you could go back and delete your own comment....)

Amanda,

The phrase all things constant mean that any scenario; being the dogs are treated either exceptionally well, decent, standard, poorly, extremely poorly doesn't matter as both dogs have exactly the same upbringing. The reason I say all things constant is because it deflates your argument that its all the owner. Since you have declined to answer my question and I can see you are capable of thought I can only assume you realize the purpose of my question. Declining to answer my question shows that you can not argue with my principle. The Pitbull is the most dangerous dog in current existence.

My opinion on the manner is to stop breeding canine warriors or simply stop carrying it as a pet, much in the same way a Lion or Tiger. Your argument will be that of course Pitbulls kill more than these exotic cats due to proximity. Yet that is an insufficient argument. You are letting your love and volunteer work for these animals cloud your logical judgement, that as long as people can own these magnificent animals, innocent people will die.

@arguesforsport

Well I do too

Dare me to post a RECENT study...OK

Which dog breed is most likely to bite? You might be surprised at the answer
Posted on June 24, 2010
Pits bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers and other big dogs have gotten a bad rap for being aggressive dogs that are more likely than other dogs to bite people. But according to the Humane Society of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control, and the American Veterinary Medical Association, no one dog breed is more likely to bite than others.
“A study performed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CDC, and the Humane Society of the United States, analyzed dog bite statistics from the last 20 years and found that the statistics don’t show that any breeds are inherently more dangerous than others. The study showed that the most popular large breed dogs at any one time were consistently on the list of breeds that bit fatally. There were a high number of fatal bites from Doberman pinschers in the 1970s, for example, because Dobermans were very popular at that time and there were more Dobermans around, and because Dobermans’ size makes their bites more dangerous. The number of fatal bites from pit bulls rose in the 1980s for the same reason, and the number of bites from Rottweilers in the 1990s. The study also noted that there are no reliable statistics for nonfatal dog bites, so there is no way to know how often smaller breeds are biting.”
http://notesfromthefunnyfarm.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/which-dog-breed-is-most-likely-to-bite-you-might-be-surprised-at-the-answer/

OPPS, WHAT WERE YOU SAYING?

Alex said:

Amanda,

The phrase all things constant mean that any scenario; being the dogs are treated either exceptionally well, decent, standard, poorly, extremely poorly doesn't matter as both dogs have exactly the same upbringing. The reason I say all things constant is because it deflates your argument that its all the owner. Since you have declined to answer my question and I can see you are capable of thought I can only assume you realize the purpose of my question. Declining to answer my question shows that you can not argue with my principle. The Pitbull is the most dangerous dog in current existence.

When you say 'all things constant' you didn't specify if both dogs are treated poorly or if both dogs are treated well. You simply say that both circumstances are the same. Also, you were typing the above reply at the same time I was tying mine; I had to do some thinking because the shelter's injunctions about children not left with pets is so ingrained that I have never actually thought about a situation in which I WOULD leave a child alone with a pet.

Now, your question: if I had a 10 month old baby would you rather leave it with a poodle or a pitbull.

How long have I known the poodle? The Pit?

How old are they?

Are they male or female?

Are they backyard bred or purebred?

Has either one had shots, vet care, neutered/spayed?

Have either been around children before?

Been raised around or with children by responsible owners?

Is there a gate between the room the baby is in and the dog?

I would have no problem leaving the baby for a moment while I went to answer the door or get water from the fridge with the pittie if the dog is older, neutered/spayed, no history of complaints, raised around children, have owned multiple years. I would have no problem doing the same with a poodle under the same conditions.

A Poodle that is a puppy, hyperactve, excitable, no vetcare and about which I know nothing about, I would not leave a child of any age in the same room with. Neither would I for a pittie who is a puppy, excitable, hyperactive, no vetcare and whom I do not know.

Alex said:

The reason I say all things constant is because it deflates your argument that its all the owner.

I have NEVER EVER said it is 'all the owner's fault.' Is that what this is about? Have you read the replies I have made to your posts? Per my post at 1.16 above;

In cases like these it is rarely ever the exclusive fault of the dog, nor the exclusive fault of the owner. There has to be poor genetics on the dog's part and poor ownership (and possibly poor genetics) on the owner's side as well. And the poor genetics on the do's side is rarely ever the dog's fault--the dogs' parents live with people and people can prevent them having puppies.

And my post below at 2.2:

Poor genetics and poor ownership are the leading causes of human/animal bite fatalities. I'm not going to lie and say I haven't seen some aggressive pits, but neither will I say that I haven't seen some of the nicest, quietest, most loving dogs also be pits.

I am a longtime volunteer at an inner-city animal shelter that is about 60-80% pits at any one given time and also worked dispatch for my municipality's animal control. I've seen good and bad in every breed of dog. I've seen good and bad in every owner. when bad dog meets bad owner that's where problems happen.

In your efforts to make me see your viewpoint that all pits are bad, you've ascribed talking points to my posts that are not there rather than evaluating what I'm saying with an open mind. I advise you to consider going down to your local animal shelter and spend a week volunteering with them and working with these demon-dogs you are so closed-minded about.

Emily-1145636 Pit bull breeds (there are more than one, "Pit Bull" is not a breed) were once the most common American family dog...Pete the Pup was a pit bull (Little Rascals).

MYTH. ANIMAL PEOPLE ran searches on 34 dog breeds and breed types for the years 1900-1950, limiting each search to U.S. newspapers only, and adding the word “dog” to each search to avoid pulling up entries for “husky” football players, St. Bernard the Roman Catholic monk, boxers and pugs who were human prizefighters.

The sum of pit bull terriers, Staffordshires, and American bulldogs came to 34,770: 1% of the sampling of nearly 3.5 million breed-specific mentions of dogs.

It's Texas and that's all any of us needs to know...in Texas, you can do whatever you want to your animals, your kids and your wife...'nough said...they are a law until themselves

@Allen-2635884:

A few sticks of xylitol-sweetened chewing gum thrown over the fence will solve this problem quickly.

Amanda,

2012 to date Pitbull fatalities 11, 61% of total fatalities

2011 Pitbull fatalities 9, 60% of total fatalities

2010 Pitbull fatalities 19, 57% of total fatalities

2009 Pitbull fatalities 11, 32% of total fatalities

2008 Pitbull fatalities 11, 43% of total fatalities

2007 Pitbull fatalities 15, 41% of total fatalities

2006 Pitbull fatalities 12, 40% of total fatalities

This is simple data. Average of 13 deaths per year from Pitbulls. One every 4 weeks! These numbers are rising as well.

I understand your argument that inbreed dogs/ backyard dogs are breed to fight while others are not yet when you read about the fatalities over the last decade from Pitbull owners, the majority are "Normal"(Obviously subjective but not thugs using these animal for sport). I have no problem with volunteer dogs as my current dog is from a shelter. My Doberman was a pup when the former owner burned her back with a lit cigarette, I have been able to get her to socialize and become a very loyal dog.

I was never close-minded, I was firm on my belief that as much as I love animals people come first. I know that once you get past the rhetoric and bias you will see that point as well.

Yes, it's the owners' fault. But the breed of dog can also be a contributing factor, and in the case of pit bulls, an aggravating factor.

JWeilan...really? Racist loser...

I have had dogs all of my life...worked for a vet for 5 years...once had a pit placed w/me...she was registered full blooded...the guy who had her wasn't taking care of her...fell in love with her immediately...she was one of the best dogs I ever had...

And to the idiot who says you only get a pit because you want to look tough...LOL yeah, that's it. I took her because she needed a home and I KNEW I could take good care of her, unlike some people with animals. Working at the vet I got to see how cruel and evil people could be to an animal.

With everyone she met, including kids, she was a big attention/affection seeking baby, yet I would never leave her, or any other dog I had, alone w/a child.

It's called being a responsible owner.

At Christmas, "killer" rode around in my truck w/a Santa hat on, that big dog grin in the window...yep...we terrorized the neighborhood together..

Alex:

When stats are compiled on pitbulls, very very few of those are purebreds with papers. These stats are compiled on 'Pitbull types' and that covers backyard bred mutts that range from breeds like American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Presa canarios, crossed with Labs (the most common in our shelter is a lab/pit bull type terrier mix.) I can't answer for what the rest of the country does/says/thinks, but that is what happens at our shelter. We have to compile those statistics for reports to City hall and that's how we pull those together.

As an animal control dispatcher and VDHB court recorder I saw just as many bite cases from small dogs as I did over large ones. More, even. But many people don't report small dog bites, they are dismissed as inconsequential, and it frustrates us because we know our stats aren't accurate.

I will say that our VDHB cases are pretty much an even mix of both large and small dogs, and the rate iof Chihuahua bites to pitties is about equal. Many, ,many people jump to the conclusion when a dog nites that the dog bit, therefore it has to be a pit bull--We have had victims insist that the dog that bit thenm was a pit even when DNA tests show a lab mix with no APBT in it at all.

I understand your argument that inbreed dogs/ backyard dogs are breed to fight while others are not yet when you read about the fatalities over the last decade from Pitbull owners, the majority are "Normal"(Obviously subjective but not thugs using these animal for sport).

And as I tried to point out in my posts...where did they get that puppy? Using my municipality as an example, very very few people can afford a purebred APBT, so if they have a 'pit bull' eight times out of ten the puppy was the result of a backyard breeder, and about 60% of our pit-involved VDHB cases involve a dog who, when we go back to find out where the dog came from, find the parents of the dog in question belong to suspected dogfighters.

I was never close-minded, I was firm on my belief that as much as I love animals people come first. I know that once you get past the rhetoric and bias you will see that point as well.

Being in that unique position where I'm not only privileged to work with all sizes, types, ages, conditions of pits, but I'm also privileged to see what goes on behind the scenes at animal control, I tend to have a unique viewpoint. There are many volunteers at the shelter who believe that it IS all the owner's fault; there are some volunteers who refuse to work with any of the animals and instead just do laundry, dishes, work on our website and lost-and-found board because they are scared of any shelter animal period no matter the age, situation, status. I don't believe that any of my opinions have been formed from rhetoric or bias--I have too much evidence right in front of me, every day, to buy into the bias or the rhetoric. Not EVERY pitbull will attack unprovoked-- but not every pitbull is a pacifist either.

I have seen what the dogs do to humans--I have also seen many, many MORE examples of what humans do to dogs. This is why I say that the problems between dog and man aren't solely the fault of the owner, or solely the fault of the dog; poor genetics, poor upbringing, and poor ownership are all ultimately factors in a bite case. To blame it all on the dog is simplistic; they are what we made them to be. To blame it all on the owner is naive--there are some dogs that are 'irredeemable' although no one likes to admit it.

There are Charlie Mansons in the dog world and there are Mahatma Ghandis of the dog world. Dogs have just as widely varied personalities as people do.

Amanda,

We both agree that the breed as well as the owner must adopt responsibility for the violent issues related to the breed. I also agree to your point that the majority of these dogs do not have papers. The facts are that these animals have been breed for enlarged aggressive adrenaline glands and that as long as we continue breeding these animals there will continue to be fatalities of innocents.
The risk of loss of life is to great compared to the yield of owners having this breed.

I am not offering a solution to kill these dogs, only to stop breeding these so as eventually no one would have an APBT.

The story makes no sense..... the father took the child inside and he laid the baby on a bed, not in a crib?While he was still inside, the dog all of a sudden attacks the sleeping baby? Either the writer didn't get all the facts or the father lied about what happened.

It's The Owners! The Dogs Are Nice!

Poor genetics and poor ownership are the leading causes of human/animal bite fatalities. I'm not going to lie and say I haven't seen some aggressive pits, but neither will I say that I haven't seen some of the nicest, quietest, most loving dogs also be pits.

I am a longtime volunteer at an inner-city animal shelter that is about 60-80% pits at any one given time and also worked dispatch for my municipality's animal control. I've seen good and bad in every breed of dog. I've seen good and bad in every owner. when bad dog meets bad owner that's where problems happen.

"Pit Bull" is shorter and therefore more conducive to a headline than "German Shepherd." Just a thought...

here are the statistics...It looks like Pit Bulls lead the charge by far....Interestingly they kill the family members more than anyone else

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_States#Fatalities_reported_in_2012

Look, certain breeds of dogs are just more aggressive and more well-equipped to dole out serious injury than others, just as certain breeds just have a better nose than others and certain breeds are more intelligent than others. Those are just the facts. Words are just words, actions prove the point: there's a reason why german shepherds and dobermans and mastiffs are among the preferred breeds for guard dog duty; and there's a reason why pit bulls are preferred for fighting; and there's a reason why bloodhounds are preferred for tracking.

Let's cue in all the Pit Bull, Wolf Hybrid, and Chow Chow defenders stating it's not the dog breeds

My Chow Chow died at age 17 last year - I found him on the street, he didn't like my hubby for three years (at least) - never bit anyone, I have a 6 year old Shep/Wolf - he likes to chase his tail... I can walk him in the city and he doesn't blink at anything, I'm in control - 14inch leash...and my baby pitt bull - she's a sweet heart.... could you walk in my house without my permission- NO. Do they all have kennels so if an electrician needs to come by they can - YES....Although I always answer the door with the German Shep you see...he's next in line after myself. Are the dogs the leaders of the house, NO - I am, which is why I have never had a problem. If my chow were alive, would I walk him in the city, NO - he was very cute but also blind...he trusted me by smell in his later years.

A baby and a dog - not a good combination if there is not a human alpha leader. I wouldn't put my Chow in a baby's room if the crib was suspended from rafters... if you are too stupid to have a strong dog, don't get one!

Thank you Beadarg. 'Nuff said. Point, set, match.....

And - It is NEVER the dog's fault. Why should we blame a particular breed for doing exactly what they have been bred to do. If you select an alligator for a house pet, don't be surprised if you get eaten some day.

I wish all these pit bull supporters would simply look up bite and fatality statistics. There is no comparison between pit bulls and other dog breeds.

That poor family, I pray God will comfort them.

Naw, this could not have happened! A pit bull killing a baby, no way. What is it going to take to outlaw this breed for home ownership. Any one who owns one of these animals should have to post a bond and pay for special insurance for it.

In most cases when you get renters or homeowners insurance they ask what kind of pet you have and you do have to pay extra for a bully breed.

Not taking sides on the pitt bull issue because I honestly don't know enough about them. The only one I know is very sweet, but also quite hyper and exuberant.

However, knowing that this breed does have a reputation, who in their right mind would leave a baby alone where a pitt bull could have the chance to harm him/her? Seriously?

My neighbor who owns a pitt bull is a little lax with her other dogs, as far as not being too concerned should they slip out the door and roam the neighborhood. But that pitt bull is never, ever allowed to be outside off leash. They are very careful not to let that dog dart out the door. And when her little niece is visiting, the pitt bull is put in another room, and not allowed near the child.

This particular pitt bull may never harm anyone, but knowing that their breed is known for this, responsible owners take extra precautions. That just makes sense.

Hey Jerry,

I've owned and raised my pit bull for over 10 years since he was a pup of 8 weeks. Because of the way he was raised, he has NO idea he's a pit bull and not some other breed. Because we've raised AND trained him to be OUR pet. Not the other way around. He knows who the Master of his rule is and that is the way it should be. ANY dog, not just a pit, will be a bad animal if you don't let them know what the "pecking order" is in the household they live in. He is just as lovable as his little chihuahua sister, and truthfully, most people are more scared of her than him, because they say they don't know what a little dog will do, when it gets scared or threatened.

Just like these kids people aren't raising these days. They can be animals, bullies and thugs just like a dog that wasn't trained and loved properly.

Or maybe stupid people shouldn't be allowed to own pets.

They are banned in my city. No pit bulls unless they're grandfathered in, and that law was passed about 10 years ago so there should only be a few geriatric ones left. However, when I went to our city dog pound, guess what most of the dogs were? Pit bulls or pit bull mixes. Animals that have been picked up in the city and weren't licensed. And I wouldn't be surprised that they don't have their shots either.

Even if you ban a dog (or gun or anything) only outlaws will have them. And they'll have lots of them.

First of all my heart goes out to the people who lost there child, I know there hearts are breaking into so many pieces. Next is never leave a child alone with a dog. We do not know why or what made the dog bite the baby could have been crying and moving around and its arms moving and the dog may have thought it was wanting to play no one knows for sure. Was it a fighting dog? I don't believe all Pit bull dogs are bad I have seen the dogs from Vick the football player come out of it get adopted to good homes and are as lovable as you could want. Some didn't make it because they were too far gone from being abused. I will never give up on Pit Bulls they just need the right people to raise them, For they will love and protect you like your best friend. Raise them like you want to be treated any animal as far as it goes for they all have feelings and a heart. I pray they do not out law them for I see where too many people would like that, If you never had one or maybe not even a dog or just plain don't like Pits then thats your problem. They have ever right to live as any other dog does other dogs bite just the same but you don't see it in the new's thats the difference. I will back out now before I get too angry .

Where did the parents put the baby down for a nap where the dog could get at it? Any priors on the dog? Any priors on the parents? Why were the police there to begin with? How long did they have the dog? Was the dog exhibiting jealousy signs with the baby?

At the shelter I volunteer for the one thing we tell EVERY person who adopts an animal is to NEVER leave your child, of any age, alone and unattended with any animal. I have two min pins (8 months and 3 years) and two boys (10 and 9)--they are never left unattended with each other.

I think you have to know your pet extremely well before you ever leave a baby or toddler unattended where your pet could access him/her. If your dog or cat exhibits protective or maternal behavior around your child, and is extremely patient and tolerant of the child pulling the pet's hair, ears or tail, then you can be reasonably assured that the pet has no intention of harming the child.

I believe most dogs and cats are more likely to be protective of a child than want to harm the child. Dogs and cats have instincts and understand that infants of all species need protection of adults. Most dogs naturally want to protect their humans. Some cats do too.

one way to stop this, make it mandatory for ANY dog that kills to be put down. Followed next by the OWNERS!

Most home insurance companies require you to declare any type of "dangerous" breeds of animals, ie pit bull, python, pig ect. I know of at least 2 people who were told by their insurance company that they would be cancelled if they kept their pit bull. One got rid of it, the other changed insurance company until they were caught and were canceled. Then they had to go to a high risk insurance company and their rate tripled. If you lie to them they may not cover you in cases like this.

WinWin said:

I think you have to know your pet extremely well before you ever leave a baby or toddler unattended where your pet could access him/her.

No matter how well you think you know your pet and your child, under no circumstances should one ever be left unattended with the other. Period.

one way to stop this, make it mandatory for ANY dog that kills to be put down. Followed next by the OWNERS!

But what about the dogs who were protecting themselves or their owners?

Had a pug come in on a VDHB (vicious Dog hearing Board) case. Cops responded to a neighbor's complain that a child was screaming in an apartment--when they got in they discovered that yes, the child was screaming because his male parts had been bitten--by this dog that h was molesting.

Should the dog be penalized and euthanized for viciousness because the owner was molesting it?

Amanda,

The story doesnt say the parents put the child down to sleep...it says a family member did. All I can think of is that it was this baby's 10 year old brother or sister. I think the parents instincts would be better but a child would not have the instinct to not leave a baby unattended.

A lot of details left unsaid. Would be interesting to know the whole story.

Yeah. You never get the whole story.

Domestic situation, strange cars, flashing lights and strange people in the front yard, family walking in and out...alot going on. I don't have a pitbull but I can garantee that amount of activity in and around my home would drive my dog nuts!

I learned that a few months back. My mutt is a very sweet 2 year old female. Under normal circumstances she is wonderful but one weekend I was watching one of my brothers shepards when they were on vacation. My dog handled it ok....but during the weekend we had an unexpected visit from another brother and his family who live out of town and don't visit much. They had a dog as well.

Long story short, the strange people, strange animals and the endless activity in our home at some point became too much for my dog and she became vary anxious, aggressive and protective of the family ...then eventually I had to lock her away by herself for the remainder of the visit. She had never behaved like that before and never again bacause I don't allow her to participate in that kind of environment.

My point being that the dogs senses and instincts are on high alert with tons of stuff going on and they can begin to act irrational....like a person with anxiety issues in a large crowd x10. I think if you plugged any dog into the environment I imagine it was in that night it would become agressive.

People who do not understand dogs should not consider them for pets. They require, as one of these posters I read said, an evironment where there is a clear and identifiable "alfa" dog (it's me in my house) or they have a tendency to assume the position. The last thing you want is for your dog to view itself this way. That is when the irrational and agressive behavior surfaces. This dog may have misinterpreted the baby as the source of anxiety of its owner and was "helping" the owner....any number of things could transpire in a chaotic environment and dogs are way more affected than humans.

The whole thing sucks. I feel bad for the baby, the dog and the person who put the baby down for a nap.....the one that has to live with that responsibility for the rest of their lives.

Troy; Thanks very much for your common sense!!!

I'm with Amanda...I know exactly what Troy1101 is talking about....and he's absolutely right. What first struck me was that the police arrived at the home because of a hang up call to the pollice. And he police don't hang out at a house for an hour "talking" to people unless there was a disturbance. Sounds like a really stable environment to me. And put money on it that it wasn't the first call to this house, either. A dog that's mistreated, is never socialized, and is never trained can be aggressive. Kinda of like our neighbor's golden retriever that I watched sneak through bushes, walk up to my son, and bite him on the arm COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED. Or my friend's untrained lab that charged out of her house and attacked a dog that was being walked by a woman down the sidewalk. I saw that whole thing, too. Meanwhile, I can call my TRAINED, SOCIALIZED, and LOVED pitbull off of a squirrel or rabbit. Funny, isn't it? Chaulk it up to stupid, loser owners that think it's "cool" and "novel" to have a pitbull -- and probably teased the BLEEP out of it.

actually all those breeds have killed humans, especially children. even a jack russell terrier killed a baby.

NO dog should ever be left alone with an infant or toddler.

Actually, no ANIMAL should ever be left alone with an infant or toddler. Well, maybe a goldfish...

king of the jungle:

As a volunteer at an animal shelter and a dispatch for an inner-city animal control, i have heard plenty of stories of dogs of all breeds. Our VDHB (Vicious Dog Hearing Board) files has breeds from Chihuahuas to Chows to pugs and pits, from alligators and snakes to sheep and emu and chickens.

Lynseypug:

Not even a goldfish. How easy would it be for the baby to tip the goldfish bowl over---or grab the fish and put it in their mouth, choking on it?

A goldfish should never be kept in a bowl in the first place.

LOL. I was going to agree with lynseypug about the goldfish until I read that Jeff.

Because just the word "Pit Bull" makes headlines, that's why!

First of all, no baby or child should be left alone with ANY DOG, I DON'T CARE WHAT BREED IT IS!!! ALL DOGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BITE OR SNAP! I am personally more afraid of little dogs because I have been bitten or charged by several little dogs.

For all of you that jump on the bandwagon to "kill all Pit Bulls" let me just say this: If you have never owned one, lived with one, trained with one, SHUT THE HELL UP!!! You have NOTHING to add to this debate since you have no first hand knowledge of these dogs. Caesar Milan has owned and owns a Pit Bull, they are a product of their owners and how they are raised. Time and time again, people assume things they have no knowledge of or experience. Victoria Stilwell also loves the breed and will tell you they are not all killers. They are NOT raised to kill!! I am SO SICK of people spewing this out!! They are TAUGHT to kill and attack by stupid owners and unfortunately in this case, stupid adults who left the baby alone....YOU NEVER LEAVE A BABY ALONE WITH ANY PET.

I own a loving pit-mix and he is very loving and very smart. He has been trained to know that we are in control of him, not the other way around. I am deeply saddened that this has happened to this family but to fully blame the dog is not fair in the least.

The Pit Bull was once called the "nanny dog" and he was revered so much that he was part of the military front lines.

Also, this family had the police come for an domestic issue, that right there tells you something wasn't right in this family. Who knows, perhaps the dog was frightened with all the flurry of cops being around. We will never know the full story I'm sure, but something had to tip off the dog for this to happen. I agree that they baby was not placed in a proper place to begin with.

There are stories of Pit Bulls being wonderful pets and saving lives....why does this not make headlines? Because those of you would rather stick your head in the sand that be considered wrong about this.

I love my Pit Bull!!!!

@ bchredhead: Amen! Well stated.

For all of you that jump on the bandwagon to "kill all Pit Bulls" let me just say this: If you have never owned one, lived with one, trained with one, SHUT THE HELL UP!!! You have NOTHING to add to this debate since you have no first hand knowledge of these dogs.

Perfect statement - Thank you. I'm not allowed to harass and spank human children brats that lived to annoy my dogs - or say - you are such a crappy mother, your child is going to be an idiot (obvious at the grocery store) - so, as long as I have my double fence, the dogs are house dogs, the dogs are well cared for, vaccinated, licensed, spayed and neutered etc.. and I'm in charge - stay out of our life!

I picked this thread b/c it's the most ignorant of a bunch of ignorant comments. Dogs, regardless of breed, are a direct reflection of their environment. This home needed the cops to break up a family disturbance, so would it be surprising to find out this dog was raised cruelly and/or as a fighter? It would be far better for society to shoot on site all the animals that raise these dogs to fight!

Maybe the dog was best-behaved most well-mannered animal that ever walked the earth. It doesn't matter. This whole situation was a train-wreck from the beginning: cops, domestic disturbance, tension, and anxiety--combined with one unfortunate act of a careless (or just unaware) person.

All dogs require dedicated training and constant vigilance. Powerful dogs--Pits, German Shepards, Rotties, Dobies, Great Danes, Giant Schnauzers, Mastiffs, etc.--must be very closely monitored, esp. during unfamiliar situations.

Also unfortunately, it's been my experience that the vast majority of the human population is ill-equipped to properly raise any dog, much less a powerful breed. Anyone who views a dog as a sweet, four-legged human is a perfect example of this. Likewise, those who state that 'all Pits must die' are equally myopic.

Pit breeds are statistically higher in attacks and fatalities (in terms of total attacks) simply because they are powerful and extremely popular vs the other breeds. There is no other factor to consider here.

I guess the more realistic question, Gator, is how many people own pit bulls compared to other dogs? Where I live, I know 6 people with dogs: a shepherd mix, a bloodhound, and a bulldog. The other 3 people have a pit-bull type dog. If you have more of one breed of dog, chances are, you will hear more dog attacks with that breed involved.

Probably more dangerous parents out there than pit bulls. But I wouldn't want to have either one.

Oldest known domesticated dog lived ~33,000 years ago. A simple google search will reveal a decent article in science daily about the find.

I agree to a point, but I grew up with wolf hybrids and they were the best (if not most skittish) dogs I owned. The ones we had inherited the best parts of wolf and dog: friendly and protective, but, like wolves, afraid of new people. I never met one wolf dog that I was afraid of. Even the full-blood wolf I knew was mostly found lurking in the woods being shy, not raving mad through a group of people. They were great pets, but I'd never have one for protection. The darn things would just go hide!

Richard C: Check out St. Louis animal shelters' websites and you'll find practically nothing but pit bulls or pit bull mixes (euphemistically called "terrier mixes," probably to avoid the stigma). And they have the photos posted to prove it.

Is it because owners find the dogs to be aggressive and give them up? Or because the same kind of owner who would get a "tough guy" dog and not have it spayed or neutered doesn't care enough to keep track of their pet and just shrug if it runs away. I can't figure it out, but it bothers me.

Daisy said;

Is it because owners find the dogs to be aggressive and give them up? Or because the same kind of owner who would get a "tough guy" dog and not have it spayed or neutered doesn't care enough to keep track of their pet and just shrug if it runs away. I can't figure it out, but it bothers me.

Reasons owners surrender animals to a shelter:

1: I'm moving and the new place won't let me have pets/dogs/this breed of dog.

2: I bought it as a puppy and i didn't know it would get this big.

3: I bought the dog because my kids wanted one. I told them if they didn't take care of it I would take it away.

4: My ex bought the dog for my kid. I refuse to take care of it.

5: It was a Christmas/birthday/whatever gift

6: I didn't know I was allergic to it

7: Dad and Mom passed away and I don't have the time to take care of their dog.

8: It's my ex's dog

9: My friend left the dog at my house when he moved, said when he got settled he'd come back for it and he never did.

10: It has issues. (aggression, skittishness, inability to potty-train, etc.)

And, number one for pittie owners nowadays, "The law just changed and I can't have one anymore.'

Dude stop it!! I would must rather defend myself against a German Shepard than a pit bull.

Agreed, Richard. I remember a number of years ago in NJ, there was a pack of 4 dogs terrorizing a neighborhood for weeks, attacking people. All the media screamed pit bulls as did the 'witnesses.' When animal control finally got them, the pack consisted of: a chow-chow, a hound of some kind, and two shepherd-mixes. No pitbulls.

When I was a kid, we had a mean man on our block who owned a husky. This dog was viscious as was the old man. He threatened to release his dog on me just for walking my dog on the sidewalk (his dog could see mine and went nuts whenever I walked by). I never stepped on his property, my dog never paid any attention to his dog; bonus: I was 7 or 8 years old. A few years later, his dog attacked and killed a daschund that someone was walking and he actually blamed that woman for her dead dog. This guy was walking his dog which was viscious and walked purposely across the street where the woman and her little dog was. I also knew someone who got bit by this guy's dog and when he reported it to the cops, I will never forget this, the cops kept pushing him that he was bit by a pit bull, not a husky. It was the same guy and it was the same dog (he didn't have any other dogs).

Agreed!

You hit the nail on the head! Domestic issues, this is not a peaceful home, now we know where the dog got his behaviors.

You are also a poor excuse for a human being greenhorn. You suck, you're cruel and a poor excuse for a human being. Not much going for you there.

Come on, there's been plenty of people in friendly "homes" where "pit" bulls have been raised with no violence who have killed relatives, babies, people passing by and other innocents. There was a pregnant woman in CA who was massacred, along with the baby in the womb, by her "pit" bull"; no record of violence, belonged to the "pit" bull group for protection of their "reputation".

There's been many more, the owner isn't always violent, the "pit" bulls are, they actually kill the innocents involved. As far as toy poodles, etc. causing deaths, give me a break. I'm sure something bizarre like this has happened, but read the headlines, month after month. Never leave a "pit" bull alone with a baby, right, also, never leave a "pit" bull alone with an innocent. If you admit it's not necessarily the owner, but it is necessarily the "pit" bull, you would make a start.

Poor genetics and poor ownership. Both are equally responsible.

A god owner knows how to control the animal, follows precautions, has the dog trained and knows what to expect from the dog. A good owner can also recognize when good ownership can't overcome bad genetics and will have the dog put to sleep if safety around others can't be guaranteed.

Well put Amanda. This is true of any kind of a dog, I have seen labs and goldens that are horrible dogs that I wouldn't trust any further than I could see them. Unfortunately, so many of these "bully" dogs are deliberately bred for their aggressiveness and size and then sold to another idiot who just wants a status symbol. Believe me, there are plenty of these dogs in my neighborhood. If I treated my dogs (labs) the way so many of these dogs are, I wouldn't be surprised to see them respond badly as well.

lets see, where do i start.... Who places a baby ( 3 mth) on a bed, what happened to a crib and shut the door behind you so noone or nothing can disturb the baby????

lets take a look at the people and surrounding the dog is in? We all know the reasont hese dogs have a bad rap is because PEOPLE, train them and make them fight to the DEATH! This is what they are taught!!!! If you have an animal- ANY ANIMAL- you do not leave your BABY where the ANIMAL can get to it?

Tooo many stupid people out there that 1- need parenting classes and 2- should not own animals.

I feel so sorry for the child that was killed- i have kids of my own and actually have a pitbull, I NEVER let me kids and my dog interact together unsupervised and when the kids or the dog is sleeping, they are left alone!

Grab hold of a clue here! Animals are Animals, they are not humans, we all know you can tell your dog to come and the damn thing will look at you and runthe opposite way? And what made the dog jump on the BED where the baby was unsupervised and maul it? if the dog was that aggressive, why even keep it? Stupid people! i blame the owners!!! STUPID STUPID STUPID!

Hey guys,

Don't know about you but I'd like to read more stories about these abused pitbulls killing their tormenters...I wouldn't feel as bad about that...lol.

Wow! Full of judgements!

There are so many dog breeds that provide all the companionship and pleasure of dog ownership, that don't also have the ability to kill you or your family. People who get pit bulls or any other large and powerful dog are taking a risk, no matter how "good" they are as owners or how good the dogs are as pets. They are still animals, and can act in ways that we don't anticipate.

'm sure other animals are responsible for mauling people as well but it just doesn't make the news. Let's be honest, pitbulls have a bad reputation but it's mostly because of the dumb*ss owners that train them to act & appear violent. Either way, my condolences go out to the family of the deceased child and my heart goes out to them.

Pit bull defenders ALWAYS blame the owners, never the breed. While I agree that anyone has to be a bit crazy to even own a pit, most owners see themselves as the loving, responsible kind before their cherished family pet rips them to death. These attacks are happening to families, not gang members who train their dogs to be violent. I know of at least a half dozen pits in my neighborhood, most confined to the house or yard 99% of the time, and none of them trained to obey their owners commands. People don't realize that dogs are not human...they are not going to sublimate their need for daily vigorous exercise, or their instinct to attack under certain circumstance, if you just shower them with love and affection. Every time another well-meaning but misguided person "rescues" a potentially dangerous dog and assumes that love is enough...they put themselves and everyone around them at risk.

@disabled vet 1: You are saying a dog is viscious because it is partially blind, didn't see a child (of course you don't say the age of your son...), and was startled, so it reacted? I am sorry your son got bit, but this hardly proves the dog is viscious! Startle an adult human and see how many times you get a reaction that could hurt someone! I'd say, based on your story, that the blame lies squarely in the hands of the adults that were present when this happened! Don't blame the dog...

Tenderizing the meat is more like it.

You're 100% right txmom32 but I think the story is that people need to wake up and stop protecting these animals.

You can train a grizzly bear but how many people with adopt them as pets?? God I hate reading these stories. If people want to have pits they should be held accountable for their actions.

Spanky get over it. Nobody is going to all together stop protecting these dogs, there are hundred of bad ones but there ARE good ones even though you people have your heads to far up your butts to see it... in fact you don't want to see it, too see and be around one thats a big baby would mean you would have to go against your arguments in they are all monsters. They are not all monsters anymore than all people are monsters.

And people should be held accountable for their stupidity, how about that?.

We should euthanize severely violent human beings...they should be considered their own "breed"

We should euthanize severely violent human beings

ALL HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD BE EUTHANIZED.

@Troy:

Bite my shiny metal ass, meatbag!

Some dogs do have mental or emotional problems. I fostered a Min Pin for a week and had to give her back to the rescue group because she was mentally unstable. She was traumatizing the puppy I fostered at the same time.

I wouldn't advocate outlawing dangerous breeds, or euthanizing mentally unstable dogs, but they need to live out in the country, where they have plenty of space, and live with a responsible dog owner who knows how to care for dogs with special needs. And will make sure the public is safe from them.

I would expect nothing less from someone with an Achmed the Dead Terrorist avatar.

Why thank you,...infidel. :)

I like your avatar Jeff dunham is hilarious . Achmed and the old man crack me up. I do wonder why he does not receive death threats from the cartoon hating Muslims though.

In my municipality there is a license required for any animal.

The shelter I volunteer for is 60% pits. We stress to every potential adopter of a pit that they not leave the dog unattended with any child, no matter the age of the dog or the age of the child. Families with more than one small child generally are encouraged to pick out a different dog.

If 60% of dogs in a shelter are pit bulls, why is this breed not being spayed or neutered? Dogs don't "fix" themselves, so the owners must not be taking care of their pups, probably lots of inbreeding going on.

We do have a spay-neuter program. It's free for Pits. The problem is that the ones who are backyard breeding them are also the ones breeding for aggression, they keep the most aggressive and then sell the rest to people as family pets. I've never had a purebred licensed registered carefully bred pit in a VDHB case (unless the home was being broken into). I have had many many backyard bred mutts in VDHB cases and in a large number of those cases the puppy can be traced back to someone who is involved in dogfighting or other illegal activities.

The story doesn't specify which family member it was doc. I wonder if it was an elder sibling with no where near good enough instincts to know not to do that. I'm thinking the parents were outside talking to the cops. All I can picture is a poor 10 year old girl who was holding her brother or sister and then decided to put them down for a nap. I think a lifetime of reflection on this event is enough of a burden on this person if that is the case.

If it were me, I would not even leave a child in the presence of any dog unattended, especially not a pitbull....but my 12 year old son might not necessarily realize the danger. Normally I have some fairly "smart ass" things to say about this kind of stuff but I just feel bad for the whole family on this one. Whoever is responsible will carry that burden to the grave I'm sure.

God be with the family.

For sure... It's been time to stop with the 'pit bulls are not bad dogs' theory. The damn dogs are vicious as hell!! How many people have to die from these damn dogs before they banned?? No matter what these damn dogs do people still talk about they're safe dogs if....yeah if you don't get in their way.

@spanky.....and it's time to stop with the *damn* idiots who talk out of the brain they sit on.

Just as you said, there are many dog bites, about 80% or so, that go unreported. There are many dogs, besides JUST "pit bulls", that inflict much damage. I'm not going to waste my time naming all the other strong dogs that can do damage. It is unfair, the media spin always put on "this breed".

It's "Your choice" to own or have one or not, but state facts! do it properly, please, cause "almost always a pit bull or pit bull mix", is a joke. How many of those "mixes", were mis judged as a pit mix, when in fact, they were in no way even related to the breed. People are uneducated in many instances, and they see a dog, that even resembles a "PIT BREED", and BAM, it's labeled a "pit bull".

Another stated Lab bites aren't reported cause "labs aren't killers"......BS!!!, they can, and will, KILL if trained to do so, just as a pit...........I have seen it, I have trained Labs, I have had many of that breed in my life, just as Shepherds, Dobermans and many many others. You always read about the "pit bull", I'd bet 30% of the "media blown up" stories, may have involved a "boxer mix", a "American Bull Dog", and dozens of other breed mixes, that merely "resemble" a "pit bull".

I push "animal welfare" in schools, it should be as important as "art", "music" and a few other things that seem to be the first items others want removed, or thrown out........Go ahead people, don't teach our youth, then see what happens years from now, when they are the ones left to take care of our old butts.........You will wish, you had!!!!

"state facts! do it properly please" - I wasn't quoting statistics or quoting a person. I simply stated that where I worked, the majority of dog bite claims were for pitbulls or mixes. I agree that people often mistake other breeds for "pitbulls." I had one of my boxers at a park and someone thought he was a pit. As for knowing the correct breed of the dogs involved when there was a bite claim, we were defending the dog owners, so they were the ones providing information on the breed of the dog.

I'm not quite sure how teaching animal welfare in school has any bearing on the conversation. I am an animal lover too. Some can say that pitbulls are no more dangerous than any other breeds. My life experience tells me otherwise.