These are almost identical dogs as the girl that was killed that rescued dogs except it was a Presa(a crossbreed of an English Mastiff). A mastiff is a dominate dog and just newly arriving will set the pecking order, unfortunately for humans, it usually becomes alpha in the family. Just what every family needs, a pet dog that you have to ask permission in order to move. Don't forget to keep your head down and walk submissive, enjoy your new pet.

SeesThru Gloss:Yes, I was just going to do that, thanks. BTW, I also have two horses and compete in team roping. Horses kill people every year too, but they are not maligned like dogs.

And the anti-dog crowd will be quick to associate all dogs with this one . . . even though you are statistically more likely to die at the hands of another human than a dog.

I thought Mastiff's were gentle dogs! OOOPS! So sad this happened!

Wow, Maureen! Her husband wasn't even home! He came home and found her dead. Why would you make that up? Man-hater, maybe?

Oh my god man.... I cannot imagine what she went through. What a terrible and painful way to die.

I also cannot imagine what her husband went through finding her that way. I feel so terrible for them.

I wonder why their family gave away their dog to them in the first place. Was it a "mean" dog and they were afraid of it? Wonder what their thinking now.

RIP Mrs. Brown.....

Maureen,

Read the story before you burp out such BS. Besides, you might get some on ya....

It wasn't really her dog. The article said a family member just gave the dog to her a week ago. The relative probably gave their problem to her. Sad to say.

That's quite the leap, there, Maureen. What was said in the story that gave you THAT idea?

Mastiffs and Presa Canarios are NOT "almost identical dogs". Presa Canarios are a separate breed from an English Mastiff. They are NOT a cross breed nor are they one of the newer developing breeds. Mastiffs are NOT a "dominate dog". patrick demarco obviously knows NOTHING about dogs or dog breeds.

Mastiff's in general are gentle but we dont know anything really about this dogs past. She only had this dog for a week and it was a full grown dog when it came to her a week ago. It was probably very anxious having been shifted into a new environement where there was other dogs and new people so Im sure that whatever set it off was probably trivial, and there is no mention of the husband being even remotely culpable so you people blaming him need to stop demonizing men.

Wow wee, did your husband do you wrong maureen or what? LOL

maybe the gravy train went bad...maureen...

Mastiffs are NOT a gentle breed. Do your research!

very sad.. its very rare for a mastiff to attack its owner. perhaps it has a brain tumor?

Regardless of what kind of dog or how big or small, this is tragic. There are millions of dog owners and it's bound to happen to someone. May she rest in peace. I hope her hubby has a great support team behind him to overcome such a major loss.

Hey, Maureen, how do YOU know the husband is an A hole? Maybe the dog is, after all, the dog was given to her recently. I have a 7 year old dog I inherited from my mom over 2 years ago. He tolerates me, mostly, but he hates men and boys. He was likely abused by a man before mom got him. He bites me on a regular basis but he was her baby and I wouldn't dare give him to anybody else for fear of what he might do. He is a 48 pound lab terrier mix, well behaved and a nice dog on most days but when he gets bugged about something, I need to watch how I handle him. Mostly, he gets muzzled until he mellows out. I am no A hole but Chuck sometimes thinks otherwise!

For you Cat: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/canarydog.htm as you can see from the reference the Presa is indeed related

I'm not putting down the dog just pointing out facts. Mastiffs are certainly known to be gentle and loving but a 140 lb stout dog is most definitely dominant, case in point

DLange

Horses kill people every year too, but they are not maligned like dogs.

=============================================

Do they bite them to death? Okay, I can imagine people get thrown from a horse and can die, but are most of these cases of horses actually attacking people?

By the way, my wife and I both grew up in families who had dogs, and we have two right now. Bottom line: there are dogs, and then......there are dogs, use common sense on what you want in the house with you.

"A mastiff is a dominate dog and just newly arriving will set the pecking order, unfortunately for humans, it usually becomes alpha in the family."

I do not know many animals including humans that do not try to become the alpha. Even my cat tries to move up the pecking order from time to time. It should be an IMPORTANT decision before you get or take in a pet. She might have been trying break up a fight between dogs and it turned on her, felt challenged, threatened, etc. I would not keep a 140 pound cat inside my house, a 12-14 pound cat with claws is bad enough. (Declawing is inhumane imo since it removing a part of their finger tips, get some scratch pads, and put them everywhere.)

Mastiffs are best suited for one pet families, and are best raised in the familiy they are to be part of. I consider these dogs to be lethal weapons, not to be underestimated.

Oh my. My feelings are that her husband incited this incident. That dog just didn't jump on her for no reason. Something had to have provoked the dog. My money's on the a-hole husband.

Nice going Maureen, apparently you have a problem with Men and are using this opportunity to point that out to the rest of us. Do you know something that the Police should be told, and how are you going to feel if the circumstances are different?

I have been around all of those types of dogs and they have always been good. I once had a mastiff come to attack, grabbed him by the neck and started petting him. After that, he was the friendliest dog I have ever seen. None of these dogs are really bad, it is all the way they are raised. I could see where she may have fallen down the stairs and the dogs were simply trying to help her. I do not know. I have 2 black labs that are hard to train to be nice. They are aggressive even with me. More playfully than anything. They do not realize how much stronger they are than me. I have been pulled down and dragged by them. But I will not give up on them.

Normally, dogs get along very well with me. I would rather have a mastiff and a pit bull. They are very protective and guard their territory. They are also very strong. I used to have a 150 lb. blond lab that was very lovable with me and children. When I got home, she would leave the ground about 10 ft from me and tackle me. We played hard and she was great. She knew not to leave the yard if the gates were open. I miss her very much.

Anyway, try not to blame the dogs unless there is proof that they did it out of malice. Most dogs love their owners more than anything else. I know my black labs do, they just need further training. In my opinion.

I completely disagree with Debra-558320!! Talk about do your research!!! Back during the reign of Ghengis Kahn he kept Mastiffs to be guard attack dogs. They were also used for the same purpose and other violent purposes during Roman & Medieval times! Sometime after that laws were passed and they were no longer used for that purpose. They were tamed down and some were even known to stand guard over their injured masters during war time!! They have since earned the name Gentle Giants and the name is well deserved! Notice this article does not describe said attack and just says that the husband found the wife at the bottom of the stairs. It may not have been an actual attack at all! It may have jumped on her in excitement and accidentally knocked her down the stairs. I'm so sick of people who don't know or who have never owned particular breeds of dogs blaming the dog itself! It's all in how the dog was raised/disciplined from when it was a pup!

Maureen - Perhaps your husband fits your description, but not all do. Thank you.

wow what a sad story. mastifs are big powerful dogs and people should do a lot of research on them before they own one. but this goes to show that any dog or animal is capible of hurting/killing people. not just one breed. i hope the media doenst take this story and run with it like they do pit bulls. with proper training and socialization, any pet can be be succesfull.

my heart goes out to the family and husband.

Notice this article does not describe said attack and just says that the husband found the wife at the bottom of the stairs. It may not have been an actual attack at all! It may have jumped on her in excitement and accidentally knocked her down the stairs

The article doesn't describe the "said attack" because noone else was home to witness it. I'm sure they didn't just jump to conclusions. Most likely she had bite marks on her otherwise they would've assumed she just fell down the stairs. There had to be some kind of evidence to link the dog to the woman.

I thought Mastiff's were gentle dogs! OOOPS! So sad this happened!

They are gental giants, unless they are abused, have a medical problem, or feel one of their pack, including humans, is in danger.

I'm not putting down the dog just pointing out facts. Mastiffs are certainly known to be gentle and loving but a 140 lb stout dog is most definitely dominant, case in point

Alpha Masitiffs will be as dominant as the owner allows them to be, but ot all dogs are aphas, so you are wrong.

Mastiffs are NOT a gentle breed. Do your research!

Wrong, in fact they are a member of the Gental Giants, large breeds known to be especially calm and friendly, like Alaskan Malamutes and Great Danes.

I really don't get people's fascination with keeping attack dogs as pets. On top of that, they eat a ton and crap two tons a day

I dont either, but a Masitff is not an attack dog.

Do they bite them to death? Okay, I can imagine people get thrown from a horse and can die, but are most of these cases of horses actually attacking people?

Many deaths are horses kicking and stomping people to death. It is a very real danger to be around a horse that is agitated or injured.

mastifs are big powerful dogs and people should do a lot of research on them before they own one

So true. People buy these dogs without ever considering if they can physically control it in the home or on a leash, of even transport it to a vet if its injured. Thats why so many end up in a rescue situation. Having had a Malamute bigger than this dog, all I can say is you are talking on more than you think.

Bull@!$%#, when dog attack it is instinct.

My parents have 2 English mastiffs and they are the best dogs in the world. They are the most affectionate, loving animals. They also had a Saint Bernard that are also gentle dogs, however, they got one from an unknown puppy mill (nothing seemed out of the ordinary from the family). She had an issue that she would snip and attack if you got anywhere around her face or neck. She had to be put down and it breaks my heart all the time because it was not her fault. It probably happens in all breeds. There are different kinds of mastiffs and one in particular that I can think of is a bullmastiff that is a mix with a bull dog I am pretty sure can be more aggressive. This article does not specify what type it is. No matter what, it is so sad to hear of the tragedy. My heart goes out the family.

I was attacked by a client's mastiff who charged me, knocked me backwards through a closed door and clamped down on my left thigh then when the pet's owner pulled her off me, she re~lunged and tackled my lower stomach area. I cannot tell you how frightening it was to be jumped without provocation (I was the 3rd one in the door).

It took over 4 month for the bruises and bite marks to disappear. I should have sued.

My family adopted a mastiff that had been living on the streets in LA. She had been scrounging in trash cans and eating whatever she could find. She was the sweetest, gentlest dog a person could have. But just her size and her bark were very intimidating. If she (and this is rarely) thought someone was a threat, all she would do is stand between us and the person. That was all. I never saw her act out in any way.

Just like people, every dog is different. A breed may be more dominant than others, but each individual has their own personality. There are some beautiful good natured pit bulls out there, and there are some that can be killers. Heck, my mom's chihuahua is a holy terror and bites us whenever she gets the chance, but then again, she doesn't weigh 140 pounds. People just need to know how to handle their animals, and know what they are capable of. And be able to read their emotions and personalities.

I am so sorry for both the woman and the husband in this matter.

Horse kicking is the largest cause of deaths in two year old in texas. Last time if reviewed stats. This too is an instinct. Being 2 puts you in the kill zone.

For those that do not like pit bulls, boxers or mastiffs, the ones I know are the friendliest dogs in the block to me. I prefer a mastiff over one of those rat dogs like chihuahuas or however you spell them. I dislike smaller dogs. Just treat the dog good, respect it, and it will respect you.

Yes, there are idiots that train these dogs to fight. Those people are scum.

A good mastiff is just like any other dog and will lay at your feet, play with and protect your children and guard your property. They are wonderful animals and make great pets.

My prayers are with the family, the deceased and the dogs.

Generally, by Nature - Mastiffs (Bull Mastiff) are gentle. That's not to say that with improper training, it is/can be a formidable opponent. Much like the English Bulldog, at one time they were notorious in their ability to put a man on the ground and hold him there. They had a use by landed gentry - to prevent poachers from hunting on their lands. Turned loose at dusk - only a fool would trespass on land which they protected.

But - again much like the English bulldog - much of the temperament has been bred out of them. A similar breed - the Japanese / Korean Tosa are bred mostly to be used for dog fights, but the sport over there only required the dogs to hold its opponent ... fights to the death or injury were discouraged. The dogs are worth too much to kill for sport.

At 140 lbs. I would think its a Bullmastiff, a full sized Mastiff is closer to 180 - 200 + lbs.

This was a tragic lose for the family and the breed. So many breeders have worked so hard to maintain and rehabilitate the reputations of larger dogs; I can see where this incident will be food for the fire - in the crusade - Inquisition to ban all dogs over 20 or 30 lbs.

About the only large dogs who don't have this shame are the Great Dan, various Wolfhounds, Deer hounds and Borzoi.

very sad. i think the smart thing to do with any animal is assume they are animals and will likely bite at some point. so having an animal that is not capable of killing you seems like a good idea. i have a 4 lb poddle. not a big deal is he get the urge to bite. i know i can handle him, a 140 lb dog is way to much for a person to handle

Since the comments are about everything except the news item, here's my 2 cents worth. The most unpredictable dog I ever owned was a Chihuahua. Skittish and would attack if frightened, and he was scared of everything. I owned an Akita that I had to tie up when I fed him because he would attack me when I got near his food dish! However, I watched in horror as my three year old daughter reached into his food dish, and he ate from her hand. Dog was very protective of our daughter and she was the only human who could get close to his food dish without the dog going wild. I owned the most pleasant, well behaved German Shepard, until at about four years old, he suddenly started biting. He would come up to a person, even me, sit there looking into your face, calm like, then suddenly attack without provocation. I discovered that this is all too common in large dogs and has something to do with brain a disease. Each of these dogs were loved and taken care of, and I have had dogs over the years had no issues with what so ever. What I have taken from my experiences is that dogs, much like people can be unpredictable and turn on you for no apparent reason, therefore, trust no one, man or beast......

Good reply Heather Youngsma!
I would like to see more people research more before jumping to conclusions myself. It also does not stop because you read a few lines of a book or a few websites. Research takes diligent insight from various sources to come to an educated conclusion.
Mastiffs are identified by more specific names because there are so many throughout the world bred for various purposes with the foundation of being estate guardians. English Mastiffs have become rather gentle however there are exceptions to all rules! The Presa Canario or Spanish Mastiff is more dominant and aggressive yet again there are exceptions to all rules!!
Training through proper education from a professional can go along way, save you time and money as well as reduce liability! Accidents are never easy regardless of who is involved.

foolishmasses (include your self in the masses); according to you people can't just be people? The majority of Americans don't even vote - fool. You just passed Maureen on the idiot list.

We have a diva cat that my wife rescued from a co-worker who was going to have it put down because the cat is a grumpy bitch. The cat hated men when we got it, most likely some male abused it, now she is daddy's girl - but still a bitch that will bite you if you pet her when she doesn't want to be petted...kind of like my wife...lol.

Any dog, if allowed, will be dominant. It doesn't matter what size. I once went to my cousin's house and there was a stray dog in the yard next door - giant dog - a little thin, but giant. She is afraid of dogs, but knew it was probably hungry, so gave me a package of baloney. I have grown up with dogs of all sizes, so I wasn't afraid. Spoke to the dog in soft, gentle tones, held out my hand in a non-threatening manner, let her come to me (collar, no tag) and she softly came to me. I held out the baloney, she took it gently and I gave her more while I pet her. I then gently continued to pet her while I got a leash out of my car, got dog treats out of the car and she got into the back seat with no problems. Laid her head (and slobbered on me) on my shoulder all the way to the shelter. She was a MASTIFF people! Every breed has its good and bad. Like someone said earlier - it's not the dog/breed, it's how they are raised and treated or shall we say mistreated. This unfortunate woman may have startled this dog (and Mastiff's are known to be guard dogs) or she may not have known anything about its past - the previous owners may not have told them the entire story of this dog. Don't judge what you don't know. The thing is that this is an unfortunate tragedy where a young woman lost her life and a young man lost his wife! This dog will now be put down and that, too, in my opinion is a tragedy because we will never know why it did what it did.

I have know chihuahuas to attack and do quite a bit of damage before they were pulled off - did they kill? No - but they have done severe damage to someone. A dog's size doesn't have anything to do with it's ability to do damage and/or attack. As to large dogs....every large dog must be shown who is alpha. But it must be done without anger, without hitting, without malice. If you show submission as someone suggested, you are not the alpha, they are. Wrong choice. If you don't know how to raise a dog, don't have one. But don't judge every breed by what a few bad outcomes bring. Every few years there is a new "BAD" breed...it was the Doberman, then it was the German Shepherd, then it was the Great Dane, then it was the Rottweiler, lately it's been the Pit Bull - and now because of this everyone will yell "oh, the Mastiff". Lord, people, get a grip!

and for the record... just because one mastif attacked this women does not mean all mastifs will attack. the same goes for american pit bull terriers and any other breed. i share my home with 2 amazing apbts and they are the sweetest girls in the world. people read/watch all the media hype on "dangerous breeds"and this creates frear. and fear creates ignorance. get eduacated and be responsible. and please dont assume that all mastifs/apbts/rots/dobis/shepards are bad.

Max,

I did not read in the story where she/they owned an 'attack' dog. By the way, is that a new breed? I did not know there was a specific 'breed', 'Attack Dog', I thought any dog could be trained to be an 'attack dog'... Actually they are trained to be 'Guard Dog's' who will 'Attack' on command or if you break in... This dog certainly had some type of problem, of which we may never know...

http://maureen2162031.newsvine.com/

Yes, she is a man hater as well as a racist, judging by her previous posts. Why are you even allowed to continue posting your useless drivel?

Do they bite them to death? Okay, I can imagine people get thrown from a horse and can die, but are most of these cases of horses actually attacking people?

Horses are actually very unpredictable and can be quite moody. I have known many who own horses. I've heard of people being picked up by the teeth of the horse and thrown, kicked and trampled, this is on top of being thrown. Being around animals as large and powerful as horses demand a lot of respect and attention to how you act around them and what you do around them too.

This mastiff was probably provoked somehow and reverted to his instinct, yes, animal instinct and took care of business in his viewpoint. I had a friend I worked with, he had a mastiff, and that dog would capture cats and rip them to shreds. Scary creature.

Maureen-2162031.......wow...quite man hater are we?? was your mother scared by an erect penis???

How incredibly sad for her and her family. Obviously a dog lover...what a horrible way to go. I am a dog owner myself, but would never have a mastiff. They scare the crap out of me- just too big and too powerful. I saw one attack a smaller dog at the dog park a few years ago and won't forget it. It grabbed the other dog by the neck, shook it, and dropped it like it was nothing. Horrible...the owner put him and his brother down.

... just because one mastiff attacked this women does not mean all mastiffs will attack...

Unfortunately with all the zealots we have today - plus the following of so many people going to the Internet for their "fix" of biased news, its really easy to believe this is the beginning of "The planet of the Ape's - Dogs".

Even worse, the responsibilities of Pet ownership -- and --- the overwhelming number of people (idiots who do not undrestand dogs) who think they should be able to disregard common sense, and not suffer for their stupidity is making it hazardous to have a dog. In many parts of the country - police are authorised to shoot your pet, for damn near any reason - regardless of them coming in your back yard, front yard - with or without a warrant. In a recent case, a Louisiana cop shot and killed a mans pet - while the man was right there watching. The man was attempting to call the dog back - but the cop told him to shut-up, then shot the dog as it was coming out of the side yard to see who was there.

It was even worse - the cop was at the wrong address. Then tried to put the blame on the home owner ... I guess he forgot that he had threatened the home owner, by telling him to shut up.

A case of damned if you do or damned if you don't. Of course - the shooting was justified by Police procedures. How is it possible to kill a dog, while attempting to blame the owner for not calling his dog, when the cop told him to shut up or get shot?

Dogs usually have "one owner", its not that difficult to get their attention - if you can't find a better way to approach an unarmed man without shooting his dog - then something is wrong. Is it really against the law to sit in your own yard without a cop shooting your dog?

marliegirl said:

Like someone said earlier - it's not the dog/breed, it's how they are raised and treated or shall we say mistreated.

I'm going to have to conditionally disagree with you on this one. 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 and a court recorder for VDHB cases (Vicious Dog Hearing Board). 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.

That being said, my conclusion from what I've seen is that poor genetics and poor ownership are the leading causes of human/animal bite fatalities.

I have only had two dogs come in on a bite case that were licensed, registered, purebred , pedigreed dogs whose parents were carefully selected for intelligence, even temperament and affectionate and loving natures. The two pedigreed dogs who came in on a bite case were Cocker Spaniels. (they even have a special name for it: Cocker rage.)

Aside from those two dogs, every other aggressive dog that we have ever gotten in front of the VDHB on a bite case (haven't yet had a human fatality in my five years of volunteering at the shelter) has been a backyard-bred dog.

For large-breed dogs like pit-type dogs, mastiffs, Presa Canarios, and bulldogs, in my municipality being at our shelter pretty much means they came from a backyard breeder. These ghetto breeders temperament test each puppy, pick out the most aggressive, then sell the other puppies to a family as a family pet without warning them that the puppy's parents had a higher aggression index than normal. It is these puppies who while they may have grown up in a loving, caring, nurturing home with plenty of exercise, can have mental instabilities. And it's not the dog's fault, it's the dog's genetics; it is what its parents' owner bred it to be.

Please, people, don't buy a puppy from someone who has a cage sitting by the side of the road with a sign that says 'Puppyes $100.' You're just feeding into the 'backyard-bred' problem. PLEASE check out your local shelter first, check the internet for rescues (there's a rescue for practically every breed--I had a coworker ask me yesterday for a rescue for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and yes there's a rescue for them too).

And while many people, including shelter volunteers, will knock getting dogs off Craigslist, I'm not--for many, a Craigslist ad is the last ditch effort before being abandoned at Animal Control and a possible trip to the euthanasia room (euphemistically called the 'Rainbow Room'.)

horrible situation. horrible. as some one who has had to physically fight off all breeds of dogs mentioned in the article plus a few more, by hand, i can and will say, situations like these only happen as a result of a combination of factors.

1. dog predisposition

2. training.

3. lack of recognized authority by the "master".

it all boils down to the fact that some "dogs" truly are not domesticated, regardless of any following excuses.

My money's on the a-hole husband.

Maureen, are you high or just another pathetic misandrist? Or both?

This is a sad story, but don't blame the breed. If it was the dog's attack that killed her, it could've been something she did (or didn't do), or the previous owner could have been a moron who didn't respect the proper way to raise Mastiffs. They're not poodles; you need to do some research before buying one.

marliegirl said;

I have know chihuahuas to attack and do quite a bit of damage before they were pulled off - did they kill? No - but they have done severe damage to someone. A dog's size doesn't have anything to do with it's ability to do damage and/or attack.

Now this I will agree with you 100%.

We are wrapped up in a lawsuit right now between a mailman and the female owner of a group of six dogs we are currently quarantining at the shelter that have been dubbed 'The Pack'. The owner started with two, a male and a female. Which was OK, there were never any problems except that she didn't have shots and dog licenses and they got out of the yard sometimes, but they never bit anyone, human or animal. Let's call them Dog A (male) and B (female).

Then the female went in heat, and she had four puppies. The owner kept two, both girls, Dog C and D, but she didn't get them fixed, so when they went into heat, they got pregnant by their own father, and she kept two, one puppy from C and one puppy from D let's call them AC and AD since they are the product of their own grandfather also being their father. (incest, or inbreeding.)

AC and AD have Hannibal Lecter/Jekyll-and-Hyde personalities. They can be really sweet one minute, and turn around and bite you the next. They are currently being quarantined in our shelter until we know the results of the VDHB hearing and the civil lawsuit and our staff handles them with catchpoles because they know these dogs WILL bite. Their owner brought all six of them to the shelter one day last year to get their rabies shots done (we offer low-cost rabies shots at a once-monthly shot clinic) and Animal Control had to bring catchpoles out ot the parking lot because The Pack (led by AC and AD) attacked a pitbull and ripped one ear completely off--the whole Pack, following the two Alpha dogs AC and AD, (including A, B, C, and D, who never had behavior problems before AC and AD came along.) AC and AD are also responsible for biting children, and on one occasion they killed AND ATE a cat that wandered into their yard.

So this lady lets The Pack out onto the yard one day, and the mailman comes up. He swears he checked the yard to see if The Pack was out before opening the gate to put mail in the box next to the front door. When he turned around he was attacked by six furry bundles who knocked him off the step, put him on the ground, shredded both pant legs and bit off one testicle (and presumably ate it since we found blood but no body parts.)

He's suing the woman for having vicious dogs.

She's protesting that they only attacked because he was in her yard, that he should have checked the yard before he came in to see if her dogs were out, and anyway her dogs are little darlings and would never do that deliberately, they were just protecting her property. We are currently waiting on a VDHB hearing to determine if the dogs will be euthanized for viciousness--the entire neighborhood has filed notices saying they will show up to testify against this woman being able to keep her dogs because they are a huge problem in the neighborhood. Every single one of us in the shelter, volunteers, care staff, and Animal Control, as much as we love all animals, feel the whole lot of them is irredeemable and want all of them euthanized. There won't be any crying either.

Oh, by the way--the dogs are a pack of Chihuahuas.

J_P_Patchespal, how old is the cat? Ever watch "My Cat From Hell" on Animal Planet? They had a cat on there recently, wasn't all that old, but was developing arthritis already in her hind quarters and would attack if you touched her there. After the owners finally got her diagnosed, the vet put her on meds and she settled down most of the time - just like a human, if the weather was crappy and the arthritis flared, she'd still bite when touched (well, okay, a human might not bite - then again, they just might!), but she didn't go crazy the way she had before. Your cat might just have the same problem and can be helped.

I just dont see the upside outweighing the risk with dogs large enough to kill you.

i'm sure statistically speaking, it's rare...but yet, I couldnt live with myself if my dog attacked and killed my family member or a friend, or anyone at random.

that would be all on me, for making the choice to put that danger in my home - even opening the door to it's possibility.

yes, there are ANY NUMBER of ways we can die or be killed...why compound that reality with unnecessary choices?

I'm not looking to die as early as possible...let alone by my own pet.

So far, it's looking more and more as if Maureen did it.

I wonder if she fell down the stairs on him while he slept at the bottom. I fell on my dog when I was little and she got up and bit me in the stomach. She had never shown any type of violence and was one I could poke in the eye or pull her tongue and never a peep, but falling on her when she was sleeping made her agressive and she bit me.

Go to Maureens page and you'll see that she hates husbands, dads, blacks, hispanics and gays equally. But I'm sure she LOVES Jesus! LOL!!

What It All Boils Down To Is Not Everyone Is Cut Out To Own A Large Breed Of Dog.............. If A Person Doesn't Understand How Dogs (Like Wolves) Establish A Pecking Order In The Group They're In, (Be It With Other Dogs Or Humans) Then Maybe They Need To Get A Poodle Or WeinneyDog .......................................................................... I Have A 90 lb German Shepherd, That Knows For Sure That Okie-51 Is The Boss

I am not anti-dog. I love dogs and have had them my whole life. Had two wonderful German Shepherd's and various mutts that were "aggressive" breed mixes. I love animals and I am a vegetarian because of my love for said animals. HOWEVER, i feel like in the last 10-20 years people (dog lovers) have started using dogs as faux children and treating them as such. Dogs are not human, they are not substitute children. THEY ARE ANIMALS. They will act as such. I have a new cat with claws. I do not let my 3 year old around the cat unsupervised. The cat is the sweetest thing and has never given me any reason to think that she would scratch his eye out or anything but she is a CAT...and should be respected and treated as such. I don't know this dog or the circumstances but if you've ever been around a pack of dogs or watched the discovery channel a dog like a mastiff mauling something is not necessarily unusual behavior. People need to start respecting animals for what they are and using common sense when allowing them into their homes.

Some insightful and moronic comments. How are some people already concluding that the husband had something to do with this? Did you read the part where the dog was recently given to the family? Perhaps the dog wasn't adjusting to its new home, plain and simple. Also, in regards to having horses: you're right, horses also kill people; however, horses don't have incisors the size of Bugle chips, and they kick and stomp and throw riders. If the Mastiff used its paws as weapons, this wouldn't be as tragic a conclusion. God Bless the victim and her family.

"three dogs: a mastiff, boxer and pit bull mix breed" out of the three of the dogs, I see the Boxer being the less of the agressors....the other two would turn on you at any moment! NOW .... over the years you must know which one would do it!

And why shouldn't the pitbull owners point this out? I do not have pitbulls, but all dogs have the potential to go off. I remember the rottweillers, dobermans and german shepherds were considered evil back in the day, and now folks are quick to point out that pitts are the worst. I think any dog that is not trained well can go off. But you know sometimes animals are abused and they will act out. I adopted a dog for my mom that would not bark for months because she had been abused. We were shocked that she could bark, but she was a loving dog. When I was a kid my dad found a dog that had been put in a sack and was left to drown. A few years ago, my dad rescued a dog from a friend's brother who was abusing a dog.

I have to agree with what some people said, that this was probably a fight between the dogs that Mrs. Brown got between. This was a new dog in the home, they only had it a week. Pit bulls are big, but Mastiffs are huge. Before they became pets, Mastiffs used to be used in war to pull the enemy off of their horses in battle and kill them. That's historical and I've never been around a Mastiff or known anyone who owned one, so how their temperament is now, I couldn't tell you. But I do know it's a bad idea to socialize dogs by putting them in the house all together without keeping them separated in different rooms until they get to know each other. Seriously, you should only own an amount of dogs you can control by yourself, if a group of dogs out weigh you, even if they are all loving animals, you might find yourself in trouble. We've seen them, people walking 3 or 4 huge dogs at the same time and the dogs tugging the person along and they can barely hold onto them. They may not attack you, the owner, but they might drag you into traffic or break loose and cause an accident with cars or by knocking someone down and injuring them. People love their pets, they love their dogs, but be responsible and sensible on how many dogs and other pets you can actually take care of and control.

DLange - Good point about horses! (I've spent most of my life around them, too.) When you're around any animal, you have to accept that accidents, sometimes unexplainable, can happen. It doesn't mean people need to freak out and blame/demonize them, as sadly happens all too often.

Donna, your own comment is moronic! What difference does it make that a horse's hooves are dangerous and mastiff's paws are not? The danger is still there.

Maureen is actually Rachel Madcow. Man hater, liberal, trying to place the blame where it doesnt belong.....yep sounds like a Madcow.

I agree with the others saying that the other dogs were probably fighting and she got caught in the middle. I have seen this happen a few times at the dog park near my house.

Patrick Demarco...that website is missing some info. The thought is that dog is not made up of two types of dogs :

However, the role of one indigenous breed in the composition of the Presa Canario is clear. The Perro de Bardino Majorero, a prehistoric herding dog believed to have originated in Fuerteventura that was well dispersed throughout the archipelago. According to the history of the breed, the "Majorero" (formerly believed to be extinct) provides the "verdino" (greenish-tinted) brindling, rustic coat, expression, courage, remarkable set of teeth, and disposition for "bullfighting" with cattle.

It is also believed that a number of Spanish and breeds may have contributed to the development of the Presa Canario. The Perro de Ganado Majorero was an Iberian cattle dog who it is believed is almost certainly a component in the breed. Also important were the various types of Presa Español and Alano Español (the alano actually refers to Spanish bulldogs and not the modern breed) that were also used in the conquest of the Americas. (What is particularly interesting here is the origin of the Alano. In 1556 Philip II of Spain introduced great numbers of the "English Alaunt"- the old bulldogs of England)*. The mestizo or mixed breed created by the combination of the Spanish breeds was used widely by butchers and farmers as holding dogs, catchdogs, and guardians for cattle and livestock. Historical documents list the Bardino Majorero as a co-existing separate breed until the 18th century.

During the 18th century, English traders and merchants came to the Canary Islands as temporary and permanent residents, bringing with them their working and gladiator dogs, notably the Mastiff of England and the Bulldog. Equally importantly, the English brought with them their traditions of pit fighting for which their breeds and the island dogs were inevitably mixed and eventually bred to produce the ultimate fighter.

Perro de Presa Canario literally means the Canarian Dog of Prey. The word presa can also be translated to mean catch or hold and also means the dog's actual grip. Presa Canario can even be loosely translated to mean Canarian Bulldog. At the time, the dog was bred solely for function and not for type. For these working dogs, both as combatants and livestock catch dogs and guardians, physical power and stamina combined with heart, drive, and gameness to produce low-slung, muscular dogs with large heads and strong jaws. No phenotype existed, but the traditional coat patterns would eventually emerge as fawn, brindle, and black, many with white markings.

So it's not just a relation of two dogs..this is years and years of diluting blood to make a breed what it is.

And sorry to the guy who said that mastiffs are along the lines of gentle giants with great danes and malamutes (yes they are) But do you know that great danes and malamutes are on CDC's list of dogs that are high risk biters? English mastiffs are not.

The Centers for Disease Control study dog bite incidents, including the types of dogs most likely to bite. The breeds that the CDC considers highest risk are pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Doberman pinschers, chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas.

Irish 21 - As I said to foolishmasses, people like Maureen aren't consigned to any one political persuasion. Or are you suggesting that there aren't any folks with less-than-pleasant dispositions in your conservative ranks? You, as with foolishmasses, are painting with a pretty broad brush and might want to back off of your so/too-typical-for-a-modern-Repub generalization. What does this story have to do with politics, anyway?

Speculation,

Speculation,

Speculation!

can we just blame obama for this and be done??

I think the biggest (not only) problem with people buying or getting a dog is so many people don't do any research and know nothing about dogs. I'm not saying that was the case here, but in general. People should be educated about dogs before they get one and people should be responsible.

Oh, but I'm sure it wasn't the dog's fault... o_O

/sarcasm

A couple of people on here have put down those who don't know the difference between pit bulls, mastiffs, bull dog, etc. I can't say that I always know either. However, two incidents proved to me that I really don't care what they are because they are unacceptable as pets.

1) The neighbor's pit-bull-type dog came into MY yard and killed my cat.

2) One came after me while I was walking down the street and I had to climb on top of the nearest car to protect myself, I really didn't care which breed of dog it was. All I saw was a huge dog with a massive jaws lunging and barking at me. I don't know whether it was a pit bull or mastiff or what. All I know is that I was cornered until the police arrived.

Freedom72

J_P_Patchespal, how old is the cat? Ever watch "My Cat From Hell" on Animal Planet? They had a cat on there recently, wasn't all that old, but was developing arthritis already in her hind quarters and would attack if you touched her there. After the owners finally got her diagnosed, the vet put her on meds and she settled down most of the time - just like a human, if the weather was crappy and the arthritis flared, she'd still bite when touched (well, okay, a human might not bite - then again, they just might!), but she didn't go crazy the way she had before. Your cat might just have the same problem and can be helped.

Howdy, Freedom; I just spent $300 on the grump girl (my cat that is) and she is very healthy. She will demand to be petted when she wants to be (and drools on you), she just has her moods where she is just a bitch - as the vet said; not all animals are sweet loving pets...lol. She also will lick her self raw when stressed out - after paying $300 to find out she is healthy - I'm not taking her to the shrink too.

you never hear of anyone getting mauled to death by their cat!!

oh oh oh

Horse kicking is the largest cause of deaths in two year old in texas. Last time if reviewed stats. This too is an instinct. Being 2 puts you in the kill zone.

=========================================================

Ummm, so people in Texas see no problem with letting 2 year olds walk around to the back (business) end of a 1,200 lb horse? How does an even somewhat intelligent adult let a 2 year old put itself into that extremely dangerous situation? Is that a definition of common sense? Are we talking mouth breathers here?

nazrated you are right. I thought it easier to post that link because it simply states what your info states that I was right to say they are related and the English Mastiff was part of a Presa. In fact the Grando was a mastiff type dog and an alternative name for a Presa is Spanish Mastiff. Doesn't take a science degree to see they are related but Cat seemed to take exception to saying the dogs were similar to the Georgia attack. In the Ga. attack it was a pit bull, boxer mix and 2 Presa with one Presa being newly introduced. Cat 'obviously knows NOTHING about dogs or dog breeds'

You can argue and demean specific breeds all you want. I've worked in dog rescues for 30 years, rehabbed almost every breed known. The single most dangerous breed is...... the dog who has a history you don't know about. Any time you introduce a new dog, there are risks. You have no idea how that dog has been treated or conditioned. I love dogs almost more than people, frankly, but they are still animals. If they have been conditioned by abuse or even a single traumatic incident and you are not familiar with that dog's past, you have no idea what trigger can set off a defensive episode. And a dog that feels threatened and defensive presents a hazard to you. Obviously, the larger body mass and jaw, the more damage that can occur. The worst bite I ever received was from a traumatized mixed breed hound and he did significant damage to my leg, significant. I also work with horses and the same rule applies; what you don't know can be very dangerous.

Mastiffs generally are great dogs, but that dog was only there for a week. No knowledge of it's history, no established respectful relationship yet between them.... this is a tragedy. Dogs are much like children, they enter this world with a clean slate. It's what happens to them afterward that is the true indicator of the finished product. Abuse or neglect, a failure to love with firm boundaries, and a lack of solid teaching/training do not make a well-socialized, integrated being.

My deepest condolences to the husband and family.

deprogrammer

you never hear of anyone getting mauled to death by their cat!!

==============================

Actually, serveral years ago, a woman who worked for the Illinois Tollway Authority owned an exotic cat (small, not lion or leopard size), that attacked and killed a small child that was a relative of hers. But as for an adult, being attacked by a 8 lb house cat is not like being attacked by a 140 lb dog.

Everyone is jumping to conclusions about how she died - it does not say anywhere in the article that the dog mauled her to death. Her husband found her at the bottom of the stairs - maybe the dog just jumped up, knocking her down the stairs and breaking her neck.

My 69 year-old mother owns an English Mastiff. Delilah is the most gentle, sweetest dog ever. She would never, ever hurt anyone but that's because she was properly trained as a puppy. In fact, even though she weighs 140 lbs. and stands around 32" at the shoulder, she is utterly terrified by my 84 lb., 14" tall (at the shoulder) basset. My 14 year-old basset stands about 12" and weighs all of 50 lbs. can scare the beejeebers out of her. You just have to train them right and make sure that they know who is the alpha dog and who is the omega dog. And Delilah knows that she is the omega.

O..K... none of you know what your talking about. First of all "true" mastiffs are not k-9's. Bull mastiffs and English mastiffs are not "true" mastiffs. Mastiffs are closer to bears than a K-9 when it comes to species. They aren't "dogs" and shouldn't be compared to one. Every male mastiff, will at some time, challenge it's owner to a match of dominance. I have met a breeder who has been challenged 3 times and the only way he has won was to reach down it's throat and grab it's tongue and hold on for dear life. He said after that they won't challenge you again. He teaches classes on how to own a mastiff. Anyone should do some research when taking on any animal of that size. 140 lbs is lethal even to a grown adult. "Gentile Giant" is not true in any fashion or form.

The writing in this story leaves a lot to be desired. There are a NUMBER of breeds that are called mastiffs. English Mastiffs, and Neapolitan mastiffs are generally considered gentle giants. Cane Corsos, Dogo Argentinos and a number of other mastiff breeds on the other hand are known for requiring a strong hand and even then can be aggressive and hard to control.

Dog Pack Mentality---surprised it wasn't the Pit Bull.

The dog was angry over something, (maybe from vet shots, sick, or old)---Could be Leader of the Pack, Territorial.

So sad this honorable woman died from her best what she thought was her best friend. Was their neglect? No one knows the real circumstances. Were they fed on time, etc. Lots of Questions.

Having 2 dogs at separate times, there are many conditions in which a dog will attack it's owner. Thank goodness, it doesn't happen often.

First
of all let me start by saying that what breed of dog that killed this wonderful
woman really does not matter, what does matter is that we rejoice this woman’s
life and the wonderful things she did in the world during her time here on this
earth. For those who wish to argue and say that it DOES matter what breed was
responsible and for those who would like to gang up on the dog breed, defenseless
when it comes to speaking for itself, that was responsible for Mrs. Brown's
death, let me say three words to you: know your facts. The bull mastiff, though
known bred for hunting and protection, was bred to pin down their prey or intruders,
not bite or kill them. Don’t believe me? That’s fine you can argue with the dog
experts from animal planet here’s the link
Be my guest :). Lastly I wish to inform who ever needs to be informed that, yes
all dogs are different, but please don’t go around spreading ignorant lies or
uneducated thoughts/opinions to others. There are a lot of possible reasons as
to why the dog “attacked” its owner. One could be that it was in a new
environment and was necessarily fond of its new home yet, that with being a
rescue dog. There’s no telling what could have happened to the dog earlier in
its life or what exactly happened that day of the murder. So please do not jump
to inadequate conclusions before you have looked at the story from all possible
sides, and please know my objective with this comment was not to make a fool
out of anyone, if you think that was my intent let me insure you that you most
likely made a fool out of yourself all by yourself before this comment was
posted. My intention of this post was solely to inform the naive civilians who
wished to be informed and to make an attempt to put an end to the discourteous arguments
below.

Salvia:

Your comments are totally true---People who buy or own dogs should know the complete history of the animal, and get a dog or other domesticated pet that fits their family--Do the research carefully---Lots of books out there, and info on the Internet.

Don't buy puppies off the "street"; no history of their backgrounds as they were bred.

Aren't English Mastiffs the ones that look (and usually act!) like giant Pugs?

Um, Patrick...

http://www.akc.org/breeds/perro_de_presa_canario/history.cfm

There are numerous books written by Historians concerning the development of the known Perro de Presa Canario (the "Canary Dog of Prey"). Documentation of the original, holding dogs date back to the XV and XVI centuries. Following the conquest of the Canary Islands it is theorized dogs of great size may have existed or were brought there by the Spanish Conquistadors or possibly both. What is known was the function for which these dogs were developed; guarding farms, struggling with cattle and the extermination of wild or stray dogs.

There are several theories regarding the genetic contributions to the creation of the Presa Canario. It is almost certain that the cattle dog, the Iberian Presa (Perro de Ganado Majorero) provided a start to the founding of the Canary Presa. The Ganado was a mastiff type of average size, rustic, intelligent with an intuitive instinct, a fearless guardian. Several other Hispanic breeds contributed to the Presas formation, especially the Presa Espanol in its large varieties and the bulldog varieties (Alano), known for its clutching instincts. In time the island dogs developed into a completely differentiated breed due to the influence of the Spanish breeds. Around the XVIII century, the English colonists, traders and merchants brought their Bandogges and Tiedogs - predecessors of the Bulldogs and Mastiffs - to the Canary Islands. Shortly thereafter, the English introduced their gladiator breeds (Bulldogs and Bull/Terriers) and began crossbreeding with the then existent "Perro de Presa" of the Canary Archipelago. To what degree did each of these introduced breeds contribute genetically to the overall development of the Presa Canario remains unanswerable.

The final ingredient that completes the foundation of the Presa Canario was the genetic infusion of the Bardino Majorero, a pre-Hispanic sheepdog originating on the Island of Fuerteventura. This dog was introduced for its intelligence, physical resistance, offering of excellent guardian instincts with little bark, extraordinary set of teeth and incorruptible courage. The combination of known holding dogs, holding dogs of the continent and the Bardino Majorero, started a new grouping of holding dogs. New to the traditional functions of guarding and catching livestock was added a new function, the fight.

In the 1940's the prohibition of dog fighting was ordered throughout the islands, although clandestine fights were known to continue during the next decade. It was during this period the Presa Canario numbers truly faltered. The sovereignty of the island Presa worsened further with the introduction of the German shepherd, the Doberman pinscher, and the Great Dane. The island dog fancier's interest now focused on these new breeds, almost causing the demise of the Presa Canario breed. During this darkened period the Presa was relegated in small numbers to farmers and herdsmen as their primary guard dog.

Reconstruction of the nearly extinct Presa Canario began in earnest back in the early 1970's. Reputable breeders bred strong Presas that were rustic, massive, vigorous, and functional, who had acute watchdog instincts, a strong temperament, calm yet confident and were extremely territorial with unlimited courage. This dog when defending what he considers his would withstand the harshest of punishments without surrendering his position.

Full recovery of the Presa Canario heritage started in the year 1982, when a group of breeders from the island of Tenerife formed an association with the goal to propagate the resurgence of the Presa Canario as started in the previous decades. The Club Espanol de Presa Canario ( CEPRC ) was formed incorporating breeders from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma. In January 1983, the club was recognized by the REAL CANINE SOCIETY CENTRAL of SPAIN (RSCFRCE). This club's efforts and successes were duly instrumental in bringing forth the many new "Champions of Breed" as judged at the ongoing annual Monographic events, held in the islands and mainland. And now, a renewed interest in the breed has extended into the European continent and the Americas.

Tell me AGAIN what I DON'T know. When a dog is referred to as a "Mastiff" it is an ENGLISH Mastiff. A Tibetan Mastiff is different, as is the Cane Corso (Italian) Mastiff as is the Giant Maso Mastiff as is the Alpine Mastiff aka the Saint Bernard as is the German/Aleutian Mastiff aka the Great Dane. I was NOT referring to the Georgia attack and from what YOU wrote, there was no mention of a Georgia attack either in YOUR post or in the initial post that started this thread:

Sees Thru Gloss

Pit bull fans will be quick to point out that this attack was by one of the dogs other than her pit bull.

• 68

• !

#1 - Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:01 PM EST

patrick demarco

These are almost identical dogs as the girl that was killed that rescued dogs except it was a Presa(a crossbreed of an English Mastiff). A mastiff is a dominate dog and just newly arriving will set the pecking order, unfortunately for humans, it usually becomes alpha in the family. Just what every family needs, a pet dog that you have to ask permission in order to move. Don't forget to keep your head down and walk submissive, enjoy your new pet.

So ... considering that I was responding to YOUR post which was not clear ... and also correcting your assertion that Presa Canarios are "almost identical dogs to Mastiffs" (which they ARE NOT) ... and also considering that the AKC has weighed in on the subject ... care to re-state?

@JoooBlooo - Huh?

In addition ... the TRUE "Nanny Dog" known for centuries was the English Mastiff. Pit Bulls were NEVER known as a "Nanny Dog" except after an early 70's claim that ONE PERSON made in a book and that Pit Bull enthusiasts have seized on to try to make their preferred breed more "domestic" sounding. Pit Bulls were BRED to fight BULLS or other dogs after Bull and bear baiting was outlawed in the 17th century in England in a PIT (ring) - hence the name. They were initially a combination of the Bulldog and certain terriers known for having tenacity and a single-minded purpose to FIGHT. Why would responsible parents leave their children with dogs who were known and BRED to fight either bulls OR each other as the Pit Bull/Staffordshire Terrier were? I am NOT saying that there are not "good" pits/AST dogs ... there undoubtedly are. But the popularity of the breed both for dog fighting and as a "tough dog" among certain elements has lead to the prevalence of the backyard breeder who doesn't take into account the temperament of both parents and who doesn't test the pups for aggression. This has lead to the continuation of strains of instability within the pit bull/American Staffordshire Terrier breed, which has lead to unprovoked attacks.

Again, as I have stated below ... ANY dog can be unstable or have an emotional problem. I have personally known a pit bull cross who was the most docile, loving dog imaginable. But they were NEVER - NEVER EVER NANNY DOGS.

apparently, one shouldn't have a dog that's bigger than they are?

Mastiffs are rather protective of their territories. They're not exactly gentle giants. We have a mastiff/lab mix and she's extremely territorial over her property. She's smaller than a full bred mastiff but still large enough to be a threat if she chose to be. She's been super gentle with all our kids, but that doesn't mean we're stupid enough to think she could not potentially harm someone. Which is why we always keep her under supervision when the kids are around her.

These things happen. They'll continue to happen. Unless we all start banning every breed of dog (personally I'm all for banning chihuahuas and those ugly yapper mixes), people need to look at the owners and previous owners of animals instead of blaming the animals themselves.

I wonder if there was a reason why the previous owners gave the dog to the woman in the first place.

It is sad that some people have to learn the hard way. You should NEVER take in a big dog that you know nothing about their background! You have no idea what this animal has been through and how it has reacted. It was going to be put down for some reason. It may be sad to put it down but you have to use better judgement when you are dealing with your life or the life of your family members! I would never choose an animal over my familys safety! All you people crying about your pitbulls, same thing. I would never trust a big powerfull animal to NEVER attack someone. How many people have to be taught the hard way! "Well they never did it before"! Famous last words! I would let it be me or my family!

Wow. Read Maureen's comment and my jaw dropped. What a horrible thing to say. At least we all know she has a good imagination....

Any dog can attack. If they are big enough, they can kill you. People need to remember they are animals, not people. If you don't lead, they will.

To all of Dawn's husband, family, friends and co-workers: I am so sorry such a terrible thing happened! May you find strength and comfort in each other.

as an owner of a wonderful mastiff, i feel sorry for this terrible accident. My deepest sympathy to her family and friends. I hope this doesn't discourage people from looking at a mastiff for a family pet. They can be truely wonderful, if raised properly: but this is true for all dogs! All the terrible stuff people are writing on this story, i doubt that this is what her family and friends would want to read and remember her by!

Reportedly, by the CDC, out of the almost five million people bitten by dogs every year in the United States, close to 900,000 require medical attention. Nearly 400,000 of those people are seriously injured by dog bites.

This was not her dog, she did not raise it...she got it a week ago....obviously there was some sort of tension.

Never saw a mean mastiff. Most i have seen have been gentle giants. Still hate pits and im tired of people sticking up for them left and right. EVERY TIME and i do mean EVERY TIME i have ever been to beaches, dog parks or parks in general, someone always brings one and they always attack. I have NEVER ever seen a pit that didn't attack something or someone and i live in Fresno CA look it up lol. One of pit capitals of CA i hate it. The MAJORITY , not all , the MAJORITY will turn at some point and when they do it is devastating. I hate the propaganda people are told that they are nice and such. Eventually they turn i have never once been proven wrong in my 25 years of existence. Last time i was a the beach in carmel ca around 4 months ago, two pit owners (white trash) sat down together discussing how gentle their dogs were and how everyone else is wrong. I sat down a safe distance away and watched because i wanted to see if they were indeed nice. after around 4 minutes they viciously started attacking each other and almost knocked over a passerby child and 2 adults. I smiled because it was absolutely hilarious how they can look at one thing and see something else entirely. I watched dogs all day, no other fights. There were approx 30 dogs on beach at any given time. keep lying to yourselves guys. if a vote ever comes to my area, i will vote to ban the breeding and selling in any way of the breed.

If dogs, any breed leaves their Territory (home) will get disorientated for a long period of time and act out---I have learned this through my own experience with a Labrador--dogs do not like being upset from the place they know as home--we moved, and the dog was confused to different surroundings for a long time.

Dogs need a lot of attention, and are a great responsibility--not like cats--dogs should be watched and not left alone for long periods of time. They get anxious and depressed.

So before anyone thinks about just going out and getting a dog, be prepared to give up part of your life--it is well-worth the effort. Dogs are loyal, and good companions.

What I have on these posts is a bunch of men blaiming the woman who lovingly took these animals into her home

You men are disgusting - as a woman who have loved these animals and tried to understand alpha dogs, and tried to assimilate them into my life

This woman was not attuned to the way males dogs act or react - and unfortunately lost her life - end of story

Barbara,

Are you affiliated in any way with Maureen?

I'm wondering if maybe the Mastiff (in the house for one week) was just trying to be the dominant dog over the others and Mrs. Brown was trying to break them up from a fight then got caught up in it.

Another theory is she may have fallen down the steps and was unconscious before the dog even did anything to her. Her hall may have startled the dog and it went on a rampage or something. Hmmmmm

Bottom line is, there will be another story shortly describing exactly what they find during the autopsy and we'll all probably be incorrect.

I'll just stick with my Mini-Schnauzers......they are so awesome!

This "pit bull fan" doesn't feel relief in the fact it wasn't a pit bull type dog who attacked this woman. Actually, as the owner of a pit bull type dog, I know how innocent dogs suffer from the stigma attached to them from the act of other dogs. This dog happened to be a mastiff... it could have happened to be a pit bull type dog, a labrador or a cocker spaniel! All breeds have the ability to attack-- and have! It's sad to see people blanket label mastiffs as vicious because of the actions of this one dog. How many people reading this story will now avoid mastiffs on the street, or pass one over when adopting from a shelter? Probably more than you think. Blame the deed not the breed!

Sees Thru Gloss

Pit bull fans will be quick to point out that this attack was by one of the dogs other than her pit bull.

Well said Okie-51. I have a 90+ pound Rotweiller/Walker Coonhound mix female. One of the sweetest dogs I know. She is also aware that I am alpha and is 100% OK with that. I have had two German Shepherds and a Black Lab in the past as well. Several of them overlapping. Among themselves, they had a "pecking order". No fighting. Just always the oldest assumed that role and the others simply followed. Used to babysit my parents Beagle. She was around all of my dogs through the years as well and when she became the oldest, even though she was outweighed by 40-50 pounds by any of my other dogs, she became Alpha. They all respected that fact. All of them females. Never any fighting.

It's all in how they are raised. My German Shepherds were outstanding dogs, led well on leashes and one even loved children so much she allowed my friends son to "play" with her and stack his toys on her head and body. Never a problem. My Black Lab was the smartest and sweetest dog I have ever had. A joy to be around and loved everyone but was protective of me. As soon as she found out I was OK with whomever was there, than she was too. She also had a terrible habit of wanting to lick my face all the time. I only have Lucy, the Rott/Walker left. She is very engergetic (has a fenced in backyard to run in), and probably the most protective of me..even more so than my German Shepherd's if that's possible. It takes her a little longer to warm up to anyone new and has even backed a few friends/family against the wall standing between them and me, until she was sure the threat was not there. But look out once she warms up to you. She will sit next to you on the couch and stare at you and try to lay down/sit on your lap. She sleeps with me at night and I feel very safe in the house. If she barks at night it is rare and there IS something going on.

So, in a nutshell, raise them right, they will treat you right. I have raised one Shepherd and my Lab from puppies and the one Shepherd I got at age 4 and my current dog, Lucy, I got at 1 1/2. So it's not necessarily from a puppy. You read them right, do it right and ALWAYS let them know that you are Alpha (best advice I got from my vet- had one Shepherd that tried to growl if I would get near her food and he said, you need to STOP that now while she is a pup. I did, and had no further problems), than you will have a great relationship with your dog.

the pit bull didn't kill her. also, bread?

I will gladly keep any dog which bakes me bread.

Wasn't a pit bull! Did you read the story or just scroll down here to write a dumb comment!

It wasn't the pit bull, and there is a need to own one: a homeless dog that needs food and a roof.

lizzy, yur a sikko wooman/grill. get a life, will ya!!!

nice to sea you here today Sea....

Learn how to read and spell before making posts.

That comment is just ignorant. Pit bulls were called "nanny dogs" in the 30's because parents would leave their children with the family pit bull because they were so protective of humans. Pit bulls BY NATURE are very people friendly.... not necessarily dog friendly. The media is perpetuating the steroetype by only announcing when a "pit bull bites" someone... in 80% of the cases when a pit bull bites someone is it mentioned.... when it is ANY other breen it is mentioned only 8% of the time!? How biased it that? The same time the woman in San Fran was killed by the 2 Presos a family Husky killed a 2 year old girl? The media never mentioned it because it wasn't "headline" worthy!? So a pit bull is but a Husky isn't? Its all negative sterotypes. I have owned pit bulls for 20 years and they are the most loving dogs I have ever owned... and I have owned all breeds. My 80lb boy is laying on my lap as I type this. Its people who don't know how to train a dog that shouldn't own them... ANY dog, regardless of size....

I adore my Pitbulls.. I own two males / Very Good Dogs, Gentle and very misinterpeted and it wasnt even the Pitbull that alledgedly attacked her... My Sympathy goes out to this family as it would seem she was a dog lover !!

Well aren't you an effing illiterate moron. Lets not even get into the whole Pit Bulls are babies its the bad owners debate...IT WASNT THE GOD DAMNED PIT BULL YOU GOD DAMNED IDIOT.

I really do understand all of you who are dog lovers and your comments.

I just cannot get past the FACT that certain breeds are dangerous to people. For the mastiff( and I love them-they are cute and loveable and gentle giants) can snap. I know of two others who did and hurt a family member.

What if a stranger was hurt? Why are pit bull and pit bull mixes and rotweilers always at the center of this controversy? Maybe they are just too capable of violence for regular families to own and train???

The pit bull did not attack the woman so what does that have to do with the story at all! Pit bulls are great dogs that have a bad rap because of their history. Dogs behave the way they were raised to behave so its all about the owners. Pit bulls are some of the most loyal and loving animals that you could have. Prime example of why animals better than some people. Go educate yourself instead of posting stupid comments that show your ignorance.

you don't need no money...sure don't need no bread...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPM6ni4bQzc

What kind of Rocket Scientist spells "Breed" as "Bread"? Oh, right.....the same kind of person who maligns an entire BREED of dog.

Now, run along back to your sh*tty job, Internet Troll.

The whole breed issue is idiotic....Anyone who owns an ANIMAL that has the ability to over power them and kill them is taking that risk upon themselves, I wish people didn't own these types of animals (although I feel the same about guns so bash away). I'm a avid animal lover with two dogs but neither one of them could kill anyone who lives in our home, granted they could bite someone. Training an animal is never full proof although recommended for any responsible pet owner. The law doesn't prevent this type of ownership so own at your own risk, I would have felt much worse if this particular animal killed someone outside of the household.

There are a number of dangerous dog breeds. People who own those breeds--mastiffs, pit bulls, presa canarios, rottweilers, huskies, boxers, dalmatians, chows, dobermans, etc--should attend mandatory classes pertaining to those animals' temperaments and habits, how to provide proper security and protect themselves and others, and should have to be licensed to own them.

Sea Quester-

why don't you read this article and come to the conclusion like the vast majority of us that this owner did NOT die from her pit-bull? Idiot...

denko95

lizzy, yur a sikko wooman/grill. get a life, will ya!!!

=============================

.......What in God's name is a "wooman/grill"? I have a Weber grill, it's great, but I never had a "wooman/grill", unless it was when I was in the service and very drunk.

Some one asked why Pits, Rotts, and other large BREEDS (BTW) are always the ones getting the attention.

It's simple. They do the most damage. I, personally, think the little yappy dogs are much more likely to bite than the bigger breeds. In fact, most dog bite victims I know where bitten by small breed dogs.

But, teenage kid needs two stitches from Chihuahua bite, doesn't really make national news.

There is no need to own a pit bull bread dog .

I'm going to have to agree with that statement. Why own a pit bull bread dog when you can own a pit bull cake dog?! Cake is much better.

@PM - Have you ever had a pet that you care about?

All animals can be dangerous, all breeds, all species (except maybe some butterflies or something). Cattle kill tons of people. Horses can be really damaging and often violent. Pigs are pretty common offenders. I've suffered quite a few gerbil bites in my life, and I have a few nasty scars from my cat, and one particularly painful puncture wound (almost healed now) from a kitten at the humane society. When I volunteered at the zoo it was piratically an initiation honor to be bitten by a duck. Just about the only animals I've had contact with and haven't been injured by in some sort are hippos (one of the most dangerous animals out there), rhinos, and goats.

By your logic the only pets people should have are sugar ants, goldfish, sea monkeys and cockroaches.

the problem is people don't understand these are animals. i love my dogs and would'nt take anything for them but i don't think it's real smart to have any animal that is capable of killig you. it's your choice what you own and as long as you make sure the only risk is to you i don't care what people own. but common sence tells you it's not real smart to have an animal that can kill you. as loving as dogs can be even small dogs can attack you. the difference is they are small enough you can handle them and they can't kill you

if people want these large and sometimes violent dogs, as long as they keep them where they are not a threat to anyone else including their kids. it's their life, not mine. just remember these are animals and when you have an animal big enough to kill you the risk is always there

@Alsoajenn - People who don't want to put effort (or don't think they should put effort) into training a dog tend to go for the smaller breeds. Can't do much damage, so why train them not to bite, hump, and bark at all hours? But with a larger breed, you HAVE to train them since one bite from a pitt is going to do much more damage than one bite from a chihuahua.

Mindie took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to post the same thing, but you beat me to it! However, I prefer pit bull cookie dogs.

Lol sparklystar! pit bull cookie dogs are awesome too!!

@ Sees Thru Gloss You act like other dogs can't kill and attack people other then a pitbull. News flash! All dogs are capable of attacking people and big dogs such as mastiffs and German Shepards been known to kill people, not just pit bulls. Any good size dog can kill a person. Dogs as well as many domesticated animals and even wild animals (though they will rely more on instinct then personality), have different personalities and mental complexes just like humans do.

You can't blame just the breed itself being it depends on how the dog is raised and it's mental status. Obviously there was something mentally and perhaps even spiritually wrong with the dog that attacked her.

I can give a good example of dogs different personality and mentality traits. My first dog was chow who was the dominate male of the litter yet he was sweet, smart and he never did bit anyone. Closest thing to agressive was when he jumped in to protect my mom from the neighbors dog (who was a lab mix of some sort a spieces that's not usually agressive) and only time he "bit" was when he nipped you telling you he was hurting in some place and even then he didn't really open his mouth. He just kinda pinched with his front jaws.

After he died we got another dominate male chow. The new chow was exact opposite from our old one, he was crazy,stupid and even agressive. He would take your arm off when you tried to give him a bath. It's not always the breed. It can be just the individual personalies that we humans seem to forget. We forget that other animals other then humans have personalites and like people can have some own issues that may cause us to act rash or even violent.

Ugh, I am so sick of pitbull lovers blaming the media for the pitbull breeds image as a vicious dog. You can go to the CDC website and see the statistics...pitbulls are responsible for the largest percentage of bites and deaths from bites. The media isn't making it up. Those are the facts. Plus, what the hell does this have to do with pit bulls? Is was a MASTIFF that killed the woman.

So let me see if I understand this...

The pitbull framed the mastiff? Next on CSI - Vets!

I own 7 dogs - male Alaskan Malamute, male Siberian Husky, 2 male Great Pyrenees, female Chow, female Yorkie, & a female Pomeranian. In order they weigh 197 lbs. Malamute, 75 lbs Husky, 143 lbs. stockier Pyrenees/his brother is 110 lbs., 73 lbs. Chow, 10 lbs. Yorkie, 17 lbs. Pomeranian.

Right now as I'm writing this I have total of 12 dogs lounging around in the living room. My 7 plus 5 which belong to customers. No problems. Next week I will have 20 dogs here all hanging out together.

The reason I don't have issues is that our dogs & my customers dogs know who the Alpha is. I make that clear to all of them. I have to maintain that role at all times because they will push the limits to see what they can get away with if I let them.

The point is that as long as you're in control & the dogs understand this there aren't issues. Occasionally if they decide to act up you have to put a stop to it before it escalates into something more serious.

I think a lot of people who own dogs shouldn't own any pets at all, let alone giant breeds (not saying this is the case with the people in this article). A lot of people are unwilling or unable to take on the Alpha role in their home. If they don't then the dogs will.

Other people are inconsistent. They might take on the Alpha role one day & the next day they don't. Dogs like consistency & when people are inconsistent dogs get confused as to what is expected of them.

Some dogs just like some people are just violent/dangerous from the start. It doesn't mean the entire breed is bad/dangerous just because one dog goes off the deep end. Other times, as others have pointed out, dogs might have a health related issue that causes them to be aggressive/violent.

I also agree with Karmakat. All dogs have different personalities & traits. Definitely, all 7 of my dogs are completely different personality wise. You can't judge an entire breed by a few single members of a breed.

You people will say that same thing over and over until your pitt bull kills someone. "The dog is not bad its the owner"! Thats bull and someone you know or your neighbors kid will be the one your dog kills because you think its just some damn "baby"! They are ALL nice when they are young and if you didn't notice, they are EXTREMELY protective of their humans agains anyone else! When you least expect it, expect it!

What most people fail to notice is that this dog was acquired but a week ago, therefore this was not her dog she did not raise it. Mastiff are very gentle wonderful dogs but if startled or stepped on when sleeping especially if his nerves were already on end because of the pit, then yes I could see this happening..if she slipped on the dog who was sleeping at the bottom of the stairs, in an new environment with a pit, yes of course what else would you expect. My Mastiff could do the same thing...but only when a pit is around...take the pit out,hes fine...oh and he gets mad when the Chihuahua jumps on him and startles him, he goes chomppy chomppy at her, but he is all gums...he loves her and the red bone coon hound we have, a girl, she bosses him around and makes him bury his head in the bed trying to get her to stop barkin at him for sitting on her...he uses his weight, but only to find the comfy spots...hes very sloth like

Thank you, Sees Thru Gloss! I needed that.

Mastiff is a gentle giant breed. However, its prime directive is to guard the house. It is instinctive to them as much as any hound dog will instinctively hunt game.

My guess is it was confused about who's house it was and who he should be guarding it from.

But, teenage kid needs two stitches from Chihuahua bite, doesn't really make national news.

Tell that to the vet assistant that needed 27 stitches in her hand because she refused to heed my comments on muzzling and how to pick up my Chihuahua.

Smaller teeth have less resistance when penetrating skin. And they are much sharper.

I guarantee she learned to respect smaller breeds after that.

@Niece - If someone owns a large dog and pretends it's a "baby" incapable of hurting anyone, then it is the owner's fault.

Think of it this way: I used to volunteer at a zoo, and that included working with the "big animals". One day I was helping keepers with the hippos and rhino, which includes scooping their poo, feeding, other cleaning, etc. As I'm sure you know, hippos are incredibly dangerous animals, one of the most deadly in Africa. Did I get attacked by "Bubbles"? Nope. Have there been any deadly hippo attacks, or even attacks that warranted a news report? Nope. The zookeepers even take the elephants for walks around the zoo before it opens in the morning, I ran into them a few times coming on for my shift. Still, no deadly elephant attacks.

You know why? The keepers know that they are working with large, dangerous animals and handle them properly. Could the animals attack and kill someone if they were mishandled? Yes. They are all very sweet, but they are still wild animals that can turn if they don't like something. But the proper handling of animals (and that includes dogs) will prevent that from happening.

Exactly. And can you imagine how the relative that gave it to her feels?

Probably glad, secretly. If the mastiff hadn't been given away, it could have been one the relative's family that had gotten killed!!

Sounds like you understand our species.

That is why I gave up my tigers.

A lot of dogs in the medium and above size range can kill a person. Humans can also kill your family members, but that doesn't mean you should become a recluse.

so you should never have children either then right? becuase they can kill you too...

Thats a retarded comment. I've worked with Race Horses at many tracks accross the country and seen many deaths from the riders getting trampled to death,to small accidents of walkers getting crashed to death. Do we kill all the horses? NO....we deal with it and move on with greater caution. I happen to also own pure breed rotwielers and pit bulls, and their the best dogs i have ever owned. This does not mean i should think that there is no danger with having them. An animal is an animal, no matter what kind it is just like humans are animals. We cage humans too, but for some reason we condemn the animals who can't communicate with us and allow human muderers to live. Go figure.

I've seen many stories where children have turned on their parents so does that mean we shouldn't have kids??? Another stupid comment.....

That would make it darned hard to run a farm/ranch.

Never own an animal capable of killing you or anyone in your family.

Exactly. I'm not sure why people insist on owning these types of dogs. But hey as long as they aren't living around me I guess I'm OK with it.

For the Idiot that says "never own an animal that can kill you"

What a stupid comment!!!!!

More people kill people then dogs do. So are you saying that people shouldn't have kids.

ANYTHING can kill ANYBODY-car, truck, horse, deer, knives, guns, kids, any human, walking across the damn road...realize it and accept it. Nothing you can do about it so enough with the "ban this breed" bull$hit!! They aren't going anywhere.

Thats a retarded comment. I've worked with Race Horses at many tracks accross the country and seen many deaths from the riders getting trampled to death,to small accidents of walkers getting crashed to death. Do we kill all the horses? NO....we deal with it and move on with greater caution. I happen to also own pure breed rotwielers and pit bulls, and their the best dogs i have ever owned. This does not mean i should think that there is no danger with having them. An animal is an animal, no matter what kind it is just like humans are animals. We cage humans too, but for some reason we condemn the animals who can't communicate with us and allow human muderers to live. Go figure.

Silly comparison. For the most part horse accidents are just that, accidents. Also most people don't live where they can be injured or killed by horses. Generally dealing with horses is a conscious choice. Dogs are a different story. You find them in neighbor hoods just about everywhere. If you want to keep pits and rots that's up to you but if you dogs ever attack someone else, in my view your penalty should be the equivalent as if you made the attack. I would personally feel justified in killing an attacking dog and then going after the owner in some way.

Also many pit and rot owner like to make the point "an animal is an animal" which is a lot of bull@!$%#. I'm sorry but my two poms are not going to kill or injure anyone. They don't have the temperament and even if they did they don't have the ability to do any serious damage. I have owned many dogs large and small and have NEVER had an issue since I simply will not own dogs with dangerous temperaments.

It's pretty telling that you are practically arguing that a dog that kills someone should not be put down.

Swan,

Not until the day every human that kills gets put down, without wait.

Thats like saying to never own a car because you can die in it, never ride a motorcycle because you can die on it, never live in a building because it can collapse on you, never go swimming because you can drown, never have a wife because she can kill you...oops, I'd better stop there! lol

Our fluffy little Maltese used to chase the neighbors' pit bull around the yard. You can't blame all pit bulls for the violence of a few.

Swan,

Not until the day every human that kills gets put down, without wait.

If you think animals have equal rights to humans you must be a vegetarian. Or are you?

Exactly right Jamie!

Swan,

You think a human killer should have "rights"?

Brienp:

I have a 5 inch long leopard gecko. Her name is Bugzilla (thanks to my ten year old son.)Harmless, right?

No. Lizards have salmonella on their skin. if you don't wash hands thoroughly after handling one you can get very very sick (we've all heard of people dying from salmonella poisoning.)

Should I then not own this lizard?

You think a human killer should have "rights"?

Do you mean something that kills a human or a human that's a killer? If you mean the latter then yes they have the right to a trial. If you mean someones pet animal that intentionally kills a human then again yes, but the only right they have is to a quick and painless death. Also I notice you avoided my question. Why is that?

Jamie - no. don't stop, your analogies are dead-on in their sophistication!

Never own an Alien because it will implant a chest-bursting fetus in you! Never own a 16-ton weight because it will crush you! Never own a Wookie because it will pull your arms off if you beat it in a holographic board game! Never own a Klingon because it will kill you in a blood ritual! Never own a Delorean because it will go Back To The Future and run you over!

Swan37

If you think pomeranians cannot kill and do not have a body count, think again. Google the story about a pomeranian that killed a baby when it was left alone with the baby.

ANYTHING with teeth can bite, attack and/or kill.

If people choose to avoid larger dogs because of the chance they could cause damage, by all means, that is their choice and right. However, I do not want to be limited to owning a dog that is outweighed by my cat because other people are afraid. Sorry.

We should be looking at increasing freedom and personal responsibility, not legislating everyone into servitude and submission due to fear.

Poms probably caused many people to kill themselves, rather than deal with such an annoying breed. Nothing but loud rats I say.

As I write this I sit in huddled fear over the fact my siamese fighting fish is eyeing me through the tank. I fear at any moment it may actually live up to its name and leap from its tank and strangle me with his fins. I'm terrified. What should I do? I fear if I flush it it will return and haunt me during a late night foray into the bathroom.

Poms probably caused many people to kill themselves, rather than deal with such an annoying breed. Nothing but loud rats I say.

Does that apply to you? If so tell me where you live and I'll be right over with my dogs in toe.

I have come to realize there are just stupid people in this world. Bless their hearts.

Profiling is good if used correctly.

Pitt Bull May kill you people.

You can easily profile a person that owns a dog that is known to kill its owner, children and others.

The pitt bull didn't kill her, it was a mastiff that was new to the home and given to her by a family member. Did you read the article, or the headline even? I assume that when she got the dog, she didn't know it was likely to kill someone.

Almost all dogs, and some other common pets, are known to kill people, even cats have been known to smother babies.

what the hell are you talking about??????

geeze what a sad story. mastifs are big powerful dogs. you should deffinitly do some research on them before you own one. and whats with all the pit bull haters on here??? this wasnt even a story on pit bulls. any and all animals are capable of hurting/killing someone or something. even humans. so its not really fair to blame one entire breed.

my heart goes out to the husband. they sounded like really awesome people.

Denko, go back to your jungle and war paint.

@Momof2 - There was a pitbull mentioned in the story that didn't attack her, therefore it was the pitbull's fault, obviously.

IF thaa p/bull wuz any good atall it wud have saved hur, wud'n it have???!!!

mixxud pieez & fat man too, yu both are a couple of Morons. (first class at that)

@Earl

You couldn't profile a cosine curve. You can't even proofread a sentence or structure your logic. Humans have also been known to kill people. Using your logic, anyone that has a baby should be profiled as an accomplice to murder, because some babies grow up to be killers. Therefore, all parents are irresponsible. I'm taking this pretty far, but you are just such a moron.

Doesn't it seem like the ignorant among us are the most self-assured and righteous? In this case, these people would be those who have no personal experience with animals, let alone dogs, and certainly no experience with pit bulls. You can have all the data you want, but what you need, is a brain to interpret that data. Golder retrievers, labs, and poodles have been known to kill people. You just aren't going to see a thug walking golden retriever through Compton. Almost all pit problems stem from bad ownership, as bad owners tend to be attracted to certain attributes of these dogs. The bad owners bring out the bad attributes. Just as with young children, if you take the time to raise them well, and educate yourself on how to do this, the kids will likely grow up to be decent people (not always though). If you use the same principles when dealing with canines, you'll get the same results, or better. How long does it take to potty train a child?

Earl, I hope you don't own any pets. With your ignorance, I bet you'd even drown a fish.

What in bloody hell are you talking about Henry? Safety Glasses? Dude, your so lost:)

Think

Fact are hard to deal with for some. I did not attack you so, you should not be afraid. I did question the lack of intelligence of people that own a pit bull. This may apply to you.

Just look at the facts. Pit Bulls Kill. Ask any Judge or Law person.

Just like a pistol. Most people are killed with pistols not rifles. I could go on with facts but, as they say, You Can't Fix Stupid.

Cats don't smother babies, LOL! Did you learn that from a chain-email? Urban legend. Right up there with daddy-longlegs being the most poisonous spider in the world but they can't bite, and the ghost girl who will kill you if you don't send this message to at least 25 people in the next 10 minutes.

I feel bad for those of you that quiver at the side of a large, strong dog. They are man's best friend. They have made life easier for us throughout history, and are still doing so today. Every dog has a purpose. some are designed to help us cath the bad guys, others to herd cattle, and others to provide a fluffy couch potato.

No dog is born bad. Just as much so as no child is born bad. Thye need the right enviornment to succeed, but sadly not too many realiaze it is the same with dogs. Exercise is key. setting boundaries in regards to what they can and cannot do is also critical. Now a days all people know how to give is love, not even tough love, just unconditional love towards their pets. People see their dogs as people, which they just 100% are not. We created them, it is our job to take care of them emotionally. when we lock our dogs up in the house and think they dont need to be walked. "playing in the fenced in backyard is the same thing." NO it isnt. by restricting them we are creating a beast that is mentally unstable and at times will lash out because of all of it's anxiety. the first step in fixing this dog attack problem is not by killing the beast that we created, but by instead doing right by it. We must find responsible dog owners who are ready to seek out the needs of the animal, not their own. They say owning a pet is a responsibility. it is. We are responsible for their way of life, mindset, as well as actions.

Someone above suggested that Golden Retrievers never did anything wrong. i believe they were ranked 2nd in dog attacks. Pit bulls were 11th if i recall correctly. Dont blame the breed, blame the hand that raised it.

Yeah, but you're a Romney/Ryan kinda guy................I'll take my chances with derranged animal anyday.

On a serious note, all dogs are pack animals bred with their own special instinct. Now, not all dogs have the same instinct as what is led to believe by some. I have a Miniature Schnauzer who is the complete opposite of the typical dog of the same breed. She loves small children, gets along well with other dogs, and for the most will share with the other dog we now have. He is mostly Jack Russell, and scared of his own shadow. This just the opposite of what you read about them for the most part.

What happened was a tradegy, and unusual. I can understand a dog attacking, but mauling is very exceptional. They live in their own little environment inside their head. Jealousy is often the reason things like this happen. They will maul or kill, and then act as if nothing out the ordinary happened. They're the same loving dog you thought you always had.

My take on dogs is simply, each and every dog is different in some way, shape or form. Animals are a part of most people's everyday life, but you cannot take any animal for granted.

This woman sounds as if she was the salt of the earth, and trying to a good deed when no one else would. Paint it how you will, but this lady was a victim of her good, and loving heart. I don't know her personally, but her kind will be missed on this forsaken earth.

@Leez - Regardless of if that's true or not (I heard it outside of most modern "urban legend" contexts), cats are still pretty dangerous. I know people who've nearly had to have amputations after trying to break up a cat fight.

Uhhhhm, >>> DUHHHHHH, duh, duh, YUSAY dey is MASSIVE?????? <> WHAA fo dus dat meen den??? BIG? UGLY/ or jus plain old "KILLURZ"??? hmmmmm lottsa P-BULL LUVVURS gonna get REEEEEEALY PYSSSSUD off AT'CHU fer Thinking THAA WAAAAY! specially w/o NO reasoning!!! JUS caus dey killed sum-one. THANK goodness it wuz jus their/it'z OWNER, ... rather than sum-one else!!! (pease luvving lil doggiees tho).

denko.......shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Denko............ShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhUT THE HELL UP

Be veryt quite we hunting tards

However, mastiffs, or any large breed dog bred for hunting or as a guard dog -- and I do NOT mean trained as such but BRED -- should always know who is in charge.

One of the other articles I read reported it was a Bull Mastiff and had recently been adopted because the previous family could no longer take care of it; but, not because it was aggressive. There are also many things at play with a new dog in the house so it's hard to pinpoint what may have been the key issue in this attack. My education of English Mastiffs is that they're very large couch potatoes; but, the other varieties (Bull, Cane Corso, etc.,) may not be as docile. (My personal experience is owning rottweilers and have two in the house now and one other previous.) YMMV

This seems to be another case of introducing a large mature animal to a family pack of tough characters including the woman. The new animal looks at the woman as a leader of a pack that he wouldn't mind leading himself. I've linked the recent story of the Georgia girl for reference, almost identical situation.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/17/georgia-woman-who-rescued-animals-killed-in-dog-attack/

I think you mean a person who they outweigh. Not to be nitpicky, but your post is hard to follow.

I have a Giant Maso Mastiff which is an English and Cane Corso cross to develop a new breed. Mastiffs were bred to be guard dogs - but not in the way that we normally think of guard dogs. Their primary "offense" is a bark and for large "potential threats" to tackle and hold by LYING on them. Yes, ANY dog can be mean - especially if they are mistreated or not socialized properly.

Bull Mastiffs are justly developing a very bad reputation because they are a result of breeding English Mastiffs to the same type of bulldog that helped produce the pit pull/American staffordshire terriers. Thus, some of the general breed temperament that helped to give the pit bull their fighting prowess is passed along to the Bull Mastiff.

English Mastiffs and other OLD Mastiff types (including Great Danes, saint bernards etc) tend to be very docile and couch potatoes. ANY large dog needs to know who is alpha in a pack ... from an early age they need to be properly socialized to know that ALL humans in the social circle are above it in the pecking order. If it was a family member who gave her the dog ... then the dog should have been introduced to the woman long before they took the dog in and it should have been socialized with her. I do strongly suspect that the dog involved was not a "Mastiff" (which is generally meant as the English Mastiff and is the ONLY dog that should be referred to simply as a Mastiff) but was a Bullmastiff.

Interesting article. Both woman had something in common. Both introduced a new dog in a house of existing dogs within a week or so. It is more likely that the dogs were fighting for alpha amongst themselves when these people jumped in to break up the fight and were attacked. More probable than a dog just attacking for no reason. I took mine to training and a bigger dog jumped a smaller one. The owner immediately jumped in to rescue her own dog when the bigger dog turned on her. No one was hurt (dog or person) but our trainer said that when the human stepped in, she took role of alpha so the instinct was to fight the alpha in the group to gain control.

Back in my college days a friend who owned a 200lb newfoundland jumped in a shallow swimming hole and broke his neck and had to spend the summer in the hospital. My roommates and I took care of the the newfie, who was a sweet gentle dog, but he decided he was going to be the dominant animal in the house, probably because he outweighed all the humans by at least 30 lbs. It took a fews taps with a baseball bat to convince him otherwise, and we always knew where the bat was.

Jack I'm glad you just posted publicly about beating a dog with a baseball bat. And as a little information, Newfoundlands are not aggressive dogs at all. The breed itself never was. They were working dogs. Maybe he wanted to be dominant because you beat him with a baseball bat.

I grew up with not one, but TWO 200 lb Newfoundlands and neither of them ever tried anything. They knew I was boss even as a tiny 8 year old girl. Obeyed instantly when I gave a command. When one of them was attacked by our neighbor's LABRADOR RETRIEVER the other one never moved to attack back, she stood between the dog and my sister and I. You're more likely to be attacked by a medium sized hunting breed that is still bred to have that hunting drive than by a large working breed that isn't bred for that quality anymore.

cat & patrick demarco: two very good posts.

The readers here all concluded it was an English Mastiff. There are so many different types, with the English variety probably being the most gentle. The Brazillian and Tibetan typically (not always) are the ones we read about snapping. As another intelligent commenter noted from the other article, this appears to be a Bull Mastiff that attacked.

I am currently on my third English Mastiff (one a Beowulf) and while she is my largest one yet (195 lbs.), go ahead and scoff, she's a couch potato. I also have a St. Bernard who knows the Mastiff is the alpha--but only when it comes to the dogs inthe house, not people. I stricly enfore this issue, though I do know there is a little bit of food aggression with her. BUT I KNOW THIS. If you are going to own these dogs you must work with them and know them. Do not get one just for the notariety. Whether it is a poodle that needs mental stimulation, a Saint that needs slobber wiped, or a Sheltie that needs plenty of exercise.

As someone else mentioned earlier, she will not attack, she will deter with a bark and place herself between me and the "attacker" while leaning against them. It is actually quite interesting. English Mastiffs are innately territorial. I do not know about Pit Bulls and their innate qualities, but I have met plenty that came from responsible owners and I have met many annoying small dogs that I never want to see again. Their owners think it is cute, but it isn't.

Certainly dogs are not for everyone and this woman did not deserve what happened to her. But the comments about the safety glasses and the bread, above, puzzle the hell outta me!!!

slq, The English Mastiff is the ONLY Mastiff type that may be referred to simply as a "Mastiff". ALL other Mastiff types must be referred to by the complete name or the part that distinguishes it from the ENGLISH Mastiff: "Neapolitan Mastiff" or "Neapolitan", "Tibetan Mastiff" or "Tibetan", "Cane Corso Mastiff" or "Cane Corso", "Giant Maso Mastiff" or "Giant Maso/Maso", "Bullmastiff" - no shortening of that, "American Mastiff" - no shortening of that one, either (and it's a mix of BOXER and English Mastiff) etc. So by referring to the dog in this story as "a Mastiff" the reporter may be INCORRECTLY identifying the breed of dog. I really do suspect that this is a BULLmastiff, and I think someone else said they had read that elsewhere it was identified as such.

Tyrone, You are sick

I think you should be put in the food chain!! Dogs are better, kinder, respectful, loyal, etc than most people I know

Well, I happen to own and love rabbits and seems it's ok to eat them!!!

Is your name Obama??

Although I do not agree with Tyrone's comment. I do not think it is any worse to kill and eat any one animal than any other. I could not bring myself to eat a pet cow. Either you think it is okay to eat meat or you don't, but drawing such distinctions between different species seems hypocritical to me. By the way, I eat meat.

dont forget horses. more meat per carcass and its leaner than dog just ask the president. also the way the economy is going you will be glad to get free govt horse burger in a few years.

Many WWII vets ate dog when serving overseas. I'd love for someone to try to make fun of one of them for doing so.

I hate dogs. People are way too obsessed with them.

TIYEEERHONE, aah assumes thaa'chu meant onlyyyeeeee BLAKKKK-DOGGZ tho? RIGHT -on bro???

dogs are just animals no different than a bear, lion, horse or really any animal. when they get pissed or set off they are going to go after you. if they weigh as much as the human they are attacking that human does not stand much of a chance. animals are almost all muscle and a lot stronger than us. no matter how well you train our pet it can still happen at any time to anyone.

Tyrone, you should probably stick to your grits and chit-lins you screwed up little #$%^&*!!

Horses are NOT pets!!

Yes they are!!!!

Hell no they aren't.

I have an Eohippus.

Tazmere and holly are both idiots, probably Democrats!

Disagree with that statement. As a long time horse and dog owner, they are both pets, and in my home are treated as such. That said, however, I have sustained far more injuries from my horses than any of my dogs. I've been bitten (by the horses), kicked, stepped on, bucked off, dragged and pushed around many times. The worst thing any of my dogs have ever done to me is jump up on me and hit me in the nose. Oh, and I own pit bulls and have for almost 20 years.

Horses kill more Americans than any other animal, I know two people who are paralyzed because of horses. Horses are the most expensive pets to own, they are only useful to breed and give rides for money.

http://www.anapsid.org/pdv-boid.html

I had a Husky-Chow mix (at least that's what the vet said he was). He looked like an overgrown Pomeranian -- a beautiful dog. I had this dog from a puppy until he died at 15 yrs. of age. He lived in a twenty ft. by 40 ft. dog lot with a wooden house and a huge pillow in the house. He was the most loving and loyal dog I have ever seen. He was given to me and alrealdy had the name of "Thor" (the God of Thunder), but he hated thunder. I still miss him.

I presently have a yellow lab (Buddy) living in the same lot and house -- got him when he was three mos. old. He is now almost two years old. He is very frisky, but loves everybody. Strangers don't worry him -- he loves them, too.

I rode a horse once....Went to stop, pulled back on the straps and that big *&^%$ came back over, on top of me.....and that was the last time I got on one! Plus, if you think a big dog has large crap, try cleaning up after a horse. Hell, they @!$%# small dogs....lol

Oooooh, by the wayyyy pennieeesmum, >>> YU shore du sound like a typical P-bulls owner.

YAssssssireeeeebilllybobbbbyeeT hornton sayssss so too!

jaaaaymee, ... rode a horrze once!!! HEY how do yuno it t'was even a horze??? Sounzz like it twas a Bull or mebbe even cuddah been a mule or a DONKEE (demoocraatic POLITITION masquerading). >>> DU yu think yu cud tell-thaa-difference??? NOTTTTT yusay!!! YESSSSS WE du believe yu !!!

People like you who try to bring in politics in a non-political situation are idiots....not to mention bitter fools, your party lost....maybe if it wasn't run by IDIOTS then you would have a change in the White House, I'm by no means a big democratic supporter, but the division in this country is what is killing it first and foremost. There is ZERO reason outside of an idiodic campaign run by Mitt and Co. that a change to the the presidency didn't happen.

What does it hurt to give the deadly pit bull another kill? It may be an error but, look at its score anyway.

One more doesn't hurt.

Wouldnt hurt for you to be a part of those statistics either. Then no one could read your ignorant comments anymore.

well here are the facts

(i can't post link so please google) wikipedia List of fatal dog attacks in the United States

read through all the attacks for recent years and you will see that about 2 out of 3 are pitbulls and 100% are large dog breeds. Yes the mastiffs are rare on the list but any dog large enough to kill people should be well respected, trained properly, fixed, and kept away from young children.

Well, what did you expect to find on the list, Glass? Chihuahuas?

Glass

You miss the point here. I will try to explain. Many people get shot with BB guns but most do not DIE.

So, for example: A chi-wa-wa is more badass than a pit bull but, it usually won't kill.

The key word here is KILL

"No, no, no, I want an official Red Ryder range model air rifle with a compass on the stock and this thing that tells time!"

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

So people are only allowed to have Pomeranians?

There was a Pom in my neighborhood growing up that we called the "killer Pomeranian" so I guess we can't have those. My aunt had a shizu that was so nasty she would bite anyone who walked passed her and my other aunt had a chihuahua/yorki mix that took after the mailman and anyone else he didn't know on a regular basis. In my experience, pit bulls, rotties, and German shepherds are the safest breeds to own.

What are you talking about? A dog that "kills their own" is killing another dog, not an infant, child or their own master and just so you know, mastiffs do not have a history of violent behavior.

With you're logic most if not all dog breeds wouldn't be good pets. There have been numerous cases of fatal outcomes from labs, but they're probably of the most well known and popular breed in the US. You just don't hear about these cases because it wouldn't have as big of an impact in the media as a bully breed dog.

i was actually bit by a pomeranian before lol!! But never by my pit bull! Which i love dearly!!

Generally people own these types of dogs beacuse it's a type of penis extention.

There is a big difference between a dog that bites people and a dog big enough to kill people when it bites. There are plenty of breeds that stay under 40 pounds and they pose much less liability.

Well, if you insist on staying only with "breeds" with NO history of attacks - I guess you don't associate with many people, either. Much more dangerous than dogs.

I have 2 English Mastiffs lying by the fireplace right now. They are gentle giants, couch potatoes and so sweet. Both are full grown 140#and 160#. But don't try to come into my house or vehicle. This is their space. They are protecting it. Prayers for the families. May God Bless you all.

A Golden Retreiver bit the tip of my finger off. Should we ban them, useurnoggin? Each situation is different, isn't it?

Was never attacked by my 245lbs Great Dane.

Size has nothing to do with being attacked, mishandled animals are what leads to attacks.

Unfortunately for this woman it looks as though the previous owner mishandled the animal.

New foundlands are huge and the most gentle breed. They are called the nanny dogs. There are just some breeds that are known for this kind of behaviour. Pittbulls, rotwillers, shepards. Ask your homeowners insurance they will tell you . Some will not even cover you if you have these breeds. The dogs are very loyal to their owners BUT that said theycan be very dangerous to others.

I also noticed that the shelters are full of pitbulls. I think this was a bull mastiff that killed her, if I read right. Terribly sad for all.

Bull mastiffs are no relation to pitbulls. Pitbulls are derived from bulldog and terrier ancestors. Bull mastiffs are derived from bulldogs and English mastiffs.

Pit bulls were actually called the "nanny dogs"...

I have owned both a bull mastiff and currently a mastiff. The only way my dog is going to kill anyone would be from her nasty gas. These dogs are the most gentle I've had. There must have been some abuse or training in this dogs past. Same with Pits that get a bad rap usually it's a bad owner or situation that causes these things to happen. I'm not blaming her but how much did they know about this dogs past?

blueunicorn- they were both derived from bulldogs but have no relation?? I am confused by that.

j smitty, you might want to try a new dog food for that gas. You can probably find a better one. I know from experience.

Dog-that-ate-turkey gas will kill for 20 miles. I'm sincere. There's not enough Febreeze in the world. Keep that thought in mind this Thanksgiving if you own a dog. (And quit blaming the innocent dog when it was really you! LOL!)

Freedom:

I'm laughing so hard I can't type...I've noticed my dog has terrible gas after Thanksgiving but never thought it was the turkey! Thought it was the oyster stuffing!

Thanks for giving me the best laugh I've had all day!

The weight to violence ration in dogs is one of the most ignorant items I have read!! Saint Bernards we used (and are still trained) to rescu people. Mine wouldn't hurt a fly and cries when she hears babies or children crying, though I have never had her around any and rescued her from a home where her collar grew into her neck. I had a Retreiver that weighed 130 pounds that was a bit too dainty and gentle, but that's beside the point. He was sweet as can be and only wanted to carry his toy around with him. I can go on and on . . . but please, don't say those things about the larger breeds because they just aren't true! So many of the smaller ones are bullies and pains in the asses. they will nip at you in a heartbeat.

As for the gas--the big dogs produce the worst ever!

Kathy Wilkerson wrote: Pit Bulls were actually called nanny dogs.

A few others wrote that too. That's not true. It's a myth that some pit bull owners tagged them with to defend their favorite breed of dogs.

Go ahead and do some research. Pit Bulls being called nanny dogs is a modern thing. Even though you can find a lot of old articles on Pit Bulls dating from the 19th and 20th century, you won't find one reference to them being called nanny dogs.

Here's one quote from a book written by J.H. Walsh in 1878, "Dogs of the British Isles". Walsh wrtites that, "unlike the bulldog, he (the Bull Terrier) is an excellent companion for the male sex, being a little too violent in his quarrels to make him desirable as a ladies' pet (p. 221).

You can find a lot more things like that written about Pit Bulls, essentially saying they are a breed to be careful with. Nanny dogs, I don't think so.

I'm not against Pit Bulls but some people go overboard trying to defend them and make them out to be something they are not. From 2004-2010, 59 children in the US were killed by Pit Bulls, by far the highest total for any breed.

The American Pit Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier are two different breeds. If you have a quote refering to the Bull Terrier, it is the Spuds McKenzie dog and Target dog. They were used as fighting dogs as well in their past, but are not the same breed.

In the same time period, 4 children per day were killed by their parents/guardians.

I think we have bigger problems than what breed of dog people can own.

According to the CDC, Golden Retrievers are on the top 10 list of breeds most likely to bite.

Here you go;

http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20120420%2FPC16%2F120429916%2F1005

http://www.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=65161

http://www.examiner.com/article/labrador-retriever-killed-one-day-after-bite-incident

http://petdefense.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/adopted-retriever-mix-kills-baby/

http://kgarcia1113.hubpages.com/hub/Labrador-Retriever-Mix-Dog-Kills-Baby

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/part-of-3-year-old%27s-ear-severed-by-dog

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100623rampaging_retriever_attacks_81-year-old_woman

http://news.aitkenlaw.com/verdicts-settlements/golden-retriever/

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/191344--child-attacked-by-golden-retriever

That's bull. The tip of my finger was taken off by the jaws of a Golden Retreiver. No-I did not go out and report to the newspaper nor the local news station. But the hospital did have to report it to the Animal Patrol and the dog was quaranteened.

Perhaps your not looking in the right places . . . Golden Retreiver bits do not make headlines, do they?

GSHP, I loved visiting my grandfather when I was younger because of these dogs. We were never allowed to be with them by ourselves as kids, he used them for hunting (quail, pheasant and such).

Sorry for the owner sad for the dog not the dogs fault. A dog is going to do what dogs do, it is what it is. Experienced owners never adopt a pet they can not control under any and all circumstances. Never socialize a new pet with other pets or humans before the animals all view you as the one in charge that takes time depending on the pet and the owner. If you choose to adopt an adult pet be prepared for the unexpected especially within the first few months of bringing the pet into your home.

Listen, I would never have a dog that could kick my a-s-s, but I find it interesting that someone who blogs under the name "Freedom4Everyone" is willing to restrict people's choice of dog...what's next, you can't have a horse because it could fall on you and kill you? Can't have boas cause they could squeeze you to death?

What cracks me up is that people kill more people than anything else on the planet. Let's clean ourselves up, shall we?

any dog is capable of killing people ... duh

So no dogs for anyone EVER. Gotcha

I guess somebody had a bad experience with a dog when he was a kid, huh?

It used to be German shepherds that had the bad reputation. My shepherd is the gentlest 100-lb lap dog you can imagine. She won't bite, but she might lick you to death.

The cairn terrier (Toto-dog) I had when I was a kid, though - she'd take your finger off if you tried to take something out of her mouth.

"Freedom4Everyone"...Seriously? Too bad your it wasn't illegal for your parents to breed but now that they did, can we put you in a cage forever?

Freedom 4 Everyone! ...except animals.

I have a two pound Yorkie with no teeth. He is not capable of killing anybody, so no, not any dog is capable of killing someone.

I think your name is wrong "freedom4everyone".....should be "socialism4 everyone"!!! Just shush.....

Stupid people die as a result of their own stupidity every day. And this incident is no different. You cannot bring a large alpha dog into a family situation and just expect that it will know the rules. Very sad - for both the human and the dog.

Actually I think the Boas should be outlawed. They are not native to this country and thanks to irresponsible owners and some hurricanes, the Boas have destroyed scarily large numbers of wildlife in Florida, Louisiana and now parts of Texas. Those people who just turned them loose should be shot or fed to their Boa.

Freedom for everyone includes being free from death by your neighbors dog. Not just freedom for the individual and screw everyone else. Its not just your freedom, its everyones. That requires respect for everyone, including their safety, not just your own.

And I didnt have bad experience with a dog either. I just understand that everyone should have a responsibility and respect for the rest of society. Thats they only way we will solve our social problems. Unfortuantely the world is full of selfish, self-centered people, who teach their kids the same.

I've had German Shepherds for almost 60 years. I have one lying halfway across my lap right now, a 100 lb beauty. She is loving and gentle with me, but would be a serious threat to anyone attempting to hurt me. None of my Shepherds has ever made any attempt to injure me, my family, or my guests. My dogs are well cared for and trained, as are my horses.

Animals have the ability to hurt you. It's simple. If you're afraid, don't have one. If you have one, train it properly, care for it's needs, socialize it, and be a RESPONSIBLE owner. They are like children in that they take work if you want a good end-product.

Fear is not your friend. Perhaps you should consider spending your life in bubble wrap. Oh, and that would be your choice, but thankfully, you don't have the right to make that choice for the rest of us. So, I'll keep my German Shepherds and my horses and live with the attendant risks, lol. And there won't be a cage anywhere in the equation.

Im not afraid of animals. At all. I just dont believe your freedom to own a dangerous animal comes ahead of the safety of everyone else. If you cant guarantee the safety of others from your animal, (and you cant really) you shouldnt be allowed to have it. Period.

The number of people who are mauled to death every year, is reason enough to tighten the laws. As far as im concerned. And i have the right to lobby government, and get supporters, and push for new laws, all I want.

Are you pushing for more gun laws? Because more people are killed by guns every year than all breeds of dogs put together. But, I do agree that you have the right to lobby government, etc.

And rabbits!!!!

Dogs rule, cats drool!

I am an animal lover, but try training a cat to protect your home or your family! Ummm, not going to happen;)

LOL, I have cats and dogs. When a stranger comes to the house the cats run and hide but my two little dogs are ready to tear the stranger's throat out... or at least their ankles...

Jamie wrote: I am an animal lover, but try training a cat to protect your home or your family! Ummm, not going to happen;)

Why would anyone even try to compare a cat and a dog? They are two completely different animals. I get a good laugh when someone makes a comment like you did.

It's like trying to compare a horse to a dog. Try training a dog to let you ride it or pull a wagon all over the country like people did before cars came along. Horses are still used in other countries like Africa to do heavy farm work. Can a dog do that?

Cats make good pets but they are made for one thing, killing rodents. And they are a very effective at what they do. People relied on them greatly throughout history to guard their food stores from rodent infestation and were brought aboard ships to do the same thing.

Dogs do more things and it's silly to compare the two.

yes there are dogs that pull wagons to haul stuff, for example sled dogs pull sleds and the bigger working dogs pull bigger wagons.

So you are judging all Mastiffs based on your one experience? Because it had a bad owner? So I should judge all kids based on the annoying one next door? Okay . . . Thank goodness I have my English Mastiff. Perhaps the annoying kid will only think she's mean and stay the hell out of my yard.

By the way, my Mastiff gets so scared of things due to the beatings she took in her first home, she pees when she hears a noise that frightens her.

Yes I am basing it on my own experience! I have also done my research on these dogs and Caesar used these dogs to hunt bears and also people. When your dog ends up killing someone I hope they take your house and everything in it. Did you see last month where another mastiff killed a woman. I would NEVER own a dog that could hurt anyone. I am a responsible dog owner. I had a dog once that became vicious and I had it put down. That is the responsible thing to do!

Seriously? Nobody raises a great white and great whites have not been domesticated. Your argument does not even make sense.

Hey Einstein (that's YOU, "No Comment" ), can't you tell when someone is joking? That's called abstract reasoning. You totally lack it.

Hey Fatty...obviously you don't know sarcasm when you read it. Go back on the treadmill and maybe you can lose the fat between your ears.

No Comment, I can honestly say reading your first comment I wouldn't have known you were being sarcastic. It doesn't read like that at all.

are we sure he attacked her and she didn't accidnetally trip over him and fall down the stairs??? just saying..my 100# puppy has accidentally tripped me (haven't fallen yet) they have a way of trying to get under your feet

It is a terrible thing no matter how it happened. I don't know why people would just want to automatically kill the dogs. If the Mastiff attacked and killed her I could see that one getting put down. But her own dogs did nothing wrong. I'm not a fan of pit bulls but I have friends that have them and love them dearly. Also I have not ever seen the dogs act in any way other than very loving to their owners.

I hope there isn't a knee-jerk reaction to this tragedy where the innocent dogs are killed too.

Another article says that she died from dog bites to the neck by that dog!

Dogs are part of the food chain in probably 75% of the world........so are cats and horses.

People - don't forget people.... We're there too

Agree!!!!

Cheri, most people who don't like dogs are usually aholes, just sayin

cheri, do you own a cat? By your attitude, it sounds like are probably a lonesome cat lady. Most cat owners are even less responsible. They let their cats out to roam the neighborhood. I have woken up to my dog barking at some feline peeking in my back door. Not to mention going to the bathroom in my mulch. So while you may have an issue with barking dogs, I have an issue with cats coming into my yard, harrassing my dog, going to the bathroom in my mulch and thinking my lawn furniture is it's own playground. I won't lump all cat owners into one category I suggest you do the same.

cheri .... why would you feel it necessary to read a sad news flash about a person's demise due to a dog attack and take your time to spout out about their barking and poop?

Would you post the same message if the story was about a dog saving a child?

I think "not".

Needless to say, you have a right to your own opinions. My opinion, is that dog haters have 0/NULL/Zip for personalities...and those that do, usually have terrible ones--which explains why they don't like dogs. Takes all types, I suppose. I don't like cats but I don't care that my neighbor leaves her cat outside and winds up taunting my dogs...I don't care because we live in a free nation. "Just say'n."

Agree. Most people should have to be licensed to own a dog.

Cheri, Cheri, Cheri....tsk tsk. You are certainly free to write your opinion, but why add so much ridiculousness to it? You want to express your opinion, but no one will pay much attention to you(other than to ridicule you) because you express it in such an ugly way. By the way, to those who take Cheri's comments and in turn make negative comments about cat owners, I'm a cat owner. I do not let my cat out to roam the neighborhood. Buster stays inside 24/7. He is fixed but not declawed. He uses his litter boxes, not "the world as his toilet." He scratches on his scratching posts, never on the furniture. He is loved and spoiled, like any pet should be. In return, he cuddles with us. He meets us at the front door when we come home, literally wagging his tail. He waits at the top of the stairs for me in the morning before hopping down the stairs where he again waits for me to catch up to him. He never bites or scratches us. He is a darling. I know one person said they weren't lumping all cat owners into one category, but even suggesting that Cheri is a cat owner is a slap in the face. I have a feeling Cheri has no pets. She doesn't just seem like a dog-hater, but an animal-hater.

Also, I think dogs are awesome! I made the responsible choice not to own one, because our family is too busy to give a dog the attention he/she would need. However, I think they are wonderful creatures.

This story is truly sad and, tbh, horrifying. :( My thoughts and prayers go to the family at this time.

Cheri.....let me guess, single? I assume you dont get much with that winning personality;) ....and tazmere, just shush!....and for Erkel, your name says it all. You should be licensed to breath the air you waste!!

okay first off i've trained dogs since i was 7. mastiff's included i've even owned on, these dogs wouldn't hurt anything or anyone unless provoked or felt threatend my guess is this dog was one of the two.... for people sayingg that this dog is a bad dog you don't know the circumstances of this attack, i feel bad for this lady who lost her life but i know mastiffs and they are one of the smartest breeds of dogs alive. my mastiff would've gave her life up to protect me no matter what, i've never met a breed of dogs with as much loyalty and compassion that mastiff's have.

You are absolutely correct about Mastiff's. I competed in AKC and UKC Obedience and Tracking for over 30 years.There has to be more to the story than is printed here. The dog could be a mixed breed or the dog had a brain tumor or a neurological condition.

What a shame to lose your life over a dog.

@jdinke, It wasn't "to loose your life over a dog". it was to loose your life TO a dog! Ya, must have been horrible realising the dog is about to kill you...