E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA 14-month-old Wisconsin boy was at his babysitter's apartment when two pit bulls attacked and killed him. WTMJ's Annie Scholz reports.
A 14-month-old Wisconsin boy has died after a brutal attack by a pair of pit bulls, authorities said on Thursday.
Police received a call from Susan Iwicki, 30, on Wednesday saying that she and the young boy were being attacked by the dogs, according to local NBC affiliate WMTV. Iwicki told police that she and the boy had each sustained injuries.
The boy died of his injuries at a Milwaukee area hospital later on Wednesday, the Walworth County sheriff’s office said, according to The Associated Press.
The boy had the “biggest eyes, great smile,” family friend Valerie Brylow told local affiliate WTMJ. “He was a great little boy.”
“He is adorable, absolutely adorable,” Nicole Jennison, another family friend told the station.
The boy’s name has not been released, and an investigation continues. Both of the pit bulls were removed from the property and euthanized on Wednesday, WMTV reported.
The fatal dog attack was the first in Wisconsin in a decade, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
Could of imagine getting "MAULED" ????? NO!! Sad, Sad, Sad....... I am so sorry
brooke? ...bet ya like getting "malled " though, now dont ya?
Now Tramp-- Now don't say anything stupid like I would. Don't say bitcho.
Children are being attacked and killed by dogs, or suffer serious physical and emotional damage every day in this country.
Watch out Brooke might mail a knife to her children to put under their pillow!
Everyone knows Pit Bulls followed by Rottweilers are the most friendly and loving breeds of dogs. Ignore statistics like this because it is meaningless. Here are the number 1 and number 2 types of dogs that attacked and killed humans by year, how many deaths, dog type on top, how many they killed, the percentage, next dog breed, how many they killed, the percentage:
Fatalities due to dog attacks by year number and breed:
2005 29 deaths Pit Bull (15) 52% Rottweiler (6) 21%
2006 29 deaths Pit Bull (16) 55% Rottweiler (9) 31%
2007 34 deaths Pit Bull (17) 50% Rottweiler (4) 12%
2008 23 deaths Pit Bull (15) 65% Husky (3) 13%
2009 30 deaths Pit Bull (11) 32% Rottweiler (4) 13%
2010 33 deaths Pit Bull (22) 67% Rottweiler (4) 12%
2011 30 deaths Pit Bull (or Pit Bull type) (21) 70% Rottweiler (4) 13%
2012 35 deaths Pit Bull (or Pit Bull type) (22) 63% Rottweiler (3) 9%
I guess dog owners of these two types of dogs can just continue ignoring these numbers as meaningless. Must be the owners of the dogs or maybe those infants dragged out of cribs and killed by these dogs did something to provoke the attack - that must be it!
And 4 children per day die at the hands of their parent. What shall we do about that?
Over 130 people die per year in bathtubs. Solution?
How many die per day in car accidents? By gunshot? By stabbing? By binge drinking?
Do we regulate all human behaviour? Because that is what it will take to stop pointless tragic deaths.
@ComplimentedMom - Ya, you're right. You know, not enough people die from bear attacks or even lion attacks. More people should keep bears and lions as pets and let them sleep in bed with their children. That would definitely offset the number of people killed by Pit Bulls! Maybe people would be complaining, why did that family keep a bear or a lion as a pet, they know how dangerous they are. They should have had a nice friendly Pit Bull instead!
Did I say offset? No.
I simply pointed out there are other much more prevelent causes of death that take many more lives than dog attacks of all breeds.
Typical of the type though, someone points out facts and are targeted for sarcasm and derision. Nice.
Then you are attempting to change the subject of this article and the comments that follow. It's fallacious logic to say that other causes of death are more prevalent so therefore we should just ignore dog attacks. No one needs to have a Pit Bull, but we all need cars and we all need to bathe.
No one, child, adult or elder needs to die the hideous death of being torn apart by an animal. Why would you think it's unnecessary to find a way to stop a preventable tragedy like that?
Are you one of those who never tries to improve upon anything? Then you wil reap what you sow.
ComplimentedMom, why are you talking about human behavior? The article is about a dog.
ComplementedMom, You can't just go by raw numbers. What percentage of all bathtubs in the U.S. have killed people in a year? What percentage of all pitbulls in the U.S. killed in the same time period?
Pit bulls are just dogs. They can be trained like any other dog. They have no 'locking jaws' or a special aggression against humans. If anything, it's dumbarses that breed and train these dogs for fighting. Pits don't even make good guard dogs like shepherds, because they tend to trust strangers...
SOtired, so am I of people like you...The pit bull does have a jaw that once its into another person or dog, it locks.. You need to call the Vet or Dog authority..You have no clue.. Go back downstairs and play games.
Oh, please. A simple Google search would set you straight. Here, I do it for you...
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1CHHJ_enUS379US379&q=Do+pitbulls+have+locking+jaws&oq=Do+pitbulls+have+locking+jaws&gs_l=serp.3..0i10j0i22i10i30l3j0i22i30j0i22i10i30j0i22i30.3456481.3464680.0.3465427.29.25.0.4.4.0.215.2229.23j1j1.25.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.5.serp.Q3RT-hK8Hd0
Care to refute?
sotired I googled. Did you read about their locking jaw when biting down, or lock-jaw, the tetanus lock-jaw illness? You are right, they say their jaws are just like any other dogs. I do believe there is something wrong with the breed, brain chemistry wise. Just my opinion. You cannot deny all the attacks that have been from this breed.
That's all we do here, voice our opinions. But at least I inform myself before I go and post something.
There is no such mechanism as a 'locking jaw' in the whole dog world, and neither do pits have disproportional bite strength. That sort of thing comes from sensationalistic newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data.
I know one guy who got a renewal survey from his insurance company and they asked if he owned a dog and what breed. He answered and sent in he owned a pit bull mix. They called him and ask how long he had owned the dog. He said less than 3 months. They advised him he would be canceled if he did not get rid of the dog in 30 days and they would send someone to check to be sure. At first he said he would hide the dog, but he was told if he hid the dog and then the dog attacked someone his insurance would not be covered. Most insurance companies will triple or cancel your insurance if you own a pit or rotty.
Not sure if "most" will cancel or increase your rates - unless the local authorities (city, county, HOA) has a law, rule, regulation - etc, banning the breed. What I've seen happen is they will attach a rider to your home owner policy - absolving them of any responsiblity if the dog is involved in an incedent where it illegally or unjustified instigated a bitting injury.
You are correct about the extra cost. They can place a rider on your policy which specifically addresses your liablity in case the dog bites someone. It would be a separate policy.
Most insurance policies your home and all valuables are automatically covered under the policy, that saves you from having to itemize all your stuff. But there is a set limit for the total. In the case where there is an abnormal likelihood of exposure you are obligated to disclose the risk. Lets say you have a jewelry store operating from your home - you would need to disclose the presence of expensive, high value items and get separate coverage for that.
I have Dobermans in my home, it came up that an article in the local newpaper pointed out that a burglary was prevented by my pet - which caused an inquiry.
I was asked the same thing your friend was asked. They just added that in the policy and never raised my rates... they did ask if the yard was fenced, took a few pictures and I never heard another word about it. that was many, many years ago.
I do home care and have no problems with most dogs. That being said, pitbulls are the ONLY dogs I ask the owner to put away in a locked room before I will enter the home. I own 2 dogs, 1 being a German Shepard, so there is no irrational fear of dogs here.
Ban the breed as a wild animal. It was bred for 20 generations to kill in the Pits and you can't domesticate that out of the breed without taking 50 generations more to do it. We don't allow Wolf hybrids for the same reason they are dangerous. Ditto Pit Bulls.
so are some "breeds" of people ...now what?
I have to get on here now. It used to be German Shepperds, then it was DOBERMANS (which I love) now it's Pitbulls. There is is good and bad in all dogs just like people.
Actually, in many states Wolf hybrids are allowed. This is not about the dog breed, this is about the owner not understanding her dogs.
People ALWAYS say it is about the owner and not the dogs...fine people should not be able to own THIS type of dog.
So, "the owner not understanding her dogs" is a justifiable reason for these beasts to murder her child. Makes sense.
A dog can kill. They offer no gaurantees. Owner is responsible and should be tried for manslaughter. It works the same way with guns. If you exercise the right to own something that can kill, you take responsibilty if it does. Dog, gun, car, whatever. If you take the risk, take personal responsibility, or they'll take our rights.
more2bits-4021678, At the turn of the last century these dogs were called "nanny" dogs for their protection and devotion to a family's children, and beloved as this nations "favorite" breed.
Horrible that this child was killed.
Man, came in again and trained them to kill each other in the "pits", as you have said. We blame the dog for what people like Vick and so many other do to these animals.
Why do these people with babies and children get a pit bull in the first place? Let alone leave the baby or child alone with any animals. Generally, the type of person who "seeks" a pit bull is not well educated, trys to be tough in their own life, and brings out this trait in their pit bull, although all dogs have this trait.
Pit bulls are the "dog fighters" breed of choice, "BECAUSE" the cowards can "patch" the dogs up easily after being torn up in the pit, with little fear of the dog biting them. This a strong trait in this breed as well.
What do we expect of a breed that has been through such hell, and so little is done to STOP the violence against the dog, and cry foul when one attacks a human. We never get a full story from the media on what actually happened in these sad cases. I do know for a fact, the majority are small children left "ALONE" with the dog in the back yard, fenced in rarely and tied to a tree often. NO child should EVER be left alone with any animal. People still do this in mass everyday. Who is to blame?
Remember in the 70's when the Doberman was the "bad ass" dog to have? The 80's and 90's it was the Rottweiler and to a lesser degree today. Never heard much of anything about pit bulls all that time. They were always around, but when the dogfighting became so lucrative it was the "faithful" pit bull that they used to make their cowardly, cruel blood money. One little fact of note. Vick was not sent to prison for murdering and torturing so many animals, rather for gambling. That is what the law sees as more important to break up. Much of Vick's time served was "home confinement" as well. Now Vick is a hero to many NFL fans and even our President admires him. Really???
When someone leaves their child in a hot car, and it dies a horrible death we never blame the car, but so quick to jump on the parent. It is their fault too, but these parents have often left the child in there by accident; carelessness and thoughtless to be sure, but unintentional.
This country is kill crazy. Anything that we don't like or is a problem usually created by us, we want to exterminate, instead of looking at the problem and fixing it.
Enough said. Sorry for the baby, it deserved much better, and to have lived out it's life.
Thank you Joe S. people always talk about pit bulls like the entire breed will kill you just for looking at it! I own a pit bull and she is the sweetest thing on earth. If a Golden retriever kills a kid then its not national news... They put the dog down and carry on yet the pit bull get bad raps because they used to be bred for fighting by dishonest and horrible people! You know what pit bulls were used for before they were bred for fighting? They were Nanny Dogs! They were used to watch over and protect the children because they were so protective.
The nanny dog myth was debunked years ago...let it go. Pitbulls are bred to clamp and shake and not let go. They MAUL. Other dogs will bite and let go, but pitbulls are bred to bring down oxen and kill. A 14 month old stands no chance.
It was negligent of the babysitter to have both a toddler and a pitbull in the same home. Negligent homicide.
http://thetruthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/2010/08/nanny-dog-myth-revealed.html
@edward a. blodgett
Man, I live right in front of 2 pits...this breed is NOT a normal or domesticated dog. This breed of dog, and I have witnessed it on more than one occasion, will kill anything that is left with it. I have watched as other neighborhood pets have come in contact with them, only to be killed. I have watched as young children were left in the yard with them and at how they sneakly stalk them with the intent to harm, only to be caught and chastised. It is in their nature, their breeding, their DNA to be aggressive when something or someone is around them that is unfamiliar. EUTHANIZE this whole breed! And, if you think you really need them to "appear" tough or for protection, then always remember that you could be the next victim. A dog does not make a REAL MAN! A REAL MAN makes his DOG! The majority of PIT owners are uneducated, multi-generational trash, with the lack of common sense to better their surroundings and circumstances. They are also the same group of people who visit the mailbox on the 1st of each month to look for their handouts from the rest of us! I have a plan for the neighbors 2 pits and their day will come...just as they've done to terrorize our community. GUNS WERE MADE FOR PITS!
GOD BLESS this poor child and I hate that this tragedy happened.
Actually, the true "Nanny Dogs" were the ones who were bred to be DEFENSIVE instead of OFFENSIVE. The dogs who were bred to have an instinct not to BITE but to lie down on and HOLD by body weight any human intruder. Breeds like the English Mastiff, the Saint Bernard, the Great Dane, the Newfoundland, the Great Pyrenees, the English Sheepdog (but not the Shepherd breeds) ... breeds that are protective without being aggressive. ALL of the breeds I have named were bred to live with the sheep or goats and protect them mainly with their overwhelming physical size from predators and not from ATTACKING a predator unless barking and holding don't work.
Now, don't get me wrong, some breeds of Mastiff ARE aggressive - such as the Bull Mastiff (bred with bulldogs who were themselves bred for fighting BULLS). I don't know if the American Mastiff (English Mastiff and Boxer cross) has a genetic predisposition for aggression. I DO know that people confuse the Presa Carnio - which I like to refer to as a Pit Bull on Steroids - with a Mastiff breed (it has NO Mastiff blood, it is NOT a Mastiff cross) and the Presa Carnio is known for aggression - they are the breed who killed the woman in San Francisco.
You are dangerous. Ignorant and rambling. The breed is known as the "Nanny" breed. For @!$%#'s sake the Little Rascals had one. Some are made vicious. They aren't born that way. Anymore than someone is born ignorant. That too is a learned trait!
The story I read about the breeding of the Pit-bull was that it was the English's attempt to create a war dog like the German Shepard. They supposedly started with the Bull-Mastiff, a mix of the Mastiff and English Bulldog which was aggressive toward animals but not humans. So they crossed the Bull-Mastiff with a terrier which was aggressive toward both animals and humans and came up with the Stafford-shire Terrier, the original pit bull...........Just research I did because my oldest son is a pit-bull lover who's dogs are like loaded guns, and do go off from time to time, especially against other animals.
As far as I am concerned, anyone owning an animal capable of taking down and killing a human, animals like the Pit-bull, German Shepard, Doberman, Chow or Rottweiler should have to carry liability insurance at the least.
Go to Wikipedia and search 'what dogs kill the most'.
After you read the incidents of the Pit Bull maulings and search their stories to find that other true news sources have the confirmed articles, then come back and call us ignorant. YOU are the ignorant one, blinded by the fact that you own one of these dangerous animals. We know we cannot convince you that pits are not family dogs because of your bias, but can you please stop defending them and comparing them to other breeds(who have not killed anyone this year compared to the 6 separate killings from Pits so far in 65 days of 2013).
When other dogs start killing people in this country on an average of every 10 days, then you can open up your mouth, but until then, shut it!
What didn't she understand? That her dear dogs would maul an infant?
IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH PIT BULLS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN AGGRESSIVE BEFORE.
The owner's ignorance comes too late for that little boy, who died a horrible death! How about some sympathy for him? How about some sympathy for his family?
IF YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL THAT IS LARGE AND AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH TO KILL, YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE. ANY BREED CAN ATTACK, BUT SOME BREEDS CAN KILL WITH A SINGLE BITE.
GET RID OF THOSE DAMN PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS, PEOPLE!
Bob-2112, I read your article on "debunking" the nanny dog myth. Sir, all there is in that article is speculation, with no facts to prove that they weren't, in fact "nanny dogs". If they were such a horrible breed, why do we see so many pictures from that era with the dog and a child. Not an isolated incident, but literally all over this country, and others, i.e. Great Britain. Yes, of course the pictures your article shows of children on alligators and lions are stupid in the extreme for a parent to have taken; and some of which are photo shopped to be sure.
Even as irresponsible as we are as a nation with animals and children/or the elderly, there are so few cases of these dogs killing. They're so abundant (many millions), and sought after, usually by the very people that should be that last ones to ever own something that has the potential to harm. These people are looking for a tough status for themselves usually, and make a dog, much like any other, into a fighting machine. Who to blame here? They (the people involved) handle life in general, so very irresponsibly, be it an animal or a gun. We are the ones , that are supposed to be "superior", and we blame the animals for what "WE" have made them. After all "EVERY" dog is descended from the wolf, every one, and we altered them to fit our needs and wants.
FAR more children are killed by a loaded gun in the house than a pit bull in a house, and I did say far more. Yet, the same people that want all pit bulls murdered are the ones who demand their right to own a gun that is far more likely to kill their children than anything else. How do we spin that one? This to me is insane, yet it's the mentality of much of this country unfortunately. Just like the wolves in this country, that are being wiped out again for the third time since the 1850's by ignorant, cruel people, that let the media set the tone for what they think, and their preconceived beliefs, true or not. Same with the pit bull. We don't want to be responsible for changing the way we do things, rather kill them all off and be done with it. Something we do on a frequent basis, and it's a huge dark spot on us all as Americans.
We must crack down "HARD" on dogs left on chains in the yard, dog fighting rings, and promote a mass education program on proper integration between animals and humans. Again, I say NO child or helpless person should ever be left alone with ANY animal, period.
Having said all of this, the incident is very sad for all concerned and we must "thoughtfully and with wisdom" change, and prevent such tragedies.
How many people killed annually by Pit Bulls is an acceptable number for you, iowa? If it were your own child would that even make a difference?
Your attitude is selfish and dangerous. No one has the right to own an animal that kills.
Some here are comparing guns to pit bulls. A gun doesn't run across a room and attack w/o provocation. Or, even if it is "provoked", it can't do anything. It is a machine. A dog however, has four legs and a mouth full of teeth and it can go wherever it has access too. I'm not against pits. Owners need to realize these dogs have a history in their breeding. It may be a sweet, wonderful dog, but there is breeding in it you cannot love and hug away. It is an animal and if it wants or flips out to bite and maul, there is no little angel on its shoulder telling it not to. People assume they know what their pets are thinking. That is their first mistake. NEVER apply human emotions to a dog. It lives in a dog world with a dogs social order.
Another recent deadly Pit Bull attack:
@Guinius:
Pour some xylitol-sweetened BBQ sauce to the grass in front of the PB house. That will solve the problem.
hey pit bull ownwer what a moron these dogs are deadly - they cant be contolled and once they snap - and you never know when they are going to snap - hey moron they dont even know when they are going to snap - and when they do - your dead period - no but you have to own this dog - what a simple minded selfish sob
mary whatever - fitting name - pit bulls are far and away the most dangerous dog on the planet - who have to be an idiot to own one - one bad look , bad step - startle one and your dead - period how anyone can justify having one knowing the danger is delusional
To quote kaybeetoys
I suggest you go to the CDCs site on dog attacks then. You just outlawed 99% or more of dog breeds. I seriously doubt that there is a single breed of dog that hasn't killed a human. There was a case some years back when a cute little fluffy Pomeranian ripped a babies throat out and killed it. Also add to the fact that law officers have a habit of labeling any dog with a blocky head as a pit bull. Many times dogs that were called Pitt Bulls were proved to be boxers or other dogs of similar body build. Yet the police reports and newspaper articles were never corrected.
Also do you know that there is no such thing breed wise as a "Pitt Bull". Go to the AKC breed registration site if you don't believe me. It actually a generic name applied to 4 breeds of dogs with similar body builds. So in actuality there are several individual breeds that kill more people than the "pitt bulls" do. Malamutes, Rottweilers and wolf hybrids. Maybe if you actually knew what you were talking about you wouldn't look like a raving fanatic to most people here.
Let us not forget, more children are killed by their parents in one day than are killed by any dog of any breed. Ever. The CDC statistic is that 4 children per day die at the hands of a parent.
Shall we ban parents too? After all, it would be to save children.
ComplimentedMom,
"Shall we ban parents too?"
That might not be such a bad idea. Their roles these days are being performed more and more by day care centers anyway.
It's why for the past 10 years, Pitt Bulls have accounted for 50% - 70% of deaths to humans by dog attacks. It's because of their extreme gentleness! That's why people love to leave their kids alone with these dogs only to have these dogs rip their children's throats out!
It is not just the bad owners. It is the bad breeding. As I posted on another comment:
I said, "No one has the right to own an animal that kills." I'm aware that dog attacks by virtually every breed have resulted in death, but other breeds cause miniscule damage when they bite in comparison to Pit Bulls.
In many cases dogs kill their owners.
I do not have a dog or cat because I do not wish to share my living space with an animal. We all have the right to walk the streets without being attacked by someone's pet, which they then typically claim is harmless and affectionate.
Pitbulls have been inner bred too much.I can't believe the people that I meet at the pet store with small children in tow that are buying dog treats etc.Nine times out of ten I ask them what kind of a dog they have and it is hands down Pitbull.It is the arrogance of people who want to prove that pitbul's are docile and wonderful with their children.It appears that people value their pets over their children.
Death by dog attacks in 2011 was 70% caused by Pit Bulls, in 2012 more than 60% - this is against all other breeds of dogs. Pit Bulls aren't even one of the top 10 breeds of dogs owned by people, they're aren't even in the top 20 types of dogs owned by people, they aren't even in the top 30 breeds of dogs owned by people... are you starting to get the picture? Only a small group of people own Pit Bulls, and yet they account for 50%, 60%, 70% of the deaths caused by dog attacks! How can you ignore that? How can you have a child, ignore that and get a Pit Bull or allow your child to be near someone else's Pit Bull. Plutonium kills too, would you let your child play with some of that stuff, would you put your child into a bear cage becuse they just look so cute and cuddly like a Teddy Bear?
Iowa I guess it's a good thing there aren't 200 million pitbulls in America. It might turn those numbers around.
If you are considering a Wolf/Dog Hybrid... Do your research.
Wolf hybrids open you up to that "old Catch 22"... In some states it is illegal to own, harbor wild animals. A wolf is not domesticated, so the the percentage of wolf in your hybrid can be enough to get it confiscated and possibly destroyed or held in shelters - since some agencies do not feel they can survive if returned to the wild.
Iowa--in your 3.16 post. My neighbor had a Pitt. He put an electronic fence around his FRONT yard. A chain link separated our back yard. The dog was 8 mos old when he went for the fence while I was cutting the grass! He was actually chewing on it. I was terrified. Out came the neighbor and quieted the dog, who by that time was slobbering. Said his "pittie" was a "sweetie" and wouldn't hurt a soul. I said, "yeah. But I guess he likes the taste of metal fences." Again, next week, he went for the fence again, this time trying to get over it. Out came the neighbor again to quiet the dog, again trying to reassure me. I told him the dog almost made it over the fence this time. He said he "would have called him back." Really??? Whooopee. The third week, I strapped my pistol to my waist and went out to cut the grass. The neighbor was out in the back with the dog. Came over to the fence with the dog (who was snarling) and asked about the pistol. I told him, "Maybe you'd call the dog back if he got over the fence. But maybe not until he got my throat first. This pistol is my insurance that I get to HIM first. I can bury him for you afterward if you want." Two days later, the dog was gone. Now he has a different dog that manages to stay calm.
Frankly, I am convinced that in a great many cases, owning a Pit is a power trip--small people with big dogs. This dog did NOT BELONG in anyone's back yard. The fact that I never saw him in the FRONT yard speaks for itself. He himself was not convinced that his little baby was a "sweetie and wouldn't hurt a soul."
Oh what the heck,,,ban guns but let's keep getting people killed by stupid pet owners and their pit bulls,,these dogs are pieces of crap and can turn on a dime. SPARE me the BS about how gentle, kind blah blah blah. 40 cal. to the head will stop em!!!!!
"40 cal. to the head will stop em!!!!!"
Not all the time, these dogs clamp and shake, killing them stops the shaking.
Come meet my pit. If she does anything I will let you shoot her with your big .40 cal. If she does nothing. I get to shoot you in your minuscule balls with my 9!
Oh, get real. People can die from anything. You have more of a chance dying from driving a car than by a dog.
And I will say, if anybody goes near my pitbull, he won't be on the headlines for killing...I would. Touch my innocent dog and you'll get shot.
addy121,
your dog goes near my kids he/she is dead. I don't care if it's for a sniff, I don't trust them and don't want them near me. I'll stay away, but if they get off their leash, or come into my yard, they are DONE!
Go live in your little fluffy utopia if you want, but reality has set in for most of us, and we recognize the devastation these "innocent" dogs can wreck onto unsuspecting people. Dog lovers who cherish dogs over human life are noble in thought, but disconnected from reality. You may think and believe it, but it doesn't make it true.
I'm not saying all pit bulls need to be put down, but at the same time I don't think they should be allowed in and around other people. IE keep them at home and caged up or w/e, but they cannot be allowed to continue killing people for no good reason. I could understand a dog killing someone trying to rape/kill their owner, but kids playing, random people walking etc... NO way! Lock em up!
Then don't let your children bathe. More than 130 people per year die in the bathtub.
Pit Bulls are cheap to care for, that's why most Rednecks love them. You just have to bring them by the school playground once a week to feed!
John-4203198
Keep your snotty, illtempered, uneducated kids away from my dog. If your kid is close enough for my dog to sniff it then clearly he/she is too close to "MY" yard.
ComplimentedMom
That statistic is exactly why we have only a standup shower with grippy pads in our home :)
addy121
I feel exactly the same way about my dogs.
Complimented your defense of the breed makes it pretty apparent that you own a pit. Well good luck with that. I have very large dogs myself (100+ lbs), one was attacked in MY OWN FENCED YARD by a pit. My other dog knocked the pit off of her and I finished the pit with a shovel. The pit continually got off her chain/leash whatever to go rocketing thru the neighborhood like a time bomb. My animals are never out of my control. Period. I have owned many breeds of dogs in my life, I had to have a chow put down because he had become too protective of my children. Any ignorant trash who owns a pit will get what they deserve in the end. And ANY pit in my yard will be shot. Immediately.
Pitbull owners apparently have no sense of perspective. There are hundreds of millions of bathtubs and only a few thousand pitbulls. The dogs are obviously more dangerous than bathtubs or even guns. If there were as many pitbulls in the U.S. as there are guns, you wouldn't be able to leave your house without getting savaged.
It is impossible for me to fathom why many people are convinced that animals are thinking, feeling, reasoning creatures. When I say, "feeling," I do not mean to say they are devoid of the potential for pain or affection. My point is that THEY ARE ANIMALS. Your fluffy, waddling little cocker spaniel can chomp down on a child playing on the floor simply because the baby was crying, or grabbed his leg or tail, without the dog's permission. Screaming or crying babies and children are very upsetting to animals. Their hearing is so much more acute than humans'. At times, they probably feel that they have to shut them up. Even your little kitty kat can leap into the crib and bite a child's face, or plant his claws into it, or even the child's eyes. Not necessarily from intent, but because they may view the baby as a toy or, frankly, some kind of prey. They are ANIMALS, people. They should be treated with affection and command, but NEVER TRUSTED implicitly. A woman I knew had a cat that was loved as much as her baby. Never had a problem with her. While she was readying the baby's bath, the cat tore open the baby's eyelid!!! It was probably fluttering, so the cat figured it was something to play with--or eat.
"Fourteen month old ... WAS AT HIS BABYSITTER'S PROPERTY"
That ought to help those who say the article doesn't say where the toddler was. The video accompanying the story clearly states the baby was at his babysitter's home. Also, if you think the babysitter can be sued... remember that the mother of the baby left her baby with a woman and 2 pit bills. Good luck with a law suit. It was the mother's fault unless she was told the dogs would be left outside the home during the babysitting of the child. Even shutting dogs like that into a bedroom is too dangerous for me to consider leaving a baby in that home. I am one who believes these dogs are not "pets." I've seen too many people who own them having no idea how to raise and train a teacup poodle, never mind a dog of that size and capability. Many people who own dogs have no clue how to train them and some dogs are trainable until they get a notion in their heads to attack, no matter their friendly history. These dogs need to be banned here as they are in Ireland... proving that some people understand and can make changes in policy rather than just talking about it as we do here.
This one is from last month, ( 09-27-2007) but like the others that I have posted so far, I didn't hear about this? Hmm.. Maybe because it's not an attack by a so-called "pit bull"... Another horrible story though!
Here is the news story.. Top Stories: Baby Killed By Dog | county, stray, animal - wtvc.com
Taken from text:
Quote:
In the most recent case 15-month-old Elijah Rackley apparently tried to play with one of the Chow-mix's puppies Saturday. Back in December some people told us McMinn County has a serious problem with stray animals after a 15-year-old boy was mauled by stray Pit Bulls. But in this latest incident Rackley didn't survive his injuries. The child and his family were about to celebrate his 16-month birthday in a few days.
His life was cut short in the back yard of his grandfather's house. He apparently wandered too close to a Chow-mix female dog that was tied down with a chain.
It is amazing to me that people just cannot understand that NO dog should EVER be CHAINED up, NO MATTER WHAT, and children should NOT be UNATTENDED with any dog, REGARDLESS OF BREED! I just don't understand what is so confusing or difficult about that!?
It's ridiculous to me that they feel the need to throw in something about a so-called "pit bull" attack that has absolutely nothing to do with this story!
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/dogs/162451-news-another-chained-dog-kills-another.html#ixzz2NYUbYr5b
Yet not a word on a group of Chihuahua chewing up the Constitution on a daily basis.
Love your cold, heartless, childlike posts, Scooty! Show us on the doll where Limbaugh touched you, little one.
like your "adult " avatar perhaps?
Not to mention how they always like to hump your company's well-polished oxfords!
Pit Bulls are a dangerous breed. They have no business being near humans. How many kids get killed by a chihuahua? Not many.
But plenty are attacked by Chows, Shepherds, Rottweilers, and an occasional rogue Mastiff or St. Bernard. Many types of dogs can be dangerous in a pack (two or more.)
I agree that Pit Bulls are a dangerous, unpredictable breed. Give me a good old mutt any day.
And yet, statistically, chihuahua's bite more people annually. I won't own a chi for that very reason. Well, that and they are entirely too yappy for me.
I agree that there are dogs of every breed with temperament issues and those who have shown the potential to be dangerous or become dangerous should not be with people. The dangerous aspect of a pit is the strength in their jaw - any of them have the capability to kill, but not all do.
I know one who is the sweetest baby ever who gets bossed around by a chug (chihuahua and pug mix) and is too terrified of it to say boo. On the other hand, I know another pit who wouldn't stand for that. Basing your opinion of an entire breed based on the actions of a few is narrow minded and prejudice.
Believer, that 'sweetest baby ever' Pit Bull combined with the yourself admitted strength in their jaw danger is the exact reason that 'sweetest baby ever' should not be around kids.
I own four chihuahuas and I also have four kids whom are all alive and have never been attacked by our dogs. I know FOR A FACT that these dogs WILL NOT kill my kids.
Yes, you can laugh at my sarcasm and bias against Pit Bulls as family dogs, but bottom line is, if the breed has a history of violence(despite how cute/cuddly/loving the dog has shown in the past), then why take the gamble?
If you have/want kids, don't have a damn Pit Bull! You can't always be around. You're rolling the dice. If you are single or not having kids, then go for it. Just make sure they have a secure yard to play in.
You do not know what you are talking about, I have had 4 Pitbulls, 2 died of old age and I have 2 now that are ages 12 and 6 and they have never hurt anybody, the best dogs I have ever been around, the ones that died never hurt or did anything to anybody either. They are so loving and playfull and protective, they are the best dogs on the planet, my kids grew up with these dogs, you just judge them by stories like this, other breeds have killed humans but those stories do not get told. I will come right out and say that most of the bad Pitbull stories are because there dog is minority owned, they treat the dogs bad, they fight them, they use them to act tuff, they use them as a status symbol in the hood.
Status symbol on a leash
By The Commercial Appeal Editorial Board
What has happened to pit bulls is a crime.
It's also a symptom of something poisonous in the culture that glorifies violence, encourages criminal acts and activates macho posturing to destructive ends.
But please don't blame it on the dogs. As The Commercial Appeal's Cindy Wolff reports in today's Viewpoint cover story, pit bulls' role in society through history has alternated between the cute, cuddly family pet and the star player in crude, merciless blood sports.
Now it is going through a phase that has made it a status symbol in neighborhoods where violence and intimidation are valued, cooperation and generosity are signs of weakness and guns and gangs are rampant.
Even the very young have been infected with the attitude that intimidating others with an angry animal on the end of a leash is a way to acquire respect.
"other breeds have killed humans but those stories do not get told"
That's because other breeds may kill, but they aren't KILLERS.
Look into your facts. Your dogs may be nice, but the breed is not.
10 years running now the Pit Bull is the number one killer in america in dog bite fatal attacks. TEN YEARS!!! And if it wasn't for the Rotweiler knocking them into second place in 2002, the Pit Bull would have a 12 year streak going.
Say all you want about YOUR adorable dogs and how you gambled and won, but there is no convincing you're going to EVER give to me that will make me think Pit Bulls are family dogs.
The same reason a lynx isn't a family cat, the same reason a cayman isn't a family lizard, The same reason a hawk isn't a family bird.
There is a line you get to in an animal species where the proposition of having them as a pet comes to an end.
The Pit Bull is very much right on this line.
Adam-What do you have, a Poodle, you are another person that does not know what you are talking about, l did not gamble and win, I raised and treated my dogs right. Check this example, if you have a kid and treat him or her bad, beat them, and do horrible things to them, most likely they will grow up and be bad, become killers, RIGHT!!!, it's the way you raise the dog, they are a strong breed and can fight and if trained to do that and live in a bad enviroment they will be bad, just like a person who becomes a Boxer, when trained to fight they become dangerous, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY NOW. Have you ever played with a Pit, ever been around one that has been raised the right way, I say you have not.
Waiting patiently for the news story.... "Child Mauled and Killed by Chihuahuas" ;-)
I think there's something to be said for being vigilant when toddlers and dogs of ANY breed are together.
Steve, take your pit bulls and ..... Defend them all you want, but they are one of most dangerous dogs there is. Just keep them in your house. If one would get out and bites some one, I hope they sue the heck out of you.
Of course I've been around and played with Pits. I wouldn't ever let my kids though, and that is the whole point since my first post.
'My dog has never ever attacked anyone ever before. It is totally not like him to do this. I just can't believe it happened. He was so loving and loved playing with children. He was the nicest dog ever."
How many times have you read that similar line? It's the response every owner in one of these stories gives after their dog/s have been taken away after killing someone.
Your 'beat them and they'll turn out bad/nurture them to raise them nice' argument does not hold up, sorry.
Believer - I have had big dogs (Labs, Border Collie) my entire life. Until I rescued a Chihuahua, I NEVER wanted a small dog. We have had him for a year now and I can't imagine the family without him. He is very family oriented and has never snapped at one of my children. He cuddles right in as part of my "pack". He takes awhile to warm up to adult males but loves children and women. It may have to do with the male that owned him before he rescued. I believe the owner does effect the temperament of the dog but some dogs are historically and inherently more aggressive.
Oh, and one more thing about the 'OTHER DOGS KILL TO, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE NEWS' thing.
So far in 2013(that's only 65 days so far) there have been SIX FATALITIES from dog attacks! Why haven't we heard about the other breeds that are killing? Because ALL SIX victims were all killed by PIT BULLS!!!
Please OH PLEASE STOP with your damn defending of these dogs.
Pitbulls jaws are not stronger than any other large breed. Nor do they "clamp" or "lock" Read for a change and get educated before you spout off.
You are as bad as racists believing in a few stereotypes you have heard and never witnessed yourself.
Read and learn!
Adam pipe down already. Where are you getting the so-called facts? The Department of Making @!$%# Up?
If you don't believe my facts, search them yourself. Then shut up when you see that I'm 100% right.
You go by the name FUBAR for christ's sake. Are we supposed to take you seriously with that immature name?
F@#ed Up Beyond All Recognition? Yeah, you're right about at least one thing.
Elayne and Adam-you are the worse, you reply to me like I'm some crazy person, you Elayne are something, hope I get sued, WOW YOU ARE MEAN JUST BECAUSE I HAVE PITBULLS. My dogs have got loose plenty of times, my first Pit loved to run, and my other 3 have gotton loose and I would find them wagging there tails playing with someone in my neighborhood, adults and kids having a good ole time, WOW!!! SO MEAN THEY ARE. Did you guys even read what I posted above, also I bet you think I'm some thug, NOT!!!, I'm a White male 50 years old with a wife and 3 grown kids and 2 Grandchildren, my own house, cars, everything a normal person has, I served my country in the United States Navy for 20 years defending your freedom so you can say I hope you get sued, people like me have nice and friendly Pitbulls, AGAIN DID YOU EVEN READ WHAT I POSTED!!! here it is again,
Status symbol on a leash
By The Commercial Appeal Editorial Board
What has happened to pit bulls is a crime.
It's also a symptom of something poisonous in the culture that glorifies violence, encourages criminal acts and activates macho posturing to destructive ends.
But please don't blame it on the dogs. As The Commercial Appeal's Cindy Wolff reports in today's Viewpoint cover story, pit bulls' role in society through history has alternated between the cute, cuddly family pet and the star player in crude, merciless blood sports.
Now it is going through a phase that has made it a status symbol in neighborhoods where violence and intimidation are valued, cooperation and generosity are signs of weakness and guns and gangs are rampant.
Even the very young have been infected with the attitude that intimidating others with an angry animal on the end of a leash is a way to acquire respect
@steve K
Again...the example I made earlier of uneducated, generational-trash...don't take it personally...take it to the BANK! Your writing skills have spoken volumes about the breed of dog that you defend
Tired-of-it: There was a story last month about 4 chihuahuas near Portland, Oregon, that attacked a six year old girl as her father walked her home from school. Yep, chihuahuas! Personally, I think chihuahuas are the meanest dogs on the planet, but fortunately, they're so little they don't kill. Pits are much larger, and tend to not let go, which is why they are often fatal.
"_________— are the meanest dogs on the planet, but fortunately, they're so _____— they don't kill"
You can fill in the blanks with any breed of dog and action, and in the end, the outcome is at least 90% the same(because Rots and Sheps and such are viable choices). They don't kill. That's the whole point.
Pitbulls KILL!
Maybe not a chihuahua but a cute little fluffy Pomeranian ripped a babies throat out and killed it a few years back in San Francisco.
Adam go to the CDCs site and see that almost all breeds of dogs have killed some one at some time. You have blinders on that keeps you from seeing that the way the dog isaised has a lot more to do with its temperament then its breeding.
Hey Steve,
I'm going to try and reply to you as if you are NOT a crazy person.
In an earlier post, you said most of the “bad Pitbull stories” are because the dogs are MINORITY owned. Please tell me you are kidding and that your previously concealed, idiotic and racist thinking didn't just slip out in the nbcnews.com comment section. Seriously?!?!
You may find it careless of others to lump the whole pitbull breed into the category of dangerous dogs that need to be eradicated. However, it is just as careless, if NOT MORE careless, for you to imply that one will only have problems with this breed if they are minority. Your post reeks of the same intolerance that you call yourself speaking against as you tout the things you have as NORMAL 50-year-old white man.
This “minority” has accomplished as much as you have accomplished. And unlike others who have posted, I would never wish harm or ill upon you, your family or your pets. But from one service member to another, allow your mind to be refreshed on some of the EEO and tolerance training I’m sure you've had to sit through and perhaps even teach during your 20 year service in the US Navy. Just as you expect others to not be influenced by pitbull portrayals in the news; you shouldn't be influenced by “minority” portrayals in the news. I’m just as normal as you, I’m JUST NOT WHITE.
not tryin to be rude or disrespectful but all these rude comments about pit bulls wow but people don't say anything about small dogs who bite it's always pit bulls i have 2 loving pitbulls they r great with my kids i'd trust them with my life anyday but i guess it's all on how u treat them most dogs who attack r beat abused faught or have never had human affection or are cross bred i feel sorry sorry for u people who bash pb's n really don't kno what a true pit is but mine r great
Plenty of dogs bite- pit bulls kill. Dachshunds are known for being nippy, but how many have they killed? There's a difference between getting a few stitches and losing half your face. Just because there is an occasional death caused by some other breed doesn't mean pit bulls get a free pass. Saying that pit bulls are as safe as other dogs is like saying lions are as safe as house cats.
Yes Tiredoldman-886590 OF COURSE almost every breed of dog has killed.
At the rate and consistency from year to year as the Pit? ABSOLUTELY NOT! What blinders are you freaking talking about? PitBulls have been the top human killer for the last 10 years, and not by a small margin, by a LONG SHOT! Only in 2009 were they not at 50% or more of the culprits of all fatal dog attacks. But that was against ALL OTHER BREEDS COMBINED! They still ran away with the first place trophy.
They are the most dangerous dog to have as a pet and that is FACT!
Don't give me that 'go to the CDCs site and see that almost all breeds of dogs have killed some one at some time' crap because 'some time' is MUCH different from 'all the time. And Pits kill ALL OF THE TIME!
Dogs biting people is one thing. When you add up the percentage of human deaths caused by dogs over the past 10 years, Pit Bulls account for more than 50% of the deaths and Rottweilers more than 20%.
The small dogs get away with being agressive because they are small enough to punt across the room/yard when they bite and the stupid owners who have those agressive little monsters think "O how cute!" Truth be told NO dog or breed should be breed to be aggressive yet some have been. Those are the dogs which end up at the local shelter/rescue when the young couple have a new baby and discover that their little precious monster that they thought so cute when they first bought it might bite the new baby.
Yet again, I repeat. Environment/training + poor breeding = bad quality of pets.
Hmmm...might that have anything to do with the relative damage of a Pit Bull's bite compared to the nip of a smaller dog?
Have you ever heard of a child whose throat was ripped out by a Chihuahua or a Yorkie?
If you have any sense you'll get rid of those Pits before they harm your children, Eve! Which matters more to you, your kids or your dog? Is it worth the risk? Is it worth the guilt?
@Angela - Yep, it's one thing to say, "Oh, poor little Timmy, the dog bit his finger..." and another to say, "Oh, poor little Timmy, he has his throat ripped out by our Pit Bull." Yet people still get them and put them together with their children.
To the comment above, CANTBELIEVEWHATIMREADING, what I said is not racist, it's the truth Mike Vick lover, if you live in a multi racial neighborhood like I do, you will see that what I'm saying is fact, did you not read my earlier post, I would say not, also I did not say you have not accomplished anything. I'm talking about gangs or wanna be gangsters Black and Latino who use these dogs as status symbols and do not treat them right, these people have the majority of bad Pitbulls, and yes there are some low life, hillbilly trailer trash, meaning WHITE PEOPLE, but the majority is minority owned and that is the truth. What is it when you say something that is true other races get pissed, it is true that alot of White people cannot dance, it is true that the best Football players are Black, do I need to go on, saying these things is not racist. Here is the post I was talking about.
By The Commercial Appeal Editorial Board
What has happened to pit bulls is a crime.
It's also a symptom of something poisonous in the culture that glorifies violence, encourages criminal acts and activates macho posturing to destructive ends.
But please don't blame it on the dogs. As The Commercial Appeal's Cindy Wolff reports in today's Viewpoint cover story, pit bulls' role in society through history has alternated between the cute, cuddly family pet and the star player in crude, merciless blood sports.
Now it is going through a phase that has made it a status symbol in neighborhoods where violence and intimidation are valued, cooperation and generosity are signs of weakness and guns and gangs are rampant.
Even the very young have been infected with the attitude that intimidating others with an angry animal on the end of a leash is a way to acquire respect.
this is for BobLeeSwagger
Look out Bob, your ignorance is showing. First, disgusting that you used the death of a child to express your political views...where did it say anyone was on welfare? Second, to use a phrase like "low-income trash" you are linking two things that are not connected: plenty of rich trashy folks out there, and lots of good, honest low-income folks as well. To assume the two go hand-in-hand is pretty disgusting and shows that you're very likely an ignorant fool! (and yes, most ignorant folks are fools too, so these do go together well!)
About the only thing worse than having a gun around kids is having a Pit Bull around them.
Although you will wish you had a gun, when a pit bull is mauling your child to death right? Or maybe you should just call 911 and wait 10 or 15 minutes for the police to arrive?
I haven't taken the time to look up the statistics, but I bet that far more children are killed by guns each year than by pit bulls.
The 10 to 15 minutes can mean life or death. In this case it was death.
A baseball bat or nightstick can stop a Pit Bull - if you break both front legs, they are less dangerous. There will still be serious damage to whatever they were chewing on (same with the gun method.)
You also do not know what you are talking about.
You do not know what you are talking about, I have had 4 Pitbulls, 2 died of old age and I have 2 now that are ages 12 and 6 and they have never hurt anybody, the best dogs I have ever been around, the ones that died never hurt or did anything to anybody either. They are so loving and playfull and protective, they are the best dogs on the planet, my kids grew up with these dogs, you just judge them by stories like this, other breeds have killed humans but those stories do not get told. I will come right out and say that most of the bad Pitbull stories are because there dog is minority owned, they treat the dogs bad, they fight them, they use them to act tuff, they use them as a status symbol in the hood.
Status symbol on a leash
By The Commercial Appeal Editorial Board
What has happened to pit bulls is a crime.
It's also a symptom of something poisonous in the culture that glorifies violence, encourages criminal acts and activates macho posturing to destructive ends.
But please don't blame it on the dogs. As The Commercial Appeal's Cindy Wolff reports in today's Viewpoint cover story, pit bulls' role in society through history has alternated between the cute, cuddly family pet and the star player in crude, merciless blood sports.
Now it is going through a phase that has made it a status symbol in neighborhoods where violence and intimidation are valued, cooperation and generosity are signs of weakness and guns and gangs are rampant.
Even the very young have been infected with the attitude that intimidating others with an angry animal on the end of a leash is a way to acquire respect.
Fun triva: The Little Rascals dog was a pit.
I had guns AND a PitBull in my home while my children were growing up and not one issue with either of them. My children both took safety training and were hunting by the time they were 12 years old. It is completely amazing what happens when adults actually care for their children, teach them right from wrong, and raise them in a loving family. If you let your children be cared for by the TV/XBox and let them run the streets they are going to be out of control. Same goes for pets... Leaving a dog that comes from a more aggressive breed chained up, neglected, and/or abused then they are also going to be out of control.
Isn't it about time for people to take responsibility for their actions and quit misdirecting "wrongs" to other things.
Yes there should be strict gun laws... Not everyone is stable enough or trained properly to own/use a gun.
Yes there should be strict laws on animal ownership... Not everyone is able to or trained properly on how to care for a animal... Regardless of their breed!!!
OHMEOHMY- I like what you said, I think we are the only ones that think the correct way, there are to many people on here judging Pitbulls because of stories like this one, judging a dog they have never owned or been around.
Thank you Steve K. It is amazing how opionated people can be without having any experience... Good or bad. The funny thing is that alot of people that comment couldn't even identify a PitBull in a line up. Apparently any dog that is medium to large sized and has teeth is a PitBull... lol
I agree! My 8y/o son hunts with his dad and our 2 feists (squirrel dogs) and is very respectful of what a gun is capable of. Our dogs are great smal/medium sized family dogs, but I still wouldn't leave them alone with my 8 month old daughter!
KP.. I agree. I wouldn't either. As a matter of fact I wouldn't leave my infant alone with any animal.
I know that someone is going to give some smart comment about not leaving their child alone at all but I know what you meant.
My daughter has had a rescue pit for 8 years now. She has no children. Her dog is the most well behaved obedient dog I have ever seen. My son has a Jack Russell/Rat terrier mix. It bit his wife and his son on different occasions. Both ended up on intravenous for 10 days. No one goes into their home unless they put the dog into the basement. The dog will not let anyone in room if it is eating. My neighbors Jack Russell tore the skin and ligaments off a finger of an elderly aunt who was visiting them while reaching for her cup of tea. Best friend had a Golden Retriever that attacked her and landed her in the hospital for two weeks after she shooed it away from a friends opened suitcase. My sister in laws 3 Dachshunds went after and bit the finger of her three year old neighbor who was just standing by his mother's side. None of these dogs were put down but the Golden Retriever. My daughter's dog cries when she sees people so they would play with her, she cowers when it rains because she has anxiety. She's a lousy guard dog because she never barks at people, only other dogs. When someone knocks on their door she greets them by running to get her toy. My daughter trained her dog from day one, as you train a child. She read extensively on the breed. She gets infuriated over how some dog owners do not properly train their dogs. I was totally against her getting this dog in the beginning. I have to admit, I have seen what good training and attention, just like parenting, can do when proper care is done in taking care of these animals. If a dog is not responsive, then you get rid of it, regardless of the breed. And I know of pit owners who had to do just that. Unfortunately, most of my friends and relatives as stated above see no harm in their non pit dogs biting someone. They better not bite me! I won't be so accommodating.
Oh my god Steve!
OK, here, try this.
Give me the answer for these three questions:
1. What dog breed is the leader in human fatalities every year over the last 10 years?
2. How many human deaths have the Pitbull caused in this country in 2013 alone so far?
3. How many human deaths have EVERY OTHER breed combined caused?
Hmmmm, is that because more people in the country just happen to own Pits so the number is higher??? uhh no. Hmmmm, is it because they are just defending their territory??? Well, if defending 'their' territory means killing kids that come near it, then you are an idiot for owning a dog and abiding by those rules because THAT is not a pet.
I know I keep bringing up the same facts, BUT THAT SHOULD BE ALL I NEED TO SAY! IT IS SO CLEAR!
WHO CARES if your pit was the nicest dog ever. IN GENERAL, they are NOT family dogs. Geez people!
OhMeOhMy! and Steve K...you sound like you are very responsible pet owners, thank you! Unfortunately most people on here can not understand responsibility.
Sick to death of all the pit bull haters and gun haters. A child got killed. That's a tragedy and I feel for the family. I have 2 dobermans and they are lovers, not fighters. And I will support the pit bull breed and any other "so called" agressive breed till the day I die. Pit bulls are not born killers. It is HUMANS that are at fault, not the animal. I'll take an animal over a human ANY day. God bless ALL the fur babies.
Adam, I'll take a stab at those questions:
1. Reportedly pit bulls, HOWEVER, those reports are based on eye witness accounts, which as you see in the CDC report on dog bites, are not considered 100% reliable. That is why a jury is allowed to give eye witness testimony any amount of credibility they deem fitting in a court of law.
2. Not sure, I haven't researched it. Neither have any true authorities on the subject, since by necessity, reporting and consolidating data runs far behind the event. This is why so little is reported until 2-5 years after the statistical year in any credible research project.
3. We cannot know that answer since breed is reported based on eye witness testimony. Please see my #1 again for why this is not considered reliable.
I could list article after article about pit bull attacks that were falsely reported and the story being on page 1 with the retraction and correction of the breed reported 5-10 days later on page 9. It doesn't sell papers/gain ratings.
What I would ask is that you dial back your vitriol and please look at other sites beside dogsbite.org, which in it's own mission statement says it is out to eradicate the pit bull. Find truly non biased information.
Here, I'll help you:
1. PITBULLS
2. EVERY death in the United States is reported(and don't get all smart trying to say 'government coverups/border crossings/mafia style crap). You know that if somebody dies, it is ALL recorded. The answer is SIX. SIX fatal deaths by six different PitBulls.
3. ZERO. Pitbulls are the only reported human killer so far this year in the USA.
Go ahead and list that falsely reported Pitbull attack crap. While you're at it, I'll go and post some false dalmation attacks, and some false Shepard attacks, and some false Lab attacks. IT DOESN'T MATTER because of the TRUE attacks that have already happened. OVER 50% of attacks resulting in death over the last decade have been from Pitbulls. And that is going against every other breed COMBINED!
Why the hate and venom? Because I disagree? Wow. Facts are not facts because one site on the internet publishes it. Mine or yours. That is why I asked you to find some non biased sources, as I have done in the past.
I was respectful and honest with my reply to you. You cannot respond in kind. That defines a troll.
Were you on the OJ or Casey Anthony juries by chance?
Ya think THAT'S bad...?....My pitbull has a gun and refuses to take his meds.
good one Scooter..
Wow. I guess I can believe that every comment on here is mis-informed. Pit bulls, like most animals, have TEETH. Any animal can bite, and labradors by far bite the most people each year because they are kept in more homes. Pit bulls are not inherently dangerous, and there are no details pertaining to this case yet. So sad that a young boy has passed, regardless of the circumstances. Even more sad that people are so cruel and litigious. It is not dogs, but people who are irresponsible dog owners, who should pay.
Talk about misinformed and down right ignorant! Pit bulls ARE inherently dangerous due to generations of breeding with the specific intent that they be.
Yeah, maybe the kid coincidentally died from a bad heart, the dog attack didn't necessarily have anything to do with it. Might want to turn your grad cap in sweetie, go back to school until you learn about cause and effect.
Perhaps any animal can bite but why is it no surprise that the first case of a fatal dog attack in 10 yrs in the state is none other than a pitbull. I bet if u researched it, they're name would crop up more than once.
The child did not "pass" as you say, he was taken. You make this terribly vicious attack seem so trite.
No, It was the dog AND the owner. Once a dog shows it can be aggressive to people the only responsible thing is to have it destroyed. I had a dog who was very protective of my family. We loved him to death, but he had a territory issue, wiggled under the fence and bit a woman who was running past our house. Thankfully she was ok, and my wife was able to intervene almost immediately since she was gardening nearby.
We all cried when we took him to the SPCA to be put down. Being responsible can be hard to do. Some animals, and some breeds, can be inherently more dangerous; no matter how much love and training they were given.
It was the dogs, the owner, and the parents (who allowed a baby sitter who had 2 pit bulls to care for their 14-month-old toddler.)
Danielle, there's a difference between a dog bite and a mauling. Most dogs bite (nip) to warn you that they're not happy. Some dogs are mouthy and chew on toys and shoes (labs). Pitbulls clamp and shake. They don't let go...even if beaten or shot. They were bred to do so.
Goldens bite more than any other reported dog...they're also the most common breed, outnumbering pits by the thousands. Golden kills are extremely rare.
Pits kill more than any other dog. They are ALL potentially killers.
Maybe all of this owning pits will weed out stupidity by eradicating the owners' offspring. Think about it - only owners of pits can be allowed around them, not the general public. The problem will eventually solve itself :)
OK, bad joke. Truth is, military bases don't allow such breeds, since too many incidents have been reported, not only the killing, but the severity of the bites that lead to costly reconstruction and psychological treatment for the victim. I can post the complete list or you can check it out yourself by going to just about any military website and search for the words housing or dogs.
But they were such nice, loving dogs, until they decided to make a snack of a poor terrified mother and child.
Spare me the facts of how other breeds also bite. Maybe true, but they do not kill to this extent. I agree with More2bits. Ban them. I am sure that it will turn out that the owners are drug dealers or gun totin yahoos anyway. No one else is stupid enought to have these dogs in their houses or around humans. Yes, it makes me very angry.
Lot of intelligent people own Pit bulls. Kill to what extent?? There are NO DETAILS about the attack!!!
Precisely what facts do you want, Danielle?
I'm not defending pit bulls, but they're that way because too many males try to prove their manhood by owning vicious dogs, encouraging some breeders (and others) to breed those animals indiscriminately (or to breed them for viciousness). I'm concerned that if pit bulls were banned, those people would turn to another breed (perhaps bulldogs) and ruin them, too. Frankly, I'm not sure how to solve this. Maybe we need to neuter a few of the humans involved in this problem.
Did they teach reading comprehension where you graduated from Danielle? Or do you think they're referring to some other injuries in the statement I quoted, like the kid fell off a swing into traffic or something?
Danielle's graduation cap is a Photoshop job.
Where did I question the status of the kid?? He died, l got that. I was commenting on anothers' use of the word 'extent'. You cannot know the extent of the attack, the circumstances [which I don't need to know] if Msnbc reports prematurely and does not tell us.
Maybe the dogs bit him one time and he died of blood loss folks. Maybe the dogs were fighting and the kid got in the way. Either way, not much article here to have a problem comprehending. Just idiotic comments that are infuriating and un-educated.
Danielle - "Kill to what extent"?????? Do you think the kid is partly dead?
You cannot tell the circumstances at this time...but we know the "extent" is death..
Wearing your friends Cap and Gown?
And you were given a gun by our government, USMC? Great. I was commenting on what another person said.
Danielle - Let me guess you were not a communications or English major. Lot's of folks here seemed confused by your posts.
You have a problem with my service to my country, Missy Danielle? You are out of line.
Danielle has a good point. I can't stand pits, and they are involved in more killings and viscous attacks, both on humans and other animals, than any other dog breed. But the individual circumstances of each case should be considered. Heck, a couple of years ago, a young child was killed by the family Weimarner, dog merely nipped the child in the neck once and the kid bled out...
Danielle, here's the quote from our local paper.
"A community is taking Thursday to mourn the loss of a a little boy in Walworth County who was mauled and killed by two pit bulls.
Family friends said a woman was babysitting Dax when her dogs lost control. They say he was a beautiful little boy with loving parents who deserved better.
Dax, 14 months old, was at his babysitter's apartment in Walworth County when something went wrong. Susan Iwicki's two pit bulls attacked.
Susan, 30, dialed 911, but in the end, there was nothing they could do. Dax died less than three hours later.
The dogs killed the child...MAULED and KILLED. That enough info for you to continue defending these dogs?
Bob, Danielle still isn't sure if the pit-bulls had anything to do with it. There simply isn't enough information in the article. It's even possible that the pit-bulls were actually trying to defend the child from a tiger or something and are being blamed out of turn! After all, just because pit-bulls have attacked and even killed children in the past doesn't mean these particular pit-bulls were child killers. For all we know those who witnessed the attack are either confused or lying. Hopefully a crack team of forensic experts like CSI will get on the case and track down the definitive cause of the child's death, which may or may not have been pit-bulls attacking!
Bob- I have Pitbulls, I'm not defending these 2 that killed this little boy, I'm defending mine, I'm defending the breed, the good one's. OK these dogs killed this little boy, Humans have killed, have been killing since Humans came to be, so this means all Humans are bad and should be gotton rid of and banned, RIGHT?????, this is the same thing, every breed Human or Animal has a few bad apples.
Thanks Steve, I'm sure your justified killing will make the parents feel better. You've introduced what's called a false analogy to try to defend your position. Humans are the best killing machines ever evolved. So how's that going to address this pitbull issue?
You are a little lost Bob, everytime a Pitbull does something people want them banned, they want to kill the entire breed, but you never here that being said when other forms of life kill, THIS IS FACT.
The same old dis-informed argument is made against guns. "You want all ____— destroyed because of a few." I think most rational people don't agree. But, like owning guns, a pitbull can be deadly and the owners are often unpredictable and fiercely loyal to their ideals. If you own a pit or a gun you need to be 100% responsible and vigilant 100% of the time. Negligence like this occur when people let their guard down.
You've made the choice to keep a potentially deadly animal in your home. You have a right to do that, but your rights end where someone else's begin. Keep the dog under control and supervised 100% of the time or be prepared for the consequences if it snaps.
There is NO way a person can constantly watch their pitbull 100% of the time. The breed was bred for aggression. People are more important than one breed of dog. HOW MANY deaths have to occur-seriously people. I may be a neighbor of a pedophile, and he has never hurt my child; but is he safe to be a free man? NO, he will find someone, again. Pitbulls are known to just snap; is the breed safe? If pitbulls were too small to kill-say Chihuahua size..then things would be different. Their size makes them as strong as a full grown human, they do kill. I do not live by a pedophile, thank God. At least I don't think I do!! Be in love with the breed, but realize how dangerous they are. Those who feel pits are great, go view the body of someone killed by someone's lovable pit!
Pits are very difficult to raise right. I own a pit and many of you get all your info from stories like this. I have a family of nine and you could not have seen a better family dog. I have raised several through the years and not one was aggressive. Their are a couple of reasons pits tend to be more violent. First think about those who usually buy pit bulls. They tend to be in the lower class and want them for violence. Two pits try to please their masters more than just about any dog. So a master that encourages them to be aggressive they will become aggressive easier. A properly raised pit has a smaller chance of attacking someone else than most breeds.
This is absolutely absurd. The amount of ignorance on this discussion board is staggering. Pit bulls are not inherently dangerous, they're raised that way. Why do you think dog experts are spokespeople for this breed? BECAUSE THEY KNOW BETTER. They were considered the "nanny dog" in the early 1900s for pete's sake. People who get these dogs and are NOT CAPABLE of raising and training a strong breed are the ones to blame. I would never get a pit bull because I'm not calm and assertive enough to be the leader. But I spend A LOT of time with pit bulls and I love the breed and I respect their owners. However, when I read stories like these, and see NO details about the dogs, their owners, their living conditions, etc. it's obvious there's a lot more to the story...but learning that she rescued them from a dog fighting ring, or neglects them or doesn't have the time to exercise them properly wouldn't make a good story, would it? I guarantee you if we knew the details, it would show that she in fact owned dogs she couldn't control and put this child in danger because of it. Do pit bulls attack the most people? Statistically, yes they do. But STATISTICALLY they're also the most abused and neglected breed in the country. They're bred, they're pitted against each other, and are raised in sometimes HORRIFYING conditions. No f*cking wonder some of these dogs lash out against humans. They have a high pain tolerance, they don't have a locking jaw, they don't have a stronger force than all other breeds, all those things are false. Their pain tolerance is the only thing that sets them apart. Pit bulls are a reflection of their owner. Period. These dogs should not be banned by any means. But I DO THINK, for the safety of these animals and of people, there should be certain qualifications owners should meet, classes, tests, etc. They should be a "certified" pit bull owner. I guarantee you, if there were strict policies enforced when it came to owning these dogs, there would be a huge difference. It is 100% the PEOPLE who exploit this dog. And nothing anyone says will prove me wrong because I have hands on experience with incredibly kind and gentle pit bulls, and with vicious ones. And I know the factors that contribute to the difference in behavior.
Them there pit bulls are such gentle, family friendly dogs. They, and anyone who wants one, should be euthanized.
Rick- You are terrible, you made yourself worse than this story, I served this country for 20 years protecting the freedoms of someone like you, so your saying this 50 year old should be killed, because yes I have 2 Pitbulls, have owned a total of 4. Humans kill everyday, so I guess we all should be euthanized.
A lot of humans should be euthanized, and just because you served doesn't mean that you defended our freedoms. Pitbulls ARE more aggressive than most breeds and should be treated as such. Of course not all them are going to kill someone, but they are definitely more prone to violence.
When it comes to breed aggression, the are 7 breeds that are more aggressive than pit bulls:
in order, they are...from number one dachshund, chihuahua, beagle, jack russell terrier, Australian cattle dog, cocker spaniel, and border collie.
I said more aggressive than most, and most of the breeds you listed can't do anywhere near the amount of harm a pit can do.
Daniel---explain something to me. What the hell did you mean when you told Steve that just because he served our country for 20 years doesn't mean he protected our freedoms? What are you--a draft dodger? Or maybe boot camp would be too tough for you? Or maybe you come from a "privileged" class whose papas were able to keep you out? That was a sh*tty shot at a serviceman, pal. And I'll tell you one thing--if you busted your *ss in the service the way he did FOR TWENTY YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, you would be p*ssed off beyond belief that a jackass ever made such a comment. I know I am, and I was never in the service, but most of my family was. Jerk!! Who do you think protects your right to walk down the street without having the SS follow you from one doorway to another. Who do you think keeps foreign forces away from our doorways? Huh? Charlie Sheen? Kim Kardashian? The Simpsons? Beavis & Butthead??????
Poor Kid. The family must be devastated.
EmgEsq
Congrats and Kudos to you. You are the only one I've seen (including myself) with their eye on the true tragedy.
Pit bulls should be banned in the USA, like Canada and UK. I am so over liberals saying it is the owners fault and not the dog. I live in a private neighborhood and this summer was with my wife and 13 year old dog. My good neighbor, and they are; opened their door to thank us for leaving fresh vegatables from our garden on their front door. Out ran the devil dog itself, attack myself, till blood was all over me, my wife, and killed my dog. My best friend. Now I walk with my 45 on my waist, and of course the liberals want to ban that. I am sick and tired of my constitutional rights being taking away, But liberals defend a friggen devil dog. Next time any pit bull approaches me with out a leash on, I will blow its head off, because that is my constitutional right.
The irony is pit-bulls are mostly owned by conservative right-wingers.
Nice try, Rob, at trying to make this a left/right political issue. It's not. It's intellect vs inbred.
Please show me where this is a liberal/conservative issue? If it came right down to it, I wouldn't be surprised if the owners of pit bulls tend to lean conservative, but I've seen no proof of that.
Lil Rob...you are such a loser if your best friend is a dog..and evidently the constitution is your second bests friend. You need to get laid. Oh, thats what your "45" is for. Perfect fit.
WTF are you talking about. I say all this breed should be sterilized and banned from being bred. Get them out of the population. Any dog that attacks a person should be euthanized. No second chances.
Sincerely,
a liberal
"I am so over liberals saying it is the owners fault and not the dog."
The handful of avid pitbull supporters I know are all Republicans. I also know one or two Democrats that are against gun control laws. Everything is not based on political party affiliations. The "us against them" mentality. People should be evaluated on a case by case basis.
I am sorry for the fact you & your family were attacked.
The difference between a pitbull and my AR-15 is that a pitbull can kill on it's own... My AR just sits there...
You will spend 10s of thousand of dollars on a lawyer defending yourself against the "public discharge of a firearm" law that you broke. You will pay BIG money to discover just how much you mis-judged your "Constitutional right".
And if there are ANY children around when you discharge that firearm.....
Good luck with your gun totin' shoot-em-up attitude lil wayne, I mean lil rob. By the way, is your neighbor who owned the dog a good wholesome conservative like yourself? Maybe he's just one of those good conservatives who rely on the evil liberals to defend the actions of his dog.
If a pitbull charges you, you are well within your right of self defense to put a bullet in his brain.
Liberals??? I doubt it but that must be your canned response to any dialogue. And no I don't like dogs and pit bulls least of all.
What a stupid mother...
lil rob, I am so sorry to hear that your dog was killed and unfortunately you remained alive and oh so ignorant. Sometimes life is not fair. Just so you know, shooting yourself is also a constitutional right. It is called freedom of expression. Excercise your rights today.
If purple aliens were doing most of the killings, people would be saying "get rid of the purple aliens, they are dangerous" So, pit bulls are a breed that kills more than any other; people have a right to say NO MORE. We have a right to live without fear of pit bulls near us. Research the killings of these dogs....amazing.
Just like guns, if you can't be responsible to make sure NO ONE gets it, then you shouldn't HAVE ONE.
My son is has a pit bull that he took in from a shelter. She's a big baby and likes to snuggle up, but there's always this little place in the back of my mind that makes me wonder if she might turn on him out of the blue. I guess environment is a big contributor to the temperament of any dog.
As to this story, what the heck? There are no details. It doesn't say who owned the dogs, it could have even been the woman herself. Were they home, out walking somewhere, visiting somebody? And she was able to call the cops WHILE she was being mauled and tell them that?!? This just sounds a little strange.
Your son is doing a good thing rescuing this breed. Environment is a huge factor for all animals...
I cannot believe how many ppl think that the dog owners should be killed.
The woman may BE the owner.
A child died. Why would anyone else have to??
Yes, the woman was the weak, irresponsible owner who could not control her dogs. Instead of over-powering the dogs, she ran to the phone to call for help, as the dogs savaged the baby. Her injuries probably resulted from inadvertent bites when she tried (ineffectively) to intervene.
Anyone who owns pit bulls must be the Alpha Dog - you must be in control 100% of the time, especially when the dogs' instincts for combat and territorial protection kick in. Two pit bulls = a pack.
Once that pack mentality is there...I don't see that any owner would have been able to overpower the dogs. If you are babysitting an infant, keep the pits away. Definitely don't walk the dogs with the kid your in charge of. Bet she regrets that decision now. She should be charged with negligence.
so, what you are saying is that pits aren't safe around children, whether babysitting or walking? hmmm
I hope that your son never endures a pit bull attack -- I did -- from a "family" pet .... the people said that they had been "warned" but didn't believe it ...
I still have scars ...
Rick 881466........very well stated.....RIP young boy...the dogs owners,which are not mention in the article,thanks MSNBC...should be put to death
The dogs' owner was the woman in the article. So yes, the owner was mentioned.
Ban the breed?? That's the answer?? As an owner of a pit bull that had been previously used as a bait dog, I have to add that it is most certainly not the entire breed that is capable of this. My dog is the most loving, beautiful soul I have ever seen even after the cruelty he endured. Shame on you all for generalizing.
My heart goes out to the family of that poor boy.
You're a fool, missy, if you think your pit bull is not capable of the same thing. It is. They all are. It's an inherent part of their DNA as inseparable from an individual dog as is the impulse to "hop" is from a frog.
your pit may not be "aggressive", but definitely "tenacious" i.e. they don't when to stop, all pits are, hence the larger amount of damage they inflict...
Poor family.
That poor child and family. My deepest thoughts are with them. Just another bitter example of poor ownership of beautiful creatures. Unfortunately, it's generally the animals that own the pitbulls who need to be euthanized so things like this can't happen again.
But, but, but...
They're all such sweet, gentle, loving dogs and they've never even growled at anyone before!
Now, tell me the one about the three bears.
actually pit bulls give no warning before they attack....
Terelyn... NOBODY is saying that ALL Pit Bulls are sweet... That is just an ignorant comment!.... I just found a home for a year old Pit Bull that we rescued as a puppy.... He used to play with my little dog all the time... My little dog was the aggressive of the two not Bolo (the Pit)..... I will admit that I was aprehensive allowing it to keep playing with my dog once it got big enough but I would also monitor until I felt comfortable enough.... NEVER had a problem with Bolo (the Pit) but my small dog (who is sweet as pie) has bit the same person twice protecting our grandchild.
.....
Any dog--any--that has tasted human blood should be put down.
They can develop a taste for it and seek it again without warning.
It is the policy of the media to not report on dog attacks unless it involves pit bulls. It is another one of their propaganda campaigns.
I have owned pit bulls and had several friends that owned them and have found them to be just as docile as any other breed of working dog, properly trained. It is the type of person that gets these dogs for the sake of owning one and provides no training to them that is the problem. The owner, the TYPE of owners these dogs draw are the issue, not the breed itself.
That being said, I still don't think ANY large dog should be around small children.
www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/advocacy-center/animal-laws-about-the-issues/pit-bull-bias-in-the-media.aspx
Sorry, but your anecdotal evidence does not match up with statistical fact. Pit Bulls are inherently more dangerous than most other breeds. They have risk models for insurance companies that indicate exactly how much more dangerous.
Just look at the insurance statistics and statistics on dog bites and fatal maulings. I am a long time dog owner and animal lover and would never fully trust this breed.
AnOZ,
Thank you for the link to some truth on media bias in reporting on dog attacks.
Pit bulls and pit-bull crosses (not always easy to distinguish) have caused more than a third of the nation's dog-bite fatalities since 1979 and a comparable proportion of serious injuries.
AnOzOfTruth, if a dog breed needs "proper training" NOT to attack, that should tell you there is a problem with the breed to begin with. I have been around all kinds of dogs in my 47 years, and Pitt Bulls (my brother-in-law's family had some) are the only breed I've encountered that were inherently and extremely aggressive.
http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-study-dog-attacks-and-maimings-merritt-clifton.php
To anyone that wants to read up on the statistics.
Sorry Daniel, no better than antedotal evidence since that website's own mission statement is to eradicate pit bulls and Rotties. They are biased.
I don't like condemning a certain breed just because, but those are the facts.
in our town we live on 1 adult, 2 kids killed last year by pit bulls...........0 killed by guns
For those of you who might not have heard... a 7 year old boy was killed by a Pit Bull in Geneseo, Illinois last week. It happens a lot more than some people want to admit. I think we need to ban Pit Bulls.
How sad that this incident has happened. This breed of dog MUST be banned everywhere as it is in the Province of Ontario. There are far too many incidents of pit bulls mauling and killing small children. Dog lover or not, they must all be banned everywhere.
You sir are an idiot!! Do some research before opening your mouth.
Lot of idiots here, Bob. Which one are you pointing to?
I spoke with one of the animal control people in our county who told me that our county's animal control gets a call almost every single day about a pit bull causing a problem. I wish our community would ban the breed as some communities have done.
Pit bulls are innately aggressive. The bite and grip makes the dog a killer as it will not let go of whoever or whatever it has in its mouth. Physiologically as well as psychologically pit bulls were bred to kill. Period.
I am not just bashing pit bulls -- I've read up on them and have learned some interesting things:
Pit bulls and pit-bull crosses (not always easy to distinguish) have caused more than a third of the nation's dog-bite fatalities since 1979 and a comparable proportion of serious injuries.
Katherine Houpt, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cornell and author of Domestic Animal Behavior: "Different breeds have genetic predispositions to certain kinds of behavior, though that can be influenced by how they are raised. The pit bull is an innately aggressive breed, often owned by someone who wants an aggressive dog, so they're going to encourage it."
Pit bulls have been bred specifically to be aggressive. They're descended from the now- extinct old English "bulldogge," a big, tenacious breed used in the brutal early- nineteenth-century sport of bull baiting, in which rowdy spectators watched dogs tear apart an enraged bull. Victorian reformers, concerned about the coarsening effect bull baiting had on its devotees, banned it by the early 1830s, but enterprising bull baiters merely migrated to an equally bloody sport: organized dog fighting.
The Economist's science editor in an article published a few years ago, at the peak of a heated British controversy over dangerous dogs that saw the pit bull banned in England. First, the pit bull is quicker to anger than most dogs, probably due to the breed's unusually high level of the neurotransmitter L-tyrosine. Second, pit bulls are frighteningly tenacious; their attacks frequently last for 15 minutes or longer, and nothing—hoses, violent blows or kicks—can easily stop them. That's because of the third behavioral anomaly: the breed's remarkable insensitivity to pain. Most dogs beaten in a fight will submit the next time they see the victor. Not a defeated pit bull, who will tear into his onetime vanquisher. This, too, has to do with brain chemistry. The body releases endorphins as a natural painkiller. Pit bulls seem extra-sensitive to endorphins and may generate higher levels of the chemical than other dogs. Endorphins are also addictive: "The dogs may be junkies, seeking pain so they can get the endorphin buzz they crave,"The Economist suggests. Also, the pit bull attacks without warning.
Why do people get these dogs?
#1 -- the "tough" image -- I'm an "alpha" male/female that can handle this vicious dog
#2 -- people engaged in illegal activities
#3 -- and then there are those who refuse to believe the truth about these dogs ...
The sad thing is children are being killed by these dogs and people keep defending the breed.
Our Humane Society takes in a lot of dogs from the nearby urban area. Many are pits or mixes and many cannot be adopted due to dangerous behaviors. They get put down. We get lots German Shepherds also, these are 1 owner dogs and are also tough to adopt out. Some breeds are simply more dangerous to other dogs and kids than others.
If you plan on owning a pit, you are responsible for that dog at all times. Insurance policies will cost you more due to the liability. That is not liberal or media bias. It's a fact.
I've owned many dogs, but I'll never own a pit. They're too unpredictable and have too much potential for great harm.
Can we euthanize the owner of the pits?
It is tragic that no matter how "nice" some of these dogs are- and there ARE.
There is STILL a genetic component to the breed that is unquantifiable for the average dog owner.
This is an experts dog- period. In our township in order to have a "bull" breed you've got to get a CGC (canine good citizen) certificate on it & have certain fencing requirements or risk being heavily fined against ordinance.
It is not ALL ABOUT HOW THE DOG WAS RAISED- to argue that point denies DNA in all creatures. The breed was originally used to go in the ring with bulls- and to fight other dogs!
You'll no sooner breed that out than to turn a lion or cheetah into a vegetarian! Seriously- where WOULD someone go if they wanted a true "nanny" dog? This breed has been destroyed by back yard breeders trying to make a buck. Everytime your friends breed a litter & put one of those tear off number fliers on a door this is contributing to the problem of the downward spiral of this breed.
Sad really. Not everyone should have an uzi at their disposal any more than Joe Q Everyman should have a pit or bull type breed.
To argue anything less is pure dishonesty and ignorance thru bias. REAL pit bull experts NEVER make the generalization "it's just how they're raised".
Fubar, think about how illogical your point is. "I have a pitbull and it is the sweetest dog because I and raising it right. Don't attack the whole breed, it is not the breed not the owners." I am paraphrasing, but it doesn't matter. You just described yourself in an identical way to every single victim of a pit bull attack. Clearly, if every Pit Bull growled, bit and attacked members of your family regularly, you would not have him as a pet. Obviously, any Pit Bull that kills a child would be doing it for the first time. Think about this, every owner of a PitBull that killed a person, had the exact same thoughts and logic as you.
How can this be? I keep hearing how sweet and gentle pit bulls are. I guess not.
Kill all pit bulls. Kill them now. For people who hide pit bulls, give them some serious jail time.
And yet, statistically, chihuahua's bite more people annually. I won't own a chi for that very reason. Well, that and they are entirely too yappy for me.
I agree that there are dogs of every breed with temperament issues and those who have shown the potential to be dangerous or become dangerous should not be with people. The dangerous aspect of a pit is the strength in their jaw - any of them have the capability to kill, but not all do.
I know one who is the sweetest baby ever who gets bossed around by a chug (chihuahua and pug mix) and is too terrified of it to say boo. On the other hand, I know another pit who wouldn't stand for that. Basing your opinion of an entire breed based on the actions of a few is narrow minded and prejudice.
my husband had 23 stitches in his leg from a chihuahua just a few months ago a golden retriever killed a child didnt even cause a commentary like this...people have to be responsible...my pit is my service dog..he fetches and closes and opens doors and opens the frig and brings me books and papers...they have the capability of any dog IF you take the time and effort to train them I am 70 years old and almost entirely immobile and he is my salvation...so I know the capabilities we dont know what happened with this sweet child but I still say why was he in amongst that type of big dog...they could hurt not meaning to because they are so muscular and strong...I have a right to say what I am saying because I have been there and know you can have positive results with these dogs...so rave on about which you know nothing if you have never had one................
chihuahuas are nippy little dogs that do very little damage. pitbulls have strong jaws and dont stop once they start attacking...no comparison.
Caroletoo, be careful, pits kill more people your age than children. They need no reason to turn, I'm surprised a pit is your service dog, I never knew someone would choose a pit over a gentler, more intelligent breed.
Believer - bit vs. maul. These are 2 totally different attacks. When a chi attacks, you pick it up and throw it in a cage. When a pit attacks, you better have a gun or knife or a few friends handy because you're in trouble. Those dogs were bred to bring down oxen, a human is no problem for them.
EDIT: Pits are on par with other dogs when detecting seizures in people and are one of the strongest dog breeds. Service dogs that need to rely on strength are becoming more common. They are becoming more popular as service dogs recently. But I would still be wary of a well trained and bred dog that could easily take down anyone needing a service dog just because its nature took over for a moment.
Believer, I know from experience Chihuahua are nasty creatures spawned from Satan himself, but I can kick a Chihuahua across the room if need be. the same cannot be said of a pit bull.
Kill all Pit Bulls? That is absurd at best!.... How awful are humans? Should we kill all humans?
Anthony "Should we kill all humans?"- only the ones that maul my child...
They don't need to kill the breed. I have seen some very docile pit bulls and some very agressive ones. 99% of the time the agressive ones were owned by some low life piece of crap that needed to be eliminated from the face of the earth.
Attacks have come out of the blue, by the described "nice ones."
Lee, that's the hard part about adopting or fostering or "rescuing" these dogs. They're unpredictable and their past is unknown. While someone may give a beagle a second chance after a nip, those that work with pits know that there are no real second chances. The liability of adopting out a pit is just too great.
There's thousands of choices for dogs, just choose another breed to be safe - why take the chance?
What is this a MOVIE PREVIEW/Trailer plot? Did HITCHCOCK have a hidden film? "DOGS".
This article was written by someone who should have NEVER been allowed to write as a "journalist".
Who owns the dogs? Where are the dogs? Are there more dogs? Do I need to buy a gun to protect myself from DOGS NOW? (the NRA screams: "HERE HERE!")
Oh.. too bad for the kid. Pit Bulls apparently like attacking kids. I feel sorry the breed is getting such a bad rap due to, apparently, WAYyyy too many careless members of the Rainbow Vick coalition of bad dog owners (but lets keep following Vick).