IT'S THE PITS
OK, if you read today's column you know how I feel about pit bulls.
Like I mentioned, dogs are dogs, and the majority of the time it's the training they receive from their owners whether they become vicious or not.
The most disturbing thing I found in my research on pits is that unfounded fear (mostly due to media hype) has perpetuated lawmakers in many communities to ban owning breeds that fall into the pit-bull category. And, there are many different breeds considered to be pit bulls.
So, what about German shepherds, Rottweilers and other breeds known to have been involved in fatal attacks?
Should they be banned, too?
Where do we draw the line ... at Chihuahuas like "keet killer" Pinkie?
posted by Diana at 9:37 AM
16 Comments:
Thank you! for today's, "Alive & Kickin'."
A little over a year ago, we adopted a great dog from the Humane Society. (I wish I could upload a photo; he is beautiful.) He was undernourished when we brought him home. He weighed 47 pounds; he weighs 65 lbs. now. I didn't anticipate the reaction I received from my neighbors. Our dog has a brindle coat. Many dogs have the same coloring such as Great Danes, Boxers, and Greyhounds. Unfortunately, since pit bulls have this coloring, as well, the assumption was that I brought a vicious dog home that was going to rip the throats out of their children.
Our dog is a mixed breed. Two pit bull owners told me that he doesn't remotely resemble a pit, yet the stigma is attached. It frustrates me. He was in the Humane Society over a year. People tend to avoid adopting larger breeds. My son had worked there and had fallen in love with him. He is a wonderful dog who is afraid of his own shadow. The first day he was in our house, I told him to sit and he SAT! He has never destroyed or chewed up anything in our home and is housebroken as well.
My son said that when he worked at the Humane Society, he never had problems with dogs, such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Pits. He said that it was the smaller, ankle biters that he had to keep a wary eye on.
I would take our dog over most people I know. He is loving and loyal.
As to Pit bulls as a breed, they have been given a bad rap. They are the fifth most popular dog in the UK and I gather the British haven't had the same issues that we have had.
Pits have a high tolerance to pain so they are fodder for owners who want to train them to attack or who abuse them. Remember when people started keeping German Shepherds as pets? They received the same reaction. Also, not all pit attacks were actually done by pits. The most famous one was the Akita attack in NYC. The incident was labeled a pit bull attack, but it wasn't. Most people don't know what a real pit looks like.
By the way, do you know why your sister may have been bitten on the nose by a large dog? In the wild, when a pup misbehaves the parent dogs nip him on the nose to reprimand him. It doesn't hurt the pup. Dogs perceive children as a human's pup. Children often will rush or frighten a dog and the dog will react. I've heard countless stories of a child acting inappropriately with a dog and then the poor animal is put down, because he reacted. I walk our dog in the park on a regular basis. You wouldn't believe the number of children I have told to stop and not to rush up to a strange dog. Our dog has never bitten anyone. His reaction is to run in the opposite direction when approached, but not all dogs will react that way. To paraphrase you, it isn't the dog, it's people.
I have to agree with jane m. It has also been my experience that many times children or adults tease or "egg" on an animal and then are shocked when they become agressive and bite. I have learned and have tried to teach my children and grandchildren that no strange animal is harmless. You must approach them with caution. Just like people they can have a bad day. I love all animals, but especially my wonderful, loving beagle Shiloh.
I still think all animals belong in the wild..people with people..animals with animals...grrr!
Teacher13 is right. However, we should not ban the animal breed , but ban the owners who train them to be vicious. Maybe they should wear a collar and /or a leash.
Anonymous has a valid point.
The Humane Society had a mastiff turned over to them by his owner. The dog should have weighed 150 lbs. He weighed around 45 lbs. They found glass in his stool. He must have been rummaging in garbage for food. He was so covered in fleas and so dehydrated that his veins had collapsed. His owner should have been horse whipped!
Well I am no one to talk, I have a white german shepard. And as Diana knows is not very friendly. He is a great dog for our family ONLY. He hates kids, but isnt so bad with adults that come over. I must say that I am afraid of pitbulls though.
PIT BULLS no thanks are not friendly looking animals cant trust them
Gloden retrievers only best dog in the world
One of the vet techs at my vet's office has a pit bull; another has a pit bull mix. Both swear that their dogs are the most loving animals, you'd ever want to meet. The pit bull sleeps with the woman's grandchild. Don't condemn a breed, because the breed has been abused. Blame the idiot owners.
Dogs are products of their experiences. They have long memories, as well. Be wary of any strange animal. My brother was bitten by my grandmother's poodle as a child. That poodle was the nastiest, meanest dog, I've ever met, but I don't condemn all poodles, just because one was vicious.
As we've said before, it isn't the dog, it's the owners!
Pit bulls, like all dogs, are nothing more than wild animals.
They should all be euthanized before they do any harm to any human beings.
Pit bulls are terrorists. There should be a penalty for having one. Ever hear of TOY (or tea cup)poodle attacks that maim or kill (and kill is the operative word here)a child. Think about it.
On this We site http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/petvetcafe/is a photo of a pit bull and a cat. Not the usual photo that you think of with the breed.
Petvetcafe is a forum for pet owners, vets and vet techs. It is great for getting info on your pet problems. Since there are a few thousand people on it, you have a good source of information.
the vet who allows her grandchild to sleep with a pitbull should be stripped of vet credentials and reported not to humane society but human society..where are PEOPLE's common sense?
First of all, it wasn't a vet, but a vet tech. Secondly, she knows that animal better than anyone. The point is that you don't know a thing about dogs. Pits aren't naturally vicious. Like all dogs if they are given firm discipline and lots of love and affection, they make great pets.
Bitten by a drunken Chihuahua, Wow, how long was your recovery and what about some mental help? You could have Flash Backs-------
Vets love Pits and all, Why?? MONEY.
I must have missed them, so lets hear some (documented please) stories of Chihuahua (sober) and Toy Poodle attacks with Fatalities.-------Ole Daddy
no dog should ever sleep with any small child/baby.period!
UMM I KNOW WHO KILLED TYLIK PUGH IT WAS A BOY NAME THOMAS ANDERSON OF ASBURY PARK NEWJERSEY. HE LIVES ON BANGS AVE. IN A GREEN HOUSE NEAR BANGS AVE ELEMANTRY SCHOOL
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