I'm scared for my kids...neighbor brought home another pitbull

[golfgal]

Pit Bulls are not as dangerous as people may think, often if treated right they are great pets, unfortunately your neighbor sounds like an animal abuser- so there is some cause for concern. I would call the humane society at the first sign of something funny or concerning. Just a suggestion though, maybe you should move, by your description of your neighbor it sounds like you don't live in the best neighborhood.

I have personal experience that contradicts this totally. We had a pit bull before everyone knew what they were. She was treated well, lots of attention and affection as well as fed and cared for and one day she just snapped and took off after my step-mom. Fortunately she was able to lock the dog in the basement without being harmed but the humane society had to come and shoot the dog to get it out of the house. Sorry, there is just too much breeding done here for violent tendencies and you just never know add to that the strength of these dogs and they are lethal!

 

[lowie]

Our neighbor has now had 3 pitbulls. The first one the humane society took away because he wasn't taking care of it. The second one died unexpectedly and he dumped it's body in an empty field near by where all the neighborhood kids play, but that's a whole other rant. And now, he has a new one. He keeps them chained to a tree in the backyard with a bucket of water near by. His house falls in between mine and the house where my 2 DSs play everyday with the neighbor boy.
We don't have a dangerous dog ordinance in our township so there's not much the authorities can do.

call P.E.T.A. they don't need an ordinance!

 

[rgf207]

It sounds like this person should not have dogs. I would call the humane society and explain the situation.

I would also like to comment on this. There is a huge misconception about pitbulls. I have grown up around dogs my whole life and am a huge dog lover. I have seen and been around many pit bulls. These dogs are very powerful. They are all muscle but most of them are so gentle and playful. Pitbulls have gotten a bad rap simply because they were trained to be extremely aggressive and most dog fighers would choose pit bulls simply because of their sheer power. The only thing that I have noticed is that pitbulls do not like other dog breeds. They often will be very aggressive to them. Pitbulls are not mean dogs though.

 

[Jennasis]

I have personal experience that contradicts this totally. We had a pit bull before everyone knew what they were. She was treated well, lots of attention and affection as well as fed and cared for and one day she just snapped and took off after my step-mom. Fortunately she was able to lock the dog in the basement without being harmed but the humane society had to come and shoot the dog to get it out of the house. Sorry, there is just too much breeding done here for violent tendencies and you just never know add to that the strength of these dogs and they are lethal!

I have also personlly experienced an attack by a cocker spaniel (me), a corgi (sister), a dachshund (sister again) , had a friend mauled by a chow, and DH was bitten by a LARGE Great Dane. So I guess there are a few more breeds we should eliminate. I believe cocker spaniels account for the largest number of dog bites/attacks each year. Nippy little punks....

I've known many pits/rotties/chows and akitas...all known as strong and sometimes aggressive dogs, and have never had nay issues with them. I have many issues with the fools who are allowed to own dogs.

However, if the OP is worried about her kids being attacked, she needs to keep them in her own yard to play...safely behind her chain link fence. She already stated that the dogs are chained up. What more would she like? Don't antagonize the dog...don't talk to the dog...don't even make eye contact.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Also to the poster who was bit on the face, the same thing happened to me! But it was with a smaller dog so I didn't get stitches. I still have a scar on my lip that I absolutely HATE! I really don't want to get a dog, but DH wants one when we get a house. It is very hard for me to trust dogs now. When we do get one, we are going to do some extensive obedience training and socializing.

That makes three of us then! My Aunt's dachshund bit my top lip almost totally off, when I was around five. I have small scars all along my top lip, in my lip and one on the top of my left eyebrow, thanks to that little booger.

All I remember is being strapped down to a papoose board for the stitches, thank goodness.

OP, I feel for you. A pitbull came charging out of its house and attacked my Beagle one day. The owners said he (named Grumpy, aptly enough) had always been docile until they had their twins. He was eventually put down and I've never fully gotten over that guilt. But, neither have I gotten over that day when he attacked Jasmine either. It was very scary and happened very fast.

 

[reeeoga]

I worked for a Vet for 4.5 years (married his daughter - great bonus ). In that time I was bit by 1 dog - a Chihuahua. I was never even looked at nasty by a Pitbull.

Dogs that did try to get me where: Dachson, Shepards (all), Dalmation (several times), Chihuahua, Pameranian, Cocker Spanial, and Rott (I was giving a shot to his mate - bad Idea).

The owner has more to do with how the dog will react. If the owner is "scum" the dog will be also.

Report any abuse of the dog fast.

 

[Banshee]

In Michigan it's up to the local government to decide if it wants to ban a certain breed of dog. Ours unfortunetly doesn't. DH has a friend who is with our county's sheriff's dept. and we've already asked him if there was anything he could do. He said there's not, because of the lack of a township ordinance.

That stinks. Sorry I would definately call the Humane Society though as someone else said he might not be allowed to own dogs if they took the first away.

 

[Hercules10]

He threatened one of my other neighbors that he was going to break into his house with a baseball bat and kill his dog.

Threats of this nature are against the law too. Give him both barrels and have the neighbor press charges and report him to the SPCA.

 

[Taylor]

My husband and I will never own a dog, no matter what size and I never go near large dogs of ANY type. I share my story with anyone who has children and attack/defense-type dogs. You cannot predict what a dog of that type will do. The owners of the dog that bit me had raised their dog with their toddlers for several years and taken it places many times before. They were shocked and horrified and could not believe their adorable pet could do such a thing so I understand what your worries are!

What a tragedy for you. I was also almost killed by a dog (German Shepard) when I was 9. The difference is, that I I never lost my love for dogs. We now have a monster of a dog (Brutus) and he is as gentle as can be. I realize that EVERY dog can bite under the right circumstances, but I still love the big fella...

 

[PaulaSue]

I would put up a TALL fence up ASAP.