Interesting Essay about Pitt Bulls

[beckmrk04]

I read the article and it appears to be someone's opinion too. I don't disagree with it but I'm torn on the issue. I don't like the idea of banning a breed but then I haven't seen any good alternatives either.

But I think the article made very interesting points about the breed(s)- how can you tell which are which? Ban them all? Isn't that a generalization of a generalization (as it was said in the article)?

And I have a dog, a rescued mix. We call her a lab mix, but I would bet she's part pit. Now- I can't be sure, and really, neither can anyone else, but I DO NOT like the idea of a ban that is so wide and bans all "pit bull type" dogs, which could include mine, depending on who is judging her. And I am a responsible owner of a very well socialized and obedience trained dog.

I don't think a breed ban is the answer. I think standardizing who CAN breed pit bulls is a way to go, as well as perhaps registering the owners, much like a gun registry. I'm not disputing that pits can be very dangerous. But, there are many people out there who own them without incident (Rachael Ray is one that comes to mind) and who take care of their dogs and are very responsible.

My family has a rottweiler, and we get much of the same grief over her. She's going on 13 years old, and has never harmed a living thing. Not all dogs/owners are bad.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I have to agree with Toby's Friend. I think most people who recognize my name on here now that I am really a rabid animal lover. That said, I have been witness to repeated bad situations involving pitt bulls. I have seen two dogs with their throats ripped out by pitts, other dead pets, not to mention knowing other animals and people who have been mauled.

I do think it is too bad, and I do think some owners are to blame to some extent. But I also don't think you can limit it to the current owner of a particular dog... As someone said, just as shepherds and collies are born to herd (which no one disputes) these dogs have been bred to attack and kill. Why is it ok to admit some dogs have been bred with certain characteristics, but every time a pitt does its thing, it's the owner, not the breed?

If a pit bull attacked a child or pet in front of me, and I had access, I have to say I would definitely resort to TF's method of release. And, loving animals as I do, I do not say that lightly. Is banning them the answer? I just don't know. I do know that I would not want to live on a street with a pitt bull, esp. if I had kids.

I have heard the argument many times that a cocker spaniel has many more recorded bites each year than a pit bull. But how often do you hear about packs of cocker spaniels mauling people, as we do over and over again about pitts in any given year? Does every single one of these dogs have a bad owner? A cocker spaniel is also going to have a very hard time tearing your throat out, or your face off, or killing your toddler. That's just a fact. Even if pitts have fewer recorded bites than many breeds...they still do awesome damage when they DO bite. I know I would much rather be bitten by a cocker, and I also know so would everyone else on this thread.

Great post!!! I would be happy to see the pit bull breed DIE OUT! Don't care if I am flamed.....I see no good in this breed and the potential to do great harm. I am also a former breeder of Chow chows.

 

[Saffron]

All dog breeds are bred for certain traits and characteristics. Temprement is one of the traits people breed into dogs. All intentionally bred dogs have temprements that are part nature, part nurture.

Unfortunately for Pit Bulls and other breeds, people who are looking for aggressive dogs look for the most aggressive dogs and breed those dogs, looking for a bigger and "badder dog". They aren't reputable dog owners, they are the exact opposite.

I've been around dogs all my life. My parents bred beautiful, gentle German Shepards when I was a kid. As an adult I owned Great Danes. Right now I own a beautiful, sweet, gentle black Lab. I've always owned a dog or dogs. I've been to hundreds of dog shows, I've been around hundreds of reputable Pit Bull owners, breeders and gentle, sweet Pit Bulls.

I've also lived in a neighborhood that boasted aggressive Pit Bulls, Rotweilers and Boxers. It was horrible to see who was buying which dogs, because I knew why they were buying or owning them. Aggressive Pit Bulls and other dogs are a status symbol to some. The bigger, the meaner, the better.

I was a witness to and a help during one of the most aggressive Rotweiler attacks I have ever seen. The dog, like a lot of the other neigborhood dogs, was taunted, trained and neglected into being aggressive. The first chance it got it attacked a Keeshound and the little 10 year old girl who was walking the Keeshound.

As far as wedging a stick in the back of the dog's jaws? No way. It would have been impossible. The dog was an attacking, holding, shaking, robotic machine, intent on never letting go of it's opponent until it was dead, or if his jaws had become detached, he would have latched on to the next closest thing he could have.

I'm not for banning the breed all together. It would do no good. Drunk driving, smoking marijuana, shoplifting etc are all "banned" or illegal things, but people do them all the time. If some responsible pet owners are allowed to own Pit Bulls, then the breed is bound to find it's way into the hands of irresponsible people.

I want to say I too wouldn't mind if the breed were to die out, but in my heart I would. Not that I'm a huge fan of Pit Bulls, I just hate that yet another species on this planet had to disappear because of human beings.

I don't know what the solution is.

 

[Evil Queen]

I had to get rid of a Pitt mix dog I rescued as a young puppy, after having her 6 months, due to she attack my older submissive dog.

She was socialized with not only my dog, but my brother's toy poodles. She was loved, and cared for by all 3 of us in this house. I think she just snapped, but I wasn't about to have a dog like that in my home. Mainly for our safety,but I wouldn't subject my gentle dog to that ever again.

 

[DVC-Don]

A couple of weeks here a couple of pitbulls got out of their yard and attacked a dog, seriously injuring it and then proceded to attack 4 people (two on sidwalks, one coming out of a drug store and a Pizza Hut employee taking out the trash, who needed to be seen in the ER) in the area before being caught. One of the dogs even attacked a police car!

 

[DMRick]

While other dogs may bite more often, I know after more than 16 years working for a vet, which I would rather be bitten by. I've seen much more damage by Staffordshires than Lhasa's. I've had to be at the holding end for my share of pit bull's that stopped being sweet once a child came into a household or neighborhood. It's just amazing the damage these sweet things do.
I know our neighbors pit was just the sweetest thing for years..until he wasn't anymore, and it wasn't pretty. I'm glad it wasn't one of my grands or animals he decided wasn't part of his pack.
We've had several incidences around here, and for the most part, the dogs were the nicest dogs, and the owners very responsible..but still that attacks keep happening. Pits revert back to being a pack dog often enough to scare me. I'm so glad most campgrounds will no longer allow them. Of course some people give their dog breed as "mixed" and bring them anyway, but most campgrounds are checking now, and turning them away. I hope none of you that own them ever have to face what some of the parents in our area have faced.