Pit Bull Critically Injures Mailman, Owners Refuse to Surrender Animal

[RitaZ.]

I agree with the poster that said that owners usually say that their pit bull wouldn't hurt anyone. Our next door neighbor told my husband that their pitbul wouldn't hurt anyone, only "lick them to death".

Here is a story that was on the news recently~

http://www.local10.com/news/3324429/detail.html

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
I 100% agree with this. I'm terrified of Dogs (I was bit when I was 3) and I won't go anywhere near Pitbulls, Dobermans, etc., because I know they can be great pets yet can turn in a minute and get very angry. Look at the woman who was killed in San Diego in her apartment hallway - what a horrible death.

The woman was not killed by a pitbull. It was a Presa Canario, born to be a killer, and raised to be a killer. Before being taken in by those wacky people, those dogs ran wild on a farm and were allowed to kill whatever animal they wanted.

The whole story was bizarre...the wacky couple adopted a prisoner who was somehow involved in the breeding of these dogs...breeding specifically to be killers. It was not your "run of the mill" story.

 

[Crankyshank]

I don't believe we should let the breed die out because of poor breeding decisions. I do feel as though we should restrict breeding pit bulls until we can get the numbers under control and the inbreeding stopped.

 

[TexasErin]

Crankyshank,
I totally agree!

 

[peachgirl]

People who think of a big, tough dog as a status symbol and don't think of them as pets to love and care for. A person like that is not going to get a poodle or a cocker spaniel- if they did, you'd probably hear that most attacks are by poodles and cocker spaniels.

No, you wouldn't. Poodles and cocker spaniels don't have the physical capabilities that a pit bull does. There may be a rare case of a serious attack by a poodle or cocker that can be found, but they simply aren't capable of doing what a pit can do.

A pit's jaws lock when they bite down. You hear of people hitting them with on the head with baseball bats trying to get them to release and they don't. They bite, lock their jaws and shake their victims. The results, especially on a child, are devasting and often fatal.

 

[LisaSt]

It would be a sad sad day if the breed was destroyed. If people want the pits gone then I am sure they would love to see rotties gone and dobe's gone and huskies and sheppards also they can all be mean dogs and can all be linked to deaths all over the wold. Just because of bad decisions and bad training and lack of a loving home and environment does not mean every singls animal from that line is bad. I blame it more on the owner than the animal and if the owner is found in neglect of the animal the owner should lose the dog and not be alowed to own a pet of such nature be it a dog or otherwise. And after this has been done and documented the Animal controll should run monthly or weekly visits to be sure they person is no longer owning an animal of this type or any type actually. It is funny how some people like to paint the entire breed as bad with one brush because of the 20 or so attacks that kill people just how many of these dogs do you figure are out there. I can equate this to cars because you can kill a person with a care you drive with recless disregard to the general public so should we do away with cars there are far more deaths from them every day than you will get from any breed of dog in a year. Same rule applies though in my opinion if you can't be responsible enough to controll a pet or a car you should not be able to own one.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I can equate this to cars because you can kill a person

If yu want to equate this with a car, equate it with a car that has the same tendancies, would you want a car that you knew was going to eventually blow up while you were driving it, you just never know when. THAT'S the same thing as a pit bull. Let's get a little realistic here, it's hardly the same thing. When you find a car that will repeatedly run over a person, all on it's own, then it will be the same thing.

 

[Maleficent13]

Not going to get involved in the debate, 'cause I think I did that on another thread once before, but just wanted to say add another person to the list of people who have been attacked by a golden retriever. He had to be physically pulled off me by two other people. I have a very nice scar.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by pumba
..thank goodness someone knew where he lived ......otherwise my grandson would of had to get the series of shots in case the dog had rabies

My DH got bit by a local German Shephard while delivering papers when he was about 12. The people that owned the dog refused to tell his family if the dog had Rabies shots and DH had to get the series of shots! The dog must have bit others too because someone did "take care of it."

My dad is retired but used to work for the phone company in NY installing phones/phone systems, lines, etc.. One house he visited did not tell them there was a Doberman Pincher in their home (not chained up!) The dog ran to attack my dad and he had to hit it over the head with equipment he was carrying!

Some people are not responsible with their animals!

I do like Pit Bulls a lot. I am a pet-sitter though and have yet to meet a mean dog. I am not afraid of any animal but use common sense when dealing with them! We did walk a Lab a few weeks ago (a customers sister's/visiting) that was aggressive to strangers and other dogs.

 

[Big Dude]

"History: Their ancestors were brought to the Unites States in the mid - 1800's by Boston-Irish immigrants. Originally bred from a variety of bulldogs and terriers, American breeders increased their weight and gave them a more powerful head. A forbearer to Staffordshire Bull Terriers, they were originally bred to be a fighting dog. Bull baiting was banned in England in 1835 and these dogs are no longer bred to fight. There is some complication in registries of this breed. The AKC considers American Staffordshire Terriers as separate and distinct from the American Pit Bull Terriers, yet the UKC will register both as American Pit Bull Terriers (APBTs)."

So I say let's round up all of the Pit Bulls and take them back to Boston and let those loving peaceful animals loose on the Democratic National Convention attendees!!! (notice the 's in this post)

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[Lanshark]

Once an animal has viciously attacked someone it would not be responsible to attempt to adopt it out to someone else. For whatever reason this dog crossed the line and should be destroyed. The homeowner should be investigated.

Dangerous Dogs
Dangerous Breeds:
In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 25 breeds of dogs were involved in 238 fatal dog bites from 1979-1998. More than 50% of the deaths where the breed was known were caused by Pit Bull type dogs and Rottweilers.*

According to the Insurance Information Institute, liability claims for dog bites or dog attacks have increased from $250 million in 1996 to $310 million in 2001. Due to the high cost of these liability claims, some insurance companies have blacklisted certain dog breeds and are refusing to provide homeowners insurance to those who own dogs of these breeds.

After a liability claim for a dog bite or dog attack is paid by an insurance company, the policyholder could lose their policy, face an increase in their premium, or have the policy rewritten to exclude coverage for the dog.

The "blacklisted" breeds may include:

Pit Bulls
Alaskan Malamutes
Rottweilers
Akitas
Chow Chows
merican Staffordshire Terriers
Doberman Pinschers Boxers
German Shepherds
Great Danes
Siberian Huskies
Wolf-hybrids
Perro de Presa Canarios.
The Presa Canario breed came to the forefront when Diane Whipple was attacked and killed outside the door of her California apartment.
Any dog that has any of the above breeds in their lineage.



When addressing the topic of "dangerous dogs", it is important to remember that no breed is guaranteed to be 100% bite-free or attack-free. If a dog has a history of violent behavior, it is determined to be a dangerous dog no matter what its pedigree. Once a determination has been made that the dog is dangerous, the laws of the community governing dangerous dogs must be applied.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by Lanshark
Once an animal has viciously attacked someone it would not be responsible to attempt to adopt it out to someone else.

I agree! My SIL tried to rehabilitate a German Shepard mix, but he attacked my husband and her boyfriend. She had to put him down. (I would have put him down after the first attack - that dog was scary!)

 

[LisaSt]

Ok my equating the pit to a car is simple. Cars kill people far more frequently than pit bulls do. Is it the car no it is the lack of responsability on the behalf of the driver in alot of cases just like the lack of responsability of the owner of a pit bull. You need to take care and be attentive while driving a car and follow some simple guidelines. Same with raising a pit bull see simple comparison. You let irresponsible people drive cars and they kill people you let irresponsible people own pit bulls or any other type of dog and they kill people it isn't the car or the animal at fault it is the lack of care and controll etc of the owner/operator that is the problem.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by LisaSt
Ok my equating the pit to a car is simple. Cars kill people far more frequently than pit bulls do. Is it the car no it is the lack of responsability on the behalf of the driver in alot of cases just like the lack of responsability of the owner of a pit bull. You need to take care and be attentive while driving a car and follow some simple guidelines. Same with raising a pit bull see simple comparison. You let irresponsible people drive cars and they kill people you let irresponsible people own pit bulls or any other type of dog and they kill people it isn't the car or the animal at fault it is the lack of care and controll etc of the owner/operator that is the problem.

This comparison is just silly. While I agree that there are a lot of irresponsible drivers out there, that's a whole separate issue. The truth behind the pit bull however is, in all cases, these dogs were not mistreated by their owner. You can argue that point till something freezes over, but it's simply not the case!!

 

[Lanshark]

Now here's a comparison for you...

A loaded gun, on its own, doesn't kill either. Someone irresponsible has to pull the trigger. If they pull the trigger of a squirt gun you're ok. If they pull the trigger of a loaded Magnum then you're in trouble. A PB is a loaded Magnum and when they fall into the wrong hands they have the capability of being deadly. It may be the owners fault but if I'm on the receiving end I'm still up a creek.

 

[CookieGVB]

I believe the laws about pet ownership ought to be changed. I've watched Animal Cops, and I've seen where there were times that an animal was clearly in a dangerous situation had to be left for another 24 hours before they could come and rescue it.

IMHO, leaving a "pet" out on a chain for hours on end, with no interaction whatsoever, would qualify as cruelty, and those owners should be fined and/or forfeit their dog.

Staffordshires/pit bulls/etc. have been bred for the express purpose of fighting for so long - it's a fact, that's what they were bred to do. I know a few friends that have an Am. Staff as a pet, but I will not visit with my kids unless the dog is locked up, and I LOVE dogs. I'm just not willing to be a statistic in the "he loves EVERYONE" (except you and your kids, apparently - after your mangled flesh is dangling) one time that the dog loses its mind. The one time the dog snaps could be deadly, and I'm not willing to take that risk.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by MeanLaureen
I just can't see having a pet that you claim to be so loving and so much a part of your life chained up outside 24/7. Maybe in a fenced run to get exercise for some time each day, but how is a dog with a 10 foot radius living space outside in the elements, from hot summers to freezing winters - a pet.
(

I just felt the need to respond to your post. I'm not going to flame you because I agree with what you said 100%. I will never understand why or how anyone could treat an animal like this. My brother in law keeps 3 labs chained up 24/7, with I can guarantee, no interaction with anyone, except the once a day at feeding time. He uses these male labs that are chained for breeding purposes only. I know on more than one occasion, I've thought about reporting him, but I'm just unable to make that call.

 

[legs22]

I don't think it's all the owner's fault that these dogs attack. A PB is a potentially dangerous dog all on it's own.

 

[Pongo69]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I think the owners should be punished for leaving their pet chained up outside where he became aggravated enough to attack.

I hope they take the dog away and put him in a pitbull rescue where he can be properly trained and possibly placed in a good home.

I'm sorry for the mailman but people need to realize that you only hear about the bad pitbulls. You never hear about the good ones.
I mean, really, you hear a lot about bad people on tv and in the news too, but because you personally know 1000 good people you know we are not all like that. How mabny good pitbulls do you personally know to make you realize they are not all bad. There are 1000's of them too.

The people who buy pitbulls and treat them this way are morons who want a status symbol.

Pitbulls who are properly bred, such as Nika, my DNs dog, are loving household pets.

My neices pitbull has never been chained up and she is a sweetie. She is like a big lap dog really People who get a dog and tie it up outside and don't pay attention to it are the ones to blame, not the dogs themselves.

It's just a sad situation all around.

Honey if you don't remind me of Dharma from Dharma and Greg I'd bite a bullet.

We're talking about an animal not a human being. Any dog can turn bad I don't care how sweet or fluffy it is, but pit bulls take the cake.
As far as the mail man and the huge "but" would you "but" an explanation if your niece little sweetheart turned on her, you or your little monty dog?

This dog should be put down and the owner should be bite in the **** for being a sorry scummy dog owner and sued for everything he has which ain't to much from the looks of the picture.

 

[MeanLaureen]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend

I think that ownership of such an animal should require a special liscense and the local animal control authorities should inspect the property to insure that fencing and other precautions are keeping the neighbors, meter readers, mail delivery persons, and the rest of the public safe.

I agree with what Toby's Friend said here.

There are just certain breeds of dogs that need stricter control than others.

Do I think the breed should be phased out? No. Liken it to dangerous animals you find in the wild. Rattlesnakes are killers but we cannot wipe them out of existance. There would be too many people protesting. And quite frankly, I don't want to see any animal (innocent mind you - not one that has been proven vicious) put down for the actions of another.

Do I think that this case needs a stricter outcome than it's getting. YES. This dog attempted to kill a human being. It was not a matter of the same proportion of Grandma Tillie's Toy Poodle that snapped because it doesn't like it's tail pulled. I've heard but cannot prove the saying that when a dog with a fighting tendency gets the taste of blood that it enhances it's natural instinct to fight to the death.

I know people say that their Pits would never hurt anyone, their dogs are just big teddy bears. That may be true to an extent, but you cannot judge what level of natural instinct your dog might still possess.

Case in point. I own 4 minature poodles. My oldest has a very strong instinct to be a water retriever, which is the original purpose poodles were bred for back in their originating country of Germany. This dog had a horribly strong desire to leap into lakes, bays, oceans, etc. and retrieve game. The rest of the time she is the ultimate Diva that wants diamond collars. My other dogs wouldn't want to get their paws wet. So instinct runs differently from dog to dog.

Let me ask those of you that are against this dog being put down. If this had been a human being that attacked this mail man and was trying to kill him - what do you think would happen to them? Do you think they would get a 10 day quarantine and a fine? If this person were to horribly maul a child to death, would they not be on death row?

I do believe that there needs to be strict legislation on overly dangerous breeds like Pits, Wolf Hybrids and Canarios. I believe that anyone owning a dog with even an ounce of this breed in it should be required to register it, they should be subject to a license renewal yearly with proof of what the owners are doing to safeguard against any attacks. I think that the dog MUST be spayed or neutered with only people licensed to breed this dog able to raise them and sell them, so that there is a breed standard and dogs with overly vicious tendencies are not bred. For a person to buy the puppy, I feel they should have a license prior to the sale. If a breeder is found not following the law, a stiff penalty up to and including jail time... and the same for a person possessing the dog without a license. Any Pit found running loose, the owner should be heavily fined. I also see nothing wrong with the muzzle law in Boston and think it's a good idea. Muzzles are not cruel!

I don't think anyone that wants to own this breed THAT bad would find that as too much and I think it would cut back on the people that are buying the dog or breeding them for the wrong reasons. Lets look at it this way, you license and register your car, you get a license to own a gun. This should be no worse.