stupid pit bulls

[ChadTower]

http://www.sunchronicle.com/articles/2007/10/10/news/news1.txt

This crap happens way too often in our area.  Very fortunate it didn't turn on any people...

[Jeff AMN]

Just yesterday my co-worker was telling me how sweet her pit bulls are and their brand new puppies. It was all I could do to keep from rolling my eyes. Have you ever noticed that when you ask a pit bull owner what kind of dog they have it goes just like this:

"My dog...(something about their dog)"
"Oh, what kind of dog do you have?"
"He's a pit bull, but he's the sweetest dog ever."
"I'm sure he is..."

Every time they say they own a pit, they IMMEDIATELY follow it up with "he's the sweetest dog ever!" Yeah, well, he may be, but don't ever expect me to bring my kid around your organic time bomb.

[ChadTower]

It's a recurrent theme in my local area... seems like ever 3 months or so somene's pit bull gets loose and goes on a killing spree.  Luckily only about half the time is it people getting attacked.  The other half it has been dogs, turkeys, a pony, and a bike (that had a kid on it but the kid ran off and the dog only attacked the bike for some reason).

[polaris]

Just yesterday my co-worker was telling me how sweet her pit bulls are and their brand new puppies. It was all I could do to keep from rolling my eyes. Have you ever noticed that when you ask a pit bull owner what kind of dog they have it goes just like this:

"My dog...(something about their dog)"
"Oh, what kind of dog do you have?"
"He's a pit bull, but he's the sweetest dog ever."
"I'm sure he is..."

Every time they say they own a pit, they IMMEDIATELY follow it up with "he's the sweetest dog ever!" Yeah, well, he may be, but don't ever expect me to bring my kid around your organic time bomb.

indeed, whenever my daughter goes near a dog i get nervous, the owners are always saying 'oh hes fine dont worry' never found a dog owner who'll say 'watch him mate he'll bite your daughters face off' even though its all so much of a reality that it could.
im sure pitbulls are illegal in this country now(uk) , it would make sense to me to stop them being bred, its not like theyre a species, just something we've created.
my friend has a cross pit bull , bred specifically for pit fighting(not by him he rescued it from that life) and it is a sweet dog, but ill never fully trust him, playing to him could be dangerous thing to others so easily, he bites through 4x2's like its butter.

[grantspain]

i love animals but pit bulls are killers,only bred to kill-they should be shot on sight along with their brain dead owners
my dog is really hard-tossers

[CCM]

i love animals but pit bulls are killers,only bred to kill-they should be shot on sight along with their brain dead owners
my dog is really hard-tossers

That's a little extreme.  My neighbors have a pitt bull which is very friendly.  I've played with the dog on several occasions when they are walking it.  They always keep it on a leash and it has never gotten away from them.

I certainly don't think my neighbors or their dog should be shot.

If you are a responsible owner and the dog was raised correctly, I see no problem with them.

We have 2 Chihuahua's and a Boston Terrier and I've never worried about my neighbors pitt bull.  Hell, my Chihuahua is probably more likely to bite someone, admittedly he wouldn't do much damage, probably wouldn't even break the skin.

[bfauska]

32 stitches in my face from a poodle when I was 2 1/2 years old.

I've met many Pit-bulls, and their close relatives and never seen a well treated/ well raised one do anything I wouldn't expect from a less media-abused dog.  You notice the pit-bull attacks in the news because they put them in the news.  Do you honestly think that every dog attack makes it into the news and not just the ones the press thinks you will sit through another commercial to hear about or flip past a couple more printed ads to read about?  They were bread for fighting so they are damned good at it when the do it, but if they are raised right and treated with the respect any dog should be treated with they are not likely to lash out at a human.  Part of their breeding also has to do with a desire to please their master, handy to get a dog to fight but, also a very nice trait in a well owned dog.  Pit-bulls are not more likely to bit than other breeds, they are just more likely to cause damage when they do.

Getting rid of a breed is treating the symptom not treating the disease. Most of the posters in this topic sound like they have a fair understanding of how to treat dogs, but much of society does not.  Raising and treating dogs properly is the only solution to the number of accidental dog bites each year.

[CCM]

Damn!!  That must have been one hell of a poodle!

[TOK]

I'd never own one because a pet capable of killing me doesn't seem like the smartest thing to have, but the main problem with these dogs is that they appeal to idiots. My wife worked for a vet for almost 10 years, and dealt with a lot of irresponsible Pit Bull owners. There are many other terrier breeds that have similar dispositions and strength to Pit Bulls, but don't get the bad reputation because they don't appeal to the demographic least qualified to own a dog (Rottweilers are second in appeal).

My young daughter had a very scary run-in with an aggressive collie. Somehow, if that dog managed to hurt either of us, I doubt it would have made regional news like a Pit Bull attack always does.

[Jeff AMN]

Well growing up my neighbor across the street owned a pit bull. They raised it responsibly and the dog was really friendly. It never had an issue until one day it just snapped and locked onto my friend's face. It took 120 stitches and plastic surgery to fix him up. The dog cracked his skull, punctured his skull, and about tore his face clean off of his head. It was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen in my life and I'll never forget it. The dog didn't even growl or make any inidication that it was poised to attack. We were just out front with the dog running around and it walked over and clamped down on his head and locked on. We had to beat the dog half to death to get it to release.

I'll never trust a pit bull. I don't care how sweet natured it seems to be, I know how they can just snap and attempt to kill.

[shmokes]

CCM, not all poodles are toy poodles.  A normal poodle stands taller than your average pit bull, I'd wager.

There's truth to both sides.  pit bulls are more dangerous than your average breed, but a german shepherd is a lot more dangerous than a golden retriever. And the media just LOVES pit bulls.  Why do you suppose that when you ask someone what kind of dog they have, they never say, "A rottweiler, but he's the sweetest dog ever," when rottweilers turn on their masters and attack humans more than pit bulls? 

The pit bull thing is both true and overblown.  A pit bull, minus affirmative maltreatment is perfectly safe.  He may turn on you, but the likelihood is so low as to be negligible. 

For what it's worth, Jeff, my family's dalmatian did the same thing to a little seven-year-old girl we babysat.   

[shmokes]

Dogs are dumb and ---smurfing--- obnoxious anyway.  Get a cat.

[Jeff AMN]

Dalmatians actually bite a lot too. They're too inbred, much like pits. Rottweilers are actually probably the most dangerous breed because one bite from them and you're in trouble. When I was in Chile they were debating a national ban on the breed because they are notorious baby killers.

All breeds of dogs bite if they're provoked, but Rotts and Pits are far more capable of killing than other breeds. I just wouldn't want my kids around such a capable animal.

[CCM]

CCM, not all poodles are toy poodles.  A normal poodle stands taller than your average pit bull, I'd wager.

 

Good point!  I always forget about those big goofy-looking poodles and always just think of the little goofy-looking poodles.

[polaris]

Dogs are dumb and ---smurfing--- obnoxious anyway.  Get a cat.

dogs are fascists too, never seen a police cat.

[bfauska]

It was a sissy little poodle, but I was a chubby little toddler with easy to tear-open cheeks.

The demographic of owners comment was valid too, it is so difficult to accurately place responsibility for any dog attack because of all the variables, it also makes it tough to gather any worthwhile statistics.  Every situation has it's own set of parameters.  I just don't think it is right to make a blanket statement that any one particular breed is outright evil or dumb.  Unless of course you just don't like any dogs, you old cat-lady.

[Samstag]

Rabbits are where it's at these days.

Mine will only bite your face off if you're asking for it.  So don't mess with his favorite blanket if you know what's good for you.

[Jeff AMN]

Rabbits are where it's at these days.

Mine will only bite your face off if you're asking for it.  So don't mess with his favorite blanket if you know what's good for you.

Follow. But. Follow only if ye be men of valour, for the entrance to this cave is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no man yet has fought with it and lived. Bones of full fifty men lie strewn about its lair. So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

[grantspain]

sorry if i sounded a bit extreme but pit bulls in the u.k are only owned for 2 purposes,to fight other dogs or to make their drug taking thug owners look really tough whilst walking down the street
dogs behave how the owner trains them and 9 times outta 10 a pitbull will be trained to aggressive
there was a recent killing by a pitbull of a 3 year old,the owner was a typical scum shite-he needs to put on a murder charge
if i had a rifle i would without question shoot one on sight

[polaris]

if i had a rifle i would without question shoot one on sight

thats definitely a less extreme view.

i dunno bf , the thing is pit bulls have been bred for a reason, killing other dogs, and dogs see humans as dogs really, their pack leader. the fact that they are bred for a purpose means the aggressive traits have been looked for and bred in from other dogs. its not possible to really say as you said ,but the fact that they are killing machines does have an influence on their nature. i love all animals truly so am not against dogs, but i would criticize someone for owning a husky as a pet, its a working dog bred for a reason,  i feel its just as innapropriate to own one and not work it, as it is to have a killing machine as a pet.

[ChadTower]

I always hear "it's not the dogs, it's the owners" as a rationalization for having pit bulls, but the whole "don't ban pit bulls, ban bad owners" argument is moot when you note that you cannot ban owners without banning pit bulls. 

I'd ban other dogs from stupid owners, but basically, there are only a couple of breeds that when owned stupidly have the ability to kill people.  Pets that can kill are a stupid thing to have, and sadly, they rarely kill the stupid owner.  It's always some random person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[bfauska]

You may not be able to ban stupid people from having the dogs, but you could hold them more accountable for the harm a poorly raised dog causes.

[BobA]

if i had a rifle i would without question shoot one on sight

Was that the pit bull or the typical scum shite that deserves shooting on sight?

[ChadTower]

You may not be able to ban stupid people from having the dogs, but you could hold them more accountable for the harm a poorly raised dog causes.

I would like to see that happen.  Last year here a pit bull that was leashed attacked a woman walking down the street and nearly ripped her arm off, tearing half the flesh off her ribcage.  The owner was hit with a $300 fine.  The woman will have years of surgeries and physical therapy and will never fully recover.  The only reason she survived is that some guy stopped his car and beat the dog with a bat.

I love hearing people say "I keep my pit bull on a leash!"  Like anyone short of the WWE champion could control an enraged pitbull on a leash.

[BobA]

There is always civil court to make the owner more accountable.  Maybe a huge law suit is required to help pay for the injuries caused by stupid people with uncontrolled dogs.

[polaris]

its all well and good saying about legal accountability , but it does nothing to repair the damage done in the first place. all well and good suing someone , but it wont affect them if they cant afford to pay the damages you sue them for.
im sure any parent who lost a child in such a manner would not feel compensated

[ChadTower]

A huge lawsuit is only useful when the defendant has something worth taking.  In this area it always seems to be some unemployed loser about to be kicked out of a hole in the wall apartment that is the dog owner.

Besides, I'd rather not lose my ribcage to begin with...

[FrizzleFried]

Fact:  There are more Golden Retriever bites reported each year than Pit Bull bites,  they aren't as dramatic so they don't get news coverage...

...I don't own a Bull Terrier nor am I interested in owning one but to label the entire breed as "evil" is ludicrous.  It's the owners who are the asshats.
 

[ChadTower]

Fact:  There are more Golden Retriever bites reported each year than Pit Bull bites,  they aren't as dramatic so they don't get news coverage...

So?  How many of the Golden Retriever injuries are permanent and debilitating?  We're not talking about bites.  We're talking about attacks.  How many golden retrievers are there in comparison?  Find a per animal type stat and it will mean something.  What % of pit bulls attack vs what % of golden retrievers?

...I don't own a Bull Terrier nor am I interested in owning one but to label the entire breed as "evil" is ludicrous.  It's the owners who are the asshats.

Yes, the owners are asshats.  Now solve the problem by means other than banning the dogs.

[grantspain]

Fact:  There are more Golden Retriever bites reported each year than Pit Bull bites,  they aren't as dramatic so they don't get news coverage...

...I don't own a Bull Terrier nor am I interested in owning one but to label the entire breed as "evil" is ludicrous.  It's the owners who are the asshats.
 

i would call the owners wankers as it gets round your censor(sorry peale),but pitbull owners are wankers full stop(TOSSERS/TWATS/---punks---/DIVS/CHAVY'S/)or any other bad word i can think of

[boykster]

Fact:  There are more Golden Retriever bites reported each year than Pit Bull bites,  they aren't as dramatic so they don't get news coverage...

...I don't own a Bull Terrier nor am I interested in owning one but to label the entire breed as "evil" is ludicrous.  It's the owners who are the asshats.
 

Fact: there are a hell of a lot more golden's than there are pit bulls, so I would bet that as a % of dog bite/attack reports, the pit bull owns a larger % based on total population.

I do agree however that it is the owners who are the asshats, and not the dogs.  Especially when it comes to a dog breed like pit bulls; they ARE aggressive by nature.

Dogs are dumb and ---smurfing--- obnoxious anyway.  Get a cat.

Don't even get me started on cats.....

[bfauska]

My suggestion of stiffer penalties was not as a re-reimbursement for the attacked or family's thereof.  The suggestion was to set a precedent that the asshat dog owners of the future would hopefully pay attention to.  Similar to punishment for any crime, while some would argue that the idea is rehabilitation,  many of the people who would commit a crime in the first place are deterred by the thought of serving jail time.

[shmokes]

Rabbits are where it's at these days.

Mine will only bite your face off if you're asking for it.  So don't mess with his favorite blanket if you know what's good for you.

My wife's grandpa is missing half of one of his fingers, which he lost while reaching for a rabbit that he had chased into a hole in the ground.   

[vorghagen]

Don't even get me started on cats.....

So, boykster, every considered getting a pet cat? I hear they're lovely to have around...

[shmokes]

I think that a fairly reasonable approach would be to require liability insurance to own any animal designated as a "dangerous animal" (maybe with a component for automatically designating other animals as "dangerous" once they've attacked/bitten someone).  Then you could impose strict liability on owners of "dangerous" animals, so if their dog attacked someone there would be no question of whether the dog was provoked, or whether the owner was really great, but this was just a freak accident.  The liability would be automatic.  This would then need to be enforced with criminal penalties of fines and jail time if a person's dangerous animal attacks and the person isn't insured.  It would also make it so that people who are attacked will generally not be left with no way to recover damages simply because the dog's owner was an unemployed piece of white trash.

It seems like this would solve most of the problems.  White trash people really are commonly attracted to pit bulls specifically for that dog's violent nature, and they will breed aggression into the dogs.  Much of this would stop, though, and demand for dogs like this would go down.  It goes without saying that insurance for a rottweiler or pit bull would be more expensive than for another breed known for aggression like cocker spaniels, because the payout for the damage done by a pit bull is so much greater.  Fewer people who can't responsibly train and care for a dog would get a pit bull because it just wouldn't be worth the cost.  And it goes without saying that insurance companies would now have a lot of say in what dog you could buy.  An owner whose dogs have bitten in the past would probably become uninsurable and could therefore only own pets not designated as dangerous, without facing stiff criminal penalties.  Or maybe insurance companies would require significant investments in professional obedience training and things of that nature.

Anyway, it seems like this would be a better solution than an outright ban.  Aggression can be deliberately bred into any type of dog.  If people can't have pit bulls and rottweilers, they'll simply corrupt some other breed.


edit: really strange typo.

[tommy]

Don't drag all pitbulls in the same sentence as ones who kill other dogs and bite people or love to fight other dogs. Blame the owner on how the dog turns out and behaves not the breed. I had a stray mutt that had a bad life and bit my pitbull and he didn't do a thing back to the dog after he was bit. My dog didn't have it in him to bite back after he grew up with me as his owner.

My dog was trained right and is as smart a dog as you'll ever find and would never go after anyone and try to cause them harm.

[shmokes]

Lulling you into this false sense of security is just a component of their diabolical nature, Tommy.   

[tommy]

If all pitbulls are man-eating dogs then all black people love to rob and steal. It's a silly thing to think let alone post on a forum.

[TOK]

If all pitbulls are man-eating dogs then all black people love to rob and steal. It's a silly thing to think let alone post on a forum.

You are definitely not qualified to own a pit bull.

[tommy]

What's that supposed to mean?