Another Neighbor attacked

I have a question for you, should we let the dogs bite a kid first and then do something about it, or try to stop it from happening.

Bob,

I was wondering if you agree with the below statements or is the person that wrote it just full of it and don't know anything about dogs.  A lot of advice is given about dogs that a lot of people believe in and I was wondering if their advice should be followed.

Legislation aimed at eradicating or strictly regulating dogs based solely on their breed for a number of reasons. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is a common first approach that many communities take. Thankfully, once research is conducted most community leaders correctly realize that BSL won't solve the problems they face with dangerous dogs.

There are over 4.5 million dog bites each year. This is an estimate as there is no central reporting agency for dog bites, thus breed and other information is not captured. Out of the millions of bites, about 10-20 are fatal each year. While certainly tragic, it represents a very small number statistically and should not be considered as a basis for sweeping legislative action.

It is imperative that the dog population in the community be understood. To simply pull numbers of attacks does not give an accurate representation of a breed necessarily. For example, by reviewing a study that states there have been five attacks by golden retrievers in a community and 10 attacks by pit bulls in that same community it would appear that pit bulls are more dangerous. However, if you look at the dog populations in that community and learn that there are 50 golden retrievers present and 500 pit bulls, then the pit bulls are actually the safer breed statistically.

While breed is one factor that contributes to a dog's temperament, it alone cannot be used to predict whether a dog may pose a danger to his or her community. A September 2000 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (VetMed Today: Special Report) further illustrates this point. The report details dog bite related fatalities in the United States from 1979 through 1998, and reveals that over the nineteen years examined in the study at least 25 different breeds or crossbreeds of dogs were involved in fatally wounding human beings. Breeds cited range from oft-maligned pit bulls and Rottweilers to the legendary "forever loyal" breed of St. Bernards. The study was conducted by a group of veterinarians, medical doctors, and psychology and public health experts.

The main conclusion of the study was that breed-specific legislation doesn't work for several reasons: that there are inherent problems in trying to determine a dog's breed, making enforcement of breed-specific legislation difficult at best; that fatal attacks represent a very small portion of bite-related injuries and should not be the major factor driving public policy; and that existing non-breed-specific legislation already exists and offers promise for the prevention of dog bites

Wow! This topic is like 10 pages long! Unbelievable. If you know how he feels why don't all of you who disagree with Bob just ignore the topic? He's entitled to feel any way he wants! You can disagree with him- that's your right. But to go on and on like this is ridiculous. You aren't going to change Bob's mind and he isn't going to change yours.

All of you owners of pit bulls, let me tell you- my dog (beagle mix about 35 pounds) and I were attacked one night (about 18 months ago) by a Pit Bull who was out alone roaming the street. We were doing nothing but simply out for a quick walk minding out own business.
I was terrified, and I do mean terrified. The PB was not provoked in any way and just suddenly attacked my dog. He was going to kill my poor dog and I couldn't stop him! I was screaming for help and literally trying to pry the PB's mouth off my dog in hopes he would let go. My dog was screaming in a way that I don't ever want to hear again, it was awful. I had one hand on my dog to keep him from being dragged away and the other hand in the pit bulls mouth trying to get him to let go. Someone finally heard me screaming and came out and tried to hit the PB with a shovel to make him let go. It didn't work. Finally the man grabbed him by the collar and pulled him off. The police were called and an ambulance. My son came and took our dog to the emergency vets and the ambulance took me to the hospital. My hand was pretty messed up as you can imagine and I needed stitches. Was it my fault that I was injured? Yes. Would I do it again to save my dog? Yes. I would've gladly lost my fingers or hand to save him. Was it my dogs fault that he was injured? Hell no! It was the owner of that stupid dog. But at the same time I have to tell you quite honestly that I don't like the breed anymore. And I feel I have every right to feel this way and am justified in feeling this way. Unless you have been involved personally in an attack, you don't know what it's like!! It is terrifying. Without a doubt the worst experience I've ever been through, with the exception of my mother passing away.
Luckily both of us survived the ordeal and recovered. My dog hates other dogs now- especially large ones. He's afraid of them. He will go out of his way to avoid other dogs. As for me, do I hate PB? Yes. I have personally experienced what they are capable of and I will not let anyone 'guilt' me into feeling differently. If a Rottie had attacked us I would probably hate Rotties. Or a poodle for that matter.

Do I think they should be outlawed? That's up to the residents of each city. Add it to the ballot on election day.

Do I think Pitbulls should all be euthanized? No, of course not. If someone can be responsible with them and keep them controlled, fine. I just don't want them near me or my dog.
Yes, the owners are ultimately responsible. But I do feel that PB can be very efficient at killing things and unless people can be responsible, then maybe there should be a special license to own them. Or perhaps they need to take a course first on dog care and safety before they can own one. And if you have a police record- you can't own them. I don't know. I'm just tossing things out here.

I now carry pepper spray, a cell phone and a pocket knife with us on our walks. It makes me feel safer, but I'll tell you, I get really pissed when I see a dog running loose.

ORIGINAL: noblewoman
If you know how he feels why don't all of you who disagree with Bob just ignore the topic?

 
So, when someone posts something I disagree with, you would have me say nothing?  What an excellent idea that would be for a DISCUSSION board.
 

But to go on and on like this is ridiculous.

 
Says the contributor of what has to be the longest post in this thread.
 

You aren't going to change Bob's mind and he isn't going to change yours.

 
Well then, let's just everybody say nothing and save all that disagreement.

Did you ever bother to read all of my post Billy?

Jesus.
Where are you people located??????
I have NEVER, EVER in over a year of walking my dog, have I EVER seen an off leash pit bull.
EVER!

And just across the river from us, they fight pit bulls. They are very popular in my city (just not seen very often).

I've seen pit bulls IN my neighborhood, but they're ALWAYS leashed.

And I KNOW that I do not live in some magical "safe pit bull" place.

[sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif] Excellent post Elayne. We don't need new laws - just enforce the ones we have. Punish the law breakers not the people that follow the rules.

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

Jesus.
Where are you people located??????
I have NEVER, EVER in over a year of walking my dog, have I EVER seen an off leash pit bull.
EVER!

And just across the river from us, they fight pit bulls. They are very popular in my city (just not seen very often).

I've seen pit bulls IN my neighborhood, but they're ALWAYS leashed.

And I KNOW that I do not live in some magical "safe pit bull" place.

I don't see them either.  Perhaps, just perhaps, we *do* live in the *magical* land where people obey leash laws... Oh wait, that's right the GSD in my neighborhood doesn't have a leash either...nevermind.[]

And Noblewoman, I'll NEVER bring my dog around you and your dog.
Don't worry.

I don't bring my dog around too many other dogs because I know she doesn't like other dogs.

But don't step into this thread with an air of ANY kind of arrogance.

I was harrassed and attacked by an English Sheepdog. I don't hate them because of it. I wouldn't tell someone to keep them away from me and my dog.


If you want to hate, that's fine.

IF ANY of you in this thread want to hate pit bulls or think they are some man-eating, baby killing machines, THAT'S FINE.

This is the LAST time I will SAY THIS IN THIS THREAD.
A TRUE APBT WILL NEVER HARM A HUMAN. THEY ARE NOT BRED TO BE HUMAN AGGRESSIVE OR ATTACKING, KILLING MACHINES. THEY WERE BRED TO BE THE EXACT OPPOSITE.


I wish some of you would educate yourselves on WHAT A TRUE APBT is.

No, they aren't the short and wide dogs. NO they are not the 110 lbs. dogs that whose heads are bigger than your entire torso.

Educate yourselves because ME and MY HATED DOG are done.
I'm sorry, I'm with SillySally on this one.

You claim to hate a breed and you talk bad about an entire breed and want to lay down specific laws on my dog's breed, then you're insulting MY DOG.

You want to zero in on my dog's breed and how AWFUL they are, FINE.

But I'm done and I'm gone. You got your way, Bob.
You've riled up two pit bull owners enough to get them to leave for a while.
But you're not getting my dog and you are NOT going to destroy this breed.

Your fear will eat you ALIVE before I allow THAT to ever happen.

Have a nice day all you Pit Bull haters. I hope you all wake up to realize just how ignorant you are one day.

once again there are warning signs. just because you didnt see them doesnt mean that there werent any.

and yes everyone should carry some sort of weapon for protection while out walking at night. what if it had been a rapist instead of a pitbull? would you then hate men?

if youre going to hate something/someone/ or be against it/for it, or afraid of it.. then you of all people need to do your homework on BOTH sides of the issue. not just YOUR side.....
ive seen a lot of breeds at their worst. i hate weims.... well.. no i really dont.... i dont like them much.... i have seen them bite people, CHILDREN, in the face... one bit my aunt twice, gave her two black eyes and a nasty cut. the doctors held her at the hospital for questioning..they were convinced she was a victim of spousal abuse..... nope. just her niece's family dog!

ORIGINAL: noblewoman

Did you ever bother to read all of my post Billy?

 
I did, but I considered it mostly drivel.  And I am quite the authority on posting drivel.  []

I actually don't see any kind of unattended loose roaming dog. Hardly ever. My off-leash dog rage comes in the form of people walking their dogs off-leash in our parks. But just random dogs roaming around the neighborhood, of any breed? Almost never. And only once when I did actually see one did I NOT immediately like 2 minutes later see the owner of said dog looking for it--ie, the dog escaped and is being actively searched for (hey, accidents happen). There is one eskie-looking dog who I've seen a couple times alone in our local ballfield/playground/park. I think it lives on the adjacent street and escapes. But it won't come near me or anyone else, so I've never been able to catch it and return it to it's home.

Our city has city-wide leash laws and apparently people take them seriously, at least most of the time (for some reason people still seem to think the parks somehow don't count).

But these laws only work if they are enforced, and only the human citizens of your municipality can pressure your elected officials in to making sure that they are. And if you live in an area with no leash law and you think there should be one, well, this is a democracy. There's no need to go about banning entire breeds and classes of dog when one law would clear up much of the problem: all dogs must be on a leash at all times while off the owner's property, and if they are not, AC will actually come and do something meaningful about it. Ditto neglect and abuse laws--they already exist in almost every municipality and actually enforcing them in a meaningful way would prevent people from neglecting and abusing their dogs to the point of making the dog dangerous and unpredictable.

Where are you people located??????
I have NEVER, EVER in over a year of walking my dog, have I EVER seen an off leash pit bull.
EVER!

 
This is what i'm trying to figure out. The only dog i think i've ever seen running loose was an english mastiff that had gotten out of her yard. It was so out of the ordinary to see a loose dog that i went and caught her.

Madison County Florida is a hot bed for dog fighting and other criminal activities.... and the four or four years i lived there i saw only ONE stray pit bull (i took her in, named her Jet - jet black because she was) and only ONE lost pit bull, neutered, nails trimmed very friendly .. unless you were a cat or a cow... and i NEVER once heard of anyone or any dog being attacked or killed by a loose pit bull, rotti, dobie, shepherd, etc.

i take that back... one man was attacked by a strange bulldog, and he shot it dead in its tracks and mounted its skull on his barn....
but that happened years before i moved there.

ORIGINAL: RidgebackGermansShep

Where are you people located??????
I have NEVER, EVER in over a year of walking my dog, have I EVER seen an off leash pit bull.
EVER!

This is what i'm trying to figure out. The only dog i think i've ever seen running loose was an english mastiff that had gotten out of her yard. It was so out of the ordinary to see a loose dog that i went and caught her.

 
Yeah, me too.  I live next door to the murder capital of the US and you'd think I would see this all the time.  My sister lived in Atlanta for 20 years, raised 2 kids and she never mentioned this at all.  But then again I don't poke my nose into other people's business or look for trouble when I am out and about. 
 

We had a frequently roaming and aggressive dog in my old neighborhood that was known to lunge at people.  It was a lab x, I think.  Some tannish brown dog.  It leapt at my dad once and scared me so bad.  Luckily he hit it across the bridge of the nose with the metal clip on his cap and it backed off.  The owners were just like 'Well, he's sweet around us'.  Well then KEEP HIM IN YOUR YARD!  I think he ended up shot by one of the neighbors.  I know animal control was called a couple of times, but he hadn't actually bitten anyone yet (thank god) just charged them. 
 
Anyways, my point being this:  Do I hate all lab crosses for this dog?  No.  I will tell you I was very afraid of this dog.  I have never felt relieved that a dog was gone before, but I was about that one.  It was an individual dog with some major HA tendencies whose owners wouldn't put the time or effort into keeping the dog from roaming the streets.  I blame them entirely but it doesn't mean the dog itself wasn't dangerous.  I think it was.
 
No one is saying that pits never attack or that they don't do damage.  They do, but so do other breeds.  The fact is a larger athletic breed can do a lot of damage.  Even small dogs can attack and do quite a bit of damage, but to be honest most people realize that the risks of severe injury for a normal person (not elderly or infant) are higher with a larger breed.  They're simply stronger than smaller dogs.  Doesn't mean we should ban them all.
 
Bsides, I always wonder this...  Bob, your dog looks an awful lot like a German Shepherd cross.  I don't know if that's true, but about oh... 10-20 years ago German Shepherds were the 'mean' dog that everyone hated.  (That and Rotties and dobes)  I grew up with a GSDx that was a real sweetie, but others would look at him and label him as dangerous simply because he was part GSD and GSDs were 'bad dogs'.  Now does that seem fair?  How would it be if GSDs were legislated against?