Pirate got attacked by a pit bull :(

AgileGSD

  Very sad when having an intact dog makes someone a criminal. Is Pirate fully vaccinated every year?

Smyrna has a spay/neuter ordinance for casually owned dogs --

Rabies is mandatory in Florida.  My county is a 3-yr county and I'm not sure about Megan's county.  THAT was the "unvax'd" part -- and this dog (to their admitted knowledge) had NEVER been vaccinated.  The illegal part is not having rabies (in a state where 86% of the raccoons are KNOWN rabies carriers).

Neither Pi nor Billy are, nor ever can be, "fully vaccinated" (and I didn't say that) -- Billy has to get a waiver annually because he can't GET vaccinated again **ever**.  But we titer him every year and my vet then writes a letter to the state that the titer is sufficient and the shot requirement should be waived.  Pi is also the survivor of an auto-immune disease.  But I'm not sure Megan has had to deal with the rabies thing yet. 

There's nothing in the world wrong with requiring a dog to have a rabies shot -- within a certain frame of time (and hopefully the Rabies Challenge Study will give a better definition of how often the shot needs to be done). 

AgileGSD

 Obviously the owner was in the wrong here - his dog was confined but managed to get loose and attack another dog on public property, biting a person in the process. But like others, I do feel bad for the dog who will likely be killed due to the owner's mistake.

Honestly?  I may feel "bad" that this dog has literally been ruined by the selfishness of humans.  However - given the savageness of this attack, and the fact that there WERE children around and they could easily have become involved (trying to help Megan when no one else was -- it was a kid who stopped Tiki's runaway stroller!!) I'm not going to place a dog's life above a human's. 

Life is rarely 'fair' -- ever.

 This exact situation happened to Toots and I in July. There were tons of kids around also (apt. bldg.), so really the dog and owner get what they deserve.

AgileGSD

  Well it was a large, strong dog going after a much smaller dog so no doubt the injuries are going to be bad.

Oh wait, AgileGSD, were you there with me!? I must not have seen you. I've worked in groups of dogs for a long time, I know the difference between a dog fight and a dog ATTACK - this dog wanted to KILL PIRATE. I was there. It would not stop until I kicked it hard enough in the gut to cause significant pain.

AgileGSD

  Very sad when having an intact dog makes someone a criminal. Is Pirate fully vaccinated every year?

It IS illegal to have an unaltered animal in my county. Way to know all the facts before you open your mouth. And you know full well from my posts here that Pirate CAN'T be vaccinated every year.

I will now politely request that we keep this thread on topic - I appreciate the good thoughts and support from everyone else for Pirate and I. But if AgileGSD and others would like to debate whether or not the pit that attacked us should be destroyed or not, they can go find another thread or I'll have the mods close this thread down.

Honestly, I think you get your jollies being the devil's advocate, Agile.

Frisby and I send our love, positive energy and prayers for healing for Pirate, Tiki and you. I got so scared when I read your post!

Finally the dog stopped, just short of us, sat for what seemed like an eternity, then turned and trotted back to the house. The owner never apologized or said a word. I scooped Reilee up and we went home. For the longest time he did not want to walk past that house. Eventually he did get over it, but it was traumatic for him and neither of us were injured!

I hope both of you heal quickly and that Pirate has no long lasting emotional effects from the attack.

 Only just seeing this - I am so sorry you had to go thru this!  You were very brave, and it sounds like Pirate was lucky to be alive at the end of it.  Biggest smooches for the little guy and lots of healing vibes for you.....  I hope you nail this guy to the wall for his irresponsible actions.  Sure, I feel bad for the dog as well, but it sounds like she is a liability on four legs, and I value the safety and lives of people and kids more than I value the life of a dog - particularly a dog that dangerous.

 How are you and Pi, today? Do you both have some pain stuff and something to help the stiffness? I know bites HURT the next day.

sl2crmeg

AgileGSD

  Oh wait, AgileGSD, were you there with me!? I must not have seen you. I've worked in groups of dogs for a long time, I know the difference between a dog fight and a dog ATTACK - this dog wanted to KILL PIRATE. I was there. It would not stop until I kicked it hard enough in the gut to cause significant pain.

  Sorry  I really thought Pirate was a small dog - my mistake.

sl2crmeg

  Very sad when having an intact dog makes someone a criminal. Is Pirate fully vaccinated every year?

It IS illegal to have an unaltered animal in my county. Way to know all the facts before you open your mouth. And you know full well from my posts here that Pirate CAN'T be vaccinated every year.

 Which is why I made the comment I did. And I stand by it -  it is a sad day in America when owning an intact animal makes someone a criminal. I actually don't know full well anything about your dog other than that he seizures and only that because it is something your often talk about. Good thing you have a vet willing to give you an exemption for your dog's vaccines or you would be a criminal too.

 I will always be an advocate for owner's rights. I will always find myself having a hard time not speaking up when certain things are brought up on this forum and any other (even a non-dog forum). The "killer pit bull" stereotype , the intact/unvaccinated dog= irresponsible owner propaganda and the "it could be a kid next" when a dog shows dog or predatory aggression. 

 Either way, I'm glad your dog is going to be ok and hope you can get the medical bills covered.

AgileGSD

 Obviously the owner was in the wrong here - his dog was confined but managed to get loose and attack another dog

 Excuse me??  The dog was not tethered to anything and was sitting by a window that was open far enough to let said dog jump out.  That dog was most definitely not confined. If your dog is sitting in your living room in front of a wide open door and he runs out to attack another dog, could you say he had been confined?  I don't think so.

Joyce

Meg, I'm just seeing this. Holy crap! I hope Pi is OK! I hope you're OK!

fuzzy_dogs_mom

 Excuse me??  The dog was not tethered to anything and was sitting by a window that was open far enough to let said dog jump out.  That dog was most definitely not confined. If your dog is sitting in your living room in front of a wide open door and he runs out to attack another dog, could you say he had been confined?  I don't think so.

Joyce

 The dog was confined in that she was in a car and not purposefully being allowed to wander loose. Not unlike dogs getting loose by slipping their collar, pulling the leash out of the owner's hand or jumping a fence. Still the owner's responsiblity, as I said but

Agile, I understand you are passionate about your beliefs but this is not the right thread to insert YOUR feelings.  This thread is for Meg and Pirate. 

AgileGSD

fuzzy_dogs_mom

 Excuse me??  The dog was not tethered to anything and was sitting by a window that was open far enough to let said dog jump out.  That dog was most definitely not confined. If your dog is sitting in your living room in front of a wide open door and he runs out to attack another dog, could you say he had been confined?  I don't think so.

Joyce

 

 The dog was confined in that she was in a car and not purposefully being allowed to wander loose. Not unlike dogs getting loose by slipping their collar, pulling the leash out of the owner's hand or jumping a fence. Still the owner's responsiblity, as I said but

The dog was not confined. If that were the case she would not have gotten out of the car now would she? It is JUST like your example of dogs geeting loose, slipping a collar , jumping a fence. Just because they are in a car with the owner does not obsolved them. The owner is responsible for it all, not the dog.

For the record, I do hope they do not have to put the dog down, maybe just maybe it can be rehabilitated. If not then let it go peacefully. If anyone needs to go down, it's the owner.

I think Pi needs more cookies?!

 Oh goodness!!! I just saw this today!! I'm so sorry!!!!

 I hope both you and Pi heal up real quick and no lasting damage is done physicall or emotionally.

 It's just a tragic thing that some people are so irresponsible. Yes she was in a car, but if he is so afraid of his own dog he didn't want to get out of the car..... that's a huge statement! Why did he have the dog out at all!?  Regardless, this idiot is going to stamp a fear of the pits into a few thousand more people.  All this could have been avoided with just a tiny bit of responsible ownership.

Tragic. I'm just glad you and Pirate are on the mend!