but wait! only pit bulls attack!

[jess2416]

why is it that irresponsible owners are making x breed look bad? why is that the chosen common denominator? why not irresponsible owners make irresponsible ownership look bad? or makes unleashed, free-roaming dogs look bad? or chained dogs look bad? or untrained dogs look bad? because those are often much more common denominators than breed.

the problem with pits is that there often IS no problem with pits. there's a big problem with ownership. absolutely. but it is not a breed-specific problem. all of those articles i posted- ALL of those dogs bit and not a single one was a pit bull. so why is it a pit bull problem? yes, lots of crappy people are attracted to pit bulls. and then we plaster them all over the media some more as the poster child of the evil nasty mean dog and even more people seeking evil nasty mean dogs go out and acquire them.

after the incident in california where diane whipple was attacked and killed by presa canario there was an unprecendented demand for the obscure breed by people wanting dogs like that one who killed the lady in california.

I remember that incident...I watched the story on 48 Hours or 20/20 (I think)

Elegy, I agree with you 100%

I'll admit I used to be one of those people that would walk a mile around a person with a pit bull..and I am ashamed of that...

I would hear and read about all the "awful" things that they (the breed) did, and I felt the same way that some people do..

But the difference between me and them, is the simple fact that I took time to read about the breed..

I took the time to sit down with people that own them, and care for them, and I took time to get to know the dogs as *INDIVIDUALS* not by looking at them as a specific breed..

I took time to look at the difference *responsible* and *irresponsible* ownership can do to any dog not just pit bulls..

Why they are portrayed the way they are I will never know or understand but it makes me sad, that the responsible owners and thier dogs have to suffer because a IDIOT wanted to be bad and decided to get a dog and make it his/her status symbol....

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Well put, Georgygirl.
I think the OP was trying to prove that ALL dogs bite. Actually, not that long ago, a senior man was attacked by a dog in my area. He reported that 'A pitbull charged, and attacked me viciously.'. Of course, the media went nuts and were driving around trying to find the dog. However, once the dog was found, it was identified as a lab. NO story was done, and the media left right away, uninterested. Had it have been a bully breed, it would have made the front page.

Roxy's CD, NEVER EVER give up. At the worst caser, we cannot go down withought a fight. Everyone MUST keep fighting. At the very least, if the pitty cannot be saved, we may succeed in saving other breeds .

~Tucker

 

[filarotten]

Elegy, I do understand where you are coming from, and all Pitts are getting a bad rap, it isn't fair, but my Rottie being # 2 isn't either.
I also have a Fila, which is not only banned in cities, but also countries. I have not yet found any concrete evidence as to why. I have been diligently searching the Internet for a newspaper article, television program or something to show where these dogs have mauled people and hunted them down as prey. So far not a darn thing, not one blessed article. It seems because of the very protective nature, and distrust of strangers they are deadly vicious animals, as one animal loving website put it,

Editor:- "Considering the current information researched on this breed, we have decided not to publish further information, as we would find it hard to recommend this breed as a domestic animal. If there is a Fila Brasileiro breeder somewhere in the world who would like to put forward more information about this breed that refutes the infomration presented here, we would love to hear from you "[email protected] Now, as a Fila owner how do you think thats makes me feel?

My Fila and Rottie, are much more predictable than Maggie, my ShihTzu mix, and Spike the ACD mix. The little ones will be the ones that would bite first. My big dogs will size up the situation before biting. If has to be an actual threat to me or my family before they would attack.

No matter how you look at it...it's all Bull Sh*t

 

[Georgygirl]

I'm always for the underdog so if it were chihuahuas getting banned I'd be just as passionate and I'd speak out till I was blue in the face. I don't own a pitbull so it's not "my breed" but I can see an innocent victim. I can tell when something is immoral and unfair. I'll always fight for the victims that can't fight for themselves no matter what species.

And personally I think a lot more people would get involved if "their breed" was on that ban list. People tend to pay more attention when things start hitting home.

 

[Roxy's CD]

I had no idea a presa killed a woman... I'm surprised I never heard of that.

All dog breeds have had their "fad" time. Rotts/dobes were 80's early 90's and now the pitt. (at least faddy for people who want mean dogs, like drug dealers) And I think that's one of the main reasons pitts have been banned, in the paper you see people's houses getting raided and almost everytime there's a mention of a pittbull or pittbull mix "guarding" the house.

Personally dobes and rotts have always been a favourite of mine. I was never particularly attracted to the pittbull breed until I stumbled across Hades.

I must admit that I am a wrongdoer in the sense that I advertise freely the other breeds of dogs that bite offen. I guess it's my defensive position, that I have to take on a lot when discussing pitts with dumb people. I guess I just try to show them that their "familydog" in their own backyard if not socialized and trained properly is just as likely to attack your own child as a pitt... or any other dog for that matter.

I don't advertise these breeds to put them down, but only to put all dogs on the same level, and help to prove that it's not the breed but the owner.

*sigh* And Hades was sooo good in school tonight. So good that a man that once thought Hades was a horrible killer commented on his behaviour tonight. Stating that he would be calling the mayor about BSL. A couple other people seconded that.

 

[RD]

Dogs are dogs. I agree that selecting the right breed is important ... but at the end of the day, no matter how exotic its breed, no matter whether it was bred to hunt or herd or guard, no matter what its instinctive tendencies are, a dog is just a dog. As different as most breeds are from one another, ALL dogs will respond well to love, kindness and training and respond negatively to neglect and abuse.

I agree with you, Elegy. There usually isn't a problem with the dogs.

 

[GSDlover_4ever]

Like you said, dogs bite. I would like to know why you want to make other breeds out to be "bad" because of "bad owners/breeders". Pit bulls have had a bad rap, but why would you want another breed to go through the same thing. You didn't like it; it's unfair; places are banning pits, etc. Why would you want another breed, or multiple breeds, to go through the same thing?

Your just mad because your breed was involved . Why does the pitbull have to stay in the spotlight? You feel so strongly about this, imagine how the pitbull owners feel.

 

[elegy]

Elegy, I do understand where you are coming from, and all Pitts are getting a bad rap, it isn't fair, but my Rottie being # 2 isn't either.
I also have a Fila, which is not only banned in cities, but also countries.

it's not fair that ANY breed should be banned. i'm especially passionate about pit bulls because it's *my* breed, but no responsible owner of any breed should be faced with this. i used to have a link to a comprehensive list of banned breeds. it was ridiculous. people love these dogs, own them responsibly, don't cause anybody any problems, and yet they're still faced with horrible choices, discrimination, even having their dogs killed for being the "wrong" breed. it's horrible.

I had no idea a presa killed a woman... I'm surprised I never heard of that.

it happened in 2001 i think. the dog was originally identified as a pit bull, of course. it was a huge drama- drugs, aryan nation, alleged trained "attack dogs". there were two dogs (bane and hera), both with a history of aggression, living in a tiny apartment building with no exercise and no training. google "diane whipple". there's a lot of info out there. it's such a sad story.

 

[LabBreeder]

Your just mad because your breed was involved . Why does the pitbull have to stay in the spotlight? You feel so strongly about this, imagine how the pitbull owners feel.

Ya big goober! I've seen the reports on labs, chis, doxies, all kinds of breeds. I've witnessed doxies (in my neighborhood) being more agressive than any pit I've ever met. As a child I was bitten by a chow that was left to roam around the neighborhood. I'm more worried about chows than pits. With all the dogs roaming the neighborhood now, I don't know which one's to worry about....besides the doxies and one mix that lives next door (she was off leash, no collar, owner was outside; walked up to me and my Labs, sniffed, then bared her teeth; by then the owner was standing over her and had grabbed her scruff and drug her off. they still let her off leash w/ out a collar )

Sadly, all I can do is imagine how they feel. I've seen the videos about banning and cry every time, but that doesn't change what may happen. No breed needs to be in the spotlight...well, not in a bad spotlight at least.

 

[jess2416]

it happened in 2001 i think. the dog was originally identified as a pit bull, of course. it was a huge drama- drugs, aryan nation, alleged trained "attack dogs". there were two dogs (bane and hera), both with a history of aggression, living in a tiny apartment building with no exercise and no training. google "diane whipple". there's a lot of info out there. it's such a sad story.

It is sad and very sick what happened to those dogs inside that apartment its also sad what happened to Diane Whipple, very sad..

 

[dr2little]

My latest bite cases were - lab, cocker spaniel, greyhound, lhasa apso.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Was the greyhound and ex-racer...?

~Tucker

 

[dr2little]

Yes, it was fostered for a short while but came from the track.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

*cringe*
What a shame. It will give rescued racers a bad rep.
How bad was the case? Can he be rehabilitated?

~Tucker

 

[juliefurry]

ok we are not in this forum to single out ANY breeds! We all respect and understand about pitbulls and other bully breeds. You do not need to start badmouthing other breeds! Any time a negative thing is said about pits and other bullies WE DEFEND THEM!

 

[dr2little]

*cringe*
What a shame. It will give rescued racers a bad rep.
How bad was the case? Can he be rehabilitated?

~Tucker

This particular family was terrific. The dog bit their adult son while he was visiting. 22 stitches in his lip/chin. It's really awful I know but I guess the guy had known that the dog had space issues and pushed past the warning growl, thinking that the dog knew him enough not to bite. He tried to hug him while he was lying in his dog bed and ignored a very clear warning.
The family, including the guy that was bitten, feels that the boundries were pushed and that they want to work with me to keep the dog. Rehab. always works pretty well in cases where everyone is compliant and willing. The dog is otherwise very nice, but obviously has not had enough leadership/boundries.
He came right over to me and when I sat down after we "checked each other out" he kissed my cheek. The difference was, I didn't reach for him or try to Hug him...
I think this one will have a good outcome.

 

[dr2little]

ok we are not in this forum to single out ANY breeds! We all respect and understand about pitbulls and other bully breeds. You do not need to start badmouthing other breeds! Any time a negative thing is said about pits and other bullies WE DEFEND THEM!

I'm by no means trying to single out any breeds, in case you're referring to my post. Quite the opposite really, bite cases come to me in all shapes and sizes, breeds and mixes. That's my point. My post could have included a Labradoodle, Chihuahua, or Brussels Griffon, (my breeds currently) and if those were my most recent bite cases, I would certainly have posted them without concern of singling them out.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

I don't think Dr2little was singling anyone out.

It's good that they realized their mistake and are willing to help .

~Tucker

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and not everyone that own's dogs are not perfect people especially some who choose to own some of the more aggressive breeds with bad reps! I agree with Aussie red, cattle dogs should be on the list but they are uncommon and lots of people have no idea about them, especially where I live. I get people who think Cai is a pitbull all the time and cross the street when I walk him. I also get the young punk thugs who think because he has a big head and some muscles that they get intrigued by what he is and ask where they can get one People are just IGNORANT! I already know that pitbulls are big headed mush balls with a bad reputation, I have owned one and a pit mix in the past and was so sick of the negativity that I decided on something different this time around. I have also had GSD's remember there bad reputations? I'm sorry but the majority of pitbull owners aren't good people and ELEGY you are one of the BEST I live in BOSTON the inner city is swarming with pitbulls who are being fought in organized rings and are owned by drug heads and scum bags in lower income lying areas. The shelters here in Boston are full of pitbulls and pit mixes as well due to irresponsible breeding and I mean god forbid you spay/neuter a pitbull that just isn't the cool thing to do ! I know it is frustrating but sooner or later you realise that you are only one person and can't change the world Unfortuantely! Or the BSL BULL$h..!

 

[whatszmatter]

Apparently the bites, or at least some of them, are being reported otherwise they wouldn't be on news sites.

A few of those bites happend within 30 miles of me and I watch the local news, those channels in fact that were reporting it and never heard a thing about them. But when they had an article about a pitt attacking a dachsund a few months ago in that same city, it was on the morning and both evening news slots for TWO days. They dog they showed that did the attacking for 2 seconds before they switched over to a generic picture of a vicious looking pitt looked anything but menacing, and the dachsund was white and fluffy???... BUt that's the news for you.

a few of those bites happend within the past couple weeks less than 30 miles from me and i heard nothing until Elegy pointed it out, but if it was a pit bull in walla walla WA that scratched a little kid you can bet it would probably make regional if not national news yet again.

Thank you Elegy for posting these, and I feel for you. I don't know how you can do it everyday with all the stigmas and negative press. It takes a strong person.