Super User Raul Posted February 25, 2011 Super User Posted February 25, 2011 Yesterday I was watching this TV documentary in the Animal Planet, average 250 pit bulls/bullish dogs put to death every month in the LA shelters :-/ .... WHAT !!!! , an entire breed considered to be a nuisance ( and tagged as "public enemy" ) for a few spolied animals not being guilty on their own for their behavior but behaving like that because of the fault of bad owners. I 'm schoked/disgusted/irritated/infuriated/deeply saddened for what I saw in that show.
Super User Jimzee Posted February 25, 2011 Super User Posted February 25, 2011 It's not the breed, only careless owners who stereotypically want a pitbull just because of the bad reputation they have, a novelty if you will. When the novelty wears off they end up getting rid of them. Pretty sad... Kudos to the owners who treat this breed as it should be treated, nothing more than a loving pet.
Stasher1 Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 It's not the breed, only careless owners who stereotypically want a pitbull just because of the bad reputation they have, a novelty if you will. When the novelty wears off they end up getting rid of them. Pretty sad... Kudos to the owners who treat this breed as it should be treated, nothing more than a loving pet. These same careless owners rarely have their animals spayed/neutered, increasing the numbers of animals that will have to be euthanized. > Also, I don't know about LA shelters, but around here if you bring your dog/cat to the "pound" and sign it over to them thinking it'll be put up for "adoption", you're in for a rude awakening. It's considered a voluntary surrender, and they're typically the first ones to be euthanised. Don't get a pet unless you're sure you can take care of it.
Super User webertime Posted February 25, 2011 Super User Posted February 25, 2011 My wife was attacked by 2 Pit/Boxer mixes on November 29th. 36 puncture wounds, 13 stitches, shin, calf, thighs, arm and so far up the inside of her legs that you could barely call the spots her legs... The worst bite took out a pile of fat (it was on the floor) the size of a hamburger bun. The hole was big (long and deep) enough that you could drop a Bic lighter in it. They were going to kill her (dragging her down and going for her abdomen). Her father and his friend got them off her and called me (I was at work) I took her to the hospital. It was the worst dog attack they'd ever seen at the hospital. It's now ~3months past... and she has severe nerve damage in her right thigh from the crushing the jaws did to her quadriceps. A dog barks and breaks down now. She's gorgeous (think Brooklyn Decker and Rachel Hunter) and is having a very hard time with the scars/damage, and she's no fragile flower either, she's tougher than me! These dogs changed her for the rest of her life. She was raised with Pits, our neighbor has a little one (my beagle kicks it's butt). And we know it's ignorant to think Pits are the only dogs out there that could have done this, heck a Lab or a full size Poodle could have. However when you combine the demographic of a great deal of their owners, the inbreeding, and their physical make up, yeah there is a huge potential for incidents with them (I think "threat" is a bit strong). Maybe now that I am so close to this sort of incident but I truly do not trust any of them anymore.
B-Dozer Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I have worked with Animal Control, and dog rescues for quit a few years. I have seen a lot of Pits, many of them are the sweetest dog you have ever seen. But like Jimzee said, the owners usually can be traced to the problem dogs. Dogs (all dogs) need to be socialized. Putting a spiked collar on them, allowing them to act aggressively w/o enforcing correct behavior, isolation, etc. is going to bring out the worst in any dog. Pits have above average intelligence (mo), and will do what they are taught. I have fostered many pits, I have one now that was returned because of dog aggression, he is currently living with my own two dogs w/o the slightest problem. Most animal rescues will check the potential dog owners out, backyard breeders, and AC will give anybody a dog that is a lot of the problem itself. I urge anyone who loves dogs to volunteer at your local animal shelter, you can learn so much, do a lot of good, and have a good time.
CFFF 1.5 Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 The main problem with Pit Bulls is the owner but you also have to take into consideration the make up of the dog. All dogs have something inside their brains that can cause them to snap. It happens more with pit bulls because of the owner. Once a pit bull snaps it is very hard to get them to stop and their physical make up and amount of force they can exert through their jaw make them very dangerous. I can say I will never allow one around my son. My friend had the nicest pit bull and came from a champion blood line and acted like it wouldn't hurt a fly until one day it attacked their other dog and killed it. These dogs had lived together for over 6 before this happened.
Super User Sam Posted February 25, 2011 Super User Posted February 25, 2011 Raul, I know some Pit Bulls. One is a baby. The other two are very sweet and kind. Nice dogs. I have never come across a nasty Pit Bull and have met a number of them over the years. Beautiful dogs.
B-Dozer Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 If they were to ban dogs with consideration to jaw force (ridiculous as it sounds), they would first have to ban German Shepherds,Rottweilers,Bulldogs,Mastiffs, just to name a few, all of which have more jaw force than a Pit. Any dog can be aggressive, all dog owners should be responsible for their dog. If you don't want to/can't train your dog, hire a professional. If you are not willing to be responsible, don't get a dog.
northern basser Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I grew up with pits myself. Most of them are great dogs and people lovers. Out of the many my dad raised I can only remember 1 or 2 that I was told to stay away from(don't go in their chain length). This was mainly because they were hyper and I was a small boy. On the other side of the coin. They are, for the most part, animal and dog aggressive. Owners need to be "the pack leader" as Caeser would say. Even the nicest ones are capable of bad things. They're powerful and bite hard. There are definitely other breeds just as capable of destruction. Like already said, a lot depends on the owner and also the dogs bloodlines. Any good breeder knows to cull certain traits when breeding. Too many people in the U.S. breed dogs(of any breed) that don't know what they're doing. The English practice strict breeding guidelines and were the creators of most of the popular breeds today. Some people in our country have bred just to breed and ruined strains of dogs. For instance, today you have to look far and hard to find a good hunting lab thats bloodlines haven't been diluted by trash.
Super User deaknh03 Posted February 25, 2011 Super User Posted February 25, 2011 Pit Bulls and Kitchen Knives,ban em both! ;D
jamarkwe Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 The media only exposes pit attacks . You never hear about a lab biting a kid , but it happens all the time.
CanalStalkin Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I have a pit/boxer mix that I got from the shelter pretty much dying. And another full blooded amstaff. Both are very friendly, and would lick you to death if they could. Come at a member of our household aggressively though, youd think you had milkbone shorts on. I am sorry your wife had to experience something like that. I dont blame you for not trusting the breed now. Some dogs are just doomed from the get go with some owners. It's all about socialization. Northern Basser, you are right about the aggressiveness. People forget they are TERRIERS. That is a trait in the terrier breed. Heres the before shot of Waylon for those of you who remember when I posted when I got him.
northern basser Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Yes, terriers. They are my favorite breed of dog. I've been highly involved w/ patterdale terriers for about 15 years now. They're bred to go to ground/ woodpiles/ junkpiles.... for vermine. They are around 10-20lbs. In a lot of ways their personalities reflect that of pits. Most aren't as dog aggressive, but some are. Definitely animal agressive. Terriers are very much people dogs though (not all of course). The patterdales are a much more manageable size!
northern basser Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Litter my female had last winter (patterdale terriers) One of those pups at 9 mos. (last fall) one looking at camera, his mother to his left (in the puppy pic. he is the lower right)
moby bass Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 If they were to ban dogs with consideration to jaw force (ridiculous as it sounds), they would first have to ban German Shepherds,Rottweilers,Bulldogs,Mastiffs, just to name a few, all of which have more jaw force than a Pit. Any dog can be aggressive, all dog owners should be responsible for their dog. If you don't want to/can't train your dog, hire a professional. If you are not willing to be responsible, don't get a dog. Unfortunately, that doesn't help when you or someone else is being mauled.
northern basser Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 It does all boil down to the owner. Some dogs just need to be put down and all the others need to be under the controll of their owner.
B-Dozer Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 If they were to ban dogs with consideration to jaw force (ridiculous as it sounds), they would first have to ban German Shepherds,Rottweilers,Bulldogs,Mastiffs, just to name a few, all of which have more jaw force than a Pit. Any dog can be aggressive, all dog owners should be responsible for their dog. If you don't want to/can't train your dog, hire a professional. If you are not willing to be responsible, don't get a dog. Unfortunately, that doesn't help when you or someone else is being mauled. Like I said, if you cannot train your dog/or are not willing to pay someone to do it, don't get a dog. That's what I meant as being a responsible dog owner.
Super User bilgerat Posted February 26, 2011 Super User Posted February 26, 2011 In the 70's and 80's it was Dobermans that had the stigma pit bulls have now. My wife and I had a Doberman that was the biggest wussy in the world. Don't get me wrong, he was protective but never aggressive. When my first daughter was born and we brought her home, he took to her immediately. Same with our second daughter 22 months later. By far the best dog we ever had. Eventually (unfortunately) another breed will take the place of the pit bull and the cycle will start again.
NJBasstard Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 The only dog attacks I ever hear of are those involving pits. I believe many of these attacks are caused by being mistreated by owners. I've been around these dogs practically my whole life and personally couldn't ask for more loyal, loving dogs.
Super User Micro Posted February 26, 2011 Super User Posted February 26, 2011 I handle injury claims for a large insurance company. I will say pit bulls are the number-one dog involved in bites I handle. I've handled bites from bull mastifs, rots, and German Shepherds, and others. But pit bulls account for the vast majority of the claims I handle involving dog bites.
Super User Root beer Posted February 26, 2011 Super User Posted February 26, 2011 When I was in high school one of the local community banned Pit Bull ownership within the city limit....Well, it was on the agenda, but I cannot remember if it was passed or rejected.
Captain Obvious Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 Although I love dogs and agree that owners should be responsible for their pets I do think the pit bulls should be a banned. Pit bulls were bred to be fighting/killing dogs.Fighting to a Pit bull is like swimming to a Labrador retriever, they don't have to be taught how to do it, its in their nature. German Shepherds and Rottweilers are totally different. They are bred to protect their owners or herds, Yes they can be dangerous to other people but their guard dogs not fighting dogs.
Super User skunked_again Posted February 26, 2011 Super User Posted February 26, 2011 thank god we dont treat human races like we treat dogs.
B-Dozer Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 Texas is ranked #2 for gun violence, maybe they should ban Texans from owning guns?
Nibbles Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 I don't think it's really that pit bulls are inherently killers, but that they have more potential to cause lethal amounts of harm towards people than many other breeds of dogs. Sure, German Shepherds and Rottweilers might have more pounds per square inch in terms of bite pressure, but a pit bull's jaw/mouth, when paired with their short powerful necks, appears to almost be specifically built to rip, tear and maim, unlike the sharpened snout of a Shepherd or stubby but small mouth of a rottweiler. I suppose an imperfect analogy that gets the point across would be comparing a slow velocity hollow point with a 7.62 FMJ. The FMJ has far more penetrating power and overall kinetic energy, but the slow moving hollow point is likely to cause far more damage to an unarmored individual than the FMJ.
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