Girl, 3, In Critical Condition After Pit Bull Attack

[sam]

last part is supposed to read "ALWAYS came over asking"

[Kad]

So I think most agree, there are irresponsible pit bull owners out there. What should we do when one or more of their dogs rips someone apart? How do we prevent this all too common occurace? Pit Bulls are the #1 killer of people and other dogs and #1 for maiming people (surgery, stiches, etc.) Rotts are running second.
Should people have to have a license to own or breed them? Should they go to jail when their dog attacks someone? This can't keep happening.

[WANDA HAMILTON]

i am more afraid of a chihuahua than i am of any other dog, including pits. it's all on how the dogs are raised. if they are mis-treated then yes they will mis-treat you. love them and respect them .

[oh please]

Kad wrote:

So I think most agree, there are irresponsible pit bull owners out there. What should we do when one or more of their dogs rips someone apart? How do we prevent this all too common occurace? Pit Bulls are the #1 killer of people and other dogs and #1 for maiming people (surgery, stiches, etc.) Rotts are running second.
Should people have to have a license to own or breed them? Should they go to jail when their dog attacks someone? This can't keep happening.

First of all, neutering and spaying rates need to go up. A LOT. There really is no good excuse to not fix your animal. Nobody needs a billion puppies.

Second, animal related crimes need to carry stiffer punishments. Cruelty, attacks, all of them are REAL crimes that have no winners in the end.

[sam]

the city of Fort Worth already has a law for the owner of the dog that attacks or kills a person (i like this law because its not pointed at one certain breed, its all breeds)

they get a large fine or jail time depending on the damage the dog did or if it killed a person.

Kad wrote:

So I think most agree, there are irresponsible pit bull owners out there. What should we do when one or more of their dogs rips someone apart? How do we prevent this all too common occurace? Pit Bulls are the #1 killer of people and other dogs and #1 for maiming people (surgery, stiches, etc.) Rotts are running second.
Should people have to have a license to own or breed them? Should they go to jail when their dog attacks someone? This can't keep happening.

[Mike]

While I'm not on board with the idea of an outright ban, I do believe that cities should have the right to impose VERY stiff regulations on anyone who makes the decision to own a Pit Bull. All you folks who are saying this is all the owners fault must be delusional. These dogs are DANGEROUS. There is more than sufficient evidence to support this. Just because the ones you know haven't attacked you or someone you know YET doesn't mean they won't at the slightest provocation. These are not "family" pets. Pit Bulls were bred to fight and to kill. Hate to break it to you, but they were. Anyone who doesn't have enough sense to keep children away from these things should have their head examined. Let's all pray this little girl recovers from this attack. And I hope that most of you will contact your State Reps and City officials and demand that ownership of Pit Bulls be strongly regulated and controlled. As it is right now, they can't even be labeled as dangerous until AFTER they've attacked something. Next time it might be your little girl who's on the news. Is it worth it?

[Talamascaa]

Maybe a breeding ban should be imposed. That way nobody loses their pet, but no new ones are created until the breed becomes extinct.

[Tobybones]

Madd Citizen wrote:

<quoted text>Laura, I'm sorry I have to disagree with you. Pitbulls are naturally attack dogs. They will turn on the owner or children at any given time. Just like certain dogs are predisposed to have certain illnesses. The temperment is no different. I had 2 pitbulls and I used to say all the time that they are a couple of Teddybears. Although they never attacked a human before, they did attack 2 dogs that was 2 times bigger than they were at White Rock Lake. The owners of the other 2 dogs didn't have them on leashes and they ran over to Boss and Boston. That is the only thing that save me from getting fined and them being taken away. When I saw the attack I was shocked at what they could do. I didn't know these dogs anymore. My husband had to beat them off the other dogs with a stick. When I bacame pregnant with my 3rd child I decided to give them away. I didn't want to take any chances that they would be jealous of my baby and attack him. Truth is I LOVE dogs and the 2 pits I have were my favorite dogs (except my Golden Retreiver) out of all the dogs I had but they do have an aggression (spelling) problem. It's in their blood to attack for no reason. They didn't need a reason, they just wanted to. They have so many triggers that you can't even count them. A family that has children under 13 years should not have pitbulls because the are unpredictable. I hope this baby pulls through....my prayers go out to this family.

This is the most stupid thing I have read.
It is not IN THEIR BLOOD to attack for no reason. They do not have "so many triggers".
Pitbulls are not "Natural" attack dogs.
Pitbulls were bred to be DOG aggressive, not human aggressive.
Idiot.

[Lori Fielder]

sam wrote:

Where are yall getting your bite pressure results.
cause i clearly remember NGC doing a show about this with Dr. Brady Barr .
and here were the results.
Here are the results of all of the animals tested:
Humans: 120 pounds of bite pressure
Domestic dogs: 320 LBS of pressure on avg. A German Shepherd Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), and Rottweiler were tested using a bite sleeve equipped with a specialized computer instrument. The APBT had the least amount of pressure of the 3 dogs tested.
Wild dogs: 310 lbs
Lions: 600 lbs
White sharks: 600 lbs
Hyenas: 1000 lbs
Snapping turtles: 1000 lbs
Crocodiles: 2500 lbs
Nat. Geo actually did a follow-up on this first special,“The Big Bite II-Dangerous Encounters”. Using the same techniques, Dr. Barr tested some other
animals, including a Hyacinth McCaw(parrot), a Tasmanian Devil, a Savanah monitor lizard, a Nurse shark and a large Alpha male wolf. The wolf’s bite
was a bit over 400 pounds p.s.i, making it the strongest biter of the canids, but the two-pound McCaw nearly equaled that 100+ pound wolf, with a bite force of 375 p.s.i, and it did not appear to be doing anything more than just playing around with the bite meter instrument, as it was a tame bird! In the first bite-force special, the APBT (which DID appear to be biting that sleeve for all it was worth, a good “full-mouth” bite)managed only 127 p.s.i, just seven pounds more than the HUMAN tested! In the second special, Dr. Barr was convinced that the young crocodile he’d tested was not performing up to snuff in its bite, since all the crocodilians he’d tested had all been freshly-caught specimens, which were exhausted after a struggle. He tested the device again on a 18-foot wild male Nile croc, in the wild, unrestrained, that was brumating in a den on an African river bank to escape the daytime heat, by actually crawling down the burrow himself! That animal managed, with a single bite, to exert a pressure of over SIX THOUSAND pounds per square inch, making it the most powerful bite of any animal, ever recorded.
if i read that correct it SAID ..
The APBT had the least amount of pressure of the 3 dogs tested.

Sam, you need to get a life and a different breed of dog.

[Talamascaa]

Tobybones wrote:

<quoted text>
This is the most stupid thing I have read.
It is not IN THEIR BLOOD to attack for no reason. They do not have "so many triggers".
Pitbulls are not "Natural" attack dogs.
Pitbulls were bred to be DOG aggressive, not human aggressive.
Idiot.

Dogs view children as animals. They naturally try to dominate them.

[dani]

fyi people- german shepards are just as likly to attack as chows, pitts rotts....but yet no one is doggin them. Its all in how you raise them. I agrre this is just the generation of ban pitts....when i was growing up it was ban rotts....there so dangerous.......when my mom was growin up it was chows......

[shellytx911]

I wanted to make a comment to Dani....You are so right ..any dog can attack...I am going to research online as I have never in my life or my career seen or heard of a fatality with an attack involving a German Shephard, or chow..Never heard of a fatal attack with a single rott only more than 2. I seen the outcome of a older lady...in the county..in her own yard, planting flowers..and 4 rots attacked her..needless to say she didnt survive as I tried my damndest...My neighbor 7 years old, was playing Basketball outside, my children and myself also were in my yard..when the people accross the street opened their garage door, their pit came running out and charges this little boy, knocked him down...I told me kids to get inside our house, grabbed a shovel..and went next door, before I got their his dad and the owner of the dog were at the little boys side, the dad struck the dog several times...and the dog never let up, the owner after about 6 minutes was able to get control of his dog, outside his yard..I rode in the ambulance with the mom, and after 82 stitches in the boys arms, neck, head and abd he was released to go home....I have never in 11 years been working seen so much blood..I have worked shootings, stabbings you name it and I have seen it. It was sad...Why did the dog come out with rage? I dont think anyone will ever know.....Its sad that dogs are labeled, its sad that you cant enjoy walking or being outside, in fear that owners of pets are not responsible to keep them on leash....We are always going to have theses issues with all breeds....all we can do is be more aware of the surroundings, and as parents, we should teach our children not to touch or go near any dog they dont know, let alone, go by themself. Supervision is the key, and how you raise your animals is a major part. I am not a big fan of pits, I would never own one myself..have friends that have them, I just chooses not to take my children ovcer to their house....Thanks ( I am going to see if I cant get pics of these results of the attackts and post them for all to see with out pt info/conf. released.)

[Lori Fielder]

shellytx911 wrote:

I wanted to make a comment to Dani....You are so right ..any dog can attack...I am going to research online as I have never in my life or my career seen or heard of a fatality with an attack involving a German Shephard, or chow..Never heard of a fatal attack with a single rott only more than 2. I seen the outcome of a older lady...in the county..in her own yard, planting flowers..and 4 rots attacked her..needless to say she didnt survive as I tried my damndest...My neighbor 7 years old, was playing Basketball outside, my children and myself also were in my yard..when the people accross the street opened their garage door, their pit came running out and charges this little boy, knocked him down...I told me kids to get inside our house, grabbed a shovel..and went next door, before I got their his dad and the owner of the dog were at the little boys side, the dad struck the dog several times...and the dog never let up, the owner after about 6 minutes was able to get control of his dog, outside his yard..I rode in the ambulance with the mom, and after 82 stitches in the boys arms, neck, head and abd he was released to go home....I have never in 11 years been working seen so much blood..I have worked shootings, stabbings you name it and I have seen it. It was sad...Why did the dog come out with rage? I dont think anyone will ever know.....Its sad that dogs are labeled, its sad that you cant enjoy walking or being outside, in fear that owners of pets are not responsible to keep them on leash....We are always going to have theses issues with all breeds....all we can do is be more aware of the surroundings, and as parents, we should teach our children not to touch or go near any dog they dont know, let alone, go by themself. Supervision is the key, and how you raise your animals is a major part. I am not a big fan of pits, I would never own one myself..have friends that have them, I just chooses not to take my children ovcer to their house....Thanks ( I am going to see if I cant get pics of these results of the attackts and post them for all to see with out pt info/conf. released.)

Hi Shelly. I appreciate your comment the most as it portrays the pits as they really are. The thing is, yes all breeds can attack with no provacation at all, but the pit can tear an animal or human apart. We do have alot of issues of dogs running loose and when they run in packs it's even worse. Why don't we try to at least change the characterisics of the breed? Apparently they did it in the Dobermans. I don't want to see a ban either and there are alot of irresponsible owners out there. Sam, I apologize for the rude comment, but I'm only hoping that you are responsible enough not to assume that your pit will never harm anyone. I don't even assume that my shelties will never attack for no reason. I'm sure there is always a reason in their minds, we just don't understand. Even if you owned a Siberian Tiger you would have to make sure they are secure in their own enviroment, right? I have been writing to the Mayor of Haltom City and to the State Rep, Kelly Hancock to address these issues and to have a Breed Specific legislation as well. I feel this is necessary until the pits are under control. They should at the very least be neutered and spayed by law. I would like to know where the puppies are that the one pit involved in this case are?

[George Lee]

It has happened again! This report aired this morning on another network (Fox)

"A 70-year-old woman was injured after she says she was attacked by a pit bull last week. She was out with her two grandchildren and small dogs when the attack happened"

[Bill]

sam wrote:

i have a basset hound too :0).
but i trust my American pit bull terrier more then my basset specially with kids.
no i would not back my dog up if she attacked but shes been raised right and loves kids, shes never shown any aggression at all towards humans she loves to meet new people .
the most harm she'll ever do is leave you wet with all her kisses and maybe leave a mark on your leg from her tail lol.
<quoted text>

Hey Sam, I will say this, since you own a Pit you will know your dog better than I do. However my in-laws are huge Pit fans. They have had several. When my daughter was around 3 years old we were all in the back yard. My in-laws had pit they had gotten as a puppy. He was now about 13 years old. Always friendly, never an issue nor had he ever shown aggression. My daughter was on the swing set and he was walking around in the yard as usual. When she went forward for the upswing, he walked over and jumped up in the air, opened his mouth and tried to latch on to her face. As he closed his mouth the swing came down and she got a nic on her left cheek. Had she still been moving forward he would have locked down on both cheeks. She obviously was terrified and started crying. The dog was never allowed around the kids again. No reason for it, he just decided it was something he wanted to do. Thats my point. Sure there are many of these animals that remain docile for their entire lives. But plenty that don't. Its almost like watching a dog do the ritualistic actions of wolves and all. You can't breed it all out of anything. A small bit of aggression is built into all domesticated animals. Then you start breeding them to fight and this is what you get.

[Madd Citizen]

sam wrote:

no i'm not wrong.
i've done my research i know all about the breed, why do you think i am it.
i would not own a breed if i never did research on it, thats irresponsible, and thats also the problem alot of people have .
they get a dog breed they do NO RESEARCH what so ever and then wonder what they did wrong.
i will never see APBT or any dog as a WILD ANIMAL , they are a domesticated DOG .
APBT are not WIRED to think "Attack a human" , and they dont just one day up and decide "ohhh i'll pick that person today to attack" .
APBT were bred for bull baiting , not pit fighting not human aggression .
yes over the years they were then bred for fighting but even then there still were not Human aggressive pit bulls ,
what mad the dogs AGGRESSIVE was HUMANS , they started breeding human aggressive pits .
so aagain BAD BREEDING (breeding human aggressive pit bulls), not properly training them , abuse and neglect(not excercising) are reasons there are so many pit bull attacks now.
they will not just turn on you for NO REASON!
how can you love the breed and say this , thats like saying you agree with BSL!
i know about the
American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)
American Staffordshire Terrier (Amstaff)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier(Staffy)
<quoted text>

Well we are not talking about what they were breed for before. They are not wired right now. There probably has been bad breeding but you can't determine which one is good and which one is not. Mine were good and never attacked a human, I didn't want to chance it with my child.

[shellytx911]

I was just talking to one of our fire officers, and he was telling me about a call we had not too ling ago, a man was walkning his little smaller breen dog, and as he passed a school, 2 pits somehow came through the gated fence and attacked the man and his poor dog..it was an elderly man so the defense was not all that good, the fire dept arived and saw the man on the ground..Leroy, fire officer placed his hands around the pit, while he was attacking the man, and choked his ass to death....his intentions was to ake the dog passout, by putting pressure on his jugular, however, the dog didnt pass out...lots of people were angry at him..I gave him kudos, we all know what would of happened to him and the man the dogs attacked...Leroy acted appropriatly to me...the man walked away from the hospital with 180 staples and the little dog, was dead. How many people take their kids or their dogs for a walk? I know I do...you never knwo what will trigger theses dogs to attack..and now we have another 7 year old attacked and a 70 year old that was attacked 2 times by the same dog..I feel the owners should step up and take responsability for these attacks...reguardless of the behavior of their pets...you never know what animal may act out...but never say it wont happen to you,,,cause it can and might!

[Madd Citizen]

Tobybones wrote:

<quoted text>
This is the most stupid thing I have read.
It is not IN THEIR BLOOD to attack for no reason. They do not have "so many triggers".
Pitbulls are not "Natural" attack dogs.
Pitbulls were bred to be DOG aggressive, not human aggressive.
Idiot.

These dogs have attaked for no reason. It has been apart of the news for the last 8 or 9 years real heavy that these dogs will attack for nothing. I've had 3 total and I watched them, i studied them. These dogs are vicious. You are one of those ignorant owners that "think" your dog will not do any wrong. Don't be suprised if you find yourself with a lawsuit. It is owners like you that are careless and think your dog is an angel and would never do a thing like that. My dog did and I rasie it from a puppy. I walked it, I trained it, I love it and cared for it. They didn't attack human but they did attack 2 other dogs. I've known personally a pit that drug a 5 year old under a house after he tried to tear his neck off.....for no reason. The kids walked outside. I said it before and will say it a thousand times over. The breed is not to be around kids or other smaller pets. You missed the whole point because you were to busy attacking me. I LOVE THE BREED....just not around smaller individuals that cannot defend themselves.

[duh]

heres that info you are looking for
regarding dog attacks, you will notice that shepard are #3 on the list http://www.dogbitelaw.com/breeds-causing-DBRF...

shellytx911 wrote:

I wanted to make a comment to Dani....You are so right ..any dog can attack...I am going to research online as I have never in my life or my career seen or heard of a fatality with an attack involving a German Shephard, or chow..Never heard of a fatal attack with a single rott only more than 2. I seen the outcome of a older lady...in the county..in her own yard, planting flowers..and 4 rots attacked her..needless to say she didnt survive as I tried my damndest...My neighbor 7 years old, was playing Basketball outside, my children and myself also were in my yard..when the people accross the street opened their garage door, their pit came running out and charges this little boy, knocked him down...I told me kids to get inside our house, grabbed a shovel..and went next door, before I got their his dad and the owner of the dog were at the little boys side, the dad struck the dog several times...and the dog never let up, the owner after about 6 minutes was able to get control of his dog, outside his yard..I rode in the ambulance with the mom, and after 82 stitches in the boys arms, neck, head and abd he was released to go home....I have never in 11 years been working seen so much blood..I have worked shootings, stabbings you name it and I have seen it. It was sad...Why did the dog come out with rage? I dont think anyone will ever know.....Its sad that dogs are labeled, its sad that you cant enjoy walking or being outside, in fear that owners of pets are not responsible to keep them on leash....We are always going to have theses issues with all breeds....all we can do is be more aware of the surroundings, and as parents, we should teach our children not to touch or go near any dog they dont know, let alone, go by themself. Supervision is the key, and how you raise your animals is a major part. I am not a big fan of pits, I would never own one myself..have friends that have them, I just chooses not to take my children ovcer to their house....Thanks ( I am going to see if I cant get pics of these results of the attackts and post them for all to see with out pt info/conf. released.)

[duh]

a ban on a specific breed
might cause people who want a dangerous dog to simply
turn to another breed for the same qualities they
sought in the original dog (eg, large size, aggression
easily fostered). Breed-specific legislation does not
address the fact that a dog of any breed can become
dangerous when bred or trained to be aggressive. From
a scientific point of view, we are unaware of any formal evaluation of the effectiveness of breed-specific legislation
in preventing fatal or nonfatal dog bites.