Pit Bulls

whoah bullshit lockjaw? this idiot is in the pet industry?

Ticomaya wrote:

Bella Dea wrote:

Don't even get me started on how ridiculous I think blaming a breed is.

The last thing I would want to do is get you started, Bella.

That made me laugh. Not sure if it was suppose to or not, but it did.

The problem is, as stated in one of the posts here, is not that pit bulls attack more often. It's that their attacks are worse than any other dog breed.

It's like not hearing about all the car crashes but hearing about plane crashes. There are far more car crashes in the US than plane wrecks but we hear about the plane wrecks because they are by far worse.

Aggressive Dogs Threaten Public Safety

The phrase "dog bite epidemic" appears on several US-based Web sites.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.7 million Americans - almost two per cent of the population - were bitten by dogs in 1994. One out of six required medical treatment. The American Humane Association calls dog bites a greater health problem for children in the US, than measles, mumps, and whooping cough combined, and points to data showing almost 70 percent of dog-bite victims are children under 15 years of age.

The Insurance Information Institute reported that claims related to dog bites accounted for about one quarter of all homeowner's liability claims in the US, with an average claim of $16,600. The fact that over half of the bites occur on the dog owner's property has prompted some American insurers to take steps to limit their losses.

Canada has no national data on canine population, dog-related deaths and injuries, or which breeds cause the most harm. In Canada, much of the insurance-related liability is borne by our health care system. Dog bites are a common reason for emergency room visits. Yet there is no mandatory reporting of these bites - not to mention the dogs' ownership, breed, spay/neuter status or history of aggression.

The coroner's report on a six-year old girl killed by dogs in 1999 found that 117,000 Quebeckers claimed to have been bitten by a dog between 1997 and 1998. Of these, 75 per cent were under the age of 10 and half were bitten by their own dogs. Extrapolating these numbers, the Canada Safety Council estimates that dogs bite 460,000 Canadians annually. Our problem is likely as serious as that of our southern neighbor.

All too often, the news carries reports of unprovoked attacks by dogs. Some kill smaller pets. Others attack people. Injuries can be severe, sometimes requiring extensive surgery.

In December 2002, two mastiff-cross dogs mauled a 14-year-old Vancouver girl, shredding the right side of her face and tearing off part of her scalp.

In January 2003, a neighbour's dog attacked a 10-year-old Edmonton girl, leaving her with 27 bruises and wounds up to three inches deep on her body.

In March 2003, four Rottweilers killed a four-year-old New Brunswick boy. The dogs belonged to a friend of the boy's father, and were living at the house.

In May 2003, a Rottweiler mauled a 26-year-old lab technician in Ottawa. The woman was severely traumatized, and her face will be scarred for life.

The right dog, well cared for, is a safe, reliable companion. However, dogs must be properly socialized and trained. They become a threat if they are abused, or deliberately bred or trained to attack people or animals. Any dog may bite if it is threatened, angry, afraid or in pain. Dogs have an instinct to defend their territory, whether that is space, food or a toy.

Most dog bite victims are children. In many cases, teasing or unintentionally provoking an aggressive reaction from a dog leads to a bite, but occasionally an attack is unprovoked. That is why small children should never be left alone with a dog. Whether or not there is a dog in the family, parents need to teach their children how to behave around dogs.

Dogs trained or bred to be vicious are often owned by drug dealers, criminal groups, and violent or irresponsible individuals who wish to intimidate others. These dogs - and their owners - present a serious threat to community safety.

In the past few years, fear of crime has led more people to acquire a dog for protection. But if they cannot control the animal, they endanger themselves and the community. For those who feel vulnerable, security devices available today offer much safer options.

Lifestyle is another factor. Owning a dog demands a major time commitment, as they need a lot of attention. Any owner who must keep a dog locked up (or chained outside) for 12 hours a day should probably not own one.

In Canada, animal control is largely a municipal responsibility. Breeders fall under provincial jurisdiction as a business. Import of animals, medical costs of treating bite injuries and collection of national injury data are federal matters.

Good animal control by-laws, well enforced, are part of the solution. In some areas, less than 20 per cent of dogs are licensed as required. Unlicensed animals are less likely to be spayed or neutered, a critical factor in preventing aggression. Ensuring the resources are in place to enforce animal control regulations will help a community protect its residents from aggressive dogs.

The National Companion Animal Coalition has prepared a position paper on effective and efficient animal control by-laws, including a sample by-law. The Coalition urges municipalities to adopt legislation to prevent harmful situations, bearing in mind that dangerous dogs are generally the result of irresponsible ownership and that owners should be held responsible for their dog's behavior. The position paper is posted on the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies Web site.

Statistics show that some breeds are more likely to be involved in vicious attacks. European countries have banned or outlawed the import and breeding of breeds deemed dangerous. Also many districts across the United States have developed breed specific legislation. A few Canadian municipalities have taken this approach, often in the wake of a serious incident.

Authorities should beware that breed bans may provoke people who want aggressive dogs to seek out other breeds to breed or train them to become vicious. After France passed legislation against certain breeds, Barbary apes were smuggled into the country to act as watchdogs. The apes have strong limbs, sharp teeth and short tempers; they attack humans on the head.

Breed bans should not be used as a quick fix. The solution lies in a combination of effective animal control measures, reputable breeders, responsible owners, public education, backed up with enforcement and based on reliable data.

The breed was introduced to other parts of Europe in the late 19th century and to the United States around the turn of the century. The American Kennel Club (AKC) registered the first Boxer in 1904, and recognized the first Boxer champion, Dampf vom Dom, in 1915. During World War I, the Boxer was co-opted for military work, acting as a valuable messenger dog, pack-carrier, attack dog, and guard dog. It was not until after World War II that the Boxer became popular around the world. Boxer mascots, taken home by returning soldiers, introduced the dog to a much wider audience and it soon became a favorite as a companion, a show dog, and a guard dog.

3-year-old girl injured in pit bull attack in Fort Worth

11:55 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

WFAA-TV (Channel 8)

A 3-year-old girl was critically injured when two pit bulls attacked her in a southeast Fort Worth neighborhood Wednesday night.

According to witnesses, the girl was bitten on her arms, legs, torso and face in the attack about 6:40 p.m. in the 5100 block of Desoto Court. She was responsive at the scene and was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center in critical but stable condition.

The girl's aunt reportedly was baby-sitting her and also was injured when she tried to stop the attack.

It was unclear who owned the pit bulls.

Pit bull kills toddler at Camp Lejeune

JACKSONVILLE -- A 3-year-old boy died Wednesday after being attacked by a dog at Camp Lejeune, Onslow Memorial Hospital spokesman Tim Strickland confirmed.

The dog, a pit bull, attacked the child at Tarawa Terrace I, base spokesman 1st Lt. Craig Thomas said. The dog was captured and is being held at the Camp Lejeune kennel, Thomas said.

The boy was taken to Onslow Memorial Hospital after the attack and arrived without a pulse, Strickland said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 5:08 p.m.

No specific animal breeds are forbidden on base, but animals that are deemed vicious are not allowed to stay in base housing, according to base order 10570.1B.

''In cases of serious injury or hospitalization is the result of an attack to any person or personal pet, the animal will be destroyed when it is reasonably apparent that failure to do so would subject the public to danger of further attacks," the order reads.

Further information on the attack and the identity of the victim were unavailable, and Thomas said the matter remains under investigation.

UPDATED: New Details In Deadly Camp Lejeune Pit Bull Attack

Camp Lejeune says a three-year-old was killed by a family friend's dog who came on base for a visit yesterday.

The Onslow County Medical Examiners Office says an autopsy this morning shows Julian Slack bled to death, due to the severity of the dog bites.

The autopsy says the child was bitten on the face, neck, head and right arm.

This afternoon base officials say the toddler was being watched by a baby sitter yesterday when the family friend arrived. A short time after the arrival, someone let the Pit Bull inside the home.

Base public affairs officers say the investigation shows a short time later the Pit Bull became startled and excited by something the child was doing and the dog attacked him. The base says the dog was not provoked by the child.

The base says the child's parents pulled up to the home as the attack was happening, and that's when the father rushed his son to the hospital in his own vehicle.

Camp Lejeune does have pet restrictions on base. They are to be on leash or in a fenced in area at all times. The public affairs office says it's not sure what restrictions there are for people visiting the base with their pets.

damn that sucks.



HUMAN BEING CALLED "ADOLF HITLER" MURDER MILLIONS OF ETHNIC PEOPLE, TALK OF BANNING HUMANS FROM BREEDING IS UNDERWAY, THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM WE HAVE EVER FACED, THE VIOLENT STRAIN OF APELIKE ANIMALS IS OUT OF CONTROL AND IS THE MOST VIOLENT AND DESTRUCTIVE AILMENT THIS PLANET HAS EVER FACED.

sorry i just had to.

Should we ban humans too? they cause way more harm than pitbulls ever did....

and everyone knows im damn right! haha i always win.

These and similar dogs are now illegal in Britain (since about three years ago, I think) because of many distressing attacks, people mauled and children killed.

I would love to see other dog attacks in the news. Pitbull attacks are in the media all of the time because that's what sells.

I am so proud of him and of all Pitbulls that demonstrate that "Pitbulls" are not born vicious or dangerous ...

... but it is environment in which they are brought up in that creates a "monster" as with any dog.