Just how often has he abused you in the past.If you

abused pit bulls [2008-11-09]
Again I refer to the web site I have posted which gives statistics regarding pit bull ownership by criminals. I don Of course I am not suggesting that you orblondiearecriminals, but I would hope that you could at least admitthat a large percentage of pit bulls are owned by those involved in drugs and other crimes, with the purpose of attacking and/or intimidatingothers in their criminal circle. There are countless other breeds capable of providing the same companionship and loyalty and unconditional love as a pit bull, but without the strength and aggression to kill human beings. Did you read on the web site about the 24-year-old woman who was killed in her own bed by her 2 pit bulls she had raised since puppyhood? Nobody knows what happened, but these were her two babies, and yet then turned on her and killed her. It is believed that she could have had a seizure, as she was epileptic. Why would a dog perceive their master lying in bedhaving a seizure(if indeed that is what happened) as a threat, and why would they kill her? What set them off? Ask yourself THAT question. Ifpit bullswere the only loyal dog or the only loving dog available to own, I could maybe understand the risk all you owners are taking. But that is just not the case. There are so many other breeds with which you can form that same bond, without the terrible risks.

Hi elonmt. Yes, past the Rockaway Mall [2008-10-29]
going west towards PA. Live off of Route 80. My power went out at 12:30 as well as cable. Power came back on at 3 a.m. this morning, 29th and cable back on at 10 this morning. Man o Man. It has been crazy here. We had about 5 inches. Trees were falling, power lines down, roads closed. If felt like a January blizzard when I was out shoveling. Yes, I had to do it, but it was very heavy. I could not even have a cup of hot chocolate when I was done. We had to go out to eat also, but I was not complaining. Sleep with sweatshirt on with a hood and many, many blankets. Glad it is over. Can't wait until we get into winter. LOL

Where in Northern NJ? Past Rockaway Mall? [2008-10-28]
no msg

I have fostered dogs in the past, but [2008-10-25]
had a hard time giving them up, still have all three! In my area, the shelter relies heavily on donationsto keep operating efficiently, so basically the foster homes take responsibility for all expenses of the animal being fostered.Fostering gives animals a chancewho would otherwise be put to deathbecause of lack of room, money or lack of people to rehabilitate the ones who have been mistreated and need extra attention.It is so worth it to give an animal a second chance at life.You have to be willing to let go though when the time comes and it is very hard to do. I just could not do it and so now just stick to volunteering at the shelter and doing fundraising and stuff.

sorry, but I couldn't get past Daddy sleeping with [2008-10-09]

As the wife of a past mud-bogger....I can tell you this (sm) [2008-09-01]
I think he actually should be nice and be willing to help. No he is not obligated to do so, but he should do it out of kindness. My husband as I type, is still out, having driven far off to go duck hunting. Everything is always left up to me and I am afraid that is how it will also be for your daughter. If he is not helpful now, right before the marriage, he will only get worse after. That is a fact. It is a reflection on how much he values your daughter as well. Knowing that her mother is single and does not have others to help, he should be more than willing to come and help. In my case, my husband has never done anything for my family, but I am expected to do tons for his. I do a lot for them and I don't mind, but they never understand that I also do 99% of the child care and house work around here, and I also work. I work from home because with all of my husband's hobbies, someone has to be home to take care of things here!! Okay, off my soap box now. But I disagree with the poster below...You do have a right to be offended.

Dogs - past and present [2008-08-28]
What breed(s) do you have now? What have you had in the past? I have two Basset Hounds now. In the past, I've owned a Beagle/German Shepherd mix, a PitBull/Doberman mix, a Beagle, and another Basset Hound. Growing up, I had a Chihuahua and an English Springer Spaniel. Love Basset Hounds the best of all breeds, followed closely by the Beagle.

We just got WII fit this past week [2008-08-11]
I) We bought this WII for my son last Christmas and I can honestly say it was money well spent. They have a blast with it and they aren't constantly sitting. We don't have the Guitar Hero but maybe that will be next on the list.

current and past choices [2008-07-25]
Current: NCIS, Mad Men, DamagesPast: West Wing, Will Grace, M*A*S*H, Shark, Golden Girls

Obviously you have never been abused... [2008-05-29]
Abuse is abuse whether it is physical or emotional. I have been there. There is no grade to it. Plain and simple, it is abuse. I left my first husband after 13 years of marriage. I was abused emotionally by him as well as neglected at time. We have a daughter together, but I left anyway. She lives with me and is very well-adjusted at this point. She is in a stable relationship with a wonderful, loving guy. I am happily married (for seven years now) again. My advise is to do what you feel is right for you. No one can tell you what to do as they do not know your heart and soul. If you want to leave, your kids will adjust given time and love. If you want to stay, take care of your heart. But, it has to come from you, it has to be your choice. I wish you the best of luck and you will be in my prayers.

what is something you have bought in the past you will NEVER [2008-05-06]
Mine is Little Critters Omega-3 Gummy Fish. Cute concept but the berry, lemon and strawberry flavoried gummies somehow manage to taste like fruity flavored fish When I got them, my kids gagged with the first one and wouldn't even touch the second one for the recommended 2 a day. So guess who is choking down 2 of those suckers every day now?

Just how often has he abused you in the past.If you [2008-04-18]
x

Past, present, future. Still expecting miracle. [2008-03-20]
//

Way past childbearing age.. [2008-02-14]
NM

Sharing your past [2008-01-29]
I have an 18 yo son and a 16 yo daughter and this subject comes up occasionally. So far we haven We both come from alcoholic families though were blessed never to become alcoholic ourselves, but we We strive for simplicity in our family, and they can see how immoral behavior almost always makes for a more complicated life. At 18 and 16 they both just tasted wine for the first time (other than church) this Christmas and none of their friends drink, or even smoke. They know their grandmother died of emphysema. They also know that my life changed drastically when their oldest brother was born 37 years ago when I was 18, and also that both their father and I have struggled hard all our lives because of not going to college. For every but you came out okay there's the answer that it could have been so much easier to get here had we made different choices, and making the right choices is what it's all about, isn't it?

No...but just can't get past this one - still ROFL! [2008-01-29]
x

She's graduated past the age [2007-12-28]
where you should feel an obligation of any kind. You are her godparent, so she is supposed to give you a gift, right? Is she?

A bunch of us on the "other" board did this in recent past [2007-12-20]
s

It is in the not-so-distant past that women had very few rights! (sm) [2007-12-11]
My mother was sexually abused by her stepfather - it was the 60s - she went to the police and they told her to go home. She ran away from home and they took her back. She told family members and they told her to keep it quiet. She eventually somehow pressed charges and took him to court...and the judge told her to go home and forget about it.

Past retirement age. [2007-11-29]
NM

This is a picture of the abused, beaten into submission [2007-11-21]
He looks horribly unhappy, don't ya think?

LOL. If I actually abused my dog, I certainly [2007-11-21]
I can see why you were reluctant. Thanks for the nice comment.

This past weekend my neice was [2007-10-29]
leaving school (this is her freshman year) to come home for the weekend. Her car wouldn She certainly could have called her RA for suggestions or even called campus securtiy but due to no experience with something like this she caught a ride with a friend that lives in our area. Her mother and a friend took her back to school yesterday with jumper cables (turns out the battery was dead cause she had left a light on) and a few lessons about her car. They showed her how to use the cables, check air pressure in tires, check oil, washer fluid, etc. Both my kids are still home so these are things I had never thought of and obviously my SIL hadn A lot of these things I still don I lived with my parents until the day I married so I have always had someone to take care of these things for me. I just wanted to pass along this tip for anyone else like me that just never thought about it before. I guess we all live and learn.

I don't know how women in the past did that - sm [2007-10-10]
I mean for me it hurt like the dickens (unfortunately did it twice that fateful evening) and I couldn't walk without incredible pain for days afterwards. Who would want to deal with that on their honeymoon? Certain would kill the urge.... Now maybe that is not the norm, but I swear childbirth was easier.

Michael Vick getting his way past dues [2007-09-25]
Whoopi does not seem to know that all southerns are not into dog fighting (ridiculous) but grand jury in Virginia bringing their own charges against Vick for the dog fighting. Just heard on Fox channel. Good for them! Says he could get up to 10 years- hope for that also. What a rotten excuse for a person.

P.S. I am totally not market/investment [2008-11-21]
savy, but just did what he suggested. I have been with this guy for 12 years and he has made me money in the past, so I just went with what he said.

How exciting for you -- sm [2008-11-21]
I My mom always drug me out an hour before the stores opened. The ads usually come out in Thursday In the past, I Get the paper and makea game plan. Some stores open an hour or 2 later than others, so you may be able to get to both in time for the specials you Wal-Mart generally has a lot of specials, especially in the toys dept. Our Wal-Mart gives you a map when you enter to tell you where each BF special is located in the store. They put some stuff in strange places -- like TVs in the meat dept, computers in dairy, etc. It Ask the Wal-Mart greeter when you enter. Our Wal-Mart is also open 24 hours, as are most, which means no waiting outside. We usually arrive an hour before the sales start so we can be in position for the item. Obviously, the most-sought after items are electronics, so be there early if you Target is 1 of my favorite places because their specials run all weekend, not just until 11 a.m. (I hope it They usually open an hour after Wal-Mart. I usually head there second because even though the specials run all weekend, they do run out of stock. Kohl The cash can be redeemed usually starting the Sunday after Black Friday. Don If there General advise: Wear comfortable shoes. Be polite to others, but don If you got there first, it Make sure you and DH have cell phones so you can communicate if you get separated. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!! Let us know how you make out afterwards.

Ewwwwwww!!!! [2008-11-21]
I couldn't watch past the first minute when she told her daughter no monkey business. That is just wrong.

Anyone go through a divorce w/younger kids? sm [2008-11-20]
Iit just isn while I have always felt you don't throw around the word divorce unless you mean it. Well, I mean it now. I gave him an ultimatum - straighten himself out or I leave with the kids. I am not going to go through 5 years of this again. It is affecting the kids, and my son is acting out to the point of saying he wishes he had never been born. I am giving my husband until after Christmas to decide what he is going to do, and if he does not value our marriage more than his alcohol, I am moving out of state. This is not to keep him away from the kids but because my parents (divorced also) are in a different state than I am and I have no family at all here. Has anyone had to make a decision like this? I donno other options. He refuses to go to counseling or to see a doctor about what I am positive is depression. Any tips or suggestions? Sorry to dump on everyone like this, thanks for reading.

I think you are right. [2008-11-20]
I have had most of the day to think things over and cry. I did talk to him a bit and realize that it is mostly his pride (man-ness) that is the problem. I just have to stand my ground and not feel guilty for it, although I will anyway...I think that is just the female (or pregnant hormonal lol) way with feelings, etc. I have also been thinking today that even though things are getting really tough, we have been able to pay our bills so far. It's really going to suck with the holidays especially but it will be past in a couple months and life will resume as normal. Who knows where we will be by then but for now things could be much worse. Even with all the headaches, stress, tears, etc. it could be much worse if we lost a job or...well I don't even want to think about the other horrible things that people go through. Thanks for your support and understanding. Some times women just need to know that they aren't alone in their struggles.

I think I spend less at the store when [2008-11-18]
we eat out/order in. Of course, then our entertaining budget increases. But some things are cheaper to just order in. For example, pizzas -- I can get 2 large pepperoni pizzas from the local pizzeria for under $20. If I buy them in the store, I spend about $15 and then have to cook them and my kids don The frozen kind are also smaller. I just got groceries this past Friday and spent $200. I had an entire cart full. In addition to the coupons I had, I also had a 20% discount on everything (one of those reward plans for spending so much the previous 2 months). I got value packs of skinless/boneless chicken breasts - buy 1 get 1 free -- $15 packs of chicken, breakfast sausage on sale, ham steaks on sale, plus my 20% off all that. Overall, I think I spend somewhere around $150 a week on groceries. There are 5 of us -- me, my hubs, and 3 boys -- ages 6 to 11. What I notice that I spend more on are school lunches. It costs $2.00 a day per child and I don I $2/day x 3 kids = $6/day x 5 days/week = $30/week x 4 weeks/month = $120 for lunch. YIKES!!! I think I can do better than that if I pack them.

I'm embarrassed to say this, but [2008-11-18]
we usually eat out at least 3 if not 4 nights a week. Always eat out on Fridays and Saturdays and then usually Tuesday and Thursday nights. I generally cook a large family meal on Sunday with enough leftovers to last through Monday. Tuesday night we either order in and Wednesdays we have breakfast for dinner -- my kids love that one. Thursdays we usually order in because it We usually eat out Friday nights because we go to get groceries (I don Saturday we We When it was a 15-minute drive to town, I planned our meals ahead of time and usually only ordered once a week or once every 2 weeks and we only ate out on Saturdays. We seemed to have picked up these extra 2 nights of ordering in out of convenience (a nicer word than laziness). Oh the cost -- I have 3 kids and a hubby. On the nights we order in, we spend about $25 to $30 (saving because of no drinks or appetizers). When we eat out, the bill is usually around $50. So altogether, I guess I spend about $155 a week on eating out -- WOW/YIKES! Thanks for making me realize that. I think it

I believe it is rated MA, and if not it should [2008-11-18]
be. As for reading the series for Twilight, once I started I could not put it down. With the first book, the first 7 chapters are slow, but if you get past that you are hooked.

Rest in peace, Fred! [2008-11-16]
We just put our 22-year-old cat, Fred, to sleep this evening. He had wasted away from 17 pounds to 5 pounds and was too weak to stand or eat. He was a loving companion for the past 22 years and will be missed dearly. Rest in peace, Fred. Benny, Gus, and Lily will be waiting in heaven to greet you with open arms!

I think you are an inspiration for wanting to do this....sm [2008-11-16]
I guess a lot of us can relate; I have 2 or 3 people from my past that have moved far away and I have no way of finding them right now, but please believe me, I truly want to do the same thing, go to them and make peace, to say be able to forgive each other and leave things on good terms. Regrets and guilts can slowly eat away, and it is good for your own personal health to do this, you must feel so much better. WE all mess up, we all need forgiveness now and then, or to grant forgiveness. You are a lovely person with integrity, honor, and caring to do this, such a lovely post to read!!!

I need some advice [2008-11-15]
Ok this is the story: My husband is still friends with his first girlfriends family. This does not bother me. She did a couple of things to really disgrace her family when she was dating him but after a period of time he still kept in touch with them as we live in a very small community. When we met and got engaged they were all very kind to me and the mother even did the cake and flowers for our wedding. The ex is never around much so no big deal. Well this past weekend her great grandmother passed. My husband had known this woman for sometime and the mother asked him to come to the funeral and told me I was not to feel like I shouldnI. To which the ex rolled her eyes and looked at her HUSBAND. So we walked away. To tell you the truth, we didn't really care. Well we get a phone call about an hour ago from the exum we aren Well, knowing how immature the ex and her husband are, we knew they were behind this (plus we could hear them in the background). So my husband told the boy Look, it Well a few minutes later he gets a text message from the brother saying my mom can (which obviously is not true since we saw her Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon and she was obviously not mental). So my husband sent back a message saying Look, whatever issues your sister has with me and your mom having an ADULT friendship, she needs to take those up with your mom, but quit trying to start drama. Well a few minutes later the phone rings. My husband handed me the phone. Knowing how mad he was at the moment, I answered. It was the ex. She asked if she could talk to him, and I said No. This needs to stop right now, it She said well my mom is really going crazy and she can. She went on for about five minutes and I said fine, we won I'm just so angry right now! I mean this is high school drama! What would you do? I know the mom will be absolutely heartbroken if my husband and I just stop coming to see her and talking to her (since her lovely daughter never comes home). I mean except for the funeral, we never go around if she is going to be there, and we don't sit there and talk bad about her or anything. I honestly think she knows she screwed up by messing around on him SIX YEARS AGO and is just upset that he's married and happy and it sounds like her husband is a jerk.

I have two dogs [2008-11-13]
They love me and are all over me every chance they get. Most dogs love me. The dog next door will look at my kitchen window and if she sees me, she will wag her tail and bark until I come out and pet her. I am horribly afraid of German Shepherds. I got bit near my eye by one. My BIL has 2 of these dogs and they can tell I don't like them. But they just avoid me. Now my friend who lives about a mile from me has a small dog and that dog hates me with a passion. It gets so upset and snarly when it even hears my van. I refuse to go in her house until that thing is caged. Am I bad person? I don't think so. Funny thing, I drive past her house to pick my girls up from school. They have a couch in front of a big window and every day when it is time for me to go by, that dog gets up on the couch and when I drive by it freaks.

Slightly different perspective. [2008-11-13]
So maybe I shouldn't post about this since I have not exactly been in your shoes but I think possibly I can lend a help perspective. I lost my father to cancer when I was 19. My FIL is an alcoholic. No I didn't grow up in a divorced family or without a father through my childhood and no I haven't experienced my father being an alcoholic. What I feel I can tell you is there is such a thing as being too late to say the things you wanted to say, good or bad. If it does come to that, you will never let it go. He is still your father regardless of the choices he has made in his life. You only have 1 father. After seeing my FIL, I believe alcoholism is an illness. Sure people can fight it and get help if they wan, but it takes a very, very strong person to overcome it and it is a constant battle. From the sounds of your post it seems as though you have some things you need to get off of your chest. Whether that means sitting down and talking to him or putting the past in the past and moving on with any kind of relationship - I think only you can figure that out. Even a relationship that is only on holidays and important events is still a relationship. Who knows, maybe talking to your mom would help her as much as it might help you. It certainly can't be a short conversation, it needs to be thorough to get through the surface feelings and to the nitty gritty. Maybe, just maybe, your mom could shed some light for you on why she has been able to forget the past to a certain extent and move on. If nothing else, this might make you and your mom even closer and it sounds like no one else (professional or otherwise) would understand better than her. With my FIL, we do not stay when he is drunk or starts drinking. The entire family knows we pack up and leave, regardless of the situation. It hurts his feelings sometimes I can tell, but he knows the circumstances and we have small children that we will not subject to that. It was difficult at first but over the years it is just the way it is and no one says a word anymore and respects where we are coming from.

Been there done that [2008-11-13]
If you haven't already, read books about Adult Children of Alcoholics. My dad was a serious alcoholic who managed to hold down 2 full time jobs. He was either coming home drunk in the middle of the night and waking up everyone fighting with my mother, or when he would have a day off, he was an awesome fun Dad. He never drank at home or in front of us. So it was very confusing. Fast forward many years, at 63 he was diagnosed with cirrhosis and bleeding ulcers and had an emergency subtotal gastrectomy because he almost died. From there on, he stopped drinking because he had to, not because he wanted too. He died less than 3 years later. He lived with me for the last 2 years and I took care of him, and we became very close. It didn't erase all the bad stuff, but I was at peace when he died. I would try to make amends with your Dad now and let go of the past, because to put it bluntly you are a big girl now and you can't be angry about your childhood forever. It is not healthy.

How many of you have a backup plan [2008-11-13]
if your spouse were to lose their job? Assuming the MT rate of pay isn I don We have no backup plan. My in-laws already have their other son (and family of 4) living with them due to job loss. My family lives in another state altogether. I don I just don Should we have some sort of plan in place? Do most people? Our savings has dwindled to nothing this past year with all the increased expenses and we have cut back all we can. There's nothing else to cut other than house/cars/utilities.

There are no jobs where I am sm [2008-11-13]
I had thought of working part-time in a mall to get the discount, do some Christmas shopping, get out to see people, only a few days here and there. Our newspaper used to have at least 3-4 full pages, 7-8 on the week-end, down to 1 column on weekdays, 2 on weekends. Most are heavy lifting jobs for men and/or must speak Spanish, especially if medical. So I buy extra at every sale, extra everything, use coupons, got 30% off from Kohlnice dress with atoy inside.The only thing is I am getting depressed from clutter, too much stuff all over but have to remind myself some have nothing. We do not go out to eat except perhaps soup in a sour bread bowl on special just every other week or at a Panera Bread just to say we went out, bought video movies for a dollar at church bazaars (all Disney) for grandkids, using our VCR which will be obsolete soon but can still watch movies on old TVCutting back in general, baking bread, baking cookies, really clipping and saving everything I can get my hands on. Walmart does not accept internet coupons, so check the newspaper. I do read labels on food from Walmart as some is from China.Joined a wholesale club but found it more expensive than most stores, so we can get our money back, refundin 3 months so they tell us. I really wish I had been more frugal when I made decent money at MT, I can now see I was wasteful and shame on me! I should know better, have been through recessions before. They do turn around and the only good thing is they give us a swift kick in the rear! Feel sorry for those who can barely make it, work is hard to come by in New England and a lot are losing their jobs, even teachers with over 20 years. No one knows when the next shoe will fall, even malls are failing. I am leaving all tags on gifts this year, usually cut them off, but with so many people returning things for the money, they said itand even though I get gift receipts, I want them to see where it came from so the store won't give them grief. Target is the worst for returns. So that's my story here in cold, sleeting today, NE.

Thanks for your suggestions and kind words. [2008-11-12]
I am a very old fashioned person and generally speaking have the ideals that you speak of above. Making gifts, thinking outside of the box because it means more, putting aside the cost and really putting effort and thought into the gift - for any occasion. I know I have a short fuse right now with the hormones and it makes me not want to even try. Really my MIL is the only problem. Everyone else would love a thoughtful, homemade gift. I guess you sort of have to know her personality too. Generally speaking, she rubs me the wrong way but I try to just let things go. I just get tired of hearing the we are really going to cut back this year! when they said the same thing last year and it was a normal Christmas, then when I offer a suggestion she looks at me like I just cut someoneretired and bored. I did stand my ground this year though and tell my husband to deal with her on the Christmas morning doings. In the past Santa only comes to her house...so all the kids and grandkids have to cart their stuff over there to put under the tree and then wake up and drive over for presents in the morning. Screw that. In what fairy tale book did they read that Santa doesn't come to the house where the child sleeps?! Crazy how different families can be. Oh well, I'm getting off subject here but I thank you for your kind words and I'm going to try to change my attitude. I can only do what I can do. I suggested my homemade gift ideas to my husband and he then went through a catalog and picked out gifts. Granted they were $15-20 a piece but still. Every dollar counts these days. HI'm trying to look at it as one less thing I have to do or think about - I'm sure that's where he is coming from anyway. Men just think backwards sometimes.

No perfect family here sm [2008-11-11]
When I was younger and innocent, I believed I had started a wonderful tradition of having my family over for the holidays because I was the oldest and first married. After many years of dysfunction, second marriages, sibling rivalry, etc., have gone back to the basics, just my husband, my kids and their kids. I no longer have to listen to, I etc. I no longer have to wash my house down from smoking and no longer have to pick up half-empty alcoholic drinks (which by the way causes more havoc and tongue slips). We are happier, saner, and sober and we enjoy the holidays much more than when I spent a whole weekHome for the Holidays, National Lampoon and other films such as those and laugh at what used to be. Ifix people anymore, I can only fix myself. I don't think there is a Hallmark perfect family. If there is, it's news to me!

I'm a dog lover, and most dogs love me. - sm [2008-11-10]
I can be walking down the street, simply make eye contact with one and smile without saying a word, and the dog will usually rush up to me, wagging his tail like crazy and acting all silly and lovey-dovey. In the past, some of the absolute sweetest dogs I'd ever known were pits & rotties. But that was in the ྌs, before the big 'gangsta-dog' thing became popular. Then people started breeding these dogs more for a surly attitude than for good temperament, and it seems to be a dominant trait that's getting passed forward, even when unintended. So fast-forard to 2 weeks ago. I was out walking in my neighborhood, and was coming up a long flight of sidewalk stairs that go up the steep hill I live on. Halfway up, I saw a big brown pit bull standing there looking at me. I had seen him running loose on my street earlier in the day, and wondered whose he was, but then forgot about him. He had an aggressive body-language that I didn't like. But I'm not afraid of dogs, and continuned on up the steps, and talked to him nicely as I reached the top. But then the dog totally went off, and began barking, growling, and making charges at me. I knew to stand my ground, and first tried sweet-talking him. Didn't work. If I tried to slowly move away from him in any direction, he'd come around and try to come in at me from behind. There wasn't a soul around. I tried scaring him off, but that only exacerbated the problem, so I decided to just stand there and let him do his thing. 20 minutes later, he was just as aggressive as ever, maybe worse, because his charges were coming closer and closer. The only 'weapon' in my possession was a single can of cat food in a plastic bag, that I'd walked down the hill to the market to buy. Considered whacking him with it, but didn't want to be in that close to him. Turns out the owners were in an apartment right across the street. A couple finally came out and called off the dog, stating Oh, we didn (I doubt that - the dog had been out all afternoon.) Anyway, I told them I'd call the sheriff and/or animal control if I ever saw him out again. When I got home, I called animal control anyway, and filed a formal complaint, so that if he bit anyone in the future, there would already be a complaint against him, and he likely would not be released from the shelter. Animal control said they'd follow up with the owner, which hopefully they did. In the meantime, I did 2 things: I programmed the sheriff's phone numberinto my cellphone, which I now slip into my pocket whenever I go out for a walk. Good thing to do, anyway. The other thing is I went to Army-Navy Surplus, and bought a cannister of professional-grade pepper spray. Not the wimpy, .02% 'dog-repellent'. I doubt that would stop a pitbull. I got the 15% stuff that will bring a 200-pound, raging crack-addict to his knees and keep him there for more than an hour. That goes into my pocket, as well. Now I can walk & bike with peace of mind. Meanwhile, those pitbull owners should consider themselves very lucky that their dog went after someone who knows dogs, is not afraid, and didn't RUN. If a timid woman, or worse, a child, had come up those steps that afternoon, the resulting attack might have made the 6 o'clock news that night. There are probably still some gentle pits left out there, but I think their numbers are declining because of the current fashion statement of being a 'big bad gangsta, with my big, bad gansta-dog'. They want their dogs to intimidate people, and then they wonder why they can't rent an apartment or get homeowners insurance to cover dog bites. In some cities you have to post a $30,000 bond in order to keep one. It's little wonder that unwanted pits and pit-mixes are clogging up our animal shelters. I feel sorry for the animals, but if I were adopting, I wouldn't want the financial liability of owning one.

my point... [2008-11-09]
And MY POINT IS that it doesn't matter what the breed of the dog is! Could've happened regardless of the breed of the dog. And just about ANY dog would growl, bark, nip, bite if it was abused.... wouldn't you if you were the dog being abused??? And who leaves an elderly frail person with 3 large dogs??? That's like leaving a toddler with 3 large dogs REGARLESS OF THE BREED! We have always had large dogs, but when my grandfather got elderly we had to watch the dogs around him cuz they would get caught up playing and trip him & he would fall to the ground and hurt himself, so leaving an elderly person by themselves is not a good idea with 3 large dogs, and that's my point also!

pitbull statistics [2008-11-09]
The statistics which appear to show a high rate of attacks due to alleged �pit bull-type dogs� are full of inaccuracy simply because any dog that can pass for a �pit bull� will be called a �pit bull� by the media. And yes, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are often referred to by the slang term �pit bull,� but were these the actual breeds responsible for the attacks? Probably not since a slew of other breeds of dog � like Presa Canarios, Cane Corsos, Spanish Alanos, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Bandogs, Dogues Brasileiros, Dogo Argentino, Guatemalan Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, and even Labradors, Rottweilers, Akitas, and Chow Chows � have also been labeled �pit bulls.� Statistics are inaccurate because they are not based on �reliable breed-specific population data� Still, it is a testament to the quality of the breed that even though many are unsocialized, tortured, and otherwise ill-used, very few are human-aggressive. I hesitate even to include abuse as a factor since even when they are abused most bullies are incredibly friendly and loving towards humans. You can thank over a hundred years of proper breeding for this trait. There is no scientific evidence that one breed of dog is more vicious than another.

pitbulls [2008-11-09]
Lolabug is using phrases that some owners use to defend the breed simply because she obviously isnbreed issue. One thing about the pitbull breed that isn't in any other breed is that they are the #1 most abused dog in the U.S. and they are in serious need of good homes, and that is why I own them and will continue to own them. Instead of passing BSL around, they need to make people take dog ownership classes and get certified to help ensure they know how to take care of the dog, and frankly they ought to do this with all dogs and not just for pitbull owners. You can't let dogs raise themselves. Just like children need guidance and discipline so do dogs.

Pit bull or not he is a loving dog ...sm [2008-11-09]
who has never attacked and I honestly with all my heart know he would never hurt me. I believe in all honesty he would die to protect me to make sure I wasn't harmed if that is what it took. I know some pits have attacked owners and I believe these were either unstable dogs or abused or provoked. My dog has a respect for me also. He knows I am the boss and when I take a firm tone and let him know I am not happy with him he just bows his head and lays down. I didn't set out to own a pit bull he kind of fell into my lap you could say and I fell in love with him and he with me. I rocked him as a baby and nurtured him and he loves me with everything in him and I love him the same. My ownership of him just happened unexpectedly and I am so grateful it did. When I am sad he licks my tears and is so loving. I know other breeds are capable of this but CJ just happens to be a pitbull. I dont care. His breed is not important. It is the love in his heart. What is inside him. I don't judge a dog for what they are but who they are.

wish I had the answers [2008-11-09]
I really wish I had all the answers to everything, don't we all? I don't know why pitbulls are the most talked about and abused breed. And yea there are alot of criminals that use the dogs to fight in order to get them some quick money, it's sad it really is, and yet the dogs suffer for it. And you know with the pitbulls it is almost like a race issue to me. It is no secret that the jail cells have more blacks than whites, so does that men all black people commit crimes then??? no it doesn't. Like I said before I always look at the bigger picture. I hate dog attacks happen I really do, I wish we knew why in every single case, but we don't and it's very sad.

ask yourself this [2008-11-09]
Ask yourself this one question, how can the #1 abused dog in the U.S. also be the #1 most vicious dog in the U.S.??? doesn't make sense does it? How do these so-called vicious dogs keep getting fought and abused over and over again repeatedly and yet STILL find it in their heart to love humans after going through all that????