I could not own a pitbull because...
Posted By: Kendra on 2009-01-09
In Reply to: Goodness! - Forever Pitbull Owner
my husband is in the Navy and we move a lot; therefore, we end up renting houses a lot and nobody's insurance would allow it. While I am not convinced that they are all mean, I do think that they require a little more vigilance than other dogs, purely because of perception.
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If you want to see a pic of my pitbull...sm
and my beagle (who are best friends) then look up at the top where it says "I did want to show you my mom's five dogs" and one of the post underneath it says "this is my babies" and there is a pic of CJ the pit and Darla the beagle. He thinks she is the cat's meow.
I don't have a pitbull personally
But I do know that they can be well-tempered. A lot of the time, the problem is having more than one. Dogs have a pack mentality and if one decides to bite, it sets the others off and they tend to join in and things escalate.
That is such a terrible, sad story. What a horrible way to go.
pitbull statistics
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.
Pitbull Attack!?!?
This is a newspaper clipping from an attack that happened locally. When you read it you think to yourself "Oh my gosh! another pitbull attack" and it sounds like it is the dog's fault right? It is pretty convincing. THIS is what the public reads. What you DON'T KNOW is that the owner of this dog was training this dog to be mean, yes even with him having kids he was training the dog to be mean. And you ask how do I know this? It's because I was at the vet's office when they brought this dog in & this wasn't the first time they had a problem with this owner training dogs to be mean, and this was out of the vet's mouth himself. So because of this owner's training that he wouldn't admit to doing sadly there was a dog attack as a result and the dog had to be put down, but yet everybody will go on thinking "oh another vicious pitbull".
PitBull's are misunderstood...
Instead of focusing narrowly on only your dislike of PitBulls, why don't you look at the bigger picture as a whole...
First of all, the statistics on "fatal attacks"...well it doesn't take a genius to realize that a big strong dog like a PitBull or a Rottweiler is going to do a heck of a lot more damage if it bites you then, for example, a Beagle or Chihuahua would. But that still doesn't mean PitBulls are more likely to bite...
The statistics that I have read regarding breed specific likelyhood of biting have shown that small dogs (and mixbreeds) are way more likely to be aggressive towards humans and other dogs. Specifically Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, and Jack Russell Terriers to name a few. PitBulls were more likely to show aggression to unfamiliar dogs. I've seen this info a few times, but the most recent website I found it on was here:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T48-4SNGRDR-2&_user=10&_coverDate=06%2F03%2F2008&_alid=765300851&_rdoc=2&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=4968&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=27&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=a9e7d67a2a45dc01019b232cbbfa3bf5
Here are some other good points from websites that are unbiased:
To reduce the number of dog bite-related injuries, adults and children should be educated about bite prevention, and persons with canine pets should practice responsible pet ownership. (CDC website)
“While at times informative, statistics on fatal dog attacks can also be misleading. For example, a number of cases where a Pit Bull, Rottweiler or German Shepherd Dog were counted as causing a human fatality, in reality the direct result was from gross human negligence or criminal intent”. (http://www.thedogpress.com/Columns/Jade/07_Dog.Bite.Stats_09.htm)
"A fatal dog attack is not just a dog bite by a big or aggressive dog. It is usually a perfect storm of bad human-canine interactions -- the wrong dog, the wrong background, the wrong history in the hands of the wrong person in the wrong environmental situation." (Malcolm Gladwell, "Troublemakers - What pit bulls can teach us about profiling," The New Yorker, Feb. 6, 2006.)
www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/breedlaws.html
Our Country was not founded on the restriction and punishment of the masses based on the actions of a few.
Focusing legislation on dogs that are "vicious" distracts attention from the real problem, which is irresponsible owners.
These very breeds as a whole have proven their stability and good canine citizenry by becoming 'Search & Rescue' dogs, Therapy dogs working inside hospitals, professional Herding dogs and family companions for years.
Banning the so-called dangerous breed will merely hasten the upswing in popularity of some other breed that will be used for vicious attacks on people and other animals.
There is no valid reason to deprive animal lovers of their well behaved pets.
The reports and statistics are flawed. Among other things, a dog bite victim is usually unable to identify the breed of dog that bit him or her. Therefore, victims will name the type of dog that currently is on people's minds as being the dangerous dog.
(From the Animal Farm Foundation.)
One more thing, the best K-9 drug searching dog in America is a PitBull...his name is "Popsicle" because he was rescued from a man who tried to kill him by putting him in a freezer.
-Cindy, owner of 1 PitBull (Zeus) and 2 Beagles (Max & Osiris)...and yes they do get along! 
Pitbull Hero
Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from Attacker
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November 5, 2008
A dog came out of nowhere and stopped a knife-wielding robber from accosting a mother and her young son on Monday afternoon. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Tim Mattson)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."
The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.
The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.
Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.
"I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman," Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse.
"I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life."
The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend.
"You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid," Jones said. "He was like her guardian angel."
After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.
The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."
Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament.
"It's funny, that someone's irresponsibility could have saved someone's life," Jones said of Angel's possible owners.
For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most.
"I don't know what his [the thief's] intentions were -- I don't know why he did it, but I'm glad that -- we call him Angel -- I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened," Angela told NBC2 News.
For a small town with a population of 46,452, animal control officers were kept busy Monday afternoon. Jones says they department also responded to a report about a boa constrictor in a church parking lot.
The snake found its way into a car engine and was able to be removed without being harmed. It took three people to move the massive, seemingly random placed snake.
"It's funny, because we aren't a big place," he said of the Gulf Coast town. "And we can go for four or five months without the media contacting us about a story. It's been a busy week."
Officers from the responding county sheriff's office canvased the area and were unable to locate the suspect described as being in his 20s, tall and dark haired.
Tell us what you think about "Stray Dog Saves Woman, Child Held at Knifepoint" below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.
Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman and NBC-2.com contributed to this article.
for blondie and forever pitbull owner
I thought you might like to read the below story.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27704926?GT1=43001
Close friend has dog which is half pitbull. She is very gentle, but
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