My community is up in arms after an unleashed dog attack!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

My apologies in advance for posting this, but I was shaking and sick after hearing this today. From time to time, we've posted about the danger of unleashed dogs. But this time I'm squarely focused on Pit Bulls. I really need to vent and I can only think to do it here and get your thoughts as I try to collect my own.  

Our community is reeling due to a pit bull attack.  A couple was walking their 7 lb. leashed maltese in a beautiful neighborhood not far from my office when 2 pit bulls belonging to a neighbor who rescues and fosters pits came from behind.  Apparently her dogs got loose--they get loose a lot. The couple never saw them coming until it was too late. The husband tried to pick up their little dog up but one pit grabbed her by the head.  Little Sobo died instantly. The dogs devoured parts of her while the owners tried to get her body.  If that isn't horrific enough…the two dogs, in pack mentality, charged another man down the street and then made their way to a nearby development and tried to attack a woman walking a pomeranian but the woman was able to lift her dog above her head and save it just as animal control got there.  Of course, the fault is with the owner for owning these dangerous dogs and not containing them. But it's not just these two that have been aggressive. She's rescued others just as bad because now we know that several neighbors have been bitten. What I want to know is when and where does it become unacceptable to own these dogs?  I can't believe I'm saying that, but I am.  

I've worked a little bit with Pitt Bulls and Pitt-mixes in rescue and I know they can be smart, sweet, loving dogs one-on-one but there's not one pure Pitt that I would have trusted completely with others or with other animals. 

One of my staff lives in that neighborhood and her 10 year old son (cute and bright as a button) started a dog walking business about a year ago after being smitten with Finn and Oscar (our office doodle).  His favorite "client" is Edgar - a pomeranian. Jackie spends his days off thinking up special things to do with Edgar.  It was sheer luck that Jackie wasn't walking Edgar. 

BTW did I mention that the owner came across this bloody mess and drove away without saying ANYTHING when the couple told her what happened.  The husband was so distraught, he was taken to the ER.  These poor people, I can't even imagine.  Children and adults have been bringing flowers and little dog toys to a memorial that's growing for little Sobo.

I know any breed can be aggressive but --as someone has said - an aggressive dog is like a firecracker, but a pit bull is like a hand grenade.

To the borough's credit, there's going to be a community-wide meeting next week to discuss what residents feel should be done. Come on DKers, (at least anyone who's made it through this awful post) please help me with a list. 

       

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I feel so incredibly sorry for these owners. I can't even imagine. We were charged just last week by a Lab that flew through his electric fence. Luckily, the dog was not aggressive, but I had to keep my two dogs in control and that's not easy. The owner did apologize, however this is the second time it has happened. I know how my heart raced and I cannot imagine the horror these dog owners had to go through. I have no answers. It just seems to me these owners need to face stricter penalties. Maybe it should be mandatory that they take out insurance on their dogs and make it so expensive that most people could not afford it. I hate the thought of banning a whole breed. I guess I would rather ban the people who continue to get dogs that they cannot control. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Laurie, I think you've got something there. Insurance is key to this.  If townships, neighborhood associations, and rescues can't get insurance or the rates are sky high for owners, rescues, renters, and municipalities -- maybe things start to change. Muzzle, leash, and stronger containment/fence laws for aggressive breeds like Nicky mentioned.  Rescues need to wake up.  Sure that will happen. But rescues and animal shelters should not adopt pit bulls or pit bull mixes to people with children, ever. I have friends whose 6 year old pit bull mix attacked their 4 year old child out of the blue.  And they didn't want to euthanize it until the state stepped in.  Also, this woman faces 4 counts of something or other but I think the fines total $60!!!!!  There have to be criminal penalties the owner.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yes, I don't like the idea at all of a dog breed ban and think it would affect too many people who are good dog owners. It is always the irresponsible people who make trouble for the rest of us. Insurance should be mandatory and pricey, but how many of these idiots will get it. That's the question. Good luck and keep us posted. So far this year, we have been charged by a Doberman and two Labs. 

[Nancy & Echo]

This sounds absolutely awful.  I have zero dog experience, but in the next month or so, to get some dog experience before my puppy arrives next spring, I'm volunteering at the city animal shelter walking dogs 1 hour/week x 6 months.  They have ~60% pit bulls, and I'm sure going to be avoiding walking pit bulls the entire time I'm there.   I don't understand why there are so many people who get pit bulls they can't control.  Do they think the PB will provide them with home security?

I'd love to hear recommendations what to do if any off-leash dog approaches the dog you are walking.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Nancy, I'll be interested in hearing about your experiences as a volunteer.

[Nancy & Echo]

I just had my first evaluation at the city animal shelter yesterday.  Not surprisingly, since I have zero dog experience, I will need another mentoring session before I can walk the green-dot (easiest) dogs.  When I told my mentor about the stories cited on this post, she insisted that its not the breed, its the owner.  I replied I guess there's some controversy in this area, but I think that pits should only be handled by experienced dog people, and I'm not one.  She wanted me to be comfortable with pits.  I did go in the kennel and pet two of them, and they did seem sweet enough.  That doesn't mean I want to walk one. I don't mind filling Kongs and pushing them into the pit dog's kennels. I'm sure that dogs are individuals, but to me, with zero dog experience, it seems like it is reasonable that both breeding and environment/training play a role.

She said I do have trouble reading dog behaviour, and needed practice putting a harness/restraint on the dogs.   I'm not surprised at that, given I have no dog experience.

I realize this is just one juristiction, but in Manitoba, this study thought that BSL did  decrease the number of dog bite hospitalizations, especially in people aged <20 years old. The reduction was 3.47/100,000 to 2.84/100,000 people.

Their conclusion was: BSL may have resulted in a reduction of DBIH <dog bite injury hospitalizations> in Winnipeg, and appeared more effective in protecting those aged <20 years. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22753529

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Sorry I'm chiming in late to this but in the "discussing labradoodle and Goldendoodles" section- main board, there was recently a discussion about off leash dogs and lots of people posted different things that they have had to do or different experiences encountering off leash dogs as well as different tips or things that trainers have mentioned. I believe Laurie Fudge and Vern started the discussion I could be wrong though...maybe it was posted spring time or early summer? I'll try and find the link if I can.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

This is so horrible. I just can't imagine.
Saw this on TV last night. http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/11452-67-year-old-grandma-ma...
When is it going to end?

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I don't know Anne.  I just don't know. There are hundreds of pit bull attacks recorded.  Shouldn't that tell us something (from a reformed "it's all about how the dog is raised" person).  My son made an interesting point.  It's not just that these dogs are aggressive by nature, they are being selectively bred to be more violent and then they end up dead or in rescue.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Here is the complete link.  I had tried to post this from my cell phone and part of the link was cut off.

http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/11452-67-year-old-grandma-ma...

My neighbor's husband brought home a "lab mix" several years ago.  She called to tell me about the new dog and could I come over to meet him.  Long story short she and I were sitting in the yard and the dog who had been minding it's own business a bout 15 feet away suddenly without provocation jumped up and attacked me.  He missed his mark by a fraction of an inch and tore my shirt but did no get my flesh.  My neighbor was extremely upset.  After I left she dug around and found out that the lab mix was a pit mix.  She immediately returned it to where it came from.

[Amy and Annabelle]

I feel so sorry for the little maltese and her owners. How horrific for them. Annabelle had an aggressive rescue pitt bull in her obedience class for 1 day before we all pitched a fit. The dog never came back. It scared poor Annabelle to death. Even in the next class when the other dogs that she has known and played with started arriving she went and hid behind my husbands leg. It took her awhile to realize she was safe. Luckily she seems fine now. The actions of the owner of the pitt bulls that attacked Sobo just re-enforces the negative attitude against not only pitt bulls but their owners too. I had a rescue golden retriever once that was the best dog, so I when I first decided to get another dog, I checked out my local county shelter. It was all kittens and pitt bulls. Decided not go that route. I remember seeing a picture of Tom Brady's pitt bull sitting with his little baby and I cringed. Even if his dog is highly trained and sweet, the breed is unpredictable. You can't take chances with a dog like that.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I remember your post. I was worried for you.  I'm glad that dog was removed and Annabelle is back to her happy adorable self.