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. 

       

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

She has been charged with harboring dangerous animals and not securely containing dangerous animals.

But you wouldn't believe some of the rubbish comments on the paper's FB page like:

Oh another owner gives pit bulls a bad name … or It's all a matter of training your dog correctly and using proper behavior modification techniques.  

My head wants to explode so I stopped reading them. Anyhow, the comments from neighbors about what a sweet happy little dog Sobe was and how she carried her toys around the neighborhood on her walks are heartbreaking so I need to stop anyways.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Good!  I'm glad she's been charged with something at least - and a lot of good it will do, I'm sure.  But still.  Now she needs a full on public - well, shaming isn't the word I need, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

Ugh - commenters...don't you just want to reach into your computer and smack people sometimes?!  :)

Poor little Sobe, the image of a little Maltese carrying her toys around makes me teary eyed. :(  Poor sweet angel.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh, I am so sorry.  We had a little pit bull from a domestic violence center and she seemed sweet enough but after she got accustomed to our dogs, she became a little aggressive.  She was very food motivated and would fight over food or treats. She bit our Jackapoo and his foot was bleeding all over everything and we got that stopped, but then later I saw that she bit completely through his foot and the pad on the bottom and broke at least one toe.  We had her for another week but I think I will limit my fostering now to doodles.  We have had no problems with them.  

We have learned to deal with the leash laws by always having our dogs on leash unless they are in a dog park.  We usually go on Sundays while my husband rides his bike.  We also have BTLs (bike tow leashes) which have become very popular recently because of the leash laws in all the parks and beaches around here.  A few beaches are off leash, but most public areas want dogs on leash for obvious reasons.  You can't ride bikes on the beaches but on trails (dirt) they are perfect.  I occasionally ride on the pavement with the BTL but you have to be very watchful of the dogs pads and the roads can be very hot in this summer weather.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks Linda.  I'm sorry about your Jackapoo but I'm glad you still have him :)

[Lynda Kamrath]

People who are not responsible for their animals should not have them.  I hate to see any dog put down, but that is what would happen to these dogs if they are reported.  They should be on leash at all times unless in an enclosed area.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Both dogs are dead, immediately taken to the SPCA and put down.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm surprised; if there is any legal case, they're usually held for evidence until after the case is decided or settled.

Another problem with pit bulls. Many of you have mentioned the shelters overflowing with them. Well, in cases where there is any kind of legal case pending, like a pit bull fighting ring that's been busted, an animal hoarding or cruelty case, or a lawsuit involving a dog attack such as we've been discussing here, the dogs are held in the public shelter until the case is resolved. With pitbulls, especially if they're from fighting rings or abuse cases, and of course cases where they have injured or killed someone,  the dogs are usually destroyed once the case is over.. But until the case is resolved, you can have 20, 30, 40 pit bulls taking up space in the county shelter. To make room for those dogs, other dogs who have been at the shelter longest are euthanized...often perfectly adoptable dogs. And many more adoptable dogs will be euthanized as time goes on and space is needed for more recent arrivals, because of those pit bulls who are going to be euthanized anyway. And because they can't be housed in pairs, as most shelter dogs typically are, two to a run, you have 20 dogs taking up space that could house 40 dogs of another breed. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I understand that a judge ruled the dogs dangerous and signed an order to put them down.  Just before I got FInn there was hoarder busted and 12 poodles taken into the shelter.  I tried to adopt one and was told the dogs had to be kept until trial in the event they were to be returned.  I guess there was never any consideration that these dogs would be returned as they have a documented history of previous attacks.  One has to wonder why it took THIS to finally euthanize these dogs but maybe no one pressed formal charges.    

[M Kol]

I feel I should add that one of the children nearby that we knew of was dog watching with his family two pit bulls for a neighbor and they attacked him, permanently and seriously changing his life.  It was also a nice neighborhood.  For some reason they tend to be unstable, just from what I've observed.  I'm sure there are good ones too, but....I would be reluctant to own one.  I agree with you the two dogs should not have been unleashed, especially if they were rescue dogs...but apparently, even if they weren't rescues, having two unleashed pit bulls (or large, dangerous dogs) can be problematic.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

This makes me hurt all over and my blood is boiling.  I am so sorry for the loss of their dog and there are no words I can type that would be decent enough for the owners of the Pitt Bulls. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thank you all for your thoughts and comments!  For me this discussion was all consuming yesterday -- interesting but also very disturbing. I'm sorry to anyone who has awful images stuck in their head.  I do too.  But it's helped me work through an intense emotional reaction to Sobe's death to get to a more rational response. It has changed my view of this dangerous breed forever, based on fact, and I will share this info as widely as I can.

Adina, I took Finn to the park this am in terror that we might run into a pitt :o  (Thanks Karen :) JK  Time to move on.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree, and thank you for starting this. I think it's important for all dog owners (heck, all non-dog owners, too) to be aware of this issue, as disturbing as some of the info is. 

And I agree, time to move on. :)