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. 

       

[Carol and Banjo]

You came to the right place Cheryl.    Thank you for sharing and opening my eyes.    

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Cheryl ~ I thank you for sharing this (as horrific as it was to read) and all the other links provided on the discussion.  Most often we do not realize what is or is not going on out there when it comes to known aggressive breeds!  In the past, I have often chosen not to read the unpleasant articles, but I am glad I read every line offered on your discussion!  In the last 10 years, I personally have experienced two dog attacks and it has been 3 years since the last attack and I find myself being careless because we live in such a nice subdivision.  Recently I started letting Charlie off his leash on the way home (about a block from our house) practice commands for the last block.  He has been totally reliable off leash since he was two and walks right by my side whether he is on leash or not, but being on a leash is one of the best safety mechanisms in place should you be attacked.  If your pet were to try to run, they are all the more in danger because they would not be able to outrun these prey driven dogs! The positive from this conversation is that I have promised myself two things: 1) never to leave home without my Police Magnum spray clipped to my pocket when going for a walk with the boys or without and 2) both of the boys need to be on leashes at all times on our walks. 

[Christy&Riley]

Just went to a park near a lake. Among all the people here comes a guy with a pit bull. He could barely hold the dog back. After all the discussion on here I was almost a basket case wanting to get out if there. My husband said I was overreacting so I planned my escape if I saw the thing get away. I was planning to jump in the back of a nearby pickup, a boat on a trailer or hide in a porta potty. He would probably get to me first but I felt a little better having an "escape" plan. :-/ walking back to the car I saw a boy walking another one. Should be outlawed!!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

My stomach just churned while reading this and although I have nothing to add I have to say that sadly we are not immune to such incidents in our little corner of the world. How do you even begin to get past an experience like that? There have been a couple of incidents where a small dog was killed or injured by a pit. The most recent incident involved a pit that bit two children on different occasions. The dog was ordered to be put down but the breeder of the dog and a rescue group petitioned the court to let the dog live. The judge granted a stay pending an evaluation by a local dog trainer ( who likes to call himself the Newfoundland Dog Whisperer). This guy evaluated the dog and declared him a public safety risk and the dog was put to sleep.  The person doing the evaluation said it was a combination of factors that led this dog be aggressive. At the top of the list was breed, poor breeding, lack of training and an uncaring owner. The owner had agreed for the dog to be euthanized because he couldn't be bothered to follow through with properly training the dog.  percentage of them being owned by idiots who think they are cool and a status symbol among the young and stupid.

We've also had an encounter with an off leash pit and a Bull Mastiff. We were going x-country skiing and had just gotten out of the car when the Mastiff charged Quincy ( who was luckily on a leash at the time). Armed with skis and ski poles, I faced the pit and DH fended off the Mastiff. Quincy ended up with a small tear in his ear flap but no other injuries. The young girl who owned the dogs came sauntering up a minute later, took her dogs and without a word moved on. The pit was not being aggressive at that time but I was afraid it would escalate. This used to be one of our favorite places to go, it was private property owned by a friend of ours and was a very well kept secret. That all changed when a new highway went through and gave easy access to one and all. So between the Mastiff, the Pit Bull, a huge Rottweiler, an Akita(that's another story) and believe it or not an aggressive Great Dane the area is really and truly ruined for us.

Cheryl, good luck with finding a solution for this issue or a least something that brings some measure of comfort to your community. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks Donna.  OMD a Mastiff and a Pitt at the same time.  You two are very brave and glad that Quincy wasn't hurt badly.You guys need to carry some of Linda's spray too!

[F, Calla & Luca]

So sad.

[DJ & Chance]

This is such a horrible incident. I've worked with really sweet Pits in rescue but remain wary nonetheless because they have been bred to emphasize aggressive tendencies.  In my view, the fault is with the owner. Dogs with known aggressive tendencies should never be allowed off leash and people who own them should be held responsible for having fences, etc., that do not allow for escape.  There needs to be some kind of significant sanctions against irresponsible dog owners.

Just this week, Chance was attacked by a dog off-leash. No serious harm, but it scared both of us and I screamed, literally, at the dog owner for not maintaining control of the dog.  

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Oh DJ, that's scary. I'm glad you're both ok and I hope Chance doesn't become dog-reactive because of that fool. Finn has been overwhelmed by a pack of dogs at a dog park but we got to him before the lead dog could hurt him and yanked about 6 dogs off of him.  That was my fault.  No more dog parks!  Finn was attacked by an off-leash cocker spaniel but lucky he had so much puppy fur at the time the dog kept getting mouthfuls of hair! I got in between and landed a pretty impressive (if I do say so myself) soccer kick on that dog and screamed at the owners too!  I still feel bad about that kick because it's the owners that deserved it!

[Gail and Bailey]

Glad you guys did not get hurt!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am so glad Chance and you were not hurt. This is such a scary thing to have happen.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Just ordered police spray from Amazon - thanks Linda!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

After our altercation a couple of years ago, I bought a can of halt (mainly because of small can size).  Then when the policeman came to follow up on our case, he suggested the black police can - because they have much better results with it.  Thank goodness I have not had to use it, but I did go out by myself and just spray it to make sure it worked!  Cheryl ~ now you just have to remember to take it with you. LOL - I have run out w/o it a couple of times, but not lately. Better safe than sorry!