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]

and then we see a story like this on Facebook and I would sure hate to see this dog put down or banned because it is a Pit Bull....maybe we should start putting down the people who do this to a dog. If only there were a way to hand select people who get any dog. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/this-abused-pit-bull-has-half-a-f...

[Gail and Bailey]

I shudder when I think of what kind of monster does something like this!! So so sad! At least the poor little thing has love in her life now!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I know...it never ceases to amaze me the evil some people can do to animals. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

That's just pure evil!  She's looks so little she was probably used as bait, survived, and was abused some more. I'm really glad she's got love now but I hate the thought of how much more pain she'll have to endure with the reconstructions.  I'm with you about putting the people down.

[F, Calla & Luca]

My vet just told me the saddest story too. Her pit bull survived being a stray with ten pups and they all got parvovirus. Five pups survived and were adopted. The mom had to have her leg amputated. She ended up as a family pet for five years with my vet. A couple of weeks ago, in the late evening the vet ran into the supermarket with her two dogs in her SUV. The pit bull got into an open bag off Doritos on the front seat and she got it stuck on her face and suffocated. My vet is devastated. It was a freak accident I would think could never happen. A good warning though.

[Gail and Bailey]

Oh my.....what a tragedy! Thank you for warning us. Never would have thought this could happen.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

OMD...I would never have thought that could have happened. How sad!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

OMD -- that never would have occurred to me.  How sad.  Thank you for warning us.

[Camilla and Darwin]

How horrific, I hope that this incident can serve as some sort of motivator to make things better. I have long been conflicted about Pit Bulls because as we all know - the fault rests on our shoulders as humans. However things are what they are - I don't think the majority (90% +) of Pit Bull owners are qualified, educated or prepared to take care of them. They are not a dog that casual dog owners should own. This is true for many other breeds, but this breed is one of the most challenging. The other issue here is obviously people not keeping their dogs under control. In my hometown this is a MASSIVE problem, with un-vaccinated and often aggressive dogs running around and attacking other dogs and kids. Animal control has pretty much just written off the area because of the sheer number of problem owners. :-(

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Camilla, you make a really good point (as usual :)  "They are not a dog that a casual dog owner should own. This is true for many other breeds, but this breed is one of the most challenging." That sounds like an awful situation in your hometown.

[Kris and Sawyer]

I am conflicted as well. What's the cut off? If they are 1/2 pit? 1/4? What if the dog is a poodle mix with 1/8 pit in there? And who gets to decide that? I just think there are a lot of gray areas. I've also read research that BSL really doesn't work and not effective in regulating canine behavior. Like in many things, there seems to always be two sides to every story. Just playing devil's advocate here! What happened to that poor little dog is horrifying and I personally would never own one. I think more research needs to be done on the best way to address the issue. I did Google pit attacks in my area (of course there have been a few) but this also popped up...
http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kivitv/news/Pit-Bull-attacked-by-off-le...

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yes, I tried the same thing and there were 2-3 pitbull attacks (on humans) but also a golden, a lab, a siberian husky, a border collie and several mixed breeds. I came away from the meeting thinking there are several issues here that have to be addressed.  Sadly, the same thing just happened to a woman about 10 miles from here walking a bichon.  Again it was 2 pit bulls in a frenzy that killed the smaller dog on a leash. The owner had been warned several times and seemed unconcerned that his dogs were running loose.