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. 

       

[Adina P]

I know some trainers who have made attempts at getting such 'off leash licensing' laws passed.  I don't know if any of them succeeded in their particular areas.  I like the concept, not sure how easily it would be enforced or who would enforce it.  It probably would cost extra money for someone. 

My town does not have a leash law.  Clark's late border collie was always walked off leash but he had excellent control of her and she wasn't hyper toward other dogs.  She was a pretty strong alpha who didn't feel the need to show off her alpha-status.  It was great to have an obedient dog off leash.  I really enjoyed walking with her. 

I think regardless of whether a town has a leash law or not, the problem is always the dog owner with out-of-control off leash dog.  Whether it is a friendly or not-so-friendly out-of-control dog is irrelevant. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Katie, I hear what you're saying.  I can run Finn on my property but I would love the idea of him being able to run free on walks. Unfortunately, he could approach an aggressive dog on a leash just you pointed out and get grabbed. A friend of mine has an aggressive dog and she's managed him well his whole life.  But she gave up walking him because she was afraid he would kill one of the small dogs in the neighborhood that are running free and seem to think he'd be a great playmate.  And, just like Karen says, Finn is wary of big dogs who might jump on his back …and goldens :) OH but he made friends with a 9 month old English golden pup yesterday. A big step for Mr. Finn.

[DJ & Chance]

:))))  Good boy, Finn!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm sorry, Cheryl.  This issue is in every town in every state.  Banned than not banned.  We stopped walking about 18 months ago when  a dog on the next block, one we passed daily, killed one dog and turned around a 6 months later and brutally attacked a dog so badly, it had to also be put down after treatments failed. 

I no longer go to dog parks either because of dog on dog aggression

I dont have an answer but I do have opinions.  Fact: I trust no dog and pits are first on my list  

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm right there with you J.  

[Amy and Annabelle]

I was just reading in the news a couple of days ago where a pit bull attacked 3 roommates in South Carolina. A woman was killed and 2 were injured. The pit started to attack the owners roommate and she stepped in to help and her dog turned on her and killed her. There were small kids in the home at the time that were luckily unharmed.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Amy, that's awful but sadly, not surprising.

[Carrie king]

Im just going to say it, though it may not be popular to say. I am not trying to offend anyone..but I truly believe pit bulls are dangerous and should not be allowed in suburban areas. I know that popular belief is that these dogs are simply mistreated, but I am simply not buying it. I am absolutely not saying its the dogs fault, no more than it is a wild animals fault when they attack. But its time as a society that we realize certain breeds may not be as easily tamed as we think they can. How many times does this have to happen before we start getting real? These dogs are victims too. They appeal to owners that value their aggression. They are oberbred, neglected, and too often end up in shelters being euthanized by the droves. Its a vicious cycle and I can appreciate that it is a complicated issue with tons of emotion involved. But we owe it to ourselves & these dogs to do something. Just my two cents.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well said, Carrie. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I think you've summed it up well, Carrie. I expressed a similar opinion in a forum after the town meeting (altho probably not as well as you just did) and boy do I know now what Tia Torres means by "put on your flame retardant suit."  Oh well, bring it on!  

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Cheryl, I'm curious to hear if there's was any outcome to your community meetings or if anything has changed with the person who rescues and then doesn't control the pits. Just curious :)

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

I know this is an old post but that is horrific! A similar thing happened to my dad a few years ago. My parent's neighbors dog bit my dad and it was a golden retriever.  I've never met a mean Golden before but I've met aggressive pits at the dog park. I feel that the breed isn't always the issue because my friend's rescue pit bull is really friendly and won't hurt a fly.

My parents own a Maltese and this dog came after my parent's dog and so my dad moved to protect him and got bitten. This dog's owner begged my dad not to go to the ER because it has bitten someone twice before.  Their dog gets put down if it happens too many times and I think it was already reported once. What kind of moron sets a dog loose like this to roam the neighborhood where there are tons of kids on bikes? This is a fairly affluent neighborhood with homes 2mil + and there are a lot of owners who just let their dogs roam.  My fiance was walking our dogs once through there and the same dog growled at him even though he was on the sidewalk. I think that same owner was running a Ponzi scheme and they moved.