Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What to do when a pit bull attacks
Indianapolis Business Journal ^ | Norm Heikens

Posted on 03/24/2010 9:57:20 AM PDT by Chet 99

What to do when a pit bull attacks

March 24, 2010

News of pit bull attacks just keeps coming.

In March alone, an Indianapolis cop was bitten on a knee while looking for someone for questioning. Another officer shot and killed one of two of dogs that attacked a man while he carried out trash. The dog, by the way, had been at a Humane Society shelter and adopted out months earlier.

The stories are worse farther from Indianapolis. A girl’s jaw torn off in England. Three children mauled in California by a roaming pack of five. A woman’s arm nearly ripped away during a two-minute-long frenzy in Australia.

There were nearly 300 pit bull attacks in Indianapolis last year. Police spokesman Jeff Duhamell expects activity to pick up again as the weather warms and more people resume jogging, bicycling and other outdoor activity.

“They are an extremely vicious breed, and they always have been. They’ll come after you,” Duhamell says. “The more you pull way from them, the more they’ll lock down and start ripping skin and muscle.”

Pit bull owners say the bad rap comes from unrestrained animals or those trained to be mean. It doesn’t help that the breed is favored by drug dealers and other folks who don’t like attention, aficionados say. Treat the dogs responsibly and train them to be passive, and they’re fine.

(If pit bulls can be trained to be unaggressive, can labs be trained not to fetch? Just asking.)

Mayor Greg Ballard and the City-County Council have been reluctant to single out the breed for special regulation.

So what’s a person to do?

Duhamell says pit bulls running loose are the most dangerous, because they’re aggressively territorial. Stay away from them, and get inside a car or house if you feel threatened, he recommends. Or shout “No!” or “Down!” in the hope they’re educated. Other dogs set them off, so leave yours at home.

A Taser might work if you’re accurate enough to get the probes on the dog, he says. And Mace might help.

Duhamell muses about the potential of pepper spray designed to ward off grizzly bears. The spray, which hunters are required to carry in areas of Wyoming, squirts 30 feet from a small canister.

If all else fails, Web sites focused on dog attacks recommend curling up in a fetal position and protecting the head and face—areas where plastic surgery is harder to hide with clothing.

What are your thoughts about pit bulls? Are they maligned? Any ideas for preventing attacks you can share?


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: banglist; personaldefense; pitbull; whenpitbullsattack
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-110 next last
To: CodeToad

I love it.


61 posted on 03/24/2010 10:50:46 AM PDT by HeadOn (If you choose to depend solely on the government to care for you, you are a COWARD and a FOOL.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

The dog weights about 60 pounds. Pick it up, snap its neck, find the owner and repeat.

<><><><><

LOL.

And while you are bending over to pick the dog up, both hands are needed, what will said dog be doing with its jaws?

The post looks good in black and white, but your scenario leaves one color out of the equation, red. Likely yours.

We’ll send flowers.

I like the next poster’s solution: “BLAM”


62 posted on 03/24/2010 10:51:55 AM PDT by dmz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GraceG

That is interesting.


63 posted on 03/24/2010 10:52:03 AM PDT by Lazamataz ("We beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them." -- Lazamataz, 2005)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

64 posted on 03/24/2010 10:52:58 AM PDT by houeto (Get drinking water from your ditch - http://www.junglebucket.com/Jungle-Bucket-1.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99

What to do with an attacking dog, if you don’t have a gun:

Wheelbarrow: Grab the dog’s hind legs, and hang on TIGHT. Slowly back up, circling slightly. The dog will have to move his front legs sideways to keep from falling, and will most likely release whatever he has unless it’s light enough to drag. I imagine this would also work well to get the dog into a position where somebody else could safely shoot it without hitting the victim.

Breakstick: A breakstick is a smooth, flat piece of wood, about a foot long and two inches wide. Anything about that wide can be inserted behind the teeth, between the soft gums. Just twist and the dogs mouth opens. Works best in conjunction with method #2...

Lips: Understanding that if you let go you’re going to be bitten, place your hand over the bridge of the dog’s muzzle, fingers on one side and thumb on the other, as close to it’s eyes as possible. Push the lips on either side into the dogs mouth and under whatever teeth are not full, and squeeze as hard as you can. The dog will release.


65 posted on 03/24/2010 10:55:03 AM PDT by LongElegantLegs ( I have nothing better to do than sit around all night watching a lunatic not turn into a werewolf.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99

Toss kittens at it.


66 posted on 03/24/2010 10:56:29 AM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99

I believe I read that you should reach out an extremity that is your weaker, ie left forearm or leg, let them bite it, which they will not let go of. Then with the other strong hand thumb its left eye out. Of course if you have time (which you most likely won’t), try to wrap your shirt or sweater/coat around your arm before it gets near you to weaken the damage to your arm. Main thing is once it has bit down on you don’t pull away as you will make more damage, they will not let go unless you thumb their eye out or perhaps if you can (and are trained in it) reach your right open hand over and around its neck and choke it till it is dead. Trying to bite its ear off may make it let go but because your head will be so close to it then it may then bite your face.

Here is something I just found too which gives the idea to thumb and rip out under the neck, which is probably less effective as those dogs have a lot of muscular necks.

http://www.crime-safety-security.com/dog-attack-defense-article-bank.html


67 posted on 03/24/2010 10:56:47 AM PDT by LeaveAmericaNow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99

I do not support the idea of going down into a fetal position on the ground, this to me would make your head the first place the dog goes for to bite, possibly including ripping your ears off and eyes out at the same time. If the dog is going to attack you, being in a fetal position is about the worst position to me, you have to be on the attack, not trust that the dog is going to leave you alone.


68 posted on 03/24/2010 10:56:47 AM PDT by LeaveAmericaNow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mom4melody

A thumb in the eye works or if it’s a male find those balls and pull as hard as you can.


69 posted on 03/24/2010 10:56:47 AM PDT by kcrad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz
Why does catsup and mustard come out of the barrel of that gun?

to go with pit bull Thit Cho

70 posted on 03/24/2010 10:57:00 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: altura

LOL
“However, he lacks the returning to owner and laying at feet gene.”
That’s the training part.


71 posted on 03/24/2010 10:58:02 AM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: dmz

Actually, silly, I did just that to a rottie. She attacked out of nowhere. Dead dog.

Having a defeatist mindset is how most victims become victims of violent crimes and animal attacks. Like a woman about to be raped. She envisions herself being raped instead of the rapist laying dead on the ground.

A dog only has his teeth. You have two arms and opposable thumbs. Use them. You’re every bit as fast as any dog.


72 posted on 03/24/2010 11:00:03 AM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC

“Toss kittens at it.”

lol. Man, you’re gunna get when the kitty committee arrives!


73 posted on 03/24/2010 11:01:17 AM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

if you’re out of mam tom or nouc mam for your thit cho I guess you could use catsup or mustard


74 posted on 03/24/2010 11:03:58 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99

If you only have a knife, blind them by slicing their eyes. Then cut their throat.


75 posted on 03/24/2010 11:04:39 AM PDT by 185JHP ( "The thing thou purposest shall come to pass: And over all thy ways the light shall shine.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

:-D )))

Mice would work too.


76 posted on 03/24/2010 11:05:42 AM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: GraceG

On the beach about 17 years ago, I took off my flip flop and shoved it directly at an attacking dog’s mouth, intending to shove the flip flop down the dog’s throat. The owner got control of the dog at that point.

It’s all I had, and I knew my best bet was to get past the mouth and into the throat.


77 posted on 03/24/2010 11:06:20 AM PDT by Joya (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Chet 99
What are your thoughts about pit bulls? Are they maligned? Any ideas for preventing attacks you can share?

When is this going to stop!

http://www.mississippilink.com/news/article_0866fa30-3023-11df-b26b-001cc4c002e0.html

I think a 45ACP to the head is quite adequate for "mean" and free-roaming pit bulls. In the rural areas of this country, dog fighting is big business.

78 posted on 03/24/2010 11:07:58 AM PDT by A. Patriot (CZ 52's ROCK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 185JHP

Yep. I’m a country boy at heart. I am rarely without my lock blade. I just hope I can get to it in time.


79 posted on 03/24/2010 11:08:37 AM PDT by HeadOn (If you choose to depend solely on the government to care for you, you are a COWARD and a FOOL.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC

lol! Keep a pocket full of small animals in case of attack!


80 posted on 03/24/2010 11:23:51 AM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-110 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson