Posted on 12/27/2014 4:07:24 PM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
On March 6, Daxton Borchardt, 14-months old, was savagely killed by two pit bulls while under the care of his babysitter. Susan Iwiki, 30-years old, was babysitting Dax at her home on North Lakeshore Drive when her two pit bulls attacked. In his first interview about the deadly attack, Jeff Borchardt, 39-years old, spoke candidly about his son's death. He said that after hearing about a toddler mauled by a pit bull in Caledonia, he could no longer remain silent.The interview took place at Jeff's former home on June 10th, which now lies empty, filled with painful memories. "We couldn't be here anymore. We had to come home to a house with marks on the walls," Jeff said, pointing to the marks Dax once made. Jeff and his wife decided to leave their Darien home after the attack because the memories of their son were overwhelming. Jeff is speaking out now to warn others about pit bulls, a dog breed he believes is dangerous.
Before his son's death, Jeff said that he used to believe that a dog's behavior was determined by the way it was raised. He no longer believes this myth -- a falsehood widely cited by pit bull advocates and humane groups. The dogs that Susan owned with her boyfriend had no history of aggression. The couple raised the two pit bulls from puppyhood. The dogs were not abused or neglected and both were sterilized. "Something made the dogs snap on that day," Jeff said.
He cannot forget how his son looked after the prolonged attack.
"There were unimaginable bruises and bites all over his legs, his arms and his body -- his head," Jeff said. He added, "[The pit bulls] had one goal in mind and that was to murder my baby." Jeff hopes that by sharing Dax's story with as many people as he can, new damaging pit bull maulings and fatalities can be prevented. He said that if his stepping forward today saves just one life then going through this pain is worth it.
"Believing the myth, 'It's not the breed, it's all how you raise them,' is what left us without a son," Jeff said.
That statement reminded me of a documentary I saw about elephants on a game preserve in Kenya. Poachers had done so much damage to the herd that there weren't enough old bulls to teach the young bulls how to behave. The park described them as a bunch of juvenile delinquents.
All right...
Everybody who would leave their infant or toddler for daycare in a household with pit bulls, raise your hand.
Anybody?
Beuller?
Don’tcha just love Labs.
I think he would prefer the GYN gig. Geesh, he didn’t say kill pit bulls, he said the breed should be banned from reproducing.
I’m almost positive that statistics show that pit bulls maul their owners to death no more frequently than miniature dachshunds or Shih Tzus.
Yes I love labs. They are the sweetest living creatures on the planet. BUT the shedding is bad. I have dog hair all over me most all of the time.
Years ago I had a girl friend,,,
Put bulls are bred to kill, if that’s pleasing to you so be it.
Confirmation bias.
I’ve got my seven years direct experience to weigh against your unsubstantiated fears. Not a contest.
My oldest daughter’s husky pulled a leg off the baby’s stuffed Piglet.
You Can Not be serious,,!!
Thankful that the son wasn’t killed. He had no choice in being around this (historically) aggressive dog. The mom and (now dead) boyfriend did.
The UKC gives this description of the characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier:
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.[17]
Stay off of my rural property situated behind locked gates and we will never have an issue. I own a dangerous pit german shepherd mix and a full pit. They will retreat on command but maybe I won't command. Whether the dogs or the bullets get there first is academic. It would be impossible to own these dogs in an urban area. Dogs in the rural south have been bread to secure the home. City dogs get socialized, or raised specifically to threaten. Possibly dangerous dogs have no place in an urban setting.
So your anecdotal evidence beats statistical evidence:
In 2011, the Annals of Surgery published a critical peer-reviewed scientific study pertaining to severe and fatal pit bull injuries (Mortality, Mauling and Maiming by Vicious Dogs, by John K. Bini, et al.), authored by doctors at San Antonio University Hospital.
In the landmark 2012 Tracey v. Solesky decision, which declared pit bulls “inherently dangerous,” the highest court in Maryland cited the entire abstract of this study. The conclusions by the University Hospital doctors:
pit bull Conclusions: Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Strict regulation of pit bulls may substantially reduce the US mortality rates related to dog bites.
The majority of the San Antonio Express-News article pertains to this study and a rehearsed rehashing of the 30-year old pit bull debate.
One of the primary authors of the study, Dr. Stephen Cohn, is interviewed in the article. “We’ve had people that have almost lost their legs just going out for a run,”
said Dr. Stephen Cohn, a professor of surgery at the Health Science Center.
“This is a complete hazard for all of us.”
I hope your insurance is paid up: both homeowners and life
I am 57 years old and a major dog lover. Have been bitten once and it was a pit bull mix. Dog snuck up behind me and bit my foot. Then would not let me move. I had my gun but no round chambered. Any move I made the dog became more agitated. Finally a neighbor saw my situation and the dogs owner called him off. A child would have run and they would have died. Took every ounce of restraint I had to try to stay still until help arrived. I now carry a round chambered. Learned a valuable lesson that day about bing prepared.
What drives me nuts is how these pits are used to advertise pet rescues—as if you should adopt pits to the exclusion if other breeds.
;’)
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