Pit bulls attack man's dog, one shot and killed

Gainsville Sun ^ | July 31. 2007 | ALICE WALLACE

[monkeycard]

A Gainesville man awoke to the sounds of a dog fight early Monday. When he walked outside, he found his dog locked in the jaws of a large pit bull.

"I'm sound asleep and my wife says there's a dog fight in the yard," said Fletcher Sutton, 58. "And within 90 seconds I find myself standing in the yard in my bathrobe with a knife in one hand, a gun in the other and a dog dead between my legs."

...

[alwaysconservative]

We have had only Dobermans during our marriage; in our opinion, they are the BEST dogs in terms of personality, sweetness, and kindness to kids and other animals. But you’re right, they get a bad rap, since they were the “mean, vicious” dogs before pit bulls inherited the title. But our dogs have never been abused; they have only been raised with love.

I really haven’t made up my mind about “pit bulls” yet. We regularly dogsit for a very large (non pit bull) dog who is a perfect gentlemen when with us, but when left to his own devices and running loose at home, has a tendency to kill cats, squirrels, and rabbits, rather indiscriminately. He’s an absolutely wonderful dog, but do I trust him absolutely, even when under our constant supervision? Not really. He is very good about following “our” rules, but he has the strength and cunning to go his own way if the irresistable temptation presented itself. With the strength, aggression, and tenacity of pit bulls, you have to be a MUCH more vigilant owner who knows how to control your dog.

Just my .02 worth, anyway.

[shbox]

“”””I’m an animal lover, but for chrissakes, contain your animals!””””””

That is part of being an animal lover. I contain my dogs at all times BECAUSE to love my dogs. I don’t want the to run into the street, or invade someone’s property and possibly get shot. That why I contain them. I have no use for pitbulls. I see one in my yard, its dead, period.

[shbox]

I hope you don’t live in a neighborhood like mine. I live in a close-knit residential neighborhood where people walk in the evenings and all the kids play with one another outside. One house in my neighborhood has pitbulls in their yard.
That house is avoided by everyone in the neighborhood. The kids are not allowed to even walk down that cal-de-sac. Everyone talks about that house and the fear of those dogs. We have a nice, quiet neighborhood where people leave their doors unlocked. But I, like everyone else, have a 9mm handy, just for those dogs.
It just creates tension and uneasiness for the neighbors around you. Maybe you have no neighbors, I don’t know. I am just telling you how they impact my neighborhood.

[papertyger]

The analogy didn’t fail. You simply refuse to accept it’s applicability and so are caviling.

And save your pedantry. “Pit Bull” or “Bulldog” is a local colloquialism for the type of dog under discussion.

Good Luck.

[SIDENET]

And save your pedantry.

There's no need to be unpleasant, FRiend. I thought we were having a fairly pleasant discussion, especially for a pit bull thread.

[SIDENET]

I hope you don’t live in a neighborhood like mine. I live in a close-knit residential neighborhood where people walk in the evenings and all the kids play with one another outside.

I'm a law-abiding career military officer and so is my wife. I maintain my yard and house and am always respectful towards my neighbors. My trained and socialized dogs are house dogs which only appear outside when either in my fenced backyard (with me present), or on a leash.

Why would you hope that I not live in a neighborhood like yours? I grew up in such a neighborhood and my parents (a retired law enforcement officer and a retired teacher) still live there. I've never been viewed as some sort of menace.

I am sorry about the house that you mentioned. Are the dogs loose or behind a small fence that they can jump? Do the dogs behave in a vicious manner? If so, then that's not a good situation at all. Some people simply shouldn't own dogs.

[shbox]

I am not refering that you are a menace because you have a pitbull. never would I do that.
I was simply pointing out the reaction of people around you might be the same as the people in my neighborhood. I am sure there are some that have a predetermined prejudice against pitbulls.
I was telling you that those things take place in my neighborhood. I don’t want my kids to play at that end of the street.
On the flip side of that arguement. My grandmother lives by herself. I wish she had a pitbull in her yard...or any dog for that matter, just to make some noise should anyone come around.

[Hydroshock]

Mike Vick, aka Ron Mexico is deeply saddened.

[SIDENET]

I am sure there are some that have a predetermined prejudice against pitbulls.

You are absolutely correct. I know that I used to.

That is why it behooves responsible owners to go the extra mile to first make sure that their dog is well socialized, and then to ensure good public relations in their neighborhoods. It's all part of being a good and responsible neighbor.

[ishabibble]

That’s a valid question. My reason is not the dog itself, it’s who’s holding the leash. Too many times, punks and losers get a pitbull as a show of manhood (why can’t they just get YET ANOTHER gold chain or tattoo?) and way too many times the dog has zero training. That’s what happened, once again, in this news article. It’s the randomness of these attacks that freak people out. Just my .02 cents.

p.s. I have a new 7 month old puppy. He is a German Shepard/Huskie mix and he weighs nearly 60 lbs. and is the biggest “puppy” I’ve ever seen. His name is Sgt. Baxter and he’s a handful! You should see him in Puppy Training 101, he’s the same age as the teacup breeds but he doesn’t get any slack from those dreadful owners. They’re all “Ewwww” and “Stay Away”. I also have a 15 yr. old Shi Tzu, so I think I understand this issue. The people who had Sgt. Baxter tried to have him put down because he was so big and wild. He’s my 6th rescue dog, and I’m loving every minute!

[Nonesuch]

I've come close to being attacked by stray/leashless dogs, and while I believe dog attacks are survivable without a firearm, I'm not confident I'd come out without getting bit. Also, if you end up having to kill a dog in self-defense, if you can't show that you, your companion, or your dogs got bit before resorting to lethal force, I believe you are more likely to face criminal charges or a civil suit.

I Have never seen a story about a Labrador retriever or a cocker spaniel, ripping anyone up. I have however, read many stories about pit bulls killing children, adults and other animals. Any thinking human should be able to put this puzzle together.

I've read about several cases of kids being killed by a lab, or even a cocker spaniel. The thing to remember is that "pit bull" is like "assault rifle", the media will classify any threatening looking dog as a "pit bull". The other issue is that people who want a "tough" dog that they can train to fight/protect go out of their way to get themselves a "pit bull" type dog and train it to be vicious. I've been out walking a rat terrier, pug, or even a Chinese shar pei and had people say "Hey, is your pit bull going to attack me?" Makes me want to get a Savannah cat and walk him on a leash, just to shut people up.

[Porterville]

I have 2 rescue dogs myself.... Many dogs can be rehabbed... so hating a breed... goes against my nature.

[PAR35]

Of all folks, people who respect the rights of firearms, how can FReepers be so nanny-esc about Pit Bulls?

Your logic isn't sound. A gun sitting on the table isn't going to go off on its own. A pit bull lying on the floor might.

I'll post my standard comment. The only two legitimate reasons for owning a pit bull are 1)to protect your meth lab or 2)if you are in the dog fighting industry.

[Ditter]

Wolf/English Mastiff cross WOW! What a dog he must be I’d like to see his picture. I have 2 English Mastiff living next door to me. About 400 pounds of dog flesh between the 2.

[Porterville]

So when should you own a Rottweiler, Mastiff, or Rhodesian Ridgeback.... or have the been sufficiently gentrified into our culture?

[PAR35]

Yes.

[Lurker]

So in other words, you're a snob.

L

[PAR35]

You need to work on logic. Obviously a weak point in your education.

[Lurker]

Let's see where my logic fails.

Rots? Ok with you.

Rhodesians? OK with you.

Mastiffs? OK with you.

Bull Terriers? Not ok with you.

Nope. No flaw in my logic. You're a snob.

L

[Dysart]

I Have never seen a story about a labador retriever or a cocker spaniel, ripping anyone up.

Really? Well here's a story you must have missed:
Isabelle Dinoire received the world's first partial face transplant. Dinoire was severely disfigured in May 2005 by her pet Labrador. In November 2005, surgeons grafted the lips, nose and chin of a brain-dead woman onto her face.

You don't read much about these stories because the media decided yrs ago that "pitbull" scare stories hooked readers by praying upon their fears...you'll notice that we don't have posters here scouring the net looking for Labs attacking children stories, but we do have posters who are always seeking out "Pitbull Attacks!" articles and posting them. I suppose they relish the ensuing hysteria.