Posted on 02/14/2010 5:49:48 PM PST by Chet 99
February 13, 2010 - Most pit bull owners believe their dog would never attack a pet or human, but Rachael Ray, who has brought her beloved pit bull, Isaboo, on her show, is now grief-stricken as she faces having Isaboo put to sleep after his sixth incident of attacking dogs, this time he bit off the victim dog's ear. (Click here for Part 2, a summary of a few attacks).
In early February Ray was out walking her dog on the streets of New York City's Greenwich Village. “As the other dog walked by, Isaboo lashed out so quickly and ripped the other dog’s ear off before its handler could pull it away,” said an onlooker. Radaronline reported the ear was able to be re-attached.
Pit bulls - it seems people either love them or hate them, there doesn't seem to be much in-between.
"Mitz would never hurt anyone, and especially not our eleven-month old grand-daughter, Olivia. I know this, there's no way. He's the most loving dog I've known," says Olivia's grandmother, Karen M., from Kirkland. "I understand there have been pit attacks, but I think it's because they are provoked and their owners mistreat them."
Karen went on to say, "See, look, I can put my hand in his mouth and he won't do anything. And Olivia can pull his tail and even grab toys out of his mouth. He's never even flinched or acted like he'd attack the baby. We trust him completely, even if we're in the other room. He's just never done anything to make us think otherwise." Examiner asked Jonathan S., also of Kirkland, what he thought about this statement, he said, "Personally, I'd never own one of those dogs simply based on what I've heard and read. That's just me. I think it's insane that anyone would make a comment like that." "How does she really know the dog won't attack her granddaughter if for some reason the dog feels threatened. Kids pull tails and ears and some dogs could view that as threatening," he said, "I don't know, with all the news articles and horrid television accounts of these attacks, how much does someone have to see or read before it will register with them that no child should be left alone with a dog, and especially not a breed that's known to attack."
Sadly, this kind of trust for a pit bull, or any other dog, for that matter, is what has led to the dismemberment, disfiguration, and lives of children.
Ironically, in December 2009, a grandmother was charged when her 9-month old granddaughter, also named Olivia, was severely bitten by the grandmother's dog. The infant suffered serious injuries which left her hospitalized for nine days with facial wounds and a skull fracture. While this dog was a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab mix, and not a pit bull, it should send a message to people who so adamantly and steadfastly trust dogs around young children.
This article will largely focus on pit bull attacks on children (click here for Part 2). It is understood there is a difference between an attack on a dog and attack on a child. However, if a pit is prone to attacking a dog, what would prevent him or her from attacking a child? A source told Radaronline.com, “While she (Rachael Ray) loves the dog, she can’t help worrying about what would happen if Isaboo attacked a person.”
If you have an opinion about this issue or would like to share a personal story about a pit bull, good or bad, please leave your comments in the "comments" section below.
One issue with pit-bull type dogs is they often exhibit "bite, hold, and shake" behavior and refuse to release when biting, (1, 2) so some pit bull rescue organizations and advocacy groups recommend owners of pit bull-type dogs carry a "break stick" to lever their dog's jaws open if it bites a person or animal. (3, 4).
Pit bulls are not the only dogs that attack humans and other animals. However, they have been implicated in quite a few attack incidents in the Seattle area and beyond.
Click here to for Part 2, a summary of a few of the attacks.
Strong breeds in unusual situations all need a muzzle when around people in my opinion. I remember the case of a movie starlet sitting around the swimming pool/patio as a guest and the owner's doberman attacked her without warning. It was serious facial injury ... especially for a starlet.
I was seriously attacked by a pit bull when I was about 5. I have seen many dogs chosen and trained as handicap dogs for people that can not function well without one. The usually are large breeds. All I have seen have been wonderful gentle dogs when working.
“”You people” who only approach this problem with your “doggy parent” emotions rather than with clear-headed sense that respects the realties of NATURE, are the pit bulls’ worst enemy.”
I believe I referred to them as a large, powerful aggressive dog breed. That seems pretty realistic. You seem very emotional for someone railing against emotional behavior. The rest of your garbage isn’t worth responding to. I’m on record here as being for dog owners being charged with the crime their dog commits.
I don’t own, nor have I ever owned, and will never own an APBT. My only interest is freedom, and the responsibilities that accompany that freedom. You built a mighty strawman...sorry to knock it down so easily.
News flash: That's how the justice system of a free people works. You don't get to punish people for having the capability to do harm.
YOU are saying that it's better to let the kid to jail and have the government handle it.
No, I'm saying that the people for whom peer pressure works, have already banded together. What's left are the willfully negligent and the irredeemably irresponsible; take their pitbulls away (along with everyone else's) and I guarantee you they'll find another way of inflicting harm on the innocent.
When the GOVERNMENT goes nanny-state, that's one thing, and a very bad thing indeed. When private citizens come down on other citizens that abuse a privilege to the point of making it likley that it will be taken away, that's the right thing if they want to protect their rights and keep the government from stepping in.
So *I* should become my neighbor's nanny? How about this; how about I control my animals,and take responsibility for my own family's safety, without preemptively impinging on anyone else's rights?
I’ve been around pit bulls quite a bit. They are, after all, still dogs. Their behavior is the responsibility of their owner and, with a few exceptions common to all dogs, can be controlled and modified.
The real difference is similar to that between a BB gun and a 38 pistol. Both can be handled safely, both can go off with improper handling. But the the 38 is capable of much greater damage because of its power and speed.
The problem with pit bulls is owners who don’t know dogs and even more don’t know that they don’t know. Rachael Ray is in the second category.
These types should not own pit bulls.
Just "isolated incidents."
Places that have banned pit bulls have not seen any declines in serious attacks. See Denver, Colorado and especially the UK, whose attacks have increased. However, places that have not banned breeds but instead enforce responsible ownership laws (see Calgary) have seen huge declines in their serious attacks.
Whatever you believe to be the cause of this issue, you must see that the solution that works is not bsl, but greater accountability for dog owners. After all, 19 people died last year from non-pit bull-type dogs, and bsl would not protect them at all.
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