Posted on 05/15/2008 6:04:35 AM PDT by tuffydoodle
FORT WORTH -- A 3-year-old girl was in critical condition at Cook Children's Medical Center after being attacked by two pit bull terriers Wednesday night.
Police responded to the call shortly before 8 p.m. at a mobile home park in the 5000 block of N. DeSoto Court, Lt. Jimmy McCarthy said. The child's aunt, who was also injured, was taken to Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital, McCarthy said. Police declined to identify the woman.
The girl does not live where the attack took place, but was in the care of her aunt at the time, said Lynn Alexander, a neighbor at the Redwood Estates Mobile Home Park in southeast Fort Worth.
"This is unbelievable," said Leslie Cranston, a neighbor who lives across the street. "I walk my dog every day and never knew they even had dogs in that house."
The mobile home park manager said residents are required to sign a contract when they move in, and the rules are clear.
"They state, 'No pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, chows or other dangerous breeds,'" said Walter Winters, manager. "If we would have known, I would have given them a notice to get rid of the dogs or vacate the property."
The dogs were seized by the city's animal control department.
The Fort Worth Crimes Against Children Unit is investigating the incident.
BUMP
Calling all so-called “PitBull” haters...I have popcorn!
I just realized that this is a mobile home park that my husband and I lived in when we first got married, and our home was on the same street. It was a decent park 25 years ago, I haven’t seen it since. Had a nice pool, clubhouse and good management, I can certainly see them banning dangerous dogs.
I love pit bulls. They are tasty on the grill.
Is their Crimes Against Adults Unit investigating the attack on the child's aunt? Or do they have a separate Crimes Against Women Unit?
I have to say that it’s been a while since I saw a pit bull thread on Free Republic. Bad things happen sometimes. It’s only when they seem to happen every other day that I start to think there’s an overall problem. Prayers for the victims.
A new neighbor just moved in to the house next door. They have a pit bull. I cannot go into my own back yard and do gardening without that dog flailing himself against the chain link fence while barking, snarling and growling the whole time I’m in the back yard. The fence is only 5 feet and he could probably scale it easily, were he of a mind to. When I work against the fence area he goes ballistic. Yes, I hate pit bulls. The last house we owned, the next door neighbor had 2 pit bulls and they did the same thing. The fence was only 4 ft tall. That is one of the reasons we moved, to get away from them and their drug dealer owner. 6 years later we’re back to the same thing..........
I regard owning powerful canine breeds in much the same light as I regard owning firearms. If one cannot be responsible with regard to recognizing danger and safety, so therefore properly train, then don’t own one!
Pepper spray, repeated working near the fence, and repeated application of the spray will cure the dog’s habits. Just use a short squirt each time.
I read the article twice trying to figure out who owned the pit bulls. Was it the aunt, or a neighbor?
Well, I suggest you wear a firearm when doing yard work. There is logic (and in many cities, ordnances) in place to require your neighbor to properly train and socialize his dog...if he does not and the dog leaps the fence to attack you, you have every right to kill the dog.
This is “unincorporated” residential neighborhood. People here pretty much do as they please as long as the neighbors don’t complain to the sheriff or one of the other county departments. I keep a knife handy. Lots of people walk and children play up and down our street, and with school about out will be even more. The dog is constantly barking at someone. I’m afraid he’ll jump that fence one day and take down a child. He’s really vicious...........
“Dogs of peace” ping.
I thought about that, pepper spray. I also thought about ammonia in a spray bottle.........It’s good for the plants, you know....;^)
I don't know him THAT well.......
...and get an undue amount of attention from a MSM which wants them eraticated (same MSM which pays the same kind of attention to firearms).
Wow, 17 posts and nobody has yet posted that because a Golden Retriever once bit a kid, that Pit Bulls are no more or less dangerous than any other dog.
I have to say since Texas has had the law on the books about dangerous dogs, the articles about dog attacks have been few and far between compared to earlier years.
Are pit bulls inevitably and irredeemably aggressive toward all small animals (nature)...OR ... do they become aggressive toward smaller animals only as a consequence of being deliberately trained to attack them (nurture)?
I use “inevitably and irredeemably” deliberately because even relatively placid dog and other animal species can have the odd member whose mainspring is wound just a little too tightly. But, if taken as a whole, the species is always aggressive towards small animals, children, etc., then it would be fair to characterize them as a dangerous animal and exclude them from contact (except under extremely controlled conditions) with human society. If the later is the case, that they must be trained to regard the small and helpless as objects to be attacked, then it is criminal behavior on the part of their human owners to trained them (or have them trained) to be this aggressive.
Over the past years, I've seen postings here on FR that seem to fall on one side or the other but this fundamental question gets clouded over in these discussions because of the understandable emotion evoked by these horrific attacks.
Being quite familiar with Goldens this SHOCKS me (that one once bit a kid): ) Mine will let the other dogs, kids, strangers...whomever...climb, smack, chomp etc...her and if you just pet her once she forgives all!!! (Precious is what she is!!!!)
“A new neighbor just moved in to the house next door. They have a pit bull. “
My neighbors have pit bulls too.
I NEVER go outside without my cannister of pepper spray. Once one of the dogs got into my yard and came after me. I hit him right in the face with the spray. He turned and left immediately.
Got it from
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/
Buy a can of self defense aerosol spray. When the wind is blowing towards the dog, give him a good sniff. Get him to associate you,m barking and the burning nose sensation together. No need to actually spray it in his eyes because his nose is sensitive enough to get the message. It should only take a few sniffs for him to understand.
Fatal pit bull attack on a toddler at Camp Lejeune (on-base) yesterday as well:
http://www.jdnews.com/news/attack_56604___article.html/dog_boy.html
LOL I should have read all the comments first.
Likely I would kill the dog and the owner at the first opportunity I had.
Unless they are CLEARLY well trained and socialized, I would poison some bacon and throw it over the fence.
I think they belong to the aunt.
Ammonia in a squirt bottle works best. Make sure it isn’t ordinary househoold ammonia but the stronger stuff. I used to work as a land surveyor and dogs were sometimes a problem. I adapted a nasal spray bottle to work as a squirt bottle and filled it with VERY strong ammonia. The next dog that tried to get a piece of me got a faceful of that instead and simply fell to the ground and eventually crawled away, whimpering. The next day he didn’t want anything to do with me.
It may not be strictly legal, but I would have no moral qualms at all about tossing a "special meatball" over that fence.
Pit Bulls mirror their owners (or vice-versa). I’d be more afraid of them than the dogs.
Not because my dog is fierce but because if something happens it is too late. Jaws like this are unforgiving.
That and be prepared to face serious consequences if it accidentally ‘goes off’ on someone.
I love dogs, some breeds more than others. Every vet I’ve talked to about pit bulls says this breed needs to be fixed to greatly reduce the inherent tendencies of this breed to unexpectedly snap and do something like this. After sexual maturity, there is something in this breed’s wiring that makes them more prone to unexpectedly turn violent, nad you cannot foresee what will trigger it. It appears to be a hormonal thing, and spay/neuter can reduce it significantly.
Of course, this is also assuming they haven’t been bred to be violent and mean on purpose by the owner.
That last pic: (knock-knock) Land Shark.
I hope you are armed when you go in the back yard. I had this problem years ago. Finally I just shot them one night and the problem ended. No one could prove I did it.
That’s the way my dad used to cure this problem in the country.
That “final solution” has not come to that point .......yet......
That's what my new neighbor's dog looks like, just inches from me on the other side of my chain link fence (5 ft) as I work in my yard and garden...........
"I will be 64 in August of this year and spent a great deal of my time around Pits when I was young. In addition I knew quite a few pit breeders that started in the late 1800'S and early 1900,s. My Grandfather was born in 1889 and died at 83 (1972). He had Pits most of his life. It is ignorant to say that these people mistreated their dogs. Champion Pits were very expensive and could run as much as $500.00 in the 20's. I assure you that that was a large amount of money even in the 1950's and you would be a fool to jeopardize your investment. Also if I remember correctly I believe the UKC is the oldest kennel club in America and the pit bull dog was the first breed registered. At the time all champions were pit tested. Many of those dogs would not even win a ribbon to day because they had more of a splayed or turned out foot for balance in the pit. these dogs were graded Champions not because of their looks but because of their exploits. If you look at the old show pictures you will not see any of these dogs in a ring with other show dogs. They were shown separately because they did not tolerate other dogs. I seem to remember that Pits were banned from the UKC for a time because of an outcry from other breed owners who felt that they were too vicious. The truth is that their dogs were bred for show only and they could not match the overall charismatics (strength ,courage and speed) of the pit. Pit breeders also guarded their lines very closely and kept stringent records for themselves, however when selling it was worse than horse trading. Unless you witnessed the sire and bitch breeding and took the bitch home with you until she pupped you didn't really know what you were getting. Rarely would one give someone the prized line but cross or outbred to keep their line intact. The number 1 trait that these Pits were bread for was gameness. A dog that would fight to the death, with no fear, and would never quit. Most fights were stopped when the owners felt the dogs were sufficiently tested because they were so expensive. Contrary to popular belief a good champion would only have two to three pit fights in their lifer and a great champion maybe five. Before 1950 any farm boy could recognize the difference between a Staffordshire, catch bulldog and a Pit bulldog even though in appearance they may appear to be th same. How ever each line was bred for a different purpose and each was a different breed. The staff and catch dogs were working dogs who were allowed to roam the farm at will and usually responded to people well. The title Pit bulldog is just that. It only referred to the line that had been proven in the pit and all other bulldogs need not apply. If you lived on a farm as a kid there were three things that were not permitted, You didn't play by the well, you didn't play with farm equipment and you didn't go in a dog yard where any Pits resided. I agree that dog fighting in todays society is inhumane and and deserves to be outlawed. But in the thirties when a farm overseer made fifty cent a day for six days a week from daylight to sunset income from a couple of Pits might make the difference between eating and going without. Times are very much different and so are the dogs. As time changed and club were formed such as the AKC and American Pit Bull Terrier/AMSTAFF, owners started out breeding and cross breeding to improve the disposition of the pit. In fact I don't think that the AKC all the pit breed. AMSTAFF is relative new and was welcomed as a avenue to show Pits. Many are called Pit Bull Terrier's but this is a misnomer. The result of kennel clubs was to keep the name Pit Bull but the breed was destroyed to satisfy charteristics and create a better disposition. Today, many crossbreeds are call pit type dogs and are therefore referred to as Pits. To my knowledge the UKC is the only club that has had a class for true Pits, that were bred for the pit, tried in the pot and excelled in the pit. The Pit Bull who's lines extended back more than 400 years no longer exists today. Even the Rednose or Colby dog you referred to was outbred in the 60's and 70's and and the line has been contaminated. While the so called Pit is now less aggressive because of out breeding to Rockwilders and Stafordshires, some who in turn have become more aggressive because of their Pit blood. That is why most old breeders deem these dogs so dangerous. When a pit was purebred one knew exactly what he would do. The mix breeds and they are mixed regardless of papers from a club can be anything, cuddly, obedient, a friend and dangerous. The problem is that out breeding has produced a dog that is unpredictable and one never knows when 400 years of genetics will kick in or even if true Pit blood is involved. I feel sorry for the dogs but I would never trust one. The common line in Pit type dog attacks are he was a good pet and always minded me, the dog was provoked or mistreated when in fact some of their bloodline was bred only to fight to the death. Blue ribbon Pits that priss around the ring today would have been called cur or sissy dogs in bygone years. In fact in the early UKC showings they would not have placed or been allowed to compete or even called a pit because none have been pit tested. The purebred Pit was never a great choice for a family pet and in truth he was a monster."
Pepper spray the li'l darling.
Ammonia.........It’s good for the plants........
One reason that question gets, "clouded over" so often is that this is a highly emotional issue and everyone has a strong opinion, regardless of their command (or lack thereof) of the facts.
First, "Pit Bull" is a very ambiguous term, and even local legislators who set out to ban, "Pit Bulls" find themselves wrestling over the definition. For example, there is the "American Pit Bull Terrier", which is a specific breed recognized by the UKC (in fact UKC registrant #1 was an APBT), but not by the AKC. One problem is, the overwhelming majority of people who actually register dogs as APBTs, and breed them for conformance and show purposes, tend to be responsible owners, and carefully monitor the blood lines to minimize or eliminate the undesireable traits. The classic "Bull Terrier" is best recognized as Patton's Willie, or Spuds Mckenzie, and are generally people friendly dogs. Pure breds that conforms with the standards of the breed and truly meet the book definition of a "Bull Terrier," will be well outside the price range of the meth dealer that needs a protection dog for his trailer in the woods, or the gang banger in the street. Moreover, most serious breeders would no more associate with the criminal element than they would sell them a puppy.
In the 'hood, the term "pit bull" is usually applied to some variation of Staffordshire terrier, occasionally, some Rottweiler blood gets in the mix, American Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Dogo Argentino, Presa Canarios or whatever the meanest, biggwest, most aggressive violent dogs can be found and bred.
Amidst all this confusion, do-gooders call for bans on "Pit Bull Terriers," and politicians respond by drafting legislation that includes Boxers, English Bulldogs, or other dogs that are traditionally family pets. Furthermore without a strict definition, the media (scrupulous fact checkers that they are) tend to blame most any dog attack on "Pitbulls" even in incidents where the breed is not certain, or the victim/witness who couldn't tell a Rhodesian Ridgeback from a Doberman Pinscher reports the animal as a "Pit Bull" and the press obligingly prints that in their headline and the Police Officer dutifully enters that information in his report.
I really can't understand how many conservatives and small government people can not see the parallels between the efforts to ban "assault weapons," and breed specific legislation.
Could be if it's dilute, or placed on just the dirt around the plants. It will kill the grass though, or leaves any stronger solutions hit. The equivalent of ammonia content is what kills the grass animals pee on. The N content is just too high.
The old man brought a boxer home one day, when I was less than 4. I used to have to hide in a room with the door closed, because it would knock me down and chew on me. After Ma spent the a few entire days on top the washing machine and much screaming at paw, the dog disappeared and everyone lived happily ever after.
Many animal rights folks are against the AKC and other professional dog associations, but selective breeding to increase and maintain certain breed characteristics serves many purposes, one of which is allowing a prospective owner to obtain a dog that suits their family situation and lifestyle. Many mutts make great pets, and I'm all for the adoption of shelter animals. Having said that, they can be a wildcard draw, and you may end up with something that's completley unsuitable and unpredicatable.
That's right.
Dogs, by natural selection, are hard wired to be subservient to human master "pack leaders". It is important for all so-called "pitbull" owners to establish that fact and instill other parameters so that the dog can be socialized and obedient whether on or off leash around other humans and animals. And, I would advocate that all dogs be either spayed or neutered, unless of show quality (which the so-called "pitbull" is not as it is not a recognized AKC breed, being the product of backyard breeding by nefarious types).
If you're asking whether there are circumstances of dog's "snapping" because of a mental deficiency then I would agree that there have been occurrences, as the canine kingdom is little different than the human one and there indeed is a certain small percentage of "red zone" crazies--just as there are in human beings. But, if you're saying that all PBTs "snap" then I would disagree--the vast majority can and have been successfully trained and socialized.
Thanks for the sanity check. As I've stated elsewhere, I'm always amazed at the self-proclaimed, small government types who are all for passage of vague, ambiguous legislation calling for the outright ban of a breed of dog they cannot define. Furthermore, these same people will decry the main stream media's leftist slant and hidden agenda on everything from Iraq, taxes, unions, public schools, etc. but insist that every article about pit bulls is totally objective and free of sensationalism.
There are dangerous dogs out there...no doubt...but dog attacks are the result of improperly restrained, inadequately supervised animals, and there is a human somewhere in that equation that failed to exercise their responsibilities and should be financially, if not criminally liable.
Some people may wish to own a certain type of firearm or motorcycle, and be totally unprepared and hopelessly inexperienced to handle them...and when they do take ownership of such, their inexperience creates an unnecessary hazard to others...yet a right thinking person would not call for a ban on certain weapons or motorcycles simply because some people who are ill-prepared to own them insist on doing so.
No dog owner should be in favor of such laws, because government will always become more intrusive.
20 years ago we were told, "You're now required to wear a seatbelt, but you won't be pulled over for not wearing it...if we pull you over for something else, i.e. speeding, burnt out tail light, and you're not wearing your seatbelt, you'll be charged for that."
Then about 10 years ago, we were told that, indeed, "if we see you driving without a seatbelt, we'll pull you over and write you a ticket."
Now, I turn on the radio and I hear ads for "Click it or ticket," where I'm told the Federal Government is subsidizing local and state polilce departments to pay officers overtime strictly for the purpose of enforcing mandatory seat belt laws.
If, as some locations have already done, the powers that be cobble together a nebulous definition of "pit bull" and succeed in banning them, the "next dangerous dog" will become, "the most dangerous dog," and we'll hear stories about how that breed has mauled people, is bred to be aggressive, etc. until it too is banned.
Trust me...PETA and other animal rights groups are behind much of this legislation with an end view of complete bans on animal ownership. While maybe well intended by many, the submission to a ban on "pit bulls" is just the beginning of a much larger agenda.
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