Marauding pit bulls attack six

CNN.com ^ | Monday, November 7, 2005

[kx9088]

Not that I would agree with that list but maybe it is time to get strict on owning an animal that could become uncontrollable at a moments notice?

It's not like owning a gun or a car, they are in-animate objects that are ultimately controlled by a person. A dog as a mind of it's own.

[Judith Anne]

So far, our mastiff hasn't caused our homeowners to go up...

[Hoof Hearted]

"Find the owners and jail them."

Along with his thumb!

[Al Gator]

I agree with you, for now, that's correct. But I think its only in terms of numbers.

The pitts are the current fad. Just like Dobs and Rotties were back in the '60s and '70s. You only ever heard of owners being killed by their brain-damaged Dob.

Once the pitts popularity fades, so will the number these incidents.

Too many people don't realize that an animal, any animal, has a mind of its own. It can be brilliant, stupid, retarded, evil, good, etc, etc, just like people.

Folks just don't respect nature. That's how this stuff happens.

[rhombus]

So far, our mastiff hasn't caused our homeowners to go up...

I'm only reporting what happened to me when I called a couple of companies to get a new policy when I moved. It may differ from state to state and maybe depends on what laws are in place holding insurance companies responsible for pet actions.

[panaxanax]

".....police shot and killed [the] dogs...." If they would have used rubber bullets instead of real ones, the dog's rampage would have eventually burned itself out. We must strive to understand the underlying causes of their anger. Can't we learn anything from the French?

[Condor51]

***Find the owners and jail them.***

Oh the owner was found. In fact he tried stopping his dogs - they attacked HIM.

(This was in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday)

[TChris]

Nothing to see here, it's the "Dog of Peace" don'cha know.

[The Red Zone]

Compared to some other dog, or to no dog at all?

When I signed up for homeowners their only question about pets was, do I have a dog. They could care less about cats, geckos, or alligators.

[Rodney King]

The owners of pit bulls should be held strictly liable for what the dogs do. Haveing a pit pull on your front stoop is the same as leaving a loaded gun on your front stoop.

[Al Gator]

To point to the "numbers" angle, there is another breed of dog out there that makes the Staffordshire Terrier look like a wimpy pussycat.

Fila Brasileiro is so dangerous many countries in Europe have banned the little buggers outright.

You don't hear much of any attacks by them, simply because their numbers are way down. Not too many folks are brave enough to own them. If they ever become the fad, be afraid. Be very afraid.

[Rodney King]

This is called a "frenzy". Dogs in a group, any kind of dog, is susceptible to this phenomenon.

True, but Pit Bulls are a hell of a lot more susceptible to it than most dogs.

[Hoodlum91]

Owners of ALL dogs should be liable for what they do, not just pit bull owners. It's the responibility part of pet ownership.

[Rodney King]

Right, I stand corrected.

[altura]

Without the opposing thumb, the owner will be even more clueless.

[GingisK]

I refuse to place a Dob with an inexperienced owner.

Experience being, of course, something that one is born with. Just like in the job market.

[GBA]

I'm not against banning the breed, but I'm for hammering the owners first. Massive fines, automatic jail time and total liability to those injured in the event of an attack and steep home and renter insurance premiums. Most don't own a home outright and must have insurance to get a mortgage. Go after the landlords as well. Make these dogs so expensive to own that no one wants one. Go after the breeders as well. Make neutering mandatory for licensing. If these measures don't stop the attacks, then ban the breed.

[John Robertson]

"There's no such thing as a 'pit bull'. There is no such breed recognized by any kennel club on the planet."

Yeah, they're recognizes as "American Staffordshire Terriers." But we all know them as...pit bulls.

Changing the name from pit bull doesn't change the nature any more than an NBA dress code makes a divinity student out of a thug.

[Al Gator]

I have to disagree with you on that Rod. Almost all dogs have the same response.

Trouble is, when pitts do it, the damage factor is way high due to their strength and ability.

[elli1]

There's no such thing as a 'pit bull'. There is no such breed recognized by any kennel club on the planet/

United Kennel Club--American Pit Bull Terrier

The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. U.K.C. founder C. Z. Bennett assigned U.K.C. registration number 1 to his own APBT, Bennett's Ring in 1898.