‘But, My Pit Bull Would Never Attack’ May Be Wishful Thinking

boston.com ^ | June 24, 2014 | Megan Turchi

[ransomnote]

Pit bulls make up 6 percent of the dog population in Canada and the US, but they are responsible for 68 percent of dog attacks and 52 percent of dog-related deaths from 1982 to 2009, TIME Magazine reported.

So, how does Boston stack up?

According to data provided to Boston.com from Mayor Marty Walsh’s press office, there were a total of 661 dog bites in the city of Boston between January 2012 and June 2014, which included bites against animal, human and unknown victims.

Pit bulls make up a little over 3 percent of the entire dog population of Boston. There are 250 registered pit bulls, pit bull mixes and Staffordshires listed as registered in the 2014 list of dog licenses, as provided to Boston.com, with a total of 7,355 registered dogs in the city.

The data defines ‘pit bull’ as a dog having American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire, pit bull or Staffordshire as either the primary or secondary breed.

“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,” according to a 2011 study conducted by the Annals of Surgery. After a young girl was recently attacked by pit bulls at her grandfather’s house in Mississippi and suffered a broken nose, jaw, cheekbone and eye socket, TIME Magazine looked at the “problem behind pit bulls.”

Much of the attention given to this story on social media was drawn to the claim that a KFC worker allegedly asked the girl to leave the restaurant because of the scars on her face, but TIME gave attention to the initial dog attack.

[Salamander]

Pit Bull Derangement Syndrome.

The irony practically drips.

[from occupied ga]

There is no common factor. Dogs are capable of actions on their own without any human intervention. Guns are inanimate (note inanimate) objects.

[Salamander]

Jesse Jackson’s involved??

[from occupied ga]

There is no rational rebuttal to your irrational statements.

[kanawa]

Dogs are capable of actions on their own without any human intervention. Guns are inanimate (note inanimate) objects.

Yes, we all agree on that.
Now come on, you're a bright guy, what common factor ties them together?

[Salamander]

So it’s morally preferable that a child is shot/drowned/beaten/strangled than mauled?

Is dead ~not~ dead?

I like Virginia’s approach to gun laws, BTW.

Anybody can have as many guns as they want...until they eff up just once.

Then, it’s straight to jail, automatically.

With great freedom comes great responsibility.

It should be the same for dog owners.

Fear of prison rape makes for very careful people.

[Salamander]

More like you just don’t have any rational rebuttal, period.

So, go ahead and knock over the checkerboard, if you want.

[kanawa]

Well then, you can see the condensed version in post #39

It was, btw, a fatal attack.
I'll fire up my old 'puter later to see if I can access the longer version.

[Uncle Chip]

No — a family of pitbull owners in Mississippi whose pitbulls mauled their 4 year old grandaughter subsequently exposing the family as who they are — con artists.

[9YearLurker]

It was also done further back before ghetto culture.

[9YearLurker]

Looks like you’re a fan of Dobermans. That’s another breed that doesn’t belong in the general population—or with the vast majority of people interested in owning them.

[Salamander]

Ah...the KFC scam.

I cannot comprehend them, whoring their child that way.

I’d say more but it’s a family forum.

[Salamander]

Yeah, RC!

Go shoot dem vishus Doverman Pinchers right now!

[Salamander]

Yep.

Kill 'em all.

Let the Devil sort 'em out.

[kanawa]

If you have evidence that dogsbite.org “deliberately ignores evidence” and “falsifies their statistics” I’d appreciate it if you’d post it. I like to be informed and the change would be nice.

You'd been informed, you just didn't stay informed....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2729645/posts?page=45#45

[Salamander]

http://www.dobermanownersguide.com/doberman-pinscher/doberman-saves-family-from-ponders-end-house-fire/

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/westminster-contender-saved-owner-life-article-1.1601212

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/doberman-saves-toddler/story-e6frea8c-1111114765415?nk=8670282c1b9616d3c43d0311254e3bd3

http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/monster-doberman-saves-family-from-fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrUIQJ4C0IQ

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/doberman-puppy-spots-drowning-man-saves-life-213157760.html

http://webpages.charter.net/dober/wardogs2.html

Go tell the 250 WW2 Marines that their dogs suck.

[kanawa]

Lovely little expression of your wisdom on that thread.

"As I’ve said, having debated pit bull owners/supporters for pages and pages of FR posts, I now realize that death toll is just fine with pit bull owners...They object to any attempt by the public to use laws to reduce the death toll...want the rest of us to shut up and get used to dogs killing and eating babies

I assume you still hold that position?

[9YearLurker]

As I said, they don’t belong in the general population or with the majority of people who want to own them.

[FourtySeven]

People, people! Let’s all just relax, the solution to this argument is simple: everyone should just get a cat.

[Salamander]

The American bloodlines are so diluted and calm, they’re suited for just about anyone who has a reasonable bit of dog experience.

I prefer the “hotter” Euros but would not recommend them for casual owners.

What do you mean by “general population”?

We should keep them in solitary confinement or what?

They’re currently ranked at #12 in the AKC registry [and that’s just registered dogs] so there’s an awful ot of them running around yet you *rarely* see them in the news unless they’re saving somebody’s life.