Pit Bull Mauls Grandma, Arms Amputated

ABC7 ^ | 2.17.04

[ambrose]

ORANGE - A 91-year-old Orange woman attacked by her great-grandson's pit bull had both of her arms amputated and was in critical condition at UC Irvine Medical Center today.

Ruby Sharum, whose arms were amputated at the elbows, also suffered serious damage to her face in the Friday night dog attack, said Jean Necas, a nursing supervisor at UCI Medical Center.

Zion, the dog that attacked Sharum, reportedly belong to her great- grandson, identified by the Orange County Register as Ian Buckhard.

At Buckhard's request, Orange County animal control officials euthanized Zion on Saturday, the Register reported. A Rottweiler owned by Buckhard also was impounded, the newspaper reported.

Officials are trying to determine if the Rottweiler participated in the attack on Sharum, or poses a future danger, according to the newspaper.

Animal control officials visited the home on the 400 block of South Pixley Street several times in past year, neighbors told the newspaper. The dogs were sometimes seen wondering loose outside, they said.

A few weeks ago, a third pit bull living in the home was euthanized after sustaining serious injuries in a fight with Zion, according to the newspaper.

[ApplegateRanch]

Can a breed "designed" for viciousness be "re-programmed"?

To answer that would take many years of careful breeding, coupled with ruthless culling, utilizing the entire stock of several breeders, representing several distinct breed lines.

Also, one must have individuals with the desired traits, since you can't breed in what isn't there to begin with. MAYBE it would be possible to out-cross to different breeds with the desired temperament, but then you still would not have Pit Bulls anymore.

And how many innocent people are killed and maimed while trying to answer that? And if the answer turns out to be "no," who says what to all those families?

And even if the answer is "yes" it doesn't matter, because there are too many 'breeders' that WANT that viciousness for macho cachet; or for their illicit "sport"; or to guard their "crops" from any and all comers.

Theoretically it may be possible, but from a practical stand point, it isn't feasible.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Sorry! I misunderstood your first post.

You're right. And that's a great story about the sheephearding dog. They're really smart, I here.

My little mutt dog has some hunting instinct, as sometimes she'll see a cat through the fence and just go motionless, save for inwardly raising one of her paws while she stares at the cat. She's "pointing," and I think that's really neat!