Posted on 04/08/2006 4:37:43 PM PDT by Wristpin
Pit bulls on the loose went on a rampage Thursday and terrorized a southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. The dogs escaped from their backyard at 53rd Street and Cedar Avenue and ran several blocks through the neighborhood, attacking several people. Their rampage ended with a policeman shooting one of the dogs.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc10.com ...
"The breed known as the American Pit Bull Terrier was selectively bred specifically with the idea of it becoming the ultimate canine gladiator."
This is from a Pit Bull friendly site, the rest of the stuff is not related to the issue of risk.
Go out to Google, type in "Pit Bull Attacks" and see what kind of response you get.
You'll get stories about maulings, cripplings, pack mayhem and killings done by pit bulls. Thousands of them.
Then type in "Bichon Frise Attacks". (That's the breed I own.)
You'll get stories of allergies, sicknesses, and illnesses that Bichon Frises suffer.
You pit bull owners are in denial. Any dog breed that has to be constantly supervised so that it doesn't pierce the jugular of an old lady walking down the street is a breed that is destined for the dust bin.
Enjoy them while you can, if they don't kill you first.
Good try, but this is the dog breed I own:
Keep yer narsty Bichin' Frizzies away from my pups, they might hurt my dogs!
"Beserking Brichon Frise shot by police"
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4713574
"That's my granddaughters dog my kids are calling me crying my granddaughters crying todays her birthday and she don't have her dog here," Sue Harris owners mother said.
The family of the dog told KTEN the pit, named Velvet, must have been tormented in some way. Velvet broke off of his leash and jumped the fence.
This is typical of pit bull owners. More concerned about the damned dog than about a kid lying in an emergency room because the beast broke off a leash and attacked him.
And the veterinary student has a shoe-sized IQ.
The crosses were called bull-and-terriers, half-and-halfs, and pit terriers. It is considered general knowledge that these crosses were the first Pit Bulls, however there is some speculation as to whether or not the history of these crosses is that of our Pit Bulls, or rather a history "borrowed" from the Bull Terrier, which is a documented bulldog/terrier fighting dog cross.
Again, reading futher down in your post only confirms what I said earlier. Humans exploited the wonderful characterisitcs of these animals. I do not blame the dog one bit.
Darn right! :0) That's why I love my pits.
Wristpin, why be so selective in your informing others? are you afraid of anything positive being said about this breed?
I just went on Google (commie jerks that they are) and typed in "Pit Bull Attacks". I got 1 - 10 of about 71,600. Search took 0.49 seconds.
Just for kicks, I then typed in "SUV Attacks"
I got Web Results 1 - 10 of about 88,200. Search took 0.62 seconds.
I guess I better get rid of our SUVs. You never know when they might attack someone.
This is an unbelievably irresponsible quote for this student to make. If a dog of any breed is going after a child, a law enforcement officer is well within his rights to kill the animal.
"That's my granddaughters dog my kids are calling me crying my granddaughters crying todays her birthday and she don't have her dog here," Sue Harris owners mother said.
This is typical of an owner of a biting dog of any breed. These owners are in denial, and they should not own a stuffed dog, much less a powerful breed, or one that needs training and responsible handling.
The family of the dog told KTEN the pit, named Velvet, must have been tormented in some way. Velvet broke off of his leash and jumped the fence.
Gee, I wonder if this wonderful family of responsible dog owners just may have tormented, or had friends that tormented this dog. They most certainly didn't bother to train or socialize it properly.
That sentence is a about bulldogs before the fighting crowd developed the "PIT Bull" from them. Go to some other sites and read about the development of the breed.
Of course you should have known this information before selecting a dog.
But...but...but...an SUVeeeeeeeeeeee is an inanimate object!
Other breeds get out, it's a fact of life...they don't frequently end up with the police shooting them and CNN helicopters flying around.
Another source for you since you can't believe your eyes. Check out the "Break Sticks", a must for every Pit owner!
http://www.pbrc.net/breedinfo.html
The Breed's Original Purpose
Humans have created specialized dogs through emphasizing desired traits and eliminating unwanted ones. It is no different with the Pit Bull breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been "selectively" bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. This is the sad "work" these dogs were created for. In the same way that Labradors were bred to retrieve birds, APBTs were bred to face other dogs in mortal combats. Even in dogs that are not recently bred from fighting lines, the urge to fight can arise at any time. Not to strongly emphasize this fact would be negligent.
That said, we can't blame specialized breeds for behaving as they were bred to. Certain specific traits were selectively bred into the dogs and are now part of the breed's character. It's like the digging instinct of many Terriers, the herding behavior in Shelties, the compulsion to run in Greyhounds, etc. Your Pointer may have never spent a day on a real hunt, he may still point and flush birds as his ancestors were bred to do.
It's a mistake to think that the fighting gene could be easily trained or loved out of a dog, or that early socialization will guarantee your Pit Bull will always get along with other animals. There are precautions to take when owning Pit Bulls, especially in a multiple-dog environment. Unfortunately these precautions are often viewed as an acceptance for the sport of pit fighting when nothing could be further from the truth. Knowing how to avoid a fight, as well as how to break it up if despite all efforts one strikes, is proof of smart and responsible Pit Bull ownership.
Never trust a Pit Bull not to fight...
It is not necessarily a hate of other dogs that will cause Pit Bulls to fight, but rather an "urge" to do so that has been bred into the breed for many generations. Pit bulls may fight over hierarchic status, but external stimulus or excitement can also trigger a fight. Remember that any canine can fight, but Pit Bulls were bred specifically for their drive, intensity, and determination to win.
Pit Bull owners must be aware of the remarkable fighting abilities this breed posses and always keep in mind that Pit Bulls have the potential to inflict serious injuries to other animals. A Pit Bull may not even be the one starting a conflict, but he has the genetics to finish it. Remember that Pit Bulls are almost always blamed no matter who initiated the hostilities, and often end up paying the price at the hands of the authorities - So does the owner
I have read and read and read about pit bulls. I also own two. I am around others who own them. I have assisted in rescues of pit bulls. I would venture a guess that I am pretty aware of their history, the myths surrounding them (those eeevil "locking jaws" and such roflmao), and the truth about this breed. I deal with two vets whose combined practice totals 60 years and whose judgement about the soundness of my animals I would trust any day over one of your sites. I have had my animals trained by two of the top notch trainers in my state, one of which trains police dogs, and whose positive opinions of the breed, I will trust more than your selctive quotes.
Remember that Pit Bulls are almost always blamed no matter who initiated the hostilities, and often end up paying the price at the hands of the authorities
Simply because of their breed.
To quote Ronald Reagan, "There you go again."
You forgot this part of the webpage you just quoted. Here, let me post it for you...
Pit Bulls are wonderful animals that deserve a chance to have a good life like any other dog. However, it's important to remember that Pit Bulls are not just any other dog - They are a little more of everything a dog can be.
Pit Bulls have superior physical and mental characteristics that make them excellent partners for responsible, active, and caring owners. On the other hand, these same outstanding qualities can make them a little difficult to handle for people who don't have a lot of experience with dog ownership, or for those who don't understand the breed very well. Luckily, Pit Bulls are very responsive to training and eager to please. It is therefore strongly recommended to take them to obedience classes as soon as they are up to date with their shots. (Pit Bulls are prone to parvovirus, so it is important that they receive all their vaccinations before coming into contact with other dogs or going places that other dogs frequent.) A well behaved and obedient Pit Bull will be a great ambassador for the breed and help fight prejudice and misconception.
Pit Bulls are very adaptable and will even do well in urban living provided they have enough exercise or other positive outlets for their energy. Many Pit Bulls are easygoing couch-potatoes but can also be somewhat rambunctious until they mature. Maturity can come pretty late with this breed (2 to 3 years old in some cases). Pit Bulls remain playful all their life and have a great sense of humor. Real clowns at heart, these dogs will make you laugh like no other.
Pit Bulls are strong, energetic, agile, and powerful dogs. They are also very resourceful and driven. "Determination" is one of their most notable traits. Whatever they set out to do, they put their heart and soul into it...Whether it is escaping an inadequately fenced yard to go explore the neighborhood, destroying your new couch when left home alone, or climbing into your lap to shower you with kisses! They just don't give up easily.
Stahlkuppe (1995) writes "The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), or the AmStaff, is certainly not the right pet for everyone. Being a powerful dog, it will require sufficient and adequate control. Some prospective elderly owners or children, will not be able to supply that control... A first-time dog owner, in the minds of many experienced dog breeders, should not buy an APBT or an AmStaff!. An insecure person who wants only an aggressive dog to bolster some personal human inadequacy should never become an owner of one of these dogs. An uncaring or negligent person should not buy an AmStaff or an APBT (or any other dog for that matter)."
Another very important characteristic of Pit Bull dogs is their amazing love of people. Many people are surprised by the loving personality of these dogs the first time they meet one. Pit Bull dogs are indeed remarkably affectionate and truly enjoy human attention. They are wonderful cuddlers, and nothing beats a belly rub. In fact, most Pit Bulls think they are lap dogs!
Dunbar (1999) writes: "Today, a properly bred Pit Bull is so exuberantly happy upon meeting her owner's friends (or even friendly strangers) that new owners sometimes worry that their dog is too sweet and fun-loving to protect their home and family... A multitalented companion, the well-trained Pit Bull is suited for a variety of exciting activities. He excels at obedience, agility and weight-pulling competitions, events which showcase intelligence, trainability and strength. In addition, the Pit Bull's pleasant nature makes him an ideal candidate for therapy work with people."
Human aggression, severe shyness, and instability are not traits typically found and accepted in the APBT breed. Dogs with these traits are not good representatives of the breed and should not be placed into adoptive homes.
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