My Dog was Savagely Attacked by Two Pitbulls

7/3/2006 | GVnana

[GVnana]

My sweet little cocker spaniel dog was nearly killed by two pitbulls who jumped a fence to get to her. She crossed a nearby driveway and they got her.

By the time my neighbors got the dogs off, (within seconds) the pits had grounded my dog, tore out her left eye, dislocated her left leg, and left ten gaping wounds in her body. She couldn't move or even howl in pain. That's how I found her.

My dog weighs 40 pounds. She's large for her breed. She's AKC registered and pedigreed. She was a very beautiful dog.

This happened 10 days ago and I'm still stunned at the viciousness of the attack. I don't know if a human child would have survived what those animals did.

I have since learned that homeowner's insurance will not cover pitbulls.

I'm posting this as a warning and also as an invitation to comment.

[apackof2]

I would be in favor of a local ordinance requiring training for all prospective dog owners.

I hate to see more government regulation but in this case I may reconsider!

However perhaps just owners of breeds that were bred to fight should be required to have training and a special licence that you can only get when you have completed training, sorta like a CCW for dogs

Perhaps that would cut down on the owners who just want a "big, bad" dog and really don't care for welfare of others or their dog.

[Rex Anderson]

So why the "don't let her swim in the pond?"

I think that was a just a joke, playing on the way "leash" was spelled.

[Solson]

The easier way to address this is to regulate the BREEDING of dogs.

Our breeder of our Newfie has many requirements and if we fail to follow, we could be required to give the dog back.

But it's not a problem. We were investigated prior to purchase and we paid a lot of money for a very good dog.

However there are thousands of mills and irresponsible breeders taking advantage of the marketplace. Since AmStaffs and APBTs breeders are not regulated well and I would bet the bloodlines are all f-ed up now, regulating the breeding would help put a stop to it. Obviously, responsible proactive APBT breeders are too damn quiet to force the issue.

[Kokojmudd]

I'm sorry for your dog being injured by the attack. However, I find it disconcerting you have not limited your own pet with a fence, invisible fence or, with a leash. While the actions of the pitbulls were certainly viscious and definite signs of very agressive behavior, I'm not sure how much standing you will have because your dog was in their yard and off leash. Good luck. I hope your dog recovers fully. I also hope you consider an invisible fence.

Ditto what you said. I don't know the particulars in this case but it would seems like it would be difficult to file a claim against the neighbors if the cocker spaniel got out.

[YourAdHere]

I say tie some raw meat to the owners testicle and let the dogs have at him.

[Darnright]

>Do you believe that pit bull ownership poses no more unacceptable risk than a cocker or bichon or chihuahua?<

Hi Rex,

First, let me caution that I am not slamming the other folks to which I pinged this post. That said...

The pit bull, when properly trained, socialized, and contained, can live out it's life without ever harming anyone. HOWEVER, there is a subset of the population that gravitates toward the breed, because of it's potential to make them feel powerful. They want a dog that can "kick your dog's butt, then turn around and kick your butt". They have serious head problems, and should not own a stuffed animal, much less a powerful dog.

A different group, is not necessarily out to have a butt-kicking dog, but they are just as potentially dangerous as owners of a powerful, potentially aggressive dog. These people are not only ignorant about responsible dog ownership and the need for lifetime socialization and control of any dog, they are negligent in all facets of their lives.

The task for those writing legislation, is to target these 2 groups of offending dog owners. Therefore, instead of banning a breed, lawmakers have begun to crack down on people whose dogs are dangerous, with high fines, jail time, and stringent requirements for continuing to harbor a dog, once it's been found to be dangerous by a court of law.

As to your original question, Rex, I would have to say, sadly, that ownership of cocker spaniels, bichons and chihuahuas does not appeal at all to the first group of idiots. So, responsible people need to back legislation that makes the consequences of having (and creating) a dangerous dog (of ANY breed) far outweigh any feelings of power or status the perp might otherwise have.

[Darnright]

>I also hope you consider an invisible fence<

Solson, you've got a Newfoundland. Your dog is too big for anything to hurt.

Here's the problem with an invisible fence. Your dog is contained all right, but any other stray dog not wearing a shock collar can wander in and out of your yard at will. A small dog like a cocker could be a sitting duck for an aggressive animal in this situation.

[TAdams8591]

So heartbreaking. Prayers for your sweet little pet.

[Rex Anderson]

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I agree with most of it.

I posed that question because many posters here equate an attack by a pit bull with an attack by any other breed, large or small.

That is ludicrous. They don't 'fight' the same, and they don't have the same potential for serious damage.

See post #149. That info comes from a pro-pit bull website that honorably tries to educate the responsibility needed to own this breed.

[Rex Anderson]

Obviously, responsible proactive APBT breeders are too damn quiet to force the issue.

Exactly!

By the way, I love Newfies. Wonderful dog.

[RouxStir]

"So why the 'don't let her swim in the pond?'"

You get leaches from a pond and leashes from a pet store.

[GVnana]

Yeah. That's the problem. It's the way these dogs were bred to attack and the fact that a 4-year-old human wouldn't stand a chance.

[Sensei Ern]

SOmething similar happened to my friend. He and his brother went out to his farm to hunt. While they were at the dorr telling the renter they would be hunting, the renter's face turned flush and screamed, "FLUFFY!"

My friend and his brother turned to see their hound dogs playing tug-of-war with the renter's cat. By the time they got to the dogs, the dogs had pulled the entire skin off of the cat. The cat lived long enough to get it to the vet, but there was no way to put the skin back on and the cat was put to sleep.

My friend's brother apologized all he could and paid for the vet's bill, and even gave her a new cat. But, nothing can replace a pet.

[Sensei Ern]

to paraphrase Martin Niemöller,
"When the City Council outlawed the Pitbulls,
I said nothing; after all, I was not a pitbull owner.
When they banned the rottweillers,
I said nothing; after all, I was not a Rotty owner.
When they refuse the Akitas,
I said nothing; after all, I was not an Akita owner.
When they outlawed dogs entirely, there was no longer anyone who would protest."

[Finny]

It's not MY responsibility to do something about the problem down the street other than call animal control. I don't have pit bulls, I am not a pit bull enthusiast, and there's no reason why the clown who owns a pit bull he can't handle would listen to me -- I'm just a scared middle-aged lady. But they would listen to YOU, kanawa, but guys like you don't have the balls to take care of your own. You're too busy attacking the symptom to take care of the cause.

I don't care other than from a moral perspective whether or not they are banned. YOU people are the ones who are so all-fired hot about avoiding the banning of pit bulls, not me. Pit bull lovers like you have to police your own if you want to keep the privelige of owning pit bulls and stop putting it off on the victims and denying the problem.

[Solson]

You're right but that problem is much less than when a Cocker wanders into the neighbor's yard where two aggressive pitbulls attacked it.

You can't eliminate everything. But an invisible fence could have prevented the cocker from leaving the yard.

BTW, our Newfie is a big dog but still vulnerable to an aggressive dog just like any other breed. IT may fare better in the fight but she is still vulnerable.

[Finny]

Listen, a lady left the door to her house open while unloading groceries and a couple of loose pit bulls -- the ones in question in this thread, in fact -- found their way into her kitchen and started growling at her.

Not all that long ago, I was walking down a public street and a loose Rottweiler growled at me and was shortly joined by a loose pit bull. I could have been killed or permanently disfigured.

A postal worker from Santa Ana was attached by a loose Rottweiler and a year later, her leg is still healing.

You can toss all those nice, sensible statistics at me all you want, but it doesn't change that fact that a LOT of ordinary people, including me, are mortally threatened by certain dog breeds. Dammit, a lady should be able to unload her groceries in her own house without being threatened by pit bulls or any other breeds that have the demonstrated ability and will to kill humans. The more I read from so-called "responsible" pit owners like kanawa, the more I am leaning toward simply banning breeds like pit bulls and Rottweilers, even though I think it is VERY unwise to do so because it is morally dubious and will certainly snowball to other non-lethal but bad-temptered breeds and eventually infringe on many other rights. But you know what? SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE and so-called "responsible" pit bull owner are too feminized with regard to their "kids" to be man enough to exert peer pressure on people who have no business owning pit bulls.

Hell, as you've seen, they won't even cop to the fact that pit bulls, and Rottweilers (if you research my past posting history you'll see that I pretty much lump them together), pose a greater risk than any other breed. Their mantra is "It's the owner, not the breed!" Stupid, blind, and feminized. They are 50 percent right 100 percent of the time with that mantra -- a bad owner in combination with a breed that has killed dozens of humans in the past decade msans "It's the owner AND the breed." I have lost all respect for them because they are as stupid about their dogs as my old poodle-loving Aunties, but unlike my Aunties, THEIR dogs threaten lives, not ankles.

[sinkspur]

My friend's brother apologized all he could and paid for the vet's bill, and even gave her a new cat. But, nothing can replace a pet.

My brother-in-law came up from La. to escape Rita last September. Besides his family, he dragged along a derelict friend of his and his pit bull mix. The derelict friend insisted that his dog was OK with both dogs and cats. He was fine with my dogs, but, when my favorite cat went in her back yard, he tore her open from chin to tail. She died of blood loss at the vet's. The derelict apologized, and even cried.

I gave them a choice: leave immediately or the pit mix would go to the pound as a dangerous dog, where he would be put down.

They left, and had a lot of trouble finding a motel (given that they were still full of refugees from Katrina), and it caused a bit of rancor between my wife and her sister for a couple of months, but then they decided the derelict was not worth it, and told him to not come around any more.

[Finny]

You are feminized with regard to dogs. There is ZERO comparision between gun control. When's the last time you heard of two loaded and cocked pistols leaving their owners' property, going into the kitchen of a nearby house, and pointing themselves at the lady who is there unloading her groceries?

Again, the more I read of the denial and pure feminization of you pit bull/Rottweiler enthusiasts, the less I respect you.

[Darnright]

>Hell, as you've seen, they won't even cop to the fact that pit bulls, and Rottweilers (if you research my past posting history you'll see that I pretty much lump them together), pose a greater risk than any other breed.<

I'm sorry to have to disagree with you. Do a bit of research. Begin with the Presa Canario, the Fila Braziliero, and the Tosa Inu. At this point in time, the ONLY thing keeping these breeds from topping the pit bull and rottweiler statistics, is their relative rarity (thank the Good Lord).

For starters, here is the discription of the Presa Canario's "ideal" temperament. Imagine this beast on the doorstep of the average thug teenager (shudder):

The Canary Dog requires a very dominant owner who understand the alpha nature in canines. No member of the family can be uncomfortable around the dog. Canaries make outstanding guard dogs. Just their appearance is a deterrent not to mention their ability to confront any intruder. In the wrong hands this dog can be dangerous, but with the right owner it can make a nice, devoted companion. This is not a breed for first time dog owners.

Let's have Sluggo the thug teen buy a Tosa Inu:

The Tosa is a brave, fearless and bold dog. Very attuned to his master's wishes and greatly sensitive to the tone of ones voice. Protective and loyal. Exceptionally quiet, calm and patient. The Tosa has been bred to be a very quiet dog because Japanese dog fighting rules require the dogs to fight silently. They are highly intelligent and do not need repetitious training, but do require an equable, consistent, friendly approach. The dog is very affectionate towards their family members and more reserved with strangers, but will accept newcomers if properly introduced. It places its family first and foremost, but known visitors are usually happily greeted. Both males and females make excellent home and family protectors and companions. The sheer size of the Tosa and his deep bark are effective deterrents. Tosas show remarkable acceptance of children and will not snap or bite from fear or pain. However, due to the Tosa's size, he should not be left with children unsupervised. The owner must learn to control the Tosa, as the breed is too large and strong to be unmannerly. Good with other dogs and pets only when raised with them from puppyhood. They tend to be fairly dog aggressive. Keep the Tosa away from other dogs that may want to fight, because the Tosa will most certainly win. They are not recommended in a home with other dogs of the same sex, size and temperament. They have a very high pain tolerance due to their fighting origins. This breed requires a strong and experienced owner capable of dealing with a large, powerful animal. With proper training and control, the Tosa can be a good family companion. Self aware, a very good guard and watchdog. This is not a breed for beginners.

And let's have Sluggo's fellow gang member add a Fila to his household:

The Fila Brasileiro is a courageous, powerful Mastiff. It is amenable with its human family, making a very loyal loving companion. Extremely dedicated to his owner. A Fila will protect you without a moments hesitation. He feels that is why he is there. Once you bond with your Fila you and your family will become his whole world. You do not teach your Fila to protect you, as he does this on his own. It is the breeds nature to be loyal and protective of his family. This trait of the Fila is called "Ojeriza". They love kids in their own family and take a lot of abuse from them. Ask anyone who has kids and Fila's and they will tell you how unbelievable it is how gentle they are with the children in the family. Fila's make great family pets and are gentle, loving, loyal and very protective. They will also bond with other pets in your home. Bold and very wary with strangers. This breed makes a wonderful guard dog. It needs a dominant owner who understands the alpha pack instinct. Proper socialization and understanding of the breeds instincts are the key to successful ownership of a Fila. At anywhere from 2 - 5 months of age you will notice that your Fila does not like strangers. You do not teach him this it is bred into him. He will only make up to people that he feels you trust.
Some breeders breed the Fila to have a temperament in which they say is more like the original Fila Brasileiro temperament. One breeder who claims to breed to the original Fila type states, "You cannot socialize a Fila to like people. You can obedience train them so that you are in control, but you cannot socialize them to like people. A Fila WILL attack a stranger. Period. If they have the proper temperament, they WILL. "Ojeriza" translates to "Hatred and loathing of strangers". You do not make them mean and vicious... they ARE... and there is no doubt about it. They are not a dog for a person who has an active social life."