Posted on 07/28/2006 5:09:06 AM PDT by ShadowDancer
Exactly. So one personal experience combined with shoddy media reports are enough for most ignorant folks out there to make an "informed" opinion, despite the droves of experts that disagree with them.
Yeah....Right it's a liberal MSM conspiracy against Pit Bulls /sarcasm
It's such a rare occurrence that I can't let it go by without noting when you make a post that I totally agree with.
I hope you are doing well, and was pleased to read that your dog is improving. That had to be a harrowing experience, and we're all the better for the both of you having made it through.
Thanks sinkspur! That is very kind of you.
Understood.
When I had my experience last week, for a short while after,
it wouldn't have bother me in the least if 99.9% of the bears in the world
would have been shot and the remaining 0.1% put behind bars in a zoo.
WOW!!! I read your story...Amazing. I am sure their alot of responsible Pit owners. I have a friend who has one that is very sweet. Here in Texas you do see a lot of Trailer Trash and unsavory folks that have them and don't take proper care. Good point about the government deciding for us. I know that over the years of raising my Princess daughter. Large dogs roaming free in the neighborhood are a parents nightmare. Anyone involved in any tragedy, be it a drunk driver killing a child or a dog mauling your child it does make you very angry at the system that is broke. Not sure what the answer is but I think free people have the right to make decisions for the common good. It's fundamental to our Republic. I understand the love you have for your dog. I have had dogs all of my life. I had German Shepards most of my life and in the 4 plus decades of my memory, nothing comes close to the epidemic of Pit Bull maulings we hear about weekly. I don't buy in to the MSM conspiracy, because you hear way too much by word of mouth. It's like cancer almost.
Talk with your family at a reunion or gathering and someone has some friend or knows of someone involved in an incident.
"On the contrary, I read all kinds of sources, and every veterinarian I talk to says pits are unpredictable dogs."
What sources? Please, I am curious. I was referring to some of the world's brightest, most well-known veterinarians, you know, the ones that go above and beyond their regular vet duties to do research instead of relying on heresay. Vets are people too.
I think some people out there that don't bother to research the breed think it might be a good guard dog, might be good at fighting, might be a good deterrent. Of course, none of these are people that I associate with. The people I know that have these dogs or want them tend to have already done their research and KNOW that they make horrible guard dogs because if they're within standard, it's likely they could end up getting stolen along with whatever they're supposed to be guarding, don't want to fight them because the breed has suffered enough and it's ILLEGAL, and really chose this breed because of its intelligence, determination, love of people, and athleticism, and for their carefree attitude. These are all points of the breed that responsible people look for, and responsible breeders breed for.
You seem to forget that even though this is the choice dog of drug dealers like rotties and dobies used to be, that doesn't mean they know anything, either. They don't do research. They rely on heresay just like you. That's also the same reason why they will spend 3,ooo dollars on an american bully, thinking it's some new, huge purebred pit bull.
Indeed. And not to mention, I have read that pointer blood was used in the founding stock of the pit bull looong ago. I can definitely see it in the build of those dogs compared to the game type of pb. My dog looks at me just that way with those very soulful eyes. Beautiful.
"I had German Shepards most of my life and in the 4 plus decades of my memory, nothing comes close to the epidemic of Pit Bull maulings we hear about weekly. I don't buy in to the MSM conspiracy, because you hear way too much by word of mouth. It's like cancer almost. "
It's understandable that if you hear something long enough and with enough frequency that it will become more true to you. However, pit bulls in the news make way more money than GSd and rotties because of the name and all the mythology surrounding it (locking jaws, super strength, unpredictability, naturally vicious). All of these things are false and easily disproven, but there are few people willing to either find out for themselves or listen to someone who already knows the real truth.
One of the reasons you hear so much about these things is that the same story runs in every paper for literally weeks on end. Look it up on google. It will seem like there are an awful lot of stories about pit bulls, until you actually read them and realize that the thousands and thousands of stories making it seem like they're attacking in droves happen to be the same few stories repeated over and over again by different media companies.
Once, someone here posted fifteen incidents that happened with pit bulls in one month to show how bad it is. When I read each one, it turned out the actual stories were about six incidents, but they had different titles, and since the guy didn't bother to read his own "research" before posting it, he looked silly.
There are many experts that do nothing but research this breed of dog, and they unanimously agree that the issue at hand is a social one, not a breed of dog. You never hear about a therapy dog attacking, or a trainer's dog, or a dog from a well-off neighborhood. You hear about unneutered, loose dogs, and you hear a lot how the dog already had a history of bites even though the owner says their dog is the sweetest. I would bet loads of money that every one of these dogs had already done something in their lives that was a glaring warning sign, but the owners either didn't see it as such, or chose to ignore it.
About two weeks ago, my neighbor saw a child get mauled by his friend's dog. He said it was a pit bull when he came over to tell me because he knows how I feel and he wanted to see what my reaction was. He also said the owner of the dog said he had been trying to get rid of the dog. That was his excuse for what happened. Obviously, the guy knew something was wrong with his dog, and yet still not only allowed the dog to continue existing, but allowed a child to be near it. Not everyone wants to admit after something bad happens that they knew it might.
It turns out the dog was a chow.
"This is the dog, still with the tranquilizer dart in its hip."
Wow. I have never heard of one of these dogs being tranquilized and hauled away. They are usually shot dead by the police. Their police must be either real compassionate or super prepared for animals.
O....M.....G.
Can you imagine having a pet that needs one of these...
You gotta love this advice: "Breaking sticks are not something to brag about and the general pubic might have the wrong impression if you walk around with a stick in your hand."
Ya think???
Bless his heart. He'll be your best bud for life.
It's we who are blessed to have him. I've had dogs all my life but never one as companionable as this.
IMO breaking sticks are used by people who would rather break up a fight than prevent it. If someone has a dog that doesn't like other dogs, the best thing to do is to keep it away from other dogs. Period.
I think some pit bull owners that don't bother to really educate themselves or train their dogs end up buying into the same hysteria, so attacks are expected instead of prevented. They don't seem to realize that this tool was used by dog fighters to break up a fight while causing minimal damage to the dog being bitten. It really shouldn't even have a use today if they would just bother to train their dogs. Any dog that is so dog aggressive that it nearly drags its person to get to another dog might be a good candidate for euthanasia, regardless of the history.
The entire breed shouldn't have to suffer because an irresponsible minority are making headlines. This topic needs much more research.
This is so sad. Obviously the ban isn't working, because the ones causing the problems in the first place aren't exactly model citizens. The responsible owners have already moved out of town (I would rather do that than have someone kill my dogs just because of the way they look).
The same thing has happened in many other places that insisted on bans instead of actually enforcing current laws (leash laws, registration, or mandatory spay and neuter, which would eliminate about 70% of all attacks no matter the breed) the dog bites increase for another breed, or the illegal dogs kept hidden by people who aren't law abiding citizens end up doing something bad.
Here's one that came through yesterday...
Boy mauled to death in dog attack
It is so infuriating that people cannot see the bias so evident in the media's stories. I read recently about another child mauled to death in Canada by a husky mix. If people really want to avoid these things we really need to address the owners and parents involved.
News update: "UPDATE: Police are now saying they aren't sure about the breed of the dog. "
There's a video showing them bring a tranquilized dog out to the AC vehicle. It appears to be a boxer mix. Pit bulls do not have such short noses and drop ears. Perhaps we ban boxers now?
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/15137137.htm
If anyone would like to see the video here is the link to it.
Excelent story! (I've always liked dobies anyway ... never owned one, but I like their looks and your story confirms their smarts).
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