Posted on 05/02/2007 3:26:57 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
George, a nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier, was put down after being savagely attacked by two pitbulls in the Taranaki township of Manaia on Sunday.
George was walking into town with a group of children who lived next door when the pitbulls rushed the group, heading for a four-year-old boy.
The boy's 11-year-old brother, Richard Rosewarne, said George started barking and rushed at the pitbulls as the children ran away.
George's owner, 69-year-old Alan Gay, said the pitbulls savaged George until a passing motorist intervened and managed to separate the dogs.
The first Mr Gay knew about the incident was when a local vet rang him and told him his dog had suffered horrific injuries. Mr Gay decided to have George put down.
He told NZPA today he had been receiving phonecalls non-stop from relatives and media organisations since word of George's heroics got out.
"The phone has been going since about half past seven this morning. Everytime I hang up it rings again. It's worn out, I might have to get a new one," he said.
He said as long as there were pitbulls there would be incidents like Sundays.
"I don't think it's wise for anyone to have pitbulls. They're killers, they only know one thing.
"But the little Jack Russells like George, they're harmless."
Mr Gay said unrestrained dogs had historically caused problems in Manaia and he would be reluctant to replace George.
"The town would have to clean up its wandering dogs first. If I got a puppy here he's going to couple up with the kids next door, they're going to go up town and he'll follow them and there'll be problems if there's pitbull terriers around."
He said the children next door had been fond of George and had written a note for him.
"In memory of George, we are sorry that George left in such a terrible way. He was our guardian and hero whenever we went walking and we will never forget him," the note said.
Mr Gay was told by South Taranaki District Council staff that the two pitbulls were found after the attack and the owner had admitted they had returned home on Sunday covered in blood. They were impounded awaiting destruction and the owner may be prosecuted.
The council said it intended hunting down all dangerous and unregistered dogs and neutering them.
> ANY dog can cause harm. Open your eyes.
Sure mate, acknowledged. Not in dispute. So can housecats — they can do as much or more damage than Jack Russell Terriers. Yet they get to go about unlicenced and wander at large.
Cats are a criminal nuisance that make my dogs bark (and thus get in trouble with the city). In truth, they should be varmints like rats and mice. And it should be OK to trap them and poison them or shoot them on sight, on that basis.
I’d get much more exercized about cats-at-large than I would about a Jack Russell Terrier. At least the JRT is smart enough to understand commands and be obedient. Cats aren’t: they are as dumb as a sack of hammers, and can be as nasty as a cut snake.
Poop! That video has been removed. Can’t understand why.
It was of a lady letting her little dog run loose in a park and it bit some fellow in the upper leg.
She seemed like a nice enough lady but was a high strung owner
and that may have been reflected in her dogs behavior.
The dog had caused problems before and she was too clueless to make appropriate corrections in her behavior.
The fellow who was bit through his suit and into his leg called AC
and the lady received a summons.
I agree with you wholeheartedly,and just think of all the cigarettes that would be bet at the pit bull fights in prison. You have a great idea there.
> This is such a beautiful tribute, Diehard, do you think that Mr. Gay would like to see it? Your memorial is better than the news account, perhaps you could forward this to the grieving Mr. Gay?
Crikey, thankyou for that! I hadn’t thought about sharing it with Mr Gay, but on your suggestion I will!
I’m sorry for the loss of your Shi Tzu: they are interesting and loving dogs with heaps of personality and I can well understand how after nine years getting over your loss would be difficult.
Kia Kaha (Maori: Stand Strong)
*DieHard*
We are considering getting a JR, but wifey thinks they are too hyper and difficult to train. Do you have any experiance with the breed?
> Much could be gained by allowing Pit Bulls to share their owners’ cells, during those tragically inevitable periods when the supporters of this incredibly affectionate breed are forced by an unjust world to suffer durance vile.
Clearly you forgot the /s tag from what was otherise a masterful satirical post.
For mad pit bulls? How can one properly deal with them? Paintball guns suggest themselves: all posties ought to carry ‘em, with plenty of ammo. No lasting damage, plus with the added bonus of marking (albeit temporarily) the offending dog for subsequent followup by Dog Control.
Two or three direct hits should easily attend to any mad pit bull, with no permanent injury or cruelty. WHAM-WHAM-WHAM! Yike-yike-yike-yike-yike!
They make plenty of noise too — an added bonus. Yup, paintballs it is. Either that or sensible law reform, such as “Vicarious Liability” — where the dog owner is made responsible for damages done by his dog as if it were done by himself, personally. And attracting sentencing in like manner.
On that basis, a dog attack could attract a charge ranging from Assault to First-Degree Murder — depending on circumstances.
Vicarious Liability is the way to go, I reckon. And I am serious.
Yes, I find them energetic rather than hyper. They are completely loyal, brave and very smart. They also do not seem to experience much in the way of health problems.
They are also headstrong so training takes some patience but they get very connected to “their people” so it can be done. I highly recommend these lovely dogs.
> Ahh...Here’s a live link...
Crikey! That was funny!!! Thanx for the link, it was good for a Hell-Funny laugh!
If I was that dog, I’d have tried to have a chomp at the shrill suit-guy’s goolies, too. What a dork! It would have been my canine civic duty to latch onto this mungrel’s wedding tackle to ensure he could never procreate. Who needs more of his lot around?
Still splitting my sides in laughter over the video. Thanks, mate!
(Alright, being serious. Dogs should not attack humans except on command of their owners. It this happens, their owners should be prepared to defend themselves against charges of assault or worse, and be vicariously liable).
*DieHard*
I don't think any one is trying to color the facts just to look at them in a dispassionate manner.
Surely you're aware that Rotties are referred to by some as a 'thug breed' as well.
I was also very aware of his capabilities and never for even a moment let my responsibility as the owner to slip my mind
I applaud you for this and will always stick up for Rotties and their responsible owners.
I hope you will see that all owners of targeted breeds should stick together
and work in unison against irresponsible dog ownership and for responsible dog ownership.
I am not here to argue who knows the most about dogs.
I dont like Pit Bulls and feel they are too dangerous to have around
Unlike guns they are not mechanical and they do not have to have someone pull their trigger to get them to fire, They can and will go off on their own.
I am not totally convinced the dogs were after the child and not the Jack Russell and I did not see where the jack Russell was under anyones control. It appears it just tagged along with the kids and did act and take the attention of the monsters off the kids. Good for the kids, bad for the dog.
You said Fireworks or a boat whistle will stop them from fighting, I am not sure you can be certain of that but in any case not many Americans carry fireworks or boat whistles in their pockets ,and I am have heard of throwing cold water on a pair of dogs who were hung up sexually,but I am not sure that would stop a pit bull from fighting. It could possibly work I suppose,but it might also get the dog to bite hell out of the one who threw it. Also we dont always carry a bucket of water with us now do we,and during the time we run over to get one ,then fill it with water ,whatever the dog has in its mouth is dying.
You might read this http://www.realpitbull.com/breakstick.html
It seems they reccommend all pit bull owners carry this breaking stick at all times. Its described as a lot like a hammer handle
by the way have you ever seen another dog with an actual website that explains how to get their jaws apart?
So I guess in a neighborhood where an owner has a pit bull the best thing to do when walking your Jack Russell is to carry a bag containing a boat whistle, A bunch of Cherry bombs, a bucket of water, a break stick, perhaps a can of mace, and a gun,in case the other things dont work as advertised.
Now tell me why I have to have this animal in my neighborhood frightening my children,my wife and making me carry all this crap for defense, because my neighbor wants to own a dog that intimidates his neighbors.
I have to disagree too. Every breeder knows that you have to breed for temperament, and you should never breed an aggressive dog. Pit bulls have been bred for their aggression. That will not change.
I have also found that little dogs, can be the worst. The owners are more willing to accept bad behavior, because of their size. Every time I go to the vet with one of my dogs (mastiffs) some little dog is trying to attack them.
I think people tend to think protection and aggression are the same thing. They are not even close. You do not want your dog protecting you from friends and family. That is just aggression.
A protective dog will be able to sense real danger.
As much as I love my dogs, if I ever had one even growl at someone, it would be taken to the vet and put down that day. My dogs are to big to take the chance of someone getting hurt or killed.
Bull.
L
Thats more than a little extreme. You need to learn to train your dogs and probably change some of your own behavior also. Dogs take their cue from their owners. It's the human owners responsibility to be the leader of the pack and to stop unwanted behavior immediately as it occurs. This works for all breeds. Your dogs will love you for it.
Nonsense. Breeders breed for a reason.
With all due respect, I am a dog trainer and breeder.
My dogs have been trained and bred for temperament. I have never had to put a dog down. However, I would not hesitate with any dog that showed any aggression toward people. Dog aggression is something different.
Children and adults can feel completely safe around my dogs. I know that if someone accidentally steps on a tail, they will not be mauled. I make no excuses for vicious dogs. Sometimes it is the owners fault, and sometimes it is just the dog. In either case, the damage is done. The dog may be able to be controlled, but never completely trusted.
My dogs weight between 165 - 240 pounds. I would never subject my young children, family, or friends, to a dog that I do not completely trust. Nor would I feel comfortable placing it in another home, that would put someone else at risk. Dogs definitely give warning signs, and most people ignore them until something happens.
The people I know that are involved in rescue, will never re-home an aggressive dog. Human societies across the county put down any dog that shows any sign of aggression. Do you think all these people are extreme?
Wrong yet again; handguns are inanimate objects that do not act on their own through instinct or training. Handguns aren’t “bred;” somebody has to use them. Bad analogy.
Pit Bulls, on the other hand, ARE bred, do have instinct, and do act on their own despite training, patience, et.al.
We have a God-given right to keep and bear arms. Pit Bulls don’t come with that same privilege. We have NO need for Pit Bulls. For any reason.
Just my $0.02.
Neal
> Bull
Hey, I’ve tried, and many trainers with better skills than mine have tried. We are not talking about a breed standard here, we are talking about stupid mean and ugly mungrel Pit Bull Terriers, of God Knows what parentage.
You look into their eyes and you see no intelligence or soul or personality, just a psychopath staring back at you.
Untrainable, impossible to socialize, dangerous in every context. Not even suitable for hunting wild pigs because they lack the discipline and are afraid of gunfire. (You want a proper Rhodesian Ridgeback for that task).
And the stupid thing is that they are bred that way, by gangstas.
Naturally, Lurker, if you’ve got the skills you’re welcome to try to train one of these mutts: I think you’d have more fun shooting it between the eyes. It would be a more useful thing to do, all around. They’re a dime-a-dozen down at the city pound, you could take your pick.
I’ll bring the bandages and penicillin to your training sessions tho’, and maybe a shotgun just in case things get out of hand. And, naturally, a digital camera because the footage would be just perfect for YouTube to serve as a warning to others.
*DieHard*
We have a God-given right to keep and bear arms. Pit Bulls don’t come with that same privilege.
I made an argument citing the 4th, 5th and 9th amendments over here
on why blanket dog banning or seizure is problematic.
We have NO need for Pit Bulls. For any reason.
The danger of that type of thought process should be obvious.
> Now tell me why I have to have this animal in my neighborhood frightening my children,my wife and making me carry all this crap for defense, because my neighbor wants to own a dog that intimidates his neighbors.
Hey, I’m with you on that one, mate. I hate the dam’n things. Nobody needs them: they are a poor excuse for an animal, the equivalent of a Saturday Nite Special: dangerous in anybody’s hands and of no practical purpose save only to attack and kill.
As a breed they ought to be outlawed, even in their mungrel state, to be shot on sight without compensation by the dog rangers. A general bounty of $50 per carcass would clean up the lot real quick, and cheap.
Owners whose pit bull terriers cause injury to anything or anyone ought to be held vicariously liable, as if they did the deed themselves.
In NZ firearm carrying is rare: sure, most folks have access to a gun, but it will be locked up. Aerosol foghorns are very useful self-defense tools: put it near the ear of a dog or an assailant and let it off, and whatever is attacking you will know all about it — just like getting punched in the head. Causes excruciating and debilitating pain, enough to facilitate your swift escape. With the added bonus of attracting plenty of attention from others from the noise. Consider carrying one as a self-defense tool, particularly if MACE or pepper spray are unavailable (both are unlawful here in NZ).
There you go: a FReebie handy tip from the FreeRepublic!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.