150 dogs picked up in AV pit bull sweep

Valley Press on ^ | Thursday, November 20, 2008. | BOB WILSON

[BenLurkin]

LANCASTER [CALIFORNIA} - County Animal Control officers have concluded a two-month effort to crack down on pit bulls, an effort that led to nearly 100 citations and the rounding up of more than 150 canines. The crackdown was initiated in September by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose 5th District includes the Antelope Valley.

Antonovich was responding to complaints raised by the City Council concerning the number of pit bull-related injuries in Lancaster.

Councilmembers were advised Nov. 12 that county Animal Control officers had raided 42 illegal kennels, investigated 87 pit bull owners for possible inhumane treatment, investigated 118 dogs in possession of "owners at large," researched ownership of 165 dogs and impounded 163 pit bulls found running loose in the city.

Officers ultimately issued 95 citations for alleged ownership violations, said Derek Brown, deputy director of shelter operations for the county's Department of Animal Care and Control.

During the crackdown, officers patrolled city parks, searched abandoned houses and worked with bus, school and Postal Service officials to locate potentially dangerous pit bulls, Brown said.

Since councilmembers voiced their concerns, Animal Control officers "have been working diligently to focus on problems relating to pit bulls," he said.

While sweeping the city for that particular breed, the officers found and investigated problems related to other dangerous breeds, Brown said.

Some owners were given warnings, others were given citations and some dogs were impounded, which further reduced the risk of dog attacks in the community, he said.

To avoid future attacks, the department embarked on a program through which residents could alert officers to locations that posed potential dog-related problems.

[Don W]

As for YOU,

If you have nothing to post but hate, misinformation, hyperbole and nonsense, interspersed with the occasional bit of emotionally charged tripe, why don’t you just sit in your stew of disgust and revulsion, and leave be those of us who dare think differently from your hardwired preconceptions?

You HATE pitbulls, it seems. I can accept that. Now give ME, and the rest of the world the same courtesy, and stop trying to FORCE your irrational bias upon everyone who has the misfortune of coming across your rabid posts.

[I still care]

This is the problem with pit bulls. (Hint: It's not the breed of animal at the bottom, it's the individual that bred it, dressed it and is holding it.)

Maybe they are rounding up the wrong creature.

[Chronically aghast in Florida]

I agree it is not the breed. This is an excellent dog when you are a single female. Every precaution must be taken to ensure the safety of friends, neighbors and family. This particular dog is terrible with children, (he was not raised with kids). But for me, living in a formerly terrific neighborhood which is turning south quickly, he was the perfect choice. It helps if you keep them fat and happy, never play tug of war or any other aggressive game and most importantly, never strike the animal. Shame is the best discipline for a house pet.

[Emperor Palpatine]

"a wrongfully bred, unpredictable and dangerous animal: the most popular choice of criminals and kooks."


Not to mention the kids in Our Gang. Pete was a pit bull. I don't ever recall seeing him go for Alfalfa or Spanky's throat....or their ice cream cones.



There's no inherently bad dog, (or breed), just bad and irresponsible owners.

[Emperor Palpatine]

My, aren’t we an authoritarian little statist?

What breeds are next on your hit list, pal? Rotties? Dobermans? Akitas?

I bet you favor gun control, too.

[grellis]

And what if someone doesn't want to own a gun? I don't own a gun. I have lousy vision and arthritic hands. I'm more likely to shoot a bystander than a moving target.

That was a stupid comment you posted there.

[Judith Anne]

Great post. I own a mastiff (click on my screen name) and your rules are the same for raising them. They are great protectors. :D

[Judith Anne]

Those dogs should have been killed on first sight, before they even threatened anyone.

BEFORE they even threatened anyone, they should be killed? That's irrational.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

They need to crack down on irresponsible dog owners not the dogs.. Insanity.

[PleaseNoMore]

I like the way you think...

[familyop]

"I bet you favor gun control, too."

"Gun control," besides discipline enough to keep it in our pants, is necessary for disassembling bad breeds with slugs.

[familyop]

"Hey familyop, what's you favorite dog killing load? I'm guessing you're a big-bore kinda guy, like Chuck there. Maybe a Wildey 45 Win Mag?"

...12 ga., pistol grip, slugs (remote area). After a few thousand loads, it's pretty easy and quick to hit with. ...00 buck, low recoil loads, keeping fire low for more densely populated areas.

9 mils work for moving targets but only with much range time (poorer pointing-without-aiming characteristics with pistols and short site radius).

[Emperor Palpatine]

You know, I normally don’t go in for insulting other Freepers because usually their intelligence level permits them to be persuaded by facts. But you sir, are an ignoramus who has no business being around ANY dog whatsoever.

What a pathetic and hateful little man you are.

[Scythian]

I don’t feel the slightest empathy for these dogs. I’m tired of reading about kid and kid and even adults being killed by them.

[familyop]

"You know, I normally don’t go in for insulting other Freepers because usually their intelligence level permits them to be persuaded by facts. But you sir, are an ignoramus who has no business being around ANY dog whatsoever.

What a pathetic and hateful little man you are."

That's a common kind of argument from pit bull owners. Thanks for helping to make the case against dogs preferred by chickens.

[Emperor Palpatine]

I do not own a pitbull, sir. (Nor what they’re properly called - The American Staffordshire Terrier, or Amstaff for short.)

I own a delightful 2 year-old male Akita/Shiba Inu mix who possesses a great deal more intelligence and wit than you evidently do.

[familyop]

That’s still a common kind of argument from pit bull owners.

[randomhero97]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m not reading this. I can’t. This stuff breaks my heart. It’s as bad as abortion stories to me. There’s a special place in Hell for people that harm children (born or unborn) and animals.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Which may or may not be true since just you have been saying that. Based on what I've seen you say here and in other threads on dogs I put your credibility several notches below that of the "Los Angeles Times". However until Barry ruins it, this is still America and you're entitled to your opinion, no matter how unfounded and ignorant it may be. But that's all it is - your opinion. And do I really care what you think?


"Frankly, my dear.....I don't give a damn."