Pit bull problem: The owner or the breed?

seattlepi ^ | June 23, 2009 | CASEY MCNERTHNEY

[JoeProBono]

[Chet 99]

Pit bull problem: The owner or the breed?

The answer is... BOTH.

[ScottinVA]

“Sheriff’s deputies said it’s the first case of its kind they can remember in King County — one in which a pit bull was used as a weapon in brutal attacks on women. “

May be the first in King County, but it’s been done in a lot of other large cities for years.

[Natural Law]

Its not an either / or question. The attraction to Pit Bulls by some is because of their potential for violence. Pit Bulls are not necessarily any more aggressive or ill tempered than many other breeds, but you have to admit that when they snap the results are far more severe than when your average Yorkie or Dachshund goes postal.

[txhurl]

It’s the clamp/lock what’s the problem. You can break the clamp by strangling the dog. Take a handle (rake, hoe, etc), slide it under the collar and twist until the dog passes out from lack of breath.

I hate pits, despite their sweetness and loyalty.

[PLMerite]

They’re so quiet and well-behaved after they’ve been euthenized.

[Chi-townChief]

Have to say the owner - German Shepherds and Dobermanns also had nasty reputations at one time or another. Pete from Our Gang was a pit bull, wasn’t he?

[catman67]

I thought that Pete was an American Bulldog.

[Awestruck]

You have it exactly right.. there are many smaller dogs that have an innate sense of aggression..and if they were larger, the results would be the same as for pit bulls..and people would be calling for their removal and extinction..
Having said that, however, and having known sweet tempered pit bulls, I still would NEVER trust one completely, and I wouldn’t be willing to risk someone’s life or health just to make a point.

[my small voice]

Then why don’t we have frequent “Child mauled by Labrador” or “Springer Spaniel suddenly attacks owner” stories??

These dogs are bad news.

[wolfcreek]

http://www.txfadd.org/

This was the mother of one of our best friends. Just minding her business in her front yard.

To top off this tragedy, the own of the dogs was an illegal alien, raising them to fight.

[Joe 6-pack]

Poison: The coward’s preferred method of killing throughout history.

[Melpomene]

I was attacked by a collie when I was five.

[my small voice]

I think fully trusting ANY dog is not smart when talking about kids and family, etc.

You make a good point when you say that people own these to make a point. I agree and think that that is moronic.

[JoeProBono]

[mysterio]

If you own a dog, keep it inside and only have it outside on a leash. The problems occur when people are letting their dogs roam the neighborhood.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I thought that Pete was an American Bulldog."

There were a number of Petes. The most famous was registered as an American Staffordshire Terrier while others were UKC registered American Pit Bull Terriers. In either case both would fall under most proposed or active breed specific legislation...as would the American Bulldog, and Helen Keller's dogs, and Teddy Roosevelt's dogs and George S. Patton's Willy.

[NavyCanDo]

If I really really tried, I could probably teach a Yorkshire Terrier not to bark, a Basset Hound not to dig holes, a Beagle from wanting to sniff your guest, and a Collie from herding small children, knocking them over - but that is characteristics of these breeds. As is being aggressive is for a Pit Bull. My congratulations to owners who have raised a harmless little powder puff Pit Bull - but they are few.