Posted on 02/27/2005 12:27:07 PM PST by kanawa
RAISED THE ALARM WHEN OWNER COLLAPSED AT HOME
By CHRIS DOUCETTE, TORONTO SUN
PIT BULL owner Mandy Holmes is proud as punch of her pooch and she wants everyone to know that he is her hero. The Cobourg woman said her 10-month-old puppy -- a chocolate-coloured American Staffordshire terrier named Chevy -- came to her rescue recently when she fell in her home and knocked herself out.
"I passed out, smashed my head and went into convulsions," the 24-year-old said. "She ran upstairs to get my boyfriend, then sat on my back to keep me warm and was licking my face when I came to."
Holmes, who had been sick with the flu and hadn't been able to keep any food down leading up to the Feb. 15 accident, said she was getting ready for work when she suddenly felt "dizzy" and collapsed at the foot of the stairs, hitting her head on the bottom step.
She said she believes Chevy realized that she was in distress and ran upstairs for help.
"I was laying on the bed when she jumped up on me, barking at me and licking me to get my attention," said Holmes' boyfriend, Jeremy Kelly, 23.
NO BETTER DOG
Kelly followed the dog and found Holmes lying at the bottom of the stairs. He called 911 and Holmes was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. She was released a few hours later with a big bump on her forehead and a possible concussion but no serious injuries.
"I couldn't ask for a better dog," Kelly said.
Tired of all the negative news about the notorious dogs, she decided to share her tale.
"Every time you read something about pit bulls it's bad, and I don't think that's fair," she said. "I want people to know that pit bulls can be good too."
Completely unrealistic to expect any other type of dog to do that without the threat of casually consuming the neighbors' children, eh?
Pitbull ping
"PIT BULL owner Mandy Holmes is proud as punch of her pooch and she wants everyone to know that he is her hero. The Cobourg woman said her 10-month-old puppy -- a chocolate-coloured American Staffordshire terrier named Chevy"
Let's see... A Staffordshire Terrier is now a PITBULL? What am I missing?
Why are staffordshire terriers lumped in with pit bulls? Are they not two different breeds?
"She ran upstairs to get my boyfriend, then sat on my back to keep me warm [hold me down] and was licking [tasting] my face when I came to."
AmStaffs and pits are very closely related. One way to get around an HOA's ban on pits is to call yours an AmStaff, and get the vet to do the same.
For the record, I have nothing against any kind of dog. There are several individual dogs I don't much care for, but I can't think of a breed I dislike.
Okay, that's not true. I don't like Yorkies. Little shaking, hairy, smelly, yappy things . . . they're more a poorly designed stuffed animal than a dog.
(donning asbestos leathers)
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a happy, outgoing, stable, and confident dog. Gentle and loving towards people. Good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet. It is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, this dog wants nothing more then to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of life. Over the past 50 years, careful breeding has produced this friendly, trustworthy, dog who is an especially good dog for children. Courageous and a persistent fighter if provoked. Highly protective of his owners and the owner's property, it will fight an enemy to the death if the enemy traps the dog in a corner and threatens its loved ones. This breed has a very high tolerance for pain. Some un-socialized Staffs may be dog aggressive. Socialize very thoroughly when young to curve any dog aggressive tendencies. This breed can be difficult to housebreak. It has given outstanding results as a guardian of property, but is at the same time esteemed as a companion dog. When properly trained and socialized, the Staff makes a great family companion. This breed is not for the passive owner who does not understand that all dogs have an instinct to have a pack order. Read Top Dog
Looks to me like they bear little/no temperament commonality to the Pit Bull. "Good with children"? "Great family companion"?
Apparently they are, since there are no casualties resulting from it.
There is no pit bull breed as far as I know. It's just a moniker that's used for the American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, and American Staffordshire Terrier.
Under Bill 132 which is up for third reading tomorrow and likely will be passed...
INTERPRETATION
(2) Section 1 of the Act is amended by adding thefollowing definitions:
pit bull includes,
(a) a pit bull terrier,
(b) a Staffordshire bull terrier,
(c) an American Staffordshire terrier,
(d) an American pit bull terrier,
(e) a member of a class of dogs that have an appear-ance and physical characteristics that are substan-tially similar to dogs referred to in any of clauses(a) to (d); (pit-bull)
LOL! I have met dogs that fit that description. I still love them, but prefer my mixed breed dogs. They're stable and the mixed breed aspect results in fewer physical problems, IMO.
Carolyn
And here I thought you refused to think.
See? Even when you get old you can still learn something. Good for you!
Good for us!!
(e) a member of a class of dogs that have an appear-ance and physical characteristics that are substan-tially similar to dogs referred to in any of clauses(a) to (d);
Aha, the dreaded "Assault" dog.
Thanks for the info. I love staffordshire terriers. I hope to get one some day.
So true
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