Mauling Death Sets Off Review of Dog Laws

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A Virginia lawmaker is proposing tough legislation to punish dog owners whose pets injure or kill, following a fatal attack on an elderly widow by three roaming pit bulls.

Dorothy Sullivan, 82, was attacked March 8 while walking her small dog, Buttons, in her own front yard in Partlow. Buttons also was killed.

Her family and some legislators say her death spotlights the need for legislative action.

"The horrific nature of Mrs. Sullivan's death, coupled with the prosecutor telling me he really didn't have a whole lot legally as means to pursue the case, told me that Virginia law really seemed to be lacking," said state Sen. R. Edward Houck. He plans to present the Dorothy Sullivan Memorial Bill to the General Assembly when it convenes next month.

I love dogs & own an American Pit Bull Terrier, but totally support laws that would punish irresponsible dog owners. Too many numbskulls don't take proper care of their animals and if their dog attacks someone (that isn't breaking into their home), the owners should be punished harshly. Maybe if some of these idiots started getting jailtime and/or big fines, they would be a bit less careless.

All dogs...especially those dogs that have been genetically selected out for their dog aggressiveness need early socialization and constant supervision...

Without it they default to their natural state or to their levels of agitation...and when raised in packs instead of in human families at the bottom of the pecking order where they belong... they get into trouble...as in this case serious trouble...and can be deadly.

Irresponsible owners need to be prosecuted...thats all there is to it...if you can find them after the deed has been done or hold them financially accountable for the damage they've caused that is...good luck in that endeavor.

In many urban areas where there is a population of those kinds of people whose predilections run to such things they fight dogs and bet large sums on the outcome...

Small dogs are dog-napped and used to agitate the fighting dogs...much like a chump is used to train a champ..easy wins build confidence and aggression.

They do this by putting the yapping little dog into a cage where the fighting dogs are tethered near by and whose aggressive agitation levels are raised to a fever pitch... once an agitation threshold is reached the fighting dogs are then given the little dogs to tear apart...

When dog killers such as these get loose and roam in packs...and come across children or humans with small dogs they can become deadly...attacking both the smaller dogs and any human they see as 'in the pack' of their prey.

Another gift to America from our friends & neighbors SOB

imo

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