Posted on 08/19/2006 6:45:34 AM PDT by Fawn
CORAL SPRINGS · A burly exotic guard dog, one of several that frightened residents of an upscale neighborhood in recent days, ferociously mauled and killed its owner Friday afternoon, apparently in sight of the woman's young daughter.
Police said they found the dog, a Presa Canario named Zino, in the backyard of a home in the 9000 block of the Northwest 39th Court in The Hills neighborhood. It was standing over the body of the mother of two.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
When my kids were small I got a collie to keep an eye on them. They are very loyal and protective of the children (and the whole family actually). Their decent size makes them a deterrent to strangers and they can stand up to kid's play and rough-housing with them a bit. The coat requires alot of care, but once a month to the groomer will take care of that. If you get a female they don't have as much of a "mane" as the males do. I think herding dogs are very good for families with children.
I trained a rottie for a friend once. She was the goofiest dog, very sweet, but soooo clumsy I always had bruises on my feet! I've met more rotties that I liked than that I didn't.
susie
Get a Lab. The best dogs around for children.
Yes, it sorta does.
susie
Obviously...but an animal trained to fight, is also bred to Never bite it's handler...or humans. The biggest problem those animals have is that they're often not animal socialized....has nothing to do with humans. Can a dog be trained to threaten humans? Sure...and you have to have VERY clear signals so that the animal does not threaten you as well... Most often guard dogs, are not pets...they are working animals. However, any mid to large sized dog can be a potential threat to any human.
extinct
adjective
1 not now existing:
Many tribes became extinct when they came into contact with Western illnesses.
A lot of trades have become extinct because of the development of technology.
2 An extinct volcano is one that is not now active (= will not explode again).
The use of the word "extinct" is perfectly legitimate and proper in a newspaper article discussing the disappearance of a breed of dog. At least, it is according to the Cambridge International Dictionary.
Interesting story. I don’t have any experience in the area. Generally, I think people should be free to own any animal as long as they’re bonded, acting responsibly and healed criminally liable for anything their exotic pet does (as if they did it themselves). In this case, the dog should have been removed from the family after the first or second infraction.
Wasn't very responsible (or smart) to have children around this animal.
At 17 years of age, 5' 1", and not even close to 120 lbs, I don't even try to physically control ANY dog - be it 35 lb American Staffordshire Terrier, 65 lb Golden Retriever, or 120 lb Rottweiler. Interestingly enough, I've been taking my abused (and formerly vicious) Golden-type dogs to the nursing home every week for four years, where they respond impeccably to my commands and hand signals.
More recently, I've also begun rescuing abused and abandoned dogs, focusing primarily on the problem of breed specific discrimination; namely, focusing on the dog and its breed, rather than on the owner's lack of responsibility, compassion, and knowledge. Each "pit bull" I've helped rescue has served at the nursing home and NEVER shown any signs of aggression under my parents' fostership or adopters' ownership. The only dog-bite I've ever received was from not obeying a dog when it tried to warn me away from a copperhead snake. Before being adopted out, our foster dogs are commanded to perform basic obedience exercises while being attacked by a leashed, muzzled, trained Golden.
Whether a Golden Retriever, American Pit Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Presa Canario...or block-headed mutt (usually referred to as a "pit bull"), any dog of reasonable size and strength is perfectly capable of killing a human. Owners can prevent this by recognising this fact and giving their dogs proper obedience instruction. Had Willey taken measures (numerous citations???) to protect the public and her children from her animals, she herself would never have been the victim of this immense tragedy.
As for why anyone could love a "pit bull" or Presa Canario, here's why I do. Like humans, animals are thinking, feeling, suffering creatures. If I can only love a dog because it loves me first, or a human because he/she is kind to me, what love is that? True unbounded love is irrational, it simply exists - and when it does, it comes from within the giver and is shared with every living being.
Please don't respond to tragdedies like these by berating the dead dog. Was he ever taught how we expect to behave in human society? Dangerous dog citations...evidently not. And Willey need not have died in vain. Can we learn from her mistakes and love our families, society, and pets through recognition of OUR responsibility to humanely guide our dogs? Dogs are NOT humans, they are our property - ours to love, cherish, protect, and teach. We're in the twenty first century here: we don't need to create mythical monsters out of those beings that could be our best friends.
Wow... I just have to ask....Which shelter is actually placing known vicious animals with a minor?
I have two huge dogs; a female pitbull and a male german shepard/chow mix. I also have an 11 month old son at home. When my son was two months old and sleeping in the bassinet next to us, he had an apnea attack in the middle of the night, since the gasps were so low, my husband or I did not awake, my "scary" pitbull and shepard ran to the bassinett, jumped up on my bed and started barking, when I ran over to my son, I realized what had happened I picked him up and rushed him to the doctor's he was fine, just a one time apnea attack but my dogs were the ones that caught it. Every time since then when our baby wakes up and starts crying, one waits by his nursery door and the other comes to grab my husband or I...every time with out fail. When our 7 year old neice came to stay with us for a weekend and was playing in our pool she was splashing around like she was drowning (she was not, she was playing) our pitbull leaped into the water and swam acroos the pool with a rescue float and brought it to her and pushed her towards the wall of the pool. She cries if she sees someone go in the water and we have to tell her they are ok, because if not she leaps in with a float everytime...she was never once taught to do this, I guesss its just instict to try and save people...not hurt them.
My point is this...People stereo type races..it's wrong! and now people also sterotype breeds of dogs...it's wrong too!
I also happen to live in the same community as this lady that died, although I did not know her personally.
That's a heart warming story. Unfortunately it doesn't wipe away the fact that 4 more Americans were killed by "scary" Pit Bulls in July.
The entire concept of "breed" is the ultimate form of discrimination anyway. Especially with the fighting dogs, where the less proficient killers were culled. But to each his own. Good luck living on the edge.
Uhm, In the presa's defense....
Since it's repopulation incorporating Mastiff's (known family guard and protectors) into the bloodline - The Perro De Presa Canario has NOT been bred for fighting. Those people who choose to train and condition their dogs to be aggressive deserve what they get when their dog turns - ON THEM! Dogs are instinctual creatures. YOU CAN teach a beagle not to HOWL at EVERYTHING he hears. YOU CAN teach a Terrier NOT TO CHASE cats or other small animals. Preas Canario's have been reconditioned / repopulated for guarding / family protectors and they are extremely loyal because of this.
ALSO you need to look at the owners irresponsible behavior. Don't blame the breed for their owners neglect or stupidity. Dogs can be trained to do anything and conditioned to hate. This dog was obviously and unfortuneatly a victim as well.
Now, there are just some people who shouldn't own dogs. They don't "speak" dog language because dogs definately don't answer in English!!!
Oh, and CEASAR MILAN would have probably been this dog's savior! He speaks dog fluently.
It is unfortuneate that people fall victim to their own crimes.
I realize I've set myself up posting my opinion - but - I did.
Pretty close:
"In mere size and strength it was a terrible creature which was lying stretched before us. It was not a pure bloodhound and it was not a pure mastiff; but it appeared to be a combination of the two -- gaunt, savage, and as large as a small lioness."
As RipSawyer quoted in his post:
Later in the article the author says that the Presa Canario nearly went extinct but was kept alive by breeding with Mastiffs
I have to wonder just how much mastiff they have in them? Mastiffs are big goof balls.
I own six mastiffs, they range from 165-255 lbs. They look very scary. that alone will keep our house safe. However, I would have to say, they make lousy guard dogs.
They are extremely lazy. They won't even get up most of the time when people come over. They just prefer to lay on their backs and snore. Everyone just steps over them.
Hmmm... The Name Presa de Canario means "Canary Island Dog of Prey". The breed almost fell extinct when dog fighting was made illegal in Spain...Sounds like a great family pet!
Honestly any dog can be dangerous..I have two little ones right now...When the dog shampoo comes out of the cabinet the make a beeline upstairs and hide under the bed. Then they cling onto to you in desperation as they head for the deep sink. One time the clinging resulted in a visible scratch on my wife's neck. It's possible they could severe a jugular vein with the perfect scratch.
Afterwards in an unacceptable show of dominance they head over to the pantry and demand treats. I think I need Caesar's help.
I guess the bottomline is ANY dog can kill you when they don't want a bath.
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