Family dog attacks and severely hurts child, 6 (Pit bull, again)

Anchorage Daily News ^ | August 13, 2008 | By JAMES HALPIN

[AlaskaErik]

A pit bull that severely mauled a young girl inside her East Anchorage home Tuesday afternoon was shot by a neighbor who followed screams to the scene to find the girl's baby sitter fighting the dog in the front yard.

The girl's injuries were so severe that witnesses at first told police the 6-year-old was dead, killed in the attack by one of her family's pets.

The girl, however, was still alive and was rushed to Alaska Native Medical Center, where she underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon for what police called life-threatening injuries to her neck and head. Her mother was at the hospital.

"The girl has been transported in critical condition to the hospital," police Lt. Paul Honeman said. "It took a long time to get that girl stabilized."

[EggsAckley]

I recently adopted a wonderful little Rat Terrier from our local shelter. Out of about 40 adoptable dogs, easily ten or twelve were pit bulls. Looks like no one is adopting them. I sure wouldn’t.

[goodwithagun]

Again, that can happen with any domesticated animal. See post 40.

[VaBthang4]

"They do have to be trained. Specifically, as soon as they are born they are deprived of food. The idea is that they get so hungry that they have to fight from birth when food becomes available. This can be done with any breed. I wish the MSM would report when other breeds commit these violent acts. It does happen just as often with other breeds. Dogs may be domesticated, but they are still animals."

Your comment is at best incompetent but more than likely intentionally misleading.

I am the owner of a pitbull (my second).

I appreciate the breed very much but the fact is that they are naturally and incomparably aggressive. Some more than others but it is simply the breeds instinct. They do not need to be trained to be aggressive.

It is my opinion that only people who are naturally themselves Alpha Male, should own one of these animals.

An owner must set down very strong guidelines for this animal, otherwise...there is a stronger than normal possibility for one of them to attack another animal or human being.

It just is what it is.

But I love mine and feel overwhelmingly confident in its ability to defend and protect me and my family.

They can be very sweet dogs.

FYI: A dangerous mix is having a female pitbull that belongs to an incompetent male owner.

[goodwithagun]

As pitbull owner I must disagree. Maybe I am lucky, but I have never experienced this. The only time I see aggression is in the pitbulls that we rescue from fighting rings. We always have to put them down. It is actually very disturbing for me. We have had some bullied handed over by owners because they could no longer care for the dog. These people were not ready to be dog owners and did not realize that you just can't feed a dog and let it out when it whines. We have had great success with finding good homes for these pitbulls.

[massgopguy]

And what percentage of those are “fatal”?

[massgopguy]

And what percentage of those are “fatal”?

[goodwithagun]

The CDC is not clear with dog breeds. Part of the problem is that when attacks are reported, the dog is not always identified properly because of mixed breeds. Last year there were 30 fatal dog attacks in the US. The breeds identified included the three I mentioned, as well as Pinschers, Boxers, Dalmatians (yes the Disney dogs), German Shepherds, Rottwielers, and Huskies.

[AnnGora]

My point was: if it happens so often by other breeds, then why is it not reported? Why do you seem to think the media has it in for pit bulls? The gist of the story is a child was seriously hurt by a canine. It should not matter what the breed...unless of course, it’s the same breed that is doing the mauling time and time again.

There is no way you can convince me that the media is engaged in a cover up of attacks by other breeds just to promote the pit bull as vicious. What could possibly be the motive?

[goodwithagun]

See post 47. You are right, the point is that a child was hurt by a canine. Canines are domesticated but still capable of harming humans. The point is, it is not the same breed time and time again.

[MarineBrat]

Yes, they’re mine. The Labbie is 8 and the GSP is .... er, 4, going on 1. (How long til those GSPs grow up?!?!?) They use any excuse to get wet. You can see the tennis ball in the photo, just about to hit the water.

On the right edge of the pic you can see where the angle of the pool’s edge changes. Off camera to the right is a smooth rock beach, 12x15, where the dogs exit the pool, though the GSP can leap out from any of the swimouts. The Labbie is not nearly so “springy.”

This was a few years back after we put in the pool but I had yet to landscape.

[SJSAMPLE]

It’s my signature tagline.
I’m still working on the copyright ;)

[Vinnie]

I’m waiting for that headline..

‘Chihuahua Mauls Owner’

Make all the excuses you want, the bottom line is pit bulls are dangerous and anyone that has kids and a pit are playing with fire.

[TChris]

Another victim of the Dog of Peace.

How sad...

[TChris]

Chow Chows, Cocker Spaniels, and Chihuahuas actually attack humans more than pitbulls. When was the last time that you heard or read something about that?

Source?

[LongElegantLegs]

How do you know they they’re only vicious because they’ve been trained that way? Do people admit that they’ve been fighting them? Maybe they’ve just been chained in the backyard for years on end.

I believe the amount of attacks suggest that a) pitbulls are naturally aggressive and b) incompetent people who insist on owning them fail to respect that potential.

These dogs were/are bred to fight; there’s just no getting around it. Breeding tells, the same as it would with a sheepdog or a ratter. Denying that puts dogs and people in danger.

[AnnGora]

Apparently it is the same breed over and over again because it is rare, if ever, you read of any other breeds attacking humans as often as pit bulls.

Again, my question: if other breeds are mauling children as regularly as pits, then why is that not being reported?

[goodwithagun]

I am waiting for that headline also. My grandparents had those dogs and I hated them. Every time I tried to sit on a couch where one was already sitting I would get nailed. They may be small but those teeth are like needles!
Regarding pitbulls I am just stating the facts, although in our current political situation I am aware that facts mean nothing. However, I am also speaking from personal experience. Until you research the facts and actually have first hand experience, then you can make a judgment call. Until then, I will continue to sit here with my pitbull on the couch beside me. We try to keep her off, but she gets so violent about it. And by violent I mean that she looks at me with big eyes and licks my hand.

[AlaskaErik]

Again, my question: if other breeds are mauling children as regularly as pits, then why is that not being reported?

My guess is that while other dogs bite humans, pit bulls savagely maul humans, and that is why they're always in the news.

[goodwithagun]

CDC

[goodwithagun]

Personal experience with pitbull rescue and personal ownership of breed.