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."

[StoneIsland]

I suppose then that you’ll agree with the CDC when they wrote:

Additional strategies to encourage responsible pet ownership and reduce dog bites include regulatory measures (e.g., licensing, neutering, and registration programs and programs to control unrestrained animals) and legislation (7). “Dangerous” dog laws focus on dogs of any breed that have exhibited harmful behavior (e.g., unprovoked attacks on persons or animals) and place primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on the owner. Because a dog’s tendency to bite depends on other factors in addition to genetics (e.g., medical and behavioral health, early experience, socialization and training, and victim behavior), such laws might be more effective than breed-specific legislation (7). These prevention strategies require further evaluation.

[goodwithagun]

I understand your point. We take that into consideration with our pit and our Bullmastiff. It is easy to take for granted that these happy, loving animals can attack. And I have to admit that when people shy away from my Bullmastiff, it makes me happy. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I like that people are afraid of the big oaf. It makes me feel safe. But we always remember that there is the potential for attack. But again, my grandma's Chihuahuas attacked me constantly. My pit and bully have not yet.

[StoneIsland]

There is the evidence we have and the evidence we want. Don’t hate the evidence we have just because it’s not the evidence you want.

If you’ve got a better study to cite then give. Otherwise, deal with it.

[Tallguy]

Chow Chows, Cocker Spaniels, and Chihuahuas actually attack humans more than pitbulls.

I think the answer to that is obvious. Chow Chows do indeed inflict serious injuries on occaision. Cocker Spaniels & Chihuajuas can have pretty sharp temperments, but a bit from them is just not in the same league when it comes to the damage inflicted.

I raise small terriers & live in the country. Every once in a while one will burrow under the fence or sneak past me at the gate (at night) & I won't miss them right away. If that were a Pit, I could lose everything if somebody approached it the wrong way. People can be stupid around the most well-mannered dogs, and dogs on-the-move can have a sudden personality change.

[arthurus]

My #2 daughter has a half-pit that I despaired of ever being useful, primarily because she raised it. She could not possibly raise a dog to be mean. It barks when someone comes to the fence and whimpers and runs under the bush when you say boo to it. Then one day Daughter was watching through the blinds a stranger soothe the dog at the fence. Then he made a sudden move and the dog ran and hid and whimpered. He put his hand on the gate and flipped the latch. The dog was suddenly right in front of him growling and lunged once. The fellow relatched the gate and left. The dog paid for all his room and bơard right then.

[TChris]

This info is not only outdated, it is from a 20 year time-span. Both of these factors do not include popularity. Every so many years, certain breeds become more popular. Dalmatians when the Disney movie came out, Chihuahuas with the Taco Bell ads, etc.

So, you suppose that Pit Bulls have killed twice as many people as German Shepherds because they are twice as popular?

Please post your CDC source which corrects for popularity.

[goodwithagun]

Absolutely. Let’s break it down.

Additional strategies to encourage responsible pet ownership and reduce dog bites include regulatory measures (e.g., licensing, neutering, and registration programs and programs to control unrestrained animals):
Our pitbull rescue requires licensing neutering. In fact, if a new owner does not do these things we will take the dog back. Of course, we usually neuter the dogs before they are placed so half the problem is solved.

“Dangerous” dog laws focus on dogs of any breed that have exhibited harmful behavior (e.g., unprovoked attacks on persons or animals) and place primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on the owner. Because a dog’s tendency to bite depends on other factors in addition to genetics (e.g., medical and behavioral health, early experience, socialization and training, and victim behavior), such laws might be more effective than breed-specific legislation (7).:
This part states what I have been saying, that breed-specific laws are not accurate because pits are not the only dogs that rip up humans unmercifully.

place primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on the owner- Agian, I have emphasized the need for this on this thread.

[goodwithagun]

And I have offered evidence from the other side. I completely respect your opinion. However, speaking as a pit owner and rescue worker I have first hand experience in the oposite direction from where you are coming. I think you are the one who needs to deal with it.

[LongElegantLegs]

I totally agree that little dogs can be horribly vicious! My last pet was a 7 lb poodle who thought he ruled over planet earth. He was terrible(but adorable). He tried to intimidate everyone who crossed is path.
I never bothered to work with him because I knew the worst that could happen was he’d scratch someone’s ankle with his tiny little teeth. I regret that now.
I can walk Swiper (my big dog) past cats, barking dogs, screaming kids, bikes, anything, and he doesn’t even turn his head.
I think that when Swiper passes on we’ll rescue a full bred pitbull. They truly are amazing animals.

[AnnGora]

Honestly, I am not trying to bicker with you for no particular reason. As a dog owner and lover, I understand the feeling any loving and competent pet owner has toward their dogs. If you have a pit bull that you say is your sweetheart, I do not doubt you one bit.

I admit my prejudice. My dog and I were attacked by a pit bull one day on a walk. While his owner (a neighbor, two kids, white picket fence, etc.) just stood there telling me, “oh , he won’t hurt you,” his pit had my dog pinned down with its jaws around my dog’s neck. I kicked it and it turned on me, snarling and poised to jump. A lady driving by stopped her car and jumped out to help us. By the Good Lord’s blessing, she just happened to have worked at a humane shelter and later told me she had had experience handling pits. The owner finally came to take control of his beast, still insisting that his dog would never hurt anyone or anything.

I shiver to think what would have happened had that lady not stopped to help. My dog had a puncture wound on his neck but luckily, it was not fatal. He will not walk within a block of that house and has an unnatural fear of most dogs. Meanwhile, this fool owner still lets his dog run loose, especially around his children.

Sorry, I hate them. I believe they are inherently vicious and nothing will change my mind.

[grellis]

My best friend just had to have her Rott, a 6-YO neutered male, put down last week. She was the dog's sole owner, and she was never abusive toward her dog...always loving, gentle, yet firm and in-charge. Her dog was in perfect health--but for reasons unknown, in the last year, he slowly became aggressive. Started out as some menacing growls, then vicious barking, and finally charging at neighbors with whom he had always gotten along. My friend had him put down before he mauled or killed someone. She's beside herself with grief, she thinks she failed him as an owner.

My next-door neighbor used to raise PBs. Again, very good owner, decades of experience, always did her best to make sure the pups went to responsible homes. Her bitch "went funny" right around seven years old, attacked three people in one month. Again, nothing physically wrong with the dog. NDN had her put down before local Animal Control insisted upon it. NDN still had one of the euthanized bitch's pups. She turned three last fall. This past winter, she attacked four people on four separate occasions. In one incident, I can say with confidence that she was provoked. The other three folks were people walking down the sidewalk on their way to work. Again--nothing physically wrong with the dog, absolutely no history of abuse. NDN had her put down in April and is now being sued for $25K from one of the dog's victims.

I refuse to believe that no dog will "turn" unless there is some history of abuse in it's background. Any dog is capable of turning, any dog. I also refuse to believe that no breed is more likely to turn than any other. That's nonsense, plain and simple. There are several breeds which are genetically predisposed toward aggressive behavior. To deny that is not only misguided, it is dangerous.

[goodwithagun]

I never claimed that but statistically a higher population of breed would create more issues, positive or negative. A higher population of child molesters would, after all, create more cases of child molestation.

I am trying to find the CDC stats, the ones that are more current than yours. They are bookmarked on my laptop, which my husband has out of town. Because it is bookmarked, I always click on that so I don't have the specific site memorized. I will keep looking, though.

[goodwithagun]

My only advice is to really research the rescue organization. There are some that do not put down pits that show aggression due to abuse. Make sure you get references. Try going through the American Staffordshire Terrior Association. That is the official breeders group.

[goodwithagun]

I never denied that they are dangerous. All dogs have the potential to be dangerous. As I have explained to others here, I have had the same negative experiences with small dogs.

[goodwithagun]

I never denied that they are dangerous. All dogs have the potential to be dangerous. As I have explained to others here, I have had the same negative experiences with small dogs.

[TChris]

I never claimed that but statistically a higher population of breed would create more issues, positive or negative. A higher population of child molesters would, after all, create more cases of child molestation.

True, that would make a difference.

The AKC puts the German Shepherd at #4 for breed popularity, Rottweiler at #16, Doberman at #21, Chow Chow is #64 and Bull Terriers (Pit Bulls are only part of this group) are at #62.

( Source )

I honestly don't see big Pit Bull popularity going on here. I think they're just a mean, aggressive breed. Since they were bred precisely for fighting, that makes sense.

[Tax-chick]

Top the madness with the police confiscating the savior's gun.

I know - that's idiotic. He shot a dog that was attacking children, for Heaven's sake! (Funny how my cats never do anything like that ... they don't bark, either.)

But since this story is set in Alaska, we can probably assume the gentleman owns other guns!

[TexasRepublic]

you think tattoo threads get ugly, sit back and watch!

Those tattooed pit bulls are absolutely the worst of both worlds!

[fightinJAG]

Why in the world would there be a worldwide conspiracy of journalists to only report pit bull attacks when, according to you, other dogs attack just as often?