Posted on 05/02/2007 3:26:57 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
George, a nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier, was put down after being savagely attacked by two pitbulls in the Taranaki township of Manaia on Sunday.
George was walking into town with a group of children who lived next door when the pitbulls rushed the group, heading for a four-year-old boy.
The boy's 11-year-old brother, Richard Rosewarne, said George started barking and rushed at the pitbulls as the children ran away.
George's owner, 69-year-old Alan Gay, said the pitbulls savaged George until a passing motorist intervened and managed to separate the dogs.
The first Mr Gay knew about the incident was when a local vet rang him and told him his dog had suffered horrific injuries. Mr Gay decided to have George put down.
He told NZPA today he had been receiving phonecalls non-stop from relatives and media organisations since word of George's heroics got out.
"The phone has been going since about half past seven this morning. Everytime I hang up it rings again. It's worn out, I might have to get a new one," he said.
He said as long as there were pitbulls there would be incidents like Sundays.
"I don't think it's wise for anyone to have pitbulls. They're killers, they only know one thing.
"But the little Jack Russells like George, they're harmless."
Mr Gay said unrestrained dogs had historically caused problems in Manaia and he would be reluctant to replace George.
"The town would have to clean up its wandering dogs first. If I got a puppy here he's going to couple up with the kids next door, they're going to go up town and he'll follow them and there'll be problems if there's pitbull terriers around."
He said the children next door had been fond of George and had written a note for him.
"In memory of George, we are sorry that George left in such a terrible way. He was our guardian and hero whenever we went walking and we will never forget him," the note said.
Mr Gay was told by South Taranaki District Council staff that the two pitbulls were found after the attack and the owner had admitted they had returned home on Sunday covered in blood. They were impounded awaiting destruction and the owner may be prosecuted.
The council said it intended hunting down all dangerous and unregistered dogs and neutering them.
“But the little Jack Russells like George, they’re harmless.”
Not entirely true. We put one down because he bit a child in the face. JRTs are like any other dog.
Ping
> Not entirely true. We put one down because he bit a child in the face. JRTs are like any other dog.
Nonsense. A JRT is about as dangerous as a housecat — except it has more intelligence and much more heart and loyalty.
At worst, a JRT can cause some puncture wounds and cuts. It it tries real hard, a few small bruises. It would be difficult to imagine a JRT being able to kill someone. Maybe if it sneaked up on you while you were drunk and asleep, flat on your back. But probably not.
A German Shepherd can break bones, tear and devour flesh, sever arteries and slash sinew and ligaments, and easily put its attack victim in hospital.
A Pit Bull can crush bones and will never let go, not even if you hit it with a crow-bar. It can amputate limbs. It can cause death easily.
JRT’s are like “any other dog”? Get real!
> Whenever you hear of an attack on persons today, it can almost always be attributed to a pit bull. I don’t know if the meanness is inbred in the breed, enhanced by the breeders, or if it is just behavior that is rewarded by the owners, but I think the laws that are passed outlawing the breed are justified. I am a dog lover and have had dogs my entire life, but cannot understand why anyone would want to own a breed like this.
I put most of this down to a) sloppy (and deliberate) breeding that enhances aggressive behavior and b) incompetent dog training and ownership.
When I walk my well-trained Shepherd I always carry my 6-cell MagLite with me. This is precisely to defend against aggressive and unlicensed Pit Bulls at-large. My Shepherd could probably attend to a single Pit Bull and acquit herself well, but who needs a vet bill? And if there are two or three, then what?
The MagLite will dent a couple Pit Bull skulls just fine, hopefully it would be enough for my Shepherd and me to escape. I’d wield it with elan and righteous vigor: I’ve no use for mungrel dangerous dogs, neither does God or any law-abiding Citizen.
Firearms are not the solution to every problem but they are necessary at the right time...A police whistle, cold water, or a boat horn are useless when pit bulls are intent on killing something...I have personally seen where several times.
Armed response in NZ is the exception and not the rule
I guess I forgot that NZ citizens are emasculated with respect to self defense and personal rights.
Friend take a deep breath.
The poster was responding to your assertion that JRs are harmless.
What the poster was trying to say was that like any dog JRs are not harmless.
It is true they can’t do the damage that larger dogs can do
but we shouldn’t minimalize the damage they can do as insignificant.
Attitudes like that are part of the problem of dog bites not the solution.
You made my point.
The same rational is used to try to ban handguns. Any dog raised by a responsible owner to be a stable and socialized dog will not automatically attack.
I just wish you could see the boundless joy expressed by these jolly pets when they see "Mom," and "Dad," walking through those iron gates! In those precious months when their owners are free, Pit Bulls show their warmth and affection, while earning the temporarily-at-liberty owner respect in the hood.
I ask for fairness, both here in the US and New Zealand. Fairness; and balance. Sure Pit Bulls take out a child or two, or perhaps the odd mail carrier. But what's that trifling casualty list against the hours of pleasure these fine dogs give the upstanding citizens who care for and love them?
Much could be gained by allowing Pit Bulls to share their owners' cells, during those tragically inevitable periods when the supporters of this incredibly affectionate breed are forced by an unjust world to suffer durance vile.
Like the saying goes, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
I think I read in the last week or so a pit bull turned on a child in his own home and killed him.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1824680/posts?page=203
Sure it does. Your sig says you are a hunter, have you ever coon hunted? To get coon dog pups, you breed two coon dogs. To get mean dogs, breeding two mean dogs would probably work just as well. Unfortunately for pit bulls, the breed, that is what has happened. People have turned the breed into thug dogs. Remember Petey, on the little rascals? The our gang comedies? He was a pit.
Thank you for your contribution to the idiocy quotient of this thread.
It is rare that someone on FR sees things with the clarity of your vision.
> I guess I forgot that NZ citizens are emasculated with respect to self defense and personal rights.
Shyeah right. Our cops go around unarmed. And my Guardian Angel Volunteers do so, too. Together we keep our streets safe against miscreants who are twice as big as your average American scroat, and every bit as well armed.
You Yanks really *should* get over yourselves and your firearms fetish. I generally support your Second Amendment and wish we had the same in NZ, but I’d much rather rely upon a good left hook to put down a Bad Guy: it does not require un-holstering, or re-loading, or even particularly good aim. But it is always with you, even when you sleep.
As to Mad Dogs? I’ve met a few.
> Anyone trained well in firearms use can place a well aimed round or two into a vicious dog and send the others packing.
And in this particular scenario, probably also send a few kids to Casualty Ward with gunshot wounds, the result of Friendly Fire. Anybody who would blaze away into a wild tangle of dogs-and-kids to try to “save the day” is a dangerous moron who should have all of their guns taken away permenantly and their Second Amendment rights rescinded forever. And they should face charges for Reckless Endangerment, at the very least.
> A police whistle, cold water, or a boat horn are useless when pit bulls are intent on killing something...
You’ve been there, seen that, ay? Please do tell.
“At worst, a JRT can cause some puncture wounds and cuts. It it tries real hard, a few small bruises. It would be difficult to imagine a JRT being able to kill someone. “
JRTs are capable of attacking someone. This one attacked a child - and not just nipping at the hand - it went right for the face and neck. No other choice than to destroy the dog.
ANY dog can cause harm. Open your eyes.
I know but I don’t care. I was a pitbull owner myself once.
> Friend take a deep breath.
I remember you.
You’re the guy who killed that bear with a knife, correct? A couple months back? In the Canadian wilds? With the help of your dog?
And you’re a fellow Canuck? (I emigrated to NZ from Vangcouver)
I have deep and abiding Respect for you, and for your opinions because your deeds speak much louder than words ever could. I’ve spent plenty of time in the BC wilderness, seen quite a few bears (none quite so close as you have) and marvel that you did what you were able to do. That took Courage.
That said, in truth, JRs are truly harmless when compared with a Pit Bull: OK sure, if they latch onto your bollix you’ll scream and swear and just possibly tragically never again enhance the gene pool. But in all seriousness, mate...
That said, whatever breed your own dog is, is worth its weight in gold. And I also agree with your point about attitudes re: dog training.
I apologize and offer the correction..
It was not you that stated, “...little Jack Russells like George, they’re harmless.”
but rather it was a quote from the article.
The rest of my comment stands.
That post was so sad. I am now crying. Thanks for posting it.
Thanks FRiend
For sure a JR can’t do the damage a ‘pit bull’ can.
I just want to emphasis that while all bites are not equal in seriousness
they all are unacceptable.
It seems a lot of folks don’t consider the bites their “little babies” are capable of with sufficient concern.
Here’s a admittedly comical but underlying serious example of what I mean...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxwHuu9l4ZU
The fellow that got bit sure didn’t find the humor in it.
I wouldn’t spend much time on the thug breed defenders who try to colour the facts of this case, and I say this as the owner of an American Rottweiler that I loved to bits. I was also very aware of his capabilities and never for even a moment let my responsibility as the owner to slip my mind.
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