Very sad. Twenty four years ago my son as a child was attacked by one belonging to a neighbor. Lost his ear. Rib cage cartilage, stretched skin and several reconstructive surgeries later he was somewhat physically restored. His mother, who saved his life, is still troubled by it to this day.
“31 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2016. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 900 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 71% (22) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6% of the total U.S. dog population.”
https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2016.php
Should have shot the neighbors as well as the dogs.
Had a neighbor who owned, I thought, two pit bulls. Turns out they weren’t. But when I moved in I had a fence built between the fences just in case they got loose.
A guy I know raises em to specfically hunt wild hogs. That’s about the only good purpose that I can think of for em.
When he lets em loose out the cage, “Katie bar the door” because whatever hog they’re after is coming down. He’s lost 2 or 3 to tusk cuts from the big boars.
I’ve seen em cut to shreds and just keep on fighting that pig to their last breath.
Vicious.
I would shoot the damn neighbor. That was a lethal attack on that family.
If one ever snarled near me, I’d shoot it.
Nobody needs an "assault dog" (with some arbitrary definition). Therefore nobody needs a dog bigger than about 50-60 pounds that might sorta look like a pit bull maybe.
I’ll tell you what.... I adopted a small puppy of unknown/questionable/bernese mountain dog/possible mix of pit in him.... and he’s growing enormous.
He looks more like a golden retriever/shepherd, his 4 month old paw fills up my hand.
Had him since October. He’s loyal but not affectionate and I don’t love him yet - waiting to see how it goes. If he exhibits any pit/aggressive traits he’s gone.
I would guess a partial/pit/mix wouldn’t be as vicious as full bred, but he’s got some really questionable behaviors that I can’t break him of yet. Puppy training in January - the only I’ve ever chosen classes for.
Anyway, yeah, I wouldn’t have or trust a pit no matter what. They’re practically wild beasts. Poor family, I’m sure they did nothing to provoke the attack. Get 2 dogs together and the jealousy can be overpowering for any reason.
I sure don’t trust them though I have been around them in the past and none of those dogs ever attacked the owners or anyone else.
But that was 30 years ago and these attacks seem to be getting epidemic on scale. A good safety rule might be...
If you Pit, you must Pack.