Free Republic

An attack this weekend on a young girl and two men by an American bully dog has reignited debate over whether the breed should be banned in the UK. The largest type, the American bully XL, can weigh more than nine stone (60kg) and are strong enough to overpower an adult. This weekend's incident was the latest involving the breed, they have been involved in several fatal attacks. Owners, however, insist that despite their fearsome appearance and build, the dogs make loveable household pets. What is the American bully? American bullies are said to have originated in the US in...

Emergency crews responded to the “horrific scene” in the Texas city’s West Side around 2 p.m. and found a “completely bloody” 80-year-old man being dragged onto the sidewalk by one of two American Staffordshire terriers... When SAFD firefighters got off the truck they were attacked by the dogs and forced to defend themselves with pickaxes and pike poles while they tried to treat the victim... The dogs also attacked a woman, who was critically injured. A fire captain suffered a bite wound to the leg and a third victim was bitten in the hand. All three were taken to University...

Watch - eerie baby dolls found nailed to trees on Cannock Chase The dolls were found at the Ministry Pensions Hospital site A spooked walker has made a very unsettling discovery while exploring Cannock Chase. The trekker, who is a theatre practitioner at Walsall Manor Hospital, uncovered an assortment of creepy baby dolls when she was walking over the Chase last Thursday (January 28). The 64-year-old waded her way through the undergrowth and discovered a clearing where a number of trees stood with the dolls 'nailed' and 'tied' to them. Speaking to Black Country Live, the mum-of-two said: "I've had...

Roman souvenir of wall found The bronze pan has the names of Roman forts on it A unique Roman "souvenir" of the building of Hadrian's Wall has been discovered. The bronze pan, dating from the second century AD, when the Romans built the dividing wall across the north of England, was found in the Staffordshire moorlands. Archaeologists are excited because the names of four forts located at the western end of Hadrian's Wall - Bowes, Drumburgh, Stanwix and Castlesteads - are engraved on the vessel. The discovery was being made public at the Institute of Archaeology in London by the...

Deputy head of Portable Antiquities Scheme, British Museum This treasure paints a new picture of our past and the Dark Ages. What makes it outstanding is the sheer quantity - we're talking about 1,500 objects, almost entirely precious metal. Normally you would expect a handful of objects each year of this quality for the period in question, which is the 7th Century. A metal detectorist finding just one of these objects would consider it the find of their life. To find 1,500 is bizarre and it would blow the average person's mind. Now, everybody wants to know who it belongs...

AN Ipswich metal detecting enthusiast has found treasure trove expected to be worth thousands of pounds in a farmer's field. John McLaughlin, 54, discovered silver gilt brooches, Anglo Saxon dress ornaments, silver studs, rings, knives, a spearhead and amber beads in Mark Partridge's north Ipswich field. The treasure was from disturbed burial sites from the Sixth and Seventh Century Anglo Saxon and Pagan periods. Mr McLaughlin said the landowner, Mr Partridge gave him permission to metal detect over his land after it was ploughed. He said he had been finding treasure there for the last three years. “This is my...

A haul of Anglo-Saxon gold discovered beneath a Staffordshire farmer's field could help rewrite history, experts say.Historians believe the Staffordshire Hoard could hold vital clues to explain the conversion of Mercia - England's last great Pagan kingdom - to Christianity in the 7th Century. The hoard was found buried on a farm in Staffordshire in July 2009. The 1,500 pieces of gold are thought to be the spoils of an Anglo-Saxon battle. 'Warring kingdoms'TV historian Dan Snow believes the find has the potential to rewrite the history books. Speaking on BBC1's The Staffordshire Hoard, he said the conversion of Mercia...

An unemployed man has unearthed the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found with the help of his metal detector. Experts are now calculating its value—a process that could take more than a year because of its size. Terry Herbert from Burntwood, Staffordshire, stumbled on the hoard in a private field with his trusty 14-year-old metal detector. Over five days in July, the 55-year-old dug up a fortune on the farmland near to his home. The find was declared as treasure by coroner Andrew Haigh, which means the cache will be offered for sale after it is valued. See the...

The UK's largest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure has been discovered buried beneath a field in Staffordshire. Experts said the collection of 1,500 gold and silver pieces, which may date back to the 7th Century, was unparalleled in size. It has been declared treasure by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh, meaning it belongs to the Crown. Terry Herbert, who found it on farmland using a metal detector, said it "was what metal detectorists dream of". It may take more than a year for it to be valued. The collection contains about 5kg of gold and 2.5kg of silver, making it far...

BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION "Legislation is due, laws are in order, and the situation is out of hand. Let's be sure of our focus. Laws are for humans, not for animals who have no say about the captive environment they must endure." Rod Jones Banning Pit Bulls would be like banning cars because people get killed in car accidents! Who's responsible, the car or the driver/manufacturer? All cars can be deadly in the wrong hands or if built with defective parts. Same thing with dogs... Pit Bulls are no more responsible for the way they are bred, raised and trained, than...

Weela, Ken-L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year This story is from the Ultimate American Pit Bull Terrier by Jacqueline O'Neil. Weela was also featured in the October, 1996 Outside magazine as an example of the kind of dog one would like to have in a life-threatening situation. Gary Watkins, eleven years old, was absorbed in chasing lizards when Weela, the family Pit Bull, plowed into him with a body slam that sent him sprawling. Gary's mother, Lori, saw the whole incident and remembers being surprised at first, because Weela always played kindly with children. But her surprise quickly turned...

From Puppies to Pioneers - The story of search & Rescue Pits From Kristine Crawford For PitSake I got Cheyenne when she was 4 months old. A friend of mine worked at the local animal shelter and felt sorry for this emaciated, hairless puppy that had just been brought in. Due to the fact that she was a pit bull, she was going to be put down the next day. My friend brought her home. She couldn't keep her because she already had 5 dogs so she gave her to me. Even after all the puppy had been through, Cheyenne...