Pit Bulls

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

When will people learn that these dogs are killers and always will be.

Hmm.. My parents have a pitbull and he was bossed around by a Boston Terrier and a Dachsund before those two little ones died from old age.

I understand your frustration completely and I'm sorry that it happened (how awful!), but your statement just isn't accurate or fair. I am shocked that this dog was not seized by animal control for at least a short amount of time.

[BroadHopper]

It is a terrible situation when another dog owner denies involvement, especially when he/she is a neighbor.

I knew a doberman breeder in Nashua that was attacked many times by his own dogs, yet he thinks nothing of it. The owners are as much to blame as the dogs.

I did rescue a female Rotweiler who was dying of cancer. Bette was the most gentlest dog I can imagine. She would let the cat take over her bed without a fight and allow my grandbabies to sleep with her. Yet, I met folks that are deathly afraid of Rotweilers and say I am out of my mind.

You can't blame the dogs, blame the owner/handler!

[Pineedles]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

It is a terrible situation when another dog owner denies involvement, especially when he/she is a neighbor.

I knew a doberman breeder in Nashua that was attacked many times by his own dogs, yet he thinks nothing of it. The owners are as much to blame as the dogs.

I did rescue a female Rotweiler who was dying of cancer. Bette was the most gentlest dog I can imagine. She would let the cat take over her bed without a fight and allow my grandbabies to sleep with her. Yet, I met folks that are deathly afraid of Rotweilers and say I am out of my mind.

You can't blame the dogs, blame the owner/handler!

I too want to chime in with my sympathy for your loss. Very sad to hear of this often repeated story.

Rotweilers are very gentle within the family and for those people that are recognized as welcome members to the home, but they are also very protective of their owners. I wouldn't mess with anyone who owned a Rotweiler.

I have a friend who adopted a rescue pitbull puppy and he appears to be as gentle as lamb. Who knows what he will grow into, but for these owners it will not be nurture that dictates an aggressive demeanor. They are very loving and even tempered folks. The owners are launching a facebook campaign on how this breed is not a threat, but I feel they are not only being very protective of their new puppy, but also being very naive. Time will tell, and through knowing them and their dog, I will form an opinion. I love dogs, all dogs, and I don't want to form an opinion based on stories. BTW, I don't dispute what happened, I just want to see for myself if this pitbull matures an aggressive trait.

[donnamatrix]

BR: This is terrible. I am so sorry for you and your family, and especially your poor little Jack Russell, who suffered so much. When my Siamese, Koko, had a stroke 5 years ago and had to be euthanized, I couldn't even go to work the next day... our pets are family. I am sending you a hug.

[Belmont Resident]

My wife's sister was hanging out with a guy friend who owned a pit bull, she had been around this dog quite a few times and was very comfortable.
The last time she was with this dog it was licking her face when all of the sudden it snapped and bit her in the face. Unprovoked out of the blue.
The dog in question as I've already said is a family dog, as much as I hate these people I must say my wife and I have never seen them abuse or hurt this dog. There is something in this dog that when it senses another dogs fear of it provokes it to attack. From my understanding this is ofter what is determined to be the case with many pit bull attacks.
Sorry but that isn't in my opinion the owner. I truly believe that these dogs were bread for fighting and will always harbor that instinct deep inside. How, when or if it is ever triggered it usually ends in tragedy.
Yes in the end it was the owners fault because they knew this dog was dangerous and should always have been restrained.
What I can say is that I now have a hatred for this breed that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I hope it comes out, I've attached last years Christmas card, Pirate is on the far right. As you can see sh isn't mush of a challenge for a pit bull.

[HomeWood]

That's cute. They're saying, "We get to eat cookies on the couch tonight for this".

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by HomeWood

That's cute. They're saying, "We get to eat cookies on the couch tonight for this".

It takes my wife over an hour and a hundred shots using the remote just to get the right one.
Unfortunately this year she will not do one, maybe next year.

[jrc]

Sad so sad, my sympathy to your family.

An agressive dog with the size and strength of a pitbull is too dangerous to have as a pet. Just my opinion.

I know it's tough to think about it this way, but if you have a documented monetary investment in your dog, maybe you can sue them for your financial loss. Obviously this is not your "real" loss, but it may be tool to convince them to remove their dog from the situation. You have other dogs to protect.

[Resident 2B]

Very sorry to hear of your loss. Your dog looks like it was a great pet.

With pitbulls, they are often fine and loving with the humans they live with, but they can never be trusted with other four-legged animals. Once they sense fear in another animal, watch out. It is in their genes, what they as a breed were developed to do.

R2B

[Rusty]

Get one of these dogs and introduce him to your neighbors pit bull.



Dogo Argentino

First bred in Argentina in 1928, the Dogo was taken from the now extinct Cordoba Fighting Dog, which was mixed with various other breeds, including the Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux and Irish Wolfhound. Breeder Antonio Nores Martinez developed his dog as a big game hunter, taking on such dangerous prey as the mountain lion. Although it was not its original purpose, the Dogo has also been used for fighting. Generally weighing in at just under a hundred pounds, it is solid white and resembles a larger Pit Bull. The Dogo is banned in at least 10 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Portugal.

[Belmont Resident]

Unfortunately you cannot pick your neighbors and unfortunately we wound up with what we have.
There have been a multitude of other problems with these neighbors over the years including dogs and also their chickens in our yard.
They do not have much but my wife and I do plan on taking them to court for the vet bill when we get it as well as the replacement cost.
Even if the cost to do so over rides the return in this case it is the point.
Little, considering our loss.
We do hope that they do not pay the ticket within the prescribed time. If so the town can then take legal action. Right now they are bound by the extent of the law which doesn't allow for more then a fine.

[JDeere]

If the pit bull is in your yard or threatening you I would assume you would have the legal right to shoot the damn thing?

I would not let that beast within 10 feet of me.

[ishoot308]

B.R.;

When Pirate was attacked was he in your yard or your neighbors?? If he was in your yard you definitely have a case to recoup cost for the dog and all vet bills. If he was in your neighbors you will have a fight on your hands I think.

Either way my heart goes out to you and your wife for your loss.

Dan

[Altonbayicefishingfool]

I agree 100%!

I don't trust that breed as far as I could throw them. I don't care what people say they cannot be trusted..

[VitaBene]

BR So sorry for your loss, it is horrible.

I am in my office and was scrolling through the thread when I hear this dog growling behind me (it was my Steeler). I was reading the description of the Dogo white dog above and he obviously saw something he did not like in the posture or something.

[Happy Gourmand]

BR, so sorry for your loss.
I too have no use for this breed of dog. A few years ago my son came over our house with a friend's pit bull. I told him to keep it on a short leash even while in the house. Though I was able to "pet" it, I didn't trust it. I dropped something on the floor, fairly close to the dog. As I bent to retrieve what was dropped, the dog lunged for my face. I managed to reach out and caught it by the collar and held it at bay until my son was able to get it under control. I consider that I was pretty lucky to make that collar catch.
I asked my son to get that dog out of my house and not return with it again.
I have a hard time thinking that some folks think they are really a gentle breed. They are not. There are way too many horrible stories like this one.

[bclaker]

Bob,
Was this the dog that rides the surf board?

[8gv]

Advice:

Bring a legal action against the owners of the dog that killed yours.

The loss of your pet in this manner has caused you emotional distress.

Any vet bills stemming from this cost you money.

Your dog had monetary value which is now gone.

Seek significant damages for these.

By bringing this action against your neighbor they will have to respond through their homeowners insurance. When their insurance company realizes what has happened they will likely demand the dog be removed. If the owner is not complant, the insurance company may not renew their policy.

Whether or not you win, you have had an impact on the neighbor.

If owners don't have enough sense to choose another breed, maybe the economics of owning a Pit Bull can be made unfeasible.

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by bclaker

Bob,
Was this the dog that rides the surf board?

No that was my Rascal. This was Pirate a gift from me on my wife's birthday about 10 years ago. She is never on the lake without her dog.
Believe it or not Rascal is a strong alpha dog and has sent this pit bull running for home many a time.

ishoot308: Pirate had escaped our fenced in yard and the attack happened on our dirt road. We did not see it but given past history, whenever pirate saw this dog she would give it a wide birth. Our belief is that she was trying to avoid the dog and the owner did nothing to stop her dog from chasing down pirate.

[magicrobotmonkey]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Gourmand

BR, so sorry for your loss.
I too have no use for this breed of dog. A few years ago my son came over our house with a friend's pit bull. I told him to keep it on a short leash even while in the house. Though I was able to "pet" it, I didn't trust it. I dropped something on the floor, fairly close to the dog. As I bent to retrieve what was dropped, the dog lunged for my face. I managed to reach out and caught it by the collar and held it at bay until my son was able to get it under control. I consider that I was pretty lucky to make that collar catch.
I asked my son to get that dog out of my house and not return with it again.
I have a hard time thinking that some folks think they are really a gentle breed. They are not. There are way too many horrible stories like this one.

I'm sorry but this story doesn't show that all pit bulls are terrible killers. It shows that that dog was. Obviously there are bad pit bulls, as has been stated there are bad dogs of any breeds. Anyone who own a large strong dog needs to be responsible with it, just like anyone who owns a gun needs to be responsible with it. This extends to putting it down if necessary. I don't know why anyone would keep a dog around that had to be physically restrained over a piece of food like this one. To me it's equivalent to keeping a loaded, cocked pistol on your coffee table.

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by magicrobotmonkey

I'm sorry but this story doesn't show that all pit bulls are terrible killers. It shows that that dog was. Obviously there are bad pit bulls, as has been stated there are bad dogs of any breeds. Anyone who own a large strong dog needs to be responsible with it, just like anyone who owns a gun needs to be responsible with it. This extends to putting it down if necessary. I don't know why anyone would keep a dog around that had to be physically restrained over a piece of food like this one. To me it's equivalent to keeping a loaded, cocked pistol on your coffee table.

Pit bulls are almost always the only dog in the news constantly for killing or maiming other animals and people. This breed of dog is a ticking time bomb.
Many cities have special ordinances specifically for dealing with pit bulls.