Sitting on my hands!!
Kathi

A year ago a dog killed a 7 year old boy in our area. Breaks my heart too.

Heartbreaking.

A pack of "dogs" killed a grown woman taking a walk in CA, year or so ago.

I am sorry to read this.the owners should be liable when a death occurs.That is my opinion..

It always seems to be a rottie or a pit bull that attacks and mames or kills. You never hear of anyone being mauled by a lab or golden retriever for example. I just dont understand why anyone feels the need to have these breeds when there are so many wonderful, more people-friendly breeds to be had, especially in a neighborhood with kids.

joanie, that's because the media doesn't create a sh!t storm when that happens. It does happen but the focus seems to be on the pittie. Actually, for a long time, labs were responsible for more dog bites than pits/rotties/dobes. I would have to review current stats to see where they stand now but the news is just not as sensational if it's not a pittie.

It's not the breed; it's the upbringing. I have seen the meanest dogs from all breeds. I know everyone has their own opinion and I'm stating mine. Agree to disagree but if you are involved in animal rescue, you'll get it.

The original post is about a dog killing a child, not a dog bite.

"Mayor Jessup says after 4 oâÂÂclock Sunday afternoon, the five year old boy and his nine year old brother were playing in their yard when an 80 pound pit bull came onto the property and attacked the five year old. Jessup says the nine year old tried to get the pit bull off his brother but couldnâÂÂt. The nine year old ran into their house for help. The father ran back outside and shot at the pit bull. The five year old was rushed to St. VincentâÂÂs Hospital in St. Clair County where he was pronounced dead."

I remember reading years ago that poodles ranked highest in dog bites. How many people did poodles kill? I don't know.
But this thread started out being about an unleashed pit bull killing a 5 year old child playing in his own yard.

Can't understand anyone defending......Biting my tongue....

Cleary dog bites are not the same as being mauled and killed. Even a chihuahua can bite, but maul to the point of death? I'm not an expert, and maybe we can blame it on the media, but when you hear of a person being mauled it is always pits and rotties. Maybe these dogs can be trained up to a point, but perhaps they revert to their primitive instincts when they feel threatened. To have them around children who don't understand what the dog may consider play or danger would never be a risk I would be willing to take.

We've had many "dog bite" cases in our office over the years. Working on one now. Not one has been a pit bull or rottie. Or Akita or Doberman. The one we are working now is just a mixed breed, aka "mutt".

What Dees_1 said.

According to dogbite.org, pits and rotties were responsible for 74% of deaths caused by dog bites between 2005 and 2013--- 209 deaths....176 pits, 33 rots. In 2013, these two breeds were responsible for 81% of fatalities from dog bites.

I have been involved in dog rescue for over 20 years. Pits genetic make up comes from some of the toughest terrier breeds and the most aggressive were used to create this "breed". Originally they were bred for bull baiting and it progressed into dog fighting. Aggression is key in their makeup. They need a very strong minded owner/caregiver with constant training throughout their life as the aggression can come out at anytime.

For some it never shows, others can go many years and then snap. The loving family pet can attack just because a child has a sandwich or moves quickly startling the dog. I have seen first hand both cases as well as loose dogs attacking people and other animals.

What happened in AL is a tragedy that could have been prevented with a strong fence and a responsible owner. My own two cents....I just don't trust them. My heart goes out to the family of the young child.

It is beyond tragic for a family to loose a child, I can't think of anything more painful.
I agree with many of the points made. We specifically have made these dogs for a purpose guarding, fighting, taking down large prey, killing vermin,some of the original purpose for dogs like pits, rotts, dobs, mastiffs, boxers, bull dogs, shepherds, and most of the herding breeds , and even if many of these breeds are no longer used for these tasks these genes are apart of them. We have to acknowledge that truth, but I believe that a bigger contributor to dog attacks are bad negligent owners. The ones that say my dog would never do that, ANY dog can bite/kill It is the size strength of the dog will dictate the size type of victim. Owners who do not know about the breed/ breeds that make up the genetics and what needs they have. Things like properly fencing their dog which includes escape proofing their yards, specific training especially for dogs with fighting in their genes, exercising them, feeding them properly. Getting health care including having their dogs neutered, the owners who do not socialize or train their dogs. Owners who let their animals stray or run off leash, are setting their dogs up to be potential problems.
I also know that every good dog can snap and it is devastating to all if it involves someone being mauled. So often there is an underlying cause that was missed, illness, taunting, protecting a litter, age loss of mental stability, a disruption in an otherwise stable life.
I have worked and been around dogs all my life, the scariest and most loving dogs were Rottie's, one had bit someone and was in for neutering, the other fell out of a truck and was dragged she was in the greatest of pain but she let us try to save her with only whimpers. I had a great distrust of pits but have known two one who was badly hurt but could only love, the other neglected which lead to aggression to other dogs but he loved his people. I still worry about them but I do believe in the RIGHT home they can be good dogs. Ive only ever been bitten by a bichon and cats. Interestingly I find chocolate labs more aggressive then a lot of other breeds I have worked with.
At the end of the day is the responsibility and fault of the owner. But it is the dog and the child's family who paid the price
The media today can't wait to report any tragedy it sells, and everyone who hates pits, or rotts will jump on the bandwagon. Understanding that this is SOO much more then a breed issue gets lost. All dogs need to be trained, socialized, neutered, safely secured, ALL owners need to understand the breed or breeds that make up their dog and the special requirements they have, All owners need to understand what owning a dog means and it entails a life time commitment to the above.
And it should not need to be said but owners need to love and respect their dogs. Almost all dogs start out wanting to love and be our family we are the ones that...

My much loved brother is blind to the fact that he has a dangerous dog. He's blinded by how much he loves it, and refuses to see how frightening it is.

Ziggy has bitten his mother in law, who required surgery afterwards. No one else has been injured simply because no one will visit.

It's a rottie. He's been untrainable and isn't even allowed at the vet any more.

On the other side, I had a friend who had a gentle giant of a Rottie. My biggest problem witb him was all of the slobber, lol. One day, Thor was standing at the back patio door and whining, every muscle at alert. Steve went to see what he was upset about...he lived in a rural location and who knows what could be out there!

It was a kitten. It was on the porch, rubbing back and forth on the glass right where Thor was standing! Steve opened the door and that kitten ran in and that was that! Thor adopted the kitten right then and there....or was it vice versa? Anyway, those two were inseperable from then on. That cat even went on walks with them, scampering all over the place, teasing the dog because it was on a leash and couldn't chase him. You should have seen them sleep together.

I was reading an article recently about dogs killing people. The greater amount of deaths were completed by pit bulls and Rotties. All dogs can bite but most of them don't maul or kill. I love them all, even a sweet rottie. I wouldn't have one around kids though. Most owners who's dogs have attacked children say they were totally surprised that it happened. I think its the nature of the breed. Not that they are bad dogs, they just have the ability and determination to destroy what has.. not sure what word to use.. I'll say annoy or surprise them. I understand they can be totally loyal too.

Dumb and completely avoidable things happen in life. This is one of those. An amazingly HUGE fine should be given to the dogs owner. Including the cost of the childs care and burial and the Pitts owner should never own a dog again imo.

Such a sad, sad story. When your child is playing in his own yard, you think he's safe. I think pit bulls can be very sweet dogs, my friend's was such a gentle soul, but I would never own one just because of its reputation. If another dog attacked my pit bull and my dog reacted to protect himself, I know my dog would get blamed just because he's a pit bull. I wouldn't want the liability in owning such a dog.

I don't understand why anyone would want to own one of these dogs, i.e. pit bull or rottweiler. The potential for liability is only one of many reasons. I would live in fear that the dog would harm someone one day, no matter how much I loved and trusted the animal. The same goes for any dog who has shown unprovoked aggression towards humans, but these two breeds in particular do not have good track records.

I also blame the owners in most cases. There are millions of pit bulls and rottweilers out there, and, statistically, the incidents of attacks are very low. The media just makes it sound like they are all deadly killing machines because it creates headlines.

That's not to diminish the tragedy - it's very sad that a child could be killed in his own yard, and I certainly don't think that dog should be spared if he's shown such violent tendencies. Obviously there's an issue there, very likely with the owner if the dog is allowed to roam.

What does make me sad is all of the "aggressive" dogs that are demonized, made to suffer and outright killed all because they *might* attack someone someday. If an animal shows aggression, or hurts someone, then obviously that's different. But I'm talking about the ones who get automatically euthanized in shelters despite not having shown any aggression at all just because of their breed.

I agree with Joanie.

Don't blame the breed, blame the owners.
If you want a big dog, don't buy one unless you know it's background, and preferably a young puppy.
Dogs do what they are trained to do.

I know of a family that has two pits, a male and a female,adopted when they were 4-6 mos. old, and were not taught to attack by anyone.
They are affectionate, and more likley to lick you than bite. In fact, they have never bitten anyone - because they have responsible owners who taught them how to behave. As puppies, if they got a little over excited, they were reprimanded, not hit.

Most any breed of dog will protect it's owners, even little toy dogs, if they sense the owner is being threatened.

No purebred pit bull weighs 80 to 100 pounds;
that dog was a mix, & it would be good to know who owned him, why, & how the dog was treated before anybody organizes a lynch party.

I'd bet it was unsocialized, kept in the back yard all the time, chained or tied as long as legally possible or longer, maybe trained or baited to 'be mean', God knows what.

Treated the way some of these dogs are treated, being forced to endure the lives they endure, anybody, dog or human, could be in a chronic seething rage.

Hold the owner responsible.

Thank you sylvia and monica! Because of the lynch mob attitude, many wonder pets are being euthanized because of breed banning laws caused by ignorant people that have no idea what they are talking about! I am very much involved with the county dog pound and people that think pitties are bad have never worked with pitties before. Just as lovable as any other dog. Any dog can be made to be mean it treated bad by HUMANS. And I agree, pits do not get to be 80 or 90 lbs! Most are medium around 50 or 60. It absolutely breaks my heart that someone would blame all the millions of loving pitties on the actions of a lone vicious dog! That's just as stupid as racial profiling but idiots do it every day though don't they?! UGH! People make me sick!

It is tragically sad. I also agree with Sylvia and Monica.