Pennsylvania attacks -- a vent

[TamLexi]

When are people going to learn. Last month in Pittsburgh, there was a pitt bull attack on a little girl (if I remember correctly she was seven years old). Apparently, the owner has had many run ins with animal control -- no rabies, no license, etc. Well, since the bitch had just had a litter, they left the dog there. Even since the attack on the little girl, they have broken loose and chased people, once even ripping out a screen door. Last weekend my nephew was on his way home from work and a lady ran in front of his car hysterical yelling for help. He did get out and go to help her and a pitt bull was tearing apart two girls. He had to find something to hit the dog on the head to get him off the one girl. Both girls (12 and 14) were life flighted to a Pittsburgh area hospital. I found out that the dog has attacked twice before. The mother of the owner, who he lives with, and another relative, who has a lawsuit against them. Two days ago it was on the news about another little boy in the Pittsburgh area being attacked by his aunt's boyfriend's chained up pitt bull. The police didn't even wait for an ambulance they raced him to the hospital carrying a chunk of his face the dog had ripped off. I just don't understand when people are going to learn that when they take on these dogs, they have extra responsibility. I am angry that it keeps happening. They are giving the responsible owners such a bad name. I own a Rottweiler not a Pitt, but I am sort of scared because BSL is just around the corner. Okay I'm done with my vent.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by TamLexi

.......there was a pitt bull attack on a little girl
.......the owner has had many run ins with animal control
.......no rabies, no license, etc.
.......they left the dog there.
.......since the attack they have broken loose and chased people
.......once even ripping out a screen door

Last weekend my nephew was on his way home from work and a lady ran in front of his car hysterical yelling for help.
.......a pitt bull was tearing apart two girls
.......Both girls (12 and 14) were life flighted
.......the dog has attacked twice before

Two days ago it was on the news about another little boy in the Pittsburgh area being attacked by his aunt's boyfriend's chained up pitt bull. The police didn't even wait for an ambulance they raced him to the hospital carrying a chunk of his face the dog had ripped off.

I just don't understand when people are going to learn that when they take on these dogs, they have extra responsibility.

AND, I might add, that if ANIMAL CONTROL was doing their job, there would not BE repeat attacks from the same damn dog. When dog owners have no conscience, we need LAWS for public safety....and we have them already in place. People will LEARN when the laws already on the books are ENFORCED.

[Danita]

So, so sad. I hate hearing stories like this, especially when children are involved. Breaks my heart for the victim, the family, and the dog.

[moondog]

I am sad for the victim and the BREED, not the dangerous dogs that attacked. There is no place in society for dangerous dogs and until a distinction is made between BREED and DANGEROUS, and the DANGEROUS is dealt with rather than the BREED, things will not change.

[Danita]

Let me clarify. I am sad for the dog in that it probably never really had a chance due to lack of discipline, training, and love, and of course now it SHOULD be PTS.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Danita

Let me clarify. I am sad for the dog in that it probably never really had a chance due to lack of discipline, training, and love, and of course now it SHOULD be PTS.

Maybe......or maybe these dogs were vicious by birth, thanks to the ignorant who bred them, and they weren't managed well enough in life by the ignorant who owned them.

[Danita]

Yep, I agree. Sad story all around.

[Java Lover]

I agree with Moondog! If this was a second attack, animal control was not doing there job. We live in such a backwards society. The brash and out of line people are protected as much as possible and the victims just have to fend for themselves.

It took me three years, two attacks on my dogs, and a little boy in my neighborhood getting attacked, to get animal control and the courts to finally rid our neighborhood of
three pit/lab mixes. I was the one who spoke out the most. Makes me angry just to think about it.

Of course the owner of the monsters, (trust me like owner....like dog) would swear up and down that her dogs wouldn't hurt a flea. I wish the courts had removed the
neighbor right along with the dogs!

[kuhldreams]

Its so sad to hear about these attacks - for the poor victims who are injured or worse, for the rest of the breed who are judged by some other dogs behavior, and the poor dog who is probably just reacting the way he was taught and now will be PTS. I honestly don't believe that many dogs are born vicious - I believe they learn what they are taught and react to their environment. I believe that ANY dog owner has the responsibilty to train their dogs and be able to control them. Those of us that have the large breed dogs have even more of a burden to do this - if our animals are out of control - they can kill someone. What's bad is you NEVER hear about all the wonderful, loving, well behaved pitts, rotties, etc. So all our babies get labeled as dangerous or vicious just because they are a certain breed or someone even THINKS they may be a certain breed.

[freakygoldfish]

Originally Posted by moondog

AND, I might add, that if ANIMAL CONTROL was doing their job, there would not BE repeat attacks from the same damn dog. When dog owners have no conscience, we need LAWS for public safety....and we have them already in place. People will LEARN when the laws already on the books are ENFORCED.

I agree completely! Why do people think BSL is the answer when AC won't enfore leash laws, rabies laws, etc. now?