We are Devastated. Davinci was killed by a pit bull.

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by ranant12

I do plan to talk to our local Senator about some kind of law about pit bull ownership. My father in law is a Justice Court Judge, so I'm hoping that he can also help me. He loved Davinci also and even help my son bury him and said a prayer for him. He was very upset about what happened.

We all know something has to be done, but as a full time mother to 3 teenagers and a school teacher, my time is limited. However I do plan to do whatever I am able to in order to get our story out there. Hopefully something can be done to prevent pit bull attacks in the future.

I am sorry for your loss of 2 dogs, and in the same manner. But please, I beg you to put up a fence and use a leash. I am not blaming you but this has to be a wake up call for you too so it never happens again.

In wa state where i live we have leash laws, and the pits should have been leashed as well as your own dog. If it wasn't the pit it could have been a car. Putting up a fence can be pricey yes, but worth it. And also use some gates at the doors so the dogs cannot dart out.

Your children are not just grieving the loss, they are haunted, it is a memory your 14 year old will never get out of her head. And to see this happen twice makes it even more traumatizing.

[ranant12]

Just to explain things a little clearer for some YTer's with questions. Our yard is fenced with hurricane fencing. However, we live at the end of a dead end road with only family members for neighbors. There is virtually no traffic on our road except us and my husband's Aunt and my In - laws. There are only 2 more house on the entire road almost a quarter of a mile away. Our fence gate was left open the day before when my husband was in and out feeding the pigs his uncle owned and working in the garden in the field next to us. We are surrounded on 3 sides by open fields used for raising cattle.

We had come to feel safe after 2 years of peace and quite. We often stayed in our yard (fenced front and open back) and down at the pond next to our house with no cause to be super cautious. Davinci LOVED following my husband and son down to the pond as they fished and was happiest when he could run crazy loops outside.

Should we have had the gate closed ......yes. Should the kids have been more careful........yes. Should we have anticipated that this idiot may be out of jail and may be stupid enough to get another pit bull.....maybe, although I not sure how to learn to see into the future.

The main things is our dogs should have been safe playing just 2 feet from our front steps (which is where Davinci was killed) without having to worry about getting killled by a pit bull. My children should be safe in our yard without wondering if the crazy dude next door is out of jail and MAY have brought another vicious dog over. We live deep in the country and should be able to enjoy the "country life" and the benefits of having wide open land around us.

No family should have to live in fear!! Period. We fenced our yard, we watch for hawks, we love our dogs and take excellent care of them. This was in no way our fault or my childrens. Responsiblity for this lays directly on the shoulders of an irresponsible pit bull "owner" if you can call him an owner.

I am installing baby gates at the foyer to the front door and the utility room door by the back door. I will continue to do all I can to keep my dogs and family safe. What I cannot do is prevent ignorant people from obtaining vicious dogs that they cannot control. When someone can help me figure that one out, PM me, cause I would love to know how to do it.

Thanks to all for your words of support. We needed them.

[chattiesmom]

I am so very sorry for both of your losses. I know you must be devestated to have had experienced this tragic loss twice. I, too live in a rural area - we have leash laws that require the breeds that are classified as "dangerous" be kept in a 6' fence and/or chained. I hope you persue legal action against the neighbors. It won't bring your precious Davinci back, but perhaps it will prevent someone else from suffering a similar loss.

I know how I felt when the neighbor's two pit mixes were attacking my miniature horses. We called animal control and what we found was that we were fully within our legal right to shoot the dogs if we or our property was in danger. To be honest, we would have shot the pits, however anytime my son had a clear bead on the dogs, the horses weren't in any immediate danger -- hence the delima. The owners did come and retrieve the pits and we haven't seen them again.

Thank you for sharing your tragedy with your YT family. I think we can all use this as a reminder to be more viligent with our little ones -- it seems like danger lurks everywhere -- whether it is a neighbor's dog that attacks, or a hawk, or a coyote.

[ranant12]

To Mommadog1

Perhaps you did not read the first post clearly. Davinci got outside unnoticed when the kids took out the trash. A leash would not have helped in anyway. We ALWAYS leash our dogs when we go anywhere other than our home.

The pitbull owner was a recently release ex con. Trust me he was not even thinking about leashing that dog. I doubt he even owned one, except maybe a "big ole chain" to chain him to the nearest tree.

As far as gates go, yes now I am installing them. I almost feel like I have to hire a body guard to protect my dogs now. Its ridiculous the steps we have to take to protect our family and dogs from ignorant people. But I will not blame myself or my children for what was tragic accident caused by a very ignorant irresponsible person.

[ranant12]

ChattiesMom,

Trust me I wanted to get a gun and get rid of that dog the minute I found out what had happened. But the dog had "disappeared" before we could confront them. The son hasn't been back since then either. The Aunt doesn't even own the house, but was being allowed to live there after my husband's uncle drowned tragically last summer. After this, she may be made to move. The family is really upset with her and her good for nothing son.

IF we had had some way of knowing he was there and had a dog like that I can assure you even my kids would not have gone home alone that day. (and my kids are 18,16 and 14)

I just keep thinking about the IF's from that day and just get madder and madder. I shouldn't have to "see into the future" to feel safe in my home.

I do hope that my story helps others. It's sad to know that you can't let your guard done even for a second, but I guess that's the world we live in now. Sad that things have come to this.

[sassykd]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.

[_Chrissy_]

I am so very sorry

[BellaBlue82]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I am very glad to hear that you are going to file suit.