will send prayers for the woman to have a speedy recovery and for the dog. as you said, dogs do as they are trained and the problem lies imo with the owners! hoping for the best outcome for everyone invovled!

If you get a chance to speak, try to bring up whatever exisiting laws are already on the books. There are usually state and county laws that cover owners not controling dogs, not keeping them leashed, restrained, fenced, etc.... There usually is NO REASON to make a new law, merely stronger enforcement of the ones already on the books.

You are so right that it is the owners and not the dogs to be blamed. In the case of some breeds, I feel man has done wrong in creating the potential for so much destruction. Still, no reason to punish the dog itself. I do believe in spay and neutering dangerous dogs though. I wish pit bulls had never been created. They were made for death and they cannot be blamed when that happens. I know if I had a family member killed by a dog, I would probably feel like the dog should be put down. Strangely though, I don't think I would feel the same for myself. If a dog attacks me, I don't necessarily want it put down. If it was a continuing behavior, then maybe so. But only if serious attempts to train the dog had failed. We created them, we owe them the training needed to coexist safely.

But no matter how much training they have, no matter how sweetly they have behaved, I still believe in constant vigilance and serious alert when a child or other pet is involved. There is just too much chance of them reverting to nature and reacting when a child moves too quickly at them or a small dog like our yorkies goes into attack mode. Suddenly the dog that "was always such a sweetheart, never heart a soul, wouldn't hurt anyone" DOES!

Bottom line is that all dogs should be leashed, no matter the size. It does not matter what the size of the dog, no owner can be sure that there dog will not be aggressive at any given time. It happens every day.

Wow! Now that's an eye opener! My father in law has a pit. Named Jake. He is 12 yrs old and would not harm a fly! My kids sit on him, play all over him and not once has he ever even appeared unhappy about it. My dh was raised with pits and that would be his dog of choice. However, I wanted a Yorkie (for my lap :p). I will say being an owner of a Pit is a very different level of responsibility than owning a smaller dog. They are extremely strong and determined! Trust me, I've walked Jake before. Well, he walked me. :cool:
My FIL has made Jake VERY obedient from the time he was a puppy. He gives him simple one word commands and the dog does EXACTLY what he says! It's quite fascinating to watch! Listens better than my kids! :rolleyes: I hate what people have done to this breed. It is a sad shame what people do to animals for self gratification! :mad:

On a different note, several weeks ago when my FIL came over and visited, he brought Jake. I will admit I was a little nervous for Bella at first. After a brief introduction he was fine and they were running buddies all day! She actually was barking at him a few times though. :p

Now I used to think the pit bull was just an agressive breed based on media hype but now after being around a few and watching pitboss and pitt bulls and perroles on animal planet I realize the aggressive pit bulls are that way because of bad breeding and owners that dont train them properly. I think they are a beautiful misunderstood breed

They are a very misunderstood breed. My Father in Law has two (Jade and Boone) both are the sweetest dogs you will ever come across. My Husband's all time favorite pet was a pit named Sable. In fact if it wasn't for our towns ban we would own one now.

The funny thing about the ban is that the two attacks that we have had recently were by a Lab mix and a Mastiff mix...not a pit!! But yet Labs and Mastiffs are not banned.

I feel that pits have a right to exists just like every other dog out there. It's not the dogs fault he was not properly socialized or trained (or trained to be aggressive). It is always the owners fault. :mad:

It's not just big dogs that can cause death and injury
Pomeranian Kills 6-Week-Old Girl

I think so many people afraid of pits since their attacks result in more deaths once they attack. Knowing they are currently being bred for their fighting/biting aggression and ability to kill their prey, with those same genes coursing through pits that aren't even used for fighting but sold/bartered if they are not the most viscious in the litter, makes many public officials elected to protect the public very nervous. The only pitbull I have ever known personally was a neighbor's and it was very sweet and loving to me but extremely aggressive toward neighborhood children.

I can remember when this same stigma was placed on Doberman's years ago but good breeding practices brought that breed back from the brink. I only wish that we could expect the same from breeders of the pitbull but do not think those that breed them for blood fighting will ever change the kind of dog they prefer. Dogfighting breeders will always breed for the most vile of canine traits, keep only pups with the most deadly abilities and turn the rest of their litters loose on associates and the public, many of whom are ill-prepared to deal with a dog bred for its dangerous skills.

In my city, Animal Control has more bully dogs turned in or found running loose than any other breed.

It's not just big dogs that can cause death and injury
Pomeranian Kills 6-Week-Old Girl[/QUOTE]


:eek::eek::eek: I would have never thought!....Poor baby :(

:eek::eek::eek: I would have never thought!....Poor baby :([/QUOTE]
I know but since pits kill the most people, they will always be on the hit list until things change.

I know but since pits kill the most people, they will always be on the hit list until things change.[/QUOTE]

BUT, how do we REALLY know it's Pit's killing the most?! As Britster posted that test earlier. How many people falsely claim it was a Pit, or Pit mix not knowing any better? I think that's the Real question at hand.

Hmmm. Now how did my quote end up being your quote? Then the quote I was trying to quote not the quote that appeared? :confused: Now this has become the question at hand! lol

This is my belief also, if you want to be a responsible pet owner to your own dog as well as other dogs in your community, use a leash!

However, I believe this subject goes beyond the leash. It all boils down to people who buy dogs without a true love for the breed but, only for the status symbol.

If you own a dog but, especially those which are known for having the capability of causing bodily harm to it's victim (human or animal), then it's your moral obligation to be proficient in educating yourself in handling your dog...especially while on a leash!

I have witnessed countless times owners walking their dogs and can't even control their dogs even while leashed. Their dogs pull, bark and even drag their owners or worse...manage to slip out of their collars/harnesses.

What breed am I referring to...ALL breeds. Who's fault is this...HUMANS.

Yes I 100% agree. I watch both of these shows and I'm so glad that animal planet is airing shows like these so people will understand the breed more. We don't have a pit bull but my dh wants one and after seeing these shows and dog whisperer I really want one too, they seem like a wonderfull breed. We have an Akita now and they are a breed that is commonly refered to as agressive (they do need a very confident and dog experienced owner because they will definatly take charge if you don't) but we socialized and trained her well and she is sweeter and more friendly than our beagle! She's also better "friends" with my Yorkie than our beagle is. Will I ever put her in a situation where there is a posiblity of her just running up to a stranger or strange dog on her own, no. But I won't with my beagle either, I actually think the beagle would be more likely do cause a problem than the akita. So, even though she's a very sweet, friendly dog I guess you could probably say my beagle is generaly less trustworthy around strangers than my large, supossably "agressive breed" dog. (not saying my beagle is mean or has ever bitten anyone, just making a point) When I worked as a vet tech I was always more leary of the fiestly little Chihuahuas than I was of the pits or rottis or dobis lol.

I think the main reason pits have a bad rap is because they have been the breed of choice for dog fighting and drug involvement which has made them be associated with those negative things and that's why when one of them bites someone, as opposed to a beagle or golden or any other breed, it makes headlines. As someone else pointed out, they are not responsible for more bite incidents than other breeds, it's just that it is pointed out when one ,raised by an irresponsible owner ,does.

Took me 5 tries and I've worked in vets offices and an SPCA!...VERY good point