Ontario Bans PitBulls
 

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I'm not going to say anything beyond the fact that my freinds pom was killed by a pitpull and his wife mauled (bad cuts on hands, trauma) in the same incident. I can see the park where it happened from my balcony and I have a Yorkie that will top out at about 4 pounds. I'm torn on the decision because I really do believe it comes down to the owner, but.... my friends dog was killed by one.

Wow! I have to agree that a lot of pit bulls I've encountered have been very vicious, or look real vicious. I'm not sure if I agree with the bill or not, because it really does depend on the person raising them. I don't know much about the genetics of pit bulls though. :rolleyes:

i have had first hand experience with a pit bull, and she was VERY sweet and not agressive at all............. Until........ one night she was sleeping in bed with my friends son and bit him (he might have made a sudden movement or kicked her :confused: ...... but regardless) The people that say "it all depends on hwo you raise them" are dead wrong! My friend still has the pitbull (they opted to KEEP it!!!!!!! :eek: :thumbdown ) but they are much more careful with her. These people have never laid a hand on this dog, and were a most loving family, this dog WAS raised right and it still acted out. These dogs are instinctually agressive dogs, this is what they were bred for, the most loving family and "raised right" dog can attack,

I am very sorry to hear about your friend and her dog, but you know the saying there is no such a thing as a bad dog, just bad owners? I used to work at a shelter that took in mostly pit bulls, and you wouldnt believe some of the things I have seen, very heartbreaking what people do to these dogs!!! But make no mistake if they come from the right blood line and are raised properly these dogs can make the best pets, just as any other dog would!! I know dogs that arent pit bulls but would still go after a small dog. My aunt owns two pit bulls plus three other different breeds of dogs, and one of the pit bulls she rescued from the shelter i used to work at and the dog was used for fighting before, but she couldnt be a better pet (not all dogs that were fought like that end up being good dogs!) and her dog gets along well with everyone! She couldnt be sweeter. I really dont think it is fair to ban a certain breed of dog. I think it is really quite sad :(

This story breaks my heart. I cannot believe that a city would ban a certain breed of dogs. I am not overly familiar (ie I don't own one) with Pitties, but I think they're great and beautiful. What about Dobermans and Rottweilers? I love both of them as well, but my friend's yorkie was eaten by a Rottweiler and her Maltese was hurt as well in the same incident. To be perfectly blunt -- this PISSES me off royally.

WE get too many pitbull incidents here in Toronto and the Humane Society is packed with them. You go to adopt a dog and 90 % are pitbulls or pibull mixes, no lying. I don't so much think it's the breed (though I do a bit) but the owner. Problem is, the wrong people want them! Let's just say they are a VERY popular breed with drug dealers.

I know a guy who has one and she is the sweetest dog ever! I also agree with you Harbinger the wrong people want them, becuase of there rep.

The city I live in banned pitbulls a few years ago. I have to say I feel safer taking my little yorkie on a walk knowing there are no pitbulls nearby, as pitbulls are aggressive towards dogs and many times humans. I'm sure some pitbulls are not that way, but they are known to be aggressive and that usually doesn't show up in them until they are between 1 and 3. I'd hate to buy a puppy and a few years later have him/her turn on me or someone else...I just wouldn't want to take the chance! I saw a show on Animal Planet a few nights ago where a pitbull attacked another dog and when a man tried to stop the fight, his arm was torn to pieces by the pitbull! I hope not to upset anyone here, but I am glad we have the ban on pitbulls in my city.

Just so you know how big this decision is.... This is how big Ontario is.

The population of Ontario is projected to grow by 33.4 per cent or 3.8 million, from an estimated 11.5 million on July 1, 1999 to almost 15.4 million on July 1, 2028. The population reaches 13.5 million under the low growth scenario and 16.6 million under the high growth scenario by 2028.

Pit Bulls
 

I am sorry but I think that Pit Bulls should be outlawed everywhere. Some univeristy did a study on pit bulls and found out that there is a neurological problem with pits and that they have a "short" in their brains that will turn the most gentle pit vicious. We have had a lot of incidents with young children mauled and killed by pit bulls here. I think that they should be outlawed. I have one idiot neighbor here in the complex that thinks it is funny to threaten other people and their dogs (including me and mine) with their pit bulls, he also thinks it is funny to "sic" his dog on cats and watch the dog kill them. I have tried to get managment to get rid of this man and his dog and am still workign on it.

My cousin in Puerto Rico was killed by a pitbull, and the pitbull was described as the sweetest thing in the world. Pit bulls are bad dogs regardless if you train them good or bad, they attack. I remember hearing in high school that pitbulls are Hitlers dogs, I think he was the one that invented them, but I doubt that is true. I do know that he used them to kill Jewish people. They banned Pitbulls in Miami, where my parents live. Those animals are extremely vicous and very dangerous to be around children. I would never have an animal that vicous around my family, especally what happened to my cousin. The dog wasn't even hers it belonged to the neighbor. :(

I know whenever I take Kota for a walk, if I see one comming a mile away, I pick him up right away. Kota is one of those dogs that has to say hi to every other dog he sees. And I just think dogs like pit bull, dober, rots may not have the patience for Kota. And may just find him irritating. I myself find myself even more cautious when walking by one. I do agree I think they are just that way.

Sonya :aimeeyork

only one person for pitbull rights??? im a little surprised i kinda thought there might be more..... you are entitled to your opinion of course russel, but i have to say........ i know better..... have had lots of experience with pits and they just arent predictable, (and so you dont get teh wrong idea..... it is not just pittys that i am a little turned off by)....... i dont like the unpredictability of larger dobermins and i am 50/50 on rotttweilers, and german shepards i really have to know because those are also a dog that people use as attack dogs and you just never know (the ones ive met are really sweet, but as i said.... you never can tell)...... of course as all small dog owners, most of us are pretty much REALLY carefull with our babies around larger dogs, am i right???? again, this is only my opinion and you are entitled to yours russel, but i would rather be safe than sorry

I really dislike pitbulls myself, but banning them seems extreme to me. Is there any way they can be muzzled in public or something? Are they still dangerous then (by mauling or something)? I'd never let Yoda play with one of course, just not sure what to think of a whole ban on one specific breed, since there are other vicious larger breeds out there as well.

Here i go...i have a very close and personal relationship with pits. I even posted pictures some weeks ago of Mojo and my friends pit (who, i have to say, was found on the street a few months ago and is just the sweetest thing, thinks he is a lap dog and is scared of Mojo..hehehe)

Now, about the breed, we cannot and should not sugar coat it...it is a fighting breed and regardless on how it was raised, fighting will always be in the genes. Now, i have to go back into that, pits are not for everybody and require many many special cares that other dogs don't have. Contrary to popular believe, not all pits will atack, and specially humans it is very rare and i have to say that at least 99% of the times a pit attacks a person there is problems with the way it was raised to begin with. They were bred to fight animals and to PROTECT people...not attack them so it is against their nature to do that.

It is an outrage to me any gov't that bans a specific breed, i agree with making certain rules for certain breeds but not to ban it. If you go by statistics you will see that pits are almost the last breed in occurences of attacks, the problem is, they are very powerful animals and don;t give up, they fight until they die...but did you know that rotts still have a more powerful bite than pits? And that is more likely i lab will bite you than a pit?

I don;t there there has been a breed that has suffered more discrimination that pits...on one side are people that just consider them cold blooded killing machines (and not, it is not an exageration..) and on the other, so called owners who refuse to accept what the breed really is (fighting dogs) and also the people who just exploits that :( (please see this video http://www.deviantart.com/view/11454716/ )

Just as a note, recently in Brazil a HUSKY, that is know as a very friendly laid back breed killed a baby...so accidents can happen with ANY breed, so does it mean we should ban all large breed dogs???

I'm sorry, but I feel I need to post more. Again, I respect everyone's opinions and feelings regarding this issue, but I am hoping to get some information out.

This is the site created by a rescue in my area (Furry Friends Foundation - Chicago)
The truth about Pitt Bulls (I encourage you to read all the way down):
http://www.furryfriendsfoundation.co...03/Truth03.htm

I get nervous whenever Stewie is around any dog that is larger than him. His "cousin" a 12lb Bischon/Maltese despises him and is definitely capable of hurting him. I think that accidents can happen with any breed. So, what is next? Are the Pitt pups in Ontario supposed to move out or be lethally injected?

Pitt Bull saves child from fire:
http://www.furryfriendsfoundation.co...tChildFire.htm

I would LOVE to have the time/resources to rescue a dog who has been used for the wrong purposes. There are bad dogs and of course, bad owners. If one of us mistreated our Yorkie, s/he would very likely "snap" or turn on someone they love. Because a breed is larger by nature, they should be discriminated against?

Hypothetically speaking:
What if, in Ontario, a specific ethnicity of people (let's use Irish as an example. I'm Irish) were thought to be more prone to a neurological disorder than made them be disloyal to friends and family in rare cases? Would they be banned in a North American city? Never. Yes, I realize we are talking people vs. dogs, but I think its a good example.

An analogy used on their page is:

it is estimated that there are 60,000 Pit Bulls in the city of Chicago alone. This number is so high because people are breeding them for the wrong reasons. Most of them are living in hostile surroundings. It is an amazing testimony to teh breed that although 95% of these animals suffer abuse/neglect we rarely hear of any problems.

If there was a sudden increase of people being injured by red cars, would we ban red cars? No! Common sense would dictate that red is a more popular color choice.

Pitt Saving Lives:
http://www.furryfriendsfoundation.com/Truth03/Weela.htm

They are such great family pets, but are terrier and powerful dogs, people tend to forget that. Also they are victims of so many kinds of abuse, most people beat pits to "teach" them...it just breaks my heart:(

I love all dogs, but dogs are animals and they are very unpredictable no matter how they are raised. My best friend had the sweetest pit bill in the world but one night he left her in his car. He forgot his wallet and went to the passenger's side (where his dog was laying) and put his hand and face in the car to get the wallet off the seat. She didn't realize that it was him and bit into his face and wouldn't let go.

My dalmation was raised by me. He slept with my children and didn't have a mean bone in his body, but he bit 2 children in the face when they leaned over him when he was sleeping. I was torn on what to do. I honestly thought I'd have to give him away because there were always kids at my house. I just had to be VERY diligent on keeping him put away when small children were around.

I don't have any opinion really on the ban. It's sad that so much is expected from dogs. They are loyal. They love us and protect us without asking anything in return, but we have to remember they are animals. Heck, people even lose self control at times and do crazy things.

I chose to get a little dog this time. I figure the bite of a Yorkie can't do too much damage. It's frightening when your dog bites a child.

Exaclty...dogs will be dogs. They don;t reason like us, humans do. They react on instinc and not because they are "mean". This is why dogs, specially pits, are not for everybody. Having a dog itself is a big commitment, a large breed is even more because it requires more care with other animals and people...

Any dog can attack, any large breed dog can kill an human...so why this only happens to pits? I find it so revolting what people do (specially the media) with the advertizemnt of "savage" pits....who are we to judge anyways...we kill our own kind because we reason and are just plain mean, but it is the pits that should be banned.....:(

This is all so sad. I feel so bad for the pit bulls that are so mistreated and raised to be fighters. :(

I can't agree with the banning of the entire breed. I think they could have passed severe laws for the owners as far as leash, muzzle, etc.

Dogs are dogs and any dog or breed can be aggressive at times. I agree with Babbie and what she wrote about them. I honestly don't know a whole lot about the breed, so I cannot comment on if they are born aggressive, or raised that way, etc.

I just think it is sad that these animals are treated so poorly by some and hated by so many others. I wish there was a good answer for them. I'm glad there are groups who want to rescue and help them.

Long Post, I Get Worked Up Over This Subject
 

I applaud everyone here who has the itelligence to realize that it is NOT THE BREED!!!!! I go to work EVERY DAY with a pit bull. Gracie LuLu is her name. I'll have you know, That very same PUREBRED PITBULL is Bouncer's (my yorkie) best friend. And I wouldn't change her breed for the world. I have been writing my congressmen over and over again about how these dogs are known purely for their rep that these rediculously BAD OWNERS have given them. Too many times have breeders let these dogs go to the wrong people. Gracie LuLu has run of the store every day. Tons of other dogs come into this very same store every day to buy our home-made treats or a sweater or a new collar, what have you. We have NEVER had an incident with these dogs. My brother's two dogs are pit mixes. They're also two of Bouncer's great friends. He adores playing with them. Gracie LuLu is so funny. She is so gentle with little dogs and just ADORES babies. Every puppy or kitten that comes in, she lays down and wants to cuddle and mother them. She's such a doll! Anyways, my point is, if they are put in the right hands, these dogs can be just as great as all of our yorkies. Same goes for Yorkies though. I've had to turn down Yorkies at my groom shop b/c they were too aggressive. They go to the wrong person, they can be just as deadly and harmful as a Pit could be in the wrong hands. And you can bet your biggest savings account on it that the day Chattanooga or Tennessee attempts to ban any breed of dog, I'll be one of the first to be the most annoying protestor b/c I firmly believe that you put the dog in the right hands and there will be no problem. ANY DOG CAN BITE. ANY DOG CAN ATTACK. Yes, even our beloved Yorkies can be little dirtbags. I love mine with all my heart, but I'm not going to say that his breed is perfect b/c no dog is. Any dog will bite. ANY DOG. OK, I'm done with my rant now. I just get very worked up and emotional on something that is so misunderstood by the public. Pits aren't bad dogs. It's the people that choose to neglect and mistreat them that are bad. It should be common sense with ANY DOG that the minute they are old enough, you put them in training to work towards their CGC. But I guess some people just don't have that common sense. OK, I'm really done now. *fuming* :mad:

Okay, i posted earlier in this post and I just have a few more things to say, first of all, i am truly sorry to those of you that have lost a loved one, knows someone else that has, or that has has a bad experince with a pit bull, i am not posting on here to change any ones mind on these dogs, everyone feels the way they do and i am not here to change that. I have had alot of experince with these dogs, as i posted earlier i worked at a shelter that took in mostly pits, (although most shelters thats all there is anyways) and I have seen first hand what these dogs are like, the good, the bad, and the ugly!! I took home and nursed a pit that was brought in that had been fought and was given almost no chance of survival, but i took this dog to my house and took care of her, the side of her face was ripped open and was totally infected, the gash was so big it went all the way back to her ear, she was covered in bite marks all over her body. It broke my heart to see this dog suffering like she did. People only hear about the bad part of these dogs, you dont hear the stories of people that own these dogs, that have families, that have other dogs, that their pit is the best pet they have ever owned!!!! Yes there are alot of horrible stories out there about these dogs, but what about all the other pits that are great pets?? You never hear stories about those dogs. :(

:aimeeyork I have to say I myself have a german shepherd who was imported from germany. When we decided to get him he was just about a year. The breeder we bought him from trains dogs for therapy,protection, and service dogs. I have small children so we decided that if we were gonna buy a dog of this breed we had to make sure we would be responsible and train him. My shepherd has passed his cgc as well as his temperment test on the first try. He is one of the calmest dogs i have ever seen. and my kids were taught from a very young age to respect any animal/pet. we will be training him for therapy dog this summer. I know this is long but the point I am trying to make is that my family and I made sure to be RESPONSIBLE pet owners. My breeder made sure she sold to a responsible family by making sure we socialized with him for a month before bringing him home (because of his age).
So I do believe some of these breeds are getting a bad rap because of irresponsible owners. I know we have to remember that they are still animals but with the right training and socialization a lot of this could be avoided. I am sorry this so long I just hate to see any animal treated the way the pitts are as any other big breed because of bad ownership.
sue

My Responces To Many
 

I'm glad that at least some of you out there realize it's not just this breed and it's not their fault.

milliecorrales: If Pit Bulls were outlawed everywhere, I would move out fo the country. And no, I'm not kidding or saying that lightly. That's very judgemental of you to say that. You are entitled to your opinion, but why are you so determined to say that they are so bad? If they were outlawed everywhere, Bouncer's best friend would be gone. Yes, his best friend is a purebred pit bull.

Titamatic: If that is true that they are all bad even if trained, then I wonder why my dear Gracie LuLu is a THERAPY DOG and has her CGC and has never touched another dog or human (even her best friend, my yorkie) in all of her 6 years.

orinskye I'm here! :D I have stood up for these mistreated dogs' rights for years. Pits deserve so much better and so much more. It kills me to see people judge them when they know nothing about the breed in the first place besides what they see on the news. How come no one ever shows the many Pit Bull rescue dogs and Pit Bull therapy dogs?

Babbi I have seen that video before. We were all watching it at work actually with Gracie LuLu in our arms and all had to cuddle and love on her after it we were crying so much. It's absolutely HORRIBLE what people do to these dogs. I love pits, and actually am in the process of searching for the perfect one to take my heart away from a rescue organization. They are absolutely wonderful dogs who get put in the wrong hands of people. If you are as outraged as me at these laws on certain breeds, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN! I have been doing so and if we can keep people doing this we can get the RIGHT education out on these breeds. Not just avoid the situation by banning them. Labs are more prone to bite. Every lab I have ever had (3 so far) was sweet, but would bite over the wrong movement. Both of my brother's pits won't even do that. Never have and they are 4 and 6 now.

Stewiesmom I applaud you for wanting to rescue a pit and I highly encourage you to do so. Having the love of a pit is some of the best love a dog owner can find. They are so loyal and loving and all they want is to know you love them back. They are so judged against and it kills me! And actually, they are banned in North American cities which outrages me more. I was going to move to Atlanta for collge last year. Want to know why I didn't? Pit Bulls are banned in majority of the counties in and around Atlanta. I love that city, but not enough to sacrifice a dog for it.

Bitsy: I applaud you for realizing that ANY BREED can be aggressive. Even these cute little Yorkies we all love and adore can be just as aggressive. Anyone doesn't think so? Come work in my groom shop. I see 5 or 6 of them every week that I have to groom. And yes, they are very aggressive. It's not in the breed of any dog. It's in the owners and who's smart enough to rasie their dog right and get it into training immediately.

russell04 : You are exactly right. We NEVER hear about the rescue stories or the therapy dogs or any of the good pits. Why? B/c media wants to do what people want to hear. And our country is sick enough that if one channel was talking about a Pit who saved someones life and another was talking about a Pit who savagely attacked another dog, what do you think this country would turn to watch? I don't even need an answer, b/c I know that you know. It's way too sad.... :(

ssguzzy828 : THANK YOU! It is b/c of responcible owners like you that we can begin to stop this horrible madness from happening! Congratulations on your baby passing him CGC! Congratulations to YOU for being smart and responcible. We need more owners like you. :)

lilbumbleybees- Thank You!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

YOU'RE WELCOME! Thank you for understanding and being one of the few who realizes what's wrong here in this world! :thumbup: :D

awww
 

awwww thanks liz. I just hate to see some of these dogs punished because people use them for fighting. In fact in illinois homeowners insurance will drop you just for owning shepherds,pitts,rotts,chows,dobermans,mastiffs and a few others. I am hoping that our temperment test and cgc are good enough for them. In fact my yorkie (when i finally get her ) will also go for her cgc and temperment test. Thanks again my shepherd xaro worked very hard for it.(so did I lol)
sue ;)

I don't doubt you worked hard for it! It's a tough test to pass even more the most obediant dog, but it's so worth it! And congraulations on wanting to take your yorkie! I'm still working with Bouncer on his obedience. I would love for him to get his CGC. It's amazing they'll drop you just for what type of dog you have. People just don't understand. A child was in our store with her mom one day and the little girl was playing with Gracie LuLu (our resident Pit) and the mom was like, "how sweet. what kind of dog is she?" When Stacy (Gracie's momma) said, "She's a Pit Bull Terrier" I have never seen a child grabbed up so fast. The mom said, "don't touch that dog!" Stacy was like, "excuse me" and the lady told her, "i've heard they are very bad dogs" Stacy just said, "well have you ever actually met one?" When the lady responded no, Stacy had Gracie do her full show of tricks and by the time they left both the mom and child were playing with her. Just goes to show if she hadn't even of asked, she wouldn't have even cared. This lady had never even met a pit before Gracie and just assumed. I'm hoping soon we can change the way people think. :)

Here's my opinion (I know you guys were just dying without it) ;)

When I was in high school I worked for Santa at the mall as one of the "elves" who took pictures. One day these people brought in their boxers to take their picture with Santa. Everything was fine and dandy, but when I brought them their pictures one of the dogs lunged at me and bit my forhead. I had to have stitched and the whole ER thing happened. The owners felt horrible, nothing like that had ever happened before and the best anyone could figure out is that maybe the dogs felt I had threatened their owner because they were sitting down and I BENT to give them their picture. Honestly, the best thing about the situation was it happened to me and not one of the little kids there to see Santa.

So, that's my story - do I now hate all boxers? Nope. I certainly don't think they should be banned. I still think they are pretty dogs, but will never own one myself, but that's just me. I think that any dog can have something like this happen, you really just never know. As domesticated as we think they are, they DID descend from wolves, right? Sometimes you think they have no instincts whatsoever, then they surprise the heck out of you (like when Sandy killed her gopher! My old girl!)

Now, there was NOTHING in the local paper about this, but I can pretty much guarentee that if it would have been a Pit, it would have made the paper. Not every dog bite is reported, but the ones that are given out by dogs that have that bad rap are more likely to be.

I'm not trying to minimize anyone's pain who has had a bad experience with this breed, I'm just throwing out there that it can happen with other breeds as well and maybe the reason it doesn't "happen as often" is because we just don't hear about it?

Anyway, there's my two cents ;)