My nightmare the past week or so...

[gracielove]

How awful. Everyone's worst nightmare! Someone else stated that dog bites are not supposed to be closed up and that is true. They always get some what infected and need to be able to drain. I hope Gizmo is on the right antibiotics. What an awful thing to go through!

Your daughter must feel terrible. I'm sure she is no match for a charging Pit Bull. So many towns have outlawed Pit Bulls I am amazed that they are being so lax about this attack. Many land lords will not rent to people with Pit Bulls and many home owners can't get home owners insurance if they own a Pit. It's always the irresponsible that make it difficult for everyone else.

In the town nearest where I live the least the dog owner would have gotten would be a ticket for not having the dog under control and if it did not have a license and proper shots they would get them for that, too. When things like this are treated so lightly by authorities the owner is less likely to make sure it never happens again.

[Verbena]

It is very sad what is going on with pit bulls. If everyone remembers ....it was German Shepards then Doberman Pinschers then Rotwillers and now Pit Bulls. It is the owners not the dogs that are causing this problem. And the owners need to take responsibility for their pets. Banning a dog is not the problem. Holding people responsible for the actions of their dogs. This is an example. If the dog attacks another dog sooner or later the dog is going to attack a human. And who are they to say that the life of a dog....our family member....is not as important. .....uck !.......sorry I am ranting. Don't sleep very well. But I just had to say it.

Oh just FYI . . . Pepper spray works on some but not all.

[Nanee5]

Well, if not pepper spray, maybe a personal tazer..

[Doodlebug]

I am so sorry about your little Gizmo being attacked. Im glad he wasnt killed and I hope he has a speedy recovery.

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by Nanee5

Yes, I called the cops, obviously. According to animal control here, unless a dog bites a person, it is not an offense. Anyway, the pit owner was not home, and she was on a chain, but had gotten off while he was gone. I know she was just being territorial, but still. He is very apologetic about the incident and IS taking care of the vet bill, even though it is a little at a time. I know times are hard for everyone, and at least I didn't have to take him to court and he was more than willing to do the right thing.

My daughter is almost 21 (oldest of 5 kids, others are almost 19, 15, 11 and 6) and she did have a very hard time for the first week. She felt like it was her fault, and thought she could have done something different. I think I am gonna get her a pepper spray soon...

And, Gizzy is on very strong antibiotics for sure. The first ones weren't strong enough, so the vet changed him over to 2 different liquid ones. He was very good with him, and from what I read online, almost every dog bite to another dog ends up with an abscess. :-/

Thanks to you all for the support, kind words, and prayers!

It all depends on the actual bite & treatment time. If it's a puncture it will most likely abscess without treatment and if treatment does not include a drain it will most likely still abscess & is why a drain should always be put in. If it's a rip & tear bite there is much less of a chance of developing an abscess & can usually be treated by cleaning the wound & giving antibiotics, so IF your vet did not put in a drain then his bad as he should have known that it was highly likely the wound would abscess. Also, wasp spray is better to deter dog attacks IMO as the spray goes much further so you can spray & deter the attacking dog BEFORE it even gets close enough to attack, with pepper spray & taser's the animal has to be already nearly on you before they can be used.

[teeneythebetta]

WOW I am SO sorry. This is awful

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

So sorry for your terrible ordeal. Assure your daughter it was not her fault at all.

What's with all the pit bull attacks lately - seems they are more frequent!
Also seems none of these dogs are accompanied and on leash!

Fortunately Gizmo is a tough little cookie! I know mommy will take care of him

Irresponsible owners that
a) didnt properly socialize the dog and
b) are leaving their family member tied up outside.

Some people dont deserve dogs. Personally I have a pit bull (we had one who undortunately was put down a few weeks ago at the age of 14 R.I.P) and he is a total love muffin.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Verbena

It is very sad what is going on with pit bulls. If everyone remembers ....it was German Shepards then Doberman Pinschers then Rotwillers and now Pit Bulls. It is the owners not the dogs that are causing this problem. And the owners need to take responsibility for their pets. Banning a dog is not the problem. Holding people responsible for the actions of their dogs. This is an example. If the dog attacks another dog sooner or later the dog is going to attack a human. And who are they to say that the life of a dog....our family member....is not as important. .....uck !.......sorry I am ranting. Don't sleep very well. But I just had to say it.

Oh just FYI . . . Pepper spray works on some but not all.

I agree. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a wonderful loving and loyal breed. Criminals and others of unsound mind have hijacked the breed. I have family members that have two and they have been raised with young children. They are such sweet dogs. But never buy one from a non professional breeder. In England the dog was referred to as "the nanny dog" at one time because they were so good with children. It is criminal what human beings do to dogs. I do remember when the German Shepherd was a dog they wanted to outlaw and then the Doberman.

[Joyce Adams]

Originally Posted by kjc

Wow! Sorry this happened... is this your regular vet? I'd be switching vets... bite wounds shoud never be completely closed... normally a drain is sewn in to flush the wound on a daily basis for 4-7 days... I hope he was put on antibiotics. What a shame! Keeping your little one in my prayers....

So true and sorry about your little one..

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by gracielove

I agree. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a wonderful loving and loyal breed. Criminals and others of unsound mind have hijacked the breed. I have family members that have two and they have been raised with young children. They are such sweet dogs. But never buy one from a non professional breeder. In England the dog was referred to as "the nanny dog" at one time because they were so good with children. It is criminal what human beings do to dogs. I do remember when the German Shepherd was a dog they wanted to outlaw and then the Doberman.

Well said. Just too many fighting, super-aggressive genes in the gene pool at-large pool now, apparently. A reputable, quality breeder who has carefully bred for temperament, health and conformation for years probably still has the dogs of old - sweet nanny type dogs. They are sweet & loving creatures by nature, without the desire to aggress.

[maggiefromnj]

About the wasp spray...how hazardous is it to the dog you spray? If you spray a dog, say 5-10 feet away from you and he is injured by the spray, what happens then? That dog owner will claim that you were never in danger because Fido was just barking and wasn't going to hurt you....I would also hate to hurt another animal unless it was truly an attack situation, in which case pepper spray should work.

I was just wondering. I don't actually carry anything but I do keep an eye out. We don't have a problem around here with loose dogs, though I know one can get out by accident. Maggie is 10 pounds and I just reel her in quick if I sense a problem.

The one dog I do know of who was injured by another dog was in her own yard and it was a leashed dog that went up her driveway and tore her chest open. She is a shnauzer mix and the other dog was a yellow lab. That dog has a muzzle or some kind of head leash but we think she got Bella with a swipe of the paw. It might not have been intentional to harm but how do you know?

[apple718]

Nevermind, I was going to ask how did she get the wounds when you sd the pitbull didn't attack her but realized you were referring to the daughter.

[rubymoon2072]

omg so sorry this happened but very thankful gizmo is alive. and people wonder why i act like a freak when a big dog is in the vacinity of my furr kids. i hope gizmo gets well real soon. your poor daughter. i cant imagine how horrified she must have been. hoping shes ok too.

[wisteria]

Hugs to all of you......... I can't imagine.

[yorkiemini]

Originally Posted by maggiefromnj

About the wasp spray...how hazardous is it to the dog you spray? If you spray a dog, say 5-10 feet away from you and he is injured by the spray, what happens then? That dog owner will claim that you were never in danger because Fido was just barking and wasn't going to hurt you....I would also hate to hurt another animal unless it was truly an attack situation, in which case pepper spray should work.

I was just wondering. I don't actually carry anything but I do keep an eye out. We don't have a problem around here with loose dogs, though I know one can get out by accident. Maggie is 10 pounds and I just reel her in quick if I sense a problem.

The one dog I do know of who was injured by another dog was in her own yard and it was a leashed dog that went up her driveway and tore her chest open. She is a shnauzer mix and the other dog was a yellow lab. That dog has a muzzle or some kind of head leash but we think she got Bella with a swipe of the paw. It might not have been intentional to harm but how do you know?

My personal take on this (I'm not a lawyer or a police officer) is if the dog is in my yard or on my property and I did not invite it, it is trespassing, so it is either a stray or its owner is negligent.

[yorkiemini]

Now on the street it is probably a different matter. If the dog is charging then I would certainly do whatever to defend myself and my baby.