Pitbull-type rips out stomach of little dog

[JCarlson2004]

I know! Ever see one wet? They look so cute! They are really itty bitty things but it's hard to tell w/ all that FLUFF!

[Latuya]

I just don't trust any big dogs. My brother was attacted by a golden retriever when he was 7. It didn't have any lasting fear of dog when he grew up, which is very good. He loved dogs. He found a beautiful pit mix in a field on the way home from work one day. He brought it home and made her his pet and called her Goldie. She was a very sweet dog and got along with thier little Emmit, I don't know what he was,,, but he was a little guy. Goldie and Emmit did every thing together and my brother had no worries about the size difference. One night he heard the 2 barking at each other, which was normal,,,,, till Goldies bark was a bit different this time. My brother ran to see what was going on. He saw Goldie but not Emmit. My brother called out to him but he didn't come. He looked in the dog house where they both snuggled up together in all the time. There was Emmit, And he was not coming out, so my brother tilted the house and blood pourd out of the house. Emmit was still alive but barely. He rushed him to the vet but Emmit was not able to be saved.

This breed of dog can not be trusted in my book. They apear sweet and loving but they can turn at the drop of a hat.

[PinkMartini]

Originally Posted by Latuya

This breed of dog can not be trusted in my book. They apear sweet and loving but they can turn at the drop of a hat.

As horrible of a story as that was, you are incorrect. Pit bulls do not 'turn at the drop of a hat.' In the 6 years that Jake was alive he was not mean towards anyone or any thing. And if people actually did research and not just were 'spoon fed' what the media says about this breed, people would understand that. Ignorance is no excuse

[vainchick5]

I don't think that not liking pit bulls or disagreeing makes anyone ignorant. We don't all always have to agree, but I will have to folks that don't like or trust this breed. I think every dog is cute and CAN be loving, but doesn't mean it will be. I don't think that news stories are ONLY focused on pit bulls but those are the dogs that are doing the most and worse harm. You don't hear of a lab or golden retriever on the news, probably because if they did anything, it was probably a bite, not a killing. Any dog can turn and bite, but so far its the pit bulls doing the killing. I understand the need to defend your pet, if you have a pit bull that's a nice dog. I would just be careful with them around your other pets and kids. You just never know with those dogs. The lock jaw is NOT misrepresented. It is exactly what is sounds like. They bite and keep their jaws locked on their prey, whether it's a kid, another dog, or an adult. I'm sure in the fit of a rage you can politely say, "Drop it Kujo" and the pit will release it's prey...I don't think so. Please just be careful. We all have different likes and dislikes towards certain breeds and different opinions, so lets respect that.

[Babbie]

That is just too sad for both dogs!! Pits are great companion dogs, and one of my favorite breed, but unfortunately a lot of people who own one do not understand the breed and accidents like this happen! I hope they find the dog owners and they pay for it...as per the dog atacking the yorkie, let's not forget that he is a animal, doesn't know right from wrong, pits were developed to be combat dogs, to kill other animals, so it is only in his instinct, that is why not everybody should have one!

I hope the little yorkie survives..

[PinkMartini]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

I don't think that not liking pit bulls or disagreeing makes anyone ignorant. The lock jaw is NOT misrepresented. It is exactly what is sounds like. They bite and keep their jaws locked on their prey, whether it's a kid, another dog, or an adult.

I didn't say you are ignorant because you don't like pit bulls. I said you're (not YOU personally, people generally) ignorant if you believe pit bulls 'lock' their jaws. They do not 'lock their jaws' and any amount of research would show you that. Just another mis-representation of the breed that the media likes to 'hype' up. Like I said, people that are spoon fed crap from the media without questioning what they are hearing are ignorant. And it's most of the time the people who have little to no contact with the breed that say they are vicious - the people who have no clue.

Here's just ONE of many sources that explains this myth:

http://www.dogwatch.net/myths/lock_jaw.html

[Babbie]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

I don't think that news stories are ONLY focused on pit bulls but those are the dogs that are doing the most and worse harm. You don't hear of a lab or golden retriever on the news, probably because if they did anything, it was probably a bite, not a killing. Any dog can turn and bite, but so far its the pit bulls doing the killing. I understand the need to defend your pet, if you have a pit bull that's a nice dog. I would just be careful with them around your other pets and kids. You just never know with those dogs. The lock jaw is NOT misrepresented. It is exactly what is sounds like. They bite and keep their jaws locked on their prey, whether it's a kid, another dog, or an adult. I'm sure in the fit of a rage you can politely say, "Drop it Kujo" and the pit will release it's prey...I don't think so. Please just be careful. We all have different likes and dislikes towards certain breeds and different opinions, so lets respect that.

Media likes whatever will make people talk! For example, a few weeks ago a boy in my neighbohood got bit by an american bulldog mix, everybody thought it was a pit (of course, ANY dog the looks the part is a PIT in the eyes of a person that obviously knows nothing about dogs) It came out on the news in every channel, the dog was taken in custody to determine the breed (pits are iligal in Miami) and they found it was NOT a pit...did the news correct or do a follow up, heck no...pit attack sound better and scarier!!

You are totaly right when you say that if you have other pets and kids, you have to keep an eye on them. Dogs that are not used to seeing infants do not know what specie they are, pits that are bred properly should never attack people, they were bred to fight other animals and protect people...

As per the jaw locking, it is totaly true, but pit is not the only breed that this will happen to.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

I don't think that not liking pit bulls or disagreeing makes anyone ignorant. We don't all always have to agree, but I will have to folks that don't like or trust this breed. I think every dog is cute and CAN be loving, but doesn't mean it will be. I don't think that news stories are ONLY focused on pit bulls but those are the dogs that are doing the most and worse harm. You don't hear of a lab or golden retriever on the news, probably because if they did anything, it was probably a bite, not a killing. Any dog can turn and bite, but so far its the pit bulls doing the killing. I understand the need to defend your pet, if you have a pit bull that's a nice dog. I would just be careful with them around your other pets and kids. You just never know with those dogs. The lock jaw is NOT misrepresented. It is exactly what is sounds like. They bite and keep their jaws locked on their prey, whether it's a kid, another dog, or an adult. I'm sure in the fit of a rage you can politely say, "Drop it Kujo" and the pit will release it's prey...I don't think so. Please just be careful. We all have different likes and dislikes towards certain breeds and different opinions, so lets respect that.

I think Nobella and Miss Coco made a good point - we should respect all animals, whatever the breed. I would never approach a strange poodle OR a strange pit bull. Our of respect for every animals different personality, I would be cautious until the owner tells me their pet is friendly and safe.

You know, I ALWAYS believed that pit bulls had a lock jaw. But with all this back and forth disccssion about it, I tried to find out for myself. I called my vet just now and he said that they do NOT have a lock jaw. He said it's a common misconception. Then I checked on google and a whole bunch of websites popped up saying that it's a myth and not true. However, whether or not they have a lock jaw, I'm sure (if provoked) they can do damage. So I'd be cautious of any animal (just to be on the safe side).

Better to be safe than sorry ... or god forbid one of our little babies gets hurt like this poor Yorkie did!

[Babbie]

Just so add...and i say lock i dont mean like a keylock...just that is extremelly dificult for us to open. Their mandibles are very strong but you can open their jaw, some people even use and broomstick and is a little sharpened at one end do for them to open their jaw (i dont recomend using your finger...heehehe)

[Breeze]

I also think that you hear about so many pit bull attacks because the media knows that what will cause the most stir...
Another problem is the victims, police, media.... can not properly identify the breed attacking and too many people who see any short haired medium sized dog think it is a pitbull. I own a boxer and many if not most people I see on our walks mistake her for a pit bull almost daily.

Here is a link that talks about the misleading and incorrect information the media has reported on pit bull attacks. Please read as it is informative.

Here is a qoute from the article

Another serious problem with the image of Pit Bulls is the over-reporting of Pit Bull attacks vs. other breed attacks. Unquestionably, a disporportionate amount of media attention is given to Pit Bull attacks. One example of this is a recent fatal attack in Detroit by a Pit Bull. This story ran in over 30 separate national newspapers and was also picked up by FOX news, CNN and two British newspapers. Two weeks earlier a man was killed by his German Shepherd Dog and this story ran only in the local community newspaper.

http://ncrf2004.tripod.com/id9.html

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Babbie

Just so add...and i say lock i dont mean like a keylock...just that is extremelly dificult for us to open. Their mandibles are very strong but you can open their jaw, some people even use and broomstick and is a little sharpened at one end do for them to open their jaw (i dont recomend using your finger...heehehe)

LOL! Not unless you want to LOSE a finger! Ouch!!

[PinkMartini]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I also think that you hear about so many pit bull attacks because the media knows that what will cause the most stir...
Another problem is the victims, police, media.... can not properly identify the breed attacking and too many people who see any short haired medium sized dog think it is a pitbull. I own a boxer and many if not most people I see on our walks mistake her for a pit bull amost daily.

Here is a link that talks about the misleading and incorrect information the media has reported on pit bull attacks. Please read as it is informative.

Here is a qoute from the article



http://ncrf2004.tripod.com/id9.html

Thanks for posting that....

My brother owns a american bulldog and people are always commenting on how 'weird his pitbull looks.' He always has to correct them and tell them his dog is a purebred bull dog. Not a pit bull. I mean, come on people Like Kristy said earlier in the thread, America's ignorance on this breed is totally ridiculous

[chloeandj]

While the media is reporting on what will make a stir, it doesn't change the fact that these things did happen. I don't think we should do away with any dog but if you need to be a certain type of person to handle a certain breed of dog, then license these people.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by chloeandj

While the media is reporting on what will make a stir, it doesn't change the fact that these things did happen. I don't think we should do away with any dog but if you need to be a certain type of person to handle a certain breed of dog, then license these people.

ABSOLUTELY!! Not just any old Joe Shmo off the street should be allowed to own certain breeds - or even pets at all. Some people are SOO irresponsible and it's just awful because the poor animals are the ones who suffer from bad owners.

By the way (totally off subject), I think Tinkerbell looks SO PRETTY in her orange dress.

[Breeze]

While the media is reporting on what will make a stir, it doesn't change the fact that these things did happen.

True but some of these reports are false or not reported correctly as well as there are many attacks by other breeds that go unreported. These attacks do happens as well even if they are not in the news. The media has a big part to play in this.