Call for compassion against one of the most maligned groups possible - The Pit Bull

Ladies and gentleman. I would like to take an opportunity to ask our members and their families to try and look beyond the much maligned pit bull breeds reputation. This breed is loyal and loving if raised with love and kindness. Just like humans, if treated with neglect and hatred, they will become vicious and angry.

I have adopted two "bait" dogs. For those that do not know what bait dogs are, they are dogs that are used to ready fighting dogs for death matches. They usually have extensive scarring throughout their bodies, and often their fangs are filed down. I currently have an Olde English bulldog (looks like a giant pit on steriods) who was such a dog (Lulu). Aside from being a bait dog, she was kept in starvation like conditions (enough to keep her alive for breeding as well). When I picked her up she was a sack of bones (25 pounds) who licked my face. She is now a healthy 70 pounds and nice as can be.

I like to advocate that people rescue/adopt before buying pups or dogs from the pet store. All I am asking is to maybe give that pit in the kennel a second of your consideration. I think this quote says it all:

"You are responsible forever for what you have tamed." (From
*The Little Prince*)

"Forcing it out of your mind won't make it go away. This breed
suffers daily."

Abuse

Merry Christmas!

Abner

 

It's a sweet thought Abner. We all deserve a chance.

 

I love dogs, but absolutely, positively hate Pit Bulls. I've seen the resulting carnage from this "loyal and loving" breed WAY too often.....at some point, "anecdotal evidence" becomes simply "evidence", and we passed that point a LONG time ago with Pit Bulls.

There is absolutely nothing that a Pit Bull brings to the table that can't be found in a more stable, more predictable breed. I've lost count of how many times I've either heard, seen, or read a Pit Bull owner whose Hell Hound has mauled someone say "But he was so gentle and loving!!!"

Yes, and a hand grenade is positively harmless until someone pulls the pin and lets the spoon fly. The problem is, Pit Bulls pull their own pins, with absolutely no way to predict when or where it will happen.

I carry a gun pretty much every time I leave the house, and if a Pit Bull acts the least bit aggressively towards me or my family, it's going to die a quick death from lead poisoning. My children are NOT going to be traumatized or disfigured because some selfish a-hole wants to look like a tough guy by owning a time bomb.

 

I expect most people will respond like you. I understand I guess. There are exceptions though Bruce. Any breed of dog is assessed for temperment and adoptiblity before they are sent home to live with someone. The pits that have been ruined by being only used to fight and made to become aggresive must be destroyed. Only those deemed social will find homes. But I get it, you hate pits. You have that right.

Me personally? I think the human primate is the most dangerous of animals.

I hope you had a good Christmas with your family. I wish you and yours good fortune in the coming New Year.

Abner

 

If I had to get a dog right now I'd probably get a German Shepherd. Otherwise I tend to be drawn to odd-looking dogs like Basset Hounds and French Bulldogs. In the end I'll probably wind up at the pound.

 

I've had more than 1 run in with a pit bull, the most lasting memory was where my neighbor let her pit bull out of the house while my wife and I were walking our dog (on a leash). I saw her do it and I fully believe she did it on purpose to watch what would happen. I was working as a LEO at the time and had just come off a plain clothes assignment so I still had my Surefire flashlight 120 lumen (bright as heck) and my handgun. The dog came charging from between the cars snarling but not barking and made a bee line for my animal. It was dark outside but since I saw the owner let this female out I saw what was coming and drew my weapon and flashlight, when I hit the light on that dog stopped dead in its tracks like it had hit a wall, totally blinded. The owner stood there for a second until I finally yelled "do you want to come get your dog or do you want me to shoot it and send you to jail?" or something like that. My language was probably more colorful. I went home, called the local cops, nothing was done about it as you can imagine. It wasn't the dog it was the owner.

Another scenario, my dad working as a cop had a partner get mauled by a pit bull. It latched on and they couldn't shoot it without shooting him so they pried a S&W .357 revolver into its mouth shoving it back until the jaws came to rest on the barrel of the gun and the officer could pull free. They then shot the dog in the mouth which was pretty traumatic to my dad because he loves dogs and I think he was the one who pulled the trigger. The owner got an attempted murder charge and aggravated assault charge added to the list of other charges he was facing. Again it was the owner, not the dog.

My brother as a deputy serves warrants all day, every day. He deals with pit bulls daily and has just gotten into the habit of pepper spraying them on site...as inevitably the owner has either positioned the dog in such a way as to guard the door to the house or apartment or has turned the dog loose on the cops or anyone else who enters the house. So far he has not had to shoot one...even though he had his uniform torn by one once. Again it's the owners not the dogs.

As a breed I admire pit bulls but anytime I see one I am on high alert and I ALWAYS question the motives of anyone who owns or otherwise publicly displays one...not because I do not trust the breed but because I do not trust people.

 

Yes. I have had poodles, german shepards, terriers,German boxer, Dobermans, Akitas, and now A huge ass Olde English/Johnson Bulldog which scares the shit out of people because they think she is a pit on steriods. *Kizmet - I have a black and white French Bulldog/bat. Anyways, My dogs never go out unless it's with a leash, my backyard is fully fenced in 8 foot block wall, and each fortified gate has locks. I also have signs that say "Dogs on Duty". All of my dogs have been socialized, and have never bit anyone. If we recall, years ago the Doberman was the pit bull, then the Akita was the pit bull, and now the pit bull is the pit bull. We forget that the pit has been a part of Americana in the American household, as well as loyal military, police and firefighter dogs.

So, I am a responsible dog owner. I realize people get worked up, so when the media focused on Akitas, the moms and dads in the neighborhood got might nervous. Here is the thing, dog attacks occur everday from little dog to big dogs. Now, it doesn't take an idiot to figure out that a big dog can do more damage. However, I would venture to say bites/attacks from various breeds occur daily, but they don't get the media hype. Of course, human animals kill daily as well.

A Presa Canario killed a lady or ladies a while back. Why? Owner negligence. When I let my dogs loose in the dog park, the other owners now my dogs are well trained, loved and socialized.

Here is what my dog Lulu looks like:
Can pull up to 3,000 + pounds

http://www.pulldoggies.com/AB%20images/American%20Bulldog%20Chester%20Melinda%20Hosfelt.JPG

Image Detail for - http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=johnson+bulldogs&id=43B485526A0C2A2A3ED972FB8FCE734557109A83

Have a great upcoming New Year man!!!!!!!!!

Abner :smile:

P.S. Kizmet, check to see if you have a local bulldog rescue in your area. Some time you can get small or medium English bulldogs, and once in while there are French Bulldogs in there. We adopted a put French Bulldog, but we had to compete with a list of 200 hundred applicants. The rescue lady came to our house and we got rare French Bulldog, he is hilarious!

 

In my experience, a little, 8 pound, foo foo dog has just as much evil intent as a pit bull. They just don't have the ability to carry out their murderous intentions. I'm not in favor of keeping a pit bull in a residential area because they have the ability to hurt or kill people, but I don't think they are any more evil natured than any other dog. I agree with friendorfoe, it's the owner, not the dog.

 

Unfortunately the breed has been hijacked by thugs, wannabe's, and white trash. When I think of Pit Bull's I do not think majestic dog with a responsible owner. I think of mean dogs with thick metal chain leashes being posed by low IQ d'bags with the requisite baggie pants and wearing a wife beater t-shirt who believe aks and nowhatimsayin are perfect examples of language.

It's a breed of trash and losers.

Too bad really, but it is what it is.

Glad there are outliers though.

 

A swift kick will take care of a foo-foo dog.

That's the most lame excuse in the book......YES, IT IS THE DOG!!!!

Pit Bulls are bred to be aggressive and to kill other dogs. It's not a leap at all to imagine they would want to kill other living things such as humans and domestic animals.

Much like John Bear warns about putting a time bomb in your resume via a fake or fraudulent degree, bringing a Pit Bull into your home is placing a time bomb among your family. It can go off at any time, with very dire consequences.

If Pit Bull owners were the only ones mauled my their Hell Hounds (and I chuckle a bit whenever that happens), I couldn't possibly care less. The problem is that those owners are foisting their poor decision on everyone who lives in their neighborhood, and it seems like whenever a Pit Bull time bomb explodes, it's an innocent person who has to suffer because of someone else's selfishness.

 

Yes, it is.

About 15 years ago, I went to a call where a "loving and loyal" Pit Bull, who had been raised since 8 weeks old in a totally normal home (NOT raised to be aggressive) suddenly turned on one of the children, totally unprovoked, and the child suffered disfiguring injuries before the father could pull the dog away.

What did the owners have to say?

Let's all say it together...."But he was so gentle and loving".

By nature I'm not a violent person, but whenever I hear a Pit Bull owner say that after their Hell Hound mauls/kills someone, I want to ram my fist through their face.

YES, IT IS THE DOG!!!!!

 

Sorry Bruce, it's not lame. Pit bulls are "time bombs" and should not be kept as pets, but it's because of their ability to seriously hurt or kill, not because they are inherently evil. Any kind of dog is likely to attack if he perceives a threat to his territory or his family (pack). My harmless little dogs become vicious when certain people pass by the front gate, but visitors find it more comical than threatening. The problem is that what could be solved with a swift kick, as you suggest, on a foo foo dog might result in the death or serious injury if the same attack came from a pit bull. Pit bulls should not be kept as pets, but not because they are evil.

I have never been involved in law enforcement and I can understand how officers might have a different view of pit bulls. However, if an officer were approaching a crack house, or whatever, and the suspect told his conditioned, attack cockapoo (LOL!) to attack you, the dog would likely come after you with the same evil intent, but you would probably have a good laugh about it rather than find yourself defending your life.

 

SD. You make a good point. Human's poor judgement usually results in disaster. Certain breeds belong in certain situations, plain and simple. Some dogs have a screw loose, like some humans have a screw loose. Also, people fail to research a dog's temperment, history and traits and use that knowledge to determine if a certain breed belongs in a certain household.

About ten years ago, some people asked me about Akita's. I loaned them some of my books, and told them the AKITA is loyal to the end. He will protect his family and will do ANYTHING to defend them, whether it be the adults or the children. The people that asked me about Akita's had two children. I said that was fine. I did warn them to be VERY careful of the children's friends or a stranger that may come into their property unannounced. I also told them if they were unable to watch their kids while playing with their little friends, they should create a lockable kennel on the side of the house just in case. Well, what happened? All the little kids were playing around in the backyard, when one day a little girls teenage brother scales up a chain link fence, jumps the fence into the yard where the Akita and kids were. What is the dogs instinct? Protection. The Akita jumped up and bit the kid on the side of the face before the dog's owner swiftly called him off. The large teenage (adult size boy, got stitched up, and the Akita got a put down. The boy knew he was not supposed to jump that fence because he was told not to previously, and the Akita did not know him.

Certain breeds should not be in certain situations, regardless of the breed. Look folks, I am not asking you to suddently start adopting pits above other dogs. I am only saying to maybe looks at things on a case by case basis.

Abner

 

Does this apply to people who spend too much time on Degree Info?

Yes, people who are ignorant of a particular dog's potential are the ones to blame. However, I agree with Bruce too in the fact that many idiots train the dogs to attack, I'm just saying that it's not the dog's fault. I still don't support pit bulls as pets but I also don't hate them. I really don't like people having them in my neighborhood though.

 

I never said they were evil, and I don't even blame the dogs, as they're just doing what they were bred (NOT trained) to do. I blame the selfish a-holes who endanger everyone in their home and neighborhood by bringing a time bomb to live with them. It is most definitely the dog, but as I said, they're just following what they were bred to do.

Next year I'm buying a puppy for my kids, and I want something that's very protective, but doesn't have a nasty streak like some other protection breeds (Shepherds, Rottweilers) sometimes have. After much research and talking to owners/breeders, I'm getting a Bullmastiff. They're rated one of the best protection dogs, but they protect by blocking an aggressor from getting to their family, by knocking them down if necessary, and will only bite as a last resort. Bullmastiffs have been bred to NOT bite, and that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Besides that, ranging upwards to 180lbs, who is going to challenge this?

 

I believe that some breeds have certain, relatively well known dispositions.

A Shelty will herd. You don't need to teach it, it's instinctive.
A Retriever will retrieve. I once had a Lab that would chase that tennis ball all day. I never had to teach it, it would lay that ball at my feet every time.

Different dog breeds have different dispositions. This is undeniable. Grey Hounds are skittish by nature. Pit Bulls are aggressive by nature. This is undeniable. They need to be trained specifically to be gentle. Most Pit Bull owners do not do this. Can a Pit Bull be a safe family pet? Of Course. But it needs to be trained in that direction. If you do not train a dog, any dog, it will revert to it's nature. So this is why there are so many incidents with Pit Bulls. IT IS THE DOG AND AND AND IT IS THE OWNER.

 

From Abner's keyboard to the White House's:

Obama opposes breed-specific laws (ohmidog!, August 26, 2013)

 

I don't care what people keep as pets, as long as they don't endanger (a) children living in the household and (b) everyone outside of it.

That said, what's the difference between keeping a pit bull and a wolf?

Dogs are descended from wolves. It seems to me the pit bull didn't quite make the trip.

 

While these groups are trying to ban specific breeds, let's toss in poodles. Man, this thing is scary. Looks like it's packing.

 

Not as bad as these guys...