Hello.
I am writing to you because someone must stop all this bad media about Pit Bulls. The Daily Times is always running articles with titles like "Pit Bull Viciously attacks child" or "Boy in the hospital after ferocious Pit Bull Bite". It is completely unnecessary to state what breed a dog is in this type of article. Why not just say “Dog attacks child”. I find it very offensive and it’s just like being racist in my opinion. This only escalates the Pit Bull hysteria and makes it hard for good pet owners like myself.
I own an American Pit Bull Terrier and she is the sweetest gentlest dog I have ever met. My roommate also has a Pit Bull and our dogs get along great! We’ve even had our friend bring his 10 lb Boston Terrier over to play and had no problems what so ever. These dogs have NEVER bitten anyone or anything aside from squeaky toys! My pup is also currently registered to take a Canine Good Citizen course with the Salisbury kennel club which will allow me to bring her to hospitals, nursing homes and so on to cheer folks up.
Obviously there is nothing wrong with American Pit Bull Terriers. There IS something wrong with people who raise them or any type of dog to be aggressive. A poodle could be a trained killer! I cant even take my girl for a walk without people crossing the street to get away or making rude comments about how she must be dangerous. This is so upsetting because I love my dog like a child and she wouldn’t hurt a fly. I know many other Pit Bulls just like her.
Please, please, please, if there is any way that you could shed some positive light on these great animals or at least bust on the daily times for all their bad articles I would GREATLY appreciate it.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Andrea Martin
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
43 comments:
I completely agree. I hate when people stereotype dogs based on their breed. Temperment has very little to do with a dogs breed. It is how they are raised. If you teach a dog thats its not ok to bite from the start then you will not have any problems. I have a pit bull shepard mix and he is so sweet. He has never bitten anyone because we would not allow it.
Your're right!!! I feel also alot of breeds get a bad rap,its all in how they are trained.
I've never heard of a French poodle sending a kid to the ER.
I know some have had good experiences with this breed, but you can't deny it is more prone than almost any other to attck.
I couldn't agree more. I owned a pit bull from 7 weeks and had no problems with aggressiveness. It's all about how you raise them. I also am disturbed that when someone is bitten by another type of dog, they fail to put the breed in the title since it's not a pit bull.
Pit Nulls are a dangerous breed of dogs. Last year I had one come into my yard twice and attack my old black lab, the last time crushing his skull and killing him. I was told by the humane society that the pit null sensed that my dog was old and unable to defemd himself and that is why it attacked him. Fortunately the pit bull was found and put down the very same day. Yhe owner said the pitbull was normally very mild.
I have no sympathy for these animals and will kill any one that may walk into my yard.
Nobody loves dog more than me and I have seen unpredictable behavior in many dog breeds. The factors are simple when considering a dog as a pet: 1. Worst case analogy based on the breed having a bad day and biting someone. 2. Who's at risk ie... all adults,children (what ages?) 3. has the dog been correctly socialized and at what age? 4.All puppies are cute is te owner aware of the dogs potential if it's not raised properly from a pup? Finally there are NO BAD DOG BREEDS JUST BAD DOG BREED OWNERS! You must be aware of the worst case scenario if you don't raise any dog breed responsibly whether 8 lbs. or 130 lbs.!
Andrea, THANK YOU, for speaking up. I am also the owner of 2 pits, an american red nose and a staffordshire and they are very loyal, very intelligent and very loving. I absolutely hate when people bad mouth pits. My brother has chihuahua's and they are more vicious than my dog's have ever been.
a dog is like a snake, it can and it will bite you. You cannot predict it. Growing up in the 60's the breed that seemed to strike fear in the parents of children was cocker spaniels because they were known to bite kids in the face. Then it was German Shephards, then it was Doberman Pinchers, then Rottwallers (sp?). Then we get to pit bulls. One of the big differences when a pit bull bites is the POWER of the bite and that is what makes it so dangerous and most of those "accidents" involve MULTIPLE bites of power. I have never owned one but the anedoctal NATIONAL evidence appears to show a disproportional amount of pit bull attacks when it involves a "dog attack". Hey, but I don't want to be accused of "animal profiling" - sighhhhhhh.
I had a half-pit bull, half-rottweiler that looked like a pit bull, but was much larger, weighing around 140. Not only was it a sweet heart, neighbor kids would come poking sticks at it and throwing things at it while it was secure in my yard. I wonder why kids get bitten.
What a silly letter. Show me where a poodle has killed a kid. If you have a pit bull and you have little kids, you are just nuts. Although the chance your dogwill attack your kid is minimal, and you can reduce it by training, deep inside the primitive part of this animal's brain it is programmed to attack. And if it does, your kid will not have a chance. It is simply selfish to have that kind of animal running around with kids.
Just go look at the list of animals that insurance companies will charge you extra for having--it isn't just because they have an unreasonable hatred of these animals, it is because statistically, they are most likely to cause injury.
How about the two kids just this past month attacked by Pit Bulls on Chincoteague Island, Va. In both attacks these pit bulls attacked for no apparent reason. Alot of states and counties have banned the ownership of this breed. It should be done on a national level.
Wasn't the dog on "Little Rascals" a pit bull?
I own a pit bull. And a rottweiler. The only reason my dogs are dangerous is that they will jump and lick. And their breath smells!
Sorry, it not always the way they are raised. There are many cases like the woman in Florida who own a pit as a companion pet for almost five years, and her adult son came by the house and found his mom dead in the backyard, and the dog then attacked him and the medics. No previous history of abuse, etc. There are just too many of these types of events for people to put they heads in the sand about this breed. I have hear that there are some vets that think that do to inbreeding the pit's skull stops growing before the brain, and the build-up of pressure causes sudden aggressive behavior. I don't know that for sure, but something is not right with this breed other than the way they are raised.
Ms Martin,
It took the owner of the story in the Daily Times two times to realize she was wrong about her dog, I hope you learn from her mistake.
Quit crying about this stupid article! If a Jack Russel Viciously kills an infant then they will post an article as such. Right now PitBulls are making themselves look bad. You people sticking up for the dog, see how you feel when you see a loose pit bull in the same yard as your child then sing the poor dog story.
Stupid A$$ People!
10:18, I'm sorry - I'm not on any powertrip. Unless it's a powertrip to raise a dog that is goofy and loving.
I completely agree the only reason pit bulls are so feared is that the media makes sure to point out that they are the attacker. There have been multiple cases where a dog which was identified as a pit bull, turned out to be something completely different.
I think I read somewhere that golden retrievers and chows actually bite more often than
pit bulls.
Check out this report... 1982 to 2006: http://www.dogbitelaw.com/Dog%20Attacks%201982%20to%202006%20Clifton.pdf
Pit bull terriers are statistically more dangerous. I love dogs, but would never approach a pit bull without personally knowing the owner. The public's fear is justifiable.
11:24, DUH. First thing we (as a society) teach children is, don't approach ANY strange dog without the owner's okay.
Yes Petey of Little Rascals was a pit bull!
I used to have two of the sweetest dogs that ever lived,and they were.....ta-da...pit bulls.Thanks to all the idiot gangsta wannabes who train their dogs to be menacing,pit bulls get a bad rap.Seriously,ride through any bad neighborhood in Salisbury and thats all you see in yards,usually tied up.Then theres responsible dog owners who love the breed.
One of the prettiest pits I have ever seen is a celeb-Rachel Rays pretty little red Staffy.Bad dogs arent born,they are made.
"Seriously,ride through any bad neighborhood in Salisbury and thats all you see in yards,usually tied up"
Right on the button. Is it any wonder these dogs attack, when they are generally tied to a 3 or 4 foot chain and left out in heat, rain, wind, cold, snow, etc???
(as an aside - in Sby, animal control will not do anything about the horrible living conditions of these animals. and then, when the dog attacks, they won't do anything about it because "it's not the dog's fault")
you know what...keep your dumb a$$ kids out of my yard, stay out of my house and NOBODY I repeat NOBODY will be bitten by my pit bulls. I assure you in most cases, someone, wasn't where they were supposed to be, because rarely do you hear of a dog attacking its owner, any dog. It's usually someone who was where they had no place being!!!
9:07 and 9:46 first of all get real. Your comparing a damn poodle to a pit bull. How about being realistic and saying something on the lines of Golden Retrievers or Black Labs etc.. And I have seen mean poodles but no ones afraid of an animal of that stature.
Get rid of the Pit Bulls. They are a very dangerous breed.
Kinda funny how people can be so close minded about certain breeds of dogs but yet turn a blind eye to all the horrible things people do. It's completely ridiculous to ban a certain breed. how can that even be legal, if we were talking about people(which is how most loving dog owners see their pets) it would be called...discrimination, plain and simple.
Ive heard all the arguements and it is unfortunate but pitbulls are tremendously strong with a locking jaw that clamps down when they bite and doesnt release. They are capable of rendering alot of damage and it is nearly impossible to stop them once they have a target. It is in their nature. It is how they were bred origionally, to corral bulls. And although I have met some pretty mean poodles with a painful bite, pitbulls can kill when they attack, poodles and other small breeds are not really capable of killing an able bodied adult. I would myself rather have a pitbull than a poodle any day but it would be foolish to say that pitbulls arent dangerous. I know first hand that when they are provoked, no matter how family friendly, their instinct is to attack and kill. its not something you can predict or control. use some commmon sense.
you know "dogg" men attack people too, so let's just get rid of all of them too!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a really sweet Rottweiler that was just the best dog ever with the kids and even strangers, but because of her size some were afraid of her. I also have a small beagle mix-about 25-30 lbs and she's the one that's actually bitten someone, snapped at kids and even my husband if the pizza delivery guy is at the door. You never know which dog you're going to get and I would not get a pitbull unless I had him/her as a puppy and I knew it was 6-8 weeks old and I was the first real owner especially if I had kids. We had our rottweiler from puppy til we put her to sleep because of tumors and old age-as the vet recommened-and she never bit or snapped at any person, she snapped or growled at other dogs a few times. I really believe as someone else said there are no bad dogs just bad owners and pits don't get much respect as a breed or as a pet.
Many of the stories we read of pit bull attacks are by dogs that had kind owners and did not abuse the dogs. Why people feel the need to own a breed of dog that has a history of viscous attacks, I'll never know. It is true that most pit bulls never bite...but that is not a risk I am willing to take with my kids. The breed should be banned.
it's all in how they are raised...just like humans!
I suppose that this is a topic that people will never agree on, but like stated earlier "use common sense". stay away from dogs you don't know and teach your children the same. any dog will attack, beagle, poodle, pit or rottie, in fact, I have a cat that will if you piss her off enough!
All the people saying "statistically pitbulls are more dangerous", well, yeah I guess statistically they might be. But those statistics are only there as a result of the thugged out gangster pu$$sies who train them to be dangerous, which results in them attacking and injuring people. Otherwise, they are just like any other dog. I've seen labs attack after being provoked and abused long enough, it would happen with any dog since they are in fact, animals. Pit Bulls are fine, and I agree the media fuels the pitbull fright, just like they fuel everything else.
Pit Bulls should require a special permit to own. These dogs are wired for attack. It isn't if they will but when. I know there are some good ones, but most are unpredictable, and because of their tenacity and power it makes them more dangerous. Maybe if owners were required to pay for a permit, the breed would become less attractive and less available to the ones who have them to enhance their thug life.
"Maybe if owners were required to pay for a permit, the breed would become less attractive and less available to the ones who have them to enhance their thug life."
How exactly would that be enforced? Would the police be able to stop you while walking down the street, and check your dog license? ALL dogs are supposed to be registered anyway - how many of them are, do ya think?
The Common Sense Factor is definately the #1 thing people should focus on. The capabilities on a larger , stronger, dog will leave more scars & possibly death to those who are attacked by them----Regardless the Breed! Pits are known for their mighty strength & stamina & yes it is a shame they leave such a bad impression. However, have you ever seen the damage they can do ? That is what is so crutial!! Remember the child in Delmar several yrs ago that was attacked by dogs he had played with before. There in itself is the danger----they turned on him & God help his little soul------I did not know what I was looking at when I saw pictures of the childs face. It looked like ground meat----It was horrible beyond description. I love all animals too, but I could never own or want to associate with a pitt. For those of you that do---that's fine, just do not expect others to agree with you when they use the "common sence" approach to their thinking.
I have a brindle pit. He is the most lovable dog I have ever had. I had him since he was 6 weeks old and he knows nothing but love. He wakes me every morning with a big kiss across my face and he is a cuddler, almost human like. I totally trust him around tall people. However, I see his instinct when he sees something small moving just as many other breeds of dogs. Pits were bred by the germans to hunt. When his instinct kicks in, he does not hear a word I say to him and I am sure that he would unconditionally protect me. As the owner of this dog, regardless of the type, it is my responsibility to control him and respect my neighbors thoughts and feelings. Therefore, I take the precautions needed.
Pits do get a very bad rap due to the poor dogs that have been abused and taught to fight. There was a pitbull farm outside of town and these poor dogs were found in the winter living in swamp water. Its no wonder such agression takes place. I would love chain the owners in the swamp in the winter with little to eat.
Out of all of the breeds I have had, the pit is definitely most lovable I have ever had. Though he can be irritating because he likes to make me pay by chewing up my shoes, furniture, etc. when I leave him for long periods of time, He is totally worth it.
Plus, it is the best alarm system you can have.
Well I guess Vick was wrongly convicted since Pitts are going to chew on anything any way. I had a standard poodle growing up and I had to take him to the Vets for a visit. He knew where he was going and when I crawled under the table to get him he bit me. Well I guess I should have shot him but I didn't and he lived till he was very old. Pitts just like kids act how they are raised. Raise like an attack dog and they will fight. Raise them with no respect and they won't have any.
A couple of comments mentioned the advantage of getting the dog as a very young puppy. However, six weeks is much too young. Most professional breeders and animal behaviorists recommend keeping the puppy with the mom and litter mates until 12 weeks. The reason is that it is in the later weeks that mom teaches the pup manners and the puppy is better socialized with other dogs by staying with his litter mates. Just another example of how dog owners do not do enough research, and educate themselves before getting any dog, let along an agressive breed.
anonymous 9:46, excellent point!
9:46-I got my dog at six weeks because he was taken to the SPCA and they were going to put them all down. I am very aware of the 12 week rule of being with momma. The momma was very sick with lyme disease and she had come from a bad place. The whole family was dropped off. He was the runt and looked very weak. 11 pups in all. I nursed him as a baby and I do believe that is why he is so lovable and humanlike.
"Pitt bull's" should not have the possessive apostrophe. The pluralization of "pit bill" is obtained merely with the addition of the "S" to read "pit bulls" sans apostrophe. Duh.
Good idea about having a permit for the dogs. County has made some of the dog laws, MD has the rest. County would be the ones to present the idea to. I personally think it's a Great idea!! You've got the jack----es- street fighting the dogs in the town now. Drugs, gambling, crime are all connected to the thugs that have their Status Symbles ---- the "Pitt Bull" walking with them at one time or another! Changes need to be taken in the town laws---they aren't strong enough. Look what just happened when they told the girl after the first bit her dog inflicted to get it muzzeled & restrained. She , like many, was not a responsible owner & ---- another child had to pay the price of being hurt by her dog. I guess they'll do something when a dog kills one of the city or county employees or their familys!!
I have pitbull and have had 3 of them and also have 4 children ages 3-15 and never had no bad experiance at all
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