"pit Bull" Attacks Maltese In Canberra

[Moselle]

I bet if Mr Linke owned a mastiff instead of a pitbull there would have been no mention Mastiff's in relation to this incident. I would have a much easier time believing someone mistook a bullmastiff x for a pitbull... at least there is some bully in there!

Exactly

Actually as Mr Linke is someone who is against BSL, I believe he would have just to deflect attention away from a cause that he believes in.

As for the bullsmastiff x thing, many of the cross bred pig dogs up here have mastiff in them and heaps of people will get confused about their breed and say oh it must be a pitty.

I was speaking to a fella on Sat who said he hated pitbulls as his dog was attacked by 2 60kg pitbulls, i explained a few things to try and change his mind as they don't come that big. As someone said people really do get the size of dogs wrong, and in an attack every dog seems to be huge.

Mr Linke as far as I'm concerned is doing a great job in defending the pitbull, and by doing so he is defending many breeds from being added to the list.

Lets give Mr. Linke a standing ovation for deflecting attention away from the pitbull and instead towards the staffy and/or mastiff! Very impressive indeed! I am compelled to ask myself if the honourable Mr. Linke owned a staffy or mastiff, would he have deflected the attention away from his chosen breed and onto the pitbull?

[k9angel]

Some of the nicest dogs Ive met have been pitties.

Around here they are quiet common. The young ethnic 'hero' types think its cool to be seen with one clad in thick studded collars.

The young guy up the road from me (hero ethnic type) had one a few weeks back. A little red nose about 10-12 wks old.

I asked him (only yesterday) what happened to him as I hadnt seen him for a while and he says "It was getting bigger and chewing things, including ME so I got rid of it". (What does he expect of a puppy??? )

I thought he may of killed him the way he was talking, so I asked "Did you rehome him?" he replies "Yeah to my cousin he has heaps of pitties".

These are the ppl that give the breed a bad name. The losers who do not have a clue about pitties or any other dogs for that matter, who do not know the importance of early socialisation.

My vet runs a doggy daycare where the littlies get dropped off for the day while their owners work or are away from home.

All the dogs he has are small white fluffy or terrier types with one exception. A mature pitty girl. Its lovely to watch her run and play with the littlies. She is harmless. She has been raised properly, the way ALL dogs should be, regardless of breed.

Then there was Buster. A pitty boy who was caught up in a fighting racket several years back now. Thanks to the help of my brother (also an animal lover) we rescued this boy. He came to live with me for a year+ before being rehomed. I NOT once saw this boy even lift his lip at another dog. He was very sweet. After very careful introductions he actually lived in harmony with my pack of huskies, with absolutely no issues at all. You couldnt ask for a nicer dog.

Its the clueless morons who end up with these dogs that are the killers - not the dogs.

Edited July 20, 2010 by k9angel

[Curlybert]

Time to put a sock in it, Moselle. You're just embarrassing yourself now.

[Sheilaheel02]

I have a foster dog who I believe to be an ACD x ASTCD. He is broad, strong and muscular and his head is also massive. Recently a friend of mine saw him again and was adamant that he must have APBT in him because of the size of his skull and the shape of his jaw. While I wouldn't say it's impossible, I can't see it myself. It seems any dog that is medium to large and intimidating in appearance can be labelled a Pit Bull or Pit Bull x.

As for owners of other breeds not getting hassled - you've got to be kidding right? I've owned ACD's for most of my life and could fill the next two pages with posts of examples where I've been really insulted by peoples narrow-minded, uneducated attitudes towards my beloved dogs.

S

Like people who call one of them the Wombat on Steroids? :rolleyes:

Ah, no. I'd call that teasing.

Besides, if you think MM is a wombat on steroids, then you will have to think of another more dramatic name for Diesel - maybe DOGZILLA?? :D

S

Edited July 20, 2010 by Sheilaheel02

[*Bones*]

Unfortunately, because so many different types of dogs which have attacked are portrayed by the media as pitbulls, the public now has little idea of how a pitbull looks, plus the pitbull was bred for work rather than type, so the type does vary.

More sensible, surely, to remove any dog which is savage not a breed which is largely not vicious, although some may be dog aggressive, as may staffies, cattle dogs, amstaffs, mastiffs. boxers and maltese ... which is a management/training issue, surely.

[melzawelza]

Moselle, you don't seem to realise that people have NO IDEA what pitties look like.

I was with a young client and his doberman today - we were going for a walk and he was saying to me

'there are these two HUGE dogs at a house up here, these two massive pit bull things! they are huge!'

So I said to him 'oh they don't sound like pit bulls then because pitties arent supposed to be above about 18 kilos.'

And he said 'oh! No these guys look like big versions of my boy, same colour with big chunky heads!' and i said 'rottweilers?' and he said 'OH YEAH! that's what they are!!!'

Like i said.... people have no idea!

[geo]

Moselle, you don't seem to realise that people have NO IDEA what pitties look like.

I was with a young client and his doberman today - we were going for a walk and he was saying to me

'there are these two HUGE dogs at a house up here, these two massive pit bull things! they are huge!'

So I said to him 'oh they don't sound like pit bulls then because pitties arent supposed to be above about 18 kilos.'

And he said 'oh! No these guys look like big versions of my boy, same colour with big chunky heads!' and i said 'rottweilers?' and he said 'OH YEAH! that's what they are!!!'

Like i said.... people have no idea!

I've heard the same thing. People, many dog owners have no idea about other breeds, but when it comes to pitbulls.. "well they're the only ones that attack" so it must be a pitbull!! so infuriating.

[j]

There is an update in todays paper, (not online unfortunately) saying that a man who is looking after two dogs believes they may be responsible and has taken them to DAS where they will be put in a Doggy ID Lineup for the victim to view and see if he can identify the responsible dogs.

Be interesting to learn the outcome of that ID parade.

[Moselle]

Time to put a sock in it, Moselle. You're just embarrassing yourself now.

Nah, I dont think I am embarrasing myself. I still stand my case on the stupidity or perhaps selfishness of mr. linke.

Edited July 21, 2010 by Moselle

[Teebs]

There is an update in todays paper, (not online unfortunately) saying that a man who is looking after two dogs believes they may be responsible and has taken them to DAS where they will be put in a Doggy ID Lineup for the victim to view and see if he can identify the responsible dogs.

Be interesting to learn the outcome of that ID parade.

isnt DAS locked down for Parvo?

[Moselle]

Moselle, you don't seem to realise that people have NO IDEA what pitties look like.

I was with a young client and his doberman today - we were going for a walk and he was saying to me

'there are these two HUGE dogs at a house up here, these two massive pit bull things! they are huge!'

So I said to him 'oh they don't sound like pit bulls then because pitties arent supposed to be above about 18 kilos.'

And he said 'oh! No these guys look like big versions of my boy, same colour with big chunky heads!' and i said 'rottweilers?' and he said 'OH YEAH! that's what they are!!!'

Like i said.... people have no idea!

I am compelled to ask what part of the english language do people not understand?

Melzawelza, I do know that people have no idea as to what a purebred pitbull actually looks like and tend to blame most attacks on pitbulls....that has nothing whatsoever to do with what I have been trying to say here! Is it a case of selective hearing or a question of being hard on understanding? My issue is with Mr. Linke and his stupid speech.

[Zhou Xuanyao]

You agree that most people cannot identify a Pitbull.

You agree that more often than not the reports involving alleged Pitbulls are innacurate.

Do you disagree that Mastiff breeds, Staffordshire BT's, and cross breeds are often mis identified as Pitbulls ?

[Moselle]

You agree that most people cannot identify a Pitbull.

You agree that more often than not the reports involving alleged Pitbulls are innacurate.

Do you disagree that Mastiff breeds, Staffordshire BT's, and cross breeds are often mis identified as Pitbulls ?

On occasion, I wouldnt be surprised if the odd individual may mistake a staffy for a pitbull but there hasnt been a furore over this, has there? No, I dont think that mastiffs are often mistaken for pitties. Crossbreeds mistaken for a pitbull? yes, quite likely.

[jackie_a1]

Ok read this article I own both pitbull crosses so I need to put my two cents in.

Firstly regarding this comment.

It seems inevitable that whenever there are dog attacks by dogs perceived as "pitbulls" ...people start jumping up and down. It is well about time that lovers of this breed start acknowledging the fact that pitbulls are indeed DA. It really annoys me to no end when all kinds of excuses are entered into. The typical and most popular excuse ? Ah....it cannot possibly be a purebred pitbull, it just has to be a crossbreed. WTF. It is all too easy to say that all dogs involved in killing or maiming people or animals are not purebred pitbulls but a cross. Well, you tell me...if it is a cross then which part of that cross should be deemed DA or HA? Lest we forget....let us not name the pitbull part of the equation or else!

Moselle. I am aware of my dogs history, breed origins, purpose, descendants etc. Please don't try to put me on a moron and say bull/pitt owners do not acknowledge this fact. In fact I spent years researching the breed before I decided (be it a cross) that the breed was for me. There are no excuses on my end nor do I see many excuses from RESPONSIBLE bull/pitt owners. If Razor or Boss got out and mauled two dogs I would know one) I did not provide them adequate socialization two) I did not provide them with correct confinement/enclosure three) it was me who failed at some point the dogs.

Now the reason why people use the term crosses is simply this. The APBT is NOT a registered breed in Australia. Meaning it cannot be shown, it does not come with papers, it doesn't have a whole lot of responsible and ethical breeders in its favour. It is VERY hard to say with plausibility if the dog is in fact a pure bred pitbull. How can you be sure if there are no breeders and or papers to track the dog back to? You are just going to assume it has a red nose and coat it's a pitbull. I always list down dogs in the pound as pitbull crosses. I am not condemning a dog to death based on MY opinion. Which is just what this whole rant of yours is. Your opinion. You are not a scientist with the DNA evidence to prove anything so you and I cannot say anything is a purebred without proof and evidence. Otherwise it's just ignorance.

Both my dogs are beautiful crosses or not. And I will defend their right to exist regardless of the fight.

Edited July 21, 2010 by jackie_a1

[Zhou Xuanyao]

Furor on this issue exists amongst the majority of APBT owners, supporters and other folks who oppose BSL. Having said that not sure I see the relevance.

You agree that Staffy's are sometimes mis-identified as Pitbulls. You do not agree that Mastiffs are "often" misidentified Pitbulls, but you appear to acknowledge that it does happen. You do agree that cross breeds are mistaken for Pitbulls.

The part of Linke's address you oppose is the following

Michael Linke, who owns an american pit bull terrier, said it was a much maligned breed and that the dogs which attacked Harry could have been mastiffs, staffordshire bull terriers or cross breeds.

But this statement is consistent with your point of view.

Edited July 21, 2010 by Lo Pan

[k9angel]

Moselle, you don't seem to realise that people have NO IDEA what pitties look like.

I was with a young client and his doberman today - we were going for a walk and he was saying to me

'there are these two HUGE dogs at a house up here, these two massive pit bull things! they are huge!'

So I said to him 'oh they don't sound like pit bulls then because pitties arent supposed to be above about 18 kilos.'

And he said 'oh! No these guys look like big versions of my boy, same colour with big chunky heads!' and i said 'rottweilers?' and he said 'OH YEAH! that's what they are!!!'

Like i said.... people have no idea!

I've heard the same thing. People, many dog owners have no idea about other breeds, but when it comes to pitbulls.. "well they're the only ones that attack" so it must be a pitbull!! so infuriating.

A few months ago the OH was out walking one of my dogs. He came running in screaming and carrying on that 2 pitties were after him out the front. I laughed at first, anyone would think he'd seen a ghost.

Anyways I went to investigate as all my dogs were barking and carrying on. It was a staffy and a PB amstaff.

They were friendly as hell with me but did want to get to my dogs and were even trying to squeeze under the fence to get to them. I hadnt seen a dog want to get to another as bad as these 2 did. It was scary. I managed to catch the staffy girl and put her on a lead. The amstaff just followed.

(There was also 2 x 4mth old pups in tow ) I took the staffy across the street and 2 doors down back to their owners. The woman answered the door. She couldnt speak english very well. I said "Are these your dogs?" she said yes.

I asked her to come and put them away as they were trying to get to my dogs and my neighbours dogs. She refused point blank saying she hated them. She went on to say she was scared of dogs, I asked "Well how do you go outside to put the washing on the line?" her reply was that she hangs it up inside. OMG some ppl.

These dogs never got walked, you'd never see them out of the yard. They were thin and the 4 mth old pups were absolutely terrified and unsociliased with ppl. They had fly bitten ears. She said her husband was out fishing and that she'd call him to come home.

In the meantime here I was wrestling this amstaff with all my might to get him behind the gate. He was human friendly but boy! was he strong.

So I sat on the front step and held the staffy girl on the lead the other 3 dogs roaming close by, and waited and waited and waited.

An hour or two later her husband shows up from his fishing trip.

He pulls into the drive - leaves the car running, gets out, opens the gate and puts them back. He did NOT check to se where they'd gotten out from.

Sure enough, as soon as he left they were back out.

At about 2am I called the police as these dogs were running rampant in the street.

They did NOT come.

These 2 dogs went on to kill someones beloved pet. They got into someones backyard a few blocks from here and ripped it apart infront of its owners.

My neighbours could hear the screams from here. The screams of a dog being ripped apart and the screams of a frantic owner waking up to this nightmare.

These dogs ended up at the pound. One pup was MIA, one pup remained at home. (still there now) and still has a shit life, he hasnt even been vaccinated letalone desexed.

The 2 adult dogs were pts.

I had told the owner about them and he acted so concerned. So much so he didnt even go to pick them up, didnt even enquire about them. Not that he would of been allowed to take them home. They were doomed for their actions that night.

I gave the pound this mans details but they never followed up as far as I know so he got off, without a slap on the wrist even.

Sorry the whole point of this was OH's first reaction to these dogs. He mistook them for pitties.

[j]

There is an update in todays paper, (not online unfortunately) saying that a man who is looking after two dogs believes they may be responsible and has taken them to DAS where they will be put in a Doggy ID Lineup for the victim to view and see if he can identify the responsible dogs.

Be interesting to learn the outcome of that ID parade.

isnt DAS locked down for Parvo?

I believe so? I don't still have the paper available. The ID may not have been occurring at DAS, but DAS rangers will be conducting it. I will check when I can read the paper again.

[lanabanana]

Quite funny all the chat about misidentifying breeds etc.

I had a staffy/boxer x who was mistaken for a pitbull on a regular basis. People would cross the road when we went out walking to avoid being ont he same side as him. What would have sucked is that if they had of decided to destroy (hypothetical) all pitbulls, my dog would have been taken along for the ride purely because of his appearance and even though he was a mutt, I met both of his parents, not one of which was a pitbull but I never would have been able to prove this.

I currently have a large lab x who has even been mistaken for a pitbull because he is large and muscular. He doesn't even look like a pitty, he is hairy and black (particulatlr the hairy part). He is of unknown parentage however so may not even be a lab and could have some pitty, but he look slike a lab mix so for people to mistake him for a pitty is ridiculous.

What makes this even funnier is I used to have a pitty/whippet x and while he was little people would stop and say is that a pitty baby, id say a mix yes and they would rave about how cute he was. By the time he was 6 months old he had developed exceptionally long legs and a very slim frame (I assume the whippet) but still had a small pitbull head, but because he was not muscular nobody thought he had pitbull in him.

So funny, most regular people wouldnt know a breed if it jumped up and bit them on the face

[Oliversmum]

You agree that most people cannot identify a Pitbull.

You agree that more often than not the reports involving alleged Pitbulls are innacurate.

Do you disagree that Mastiff breeds, Staffordshire BT's, and cross breeds are often mis identified as Pitbulls ?

On occasion, I wouldnt be surprised if the odd individual may mistake a staffy for a pitbull but there hasnt been a furore over this, has there? No, I dont think that mastiffs are often mistaken for pitties. Crossbreeds mistaken for a pitbull? yes, quite likely.

Moselle,

This is where I stongly dispute your argument. My purebred has been mistaken for a pitty by someone who ovbiously has no idea of either breeds physical appearance. I understand what your trying to say, you are saying that simply by stating the other breeds that the offending dogs could have been is passing the buck so to speak onto other breeds other than the pitt bull. But, I say, why should the pitt bull breed get the finger pointed immediately at them when infact, not many people can correctly identify a pitt bull from a mixed breed - hell, in my experience, from another purebreed. I get it, but, I say it is not fair to immediately blame a pitt bull when infact no one can be sure what breed the dogs where. Gee, go and have a look at other threads where a Boston x Lab was confiscated from it's elderly owner because it was wrongly identified as a pitt bull!!! And for the record, I am not offended by Michael Linke's statement as all he was stating is fact.

[Moselle]

You agree that most people cannot identify a Pitbull.

You agree that more often than not the reports involving alleged Pitbulls are innacurate.

Do you disagree that Mastiff breeds, Staffordshire BT's, and cross breeds are often mis identified as Pitbulls ?

On occasion, I wouldnt be surprised if the odd individual may mistake a staffy for a pitbull but there hasnt been a furore over this, has there? No, I dont think that mastiffs are often mistaken for pitties. Crossbreeds mistaken for a pitbull? yes, quite likely.

Moselle,

This is where I stongly dispute your argument. My purebred has been mistaken for a pitty by someone who ovbiously has no idea of either breeds physical appearance. I understand what your trying to say, you are saying that simply by stating the other breeds that the offending dogs could have been is passing the buck so to speak onto other breeds other than the pitt bull. But, I say, why should the pitt bull breed get the finger pointed immediately at them when infact, not many people can correctly identify a pitt bull from a mixed breed - hell, in my experience, from another purebreed. I get it, but, I say it is not fair to immediately blame a pitt bull when infact no one can be sure what breed the dogs where. Gee, go and have a look at other threads where a Boston x Lab was confiscated from it's elderly owner because it was wrongly identified as a pitt bull!!! And for the record, I am not offended by Michael Linke's statement as all he was stating is fact.

What breed is your purebreed dog? is it the one pictured on the avatar?

I am glad that you actually understood what I have been trying to say and I agree totally, as I have said earlier, that most people have no real idea what a purebred pittie actually looks like. I so hate what had transpired in QLD with the wrong identification of dogs and the subsequent destruction of them simply because they were deemed to be "pitbulls." I also despise the fact that too many so-called "pitbulls" have been sent to their deaths through no wrong doing whatsoever! Even purebred pitbulls that have committed no crime have a right to live out their lives without being destroyed!

Having said all this, I still maintain that mr. linke was trying to sway people's way of thinking much to the dismay of staffy or mastiff owners.