Child Killed By Dog

[Clyde]

I am going to put my head on the chopping block

but I don't think, the blatant, defense of pitbulls, helps at all... or saying, all dogs can bite, etc, etc. why don't they put a fluffy dog up, blah, blah, blah... because even if a crazy maltese terrier got loose, and ran into my house, it is not going to kill me, or sever an arm... how do you counter these... I am just trying to play devils advocate.

A lot have discounted statistics, but clearly, there is something in those ... even even if they are only half true.

just seems people here, jump automatically to the dogs and the breeds defense, without acknowledging, their may be a problem

I don't think that helps

you shout down people who put statistics up, but then pull out the statistics that support your claim

I don't know what the answer, but sheer bloody mindness on either side of the argment is going to help

With all due respect, whilst the injury risk can be greater with a bigger dog, the little Maltese dogs or 'SWF' are still capable of causing injury. What happens if a 'small breed' bites an elderly person with fragile skin? or rushes at an elderly person causing them to trip? a friends grandmother ended up in hospital from a fall caused by a neighbours loose Maltese...the dog took this lady by surprise and she lost her footing.

Exactly. My grandmother had all the skin on her leg ripped of by the claws of her Chi X.

It's not as if they can pull out the back of someones head though. It's not even a comparison.

[Matthew_B]

I am astonished that so many of you continue to defend such a vicious, dangerous breed of dog. This is a breed that has been bred for one purpose only - to fight. There is no need for a fighting dog in modern society. Yes, other dogs can snap, but the statistics are stark. Even though pitbull breeds are vastly outnumbered in comparison to other dog breeds in our homes (more people have GR's or Lab's than a pitbull breed as family pet), they are by far the most prolific breed involved in deaths and maimings. It's got absolutely nothing at all to do with how the dog is raised or how it is treated. It's the dogs' primitive instinct to fight. Sure, some may be placid and never snap. But in my opinion, it's a risk that is not worth taking. That little girl died a terrifying, truly horrific and painful death right in front of her mother because someone wanted to have a fighting dog as their pet. There can be no excuses for the owner. This tragedy was completely preventable - if the owner of that dog had a non-fighting breed of dog, the chances are very slim to nil that this attack would have occurred. As far as I am concerned, in the eyes of the law a person who owns a fighting dog that kills or maims should be treated in the same category as owning a gun. It's time for tough penalties for owners of these dogs. A strong deterrent is required to stop people from breeding or buying these horrible dogs. The sooner they are extinct, the better off we'll all be.

[megan_]

I am astonished that so many of you continue to defend such a vicious, dangerous breed of dog. This is a breed that has been bred for one purpose only - to fight. There is no need for a fighting dog in modern society. Yes, other dogs can snap, but the statistics are stark. Even though pitbull breeds are vastly outnumbered in comparison to other dog breeds in our homes (more people have GR's or Lab's than a pitbull breed as family pet), they are by far the most prolific breed involved in deaths and maimings. It's got absolutely nothing at all to do with how the dog is raised or how it is treated. It's the dogs' primitive instinct to fight. Sure, some may be placid and never snap. But in my opinion, it's a risk that is not worth taking. That little girl died a terrifying, truly horrific and painful death right in front of her mother because someone wanted to have a fighting dog as their pet. There can be no excuses for the owner. This tragedy was completely preventable - if the owner of that dog had a non-fighting breed of dog, the chances are very slim to nil that this attack would have occurred. As far as I am concerned, in the eyes of the law a person who owns a fighting dog that kills or maims should be treated in the same category as owning a gun. It's time for tough penalties for owners of these dogs. A strong deterrent is required to stop people from breeding or buying these horrible dogs. The sooner they are extinct, the better off we'll all be.

No one has been defending the dog or the owner - the owner is scum who deserves to be jailed.

People here are looking for ways to prevent dog attacks like this to happen. If I thought a ban on pitbulls would prevent this tragedy from ever happening again I'd support it 100% - I don't owners "rights" to own any breed they want.

However, time and time again it has been shown that bans don't work.

Reading your post it seems you think there should only be tough penalities for owners of certain breeds? I believe there should be tough penalties for any owner of a dangerous dog that gets out.

The way to solve this problem?

* Enforce the law, including owners of labs, BC's, SWF who think they are above the law and walk their dogs off leash, let themn roam etc

* Make owners criminally liable for their dog's behaviour - regardless of breed.

[JulesP]

I think anyone whose dog kills someone should be charged with manslaughter.

It is unfair however to call the owner of this dog scum as we know nothing about him. The dog sounds like it was normally contained. It getting out was obviously an accident. I doubt he knew that his dog would kill a child if it got out.

[montall]

My partner made the comment that he couldn't understand why anyone would want 'that kind of dog' and I have to agree with him. We often say on here that we don't understand why people go out and buy designer dogs because there are so many lovely pure breeds to choose from. Well I don't understand why people insist on fighting to keep the pit bull type breeds when there are so many other lovely breeds to choose from.

No one wants to see their lovely docile pet pitbull type dog put down because of some hastily prepared legislation, but banning the breeding (at least) of these dogs and therefore allowing the breed to eventually disappear doesn't seem unreasonable.

[Atanquin]

It has everything to do with how it is being raised! I'm not a pitbull fan not my favorite dog but its wrong to ban a breed because it attracts idiot owners that want a strong looking dog. My friend has a pit cross mastiff and it would never hurt a fly no aggression at all because she has put time into training him and he is part of her family she has him off lead around her horses and when people come over he loves to meet them. Now compared to the pitbull looking dog over the road ( might be a staffy cross pit) I would not go near it but I know it is chained up all day and never goes out for a walk and it just looks aggressive And acts aggressive when I asked the lady if she would like to walk with me and my pup one day she said she doesn't take him of the chain he is there to look after the property. I'm a big believer that we make aggressive dogs whether it's through the wrong people breeding them or the owners that don't look after their dog properly. Look at humans we are the same if a child is brought up with love and an education and taught how to treat others with respect he will be a good person now you get someone who has been brought up with bad parents that didn't give a rats arse and was never taught how to treat other people you get a nasty person.

[megan_]

It has everything to do with how it is being raised! I'm not a pitbull fan not my favorite dog but its wrong to ban a breed because it attracts idiot owners that want a strong looking dog. My friend has a pit cross mastiff and it would never hurt a fly no aggression at all because she has put time into training him and he is part of her family she has him off lead around her horses and when people come over he loves to meet them. Now compared to the pitbull looking dog over the road ( might be a staffy cross pit) I would not go near it but I know it is chained up all day and never goes out for a walk and it just looks aggressive And acts aggressive when I asked the lady if she would like to walk with me and my pup one day she said she doesn't take him of the chain he is there to look after the property. I'm a big believer that we make aggressive dogs whether it's through the wrong people breeding them or the owners that don't look after their dog properly. Look at humans we are the same if a child is brought up with love and an education and taught how to treat others with respect he will be a good person now you get someone who has been brought up with bad parents that didn't give a rats arse and was never taught how to treat other people you get a nasty person.

Genetics does play a big part in dog behaviour to. It is a dangerous myth that if you socialise and train a dog it will be 100% safe. Some dogs require constant management to keep them out of trouble.

If genetics weren't important then there would be no problem with breeding aggressive dogs, right?

[skuzy]

seirously im so sick of people pointing the finger and simply blaming breeds.

[poodlefan]

Genetics does play a big part in dog behaviour to. It is a dangerous myth that if you socialise and train a dog it will be 100% safe. Some dogs require constant management to keep them out of trouble.

If genetics weren't important then there would be no problem with breeding aggressive dogs, right?

Genetics IS important. But genes alone do not make a dangerous dog.

[Sticky]

At last some sense from the Vic Gov:

But Mr Baillieu said he was powerless to introduce bans that would prevent attacks happening in the first place. Legal challenges over what is and is not a pit bull, which derailed bans in the UK, meant outlawing them here also would not work. Instead, the community would have to wait for the pit bull population to die out through breeding and import bans already in place.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/child-killed-in-dog-attack-at-st-albans/story-fn7x8me2-1226117749076

S

[RottnBullies]

I am astonished that so many of you continue to defend such a vicious, dangerous breed of dog. This is a breed that has been bred for one purpose only - to fight. There is no need for a fighting dog in modern society. Yes, other dogs can snap, but the statistics are stark. Even though pitbull breeds are vastly outnumbered in comparison to other dog breeds in our homes (more people have GR's or Lab's than a pitbull breed as family pet), they are by far the most prolific breed involved in deaths and maimings. It's got absolutely nothing at all to do with how the dog is raised or how it is treated. It's the dogs' primitive instinct to fight. Sure, some may be placid and never snap. But in my opinion, it's a risk that is not worth taking. That little girl died a terrifying, truly horrific and painful death right in front of her mother because someone wanted to have a fighting dog as their pet. There can be no excuses for the owner. This tragedy was completely preventable - if the owner of that dog had a non-fighting breed of dog, the chances are very slim to nil that this attack would have occurred. As far as I am concerned, in the eyes of the law a person who owns a fighting dog that kills or maims should be treated in the same category as owning a gun. It's time for tough penalties for owners of these dogs. A strong deterrent is required to stop people from breeding or buying these horrible dogs. The sooner they are extinct, the better off we'll all be.

FFS Mathew stop your harping and non sense dribble! The dog was a crossbreed, you can not compare and keep blaming the APBT. I've said It before dogs are not born killers they are made by humans, you're targeting the wrong end. This Is not a breed related problem, but a human one

How many times does it have to be said they have never been bred for human aggression! NEVER

Cross two breeds of unknown origin/history and you get what??? Nothing but a lucky dip

[brightonrock]

PitBulls have a very bad reputation in society. Just imagine trying to sell your house and telling the prospective buyers that your next door neighbour has one or two Pitbulls. They are one of the most feared type of dog in modern society. Now a pitbull type has slaughtered a small child, someone's baby. What good is a having a dog that has to be confined for fear of it attacking an animal or human ? My opinion is this type of dog has no place in society. Do the dogs suffer because they have bad owners that don't know what to do ? Yes. Do we need these dogs ? No.

[Silvawilow]

I am astonished that so many of you continue to defend such a vicious, dangerous breed of dog. Yes, other dogs can snap, but the statistics are stark. Even though pitbull breeds are vastly outnumbered in comparison to other dog breeds in our homes (more people have GR's or Lab's than a pitbull breed as family pet), they are by far the most prolific breed involved in deaths and maimings. It's got absolutely nothing at all to do with how the dog is raised or how it is treated.

There can be no excuses for the owner. This tragedy was completely preventable - As far as I am concerned, in the eyes of the law a person who owns a fighting dog that kills or maims should be treated in the same category as owning a gun. It's time for tough penalties for owners of these dogs. A strong deterrent is required to stop people from breeding or buying these horrible dogs. The sooner they are extinct, the better off we'll all be.

For the love of God - STOP. You have made your point - all bullbreeds are evil blah blah blah. Death to them all blah blah blah. Point taken. Stop repeating yourself, it's getting old.

At little OT but you have mentioned the only breed of dog I've ever been bitten by and it ain't no bullbreed Do I think this particular breed should be exterminated - NO. Should the owners be punished for not containing their dogs adequately - YES.

[RottnBullies]

PitBulls have a very bad reputation in society. Just imagine trying to sell your house and telling the prospective buyers that your next door neighbour has one or two Pitbulls. They are one of the most feared type of dog in modern society. Now a pitbull type has slaughtered a small child, someone's baby. What good is a having a dog that has to be confined for fear of it attacking an animal or human ? My opinion is this type of dog has no place in society. Do the dogs suffer because they have bad owners that don't know what to do ? Yes. Do we need these dogs ? No.

Certain humans have no place In society either, shall we exterminate them too!

[Linda K]

urgh just typed out a post and my cat walked across the keyboard and deleted it, so will start again

Listening to the minister on the radio last night, I would be very scared if my family pet was a dog that people would think is a bull type - he has said that they will be ending the registration amnesty as soon as it can be arranged, and that they will be encouraging members of the public to use the dob in line to ring up and dob in any dogs in their neighbourhood they believed were pit bull, pit bull cross, or simply dangerous, council will then investigate and if dog is deemed by them to be a pit bull or x, then unless the owners can prove otherwise, dogs will be seized and destroyed. Other dogs will be subject to their assessment, and then may also be destroyed. On answering the question as to whether the dob in line might be abused by someone with a grudge wanting to dob in a noisy dog (for instance), and not one that is truly dangerous, he said that he was sure the council would discover this in their testing before the dog was destroyed.

Myself, I think it is the start of something bad as far as dog ownership goes, in that someone else can just decide that your breed is now illegal to own, and no matter what training or how well educated, housed and socialised your dog is, it could be seized and destroyed at any time with no recourse of appeal for you, and if I was a breeder it would make me very scared that they might decide my breed should be next to add to the list, and I could do nothing to stop all my dogs being seized and destroyed in the guise of public safety. PETA must be rubbing their hands together here, the gov is giving them a very big leg up in their campaign to have no companion animals around at all.

[brightonrock]

PitBulls have a very bad reputation in society. Just imagine trying to sell your house and telling the prospective buyers that your next door neighbour has one or two Pitbulls. They are one of the most feared type of dog in modern society. Now a pitbull type has slaughtered a small child, someone's baby. What good is a having a dog that has to be confined for fear of it attacking an animal or human ? My opinion is this type of dog has no place in society. Do the dogs suffer because they have bad owners that don't know what to do ? Yes. Do we need these dogs ? No.

Certain humans have no place In society either, shall we exterminate them too!

treating this with the contempt it deserves

[wuffles]

Listening to the minister on the radio last night, I would be very scared if my family pet was a dog that people would think is a bull type - he has said that they will be ending the registration amnesty as soon as it can be arranged, and that they will be encouraging members of the public to use the dob in line to ring up and dob in any dogs in their neighbourhood they believed were pit bull, pit bull cross, or simply dangerous, council will then investigate and if dog is deemed by them to be a pit bull or x, then unless the owners can prove otherwise, dogs will be seized and destroyed. Other dogs will be subject to their assessment, and then may also be destroyed. On answering the question as to whether the dob in line might be abused by someone with a grudge wanting to dob in a noisy dog (for instance), and not one that is truly dangerous, he said that he was sure the council would discover this in their testing before the dog was destroyed.

To be honest, I'm scared and neither of my dogs are bull breeds. Both of mine are obedience trained, one has obedience titles, yet they are still DOGS which means they do doggie things like bark and dig and run and sniff. Being 'dangerous' isn't just about attacking anymore and that scares me.

We also have to remember that there are people out there that will bypass council and take their own measures against dogs they do not like. I for one will be extra vigilant with my dogs at the moment.

[RottnBullies]

PitBulls have a very bad reputation in society. Just imagine trying to sell your house and telling the prospective buyers that your next door neighbour has one or two Pitbulls. They are one of the most feared type of dog in modern society. Now a pitbull type has slaughtered a small child, someone's baby. What good is a having a dog that has to be confined for fear of it attacking an animal or human ? My opinion is this type of dog has no place in society. Do the dogs suffer because they have bad owners that don't know what to do ? Yes. Do we need these dogs ? No.

Certain humans have no place In society either, shall we exterminate them too!

treating this with the contempt it deserves

Whatever turkish! No skin off my back, throwing Insults will get you far

but If It makes you feel any better, I pretty much dislike you too!

[corrie]

IMO People in general are far too lax and complacent about containing their dog/s within their own boundary. I personally would be glad to see the fines for roaming dogs raised and it more actively enforced.

Edited August 19, 2011 by corrie

[SpotTheDog]

The reaction of the ignorant public is really worrying.

Pitbulls are banned in Northern Ireland, and the council can come and seize your dog purely based on type - and the establishment of that type is arbitrary in the extreme. A case in point is pitbull mix Bruce, a dog who never did a day's wrong in his life, yet was seized from his family because the measurement of his head placed him in the pitbull category. He was kept in solitary confinement for years while supporters sought to have him freed.

A rescue organisation that specialises in bull breeds finally won the day and Bruce was handed over to them. The highly experienced dog handler who runs that rescue assessed Bruce's temperament, and not only was he not a remotely vicious dog, but he showed surprisingly few affects from his years in solitary confinement, where he had been allowed become ill, wounds had been left to become infected and he was generally mistreated.

Currently also imprisoned in Belfast is Lennox:

http://ctechwebhosting.co.uk/savelennox/wordpress/?p=922

I'm terrified that this country will go in the same direction, and much loved, gentle and well cared for family pets will be seized arbitrarily in a kneejerk response to a tragedy that was apparently very little to do with breed, and everything to do with irresponsible dog ownership.