Media coverage of Surrey pit bull attack prompts protest by Vancouver pit bull owners
CKNW Radio reported that a three-year-old boy was attacked by a pit bull cross in his home in Surrey on Friday (April 10).
The boy, Justice Paradise, will require plastic surgery, according to a report in the Province, after suffering a large gash under his eye.
Today (April 12), pit bull lovers will hold a march with their dogs at 2 p.m. from the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch to the Vancouver Art Gallery to demonstrate that "responsible" owners have had enough of the way the media cover these attacks.
"We can make a difference for our dogs and for the way the media reports on dog attacks in general," the group HugABull Advocacy and Rescue Society said in a news release. "Please feel free to bring your people loving, dog social Pitty to walk with us and given it is Easter, costumes for the dogs would be a bonus. The more of us, the stronger our voice and the stronger our message. We deserve FAIR reporting and nothing less."
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I have recently had a novel published, "Billy’s World," about an American Staffordshire “Pit” Bull Terrier who was rescued and came to live with my wife and me years ago. We had many adventures together and he never met a person he didn’t love. He treated young and old in a very gentle manner. My Blog about the book is http://billybobworld.blogspot.com. I hope the book will help nudge people’s negative perception of the breed back to the positive and stimulate more individuals into helping animal rescue and rehabilitation organizations who are working with understanding and responsible Pit Bull owners.
Bill Stauss, Billy’s World
Dog Bites and the Media
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-media/
And if you`d publish the truth about Ontario Canada,you wouldn`t report these stories at all.
From OVMA testimony prior to Ontario Ban
http://www.ontla.on.ca/committee-proceedings/transcripts/files_html/2005...
[quote]An argument is sometimes made that, while all dogs bite, only a few breeds cause serious injury when they attack. Again, this hypothesis does not withstand scrutiny. A study by the Canadian hospitals injury reporting and prevention program examined the dog breeds involved in attacks that were serious enough that the victim sought medical attention at one of eight reporting hospitals. The study revealed that 50 different types of purebreds and 33 types of crossbreeds had been involved in the attacks,
*** the most common breeds being German shepherds, cocker spaniels, Rottweilers and golden retrievers.
What about the most serious of attacks, those resulting in the death of a person attacked? Since 1983, there have been 23 reported human fatalities in Canada due to dog attacks. A total of 55 dogs were involved in these attacks, and only one of these dogs, an American Staffordshire terrier, would be banned under the proposed legislation.[/quote]
Fatal Dog Attacks in Canada
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2387261
You`re pushing the "agenda" just like Ontario Media did.
Report all dog bites or report none!
And BTW a dog "normally" chained in the backyard is NOT a family dog.
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/resident-dog-vs-family-dog/
Those who say that pit bulls are not more dangerous than other breeds are putting people and animals at risk of injury and death. It makes me furious to see owners promote these fighting machines as being safe around kids. Pit bulls were bred to fight by being strong, tenacious and psychological killers. They can snap at anytime - their killer instincts are unpredictable. Their personalities have been genetically manipulated making both a well-kept and mistreated pit bull an equal threat. The dog fighters’ attempt to make pit bulls “friendly” towards the handlers failed. The SPCA ludicrous program to “socialize” pit bulls lead to one being sold and then attacking another dog. The little dog died.
In general, it’s not the environment and it’s not the owners. It is the breed that has be perversely manipulated by humans for decades. If breeders bred the fighting and killer instincts out of pit bulls then they have done what must be done – ban the killer pit bullies.
And by the way, this group that protested with their pit bulls were irresponsibly in violation of city regulations - when in public pit bulls must be leashed AND muzzled. They must also be housed within chain link kennel runs and the fencing buried into the ground so they can’t dig under to escape. Even pit bull promoters recommend these safety measures. Lifeforce fought for these restrictions that can help prevent serious injuries to the public and their animal companions. All cities should implement and enforce pit bull regulations.
Peter Hamilton
Lifeforce Founding Director
(604)649-5258
lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com
www.lifeforcefoundation.org
I noticed you don`t substantiate ANYTHING you`ve stated.
I suggest that you stop trying to mislead people.
If you have facts state them and substantiate them.
Your beliefs/opinion are not facts.
Read the links provided in my first post.
All Experts in Ontario testified against the Ban.
Most people in Canada have never seen the 'Pit Bull' Breeds and couldn`t identify one if they tripped over one.
The Public and the Media are tagging anything with a square head,short hair and a whip tail as a 'pit bull'
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf
CDC Statement
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/avma...
[quote]“If anyone says one dog is more likely to kill - unless
there's a study out there that I haven't seen - that's not
based on scientific data."
Julie Gilchrist/MD, Centers for Disease Control
Co-Author, JAVMA Special Report[/quote]
There is not a single credible Organization that supports BSL
http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/section.php?id=5
Italy has repealed their law
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/node/4229
[quote]``The measures adopted in the previous laws had no
scientific foundation. Dangerous breeds do not exist.[/quote]
Netherlands has repealed their Ban
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/080609/ap/d916m6uo2.html
[quote]The Dutch government says it will lift a long-standing ban on pit bulls because it did not lead to any decrease in bite incidents.[/quote]
Miami Dade ban found to be unenforceable
http://www.prlog.org/10201937-court-rules-miamidade-county-pit-bull-ban-...
[quote]A court ruled Miami-Dade's 20 year ban on pit bulls was too vague in defining "pit bull" and unfairly let animal control officers basically guess whether a dog is a pit bull.[/quote]
In Toledo Ohio
Toledo vs Tellings
http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/docs/pdf/6/2006/2006-ohio-975.pdf
[quote]Dog Warden Skeldon acknowledged that even if a dog was 50 per cent pit bull, if it did not "look like a pit bull," the owner would not be charged. On the other hand, if a dog did look like a pit bull," it would be classified as a pit bull and the owner would be subject to the "vicious dog" laws. No definitive description of a "pit bull" was presented. The warden also acknowledged that there is really no way to tell if a dog is or is not a "pit bull" and the determination is made by his or a deputy's subjective judgment. Regardless of its parentage or behavior, however, if a dog is labeled a pit bull, the owner would be charged under the statutes and city ordinance.[/quote]
In Denver Colorado
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/in-your-state/colorado/
[quote]There is no evidence that Denver’s breed ban has reduced severe dog bites in the city/county. The only county in Colorado with a breed ban, Denver has the highest rate of dog-related hospitalizations in the state![/quote]
'Pit Bulls' do not cause injuries unlike other dogs
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/types-of-dog-bites/do...
Some of the dogs being tagged as 'pit bulls' in Ontario
http://wagthedog.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/3/17/4125811.html
Interested in reading your substantiated facts Peter.
I`ll check back in case you are able to provide some.
In the meantime you might want to start reading 'Pit Bull' Placebo
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/canines-in-our-culture/a-histor...
It is now available online
Click under the book
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/ncrc-publications/
Some Research for you
http://www.dapbt.org/research.htm
and some comments from the Scientific Community
[quote]
Quotes by the scientific community regarding genetics and "dangerous dog breeds."
* As for statistics used to support the idea that some breeds are more dangerous, the numbers are misleading. There's a problem getting records. "Golden retrievers bite, Labrador retrievers bite, but don't get reported." (Dr. Pobderscek).
* "Valuable scientific studies showing significant differences in jaw strength among breeds does not exist" (Dr. Stur, 2000).
"The classification of dog breeds with respect to their relative danger to humans makes no sense, as both, the complex antecedent conditions in which aggressive behavior occurs, and its ramifying consequences in the individual dog's ecological and social environment are not considered" (Dr. Fedderson-Peterson, 2001).
"Currently no valuable scientific method to evaluate the tolerance to pain is available" (Dr. Stur, 2000).
"An important practical problem that any breed-specific legislation raises is adjoining an individual dog to a particular breed, which is scientifically impossible" (Dr. Wagner 2002).
"The genetic differences between a Chihuahua, a German shepherd and even a timber wolf are virtually non-existent and the behavioral differences in breeds has more to do with training than breeding" (DN 2001).
"Although they look different, dog breeds have no more scientific basis than do races among humans" (Dr. Serpell 2001).
* "There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier" (Dr. Brisbin).
[/quote]
They`re dogs Peter
Same subspecies as a Poodle,Golden Retriever,German Shepherd....
Canis Lupus familiaris
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Canis_lu...
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: Canis lupus
Subspecies: Canis lupus familiaris
April 10, 2009 11:30 PM
[quote]Four-year-old boy killed by dog
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The investigation continues into whether criminal charges will be pursued in a dog attack that left a 4 year-old boy dead. It happened as he played in his family's yard in Morganza on Friday
At a news conference on Monday the Pointe Coupee district attorney Ricky Ward stopped short of saying there would be a criminal prosecution in the matter. He said there was no legal precedent in this state to prosecute on this matter but his office is still looking closely at the case.
Sheriff Bud Torres has also asked the state police to conduct the investigation since his office has a conflict of interest. One of his deputies, Deputy Rob Roy, is engaged to the owner of the dogs, Candice Wells.
Captain Steve Juge says four-year-old Michael Blaise Landry lived in the gray double-wide just behind this brick house off Highway 3050. Juge explains
little Michael was the victim of what appears to be a freak accident. "Somehow dogs got out of a pin and four-year-old was playing in the yard next door and dogs attacked child," said Captain Steve Juge of the Pointe Coupee Sheriff's Department.
Michael had to be airlifted to Point Coupee General. But, authorities say he did not survive. What makes this situation even tougher, Juge says, the owners of the dogs who live in the home just steps from the double wide are friends with Michael's family. The sheriff's department does not have a record of complaints on the boxers or their owners. In fact,
Juge points out it is clear the animals were pets. "These dogs are pets. They were on concrete, very well-maintained animals," says Juge.
Animial control agents loaded the dogs onto their truck and hauled them away. Juge says the investigation is far from over. "They will be put in confinement for a number of days. We will turn this investigation over to the district attorney's office to see if there will be criminal charges," said Juge.
District Attorney Ricky Ward says he would like to speak with the victim's family
but is not leaning towards filing charges in case. Investigators says it would be almost impossible to prove the dog's caretaker was responsible and exhibited criminal negligence the way Louisiana law is written.[/quote]
Catching on yet?
(One of these Breeds)
1)Staffordshire Bull Terrier
2)APBT
3)American Staffordshire Terrier
or
a 'pit type' dog,
or
a look-a-like Breed
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf
or
a media tagged 'pit bull'
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-med...
I own the Breed that did this.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-07/04/content_633172.htm
[quote]the smaller the dog, the less damage that can be inflicted, [/quote]
Size doesn`t matter much when you`re a baby or a toddler Henri
Worldwide
A Pomeranian and a JRT have killed.
A Lab Puppy has killed
Dachshunds have killed multiple times
You obviously can`t be bothered to look at factual links or you refuse to acknowledge the facts because they conflict with your beliefs.
'Pit Bulls' do not cause injuries unlike other dogs
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/types-of-dog-bites/do...
The difference between people like yourself
[quote]either way you pay for whatever damage your dog does.[/quote]
and informed people who oppose Breed Specific Legislation (because it does not reduce dog bites or improve Public Safety) is that we think all people(not just some people) deserve to be protected from irresponsible owners who may have created truly dangerous dogs(regardless of Breed) and we believe that ALL Owners should be held accountable for the behavior of their dogs REGARDLESS of Breed*
Not clear on why you only want to hold 'pit bull' owners responsible?
Everyone else gets let off the hook?
That doesn`t seem very responsible.
Do you not think the Owner of the 3 Boxers who killed the child in the above Story should be held accountable or responsible?
Would that story be of more interest to you if the Media had alleged 'pit bulls'?
Not clear on why you only want to hold 'pit bull' owners responsible?
I never stated that, Henri.
As for the Owners of the 3 boxers , yes they should be held accountable and responsible? Henri
I will admit, Im not a big fan or supporter of Pits, don't trust them at all, and yes Ive been in thier presence, but for a short a time as possible.
All dog owners should be held accountable for the behavior of their dogs regardless of Breed.
[quote]I will admit, Im not a big fan or supporter of Pits, don't trust them at all, and yes Ive been in thier presence, but for a short a time as possible.[/quote]
I`m also not a big fan or supporter of a number of Breeds but the Media is not selectively reporting bites by those Breeds in order to skew public opinion.
They are not destroying the lives of the Owners of those Breeds.
They are not causing innocent dogs of those Breeds to be killed due to the enactment of Breed Specific Laws due to Media Stories.
If they only reported Retriever bites they could also skew Public opinion.
The Public needs to realize what the Media is doing.
Unfortunately there are at least 25 Pure Breed dogs and thousands of mutts that have the look that people think they hate and the Media jumps at every chance to report anything with short hair,square head and a whip tail as a 'pit bull' whether or not it actually is a 'Pit Bull' Breed or a 'Pit Bull' mix.
They don`t care or report on the circumstances leading up to the bite and they don`t differentiate between a dog kept as a pet and a dog kept chained as a guard dog.
It`s no wonder people fear these dogs if all a person knows is what they read in the Media.
Hell-o I`d fear them if that`s all I read or knew.
The Media needs to stop what they`re doing.
They are misleading the Public in order to sell Papers and bring people to their sites and these stories are then cited as "proof" by those who push for Breed Bans.
I have a Message for the Media
Be responsible!
Just as all Dog Owners need to be held accountable for their dogs
The Media also needs to be held accountable for their stories.
This tabloid style selective "reporting" is NOT acceptable
http://server.inalbum.com/show/jodipreis/Message_to_the_Media2.html?2960...
News stories are always made more dramatic when the UNEXPECTED occurs. I, for one, would find it much more dramatic and upsetting and sensational if it was a family Labrador that viciously attacked or killed a child. With dogs like pit bulls, or Shepherds, etc these attacks are very sad but hardly unexpected and not particularly sensational at all.
And how is a march with people breaking the law by having unmuzzled pit bulls on the streets going to demonstrate responsible ownership?
These crusaders always point to other breeds that bite that they claim are not reported on, and they talk about media conspiracies. The simple truths are these, and no amount of misleading talk about pounds-per-square-inch bite power or slight differences between breeds that are lumped togetjer as :"pit bulls" for good reasons will change these facts.
Yes, chihuahuas and toy poodles may bite more frequently, but that's because their numbers are so vastly higher that those of what are considered to be pit bulls. Those small dogs are lucky if they break the skin. Also, most bites from other dogs--the vast majority--are defensive (correctly perceived or not) and usually just a nip. When a pit bull attacks, it doesn't need a reason. It doesn't have to feel in danger. And it usually doesn't bite and back away. It hangs on and chews, often causes massive injuries, and many times death. That's what it was bred for, and that's how some idiots train them.
Pit bull owners like to paint themselves as responsible, caring, loving people, and many of them undoubtedly are. But in my experience with pit bulls and their owners, I have almost universally been greeted with expletives and threats if I ask them to leash their dog or move out of a schoolyard or playground (both against the law in Vancouver and most other jurisdictions). As well, in most reported Vancouver cases of injury to a person or their dog from an unprovoked, unpredictable attack by a pit bull, the owners either flee, attempt to flee, give false names, or try to blame the victims.
There's usually a good reason for assumptions and stereotypes concerning almost anything, and with the pit bull most are generally true. There's a reason many insurance companies in North America won't offer home insurance to pit bull owners. They don't deal in stereotypes--they deal in hard facts. One of the most common things you hear if an owner has been tracked down is, "He never did anything like that before." No kidding. If they are known for one thing more than anything else, it is their unpredictabillity. Pit bulls as family pets who have been fine wirth children before have suddenly turned on them. And no, it doesn;t happen all the time, but when it does it can mean death or permanent disfigurement.
I personally feel that anyone who would leave a young child alone in a room or backyard with one of these dogs should be reported to the local children's authority.
You might think I hate dogs because of this post. No, I don't. They're not to blame for traits we bred into them. It's often the owner I hate, though.
And a breed ban is the only way to get them out of circulation for good. None put down, just allowed to grow old and die, along with a strict enforcement of leash and muzzle laws.
Then we won't have to see the horrible pictures we've seen locally here the past few days of two vicious pit-bull attacks.
Pretty funny Martin.
Desperation?
My posts contain facts with sources cited.
Your post contains.....???
Enough said.
Too bad you didn`t post some of your "extensive research" and cite your sources.
It`s called audience Interest
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-med...
and it`s also done when pushing for a Breed Ban such as Ontario did.
When people get their "facts" from Media stories,it works.
Apparently most of the Public is too lazy or too illiterate to read factual information.
Legislators count on that.
It worked in Ontario.
Is the Public smarter in BC?
http://www.ontla.on.ca/committee-proceedings/transcripts/files_html/2005...
[quote].....An argument is sometimes made that, while all dogs bite, only a few breeds cause serious injury when they attack. Again, this hypothesis does not withstand scrutiny. A study by the Canadian hospitals injury reporting and prevention program examined the dog breeds involved in attacks that were serious enough that the victim sought medical attention at one of eight reporting hospitals. The study revealed that 50 different types of purebreds and 33 types of crossbreeds had been involved in the attacks, the most common breeds being German shepherds, cocker spaniels, Rottweilers and golden retrievers.
What about the most serious of attacks, those resulting in the death of a person attacked? Since 1983, there have been 23 reported human fatalities in Canada due to dog attacks. A total of 55 dogs were involved in these attacks, and only one of these dogs, an American Staffordshire terrier, would be banned under the proposed legislation.....[/quote]
The Media sold that Ban in Ontario and then their Premier simply "whipped" the vote.
I suggest you read Pit Bull Placebo:The Media,Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/canines-in-our-culture/a-histor...
My story contained attribution for every fact, unlike yourself. I will post a link here as soon as I can find it in the pre-Web archive.
I'm sure that you, as a bully breeder, will appreciate it.
Ta-ta.
Repetition of falsehoods doesn`t make them factual.
http://www.straight.com/article-215012/pit-bull-stereotypes-rooted-fact
http://www.straight.com/article-215012/pit-bull-stereotypes-rooted-fact
Hope you`re not screening out comments Martin.
I posted the OVMA testimony over there.
Let people decide on the credibility of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and other Experts vs your Opinion article.
[quote]Even though Doogie claims not to have a pit bull, you can comfortably be assured that he is among this bunch. [/quote]
ROFLMAO
As "factual" as your "extensive research"
Can`t post on Martin`s blog entry.
He`s muzzling Lab Owners now along with banning fact based info by the OVMA
You are too funny Martin
Your comments that have not been approved for publication remain unpublished because they include massive (1,700+ word) excerpts that we cannot verify you have the right to republish.
I am accusing Martin of making false inaccurate statements,false accusations that I am either a Pit Bull owner or Breeder(I am neither) and not substantiating his opinions which he is presenting as factual.
Pit Bull Stereotypes are NOT rooted in Facts.
He is doing EXACTLY what the Media does.
So I`ll go back and just post the link to the OVMA testimony.
We`ll see if that shows up on his blog entry.
This posting of Opinion as fact is tiresome and annoying and is destroying peoples lives in Canada,the U.S. and elsewhere.
If you don`t want to be called on it and asked to substantiate it then clearly state that it is NOTHING but your Opinion/belief.
Don`t try and pass it off as fact!
Thank you for your online coverage of our walk for fair reporting on pit bulls. The recent Surrey attack is tragic and should be a lesson in responsible dog ownership...instead, recent TV coverage has chosen to focus on stereotypes and sensationalism.
The majority of pit bulls are gentle and loving family pets - who walked along busy downtown streets, in the rain, alongside their owners this afternoon. Thanks to objective coverage like yours, we hope to showcase the best of this amazing breed, and provide support to other "bullie" owners who face abuse every time a story like this is published.
All the best, and thanks again,
April Fahr
Travis, thanks for putting an end to cut & paste doogie!
The group that protested with their pit bulls was NOT "irresponsibly in violation of city regulations." Where did you get your information? Perhaps before you go accusing people of breaking laws and being irresponsible, you should take a peek at Vancouver's by-laws. Vancouver doesn't have breed specific laws. Yes aggressive dogs must be muzzled and leashed at all times, but the city defines an aggressive dog as:
"1. any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation any domestic animal or human, or
2. a dog which has bitten another domestic animal or human without provocation."
Hmm, I don't see anything in that definition that says pit bull. None of the dogs that were out there with their owners were dogs that have been deemed "aggressive," nor were any of them off leash, or even on leashes longer than 2.5m. Acting in full compliance with the by-laws of the city you are in is pretty much the opposite of being irresponsible.
A complete disregard for facts (quite easily verified facts) like city by-laws, really calls into question your integrity and the validity of everything else you've stated.
I was not informed that the naming of specific breeds was removed from the new Vancouver Dog Bylaw. I was told that this would not happen - it was just a matter of higher fines etc.. The purpose of the original 1987 to 2005 Dog Bylaw was to clarify what breeds have the propensity to be aggressive and cause serious injury in order to provide safety measures to reduce/eliminate such attacks. If a problem pit bull breed is muzzled when in public then they would not likely lock on to the victim and could be pulled off allowing the victim to escape. If kept in a kennel run when not with owners that would stop the chaining abuse. These precautions were supported by breeders/dog fighters in their books. It was to help protect all.
If I was an American Pit Bull Terrier, until the fighting instincts of future generations are bred out, I would rather wear a proven safe muzzle and have a clean, sheltered kennel run instead of being killed for attacking. And as Bob Barker saids " Get those pets spayed and neuter!"
The SPCA always says it is the owners that need to be trained, they are right but how do you train people that make these statements after an attack; "That's the first time he/she ever attacked anyone" "Someone left the gate opened" "The dog dug a hole under the fence" "The dog is old and does not want to be touched" "The BABY reached for the dogs bone instead of his BOTTLE" and my all time favorite that I have heard many times; "That will teach the kid for bugging the dog". Those statements were all said after dog attacks, there is people so stupid they think it is OK for the dog to teach the kid by biting the kid, those people need to be thrown in with the tiger at the Toronto zoo.
People are stupid, lets face the facts and some own dangerous dogs, so what to do, what did they do with lions and tigers??? Think about this for a second folks. There is people out there so stupid they would buy a tiger cub for their child if they were not prohibited.
My idea of the irresponsible Canadian that owns a dangerous dog. I call this guy "Joe24pack" (I am not him). This guy sits in his lazyboy with a case of Molsons on the right and his empty case on the left, he is watching Hockey Night in Canada. After the eastern game is over he says to his girl friend (he isn't married no not this slob) "honey I need to go out and get another case for the western game", of course he will drive drunk he is a slob. When he comes back and parks again he says to his girl friend "oh honey (he thinks he will get lucky tonight, that's why he says honey) is the kid back from walking the pit bull yet?" Now we have 1,000's of guys like this that own what I call "thick skulled mean breed killing machines". HOW can you train these guys???? We can't even train people not to tailgate with cars and that is the simplest of tasks, not complicated like caring for a dog. The only possible way to reduce the severe injuries is to ban the breed. There is still joys in owning a dog because I am not saying ban all breeds.
I don't know how much simpler I can make it, it is like the investigator said after the Air Florida crash in Washington, he said "I don't know how much more I can stress the fact, if there is ice on the wings your going to die". People just can't comprehend danger, pilots included.
Lastly (I know you all can't wait) have you noticed how many times the cops shoot the dangerous breeds????? Why do they do it??? Because they want to save their own skin, they know what the dog can do if it gets the chance so they shoot it. US JOEPUBLIC is expected to take these dogs down bare handed while the polce shoot them, something is wrong here.
OK I am done.
I don't agree with a ban on the breed but I am concerned that pit bull owners are in denial about the breeds potential to kill and refuse to acknowledge that the act of muzzling them is for public safety. Some city by-laws in the lower mainland do define vicious dogs as pit bulls, rottweilers, german shepherds etc. The city of vancouver's by-law is open to interpretation. The term agressive dogs is very vague, not breed specific and an approach that classifies a dog "after the fact" (defined as agressive only after it has shown aggression). In my opinion, it is far more usefull in serving the public if the definition was clear so that owners of specific breeds are aware of what mandatory steps need to be taken to prevent the situation from happening in the first place - yes, that means muzzle all potential breeds known to have caused severe injuries and not just pit bulls.
Re: media portrayal of pit bulls
I work for the media and I can assure you that we don't choose a story because we are rallying for a ban on pit bulls or trying to portray pit bulls as evil. If you are accusing the media of doing this, you obviously have never been in the newsroom before and you are insulting our jounalistic integrity. The fact is, the media reports on attacks in general (cougar attacks, bear attacks, coyote attacks etc). The fact that pit bull attacks cause severe injuries is newsworthy. If it were a rottweiler, it will likely be reported as well. Most times we don't hunt for the story, but the story comes to us because someone reports it to citydesk. We are not trying to do it to sell papers either - I can tell you this type of story does NOT move the meter for us (does not sell more papers nor increase viewership).
Re: Dog owner
I have a small terrier and she does bite. Does she have the potential to puncture & tear human skin or disfigure a face if provoked? I highly doubt it because she is afraid of any human bigger than her and runs away. Her idea of attacking is barking loudly. A dog as big and strong as a pit bull has more potential to do more damage to a child or another animal than my little 17 pound 1 foot high dog.
Re: Victim of dog bite.
My teenage son was bit by a neighbour's pit bull. He was just walking by their house on the sidewalk. It was a completely unprovoked attack. The owners are responsible, kind people. It would be hard to believe that they would train their pit bulls to be agressive, but there it was - the dog began to drool (it had never done this before according to the owner) . One of the two dogs lunged at my son's leg. He was lucky though as his leg was not mauled. Do we wait until dogs (who are known to be agressive) bite or maul someone before we do something about it or can we be proactive and ensure it is prevented?
I also wish that the community is better informed on who has dogs, where they live and what types of dogs are they. I like the comment made by someone about feeling like a hostage becuase of a small minority of dog owners who seem to feel that their rights are being challenged and that there is dog discrimination if we subject them to all these restrictions.
To me a responsible dog owner is one who acknowledges the dog breed's tendencies, complies with the by-laws, accepts the risk and potential liabilities associated with owning an aggressive dog and respect that these guidelines are created NOT to punish you but to protect the general public.
The walk was a defensive reaction blamed on the media and purely emotional. All victims of dog attacks should also hold a march or walk. Yes, I'm sure it would get media attention becuase the disfigurement that these pit bulls or any other vicious dog have caused would create shock value!!!
God Bless you our beautiful baby boy "Blaise"
The Luna McDaniel and Michael "Blaise" Landry Act 199 passed and in effect as of August 15, 2009 in Louisiana.
God Bless you our lil' baby boy "Blaise"
The Luna McDaniel and Michael "Blaise" Landry ACT 199
In affect in Louisiana as of 8-15-09
These unprovoked boxers came into my yard and savagely killed my innocent 4 y/o son......not just a bite.....almost eaten alive.
ALL ANIMALS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
("types—such as pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherds, bull mastiffs, and various crosses of those breeds, as well as some exotic “fighting” dogs—whose strength and biting power, the potential to inflict serious physical damage in such situations, is far greater than others’. Yet it’s these dogs, and not the laws meant to control them, that have the teeth")
So why stop here? I have witnessed an alaskan malamute bite a person at a dog park as well as a golden retriever at another dog park. We know boxers are aggressive from the above posts. So why stop with these breeds?
Martin, by your stardards, any dog with "strength and biting power", (or any large dog,) is a threat so maybe we should just ban all large dogs?
But then, think - A large dog is a threat to an adult the same way a medium sized or small dog is a threat to a child or infant, so we should definately ban small and medium sized dogs too. While we are at it we can muzzle all mean raccoons and make larger than average house cats wear oven mitts. So where do you draw the line?
I do not deny that aggressive dogs are a serious problem. Let's face it, whether or not we ban pit bulls, animals are still going to be animals. They will act unpredictably when in fear, and will defend themselves, especially those with pent up energy and bad experiences with people. So, punish the pet shops and back yard breeder, punish the lazy owners, or the guy who thinks it's cool to praise his dog for aggressive behavior. In order to minimize the incidents of dog bites, all potential dog owners should be screened however only shelters and reputable breeders are doing this. Do not punish the dog - its a dog for f***s sake! Everyone thinks in ontario the pitbull type breeds aren't being hurt but that is total BS. The internet is full of stories of ontario dog owners with dogs that look nothing like pitbulls who are being forced to surrender there dogs for disposal just because they do not own an official certificate stating their dog is a pure bred - something only about 10 % of dogs owners have. Even if dog owners out there do not like pit bulls, they need to wake up because all it takes is one officer to say your dog looks like it could be part pit bull and they have no rights unless they own a certificate stating otherwise. Sounds crazy right? Ontario government tried siezing one owners overweight BLACK LAB for disposal! (more info at dogbreedinfo.com)
Anyways in closing anyone who supports a pitbull ban cannot call themselves a dog lover because any dog lover would understand the pain of having their loved ones taken away and murdered and realize this is unjust. You need to ask yourself if you just feel this way because of what you hear in the media or have you actually taken the time to get to know these breeds as the people who are sticking up for them have.