NY Times article about Vick's pit bulls
 

It's a sad article, because it's likely most of these dogs will be put down (over 50 of them) as they are not adoptable, but cheers to the Hanover, VA Animal Control people for at least trying to make the dogs' last days better than what they had before.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/01/sp...01vick.html?hp

very sad article. i don't care how much bad happens to vick, it's not enough.

Seems like bad news Kennels may have been a mickey mouse operation. They only had to put down one of the "vicious" Pitt bulls. The rest are going to do candy stripe duty at local hospitals. Vick couldnt even get dogs to fight right, he had a crew of love puppies. Off with his head.

it's standard practice now in most jurisdictions to put down pit bulls that are taken to the pound. ticking time bombs.
just read a story yesterday about a woman who was suddenly attacked and killed by her two pet pits. her son tried to save her, was also attacked.

I read that article, too. I like the pit bull terriers I've met, but I guess any dog can turn on you (a friend who owned dalmatians said he'd never trust one), but some breeds are just bigger and stronger than others. I'd be willing to bet there are more chihuahua bites than other breeds, but how much damage can a chihuahua do, compared with a bigger dog, right?

i'd imagine there are more vicious attacks with injuries or deaths with pit bulls than any other breed, by far. it's bred into them. that was the whole point of that breed when they first sought those traits, and it can be a latent trait in any of those dogs. i don't understand why anyone would take a chance and have one, not when there are so many other dogs out there without that 'ticking time bomb' worry. i know why some choose to do so, gangsta mentality, or for fighting, and some do so because they are macho. then there are those that have that feeling that they are special, can have some kind of connection with animals that others can't (the black stallion syndrome??) and then they find that's not true. sadly, others pay the price to show it's not true.

as for dalmatians, that's true. they can be a bit highstrung, i had one once. would never have another. they really aren't kid/family friendly. problem with them is that kids see them and rush them, mob them, due to their good p.r. from the disney movies. they're good dogs, but not necessarily good in an urban setting. they are high energy dogs, originally bred as carriage dogs to run all day. people need to choose a breed that fits their lifestyle, not what they think is pretty, or fashionable. how many look at a jack russell, think small dog, good for apt living, and then find out how wrong they were?!

Have to correct something here, Deb...

Fighting was bred into them, but aggression towards their human handlers was not. In fact, they are highly loyal and normally very good with children when raised from a young age. Pits are naturally not friendly with other small animals though, and it's normally a risk if you incorporate them into your home when you have another dog or cat sometimes even when you raise them as young puppies. I had a pit bull before and while he was not aggressive, he was what was called 'fear aggressive' (a lot of pits are.) When they feel cornered, they lash out. A lot of research says that something snaps on in a pit bull at around the age of 1 1/2 or 2 with other animals and that this poses a problem because the majority of people who own them as pets (by then) think they're in the clear to have them around other animals.

My newest dog Charlotte is starting to look like a lab/pit mix instead of the lab/hound mix they thought she was at the pound, but she has been fine so far in regards to aggression. (Even when cornered.)

The dogs are dangerous.
I will not be in line to adopt one of Vick's 49 love puppies.
The breed is dangerous. The have heads like Jaguars.
They go off on you or someone else... huge lawsuit.

And they mangle someone.... Can you imagine a dog you
own mangle a kid? It happens in this city, its seems like
every other week. About 60% of the dogs in the pound here
are pit bulls.

So my family opted for a 14 pound sausage-link mut that licks every human
face it sees. Not a cute animal... but we have never had a dog this nice
to everything it sees.

Damn thing sleeps with me every night though. Curls up right next to my
now ample belly.

they are bred to be aggressive and to be a killer. i doubt that breeding could teach a dog to differentiate between a dog and a human, they're both just targets for his aggression and killing instincts.
my dog doesn't treat me as a human, but as the alpha female of the pack. she exhibits every behavior of a dog who knows she's further down in the pecking order to me every day, when i come home, when i'm eating, etc. i'd imagine a pit is the same way, until deciding it is the alpha male/female. problem is, unlike many dogs, when a pit goes alpha, there's no stopping it. dogs don't think, they don't point at a human and say not a target, and then at the neighbors dog and say yep, target. so you got lucky with a pit, there are plenty of people who can't say the same.

Aww hell to the naw...














dog.

Oh geez.

Shame-shame.




Aks Dannie if she's short and stocky...please.

Dannie..are you going to take this from the Cajunatah?





She's also drawing funny pictures of you and sending them to board members.

I can't draw.

And sorry... did not mean to come across as a big ole B, but hate the bad rap that most pits get when the majority of them (when raised right) can make great pets. :(

Oh I know....I was just trying to stir up trouble since the Browns can't.




And you're right...those funny pictures of Dannie you sent clearly show a lack of skill.

Cajungator is right. A well bred Pit who is socialized properly and owned by a responsible person (this being most important) is not a danger to any human. One of the main quailties of a Pit is its great love of people. They never meet a stranger. My Pit lives with a Basset, a Aussie, 9 cats and 6 horses and she loves everybody. My sister has a poodle that is always attacting my Pit. I have seen Powder with this poodles entire head in her mouth but she never left a mark on her. Just stood there holding her till my sister got her dog. Powder plays with a 10lb dustmop on legs named Teddy who likes to run under Powder between her front legs and grab her by the throat. Powder just drags him along. Yes I have to watch when she plays with something smaller than herself. She is 65 lbs of enthusiasm in a very strong body who will knock you down and lick you to death.
Do not judge the breed by the Vicks of the world.
Powder wanted me to pass this message along
NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY
I STILL LOVE YOU
10/20/07 National Pit Bull Awareness Day

Get lost man.

woman just got mauled by her two pits she's had since pups. but i'm sure til they killed her in front of her son they were good pets too.

Dannie just got snotty with you.


You gonna take that from her?

She's entitled to her opinion... even if it's only based upon stories she's read about. ANY breed of dog can do what she described.

Dannie 1 Cajun 0

You are sooooo right.

Dannie should loosen the old tummy tucker and get real here.




Gee..that was harsh.

I take it back...but she should certainly check her facts before she talks about things she doesn't know anything about.




E-U....that was harsh as well.

I'll let you handle it.

Update...



Cajun 1

Dannie 1

Update

Cajun 1

Dannie 1

R. Kelly 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdaAWFoWr2c

Cajunatah 2

Dannie 1

KellyHO 2

Cleveland 2

Yankees 1

no doubt there are instances with each breed of dog. that's absolutely true. but in most cases, those are isolated instances, not involving a dog that had been specifically bred for centuries to be a killer that won't give up once the fight starts. since bear and bull baiting, down to the modern day dog fights, pits have been bred for one thing only. much like retrievers, who are called just that because it's what they're bred to do. or dalmatians, who generally don't make good pets because they are a tremendous bundle of energy--bred for centuries to run for hours along-side carriages. or terriers, anyone have one and then complain about holes in the rose beds?? how about your friendly border collie--not recommended for apt living, or for families with younger children--parents don't generally appreciate fido nipping at the kiddies heels.

it is accurate to say that pit bulls have been bred for centures to be killers--different working dogs were bred for the characteristics that farmers, ranchers or herders desired. sadly, pit bulls have been bred to perform blood sport for those that enjoy that sort of thing. not to be pets, not warm and cuddly, not companion animals. sheepdogs are bred to herd sheep, they will exhibit those herding instincts. doesn't mean rover will come home one day with his own flock, but you'll see his instincts kick in given the right circumstances. but unlike so many other dogs, pits don't listen to 'no'. as for them not getting along with other dogs--that is so against what most expect in a dog, which is for the most part a pack animal. and a dog who doesn't like other dogs, won't do well in any type of pack situation, since most houses with dogs are a 'pack'.

but why chance it with a ticking time bomb pit? those who understand what they are getting, have the right setting (hopefully not near a neighbor with a pet door--a lady home minding her own business the other day, pit came in and attacked and killed her-very recently), the wherewithal to deal with that dog, fine, go for it. btw, they should contact their homeowners insurance, as many won't cover owners of 'vicious' dogs. maybe they can get a million dollar rider to cover any accidents.
but i would recommend that most who want a dog, to do their research and get the right dog for their situation-- (not the dog that will stroke their ego, scare the neighbors, or tear up their house while their gone. it's what's best for them as well as their dog. and 99 times out of 100, a pit bull is NOT a good fit.)

--and that way, those of us who live in the dog dumping grounds won't have so many strays to deal with. i've taken in plenty over the years, as have the neighbors.

as an aside, cajun and i have chatted on here and elsewhere for years quite amicably. even when we disagree.
not quite sure what your posts on here are trying to accomplish.

UPDATE:


Cajunatah 2

Dannie 1.5

KellyHO 2

Cleveland 2

Yankees 1

and since you mentioned the yanks, did you see steinbrenner said torre is out of there if they don't make it thru this round vs the indians?

Well you don't have to be snotty about it.


If I bother you just say so.
















Brother.

Ah did!




Do you think it was timely for the series shift to NYC?

Or did he really mean it?

I think both.

well, i'm snotty if i do,
and snotty if i don't....

GOD!!...tha's what I love about her!!









GYYYYO TIGERS!!

i think he's either senile, or has been talking turkey with the powers that be with the chargers. he doesn't need to take their advice for sure!

thanks...

now i gotta go blow my nose. i'll try to be less snotty.

Nothing like a good discussion (thanks, Danzig and Cajun) to get the Google itch going- this is from the ASPCA site:

<<The Pit Bull’s Bad Reputation
Sadly, pit bulls have acquired a reputation as unpredictable, dangerous, and vicious. Their intimidating appearance has made them attractive to the wrong sorts of owner—people who are looking for a macho dog and end up encouraging aggressive behavior. In order to meet the growing demand for pit bulls, unscrupulous and uncaring breeders are producing puppies without maintaining the breed’s typical reliability with people. In fact, pit bulls are now notorious for redirecting aggression from a dog to any person who attempts to break up a fight. It is a shame what has happened to this loyal and affectionate breed.

Having said all that, we must tell you that a well-bred, well-socialized, and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent, and gentle dogs imaginable. Some of the most famous dogs in American history were pit bulls: Stubby, the most decorated United States war dog; Petey, the beloved mascot from Little Rascals, and Helen Keller’s faithful companion. Additionally, many pit bulls were featured in well-known advertising campaigns, such as Buster Brown shoes and Levis. The majority of pit bulls are still ambassadors for their breed, serving as loving companions, family members, and therapy dogs, working in search and rescue, narcotics and explosives detection, and police and sentry duty. Unfortunately, we often hear more about the exceptions than the rule.>>

Here's the link- it's really interesting reading about the history of the various breeds that are called pit bulls:

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...e=pets_pitbull

Interestingly, they were once called the nursemaid's dog, because they were so trustworthy with children (the original fighting dogs were bred and trained to be aggressive to animals, not people, because the owners had to be in the ring with the dogs at all times). But, as the article says, breeding hasn't been so carefully regulated recently. It sounds like proper socialization is the key, and I don't think many owners really put the proper amount of time into training their dogs, regardless of breed, which may make them too challenging for some.

Danzig is SO right on about people not taking into account their living situation when they get a dog- I see so many overweight, depressed Golden Retrievers here in the city, who clearly are not getting the exercise the breed needs. I think their owners probably grew up in the 'burbs. Good apartment dogs, interestingly enough can include greyhounds (my personal wish, when I finally live in an apartment that allows pets) and really big dogs, like St. Bernards and Pyrenees Mtn. Dogs, because they don't require a lot of exercise and aren't barky (noise always a factor in apartment living- also why I can't have a parrot. :( ).

i think that is also a huge problem with many breeds. horrible puppy mill breeders!
my neighbor had a lab that had a bad temperment. i even saw him charge a guy one time, i thought the man was toast.
she bred him more than once. wonderful i thought. breed a dog who exhibits traits that are NOT what someone desires in that type of dog.

it really is a shame that this breed has sunk so low. ignorance, poor breeding, etc. and the dog pays the price. but if anyone expects to do anything to help the problem, the first step would be to make ownership of these dogs very difficult and make sure that those who do own them are capable of handling them correctly. and then of course breeders have to breed for good characteristics, as well as sterilize any dog that exhibits any aggression. easier said than done.

Yep, and no hard feelings on my end. I agree with most of what you're saying, just not with the "they're bred to be killers" part. They had to be controlled by their handlers in the ring while 'pit fighting' so they weren't originally bred to be human killers. I agree that current breeding practice has been detrimental to the breed and can see why you might feel the way you do. People like Michael Vick are the downfall to this once respected breed and it makes me sad. BUT, with that said, I'll never own another pit only because of the insurance problems that come along with owning a 'dangerous breed.'

Kinda off topic, but I read about this yesterday and might get my 'pound puppy' lab mutt tested to see what else she's mixed with. I am starting to think pit because of her ears, but it's hard to tell.

http://www.whatsmydog.com/

http://www.metamorphixinc.com/