12yr old boy killed by family dog.
- Thread starter Cookiemonster
- Start date
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dog bites - not breed dependant
I'm not neccesarily out to ban any particular breed per se but I can tell you that when a friend comes out of the house and says "your son (then 6) was bitten by the dog, it doesn't look like he'll lose his eye".........
it has an impact that influences your opinion. My son was walking accross the dining room returning a post breakfast empty but "dirty"plate to the kitchen when he bent down to pet the dog. The dog bit him. It was a quick singel bite - no mauling 40 stitches to the face and the amazing healing powers of a healthy kid, put him right.
We were guests at my Mom's house. The dog was a guest at my Mom's house, the dog was well known "family dog" by us, our kids etc. The dog was smallish, older and a "mutt" (past tense used because the event was a couple of years ago not because the dog was put down - she wasn't - although I think the dog should have been put down)
There was supervision, no pencils (but obviously food or scent of food was a factor)...If you think you can "supervise" away all hazards...rest well with your false comfort. Things happen, its life. I feel responsible and am really thankful for the extent of his recovery.
opinions are frequently based on experiences. Accidents like these can raise awareness and hopefully reduce recurrence. By design, execution, and good fortune our kids have a love for and respect for animals of many varieties.
Carry on.
I'm not neccesarily out to ban any particular breed per se but I can tell you that when a friend comes out of the house and says "your son (then 6) was bitten by the dog, it doesn't look like he'll lose his eye".........
it has an impact that influences your opinion. My son was walking accross the dining room returning a post breakfast empty but "dirty"plate to the kitchen when he bent down to pet the dog. The dog bit him. It was a quick singel bite - no mauling 40 stitches to the face and the amazing healing powers of a healthy kid, put him right.
We were guests at my Mom's house. The dog was a guest at my Mom's house, the dog was well known "family dog" by us, our kids etc. The dog was smallish, older and a "mutt" (past tense used because the event was a couple of years ago not because the dog was put down - she wasn't - although I think the dog should have been put down)
There was supervision, no pencils (but obviously food or scent of food was a factor)...If you think you can "supervise" away all hazards...rest well with your false comfort. Things happen, its life. I feel responsible and am really thankful for the extent of his recovery.
opinions are frequently based on experiences. Accidents like these can raise awareness and hopefully reduce recurrence. By design, execution, and good fortune our kids have a love for and respect for animals of many varieties.
Carry on.
here is more on this story from a message i got this AM --
e
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It's so awful. It's all I've been hearing about since Friday. Here's Bad Rap's response to the incident:
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/tragedy.cfm
So far, the papers show that the father was planning on breeding the dogs. The neighbor reportedly said that the night before, she heard weird growling from the dogs (who lived upstairs) and when she went to talk to the mom, the mom wouldn't let her in "because the dogs are in here." The dogs were frequently tied up outside their garage in front. The kids were often seen playing with the dogs in the backyard and hit them in the face though the dogs did not react aggressively towards them at all.
We've been getting many emails asking how a family dog could just snap. Sigh. As far as I can see, there's actually been no final conclusion as to what the cause of death was. The story seems to be getting stranger and stranger, and I can't wait to find out what the investigation reveals.
BR's director's been asked to speak at San Francisco's Animal Control to talk about the responsibilities and myths of owning this breed, to try to calm down some owners who are afraid their own pit bull pets will "turn." It's all so unbelievably hysterical.
If any of you guys are in the Bay Area on Thursday, BR will do a quick presentation/intro at the City Council's meeting where they'll talk about possibilities for legislation and/or other solutions.
Cross your fingers for us over here. I have a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.
e
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It's so awful. It's all I've been hearing about since Friday. Here's Bad Rap's response to the incident:
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/tragedy.cfm
So far, the papers show that the father was planning on breeding the dogs. The neighbor reportedly said that the night before, she heard weird growling from the dogs (who lived upstairs) and when she went to talk to the mom, the mom wouldn't let her in "because the dogs are in here." The dogs were frequently tied up outside their garage in front. The kids were often seen playing with the dogs in the backyard and hit them in the face though the dogs did not react aggressively towards them at all.
We've been getting many emails asking how a family dog could just snap. Sigh. As far as I can see, there's actually been no final conclusion as to what the cause of death was. The story seems to be getting stranger and stranger, and I can't wait to find out what the investigation reveals.
BR's director's been asked to speak at San Francisco's Animal Control to talk about the responsibilities and myths of owning this breed, to try to calm down some owners who are afraid their own pit bull pets will "turn." It's all so unbelievably hysterical.
If any of you guys are in the Bay Area on Thursday, BR will do a quick presentation/intro at the City Council's meeting where they'll talk about possibilities for legislation and/or other solutions.
Cross your fingers for us over here. I have a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
As my wife and I think about getting a dog and I read this thread, I can see both sides. I agree with Eric, not every pit bull is a biter. And I've known a couple Labs that were meaner than hell. But, with children, I'd rather worry that when my 2 year old grabs the dog's nuts and gets bitten, that the dog is going to bite or snap once, not latch on, shake, and not let go.
The big point is most dogs snap or bite and then are either immediately submissive or run off. Not what I have seen in videos of Pit attacks and pack attacks. "Finish what they started" was posted here by someone. But I guess it wouldn't make much of a Pit attack video to air if it was just a bite and flee so maybe they will.
I get under the blanket and my mom's Boston bits down followed by the shaking back and forth of the head. It's funny because it doesn't really hurt. But I can be laughing and then say hey and she stops instantly. Not all dogs will stop. She is playing (??) but I couldn't imagine a 40lb dog acting the same way she does. My Boston was scared of little children and always acted strange when they began to corner her so once I was aware of it she was locked away when children were present. Had she been a 40+lb dog I would have never kept her. I'm sure I read once where a weiner dog killed and infant.
I get under the blanket and my mom's Boston bits down followed by the shaking back and forth of the head. It's funny because it doesn't really hurt. But I can be laughing and then say hey and she stops instantly. Not all dogs will stop. She is playing (??) but I couldn't imagine a 40lb dog acting the same way she does. My Boston was scared of little children and always acted strange when they began to corner her so once I was aware of it she was locked away when children were present. Had she been a 40+lb dog I would have never kept her. I'm sure I read once where a weiner dog killed and infant.
erics_bruisers said:
So, with this following statement you can claim all pitbulls are good if they have the right temperment?
"Without witnesses, we can only speculate and wait for more information to surface. But because we DO know that temperament-correct pit bulls do not present a danger to people, we believe that the Faibish dogs represent the type of troubled, unstable misbreds that source from disreputable breeders 'Backyard Breeders' "
The problem is, a large number of the breed AREN'T "temperment-correct." Whatever the hell that means. You can say that about anything.
If I found a "temperment correct" great white I would let my kids play with it.
Owners have serious responsibility to train/protect/raise the dogs correctly - yes I agree. Dogs can be socialized well and behave properly - and much of this is a function of their environment and situation. However, please don't try to make us all believe that this one breed you seem to have some penchant for making into saints is so loving and wonderful. When you have to qualify almost every discussion with phrases like "supervision" and "proper ownership" and "temperment correct" then something is wrong and that breed is not suitable for most pet owners. If I was a drug dealer I know what breed(s) I would own to protect my stash. If I was a parent I know what breeds I would avoid. I don't sinlge out pits here, but come on, don't keep feeding us this BS about them being sweethearts. If a stranger can't take a bone/food away from the dog while it is eating without it growling it is not a good family dog. Dogs from all breeds exhibit a wide range of behaviors, but the general disposition of the breed CANNOT be ignored. That is just foolishness.
Well, first off, I didn't write the article -- so while I am in somewhat agreement of it, I am not fully subscribed to it --
-- also, things like food-aggression, etc. are not defects of any one breed, but are problems seen with all breeds -- and they are easily correctible with proper training.
Are pit bulls for everyone? No -- not at all -- many families aren't ready for them, and many get declined when they apply for one from me --
-- are they for people willing to go the extra mile in owning them? Sure -- and they vary greatly in their temperaments -- I don't claim to have a "penchant" for making them in to "sweethearts" -- instead, I know the enormous pleasure they can be as pets when owned responsibly --
-- and those who have never been around a really wonderful one will never know -- here's a video of Thor, who is a spectacular dog --
http://www.spbr.org/inthenews/videorescue/VideoRescue.htm
e
-- also, things like food-aggression, etc. are not defects of any one breed, but are problems seen with all breeds -- and they are easily correctible with proper training.
Are pit bulls for everyone? No -- not at all -- many families aren't ready for them, and many get declined when they apply for one from me --
-- are they for people willing to go the extra mile in owning them? Sure -- and they vary greatly in their temperaments -- I don't claim to have a "penchant" for making them in to "sweethearts" -- instead, I know the enormous pleasure they can be as pets when owned responsibly --
-- and those who have never been around a really wonderful one will never know -- here's a video of Thor, who is a spectacular dog --
http://www.spbr.org/inthenews/videorescue/VideoRescue.htm
e
