Put some dogs to sleep, please!
I saw a dog-bit victim in the ER recently. She was about seven years old, and a truly beautiful child. While her family was visiting another, the host family Pit-Bull escaped his pen and immediately attacked her. She was bitten on the face, head and ear. Fortunately, the dog was immunized for rabies and the bites were relatively minor. A few stitches and some skin adhesive, and she was right as rain.
She was very brave, but her family was shaken. And rightly. A few more seconds and the dog might have reached for her trachea and carotid arteries, as aggressive dogs do. I might have been struggling for an airway in a crushed trachea, rather than closing a simple laceration from a bite. I might have been consoling a family rather than laughing and joking with a little girl about her bravery.
Folks, there are some dangerous dogs out there! I never understand the fascination with dogs like Pit-Bulls. I know, I know, it’s how they’re trained. But lets face it, no one is buying Labs or Golden Retrievers, Beagles or Collies because of their inherently aggressive nature. Some dogs are born for the hunt, or are naturally good guard animals. And if that’s their job, well I guess it’s OK as long as everyone is very attentive and diligent. Owners of those animals need to train them for obedience as well as aggression. Problem is, those owners aren’t doing that. And every year, people die; especially children.
I was reminded of the danger when I saw a news report about Michael Vick’s dogs, the ones that had been used in dog-fighting for sport. The persons involved were hoping to rehabilitate the dogs so that they could one day have families. All I could think was ‘you’ve got to be kidding!’ Those are deadly, dangerous animals. Anyone who would have one around their family is asking for tragedy. You’d be better off rehabilitating a live RPG round or fragmentation grenade.
What happens with fighting dogs like that is cruel and horrible. Animals should not be subjected to that sort of life. But once they have been, I submit that they should be put down, in order that no person has to suffer from their violent power.
The dog that bit my patient was going to be put to sleep. It may be that the dog was taught to attack. It may be that it was naturally defensive and aggressive. But however sad it may be, putting the dog down is the right thing.
These are animals, not humans, and we need to remember that. It’s best to realize and accept that reality and the unfortunate necessity of killing the animals, rather than to be reminded of it while standing by a dead child, listening to the mourning of grief-stricken parents.
Edwin
Way more kids are harmed and killed by their parents than by dogs – any breed. Should we also put the parents to sleep?
Recently in Little Rock a dangerous dog law was enacted based on a pit bull incident. That very day a 5 yo was mauled by a black lab.
In regards to the Vick dogs, only one had to be put down because of aggressiveness. The rest are being rehabilitated and are not considered threats to people. They were trained to fight other dogs. They should be dog-aggressive not handler-aggressive.
Without training dogs rely on instinct and will do what dogs do – bite.
Dangerous dogs more often than not have dangerous or irresponsible owners. Owners need to be educated. If owners are not willing to train and exercise their dogs and be responsible owners then these people should simply get stuffed animals.
Pitbulls are not inherently human aggressive. Yes, they can be more dog-aggressive than some other breeds (by AKC standards the terrier group, which the Pitbull is a part of is described as “can be dog aggressive”) But, the Pitbull is not inherently human aggressive. Please, folks understand that dog aggression & human aggression are two completely distinct characteristics. I realize that this is a hard concept for many people to get their heads around (no insult intended), but this is a distinction that needs to be stated over & over again.
Yes, there are Pitbulls that can be human aggressive through lack of socialization, improper breeding, and mishandling or extreme abuse. But, even then the Pitbull is known for its human friendliness and extreme optimism. In the case of the Michael Vick dogs, many of the survivors were probably some of the most “people-pleasing” dogs that one could meet and that is why they probably are still alive today! Typically, in the history of the fighting world, a dog that showed any sign of human aggression was immediately shot or put down due to the fact that handlers “working” the dogs in the ring were not about to have their hands or face bitten off in the heat of a dog fight.
And please, remember that if the poor child that was bitten would have been bitten by a Lab or Collie, we would not be hearing about the referenced dog bite. There is no statitistical data to prove that more dog bites are caused by Pitbulls than any other dog. One other note: many dogs are misidentified as being Pitbulls by the general public and even the “professionals” (animal control officers, police, etc) because many dogs have a similar look to that of the Pitbull. Mixed breeds are notoriously labled as Pitbulls especially in the animal sheter world because of politics and/or ignorance thereby giving the Pitbull label to just about every dog that they themselves cannot identify.
Human aggression should not be tolerated in a Pitbull or any breed. Socialization and obedience are two very important aspects of dog ownership in general. The responsibility of dog ownership is a heavy one, especially in today’s society where urbanization/suburbanization have changed the “rules of the game”. Therefore, every dog owner is responsible for educating themselves on what is at stake in raising a dog in today’s society. Although, the answer does not lie in “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”…
In a former career, I was a professional dog trainer.
I have been bitten by more pretty Golden Retrievers than I have by Pit Bulls. The term “Pit Bull,”by the way, is as generic a term as the word “car,” yet conveniently ignored by well-meaning city governments trying to pass vicious dog bans.
It is indeed all about the socialization the dogs have. In the debate between nature vs nurture, the blame for aggressive dogs comes down squarely on the side of “nurture.”
Or the lack thereof.
Sadly, children are more likely to be mauled for several reasons – they may tend to unwittingly agitate or hurt the dog by pulling ears, tails, etc., and they often stand at just the right height to look a dog in the eye, which most canines interpret as a challenge to his/her dominance in their pack heirarchy.
Bulldog bites do tend to be much more severe, but that is better explained by the physiology of their jaw musculature than by attributing them any special degree of malevolence.
Are you folks crazy? Pit bulls or whatever you call them are usually raised by people who have no business raising chidren much less dogs, are a kind of “gangsta” status symbol, and if only one percent of them are dangerous than that’s unacceptable. Every serious dog mauling I have seen including two deaths recently of two elderly people where the result of pit bulls. Most of the non-pit bull dog bites I see are one bite then off. Pit bulls grab and saw and don’t let go. If my neighbor kept pit bulls I’d move heaven and earth to have them removed. I have five dogs including a German Shepard and they are just not inherently vicious.
And the idea that a typical “pit bull” owner gives a crap about obedience training, socialization, or any of your high-minded philosophical ideas is laughable. The “pit bull” is a fighting dog and is prized as such even by people who don’t actually fight them. If you want a dog for your kids a pit bull is a ridiculous dog. Labs may occasionally bite but they are not a deadly threat like a big, unsocialized pit bull.
I am an animal lover, but I agree that aggressive dogs who have bitten humans (and drawn blood) should be put down. As a child I was mauled by our neighbor’s dog (a mut) and still have facial scars. They put him down afterwards, and I think they did the right thing. It’s very sad, I know – but rehabilitation is no guarantee… Even my sister had to put down her beloved Saint Bernard after he became really aggressive and threatened her children and viciously attacked her husband. They had tried everything – lessons, neutering him, etc. Some dogs are just not safe.
WOW!!!!! Vicious? Scary? no their loveable right now I have an American staffordshire terrier and she is the sweetest dog ive ever had. I also have 4 chihuahuas and they are the meanest little fuckers to walk the earth. My mother always raised pitbulls around us when we were kids playfull and fun they would always be there to protect us and never caused a problem. they are family pets and if you ask me the jerks who raise the dogs that bite people need to be put down not the dog. We had an incident i recall when i was younger when our dog pete went after a poodle and almost broke her back… but hey she was in heat and he was 50 pounds heavier then her. its just the way they are, their dogs. so no they shouldnt be put down. ignorant people shouldnt be aloud to breed them all the time either they are the scum of the earth, i feel so bad for the helpless animals.you people who discriminate should be ashamed of yourselfs!
Ya i understand the reason to put this dog to sleep, but not all dogs that bite should. people bite too, we dont put them to sleep, they get a slap on the wrist and a fine. if people get a chance, then so should the dogs. people beat up people, they draw blood, they dont get put to sleep. the dog should atleast be able to go through a 4 month containment where they are checked every day, treatd every day, and then put through a test to see if they are able to enter the big world again. i know some dogs wouldnt be able to go through the test and pass, but atleast they got a chance.
I had a jack Russell terrier with a resource guarding problem which led to 3 puncture wounds and a rip in my hand, my boyfriends four year old son got bit in his face and required eight stitches. We put the jack russell down, I own a German Shepherd, lab and possible pit bull mix and she is a sweet as can be and excellent with kids and people very playful. Pit bulls are awesome dogs, even purebreds. As it turns out little dogs are more likely to bite, there is too much attention on the poor pitbull and people who talk bad about pit bulls probably never took time out to know one or their owner and is just a plain coward, it saddens me people talk so much about what they just dont understand. Please research the pitbull in depth before you talk about them.
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