this is some bullshit esp if you own a pit bull

[AngryPistols]

Figured I'd chime in here...

I own a female PB and a male American Bulldog(AB) and have raised them from pups. The PB is by far my favorite as she is more like people than a dog. Out of our total of four dogs, the PB is the 'alpha female' and isn't half as aggressive as the AB, nonetheless, she is a 'house dog' and doesn't go outside unless she is on a leash nor in the backyard without me supervising her.

I fully understand what she is capable of and consequently what she might be accused of. In my case, I like her intelligence and loyalty and it's not some macho-my dog can kick your dog's a$$ kind of thing.

Angry

P.S. I would like to see more legislation outlawing convicted felons from owning pitbulls. It looks like Virginia has gotten its act together with their legislation and here is a good website on the breed's temperment.

http://www.badrap.org/rescue/owning.cfm

[last.tango]

From: http://www.dogbite.org/pages/dogbitelawresources.html

Safety Tips
How to Avoid Dog Bites
There are several ways to help reduce the risk of a bite:

*If confronted by a dog trying to sniff you, stand still, don't try to run away. Most dogs will move away after determining that you are not a threat.
*Never interfere with a dog that is caring for its puppies.
*Never startle a dog, by waking it or throwing an object in its direction.
*Don't disturb a dog while it is eating or drinking.
*If you feel threatened by a dog, do not run. A dog's instinct will likely be to give chase. Stay calm. If you speak, talk in a firm voice without screaming.
*Be very mindful of your children around all dogs, including family pets. *Most dog bites occur to children.
*If you think a dog may attack, remain motionless with hands at your sides. Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until the dog is out of sight.
*If the dog does attack, "feed" the dog your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog.
*If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Do not scream or roll around.
*Despite the best preventive measures, bites can occur. If you or a child are bitten, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

How to Avoid Dog Bites to Children

Just as we teach our children to practice safety in other situations, we can teach them to be safe around dogs.
*The most important lessons for children to learn are not to chase or tease dogs that they know and to avoid dogs that they don't know.

The following rules will help prevent your child from receiving a bite wound:
*Treat all dogs as potentially dangerous, unless supervised by an adult.
*Children should never be alone with a dog.
*Never approach a restrained or confined dog.
*Never approach a barking dog, even if he is wagging his tail.
*Never take a toy or food from a dog.
*Never disturb a sleeping dog.
*Never discipline a dog by hitting it.

And I'll add:
A child should: Never try to break up a fight between dogs. Even if one of them is the child's own dog.

[last.tango]

Here is a good example of how well written this law is..

"C. No canine or canine crossbreed shall be found to be a dangerous dog or vicious dog solely because it is a particular breed, nor is the ownership of a particular breed of canine or canine crossbreed prohibited. No animal shall be found to be a dangerous dog or vicious dog if the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person who was (i) committing, at the time, a crime upon the premises occupied by the animal's owner or custodian, (ii) committing, at the time, a willful trespass upon the premises occupied by the animal's owner or custodian, or (iii) provoking, tormenting, or physically abusing the animal, or can be shown to have repeatedly provoked, tormented, abused, or assaulted the animal at other times. No police dog that was engaged in the performance of its duties as such at the time of the acts complained of shall be found to be a dangerous dog or a vicious dog. No animal that, at the time of the acts complained of, was responding to pain or injury, or was protecting itself, its kennel, its offspring, a person, or its owner's or custodian's property, shall be found to be a dangerous dog or a vicious dog.

Thank you for that Veteran Teufelhunde, it IS well written. I'm going to keep that handy as a good example when revisions in legislation come up in my neck of the woods.

My condolences on your losses Ranger Zonk 1/75. These dogs capture the heart.

SSG Rock, personally I don't think it's good dogs just "snapping" and going on a rampage. Most of these tragedies we hear about, the owner/dog has already been cited or caused a problem in the area before the tragedy occurs. I reiterate, a pit bulldog should never be human aggressive, however dog aggression is the norm.

[MrsDocMac]

Two cities in MS recently enacted a no PB law. One city created one similar to the above mentioned regulations concerning dogs in general.

We have a half-lab/half-australian shephard mix. He's the most lovable dog you'll ever see. One night I was sitting with my daughter on the couch watching tv waiting for my husband to come home when someone decided to walk right in our front door. All I saw was a hand and then blood all over the hardwood floor. Top had bit a chunk out of him and he hauled ass outside closing th door behind him. I called the police and my husband and waited in our bedroom with the door locked, Top sitting right outside it. When the officer got there and I told him what had happened he told me that we had a damn good dog and they later arrested the fellow when he came in to a local hospital for treatment. I always knew he was protective but I had no idea until that night how great it is to have a loving pet.

[Carpe Noctem]

Pits are definitely not for the casual dog owner. If you're going to get one, make sure you're getting one through a REPUTABLE breeder. And, regardless of breed, anyone who lets their dog go roaming through the neighborhood at will is a fucking idiot looking for a lawsuit. I have to remind my wife about this when our dogs slip their chains (it happens) because she grew up in the country, where the family dogs were off-leash all the time and didn't roam. I grew up in the city and consequently know better...

Having said that, I'd love to get either an AmStaff or APBT after my dog passes. Even he's part Pit (and black lab) and strong as a damn bull...