Pit bulls and other dogs that resembles pit bulls in any way are the most commonly euthenized. I worked at an animal rescue that can not accept any agressive known breed due to insurance purposes. The reason so many of these dogs are euthenized is because A. There are in fact a large population but B and most importantly it is because there is such a bad stereo typical reputation of the pit bull and so many irresponsible owners. We do have a big problem of pit fighting here. At the humane society any dog that is or resembles a pit bull is immediatly euthenized. This is good and bad. It is bad because these dogs dont get the chance of having a good home and their life is taken away because of what humans have done and not what they them selves have done. However as sad as it is most people who (here in waco) would adopt these dogs would only do so for egotistical reasons or for money. They only want to breed or fight them or they just want to have the meanest and bigest one.
I actually own a pit bull now and have had her for a year. I love her like she was my daughter and treat her with that love and care. When I was working at Fuzzy Friends Rescue she was abandoned. They could not take her in there and like I said the humane society immediatly put them to sleep. I instantly called my boyfriend to pick her up and now she is apart of our family. Along with my domestic shorthaired cat and my persian cat. All 3 get along like brothers and sisters. And yes they all stay inside together. I am a responsible dog owner. I socialize my pets, I make sure they are well fed, bathed and taken care of. Also I never hit my pets! I strongly encourage anyone looking to get a pet to look into what it take to be a responsible pet owner and do that. My pit bull is a blessing and the others could be also with the right care and love.

I totally agree. Ours stay in the house and sleep with us, eat with us, and go where we go. They are the sweetest dogs ever, very well behaved and loving. We treat them like a best friend.

I am not sure where you get your facts but you seriously need to recheck them.

As for dog aggression, I rescue animals. A fellow rescuer rescues SMALL breed dogs (yorkies, pomeranians, chis, exC). She has now had 2 puppies killed by her SMALL breed dogs. One of the pups was killed by a daushund (sp?), a yorkie and a pomeranian. The other was killed by a Shih Tzu & a Pomeranian. I also am fostering a little puppy right now because the original foster's Bordeoux (sp?) tried to kill it. My mom has a lab mix who HATES other dogs and snapped at the pit puppy mix I took over to my mom's house. The pit puppy ran and hid, she didnt in any way try to retaliate. What a vicious creature. And how about this story?

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http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_113124809.html

"'Toy' Dog Attacks 80-Pound Pit Bull

Vince Gerasole
Reporting

(CBS) WAUKEGAN The owner of a 10-pound "toy" dog was cited over the weekend when her dog attacked an 80-pound pit bull.

Garry Laffredi was walking his 2-year-old pit bull Capone near his apartment complex Thursday when a neighbor's Pomeranian named Tiger came running at them and attacked the dog.

"(Capone's) not a bad guy. He's real friendly. He's people friendly," Laffredi said. "He loves other dogs. (But) this little Pomeranian ran out and starts biting him on the foot."

Laffredi also said Capone “loves everything."

"He walks around with the squirrels. I got ducks coming to the back door. They dont even fly away when he comes out,” said Laffredi.

Pomeranians, which are classified as Toy dogs by the American Kennel Club, can be as small as three pounds and resemble a fox in appearance, generally having a bushy orange coat and pointed ears.

Laffredi said the Pomeranian bit Capone's foot hard enough "to draw blood" also managed to nick Capone on the top of the head as he tried to pull the pit bull away on a leash.

Eventually, Laffredi said, Capone "grabbed the dog and more or less set him off to the side" before the two dogs were separated.

It was not the first time Laffredi had a run-in with the 10-pound dog.

Laffredi says this was the third attack by the unleashed Tiger. He was bit in the hand two weeks ago by the Pomeranian but chose not to report it, he said.

No one answered the door at Tiger's home as CBS 2 searched for a comment, but Laffredi identified the dog at the window as Tiger. He's an owner who is proud that his powerful best friend never fought back.

"You hear nothing but bad about pits, but it's the way you bring them up," he said.

Waukegan animal warden Tina Fragassi said she was not surprised when her office fielded the report about Thursday's attack.

"They stand their ground, those little dogs," she said.

"My mother had one at one time. They're cute little dogs, but they can be nasty," :Laffredi said. "Sometimes the little dogs are meaner than the big ones."

The Pomeranian's owner, who declined to comment, was cited with failure to prevent a dog bite, owning a dog running at large, not possessing a dog license, and not having updated rabies shots.

Each citation comes with a $25 fine, Fragassi said. "
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Also from your statement I can tell you dont visit ANY shelter. Well I do, and I can tell you from experience that pit bulls are NOT the most euthanized because they are the most vicious, they are the most euthanized because there are TOO MANY of them, and idiots keep breeding more poor quality pits. (same as labradors)

Pit bulls are actually the friendliest dogs in shelters. Yes there are some mean ones but there are a lot more shepherd mixes/shepherds/labs/lab mixes who are mean. And the absolute most vicious dogs in the shelter? Small breeds. They are scared and are MUCH more likely to bite than a pit.

Pit bulls are DOGS, I will say again. They arent mutants, they are acutally known as family dogs. Yes, some idiots use them as guard dogs, but why ban the entire breed? People who are training pit bulls to be vicious dont care if you pass a breed ban, because obviously they arent law abiding citizens. The only people it will effect are the law abiding citizens who love their dogs & take good care of them. Anyone who really knows the breed will let you know pit bulls actually make horrible guard dogs because they are so friendly and like people so much.

Seems in this case, the hunter is the most vicious animal in this scenario. The pit bull doesn't do the killing, the HUNTER does!

Animals operate on instinct; humans can't use that EXCUSE.

Gets real complicated real quick.

>>>>>Boars are generally killed by the HUNTER approaching, grabbing the boar by the hind legs, THROWING it and SLITTING its throat or STABBING it behind the elbow. One can easily see how very important .....

??????????
....“Bulls, boars, rams, and billy goats should always be considered potentially dangerous, with mature males being the most cantankerous,” advises Dr. Mikesell. “These males can all exhibit unpredictable behavior and should be approached and handled with caution. An obstruction should be kept between the handler and the animal, and intact males should only be handled with two or more people. Children should never be allowed near intact males, particularly in confined spaces.”....

Since we are trying to erradicate all danger from our lives, I vote we outlaw BULLS, BOARS, RAMS, and BILLY GOATS. Of course, that would limit our choices and force us all to become vegetarian. Let's also outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, four wheelers, motorcycles, pet snakes, swimming pools, ............... oh God, I am putting myself into panic mode.

Pit Bulls are the MOST versatile dog in existence. They can be trained to do almost anything. They are intelligent and very eager to obey their master, which is why they are so easily misused by thugs.

In the Old West, Pit Bulls (were called Bulldogs back then) were the greatest resource the ranchers had. They ran off the coyotes, protected the home, and served as family pets. The dogs also caught and held the livestock so the ranchers could vaccinate, administer vet care, etc. The fact that the Pit Bulls would catch and hold the livestock would protect the lives of the ranchers (****read below****). The Pit Bull is such an intelligent animal that there to no limit to what they can be trained to do. In fact, these dogs love to work; they want a JOB.

Bryan Foods in West Point, Mississippi employs a Pit Bull. Round the clock, the truckdrivers back their trailers up to the dock and upload the livestock they have transported. Once in a while, the employees have a bull or hog (hogs can be vicious) that won't come out of the trailer. To spare the lives of the men, they send in their Pit Bull and he latches onto the bull or hog and while backing up, pulls the bull or hog out of the trailer (by the ear). Bryan Foods' insurance carrier is happy to have the dog on the payroll - saves them thousands in on-the-job injuries (or death) claims. Bryan Foods KEEPS a pit bull on their payroll, just for the purpose of uploading the trailers when they have aggressive livestock.

These dogs are used all over this country for many many working functions. I know a lady in Knoxville who is 80 years old and her right arm is a Pit Bull. He opens the refrigerator for her. He fetches the phone and brings it. He opens the front door. This Pit Bull has been trained to do lots and lots of functions that she is unable to do. The Pit Bull's FIRST owner was an elderly lady, also wheelchair bound. When the first lady died, the Pit Bull went to live with his SECOND owner, who is also wheelchair bound. So this happy boy has always functioned as a therapy dog.

The people that always slander the breed are those who have never owned one. The intelligence, humor, courage, and devotion of a Pit Bull Terrier are gifts you can only experience for yourself.

Donna Velez
Hearts of Gold Pit Rescue
Memphis, Tennessee

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http://www.workingpitbull.com/activities2.html

The American pit bull is historically a large game hunting dog. Some people still use the dogs for this purpose. The typical game is wild boars.

The dogs generally work with hounds, which trail the game, while the bulldogs close in and grip the animal by the ears (most commonly).

Boars are generally killed by the hunter approaching, grabbing the boar by the hind legs, throwing it and slitting its throat or stabbing it behind the elbow. One can easily see how very important it is that a dog be a staunch, tough, reliable animal which will NOT release its grip no matter how injured or hurt it is. If the dog releases, the hunter faces serious injury.

To left, these pictures show two pit bulls working a BULL. These pictures show how bulldogs DO NOT indiscriminately attack an animal anywhere on its body like other breeds do. Instead, they grip only the EARS or MUZZLE, the two places by which an animal the size of a pit bull can control a 2000 pound bull.

Hunting with dogs is controversial, of course, as some people consider it cruel to both the game animal and the dogs. However, like it or not, GRIPPING LARGE GAME IN THE WORKING HERITAGE OF THE BREED.

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*****dangers of handling livestock************

http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/NewsReleases/livestocksafety.html

"...Other dangerous situations can arise anytime people interact with livestock or perform routine management practices. “Bulls, boars, rams, and billy goats should always be considered potentially dangerous, with mature males being the most cantankerous,” advises Dr. Mikesell. “These males can all exhibit unpredictable behavior and should be approached and handled with caution. An obstruction should be kept between the handler and the animal, and intact males should only be handled with two or more people. Children should never be allowed near intact males, particularly in confined spaces.”

Dr. Mikesell says moving, loading, and unloading livestock also causes injuries each year. “Proper facilities and knowledge of animal behavior and animal moving principles can greatly reduce these risks. Only a few animals should be moved at a time, and solid, well-anchored gates or panels should be used to block paths of escape.” In addition, Dr. Mikesell says handlers should stay out of situations where they could be crushed by large animals. “Most injuries result from a combination of frightened animals and impatience on the handler’s part. Animals should be moved slowly, given ample time to investigate, and have no choice but to move where they are being directed,” he explains.

Injuries can also be caused by equipment used to perform basic management practices. “Accidental needle sticks and scalpel blade cuts are two risks that can be reduced by properly restraining animals when these tools are used. Accidental needle sticks, besides injuring the skin, may also result in inadvertent injection of medication or animal health product,” Dr. Mikesell explains.

Handlers also need to take care to prevent the spread of diseases from infected livestock. “Some diseases such as ringworm, salmonella, and certain dangerous strains of e.coli can cause human disease. Practice good hygiene by using disposable gloves when handling animals and washing your hands to reduce exposure,” says Dr. Mikesell...

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There's the rub on attacks. If you are bitten by a chiuaua, you might go home and put some Neosporin on it. No report. If you get bitten by a pit, most certainly a report. The deck is clearly stacked against pits in that respect. Make no mistake, I do not deny the severity of one compared to the other. But the act is the same. Any dog over 30 lbs is fighting an uphill battle when looking at sheer numbers of reports.

I have searched and searched for the magazine article that contained this fact. I know that it was in a magazine that I bought for the sole purpose of this argument. I was writing a paper for the un-ethical treatment of pit bulls for college. The article went into detail about the scientific test on pit bulls by a scientist whose son was attacked and killed by one. The article also told about other guardian dog breeds too. I will continue to search for the article and as soon as I find it I will try to post it. Some of the article was graphs so I don't know how to get them on here. As for the animals responsible (and I use this term very loosely seeing that the owners should be) for the most attacks (Pit bulls and Rottweilers) it can be found here: www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/default.asp All though this research only goes up to the year 2000 for the actual dog that attacked. There have already been 5 fatal attacks this year according to this web site.

Ok, Fedup. I can't argue with "most" of those points. I too am "fed up in Hickory Hill". We've seen many of the same things and yes, I will leave my hometown AND Hickory Hill as well soon.
The point is, these dogs take a special person to raise them. I had mine for 14 and 15 years respectively. Unfortunately they are not around any more. They were a mix but their mother was pure and I was around her about 4 years. In all those years, I never saw any of the agression that many people seem to think is inherent in the breed. The most agression I saw was the usual alpha establishment between male dogs that is common in all breeds. That is not to say that I did not take more precautions than I would with say a lab. When we walked, I wrapped the leash around my forearm several times. When they were eating, I'd put my head down by the bowl to get them used to human contact in their space while eating and when they were establishing alpha, I let them know there was only one alpha in the house and that was me. I never had any problems. I surveyed the fence weekly and I fixed what needed to be fixed. My dogs never harmed a soul in just over 15 years. Nor was I ever in fear that they would. There's my beef with anyone proposing a ban. I did the right thing for 15 years, yet a ban would have punished me for the majority gang banging thugs that drag these dogs around on a chain link leash. Like the one that I saw the other day on Outland. The guy was walking a pit on what must have been a 3/4" link chain. The chain weighed more than the dog and you could see the dog was laboring a bit under its weight. He did not have that chain for fear of the dog getting loose. He had that chain either because it looked tough or because he was using the extra weight to make the dog stronger for fighting. Same with a "family" (loosely used) of gangbangers that moved into the neighborhood for a short while. Three young boys and a mother and her boyfriend and three fighting pit bulls. I say that because I saw them close up and they all had scars about their face and bodies, some fresh wounds. Practically everyone in the neighborhood called the cops, who came out at least six times that I know of, because the dogs got loose. The animal control people also came out. Nothing was ever done. The dogs remained in their posession. I assume they are either still fighting them or the dogs are dead by now. Don't make those who do know how to handle these dogs pay for the stupidity of punks like that.
I do disagree with one thing though. As politically incorrect as it is, I'd be willing to bet my salary that if you found all the fighting dogs in the city, 8 of 10 would be in the inner city with the other two out in the "country" areas. No it's not confined to one group of people but it is more likely that the majority of fighters are going to come from the inner city.
I spent the last three years almost solely dedicated to my dog's lives and keeping them as well as could be expected through cancers and kidney problems. That's the only reason I'm still here as surgeries can get rather expensive. Especially at specialty clinics Although they're gone, I still fight the good fight for them.

I agree that we should target the owners of these dogs and not ban the dog. Anyone and I don't care what race you are; brown, purple, green needs to be TO BE PUT UNDER THE JAILHOUSE for the cruel things they have done to these dogs. I couldn't even finish reading the entire section because it was so sad and outrageous. A law is great, but let's face it, it's unlawful to sell drugs, but people still do. These irresponsible dog owners need to be charged with a crime and jailed. Banning the breed is not the answer. My heart skipped a beat when I read that. I have a 4 month old lab/pit mix, and I have already witnessed discrimination for the pit in my dog. I love him to death and he is the sweetest dog. I had german shepards all my life, and my grandmother has had chows and they were mean as hell. I get upset when people take a few steps back when they ask what kind of dog I have. This is usually after they have rubbed on him and ooohh and aaahhed. Now when I mention his breed, they get scared. Clearly, if I thought my dog was a threat, I wouldn't take him to petsmart or around other people. I have also experienced discrimination is my pet obediance training. It was obvious during training that my lab/pit was one of the most docile dogs there while other breeds were aggressive, barking, picking fights, biting their owners. I wish I had the answer, but I don't think banning the breed is the answer. No way am I getting rid of my dog.

I agree that we should target the owners of these dogs and not ban the dog. Anyone and I don't care what race you are; brown, purple, green needs to be TO BE PUT UNDER THE JAILHOUSE for the cruel things they have done to these dogs. I couldn't even finish reading the entire section because it was so sad and outrageous. A law is great, but let's face it, it's unlawful to sell drugs, but people still do it. These irresponsible dog owners need to be charged with a crime and jailed. NOT FINED, THEY NEED A LONG JAIL SENTENCE. Banning the breed is not the answer. My heart skipped a beat when I read that. I have a 4 month old lab/pit mix, and I have already witnessed discrimination for the pit in my dog. I love him to death and he is the sweetest dog. I had german shepards all my life, and my grandmother has had chows and they were mean as hell. I get upset when people take a few steps back when they ask what kind of dog I have. This is usually after they have rubbed on him and ooohh and aaahhed. Now when I mention his breed, they get scared. Clearly, if I thought my dog was a threat, I wouldn't take him to petsmart or around other people. I have also experienced discrimination is my pet obediance training. It was obvious during training that my lab/pit was one of the most docile dogs there while other breeds were aggressive, barking, picking fights, biting their owners. I wish I had the answer, but I don't think banning the breed is the answer. No way am I getting rid of my dog.

First let me point out that I was not meaning to say punish the breed and not the deed. MY BAD! I typed that completely backwards. The new slogan for people trying to help this breed is "Punish the DEED NOT the BREED." This was my typing mistake. Second let me just say that yes I have dealt first hand with PIT BULLS! I just spent $5,000 on a new fence for my backyard in Hickory Hill to protect my 3 dogs from any further attacks. The same fence that will more than likely be spray painted with GANG crap in a week. My lab has been attacked by a Chow-chow, 2 pit bulls, and a 2 month old Alaskan Malamute/pit bull mix, my poodle has been charged by a Rottweiler and a pit bull/boxer mix and last but not least my mother and I both have been charged by more than 6 pit bulls in the last 3 months. The straw that broke the camels back was having my mother out side screaming after a chow-chow bit her hand and pulled her muscle through the top side of her hand. A little background information for you about me, I have spent a majority of my life helping stray animals. I've taken them in my on home, I've helped put them in foster care, and even taken them to other counties to save their lives. I don't discriminate one breed from another. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here I just wanted to make it very clear that I have dealt with pit bulls. I have seem them dead from fighting, I have seen them so emaciated that they can barely walk, I have seen them being pulled from a house four doors down after being fought. The same house that produced $40,000 in betting money, 17 dogs (ONLY 4 STILL ALIVE), and I had the great pleasure of watching two toddlers being carried from the house, ONLY to have them watch their daddy be put in a cop car. Men and Women with blood soaked clothing tore through fences with fishing waiters on trying to escape the gun drawn police officers. On any given day I can look out my front door and see MIDDLE SCHOOL children walking these dogs down the street. Just the other day I helped a 9 year old catch his pit bull (which was very aggressive and he was scared of his OWN dog) and GAVE him a collar and leash because he didn't have one. Only to watch him now beat the dog with the leash trying to intimidate his friends when the dog has had enough and lashes out towards the other children. I know of a house in Whitehaven that has been busted for pit bull fighting twice and now they are back at it again. I have seen the aftermath of 2 pit bulls which killed a pony and several injured a full grown horse in Olive Branch, MS. This is problem also has nothing to do with RACE. I know of lawyers and doctors (white & black) that attend pit bull fights to insure that the money and dogs are handled properly. What kind of respectable human beings go to dog fights, raise these mutants, and allow their children to have a dog with no leash, collar, or shots?? Sorry that I couldn’t put some HAPPY stories in here about the breed but I have yet to come across one that I’m not very leery around. Not just pit bulls but dogs produced by irresponsible dog owners in general. Here’s a hint to people that REALLY want to help. Try looking into other states such as Miami, Houston, and Chicago. Every single one of these states has S.P.C.A's (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). They also have tougher laws in place that have helped cut down on the cruelty of animals. If this is not enough for you, take a look at our laws (which are not enforced) here in Shelby County. The same ones that make it illegal to train a dog to attack unless it's a police dog. These can be found at: http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12392&sid=42
I'm done with Hickory Hill, I'm done with MEMPHIS (my hometown) and all the racial crap that has been produced here! I don't care who has the dogs White, Black, Hispanic, etc. There is a problem and tougher laws will have to be put in place!!! I have 2 years left in college and I'm leaving Memphis with the hopes to NEVER return!

Well, Fedup has shown that they can Google and present what they find as "facts". But let's see if fedup actually has any facts. Fedup, tell me how many years you've spent working with pit bulls. Tell me your intimate knowledge of training the breed. Before one presents themselves as knowledgeable, one might want to make sure one is not talking from their posterior. How do I know these things, because if you had any real knowledge of what you were talking about, you would realize how wrong you were.

"Punish the breed, not the deed". Brilliant logic. Punish the whole because of the few. Geesh, I need a bigger shovel for crap like that because that is absolutely brainless logic. First you punish pit bulls, so the thugs get rottweilers. Then you punish rottweilers, so the thugs get german shepards and on and on and on. Your vicious cycle doesn't end until you have eradicated every dog over 60 lbs in weight. That's what happens when you don't punish the deed.

You want tougher laws in place? Laws that would make a difference? It's simple. You remove this breed from young inner-city black males. Those are the most likely to abuse the breed. Those are the most likely to fight the breed. Those are the most likely to abandon the breed. Spare me the pc nonsense I'm already hearing and face the truth. If you want to make a difference you need to focus on the problem.

Drugs are illegal. Yet any kid in high school can tell you where to get them. While your ban theory may appear logical on paper, it's foolish to believe it actually has a chance of working in the communities that are the likely sources of breeding fighting dogs.

Are you serious? You think those people selling/fighting dogs give a rat's a$$ about a breed ban? C'mon! It's a nice thought, but it would only be the responsible people who'd obey the law, and their dogs aren't the ones mauling people.

While you made some good points, the 1500PSI thing is b.s. There is no way to measure this. It's a very common myth. Also, they are not responsible for the most attacks. Do your homework as to the breed with the most reported bites...you may be surprised;-)

One thing that surprises me is that Pit Bull lovers don't seem to realize that a ban on pit bulls inside the city limits would effectively put an end to raising them as fighting dogs - saving the lives of these dogs that you supposedly love. It would mean that the police could arrest someone selling puppies on the corner and take the dogs away instead of just having to shake their heads.

All though some people seem to think that we are being "close minded" about this breed and don't know all the facts. Let me see if I can get these facts out there to the misinformed ones...
1) When a pit bull attacks it bites down with down 1,500 pounds of pressure (this is clearly enough to CRUSH a human bone).
2) When a pit bull attacks a human they instinctively go for the throat. This applys to many other gaurdian breeds too.
3) The majority of the pit bulls seen in Memphis are inbreed genetic defects. Breeding a sister and a brother is just asking for problems...weather it's a poodle or a pit bull. We all know that their not being breed for quality but quantity, right?
4) They are also the number one dog for attacks in the U.S. maybe not fatal but attacks none the less.
5) These dogs were breed for bull baiting (the dog bit the bull in the face/nose area and held on for dear life) this is only further proof that they are very dangerous. I don't know about you but I wouldn't try this.
6) The pit bull's tendency toward dog-aggression also makes it a breed-type that frequently does best as an "only dog". This also applys for Chow-Chows.
7) Finally pit bulls are the number one dog across the board being euthanized in shelters because they are so aggressive they can NOT be adopted out.

While trying to push blame on the media and misinformed people will NEVER solve this huge problem. The fact is that there is a problem and we as a community need to come together and find a way to fix the problem at hand. Punish the Breed not the Deed. We must have tougher laws put in place!

Good points Danielle. Unfortunately, far too many of our "open-minded" citizens are closed for business. They've already let the media draw their conclusions for them with absolutely no knowledge or experience around the breed. I was walking mine one night and stopped to talk to a woman and her daughter. They were doing the "awwwww" thing and petting both until I told them their mother was a pit bull. Then they quit petting them and stepped back several feet. People are stupid like that.

Anyone can turn any dog into a mean killing machine. People just hear the name pitbull and get scared. It is very rare that people take the time to actually learn about the breed. I myself have two pitbulls and they are the sweetest dogs ever. I would never own another breed. People don't know the positive side about pitbulls because the media only shows the negative side of them. Take time to learn about them before judging them.