As much as I love the Pit Bull, and those who understand them, the other side of me almost wishes these dogs never existed. Why? Because 99.9% of the time, these dogs end up in the hands of the wrong people, and that's not something passionate dog people can control.

It's a very sad situation and out of control, I'm afraid. Any backyard Tom, Dick or Harry can breed them, and will sell them to any Tom, Dick or stupid Harry. Everytime I see a pitbull puppy I ache for what his future holds. It makes me want to cry.

My Lab and I were personally attacked by 2 Pits just down the street from my home. They were known to be crated in the garage. The owners left the crate doors open along with the garage door open while they went inside to get their food. As my lab (leashed) walked by the PITS ran out and attacked us, my Lab pulled me clear off the sidewalk onto the street pavement. The 2 Pits went after my lab. I pulled them off while screaming bloody F****G murder. I received 10 stitches in my hand (bites), stitches in my chin from the pavemnent, knee scrapes, and my labs ear was ripped and received stiches. When the owners came out to see what "all the commotion" was about, the dogs ran back into their kennels! The owner had the nerve to ask me..You Ok? I screamed at him to keep his dogs crated, what the h*** were you thinking? Look at me!? He walked back into his garage and shut the door! He and his wife drove passed me and left. NEVER STOPPED to render aid! I was bleeding from head to toe! The dogs were quarantined and eventually the couple moved out of the neighborhood. They claimed they were their "babies," they just thought they were doing a "Meet and Greet!" It took me over a year of positive training and socialization with my lab to get over being attacked. He is now a successful Animal Assisting Therapy Dog. He is still fearful of that particular house and that was over 2 years ago. I agree it's the owners of this breed that bring on this behavior. They need to be on alert, train properly and be conscious of the publics view and concern. Just recently, a 4 year old child was mauled to death by a loose pitbull; no one fessed up to ownership of the dog! It's just sick.

Louise, how terrible and awful for you and your Lab. I can't even imagine. It's amazing your dog was able to accomplish being a Therapy Dog. That speaks a lot for your training and for him as well.

You said "I agree it's the owners of this breed that bring on this behavior." and I only half agree because lots of breeds of dogs have irresponsible, abusive, and idiot scum owners and these dogs aren't quick to or prone to attack another dog and much less a person. As I posted above, I believe idiot breeders of pitbulls are just as much to blame as the idiot buyers to whom they sell the puppies. Both breeders and owners have given the pitbull breed the tendencies it has.

Thanks, True and I agree wholehearteldy. That incident makes me so upset, I ranted. The police came and tried to get into the house since the dogs were barking in the garage. I had told them the owners left! I ended up in the ER and the folks were forced to pay for my labs and my medical expenses. I used to have 2 Rotts and as they were viewed by the "public" as "aggressive killers" etc..I took every measure possible to insure the safety of my dogs and myself. Reinforcing the fence, notifying the neighbors to make sure their children do not climb the fence or taunt them etc, keep their dogs from digging in my yard etc. Still, with all the training, supervision, fence enhancements, precautionary measures etc. I still had a neighbors dog dig under the fence into my yard, get attacked. I was able to call mine off and it survived. The authorites blamed the owner. The same dog (I think it wanted to commit suicide) jumped over the fence after it recovered. My husband and I dug a trench along this neighbors fence, laid re-bar and poured concrete to insure this dog would not dig under and into our yard after the "diggning incident!" Fortunately, my dogs were in the house and I noticed it romping around and took it back to it's owner and told them to CONTROL and CONTAIN YOUR DOG! I ended up moving to another home, took all the precautionary measures and my new neighbor showed up w/ a sawed off shot-gun and threatened me and my dogs (in front of his 7 year old son) that if my dogs touched his fenced when his dog or son was in his backyard, he would climb over our fence and shoot them! Gee, the love.
In addtion to 5' hog wire,electric fencing, and new boards. We were able to remain neighbors. His WIFE scolded him furiously and I ended up getting an apology from him; but his son threw the rumor all over the neighborhood that I had killer dogs and his dad was "going to kill them and me to if they got out!" The only way my dogs could get out of the yard would have been to be "AIR LIFTED"... So, I will not own an aggressive or viewed as an "Aggressive" breed again. I loved those dogs and they were controlled and obedient. The public's view and opinion is so very powerful, all DOG OWNERS need to be cautious.

 Quote: Carol Boche

This story irritates the he** out of me. SO the guy turns around and challenges the dog instead of just walking like he was doing and minding his own business (mind you he should have kept an eye out, but to turn around, lunge and holler at the dog was just asking for confrontation).

Carol, I too think the guy was not at fault in any way. Did he have to kill the dog? I don't know. Maybe. Probably. But confront it. Absolutely. If a person feels that an attack by a person or an animal is imminent, the instinctive 'fight or flight' kicks in. To turn your back on an aggressing animal that could kill you is very unnatural.

And Louise, what an awful story. It's stories like these that keep me carrying a walking stick and knife every time I take my dog anywhere.

Yep, I had MACE with me during the PB incident, but it happened so quickly I was on the pavement before I knew it. I see stray dogs in our neighborhood and to this day, I do not walk my dog unless my Husband is with me and we have a walking stick and mace. I drive to a pond/park for him to exercise/train or to our Therapy Sessions where the environment is protected and controlled.

I guess I should clarify myself. After reading and rereading my post and the article, I realize that I came off completely against this man.
I know that turning your back on a dog that is coming after you is not smart. But I do not think trying to scare it away is very smart either. There IS a difference between people who know how to read a dogs body language that "scare" a dog off and someone who knows next to nothing about dogs trying that type of tactic.
I have used this tactic myself, and it is also why I carry pepper spray and a Glock 40, because sometimes you know "scaring" a dog off is not going to work.
I do not know the whole situation and I am sure there is more to it.
It is aggravating to know that the dog was choked to death. it frustrates me that the media does not explain things correctly or in detail.
My questions would be, Why was the dog drug all the way to the guys house? Were there not closer homes or people driving by to help him?
"Running up on him" is vague IMO, it can mean alot of things.
I feel bad for the guy, I feel worse for the dog, and I feel anger towards the owners that allowed him to run at large. I also feel anger towards breeders that breed for money and do not consider who the dogs/pups are being sold to.

My adult son was once being followed by 2 pitbulls when walking around the block. They weren't barking or growling but he became suspicious when they continued to follow behind him. They didn't approach in a friendly manner so he felt it wasn't a good situation. He decided to turn and face them and stand still, and did not feel it was the right thing to do to try and scare them away by yelling or any physical gesture. They stopped when he turned. Then he began to walk again, they followed. He turned around again. His thinking was that he did not want to show fear NOR aggression. When he turned back to resume walking, looked back and they had left in the direction they came from. I feel he used wisdom in dealing with it.

You're right that trying to scare a dog away doesn't always work, it sure doesn't. And I KNOW that if I had tried to yell at the pitbull that was launched and ready to attack my pup, it would have definitely triggered the attack. Fortunately my pup didn't see him or he would have started barking, another trigger.

Hi,

Interesting article. All I have to say is..Having lived in Texas, idiot dog owners (in Texas) are a dime a dozen.(This statement does not apply to responsible dog owners.)

I had a dog that was attacked by pit bull. This pit bull and its mate/sister had a history of roaming the neighborhood.

In my mom's neighborhood there was a Dalmation running loose. She called about it and was told there was nothing they could do about it. Guess what? The dog ended up mauling a little girl.

I can honestly say, I have only seen ONE loose dog (GSD) in the area I live in now. I have been here for several years. I called animal control and they picked him up within 30 minutes. His owners were visiting some friends and didn't realize he had escaped the backayard. They reclaimed him within a few hours.

I have no fear or need to plan a strategy when walking around my neighborhhood. I can't say the same if I lived in Texas.