Pit Bulls in the US (1657 hits)
Category: NewsRating: 0.69 on 33 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <xenon> (View user info) at 2004-12-09 10:22:38 EST
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-asecdog09120904dec09,0,4708.story?coll=orl-news-headlines
Yet another grim reminder that animals are dangerous. I'd like to hear what you Uberites have to say on this issue.
There's a hot debate as to whether Pit Bulls should be outlawed in many American states.
One side says that it's the owner's fault, and the owner should be held responsible. Possible require a certain amount of training or background checks before allowing an individual to purchase a Pit Bull.
The other side says that the dogs are inherently bloodthirsty. They've been bred to kill, and they're not fit to be owned as a domesticated animal.
Weigh in on this issue, and tell us where you stand.
Personally, I think it's both. Pit Bulls, just like all other animal breeds, have a certain, instinctual tendency towards an attitude. Just like Golden Retrievers go after balls and Frisbees and Sheepdogs go try to herd anything that moves.
However, the owners many times get the dogs for the look and the fad. Face it, the stereotypical Pit Bull owner is a thug, drug dealer, or gangbanger. Something to that effect.
So, let the mud-slinging begin between Pit-lovers and Pit-haters.
User Reviews
Submitted by Academy (user info) at 2004-12-16 17:04:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2004-12-10 09:21:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
That sly smile, those determined eyes, that unwaning pleasure to please... the mere quality and characteristics of the APBT have evoked more human emotional, rational, and irrational response than any other breed that exists today. By no means are these dogs people-haters or people-eaters. Their natural aggressive tendencies are toward other dogs and animals, not people. However if they are properly socialized they will not even be aggressive with them. These are truly quality companions for quality owners only! The American Pit Bull Terrier is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, which is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of vitality. Highly protective of his owners and the owner's property, it will fight an enemy to the death. It is usually very friendly, but has an uncanny ability to know when it needs to protect and when everything is okay. The American Pit Bull Terrier can be willful and needs a firm hand. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood. For the most part they are very friendly, but not recommended for most people. Excellent with children in the family, they have a high pain tolerance and will happily put up with rough child play. As with any breed, they should not be left alone with unfamiliar children. Originally used as fighting dogs, the powerful American Pit Bull may go for the throat of strange dogs. A minimum of training will produce a tranquil, obedient dog. Socialize very thoroughly when young to combat aggressive tendencies and be sure to keep the dog under control when other dogs are present. It has given outstanding results as a guardian of property, but is at the same time esteemed as a companion dog. When properly trained and socialized, this is a very good dog and a great family companion. Unfortunately, some choose to promote the fighting instinct in the breed, giving it a bad name.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2004-12-10 09:10:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Loren1 (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:25:00 (#)
Ranking: 1
It's truly unfortunate that the breed is being destroyed by low lives. They're continuously inbreeding and developing pits to be more and more dangerous.
Pits are not born hostile, they're actually very loving and intelligent. They are brutally trained and forced to fight.
However, just because they are good dogs, doesn't take away from the fact that they pack about 1,200 lbs of force in their jaws.
It would be a good idea to develop a government licensing program for ownership of potentially dangerous animals. Drug dealers and dog fighters certainly wouldn't want to be hassled by the police asking for their pitbull licenses when they walk down the road.
And, maybe the proceeds from arresting and fining (heavily) these fucking thugs who don't comply could go toward stopping further animal abuse down the road.
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i agree completely. good idea.
Submitted by Scarlett13 (user info) at 2004-12-10 08:58:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The breed does not make a difference in my opinion, and why was one allowed to roam free when the others were tied up? Dogs and children should never be left alone - fact.
Submitted by Lady_in_the_radiator (user info) at 2004-12-10 08:46:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I was bitten by a pit bull when I was like three for walking too close to it, but I don't think that any breed of dog should be banned. Maybe we could breed pit bulls so that they just don't have any teeth.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-10 08:38:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Pyle (user info) at 2004-12-09 19:58:32 (#)
Ranking: 0
There are a lot of good points, but almost all of the dog attack stories I hear either involve someone being aggresive with the owner or trespassing. The parents should take it on this one because at 4 they should know where he is and/or should have taught him to stay out of other peoples yards. BTW a good friend of mine used to have a pit bull who was nothing but sweet, except he didn't understand he was huge and would jump on you trying to play. But he was still a nice dog, just not very bright.
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You must not have read the article very carefully.
It was their dog(s). The kid wasn't in someone else's yard or house.
Submitted by dilligaff82 (user info) at 2004-12-09 20:45:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The other side says that the dogs are inherently bloodthirsty. They've been bred to kill, and they're not fit to be owned as a domesticated animal.
Total Bullshit. I have a Pit and they act exactly how you train them to act.
Submitted by StonedSilly (user info) at 2004-12-09 20:35:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck you, fucktard.
I have a Rott. He's the smartest dog I've ever owned, and he's only bit one person (BECAUSE SHE WAS SMACKING HIM AROUND.)
Submitted by MrPresident (user info) at 2004-12-09 20:25:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
They are banned in many western countries. Personally I would like to see many breeds of dogs extinct, such as: pitbulls, malamutes and rotweillers. Also think alsations/german shepards should be only bred for police/military purposes.
Submitted by StonedSilly (user info) at 2004-12-09 20:07:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I've owned four pit bulls in my life, and none of them were vicious.
The only ones that are bloodthirsty are the ones that have been raised to be bloodthirsty.
If any breed of dog is banned from any states, I'm moving to Mexico.
Submitted by Pyle (user info) at 2004-12-09 19:58:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
There are a lot of good points, but almost all of the dog attack stories I hear either involve someone being aggresive with the owner or trespassing. The parents should take it on this one because at 4 they should know where he is and/or should have taught him to stay out of other peoples yards. BTW a good friend of mine used to have a pit bull who was nothing but sweet, except he didn't understand he was huge and would jump on you trying to play. But he was still a nice dog, just not very bright.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:42:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Rocktsrgn (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:20:54 (#)
Ranking: 1
Nature vs. Nurture for dogs. Apply it to humans and watch the sparks fly.
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Excellent point.
Submitted by Loren1 (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:25:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
It's truly unfortunate that the breed is being destroyed by low lives. They're continuously inbreeding and developing pits to be more and more dangerous.
Pits are not born hostile, they're actually very loving and intelligent. They are brutally trained and forced to fight.
However, just because they are good dogs, doesn't take away from the fact that they pack about 1,200 lbs of force in their jaws.
It would be a good idea to develop a government licensing program for ownership of potentially dangerous animals. Drug dealers and dog fighters certainly wouldn't want to be hassled by the police asking for their pitbull licenses when they walk down the road.
And, maybe the proceeds from arresting and fining (heavily) these fucking thugs who don't comply could go toward stopping further animal abuse down the road.
Submitted by Rocktsrgn (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:20:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Nature vs. Nurture for dogs. Apply it to humans and watch the sparks fly.
Submitted by big_wigger (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:09:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
sofa_ace,
re:weimers
all the ones i have known defientely start shit with other dogs, maybe they just play too rough
Submitted by Insanethemind (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:08:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
i think pitbulls should rule the world and play poker
seriously though, i dont see anything they have going for them over other dogs besides the fact that they look pretty. i think boxers do too but they are just too damned hyperactive.
in short, destroy all pits and people with loud exhausts on their cars
Submitted by Sofa_Ace (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:57:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
tough decision. I don't know to what extent we can blame the dog. My neighbor's pit got out and killed a neighborhood dog. I also know of a guy who had a seizure in his back yard, his pit didn't know what was going on and attacked him. I've also seen pits that are very gentle and calm.
I think pits (as well as other breeds, lets not single them out) are more prone to violence than other dogs. however, I think they can be trained to be agressive or friendly, to a certain extent, by the owners.
Some one said that weimeraners were agressive dogs? You must havemet one that had been beaten by huimans or something, cause everyone I have met has been nice. They are a bit energetic though, and it's hard to teach them not to jump up and lick. Maybe you confused being licked for being attacked?
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:50:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Big_wigger makes some really good points.
Any dog who's owner actually gives a shit about it is much less likely to be dangerous.
But even with that being said, chows are still teh devil.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:43:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The most naturally mean dogs i have seen are weimerreiners(sp?), chows, malamutes & american bulldogs
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Chows...evil sonfubitches!
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:42:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by BillsSBChamps (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:16:21 (#)
Ranking: -2
Dogs aren't born bad. Asshole owners turn them into killing machines. Pits are fucking great dogs and some of the nicest. My mini weiner dogs best dog friend was a pit.
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So, you don't believe that any dogs have natural tendencies to kill or injure other living beings.
That's pretty flawed, man. You're basically saying that dogs have no instinct to kill.
I agreed that much of it lies on the owner. I'd venture to say that more than 50% of it does, but dogs have instincts, and different breeds act different ways.
Submitted by big_wigger (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:38:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
where i live there are "dog-parks" where you go let your puppy run free and do the things puppies like to do like sniff-ass, wrestle, chase each other and poop. 9 out of 10 pit-bull owners match the stereotype perfectly, tats, trucker hats and wife beater shirts.
The pits are actually pretty mellow for the most part, my lab mix loves to wrestle more than run and chase so she plays with pits all the time because they seem to go for that style to. I've had to break my dog from fighting a pit only one time, and they were both puppies at the time. There are the occasional assholes who come in with no collar or a spiked collar (if you need to break up dogs you need either a collar to yank on while also not getting 5 puncture wounds in your hand) on their pits who are obviously looking for trouble, most of the time they get run off in a few minutes because all of the dogs pick up on their owners distaste and will actually gang up on the offender. i get a real kick out of watching the doggie heirarchy and social structure.
Also, i've always kind of figured that the people that bring their dogs to the park are actually interested in socializing the animal and probably treat them pretty well. So a pit that goes to the park 3 times a week to play is probably a much different dog than the one that is kept chained up all the time with no love. So its probably mostly the owner that should be looked at when these dogs go bezerk.
The most naturally mean dogs i have seen are weimerreiners(sp?), chows, malamutes & american bulldogs
Submitted by Koala_sausage (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:22:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Im from australia where pit bulls are banned. I dont really know what to think about the situation... i grew up with a pit bull as a pet who was the most loving and gentle dog i have ever met. It died of natural causes and then we ended up with the most savage cocker spaniel.
I fully believe that it is just pot luck whether or not you have a savage dog or a gentle one - of course, pit bulls are more likely to be savage because, as people have said previously, they were bred for fighting and it is a characteristic of the breed. However not every pit bull is the same and if they are brought up in the right conditions they are wonderful companions.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:21:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The problem is 80% the owners. I'll explain.
Pitbulls are one of those dogs that are loyal to their master, most of the time only to their master. Now Cockerspaniels arethe same way, only thing is they wil just bite the shit outta your leg. I have had a couple of friends with pitbulls over the years, and you have to know how the dog behaves. You have to know that when you bring new people into your house unexpectedly the dog may or may not flip out. Thats the 20% part of the dog. Thier breed is as an "attack" dog for lack of a better word, just like dobermans. On a side note, another problem is the explosive popularity of the pit in recent years and the probabable inbreeding that occoured because of the high need. And inbreeding has always been linked to tempermant problems (i.e cockersapniel those little fucks).
Back to the point. While the 20% part of the dogs NATURAL temperment and desire to protect, above all, his master the bulk of the blame must lie on the owner. Should a pit be considered a deadly weapon? maybe. Do people intentionally make their dog meaner to either protect thier property or make them seem "hard", (we all know wannabe thugs who own them). YES
This is rambling, in short it's the same assholes who aren't responsible enough to own guns that own pitbulls, and they fuck it up for everybody.
Thunderdome deathmatch possibly for these people?
YES
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:19:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I am extremely opposed to the irresponsible ownership of animals - whether the animals are dogs, bears, tigers, or whatever.
Submitted by BillsSBChamps (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:16:21 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Dogs aren't born bad. Asshole owners turn them into killing machines. Pits are fucking great dogs and some of the nicest. My mini weiner dogs best dog friend was a pit.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:13:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Five years ago or so, my sister took in a pit bull that had been apparently abandoned on the side of the road (she's a habitual animal rescuer). It was emaciated and feeding on a deer carcass at the time. And it's one of the sweetest, mildest dogs I've encountered.
It's the fuck-o's that abuse them and turn them into monsters that should be taken out and shot.
Submitted by freebie (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:07:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I paintball any dog that comes on my property.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:54:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have to agree. I've never met a pit-bull owner that I would trust to own a pit-bull. They are kind of like gun-nuts that way. The people who REALLY want 'em, REALLY shouldn't have 'em.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:52:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
owners.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:39:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That is very insensitive, you know I'm Jewish.
I believe that the government should keep its nose out of its citizen's lives, at the same time individuals are responsible for the actions of their murdering carnivorus animals.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:35:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
My ex (who was not a thug or a dealer) had a pit bull that was sweet and mild-mannered, as are most other pits who are raised in loving homes. The fact is that ANY dog, at ANY time, with NO warning, can snap and turn against its owner or a stranger. The difference with pit bulls is that they are bigger and stronger than other breeds, and they can and do cause graver injuries.
If all dog owners were more responsible about properly disciplining their pets, and keeping them leashed and enclosed, dog attacks would not be such a problem. THe problem lies with the owners and not the animals.
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:27:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:25:21 (#)
Ranking: 0
I wish a pit bull would eat you.
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May all your Christmas wished come true...jackass.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:25:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I wish a pit bull would eat you.