Two Pit Bulls Kill 76-Year-Old Man Out Walking his Pomeranian

[Niq]

Imagine living until almost 80, only to be killed by dogs.

Imagine being 6 years old, walking to a school bus stop, only to be killed by dogs before you make it your 1st grade class. That was Logan Braatz on January 17. Killed by multiple pitbulls. Six. Years. Old.

Sigh

 

[Tawny]

Loose dogs are a big problem in Sarasota where we live - in fact over a week ago I out-bicycled a little yappy dog, loose, his owner was in his front yard, and his neighbor, a woman with yet another little yappy dog (this one is on a leash) try to deter the loose one from going right out into the middle of a main street. No idea what happened to Yappy Number One but I was safely home by then as it was close to our apartment.

It's a problem where I live too. Someone will post in a local FB group that a dog is loose and like 3 people will be like "Oh, that's suchandsuch, he's such a sweetie, he comes by and visits. He lives on Whatever Rd" and I'm like... why do y'all think it's CUTE that these dogs are running loose all. the. time. Dogs from tiny wire haired terriers to giant mastiffs. It's not cute people. Keep your dogs at home. Figure it out. ONCE is fine, I can see that happening, but repeatedly? "Haha that's suchandsuch, he's an escape artist. I'll come get him lol" NOT. FUNNY.

/end rant

This poor man and his pup. And those poor pibbles

 

[Tawny]

The Pit bull is a type of dog, but the American pit bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier, the Americanbulldog, and the Staffordshire bull terrier are all breeds. The Pit can be made up of one or a mix of these dogs. The one other thing that all of these breeds have in common is that they were originally bred to fight in pits, and were bred to bring out those characteristics. Just like my grandfather's Foxhounds knew instinctively to run foxes, Pits have this in their DNA. They give no warning growls, they will leave their territory and attack on other dog's and human's territory. Not really seen in other breeds. It takes a very committed, Alpha owner, and an Alpha family, where the dog knows its place, to properly care for these dogs. They require an experienced owner. Several years ago one jumped out of a pickup truck and attacked my little dog while she was sleeping in the yard. Thankfully I was there and the owner drug it off of my dog before it could latch on. A friend of my father's had one that killed a neighbor's livestock. It ate through a metal shed to get out and get to the livestock. A few months ago, two got out of their fenced yard, and went on a rampage through town, killed two dogs in their yard that night, and another person's dog died the next day. Any dog can bite but these guys are different. When they attack, note how they happily wag their tails. Ya'll are free to disagree with me but the facts are the facts and people have bred the fighting instinct into them even more through the years, b/c some people suck.

I agree with a lot of what you said, especially the part about an Alpha owner. I will say though that the reason pits are a favorite breed among pit fighters is that they are one of the most loyal breeds. Their loyalty is what makes them fight for their owner, not so much an instinct to fight. If their person tells them to do it and they're trained, they'll fight.

My g-ma had a pit who wasn't so loyal, she loved erryone. She was stolen and released (with cuts and acid burns all over her), we suspect because she wouldn't follow orders and fight. She was a hot mess express but she loved everyone. Her mother though? We called her Darth Vader. She'd tear you apart just for looking at my aunt, her owner, wrong. But all my aunt had to do was command her to stay and she would. She was well trained. My aunt was the defined Alpha and reinforced that status regularly through training.

It's the loyalty and it's exploited. Remove a pit fighting dog from its owner and become its Alpha, and it'll likely never ever fight again.

None of this explains the ouliers like these dogs who are out roaming and attack, other than for some reason, they may have felt their person was in danger.

 

[rsd1200]

I agree with a lot of what you said, especially the part about an Alpha owner. I will say though that the reason pits are a favorite breed among pit fighters is that they are one of the most loyal breeds. Their loyalty is what makes them fight for their owner, not so much an instinct to fight. If their person tells them to do it and they're trained, they'll fight.

My g-ma had a pit who wasn't so loyal, she loved erryone. She was stolen and released (with cuts and acid burns all over her), we suspect because she wouldn't follow orders and fight. She was a hot mess express but she loved everyone. Her mother though? We called her Darth Vader. She'd tear you apart just for looking at my aunt, her owner, wrong. But all my aunt had to do was command her to stay and she would. She was well trained. My aunt was the defined Alpha and reinforced that status regularly through training.

It's the loyalty and it's exploited. Remove a pit fighting dog from its owner and become its Alpha, and it'll likely never ever fight again.

None of this explains the ouliers like these dogs who are out roaming and attack, other than for some reason, they may have felt their person was in danger.

BBM
Their person wasn't with them. These dogs were bred starting back in the early 1800s, or before, for the express purpose of fighting each other, and for bull-baiting. Bull-baiting dogs were bred to bite and hold bulls, bears, etc... (any large animals) around the face and head, and holding onto them, hence the powerful jaws and tenacity. Not for owner protection. Just to fight, so humans could bet. They didn't start fighting the dogs against each other until bull-baiting was outlawed (ironically enough). Someone may have one of these dogs and they never do a thing to anyone or anything, but they have a history. The history is because there are bad people who still take the traits that they were bred for, and refine them to be what they started out to be, fighting dogs. They are tanks with hair. Here at least, they've mauled and killed livestock, other dogs, and people. My dogs may go into protection mode on their own property, but if they were to wander onto another dog's territory, the other dog, or dog's human, would likely be able to shout/bark and run them off. Just as I've had someone's dog show up in the yard. I can yell at it, or one of my dogs will bark at it, and it will trot on down the road. A lot of Pits won't do that. Humans bred this into them, just like herding dogs were bred to herd, and herd almost w/o training. It's human's fault, but that doesn't bring this elderly gentleman back, nor the children who have died, or other owner's dogs who've been killed. These guys are about the only breed I'm wary of, and I've had lots of dogs, over many years.

 

[Tawny]

BBM
Their person wasn't with them. These dogs were bred starting back in the early 1800s, or before, for the express purpose of fighting each other, and for bull-baiting. Bull-baiting dogs were bred to bite and hold bulls, bears, etc... (any large animals) around the face and head, and holding onto them, hence the powerful jaws and tenacity. Not for owner protection. Just to fight, so humans could bet. They didn't start fighting the dogs against each other until bull-baiting was outlawed (ironically enough). Someone may have one of these dogs and they never do a thing to anyone or anything, but they have a history. The history is because there are bad people who still take the traits that they were bred for, and refine them to be what they started out to be, fighting dogs. They are tanks with hair. Here at least, they've mauled and killed livestock, other dogs, and people. My dogs may go into protection mode on their own property, but if they were to wander onto another dog's territory, the other dog, or dog's human, would likely be able to shout/bark and run them off. Just as I've had someone's dog show up in the yard. I can yell at it, or one of my dogs will bark at it, and it will trot on down the road. A lot of Pits won't do that. Humans bred this into them, just like herding dogs were bred to herd, and herd almost w/o training. It's human's fault, but that doesn't bring this elderly gentleman back, nor the children who have died, or other owner's dogs who've been killed. These guys are about the only breed I'm wary of, and I've had lots of dogs, over many years.

I am aware the person wasn't with them. That doesn't mean they didn't decide their person was in danger.

 

[JeannaT]

The Pit bull is a type of dog, but the American pit bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier, the Americanbulldog, and the Staffordshire bull terrier are all breeds. The Pit can be made up of one or a mix of these dogs. The one other thing that all of these breeds have in common is that they were originally bred to fight in pits, and were bred to bring out those characteristics. Just like my grandfather's Foxhounds knew instinctively to run foxes, Pits have this in their DNA. They give no warning growls, they will leave their territory and attack on other dog's and human's territory. Not really seen in other breeds. It takes a very committed, Alpha owner, and an Alpha family, where the dog knows its place, to properly care for these dogs. They require an experienced owner. Several years ago one jumped out of a pickup truck and attacked my little dog while she was sleeping in the yard. Thankfully I was there and the owner drug it off of my dog before it could latch on. A friend of my father's had one that killed a neighbor's livestock. It ate through a metal shed to get out and get to the livestock. A few months ago, two got out of their fenced yard, and went on a rampage through town, killed two dogs in their yard that night, and another person's dog died the next day. Any dog can bite but these guys are different. When they attack, note how they happily wag their tails. Ya'll are free to disagree with me but the facts are the facts and people have bred the fighting instinct into them even more through the years, b/c some people suck.

I agree 100%. The thing is, Pits DON'T give a warning growl - because they're not attacking out of fear. They're attacking because it's fun, it's a game. They attack the weak - old men, little children, pregnant women, people who are on the ground having seizures.

Just as other breeds of dog don't growl at bunnies when they chase and kill them, pits don't growl at people they are trying to kill. In dog language, a growl means "back off or I'll have to aggress". Pits, when they attack humans are usually chasing them - the humans are backing off as fast as they are able.

On the other hand, I love the breed. Most will live and die of old age never having snapped at a human being, which is something you can't say about other dog breeds. The problem is, it's not predictable. A sweet butt wagging hugga bunny can suddenly chase down a child riding his bike and kill him. Out of thin air comes the aggression.

 

[rsd1200]

I am aware the person wasn't with them. That doesn't mean they didn't decide their person was in danger.

.
That's not normal dog behavior. Attacking a 78 year old man w/a Pom. I guess they were protecting their owner from this old fella who was in his front yard too. They're not normal dogs. If you like them and want them then take the extra precautions that these incidents don't happen to someone's family member or pet, b/c these folks were not exhibiting menacing behavior toward these dog's owners. Normal dogs know the difference.

78 year old man loses leg after attack
http://www.thv11.com/news/local/ark-deputies-78-year-old-man-lost-leg-in-pitbull-attack/308276504

And this one was apparently saving his owner from himself. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this particular breed. I don't hate the dogs, it's humans who designed this breed. It's human's fault that they are what they are. Not everyone of them will blow but when they do, they're designed to do maximum damage.
http://kfor.com/2014/12/26/man-mauled-to-death-by-own-pit-bull-on-christmas-day/

A farmer shot a friend's b/c it took down one of his hogs. A hog. The dogs can chew through metal too. Had one fella put his in a metal building when he went to work and it chewed through and killed the neighbors goat.

 

[rsd1200]

I agree 100%. The thing is, Pits DON'T give a warning growl - because they're not attacking out of fear. They're attacking because it's fun, it's a game. They attack the weak - old men, little children, pregnant women, people who are on the ground having seizures.

Just as other breeds of dog don't growl at bunnies when they chase and kill them, pits don't growl at people they are trying to kill. In dog language, a growl means "back off or I'll have to aggress". Pits, when they attack humans are usually chasing them - the humans are backing off as fast as they are able.

On the other hand, I love the breed. Most will live and die of old age never having snapped at a human being, which is something you can't say about other dog breeds. The problem is, it's not predictable. A sweet butt wagging hugga bunny can suddenly chase down a child riding his bike and kill him. Out of thin air comes the aggression.

.
Exactly. And they wag their tails while they're on attack too. It's like my grandpa's foxhounds, they loved chasing foxes. That's what I try to get across. Folks don't know by looking at them which ones have the "genetics" for lack of a better word, to do this. Owners of this breed have to be more vigilant and highly Alpha.

 

[Moxie Vi]

I can see both side of this discussion. I was raised in an anti-dog house with strong breed bias against both pits and Shepherds. My mom's property growing up had been protected by German trained German Shepherds and one attacked her when she was walking home from school as a kid.

I have an American Staffordshire Terrier that is 65 lbs. I recently had a collie mix that passed. My collie mix bit 5 people and the final straw was him going after my 4 year old nephew. He had fear aggression and would lash out by biting. As a result I had to monitor him and medicate him with Prozac and Xanax.

Before getting Staley (AmStaff Terrier) I met 3 generations of her lineage. She's 3 with no issues. Her best friend is our friend's 2lb tea cup Chihuahua. She cuddles and cleans our kitten. However, I am realistic. I have trained her extensively. I am her alpha (without laying my hand on her). If the fence isn't 6 foot then we'll keep her on a run for reinforcement. She does have a high prey drive so I wouldn't want to be a rat in our backyard. She looks to me for permission before greetIMG people. The biggest complaint we get is that she loves hugs and thinks she's a lap dog. If I see her personality start to turn I'd take her to a dog behavoralist, just like I did with my other dog. When family visits I board her at her favorite doggie daycare. I know that her jaw muscle is insanely strong and her history of breeding is ever present. Safety over convenience. With every pet, regardless of breed.

So far she's been the best behaved dog. She also alerts to my seizures before I even get auras. I partially got her as a deterrent as I almost lost my life in attack that took place in my home and I cope with PTSD as a part of that.

I wish that before getting any dog that home checks would be done or at least some sort of breed education would provided. If people aren't willing to put forth effort to obtain an animal then they probably aren't willing to put forth effort to be responsible with it's upkeep.

Sorry for the long, some what personal post.

This case is maddening. A bad, irresponsible dog owner letting his dogs run amok with horrific circumstances. He ruins it for the good ones. He deserves to go away for a long, long time.

 

[rsd1200]

I can see both side of this discussion. I was raised in an anti-dog house with strong breed bias against both pits and Shepherds. My mom's property growing up had been protected by German trained German Shepherds and one attacked her when she was walking home from school as a kid.

I have an American Staffordshire Terrier that is 65 lbs. I recently had a collie mix that passed. My collie mix bit 5 people and the final straw was him going after my 4 year old nephew. He had fear aggression and would lash out by biting. As a result I had to monitor him and medicate him with Prozac and Xanax.

Before getting Staley (AmStaff Terrier) I met 3 generations of her lineage. She's 3 with no issues. Her best friend is our friend's 2lb tea cup Chihuahua. She cuddles and cleans our kitten. However, I am realistic. I have trained her extensively. I am her alpha (without laying my hand on her). If the fence isn't 6 foot then we'll keep her on a run for reinforcement. She does have a high prey drive so I wouldn't want to be a rat in our backyard. She looks to me for permission before greetIMG people. The biggest complaint we get is that she loves hugs and thinks she's a lap dog. If I see her personality start to turn I'd take her to a dog behavoralist, just like I did with my other dog. When family visits I board her at her favorite doggie daycare. I know that her jaw muscle is insanely strong and her history of breeding is ever present. Safety over convenience. With every pet, regardless of breed.

So far she's been the best behaved dog. She also alerts to my seizures before I even get auras. I partially got her as a deterrent as I almost lost my life in attack that took place in my home and I cope with PTSD as a part of that.

I wish that before getting any dog that home checks would be done or at least some sort of breed education would provided. If people aren't willing to put forth effort to obtain an animal then they probably aren't willing to put forth effort to be responsible with it's upkeep.

Sorry for the long, some what personal post.

This case is maddening. A bad, irresponsible dog owner letting his dogs run amok with horrific circumstances. He ruins it for the good ones. He deserves to go away for a long, long time.

Thank you for sharing. You educated yourself about the breed, went to a breeder, and have followed through. So many people buy these dogs from backyard breeders, get them from a guy selling them from his trunk in Walmart parking lot, or at the pound, (not against rescues, we have two, but w/these breed types, I don't recommend pound adoption in most cases).

I have two shelter rescues (a small terrier mix and 40 pound herding dog mix). I also have a Peekapoo that I got from a friend. I also have a Rottweiler. She's the second Rott that I've had. The first lived to be 13 and I visited, to see her mother, the home, etc... She was sold to me w/o papers as she was the runt, and the breeder did not feel she was show quality. I was fine with that. I started training immediately and she was the best dog I'd ever owned. Never bit anyone, but was on alert if anything came around that shouldn't be around.

Rotts don't bark much either. They do give warning growls. They're very stoic. I visited the breeder, again, when I got my current girl. Her mother excelled in obedience, and the father was obedience trained also, and was just a couple of points away from having his grand champion show status. She was sold w/registration as she had the lineage and build to be a show dog. I don't show though.

Rotts require an Alpha owner and that all family members be Alpha as well. They are my favorite dog breed. People trying to make them into something they were not bred to be almost destroyed the breed back in the 80s. They are one of the oldest breed of livestock guardian dogs, were used as cart dogs too, and b/c of their intelligence were used as war dogs in WWI (WWII also iirc). However they require responsible owners, early training, and reinforcement training, all throughout their lives b/c they are an independent breed and can be a bit stubborn. People should learn about the breed that they are intending to get, and ensure that they are up the challenge when they get large dogs. If a Peekapoo bites someone it's not likely to do much damage but if a Rott, or Pit, or GSD (I've had one of them too) bites someone, we're talking damage.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I can see both side of this discussion. I was raised in an anti-dog house with strong breed bias against both pits and Shepherds. My mom's property growing up had been protected by German trained German Shepherds and one attacked her when she was walking home from school as a kid.

I have an American Staffordshire Terrier that is 65 lbs. I recently had a collie mix that passed. My collie mix bit 5 people and the final straw was him going after my 4 year old nephew. He had fear aggression and would lash out by biting. As a result I had to monitor him and medicate him with Prozac and Xanax.

Before getting Staley (AmStaff Terrier) I met 3 generations of her lineage. She's 3 with no issues. Her best friend is our friend's 2lb tea cup Chihuahua. She cuddles and cleans our kitten. However, I am realistic. I have trained her extensively. I am her alpha (without laying my hand on her). If the fence isn't 6 foot then we'll keep her on a run for reinforcement. She does have a high prey drive so I wouldn't want to be a rat in our backyard. She looks to me for permission before greetIMG people. The biggest complaint we get is that she loves hugs and thinks she's a lap dog. If I see her personality start to turn I'd take her to a dog behavoralist, just like I did with my other dog. When family visits I board her at her favorite doggie daycare. I know that her jaw muscle is insanely strong and her history of breeding is ever present. Safety over convenience. With every pet, regardless of breed.

So far she's been the best behaved dog. She also alerts to my seizures before I even get auras. I partially got her as a deterrent as I almost lost my life in attack that took place in my home and I cope with PTSD as a part of that.

I wish that before getting any dog that home checks would be done or at least some sort of breed education would provided. If people aren't willing to put forth effort to obtain an animal then they probably aren't willing to put forth effort to be responsible with it's upkeep.

Sorry for the long, some what personal post.

This case is maddening. A bad, irresponsible dog owner letting his dogs run amok with horrific circumstances. He ruins it for the good ones. He deserves to go away for a long, long time.

BBM: Respectfully, how is it that your collie mix bit 5 people? I would think after 1 he would have been muzzled around people. I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm sincerely curious. TIA!

 

[Moxie Vi]

Thank you for sharing. You educated yourself about the breed, went to a breeder, and have followed through. So many people buy these dogs from backyard breeders, get them from a guy selling them from his trunk in Walmart parking lot, or at the pound, (not against rescues, we have two, but w/these breed types, I don't recommend pound adoption in most cases).

I have two shelter rescues (a small terrier mix and 40 pound herding dog mix). I also have a Peekapoo that I got from a friend. I also have a Rottweiler. She's the second Rott that I've had. The first lived to be 13 and I visited, to see her mother, the home, etc... She was sold to me w/o papers as she was the runt, and the breeder did not feel she was show quality. I was fine with that. I started training immediately and she was the best dog I'd ever owned. Never bit anyone, but was on alert if anything came around that shouldn't be around.

Rotts don't bark much either. They do give warning growls. They're very stoic. I visited the breeder, again, when I got my current girl. Her mother excelled in obedience, and the father was obedience trained also, and was just a couple of points away from having his grand champion show status. She was sold w/registration as she had the lineage and build to be a show dog. I don't show though.

Rotts require an Alpha owner and that all family members be Alpha as well. They are my favorite dog breed. People trying to make them into something they were not bred to be almost destroyed the breed back in the 80s. They are one of the oldest breed of livestock guardian dogs, were used as cart dogs too, and b/c of their intelligence were used as war dogs in WWI (WWII also iirc). However they require responsible owners, early training, and reinforcement training, all throughout their lives b/c they are an independent breed and can be a bit stubborn. People should learn about the breed that they are intending to get, and ensure that they are up the challenge when they get large dogs. If a Peekapoo bites someone it's not likely to do much damage but if a Rott, or Pit, or GSD (I've had one of them too) bites someone, we're talking damage.

Thank you. I've fought my family about having my girl. I typically am pro-rescue but don't think I'd adopt just any pit from a typical rescue. I would from one that did some rehab and temperament testing. Dogs are amazing. I love rotts too!

BBM: Respectfully, how is it that your collie mix bit 5 people? I would think after 1 he would have been muzzled around people. I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm sincerely curious. TIA!

I know, it sounds bad. I adopted him from Cobb County Animal services and took him home. I tried playing with him and a squeaky toy and he snapped and turned snarly and bit myself and my friend Liz (snappish, not large skin breaks). I spent the weekend bonding with him one-on-one. A few months later my dad was sleeping on the couch with him and the dog randomly attacked my dad and that bite did more damage. I considered getting rid of him then but instead took him to training. He bit a worker at the doggie daycare who was trying to get him to not hump another dog (the worker said that he startled my dog and my dog just snapped at him once, nothing prolonged). The worst time (no bite, not included in the 5) my mom was napping with my 4 year old nephew in my bed and the dog snarled and got on top of my nephew as if he was about to attack. At that point I was open to euthanizing him or adopting him to the right owner but my sister talked me into an animal behavoralist and we spent hours in exposure therapy and he was medicated. Then in the remaining 4 years I had with him he only bit one person, my fiance and it was a snap. The dog was in the driver's seat and when my fiance reached in to get his leash the dog reacted and snapped. It was his only small set back. Sounds worse than it was but even in those last 4 years my eyes were always on him around people.

 

[Caffeine]

I have two rescue dogs...one is part pit - lab and pit mix to be exact and a small German Spitz, gets mistaken for a Pom a lot, they look pretty similar.

They are best buds. In fact, the Spitz tends to be more aggressive.

I think a lot of it comes from the upbringing. Not all pits are aggressive dogs, but poor owners and neglect can definitely make them that way.

However, we try to be as safe as possible as stray dogs can be a huge threat to small kids, dogs and even adults.

 

[rsd1200]

I have two rescue dogs...one is part pit - lab and pit mix to be exact and a small German Spitz, gets mistaken for a Pom a lot, they look pretty similar.

They are best buds. In fact, the Spitz tends to be more aggressive.

I think a lot of it comes from the upbringing. Not all pits are aggressive dogs, but poor owners and neglect can definitely make them that way.

However, we try to be as safe as possible as stray dogs can be a huge threat to small kids, dogs and even adults.

I'm glad you are having a good experience w/your dog. For the most part I do not believe it is upbringing though. You make a good point when you say your spitz is the more aggressive. If they were raised the same then the Spitz would not be aggressive. The folks I've known who have had pits, and have had trouble with them, were not first time dog owners, and did not mistreat their dogs. They were, however, not expecting what they got when they got their pits. I know other people who have them and have had no problems. Others though have had problems and the dogs were not abused, nor were they in a situation that their owner needed protecting. Even abused dogs rarely bite the hand that feeds them, or puts them in a pit to fight.

 

[Deleted member 122964]

Within this past month, two different pit bulls/pit bull mixes have wandered into my yard. Both times, my daughter was in the yard playing. Immediately, both times, I walked over to my daughter and told her to walk inside. She knows to walk--not run--and to do so immediately. I have taught her that she should not mess around with stray dogs--especially pit bulls. I also quickly got our own mid-size dogs out of the fenced in backyard and into the house. I treated the incidents as an emergency in which I had to act to protect my loved ones. Pit bulls equal danger in my mind, and unfortunately they seem to be the breed of choice in my region.

I wish the current trend in depicting pit bulls as a misunderstood, maligned breed would end. The media presents shows like Pit Bulls and Parolees, making the dogs appeal to impressionable youth. The young people (teens-twenties) I teach often show me pictures of pit bulls they have adopted and write essays arguing against breed specific legislation. All the while, I quietly hope that none of these young people experience the tragedy of a pit bull's aggression.

Why can't we--as a culture & society--admit that this breed is dangerous--no matter the trainer? A dog can jump a fence and slip out of a door. There are accidents. But when this type of accident occurs, it is significantly more dangerous when it is a pit bull who has escaped. Yes, everything might go fine in such a circumstance--as it did at my own house; the pit bulls who came into my yard did not attack anyone/anything. However, statistics teach us that it is much more likely to be a tragic outcome if it is this breed wandering in my neighborhood.

Again, I strongly support breed specific legislation and wish that more towns would create such legislation to help prevent more tragedies involving pit bulls.