Her pit bull pets kill Middleburg woman

[JBean]

It does happen. Not every day, thank God, but it happens.

Small dog kills 6-week-old girl in California



LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A small Pomeranian dog killed a 6-week-old baby while the infant's caretaker briefly left the child unattended to warm a bottle of milk, authorities in Los Angeles said.
The relative, who was caring for the infant girl, found her head buried in the dog's mouth Saturday night, sheriff's Deputy Cruz Solis said. The girl died of head trauma at an area hospital, he said

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/10/09/pomeranian.kills.ap/

 

[JBean]

As an avid dog lover, I can honestly say I'd be afraid to own a pit bull. I know most are sweet dogs, but that doesn't alleviate my concerns. There are other breeds I wouldn't own for the same reason. I would promptly euthanize a dog with temperament problems because I don't want the financial liability in today's sue-happy society. I'll be darned if I want to work for my financial stability only to have someone take it all from me because of an unprovoked attack. I'm too greedy and materialistic to let that happen.

I appreciate and respect your concerns. I bolded the part that is very important. I think many are just writing off pits,and feel safe if they don't have one. But every dog is potentially dangerous and we should treat them all cautiously.

 

[eve]

I appreciate and respect your concerns. I bolded the part that is very important. I think many are just writing off pits,and feel safe if they don't have one. But every dog is potentially dangerous and we should treat them all cautiously.

I so agree with your approach JBean. I have trained a shepherd husky mix, a malamute and a miniature poodle. They were all very different and needed to be handled in different ways. Still, there are known propensities in certain breeds for violence and certain breeds can do more damage. Pits, rotts and chows top my list, but my son was attacked by a dalmation (they also have a bad rep for biting) and strangely, a beagle! But you are right. Any dog can turn.

Eve

 

[imthemom]

HI Eve. Speaking for myself, it's not that I do not believe that Pits can do damage and kill, but many breeds can. If we lull ourselves into a state of complacency by believing that pits are the only problem, we are doing ourselves a great disservice.
I believe that any and all dogs can be a danger and we should treat as such. A properly socialized pit is a very brilliant a loyal pet. But pits, like any other breed, is not a safe animal if improperly raised and bred.
According to dogbitelaw.com, the rate of bites won't even decrease if pits are banned, BUT fatalities will and that is of course very important.
I have always kept my dogs, whatever breed, properly restrained and away from small children. This is even with no signs of aggression or biting. I will always be careful. because it is not only pits that turn. I have had an english bulldog that turned! I was attacked by a Great Dane.
My only point is that this is not just pit specific. We need to be this careful with every dog, every breed. I think a little pom killed a newborn for pete's sake! If people think they are ok just because they do not have a pit, they are sadly mistaken.

:clap: :clap: Good post Jbean, I think that is a very important lesson. All dogs can be dangerous and I don't think it is fair to band one breed when all dogs can kill someone.

 

[Lurker]

I found someting interesting in one of the links I posted about Dachsunds.
It is said that if they're one of the most dangerous with bites to the face as they will rip your face off. Hmm

My Mom's Yorkie can't STAND my neice. She used to tease him something terrible when she was little. We were all in the kitchen one day and she made a fast move towards my nephew and the Yorkie leapt up and bit her in the lip, he was actually hanging there for a second or two. I know it shouldn't strike anyone as funny but all of us couldn't help but laugh. She really had it coming and lucky for her, Yorkies are notorious for losing their teeth.

 

[Cupcake]

I have had an english bulldog that turned!

You have got to be kidding me!!! I have had several english bullies ... I have never known one to be aggressive. I guess you just never know.

What happened to him? Did you give him away or was he put down?

 

[Lurker]

We had a Cairn terrier growing up that was the meanest little SOB you ever wanted to see.

According to my Dad, he went to live at the "Farm" where he could run free.

Funny how when all of our other dogs got old, they all went to the same "Farm" as well as my Cujo rabbit that would attack whenever you tried to put food or water into his run.

 

[eve]

We had a Cairn terrier growing up that was the meanest little SOB you ever wanted to see.

According to my Dad, he went to live at the "Farm" where he could run free.

Funny how when all of our other dogs got old, they all went to the same "Farm" as well as my Cujo rabbit that would attack whenever you tried to put food or water into his run.

I also had a few pets disappear to that same farm, Lurker! That farm must have lotsa acres and muzzles for all the animals! Whenever any of our pets were getting cranky they went to the farm!

Eve

 

[Lurker]

I also had a few pets disappear to that same farm, Lurker! That farm must have lotsa acres and muzzles for all the animals! Whenever any of our pets were getting cranky they went to the farm!

Eve

LOL! That magical farm must be quite a place!

 

[JBean]

I so agree with your approach JBean. I have trained a shepherd husky mix, a malamute and a miniature poodle. They were all very different and needed to be handled in different ways. Still, there are known propensities in certain breeds for violence and certain breeds can do more damage. Pits, rotts and chows top my list, but my son was attacked by a dalmation (they also have a bad rep for biting) and strangely, a beagle! But you are right. Any dog can turn.

Eve

Well there you go. I just hate the thought that people may be careless with their infants and children because it is a 'family" dog and not a pit.

:clap: :clap: Good post Jbean, I think that is a very important lesson. All dogs can be dangerous and I don't think it is fair to band one breed when all dogs can kill someone.

I agree. I do not deny that pits are responsible for fatalities and I don't think you will deny it either. But at the same time, no one can say that other dogs should not be treated with the very same care and caution to avoid bites, maulings and even fatalities. If a pom can do it, any dog can do it.

You have got to be kidding me!!! I have had several english bullies ... I have never known one to be aggressive. I guess you just never know.

What happened to him? Did you give him away or was he put down?

He had to be put down. It was awful. We had many english bulls when growing up and this one just snapped. he held us kids hostage on the kitchen counter until help could arrive. Thank God they are so fat and low to the ground. If he could have gotten up on the counter we would have surely been bitten. But his physical attributes made this impossible. So we were relatively safe until animal control got there. but imagine an english bull being a threat! unreal. But I did learn a lot form that episode.

LOL! That magical farm must be quite a place!

I know a few people I would like to send to the farm. At least the cornfield.

 

[Lurker]

There's also been a marked rise of dog attacks with infants in swings. I was surprised at the amount of links that came up for that when I did my Google search.

 

[JBean]

There's also been a marked rise of dog attacks with infants in swings. I was surprised at the amount of links that came up for that when I did my Google search.

Oh well that is sick and it makes perfect sense. I mean the whole idea of the swing is to put them in safe place that is pleasant while we run around the house doing everything we cannot do when we have to hold the babies.
So sad. ugh.

 

[Lurker]

Oh well that is sick and it makes perfect sense. I mean the whole idea of the swing is to put them in safe place that is pleasant while we run around the house doing everything we cannot do when we have to hold the babies.
So sad. ugh.

My son would never sit in his swing but I wouldn't have thought twice about leaving the dogs in the room while he was in it(as well as myself.) I was probably super anal. I'd be in the kitchen with the baby in the bouncy seat on the kitchen table, the doorbell would ring and I'd put the dogs out back before even answering the door.

The main crux of the article is what we've been stating over and over.


Everyone interviewed agreed on one thing: Do not leave even the most trusted pet alone with a baby.

http://www.doggonesafe.com/articles/baby equpiment.pdf

 

[Ntegrity]

Dogs often assume a "pack mentality" when running together. One of this woman's dogs might have been fine alone, but joined in with the other in the attack for that reason. I've seen that happen with my own dogs. It's similar to a feeding frenzy with sharks. I don't think any breed is necessarily immune to responding that way given the right circumstances.

 

[Lurker]

Dogs often assume a "pack mentality" when running together. One of this woman's dogs might have been fine alone, but joined in with the other in the attack for that reason. I've seen that happen with my own dogs. It's similar to a feeding frenzy with sharks. I don't think any breed is necessarily immune to responding that way given the right circumstances.

Yep, my FIL built a big run for his dogs and I kept telling him not to put them all out at once right away. He said they'd be fine since they were all inside together. He didn't listen and put them all out, they all started playing and getting rough, one got mad and next thing you know it took him and my MIL with a shovel and chain to break up the pack.

 

[GlitchWizard]

Dogs often assume a "pack mentality" when running together. One of this woman's dogs might have been fine alone, but joined in with the other in the attack for that reason. I've seen that happen with my own dogs. It's similar to a feeding frenzy with sharks. I don't think any breed is necessarily immune to responding that way given the right circumstances.

you are SO right. It's hard to tell what kind of dog can do that, too. I have always had more dogs than Jeff Foxworthy says you need under your porch to be a redneck - never a problem. Then someone dropped off a cowardly red dog. This dog was afraid of declawed cats, I'm telling you. However, he somehow rounded up my sweet doggies and did the whole "pack" thing - got my quarterhorse down on the ground!

We gave the dog back to the "drop off" guy, and my other dogs were fine again for many years.

 

[JBean]

So, this makes me wonder what the stats are on pit fatalities when there was only one dog involved as compared to 2 or more. Same with other breeds. is there a higher incidence of attack when the breeds are in pack mode?

I wish you guys would stop with the interesting conversation. I am so backlogged at work, but you keep drawing me in. Stop already.

 

[Lurker]

you are SO right. It's hard to tell what kind of dog can do that, too. I have always had more dogs than Jeff Foxworthy says you need under your porch to be a redneck - never a problem. Then someone dropped off a cowardly red dog. This dog was afraid of declawed cats, I'm telling you. However, he somehow rounded up my sweet doggies and did the whole "pack" thing - got my quarterhorse down on the ground!
We gave the dog back to the "drop off" guy, and my other dogs were fine again for many years.

Hope your horse was OK! My friends brother thought it would be cool to get a wolf. He ordered from some guy in North or South Dakota and had it flown to MD. It was fine for a while and then the neighbors started complaining because it would circle the horse pasture every night. I felt so sorry for it, it seemed so out of place when it first came out of the airplane crate, yipping and looking for somewhere to hide. It was really cool looking and he had it trained well but underneath, it was and always would be a wild animal. It's natural instincts took over. It's now in a animal preserve.

 

[Lurker]

So, this makes me wonder what the stats are on pit fatalities when there was only one dog involved as compared to 2 or more. Same with other breeds. is there a higher incidence of attack when the breeds are in pack mode?

I wish you guys would stop with the interesting conversation. I am so backlogged at work, but you keep drawing me in. Stop already.

I'd be interested in those stats.

 

[Ntegrity]

There are a few breeds I don't trust very much because of their reputation for aggression but, at the same time, I'm against breed specific legislation of any kind. I was just researching this topic and came across a report by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and learned they are against it too. That's good to know because they should know more about dogs than most of us.

One thing that really got my attention is that statistics show 70 to 76% of reported dog bites are caused by intact male dogs. My male dachshund used to growl at my husband until we had him neutered, so my own experience bears this out.