Defending Pit Bulls

This is from an article written by an animal rights activist. When I was younger, I belonged to Peta. I love animals. I've even dabbled in veganism. However, there's a such thing called common sense that is missing when it comes to discussions about Pit Bulls. Even breeders involved in the dog-fighting world say that backyard breeders (who are responsible for the glut of Pit strays and Pit shelter dogs) along with well meaning suckers (they used a less kind word) who adopt them but do not know what they have are the cause of all these attacks and subsequent bad press. These dogs are not meant to be family pets.



"Erasing the stigma around pits will take more than warehousing them in shelters in hopes of finding a home and more than accessible spay and neuter and more than just words. We ask policy makers and society to take a step back from reactive, fear-based decisions and look at data, risk factors and solutions objectively; but to be credible advocates for this dog we have to do the same. We can erase the stigma but this is a community issue, not just a shelter issue, and it’s going to take a concerted effort and some time to solve."


Why would you want to when they are proven to be dangerous, unpredictable, and violent? Let it go. There are tons of other breeds that do not attack unprovoked, without warning, and SO OFTEN as well as so violently. 


*(I want to mention, also, stereotypes usually exist for a reason. For example, I'm Irish. My parents, my uncle, and several cousins died prior to the age of fifty due to alcoholism, as did my spouse. I have remaining aunts who are functioning alcoholics, an ex-alcoholic uncle, a seriously deluded alcoholic uncle, and a weekend alcoholic brother. Does this mean ALL Irish people are alcoholics? Of course not. I can quit any time I want, personally, but I'm the exception. Me and my grandmother. We just like to drink. We don't have to.)










"What’s a better “targeted” approach than breed-ban legislation? For one, focusing on where the problem dogs are, and what feeds the problem. In one of the more thorough studies of dog bites, researchers found strong socioeconomic factors associated with them. Biting dogs were more likely to live in neighborhoods where residents’ median incomes were lower than the county median, where researchers also noted “large numbers of children playing outdoors, few homes with adequate fencing, poor dog control, and a high proportion of large-breed dogs owned for protective purposes.” It’s also clear that risk factors associated with bites included being sexually intact (not spayed or neutered) and being a purebred. This is just one example of the kind of digging we’ll have to do to shape thoughtful education and social policies to prevent dog bites."


I imagine while this woman is thinking about possible solutions, a beloved pet or child of hers is going to be mauled, horribly disfigured, or killed. Karma is a bitch. 




"We need lots more background about bites. I won’t portray all pits as angels incapable of causing harm—they’re not, and the same could be said about any breed. But we have to step into the zone of logical, critical thinking—and also realize that breed stigma and spotty reporting destroy the community trust needed to really solve the pit-bull problem. "


No we don't! The statistics speak for themselves. I understand people don't want to get rid or their beloved pet, but there are a myriad of reports where the family dog, pit or part pit, went completely psychotic for no reason whatsoever-dogs that never had given any hint of being violent. It is the BREED. Face it.




All dogs are capable of violence. The pit bull is more than capable. It excels at it.
http://sruv-pitbulls.blogspot.com/2011/08/all-dogs-bite.html
When pit bull advocates are given the opportunity to speak on camera, or are interviewed for print journalism, the phrase All dogs bite  is invariably used to diminish the enormity of a pit bull attack.

Mrs. Marino, 66, and her daughter, Carol A. Miller, 46, were attacked March 14 by two pit bulls in the backyard of her town of Watertown home. Two mixed pit bulls got away from their owners’ home across the street and went after Mrs. Miller’s 90-pound boxer, Roc. The attack was so vicious that one of the pit bulls bit off part of the index finger on Mrs. Marino’s left hand.
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120322/NEWS03/703229822







The following images are taken from the FaceBook page of  Marie Helene Tokar, who was attacked by her neighbor's pit bull. You can view additional images of Marie on her FaceBook page:  Marie Helene Tokar

realize that it is nearly impossible to get your limbs out of a pit bull’s jaws 




http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/27/how-to-survive-an-animal-attack/

Pit Bulls

Avoidance is a good technique here as well, as aggressive pit bulls can be very dangerous. They are not only for their lockjaw and incredible bite strength, but also for the risk of diseases like rabies.  Standing tall and not showing weakness can be intimidating to the animal, though it isn’t a sure thing that your technique will keep you whole.  Standing still or distancing yourself from an aggressive dog slowly, without moving sharply or shrinking down in size, is also one of the better techniques.  If you are attacked, try to use an item like a stick or purse to give the dog something to grab onto; realize that it is nearly impossible to get your limbs out of a pit bull’s jaws, so prepare yourself for that. 

*In other words, you're screwed, "Oh, excuse me a minute while I look for a stick..." You ever actually look for a stick? I have, and I didn't have a dog attacking me while I was doing it, either. The majority of sticks you will find, if you happen to be in a tree dense area, are going to bend, crumble, or be too small to help you.

 Try to avoid excess movement by yourself or by the animal, as the real damage usually comes from the animal’s head jerking or the reaction to try and remove your body part; immobilize the animal between your legs or with the help of others if possible.  You can attempt to put the animal to sleep using a choke hold or to poke it in the eyes; 

*ask any victim of an attack by a pit bull how well this works.

if others are around, they may be able to beat the animal away or put it in a choke hold, which will make its muscles and joints relax enough to force the jaws open.

The threat of attacks from these animals is real. You should take the time to understand the risk you face when in the natural habitat and on the level with animals that can become aggressive in order to know how to handle a potential attack. In case you are attacked, the above information is  simple enough to help you remember and avoid the consequences of a lesser-prepared victim.

this is a child mauled by a pit bull

WFSR.com reports that Hobdy was charged with criminally negligent homicide, first-degree reckless endangerment, and risk of injury to a minor, in the death of the baby girl, Neveah Bryant.

On September 30, Hobdy was babysitting her sister's daughter in her apartment where there were three pit bulls that belonged to Hobdy's boyfriend. Lt. Robert Proto of West Haven Police said the child had been lying on a blanket on the floor in the living room and the dogs were shut in another room. Somehow they broke out and attacked her.