5 year old girl killed by Pit Bull
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It was new years eve, there could've been fireworks going off at anytime through the night,( which totally aggrevate my dogs ), strangers constantly coming and going outside................there could have been a million and one things as to "why" the main "why" is it happened through neglect on a lot of levels.
Yes HE 
does, Sal is an American Staffordshire Terrier and Athena is pit bull rescue. He mother was being used to breed fighting dogs in Freeport IL. Athena and Sal are both "flukes" I guess because they both have zero dog or human aggression. Athena is 10 years old so I highly doubt she is going to snap now...... Sal is 6 and I doubt will enter killer mood anytime soon.
The guy who lives next to me has Elwood a 4 yr old APBT who has zero DA. Lots of flukes....or is it well trained and socialized Pit Bulls in my area. Now I am not an idiot, I am not saying that most Pit Bulls are not DA but I would say many are not DA and even more still can be socialized and trained to be functional in public with other dogs (check out a dog show)
does, Sal is an American Staffordshire Terrier and Athena is pit bull rescue. He mother was being used to breed fighting dogs in Freeport IL. Athena and Sal are both "flukes" I guess because they both have zero dog or human aggression. Athena is 10 years old so I highly doubt she is going to snap now...... Sal is 6 and I doubt will enter killer mood anytime soon.The guy who lives next to me has Elwood a 4 yr old APBT who has zero DA. Lots of flukes....or is it well trained and socialized Pit Bulls in my area. Now I am not an idiot, I am not saying that most Pit Bulls are not DA but I would say many are not DA and even more still can be socialized and trained to be functional in public with other dogs (check out a dog show)
Here is something I found that may be agreeable to both sides of this issue. We all here agree on ownership responsibility. Those who claim it is only pits that do this are sorely mistaken. According to all I have read Rotts are more likely to cause a death and on the list is German Shepard, Huskies and Chows. Banning does not work we all know that. I think this is a good solution and do think all agressive breeds should fall under mandatory spay and nuter laws unless you are issued a breeding license because you have met all requirements and your dogs are proven and sound.
Is Breed to Blame in Fatal Dog Attack?
Hoping to End Maulings, Some Cities Ban Pit Bulls and Other Dogs
By DEAN SCHABNER
June 7, 2005 -- - After a sixth-grader was fatally mauled by at least one of his family's pit bulls, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said it is time for the city to re-evaluate its laws concerning dog ownership, but animal protection groups say any legislation should be focused on correcting owners' behavior, not trying to prevent future attacks by banning specific types of dogs.
Nicholas Faibish, 12, was killed in the attack Friday in his San Francisco home, and investigators have been working to determine whether just one or both of the family's dogs were responsible.
After the attack, Newsom said the city has to do something.
"We have to be realistic," Newsom said. "You've got dogs that literally can kill. We've seen it demonstrated. If we can't change people's behavior and make them think what's in their best interest, then that's when government comes along and becomes a bit paternalistic."
Newsom said he did not have any specific legislative proposals in mind, and a spokesman for the mayor said he was not talking about a ban on pit bull-type dogs, such as has been enacted in other places across the country, but the dogs were clearly on his mind.
"Having a pit bull … and three kids is not acceptable because we're not going to deal with the consequences of losing a life," Newsom said.
He appointed a task force led by Carl Friedman, the city's director of Animal Care and Control, and members of the mayor's office, the police department, fire department, health department and city attorney's office, and gave the group 10 days to produce a report.
Friedman said the task force will likely consider breed-specific permits and mandatory spaying and neutering of aggressive dogs.
Denver banned pit bulls in 1989, after a minister was bitten 70 times and had both his legs broken in a pit bull attack. Earlier this spring a state court upheld the law even though a state law -- passed after the ban was imposed -- prohibits breed-specific legislation.
The city sued the state in May 2004 after Gov. Bill Owens signed a state law making owners liable for injuries the first time a dog bites. The bill, which also prohibited cities and counties from outlawing specific breeds, followed the fatal mauling of an Elbert County woman by three pit bulls last year.
A judge in Denver's District Court upheld the law in May, ruling the state Attorney General's Office had not provided any new scientific evidence in the field of animal behavior or other new information that would make the ordinance unconstitutional.
The same judge had also ruled in December that "home rule" gives Denver the right to ban specific breeds of dogs, despite the state law.
"The urban environment of Denver is a heck of a lot different than the outback of Australia," Assistant City Attorney Kory Nelson said after the court ruled in the city's favor last month. "These dogs pose such a risk should they attack. We think as a community we shouldn't have them."
A Dangerous Breed?
Other places in the country that have breed-specific legislation -- either outright bans of certain breeds or specific requirements for owners of certain breeds -- include Iowa and Ohio; the cities of Boston; Providence, R.I.; and Muskegon, Mich.; as well as Miami-Dade County, Fla.; Prince Georges County, Md.; and more than a dozen cities in Washington state.
Washington, D.C., also has been considering a ban on pit bulls.
"This is a dangerous breed," city Councilman Jim Graham, who has introduced a ban three times since 1999, told The Washington Post. "On this issue, I get thousands of e-mails from people across the United States who tell me this is not a dangerous breed. There is not a week that goes by without a report of violence regarding pit bulls. What we're waiting for is some young child or someone else to be violently attacked, and then there will be outcry."
In Canada, the province of Ontario has also enacted a ban on pit bulls, due to take effect in August.
"Breed bans boil down to the public and the government needing someone to blame and they don't know how to handle it, so they put the blame on pit bulls," said Jason Mann, the creator of PitBullLovers.com, a Lexington, Ky.-based Web site for pit bull owners.
Pit bulls, which are a popular dog with dog fighters and have developed a reputation for being vicious, were once known as "the nanny dog," because they were used to watch out for children. The dogs are considered extremely intelligent and trainable, but need a great deal of exercise to keep them happy, Mann said.
While the dogs, often those raised to fight or to act as guard dogs by drug dealers or gang members, have been guilty of many attacks, other pit bulls have been cited as heroes, such as the two in Nebraska earlier this year who saved a woman who was under attack by a chow.
Who Is Responsible?
"Legislation should be more focused on the owner and the owner's responsibility for the dog's behavior," Mann said. "In the end, it's the owner's fault."
That is a view that is shared by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Kennel Club, as well as several dog owners' groups.
There is little evidence that breed-specific laws make communities safer, either for people or for dogs, and the bans are expensive and difficult to enforce, these groups say.
A study carried out by a task force in Prince Georges County in 2003 found that public safety had not improved, and that "there is no transgression committed by owner or animal that is not covered by another non-breed-specific portion of the animal control code."
"Almost all the cities and counties where all of a sudden lawmakers want to pass these bans, there has been almost no enforcement of the laws they have," said Patti Strand, of the National Animal Interest Alliance, a Portland, Ore.-based association of pet owners, dog and cat clubs, obedience clubs, and rescue groups as well as breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and other animal professionals.
In Denver, city officials estimated that there were 4,500 pit bulls, despite the 16-year-old ban.
Recognition Problems
Another problem with breed-specific bans is the difficulty in identifying some dogs, and the questions that arise regarding mixed breed dogs. When it comes to banning "pit bulls," the problems are further compounded because the term does not refer to a single breed, but to several breeds, and is often used as a catch-all term for dogs that have a certain look.
Denver's law, for example defines a pit bull as any dog that is an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds.
But the bans are attractive because of the data that is available on fatal dog attacks. According to research by Karen Delise, the author of "Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics," 21 percent of the 431 fatal dog attacks between 1965 and 2001 were carried out by "pit bull and pit bull-type dogs."
But there is a more telling statistic in the research available on dog attacks, said Ledy VanKavage, an attorney with the ASPCA.
Some 95 percent of the attacks on humans come from dogs that have not been spayed or neutered, and 70 percent of the attacks were committed by unneutered males, she said.
"Legislators should look at the statistics and enact legislation to protect people from vicious dogs of any breed, whether it be Pomeranian or Rottweiler," VanKavage said.
That means making it easier for people to get their pets spayed or neutered, and creating and enforcing legislation requiring people to be responsible dog owners, no matter what breed they have, she said.
Strand said that is the kind of legislation the NAIA supports, as well.
"Responsible dog ownership and reasonable, enforceable laws, not Draconian prohibitions, are the keys to preventing tragedies like the one that recently occurred in San Francisco," Strand said. "Breed-specific laws fail because they do not take into consideration the reality that any dog, regardless of its physical characteristics, must be raised, trained and socialized properly to become a good pet and canine good citizen."
Is Breed to Blame in Fatal Dog Attack?
Hoping to End Maulings, Some Cities Ban Pit Bulls and Other Dogs
By DEAN SCHABNER
June 7, 2005 -- - After a sixth-grader was fatally mauled by at least one of his family's pit bulls, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said it is time for the city to re-evaluate its laws concerning dog ownership, but animal protection groups say any legislation should be focused on correcting owners' behavior, not trying to prevent future attacks by banning specific types of dogs.
Nicholas Faibish, 12, was killed in the attack Friday in his San Francisco home, and investigators have been working to determine whether just one or both of the family's dogs were responsible.
After the attack, Newsom said the city has to do something.
"We have to be realistic," Newsom said. "You've got dogs that literally can kill. We've seen it demonstrated. If we can't change people's behavior and make them think what's in their best interest, then that's when government comes along and becomes a bit paternalistic."
Newsom said he did not have any specific legislative proposals in mind, and a spokesman for the mayor said he was not talking about a ban on pit bull-type dogs, such as has been enacted in other places across the country, but the dogs were clearly on his mind.
"Having a pit bull … and three kids is not acceptable because we're not going to deal with the consequences of losing a life," Newsom said.
He appointed a task force led by Carl Friedman, the city's director of Animal Care and Control, and members of the mayor's office, the police department, fire department, health department and city attorney's office, and gave the group 10 days to produce a report.
Friedman said the task force will likely consider breed-specific permits and mandatory spaying and neutering of aggressive dogs.
Denver banned pit bulls in 1989, after a minister was bitten 70 times and had both his legs broken in a pit bull attack. Earlier this spring a state court upheld the law even though a state law -- passed after the ban was imposed -- prohibits breed-specific legislation.
The city sued the state in May 2004 after Gov. Bill Owens signed a state law making owners liable for injuries the first time a dog bites. The bill, which also prohibited cities and counties from outlawing specific breeds, followed the fatal mauling of an Elbert County woman by three pit bulls last year.
A judge in Denver's District Court upheld the law in May, ruling the state Attorney General's Office had not provided any new scientific evidence in the field of animal behavior or other new information that would make the ordinance unconstitutional.
The same judge had also ruled in December that "home rule" gives Denver the right to ban specific breeds of dogs, despite the state law.
"The urban environment of Denver is a heck of a lot different than the outback of Australia," Assistant City Attorney Kory Nelson said after the court ruled in the city's favor last month. "These dogs pose such a risk should they attack. We think as a community we shouldn't have them."
A Dangerous Breed?
Other places in the country that have breed-specific legislation -- either outright bans of certain breeds or specific requirements for owners of certain breeds -- include Iowa and Ohio; the cities of Boston; Providence, R.I.; and Muskegon, Mich.; as well as Miami-Dade County, Fla.; Prince Georges County, Md.; and more than a dozen cities in Washington state.
Washington, D.C., also has been considering a ban on pit bulls.
"This is a dangerous breed," city Councilman Jim Graham, who has introduced a ban three times since 1999, told The Washington Post. "On this issue, I get thousands of e-mails from people across the United States who tell me this is not a dangerous breed. There is not a week that goes by without a report of violence regarding pit bulls. What we're waiting for is some young child or someone else to be violently attacked, and then there will be outcry."
In Canada, the province of Ontario has also enacted a ban on pit bulls, due to take effect in August.
"Breed bans boil down to the public and the government needing someone to blame and they don't know how to handle it, so they put the blame on pit bulls," said Jason Mann, the creator of PitBullLovers.com, a Lexington, Ky.-based Web site for pit bull owners.
Pit bulls, which are a popular dog with dog fighters and have developed a reputation for being vicious, were once known as "the nanny dog," because they were used to watch out for children. The dogs are considered extremely intelligent and trainable, but need a great deal of exercise to keep them happy, Mann said.
While the dogs, often those raised to fight or to act as guard dogs by drug dealers or gang members, have been guilty of many attacks, other pit bulls have been cited as heroes, such as the two in Nebraska earlier this year who saved a woman who was under attack by a chow.
Who Is Responsible?
"Legislation should be more focused on the owner and the owner's responsibility for the dog's behavior," Mann said. "In the end, it's the owner's fault."
That is a view that is shared by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Kennel Club, as well as several dog owners' groups.
There is little evidence that breed-specific laws make communities safer, either for people or for dogs, and the bans are expensive and difficult to enforce, these groups say.
A study carried out by a task force in Prince Georges County in 2003 found that public safety had not improved, and that "there is no transgression committed by owner or animal that is not covered by another non-breed-specific portion of the animal control code."
"Almost all the cities and counties where all of a sudden lawmakers want to pass these bans, there has been almost no enforcement of the laws they have," said Patti Strand, of the National Animal Interest Alliance, a Portland, Ore.-based association of pet owners, dog and cat clubs, obedience clubs, and rescue groups as well as breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and other animal professionals.
In Denver, city officials estimated that there were 4,500 pit bulls, despite the 16-year-old ban.
Recognition Problems
Another problem with breed-specific bans is the difficulty in identifying some dogs, and the questions that arise regarding mixed breed dogs. When it comes to banning "pit bulls," the problems are further compounded because the term does not refer to a single breed, but to several breeds, and is often used as a catch-all term for dogs that have a certain look.
Denver's law, for example defines a pit bull as any dog that is an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds.
But the bans are attractive because of the data that is available on fatal dog attacks. According to research by Karen Delise, the author of "Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics," 21 percent of the 431 fatal dog attacks between 1965 and 2001 were carried out by "pit bull and pit bull-type dogs."
But there is a more telling statistic in the research available on dog attacks, said Ledy VanKavage, an attorney with the ASPCA.
Some 95 percent of the attacks on humans come from dogs that have not been spayed or neutered, and 70 percent of the attacks were committed by unneutered males, she said.
"Legislators should look at the statistics and enact legislation to protect people from vicious dogs of any breed, whether it be Pomeranian or Rottweiler," VanKavage said.
That means making it easier for people to get their pets spayed or neutered, and creating and enforcing legislation requiring people to be responsible dog owners, no matter what breed they have, she said.
Strand said that is the kind of legislation the NAIA supports, as well.
"Responsible dog ownership and reasonable, enforceable laws, not Draconian prohibitions, are the keys to preventing tragedies like the one that recently occurred in San Francisco," Strand said. "Breed-specific laws fail because they do not take into consideration the reality that any dog, regardless of its physical characteristics, must be raised, trained and socialized properly to become a good pet and canine good citizen."
Very good follow up I'm surprised it was so open minded towards the real underlying problems of dog attacks and irresponsible owners. I'm intrested to see what happens and I really hope the true people responsible for the poor girls death are charged at the very least for negligance.
A bit of an update on the situation here in Ontario...
As feared now that BSL has sucessfully slithered it's way into our legislative system, some mp's are pushing for German Shepherds, Rotti's, Dobermans to be banned and one mp in piticular is pushing for a complete muzzeling law for ALL dogs of ALL breeds while out in public. I guess I was right to trust my instincts and start muzzel training Duke early as it seems were about to be hit with another wave of bull sh*t.
A new effort has popped up( www.stoptheban.ca) to try and counter and have the ban removed but will have to see. In the mean time I'm preparing to talk directly to media sources directly if this is proposes and many owners are preparing to stage more protests outside of queens park ( In downtown Toronto where such descions are made)
Anyhow here are a few more educational anti-BSL videos for anyone who's come late to this thread.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0dC8BPA0...arch=pit bull
http://trupitbull.com/videos/SorryAgain.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZ6p2rfE4c
Kayla
A bit of an update on the situation here in Ontario...
As feared now that BSL has sucessfully slithered it's way into our legislative system, some mp's are pushing for German Shepherds, Rotti's, Dobermans to be banned and one mp in piticular is pushing for a complete muzzeling law for ALL dogs of ALL breeds while out in public
. I guess I was right to trust my instincts and start muzzel training Duke early as it seems were about to be hit with another wave of bull sh*t.A new effort has popped up( www.stoptheban.ca) to try and counter and have the ban removed but will have to see. In the mean time I'm preparing to talk directly to media sources directly if this is proposes and many owners are preparing to stage more protests outside of queens park ( In downtown Toronto where such descions are made)
Anyhow here are a few more educational anti-BSL videos for anyone who's come late to this thread.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0dC8BPA0...arch=pit bull
http://trupitbull.com/videos/SorryAgain.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZ6p2rfE4c
Kayla
This is the best idea I have heard in the whole thread............I know a zillion people, the ones who actually care about their breed, would love this plan! As long as they make getting a breeders license actually fit the guidelines!!
But I think this should be legislation for ALL breeds, not just discriminate over aggressive breeds because then you have a whole new argument!
WAY TO CUT DOWN ON BYBs AND PUPPY MILLS TOO! YEAH, I AM LIKING THAT BETTER EVERY TIME I READ IT
The only people that should tick off are the people breeding for money or other sad reasons!!!!!!!!!
And who really gives a rats @$$ about them any way??
But I think this should be legislation for ALL breeds, not just discriminate over aggressive breeds because then you have a whole new argument!
WAY TO CUT DOWN ON BYBs AND PUPPY MILLS TOO! YEAH, I AM LIKING THAT BETTER EVERY TIME I READ IT
The only people that should tick off are the people breeding for money or other sad reasons!!!!!!!!!
And who really gives a rats @$$ about them any way??
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Now we're talking. I will agree with that but say good quality show dogs should be excluded from the spay/neuter part.
I dont mind breeding dogs (and I say this as a rescuer) as long as it is done responsibly & for the betterment of the breed.
I wouldnt mind a spay/neuter law at all. Would cut down TONS on euthanasias at shelters, might even stop them completly country wide. The problem is, I think it would be seen as an enfringement of the people's rights.
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Not surprised that they are talking about banning GSDs. That's what most people dont get. If it is okay to ban pit bulls then why not ban GSDs then why not ban Dobermans then why not ban Labradors then why not ban every dog breed? It's a never ending thing. There are always going to be idiots who want a "tough dog" if they dont have pit bulls they will find another breed, and then another and another. The solution is to stop these idiots from ever owning dogs.
I dont mind breeding dogs (and I say this as a rescuer) as long as it is done responsibly & for the betterment of the breed.
I wouldnt mind a spay/neuter law at all. Would cut down TONS on euthanasias at shelters, might even stop them completly country wide. The problem is, I think it would be seen as an enfringement of the people's rights.
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Not surprised that they are talking about banning GSDs. That's what most people dont get. If it is okay to ban pit bulls then why not ban GSDs then why not ban Dobermans then why not ban Labradors then why not ban every dog breed? It's a never ending thing. There are always going to be idiots who want a "tough dog" if they dont have pit bulls they will find another breed, and then another and another. The solution is to stop these idiots from ever owning dogs.
It really isn't, people that are hysterical and make knee jerk emotional laws othen don't stop at just one. When they have some sucess they go for more. Everyone of you (Not say you are ToscasMom) who are in favor of BSLs and own a dog are IMHO crazy, because it is just a matter of time before they come for your dog...
Very good follow up I'm surprised it was so open minded towards the real underlying problems of dog attacks and irresponsible owners. I'm intrested to see what happens and I really hope the true people responsible for the poor girls death are charged at the very least for negligance.
A bit of an update on the situation here in Ontario...
As feared now that BSL has sucessfully slithered it's way into our legislative system, some mp's are pushing for German Shepherds, Rotti's, Dobermans to be banned and one mp in piticular is pushing for a complete muzzeling law for ALL dogs of ALL breeds while out in public. I guess I was right to trust my instincts and start muzzel training Duke early as it seems were about to be hit with another wave of bull sh*t.
A new effort has popped up( www.stoptheban.ca) to try and counter and have the ban removed but will have to see. In the mean time I'm preparing to talk directly to media sources directly if this is proposes and many owners are preparing to stage more protests outside of queens park ( In downtown Toronto where such descions are made)
Anyhow here are a few more educational anti-BSL videos for anyone who's come late to this thread.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0dC8BPA0...arch=pit bull
http://trupitbull.com/videos/SorryAgain.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZ6p2rfE4c
Kayla
A bit of an update on the situation here in Ontario...
As feared now that BSL has sucessfully slithered it's way into our legislative system, some mp's are pushing for German Shepherds, Rotti's, Dobermans to be banned and one mp in piticular is pushing for a complete muzzeling law for ALL dogs of ALL breeds while out in public
. I guess I was right to trust my instincts and start muzzel training Duke early as it seems were about to be hit with another wave of bull sh*t.A new effort has popped up( www.stoptheban.ca) to try and counter and have the ban removed but will have to see. In the mean time I'm preparing to talk directly to media sources directly if this is proposes and many owners are preparing to stage more protests outside of queens park ( In downtown Toronto where such descions are made)
Anyhow here are a few more educational anti-BSL videos for anyone who's come late to this thread.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0dC8BPA0...arch=pit bull
http://trupitbull.com/videos/SorryAgain.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZ6p2rfE4c
Kayla
"good quality show dogs" = excluded from spay/neuter ??
What's up with this comment? What about the dogs that achieve PSD, FH2, FR3/MR3, VCD4 for that matter and ADCH or TDX among others??
Those are your top dogs in health and fitness/mind of any breed or rank and you EXCLUDE them from the gene pool ??? What's up with that?
What's up with this comment? What about the dogs that achieve PSD, FH2, FR3/MR3, VCD4 for that matter and ADCH or TDX among others??
Those are your top dogs in health and fitness/mind of any breed or rank and you EXCLUDE them from the gene pool ??? What's up with that?
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