Gwen

Did you hear about the 5 year old that was killed by the families 3 pit bulls? I know this is sort of your neck of the woods. I was just reading this on the Waycross green screen. It seems that when you hear of one there will be several more happening around the same time. This is so tragic.

Yes, that happened about an hour from me in the opposite direction.   It appears that one of Dave and Loretta's dogs was severely injured and died Sunday afternoon.  Loretta is a basketcase.  It now seems that about a year ago this same dog bit another person hence the chain link fence.  The owners still claim the dog is harmless.  My friends have now changed their minds feel the dog is a threat.  

Not sure what the outcome will be.  I know I would be furious and want immediate action.

The cases that I worked at the hospital one in particular stands out in mind to this day. It was just a toddler where the pit bull was chained to the front porch and the baby got with in reach and the dog chewed this little fellow up real bad. Bad enough that he went to surgery. When I asked the daddy what happened to the dog he informed me it was the baby's fault. I was so mad that I had to leave the room before I ripped his stupid head off and lost my job. It just amazes me that all these owners think these dogs are so harmless.

The more I read and hear, the madder I get.  I know all pits, rotties,  shepherds etc are not vicious BUT owners have to use caution.  My family raised shepherds all my life and they were very gentle but Mama and Daddy also knew there was the tendency for harm if not handled correctly.  Even the most gentle animal can snap. 

I just heard that another woman in Decatur County which is less than 30 miles away has been attacked by a pack of dogs and is in critical condition.

Georgia law is confusing.  State law defines a vicious dog as any dog that inflicts severe injury on a human without provocation, but to be declared vicious, the dog must have bitten people on at least two occasions.   EXCUSE ME?  One time causing severe injury would be enough for me.

Off my soap box. My blood pressure is rising.

As the owner of an abused Rottie and the past owner of several dogs, I am here to tell you that the dogs and the babies are not at fault.  The person who chains and does not train their dog is at fault.  Dogs like children reflect the rearing that they receive.  When people allow their dogs to be inappropriate in behavior or allow them to "raise" themselves, then the owner is irresponsible and should be punished for their lack of proper and responsible care of their dog.

My dog and I returned from Texas on Sunday.  A lady got out of her car with two collies, one of them immediately became aggressive and headed toward Hug.  Hug bristled and got ready for an attack.  I called her off and pulled her away.  The other woman struggled to get control of her dogs, with out much result.  Now, unless a dog is well trained, you cannot pull a 105 pound Rottie off an attack.  The lady finally got control of her dogs, but stared me down about it.  I put my dog in the car and went into the restroom.  She had the adacity to walk by in front of my car and stare at me again, as if Hug were the aggressor. Hug never advanced on the dogs.  Never growled.  She never barked.  She just stood between me and the other dogs prepared for what might happen.  She willingly came with me when I signaled with the tug on the leash.

Hug was not the aggressor and she readily minded me and came away from the dogs.  The other two dogs continued to try to start something.  Dog owners like this lady tolerate that kind of aggression in their dogs and seem to take pride in their dog's "dominance"....that is much like the father of the bully who takes pride in that his child has beaten up all the other kids in the neighborhood.   Somehow the father associates the bully's behavior with being a "real boy."  The woman was irresponsible and should not be allowed to own dogs.

Pit bulls are not mean dogs unless they have been encouraged to be so.  People have allowed this to happen and even encouraged it.  Some people, especially people with ego problems, take great pride in having a biting dog.  Even when the dogs have been especially bred for aggression, they can still be trained to be good companion dogs.  Cesar Milan says that a dog that kills another dog or bites a person should be put down.  The reason is that you can not rehabilitate a dog that has tasted blood in combat.  Aggression needs to be curbed and submission needs to be rewarded.

My Rottie is very good around children.  When I have seen things in her that made me uncomfortable, I have removed the dog from the child's presence.  I never let the dog be with children without supervision for both.  Children do not always know how to handle a situation...and a dog can become upset with children and some individuals.  A dog needs to be monitored just like your average toddler, and since they have about the same level of intelligence and judgement, it is obvious why this needs to happen.

I am sorry to hear about the pit bulls and the baby.  I am sorry that the pit bulls were not better trained.  I am even sorrier to hear that the owners are so irresponsible.  But their attitude tells me that they were not responsible in the rearing of their dogs.  I hate to see a breed get a bad reputation because of irresponsible owners.  It is not the dog's fault and certainly not the child's.

Karla

Everytime I hear about an attack I think about your Hug and how well trained and gentle she is especially after her rough beginning.  Hug is the example others should go by.  You have taken the extra step to make sure she is well cared for and when you are faced with a situation like you described, you know exactly how to handle it.  As protective as I am about my grandkids, I would not hestitate to let Hug babysit them    I know she would look after them!

I know most dogs are made to be mean as was the case with the dog that attacked my friend.  If every dog owner would do like you have done with your rottie, we would not have near as many fears.  I applaud you