The week of May 20 was dog bite prevention week. If the headlines are any indication, dogs missed the news story and there is a lot more work to do in regards to keeping people safe from dogs (and vice versa). This is a day early -- unfortunately too many stories to wait another day.
Loraine, OH to re-look into a ban on Pit Bulls
This is easily the top story of the week. Loraine is looking into a pit bull ban after a 7 year old girl was attacked by a pit bull that was chained to a tree. There's a lot of juicy stuff in this story. For starters, the dog was chained (which people fail to note). Loraine is looking at a pit bull ban in spite of not having an animal control department. There are some stats from Merritt Cliffton that are quoted (some day soon I'm going to dedicate a whole day to why Cliffton's stats are flawed) and it's also noted that Cleveland has BSL and only 7 animal control officers. Cleveland and KCMO have approximately the same population, and similar demographics. KCMO last year answered 20% of its animal control calls with 12 animal control officers. So I'll go out on a limb here and guess that Cleveland is answering roughly 10% of its animal control calls...yeah, pit bulls are clearly their problem. How about fixing the animal control service first?
New Hampshire Legislators won't bite on Pit Bull Ban
Apparently they really believe in their State Motto "Live Free or Die", ranking N.H. on the list of places I want to retire to some day. This is a really good article if you have the time to read it.
Pit Bull Attack Caught on Video
Surveillance video catches a pit bull attack on a 5 year old kid in Detroit. This story appeared all over the place this week...and every story I saw said he was attacked by two pit bulls, but one of them was really just running around minding its own business. I will also note that the video should pretty much overrule any city council person who tries to say that pit bulls "bite and hold and lock their jaws on someone" as none of those things happened here. It's an unfortunate incident to say the least, but dispells several myths about pit bull attacks.
Chicago Police Officer Shoots Pit Bull/Bystander
The pit bull apparently "attacked" an officer, but no wounds were made by the dog. Meanwhile, a bullet aimed at the dog richocheted and hit a person. Meanwhile, the dog was allowed to stay with the owner, apparently not being terribly injured (and still didn't "attack") and without being deemed a dangerous dog.
Two more dogs shot by police officers
This time in Lauderhill, FL. Two "90 lbs pit bulls" charged a police officer -- the officers were there to investigate a call about animal cruelty. No wonder the dogs were mean, and another instance of these 90 lbs pit bulls that I doubt are really pit bulls. This article says that one of the 90 lbs pit bulls was only 5 months old. Sorry folks, I don't think there's any such thing as a 5 month old 90 lbs pit bull.
Man needs 75 stitches after being attacked by 3 boxers
This is in Middletown, OH, which this article confusingly points out overturned its own pit bull ban 2 months ago....I'm not sure what the repeal of the ban had to do with dogs not included in the ban, and not sure what the article's point was for making that the headline of this article...I've got nothin'.
York, PA Man Attacked by Junk Yard Dog
The headline of course says pit bull, but there is a reason why the song Leroy Brown used a Junk Yard dog as its frame of reference for what was mean...and that song was written back when Junk Yard dogs were usually dogs other than "pit bulls".
St. Petersburg, FL Police Officer wounded when partner shot at pit bull
This one hit a curb and ricocheted an hit another police officer. Apparently the dog's home had been burglarized.
Chicago busts Anthony Brown on Dog Fighting
Rented a house that no one lived in that's sole purpose was for fighting dogs in the basement. Landlords, watch your tenants.
Another suspected dog fighting ring busted in Central Ohio
Apparently this isn't animal control's first visit to her residence...
Letter's to the editor are a great way to gain an appreciation for how people have bought, hook, line and sinker, the many myths that surround pit bull type dogs. This one believes the dogs just one day snap. Dogs just snapping never happens. There are always signs, whether people choose to notice them is another thing. To get the true scoop on aggression, read this.
Officer shot by partner who was aiming at pit bull
Dog's home was burglarized, now the dog and an officer are shot. Why can we not use Tazers?
A dog's life on a chain is no life at all
At least someone gets it with this good editorial.
Homeless Couple Beaten, dogs stolen, in Cleveland, OH
This story is the type that gives me chills. A homeless couple was offered money earlier in the day for their dogs, they declined. So the man returns with a ball bat and a knife and beat the couple and steal their dogs. Pretty much everything that is wrong with society is summed up in this short story:
1) We do too little in this country to help people truly in need
2) A homeless couple can love their dogs more than money, and yet so many people with means don't love their dogs at all
3) Some piece of crap person would beat up homeless people to steal their dogs. It give me chills/tears to think about what is likely to become of these dogs.
Rottweiller attacks woman in UK
How's that breed ban working again?
Pit bull shot in Springfield, MO
Their pit bull ban is working well too.
Victim's family sues owner of Attacking Great Dane
Interesting that the city mayor is also the family's attorney.
This woman watched a story on her local TV station and now has become an expert on "pit bulls" and wants them to be listed as dangerous weapons. As a supporting proof point, she offers that a pit bull that was chained to a tree "day after day" in her affluent neighborhood became aggressive. Uh huh.
English Mastiff attacks woman and dog in Wheat Ridge, CO
Of course, no one would know if the victim had written a letter to the editor as it never appeared in the newspaper otherwise.
Boxer attacks UPS Man in Zionsville, IN
Two Boxers Declared Dangerous after attacking Shih Tzu
Does anyone still think that you can't make another dog dangerous if you ban all "pit bulls"?
Nine Year Old Girl Attacked by pit bull in Charlotte, NC
Note that the dog was tethered in the back yard.
Police shoot another officer, Pit bull in Elgin, IL
I know that this police gig is hard and all, but the stray bullet flying everywhere isn't the safest...obviously.
Indianapolis Girl Attacked by pit bull
This one sounds pretty bad...I hope for the best for the little girl.
Woman walks a pit bull, and off-leash poodle runs up to the dog and gets attacked, so this woman blames the pit bull owner. While it's not ok for the pit bull to be dog aggressive (people should train them better), it turns out that this was a foster that was being rehabilitated. I'm sorry, but I have a tough time putting so much blame on the owner who had their dog on a leash who was trying to rehabilitate a dog.
Lake Worth, FL Police Officer Shoots "Pit Bull"
This 80 lb "pit bull" scooted out the door when the owner came out to talk to police. The police officer RAN from the dog, and when he realized that he couldn't outrun the dog and shot it. Seriously, a police officer has been so poorly trained about dogs that he RAN?
Jacksonville, AR passes Pit bull ban
Now, neighboring Cabot is looking into a ban. This is what I mean when I say it spreads like a cancer -- and why people should care when neighboring cities look into a ban.
German Shepherd attacks woman and two grandkids in Dover, OH
The "Family Pet" was "secured" by a chain in the back yard when he broke through the chain.
2-year-old Toledo girl attacked by Pit Bull
Toledo has a very well-known pit bull ban...is it working?
This woman assumes every pit bull is "inbred", "abused" and owned by "wannabe thugs". Pretty much every stereo type exists in this one.
Toddler in Independence , MO Attacked by German Shepherd
I thought their pit bull ban was going to protect their citizens from this?
Re: Victim's family sues owner of Attacking Great Dane
Uh...is this a real story, or a gag? I mean, I seem to recall reading about it, but this time I noticed the "Crystal Lake" and "Voorhees" components.
The Hollywood folks planted this story, didn't they? If that kid's name is Jason...
Posted by: Marjorie | May 25, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Seriously, this post was up for 12 minutes, and you had time to read the whole thing and notice that that was right out of a Friday the 13th Movie?
Posted by: Brent | May 25, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Uh...I guess timing is everything.
If you tell me what time you're going to post something new that interests me, I'll promise to wait at least a few hours before commenting. Agreed?
But you're right. I should get to bed.
Posted by: Marjorie | May 25, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Good god! What's with that N.H. article? They end it by adding a few pit bull attacks, pretty much summing up that all they do is attack in the eyes of most people. Why is it that the number of pit bulls in the US is never brought up? I mean, alone the fact that there are nearly 5 million pit bulls in the US and that are attacks should be enough to maybe make Joe Coffee realize that, in this perfect world some dogs will attack regradless of breed, and maybe the highest populated breed of those dogs will have a high number of attacks because there are a lot of them.
Am I missing something here? I don't know, it just makes sense to me, forgive me if I'm wrong.
Posted by: Tony | May 26, 2007 at 07:58 AM
I liked the Boxer story.
The owner kept them 'caged' in the backyard while the Shih Tzu was running at large, barking at them, etc, because the Shih Tzu's owners had their fence taken down to put in a pool?
I see, so if my fence is taken down for some reason, I can still just let my dogs out the back door as usual?
The whole neighbourhood sounds a bit off.
Now must read the NH article, thanks to Tony.
Good Roundup this week.
Posted by: Caveat | May 26, 2007 at 10:43 PM
Holy 'pit bull'! Tony wasn't kidding.
That's one of the most comprehensive articles to date outlining media tricks and the tendency to quote unaccredited experts as well as to provide misinformation to the readership.
One thing that always annoys me is the misuse of the term 'euthanize'. Euthanasia means putting someone out of their misery as a last kindness, whether due to massive trauma or incurable terminal illness.
To say that Denver 'rounded up 'pit bulls' and euthanized them' irritates me no end. They put them to death because of their appearance.
The focus on the handful of annual dog bite-related fatalities is pathetic. Such a statistically rare event cannot be used to predict any kind of trend, especially with respect to a particular shape of an animal.
It also annoys me when those who are trying to help indicate by their comments that 'pit bulls' are different from other dogs.
As for rehabbing fighting dogs, well, if you look back, all the fighting dogs were also family pets, especially in the UK where they shared their master's bed and board. I tend to agree that if you have two dogs, one traumatized through neglect and abuse, one dropped off because the owners lives have changed but the dog has been fairly well looked after, the more adoptable dog should get a spot if space it tight. However, it's simply not true that dogs cannot be rehabilitated - they are one of the most adaptable animals on Earth, which is why they hooked up with us millennia ago.
I'm super tired of the 'when 'pit bulls' bite, it's worse than with other breeds' meme. Nonsense. Any 40 - 50 pound dog will inflict the same damage. It depends on the personality and motivation of the individual dog. As for the Greyhound killed by 'pit bulls', that experience is one I hope never happens to me and my pets; however, a Greyhound at an average weight of 75 lbs, is not a 'much smaller dog' than an APBT at 35 - 50 lbs, if that's what they mean by 'pit bull'.
I could go on, but this ain't my blog.
Thanks, Tony, I'm all riled up again!
Posted by: Caveat | May 27, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Just when I thought people and the media couldn't get any more stupid.....
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A mixed breed pit bull attacks and severely injures the owner's 3-year-old granddaughter.
Raymond Stanley, the girl's grandfather, told NBC Action News what lead up to the moment when the dog chomped down on the toddler's face and would not let go.
"The little girl asked me if she could take a biscuit, a dog biscuit, and give it to the dog," said Stanley.
Stanley still had his granddaughter's blood on his shirt as he shared what happened next at his home in the 5100 block of E. 23rd. "I heard the dog barking and chewing at something," he said. "You know, and [I'm] looking around there and he had my little granddaughter."
He said he had to fight the chow-pit bull mix to get it to release the child.
Animal control officers said the toddler suffered severe injuries and will probably be disfigured. The dog was not current on its shots; therefore authorities have already euthanized it to check for rabies.
"I'm hurting for my granddaughter and I'm also hurting for losing my dog," said Stanley. "Cause I loved them both."
The owner kept the dog chained on his front porch. Now, he said his granddaughter should have never been left alone with the animal. And he has a message for others.
"Don't have that kinda dog around children," said the grandfather. "Don't have that kinda dog around children."
Hospital officials said the 3-year-old child was first taken to Children's Mercy Hospital and then taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center for reconstructive surgery. There is no word on her condition.
-KSHB
AND THEN!!!!!!!! TOP STORY UPDATE!!!!!!!
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – A 3-year-old child is recovering from surgery after she was attacked by her grandfather's dog.
Little Olia Stanley was trying to feed the chow-pit bull mix a treat when the dog attacked, her grandfather told NBC Action News.
She was rushed to an area hospital where she underwent surgery and is said to be in fair condition.
Her grandfather Raymond Stanley said he had to fight the dog to get it to let go of the little girl. She suffered severe injuries to her head and neck.
The dog was euthanized and officials are testing it for rabies.
-KSHB
AT WHICH POINT I PROCEEDED TO THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES TO DROWN MY-SELF IN PANCAKE SYRUP!!!
-Lewis Black / How I feel at the moment.
AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE VIDEO!!!!
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=257468@kshb.dayport.com
Raymond Stanley, your an idiot, I hope your little granddaughter is okay, and may god have mercy on your soul.
I'll be the first to say, its fine that the dog is no longer with us. But I can't begin to list all the ways how this was not that dogs fault. Please see the video.......I'll see you at IHOP everyone!
-Tony
Posted by: Tony | May 27, 2007 at 04:01 PM
Raymond Stanley would qualify as an idiot, alright.
Did you notice how the concrete was worn away around the rusty chain? That dog was out there for awhile.
Too many things wrong but of course it's a 'pit bull' story so the facts don't mean much.
IHOP, here I come!
Posted by: Caveat | May 27, 2007 at 04:31 PM
"...a message for others:"
Don't have that kinda grandparent around children. Don't have that kinda grandparent around children.
Apparently it's a mystery to people like this, how the majority of dog owners have dogs (yes...including 'pit bulls') and children together without any mishaps whatsoever. They must think it's magic or some kind of alien technology...
When only about 1 in 8 dogs bite (usually their owners), and much less than 1% of those bites are more serious than a skinned knee, I don't know why anyone would take advice given by one of the fools who can't do even the most basic things right, in caring for dogs or children.
This guy has absolutely nothing to offer on the subject of dog bite prevention.
Posted by: Marjorie | May 27, 2007 at 04:47 PM