WHen the hell are they going to outla those disgusting ugly dogs. they were bred for evil they are purely genectically not for pets. all of them shoudl be put down an doutlawed. i wouldnt trust a single one. a wild pit bull on the lose- i'd rather encounter a wolf. a wolf has more sense than those hideous beings,created and bred by humans soley for killing! COMEON POLICE DO SOMETHING you let those stupid whit trash thugs run dundalk...who is in Charge God and Authority or thugs and anarchy?

It's time to fine these owners of Pit Bulls who continue not to keep them safely secured.The County Hierarchy need to start thinking about our safety instead of thinking how their going to pick our pockets.

Fining owners after dogs attack and maul children really doesn't accomplish a lot. And since virtually all dog owners (no matter how responsible) have had their dogs get loose at some point or another, the focus should be on limiting access to irresponsibly bred dogs who are often bred for dangerousness. In Baltimore, that is almost exclusively pit bulls.

It is way PAST time to pass a breed specific law mandating microchipping of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes and mandating spay/neuter of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes that are not AKC or UKC-PR registered show dogs.

I would say its a culture issue and until you change that perception that goes with owning a Pit Bull the problems will continue.

I also believe that if the maximum amount of accountability is applied in so far as the consequences far outweigh owning such animals, nothing will change.

In medical terms its called "behavior modification."

While I have no issue with "imposing the maximum amount of accountability," I absolutely guarantee you that the owner of this pit bull will say that he had no idea the dog would do anything like this. It may very well be true. If it is true, then punishing owners after the fact does absolutely nothing to protect seven year old children. We KNOW pit bulls are disproportionately dangerous. We need to make them rare and less dangerous.

The only way to do that is to pass laws regulating pit bull breeding and to put the pit bull breeders who are breeding for dangerousness out of business.

Mandatory microchipping of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes and mandatory spay/neuter of pit bulls and pit bull mixes except AKC and UKC-PR registered show dogs will accomplish that without even inconveniencing a single responsible pit bull owner.

Real Responsibility

Responsibility does not start with how we train and treat our pets. Responsibility starts by the types of pets we introduce into our community setting in the first place.

View( complete with pictures) the short free 77 page e-chronicle I wrote about the 2007 near fatal Pit Bull attack in Towson MD on 10 year old Dominic Solesky

www.dangerousbydefault.net

Also an editorial in response to a 5 year old Killed just Feb. 2011 In N.C. Last year 33 humans where killed by dogs, primarily Pit Bulls for the last 30 years

http://blog.dogsbite.org/2011/01/parent-of-mauling-victim-responds-to.html

Among Pit defenders is the platitude "Blame the deed not the Breed" . However what is a pets role in a modern society? Is this is the breed of the socially impotent ? Those infirmed for one reason or another, thrive on all that comes with such activities. The extreme animal rescue agenda to fighting dog folks are equally perverted. With 160 or soother recognized breeds to choose from what other case can be made for their owners? Pit Bulls are "The breed that exceeds the Need" Considering all other factors equal a bite becomes a mauling (insert breed) With 4.5 million bites last year considering all dogs bite this is no accident but a horrific result from what should be and will continue to be a foregone conclusion.

Never underestimate the ignorance and stupidity of the general public. you poeple who say " sumbudy outta kill dem dogs" are idiots. Just because they are pit bills doesn't automatically mean they are rabid human killers. get a grip on reality, It's not the dog, it's the dog owner stupid!

Okay so I'm a pit bull lover. I am. I own one personally and I work at an animal shelter, so I see pit bulls straight off of the street, and they really are good dogs. The problem with pitbulls is actually that they ARE so trainable and people oriented. A pitbull would do anything for their owner, even fight to the death. Any living, breathing thing that would fight to the death just because someone told them to is obviously easy to manipulate, and the wrong, lazy, jobless jerks that would rather risk a life than work a day in thier life are making things hard for people like me who are willing to put time, money, and effort into having a faithful, adorable, bigheaded smiling companion. I really don't care about any response to this because half of the people talking crap about pitbulls are doing so because someone regurgitated broken facts to them on the television, and it's easier to say what someone's told you then to visit a shelter or foster or EDUCATE YOURSELVES. I see at least 5 strange pitbulls a day. I've never been bitten. I know your Fox News and your BS.com say to the contrary but I mean hey... they got you to buy their media. Not saying they don't bite and that there aren't horrible scary fighting pitbulls out there. There are. Yes pitbulls do bite because guess what? Dogs bite. I'm saying don't punish people that actually do LOVE the breed because there are assholes in the world.

Lauren,

Sorry, but you are not telling the truth. Pit bulls fight to please themselves, not to please their owners (although I am sure that they are happy if they have an owner who wants them to fight and encourages them to fight). They do what they were bred to do because it is self-gratifying to them, just as it is self-gratifying to a labrador to do what they were bred to do (retrieve, swim and carry stuff) and self gratifying for a border collie to do what they were bred to do (herd).

Indeed there are MANY pit bull owners who devoutly wish that their pit bulls did not have the serious temperament flaw of dog aggression and try every possible way to make their dogs not be dangerous to other dogs. This effort usually fails and EVERY pit bull expert says "never trust a pit bull not to fight" and "do not ever leave a pit bull unsupervised with any other animal." The UKC American Pit Bull Terrier standard says that MOST pit bulls are dog aggressive. Do you think that the UKC is saying that MOST pit bull owners are actual felons who trained their dogs for dog fighting?

How would you (or the "at least 5 strange pit bulls" you see every day) be "punished" in the SLIGHTEST by a breed specific law requiring mandatory microchipping of all pit bulls and mandatory spay/neuter of all pit bulls and pit bull mixes except AKC and UKC-PR registered show dogs? Would you support such a law? If not, why not? Please be specific.

You should never trust ANY dog not to fight or leave ANY dog alone with another animal. I live in Baltimore City and honestly, the most aggressive dogs are little ones. When I walk my dog, the little ones are the ones that bark and growl and try to attack my dog. The reason they don't have a "pit bull" rap is because they can't do the damage that a pit can do. You can TRAIN any dog to fight and ANY dog can be aggressive on their own. Don't punish pits because they are strong and heavily abused. AND even if not abused, all dogs need to be socialized. Keeping them penned up 24/7 will not teach them what to do when they escape and see children and dogs that they are unfamiliar with. People who think that certain dogs need to be banned are ignorant. And ignorant people need to be banned.

Maybe the author of this article should do his research and publish the fact that they were American Bulldogs and NOT pit bulls.

Btw, most of you commenters on here sound like complete idiots.

People its not the dog its the owner. I had a pitbull and the dog was lovable and would not hurt anyone. Its all in how the dg is trained. What the lab that attacked the woman in french last year. Do we outlaw labs because of this one issue. Stop wnating to outlaw every damn thing in this country before long with the way people are here. The next thing to be outlawed will be breathing. Start putting the owners of the dogs in jail everytime their dogs attacks someone or limit who can own a dog. this is america not iraq.

american bulldogs attacked the little girl. Not pitbulls.

The state would have a hard time banning such dogs, but they should be able to force people who own dogs/pet's have insurance on them to protect the victims of these senseless attacks. Victims are usually left footing the bills for medical cost. No different than owning an automobile. People need to be held accountable for their actions, children actions or their pet’s actions.

I am so very glad to hear that it wasn't a Pit Bull that attacked that little girl. We have a Pit Bull (correctly, an American Staffordshire Terrior) in our extended family that is a very gentle, well behaved dog, around children, strangers and other dogs. He has been trained to be that way. Aggression has never been allowed. His owner (my son) is a kind, gentle young man who rescued this dog, and others, too.
ALL dogs can bite, so they cannot be allowed to roam free and/or unsupervised. The big difference is the power of that bite. Owners of these powerful dogs must take full responsibility for their behaviour.
I hope that little girl will recover, I am sorry this happened, but the owners of those dogs must be held responsible.

All this about pitbulls, and it wasn't even pitbulls that did it. I love pitbulls, they if bred and trained and loved and are put in a social environment with people and other dogs are most of the time one of the most loyal and affectionate dogs. The thing that gets me is the media making everyone buy into what they want. Almost anytime there is someone attacked by a dog the first thing to come to mind is another pitbull, but yet the media only reports on what sells. They wouldn't tell you if someone was attacked by a nice little tabby cat because no one would care. To many ways to argue this stereotype so I just hope that the little girl makes a healthy recovery.

The Police did not make a mistake, Their is no breed that I am aware that is issued papers under the name Pit Bull. It is a term that discribes several breeed lines that meet the concerns expressed here. This is a tactic is well know to extreme breed advocates. It is like saying they weren't Police they where State Troopers. They weren't in pick up trucks they where ford f250's.

Insurance companies will not give you Homeowners Insueance if you have a Pit Bull or a Bull Dog. So what did they do, lie? Did the insurance company know they had these dogs? They must have been renting and to stupid (or smart) to gaet renters insurance.

These folks are trying to mislead you into thinking these are like those little english bull dogs the size the Marines have as a mascot. American Bull dogs are even bigger then AM Staffs f150 to f 35o. still pick up trucks
These are just one of generally three different line breeds from the same linage. What they are in the end is Pit Bulls for the pupose of the conversation where concern is the extreme damage they do. Pit Bull breeds Bully's have no redeeming qualities above any other dog and far more dowsides- all else equal. Not the least of which is they do not adapt well to poor training and mistreatment or novice handlers . While all are fairly smart none where breed as deeply balanced with intelligence to formidabilty ratios like other dangerous breeds. Rotts, German Sheps and Dobers. All three top ten in the smarts department and where poor training may have a more significant dog in the fight over the" it is all in how you train them crowd". Terriers the entire 27 breeds where bred to sustain an attack bite and hold their prey. To refer to any of them as biters is again a misleading term. Not all dogs bite some actually maul and that is what you get when you get what you got here. What you have here is a failure to...........

Boils down to 2 things,the owners of the Dogs are incompetent and that little girl will live the rest of her life horrified of animals

Go to http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs-pitbull-myths.htm this is the site where my book is published. You will find legal information and a picture of American Bull Dog you will find this to be a class of dog know in the vernacular as a PIT BULL. I am so glad it was'nt a Cop that shot my child it was a Policeman. Nice try! It boils down that operator error is not the only issue. It also has to do with what you are operating. This is not exclusive to the owners control outside of owning this type of breed as suitable for domestic dog ownership. They are not. This happened because most all people are ill informed about dogs and choose more user friendly breeds which accounts for about 140 of the 160 or so recognized breeds. This problem all else equal among owners is confined to 20 breeds at all and 12 the dangerous dozen regularlly. Number 1 among them by over 50% more then # 2 PIT BULLS. In this case An American Bull dog F250 truck

Why are all you people refering to "pit bulls" these are American bulldogs, 120 pounds it is a mastiff breed. And on another note American pitbull terrier is not registered by the AKC lol just shows most of you people are clueless yet make off the cuff remarks as if you know something please read and educate yourself. Owners, haters and lovers alike need education!

american bulldogs are not on the banned list for insurance companies. In some states it is also illegal for insurance companies to drop based on bred but rate increases are permissable. If someone says bulldog to a insurance company they have no clue as to English, olde English, French or American. Take another example animal control incorrectly labeled my rescued apbt as a lab mix, now half of you people who don't know any better would run around with your labx and tell the insurance company the same. It boils down to one thing owner responsiblilty, their job to contain their animals and train their animals. If they fail they should suffer. But taking animals away from compitent and educated owners, letting govrnmeng do our thinking, wasting tax dollars on eforcing a law( see Denvers ban as example ) is not the answer.

Whether you agree to the classification system that Tom Solesky presents which argues that pit bulls and bull dogs are of the same class of dog, both types were bred for fighting. Both types were bred to have the "shake and hold" bite. The statistics about the greater number of attacks and severity of injuries and deaths caused by this class of dogs stand. That said, I'll add a personal story to the mix.

My sister who has rescued animals of all kinds and treated her dogs as her "children" had three pit bulls and one mutt. She sung the pit bulls' praises, using the saying, "they'd only lick you to death." She acknowledged that she sometimes had to pry the pit bulls apart from fighting amongst themselves, often requiring help from another person, but she was certain that they would never bite her, until they did. While attempting to break the dogs apart during a recent fight, two of them bit her. These were "her children!" Fortunately, she "only" sustained a broken bone in her hand and some lacerations. She says she cannot get the amount of blood shed in her house out of her mind. Even after this trauma, she wound up putting only one of the dogs down, insisting that the other was salvageable (we'll see) with the more aggressive dog gone. Nevertheless, she has concluded, and these are her words and her capitalization from a note she sent me, "I WILL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take in another pit bull."

The topic of discussion is to educate people that no breed of dog, specifically a PITBULL exists. Like an SUV that has many brand names and models under Ford, Chevy and Dodge, for example. English Bulldogs qualify under ther term of this conversation as Pit bulls. In states and even other countries where PB breeds are banned, they will then define the specific breeds. There are in fact entire countries and in America, counties that ban Pit bulls and then list them by specific breed name. Be clear dogs described in many bans include the ABD. The list will vary state to state, ban to ban. In a County in Ohio there is a pb ban that specifially lists the American Bulldog along with others. This little girl was run over by an SUV (pitbull) and the brand was a Ford (American B ulldog) Unlike fox, wolves and dolphins, there is no breed of dogs including a friendly Golden retriever that knows to mate to another GOLDEn to perpetuate its breed. All breeds are designed, created and maintained by man. We should not promote breeds with a genetic profile whose necessity has long since passed into a modern dog owning socitey. I am not calling for the cessation of the domestic dog population, only that we stop the practice of creating any breed that undermines the goal of pet ownership and then disproportionately over burdens, even monopolizes, rescue shelters as do a PB breeds and their hybrids. If it hurts whne you go like that then don't go like that Henny Youngman

My third sentence should say "American Bulldogs' qualify under the general term PiT Bull. If anyone here whishes to have there child mauled by a preferred breed of pit bull let me know. Ironically there is more diversity among bad and good pet owners and those who absue dogs and animals or even fight them in terms of wealth, gender, and ethnic backgrounds. Those who fanatically defend these breeds tend to be of one gender and race. Go to any rescue site and look at the volunteer demographic. To many people using the" underdog" to cure their social impotenece with surrogates What would they do if we just stopped feeding (breeding) the problem. What relationship skills does it take to be in a relationship with something that loves you unconditionally-none. Stop holding pets up as surrogates in development of human relationships. It is proving to be quite to the contrary and getting more people and pets killed. Has no one observed this is a growing problem. To many groups (emotional industries) like BARC (cult) have a belief if we all learn to treat our pets better we will be better human beings. It is actually the reverse learn to treat mankind better and we will invarabally all be better gaurdians of animals.

This entire conversation is CRAZY! The fact is, a young innocent girl was attacked by two dogs, regardless of the dog's breed. I doubt anyone could argue German Sheppard’s, Boxers, Doberman’s or any other larger breed of dogs are less likely to bite someone than Pit Bulls. The breed of the dog should not be an issue. There are numerous dog bites each year and the problem is not the breed, it is the owners. If you cannot afford to spend the time training an animal, you should not have one. Dogs are like people, they have personalities. Let's focus on animal control as a whole, instead of a specific breed. There are a number of stray dogs, loose dogs and untrained animals that cause problems and they are not all Pitt Bulls.

P.S. Buzz, you are still Fuzz..

Matt,

I do this for the little girl. It happened to my son. Don't mix statictial anomilies with foregone conclusions or a bites with a mauling in a fact based appraisal where a glossary of terms is half the problem. Or ever simplify a specific arguement with a general position. If the gaol is to prevent the frequency of this happening again. Don't guys look for other things on traffic stops or even to make one in the first place. Hey Buzz keep your head still and your left arm straight and make sure you get the right yardage.

The reporter did his job, just like you are doing yours as a volunteer breed ambassador.

2010 4.5 million dog bites. 9500 maulings 33 fatalities. 70% Pit Bull type dogs. In 2011 so far 9 fatalities lead by Pit bulls . It happens about once every 12 days in America. Average fatalities last 30 years is 24. Number 1 killer each of those 30 years, Pits. A distant # 2 all 30 years and equally unchallenged Rotts.
Mauling and fatalities are only small when immersed in the general rather the the specific offenses of fatlities to breed type ratio. If the debate should be confined to mauling the reason for the report in the first place, these episodes are by any measure epidenic by specific breed.

Animal rescue is growing just like a Religon that uses volunteers to solicate huge funds and surf blogs as well as sends unpaid unwitting volunteers to schools and play grounds to promote these breeds and their cause. Now BARC is in the city school system on the paws of Phoenix. Well meaning people being used for a pseudo cause to line the directors pockets. Read the chapters in my book "Dog and Pony show" , "Every dog has it day" and" Animal Control". White women are sought after above all other races because of social economics, the backbone of any good market research. believe me you are being marketed to. www.dangerousbydefault.net

Tony,
What exactly constitutes a "Pit Bull" type dog? Does this include American Pit Bull's, British Bull Dog's? How extensive is this list? Does this include mixed breeds that have Pit Bulls in the blood line? Your research is greatly appreciated Tony; however, like all research, it can be skewed. How many attacks were not reported to police? How many attacks are actually unknown, but are attributed to "Pit Bull" like breeds?
Do I believe your data is skewed, yes. Is it a greed some dog breeds are more dangerous than others? In my mind, yes; however, to propose limiting or outlawing a specific dog breed is outrageous! Where are all the signs and books to eliminate Rotts, or Dobermans, two obviously "dangerous" type dog breeds? Pit Bulls are an easy target for the media, due to the fights and other illegal activities targeted towards Pitts.
A study was once done in San Antonio with a Poodle. The purpose of the study was to take a unagressive breed, such as the Poodle and turn it into an agressive and mean dog. The result was successful. This dog displayed more agression than most of the German Sheppards trained in the same manner. Does this disprove your theory that one dog breed can be labeled? I believe so...

Go to facebook and click my profile pictures. You will see me on there with my sisters Pit Bull. Go find the nastiest poodle you know and then bring the deed to your house and your car title. Training is the directing of instinct. Their is little value in training some breeds to be mean because they are not formidable enough . Pit bulls do not have to be trained to be formidable or viscious to be deadly. Any dog can Bite but they can't all maul. This means all else equal among poor handlers and good alike the dog breed will wash out as the telling factor. For the rest of your questions go to www.dogsbite.org

More importantly then all of this back and forth crap about whether a certain type of dog is dangerous or not. How about we ask how the little girl is doing? Is there another update on her condition? How is her family coping with this? Is there anything that our community can do to help this family?

None I have heard yet. JHH and probably most hospitals won't release it without premission. I got to meet many of the Doc's when ky son was there and through recovery and therapy. Ask a ER Doc not a veternirian about the most dangerous breeds.

Ali, if that is the case, then I stand corrected.

There is one issue, and I'm not sure how this played out, but if the reporter had no direct knowledge of the various intricacies regarding dog breeds, then depending on other circumstances, he would have to defer to the information at hand.

When doing a news story from the reporters angle, you make a judgment call based on information at hand, and time constraints. General news reporters often don't have the luxury to be an investigative reporter.

Sadly, we are witnessing a great human tragedy as it unfolds with the constant updating and redefining regarding the information.

Last I heard she was in good condition and both dogs were put down. That was at 8 am on 98 rock

Ali and Buzz, don't know if you saw my earlier comment. Saturday night Baltimore County police told me the dogs were pit bulls - that's all they would say. Neighbors offered conflicting accounts of the dogs breed. I can't make a correction until I have official word - which I couldn't get until Monday from the Health Dept. Even if the general public "knew" I have to wait for official confirmation to make a correction at that point. In the larger picture, from my understanding, the issue is always training, and not the breed. But as others point out, a poorly trained poodle doesn't possess that same danger as other breeds. I'm sorry we reported pit bulls, initially, but the first information from police and other sources isn't always correct. That's why we follow up. Hope that helps. As always, I appreciate the input.

I think this has been one of the more civil threads I have been on. I took it for granted that everyone was talking always with the little girl in their heart but that some just don't agree with my concliusions. I do this type thread quite often because of a pack I made to a higher being when Dominic was in his 5 hour and 19 minute life saving operation. That is why my e-book is free. Don't laugh a couple of people wanted to profit from it and could have just becasue of the drama itself.
For me it is all about the little girl and a debt of gratitude for a gift that does not happen often, a second chance. Dominic's femoral artery was severed and yes he bleed out. My e-book is a chronicle of all aspects of the event including why this is so difficult to resolve.

To boil it down it is all about mans cruelity to man. That drives people to animal surrogates for relationships they can't maintain with humans. Pit bulls are the poster dog for that infirmity and the drama around their owneship gives these people a sense of identity and purpose either to defend or expliot the poor creature. Despite Dr Frankenstiens intentions or the villagers ignorance the monster was still a monster.

: What is a pit bull type dog?
A pit bull type dog is a combination of dog breeds that includes the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog1 and any other pure bred or mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs. Weight and shape can vary significantly amongst pit bull type dogs, from 35 to 100 plus pounds. (Please see Disguise Breed Name to learn more about the deliberate renaming and mislabeling of pit bulls throughout history

I did not hear an update on the girls condition which to me means good things. My son had to have a second operation a couple of day later because the first one was a trauma surgery. The second had to wait till he was stable. We might not see more coverage until the child is released.

To Buzz and Dave,
This question is more for me to understand what objective reporting means. Your posts imply(seem) that you concure that the Police and thus the report got the dog type wrong. This is off topic but how then is Obama described as black? Isn't that the way he is discribed in the vernacular. The same with the Pit Bull report by the Police and then on patch. Is the term Pit Bull not correct in the vernacular? In either and/or both cases why would the use of the vernacular not be objective reporting. Is their a black white race or should he be discribed as both every time or would either or both together or individual discriptions be acceptable. American Bull contrasted against the vernacular of the first report implies it was wrong to report them as Pit Bulls. I am Italian and Polish would the paper call me white if I robbed somebody? If so then objectively what is a ABD and what is a PB? My dilemma there now seems to be a distinction made out of fairness and objectivity and yet no one has made a distinction beyond the semantic.

Karen,

I know you and everyone here is very sorry from their heart for what happened to Dominic. I deserve no special attention or concern for my opinion on that basis. If you disagree with me I respect it in context.
The context is animals as (surrogates) not relationships with animals. I have two childern and a dog. As a complete and total rule I have never in my life and nor will you meet anyone that could navigate the reciprical complexities of human relationships in a healthy manner and not translate it over to animals even if only in terms of knowing their limits to stay away from animals . The reverse can not be said for many who are abundantly capable to navigate the animal world and confuse animal behavior with human behavior in an anthromorphic manner.

Anthropomorhic. To everyone who has tolerated my poor spelling and sentence structure throughout any thread I am on, Thank You. For my wife she has often said it is more painful to read what I write then it was to go through our experience with Dominic.
Rest easy!! when I submit an editorial to news papers on this issue as I do anytime a child is killed and of course on the e-book I have an editor.

First of all, THEY WHERE AMERICAN BULLDOGS!!!!!! NOT PIT BULLS!!!!!!! For all you who really have no clue what you are talking about this, is why pit bulls have such a bad rep., responsible DOG owners will do the right thing by the their dogs and to the public, they will train them to be ambassadors and not fighters! Dogs are not born aggressive they are taught! All dogs need to be socialized ad trained to be a part of their family and society, yes we are HUGE pit bill lovers, own 4 and have for well over 11 yrs, would I ever allow them to be alone with our 5 grandkids, they they are wonderful with? Hell no, I would never allow any dog to be with them without an adult around, my grandson has been bit by a COCKER and a LAB,,,,,, mmmmmmand has lived with 4 pit bulls for his whole life!!!!!! So please people if you do not know the facts, please keep your comments to yourself, get informed and than speak freely, otherwise, you have no business speaking about something you have no clue about!
PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED!!!!!

Lynn,

You are just the medicine this thread needs. What hospital was he in I didn’t see that on the news?

Albeit intentionally I have fostered the lack of focus in the thread on the little girls condition in favor of the dog issue. I did this so sensible people could see what is endured by a victim. After an attack of this magnitude by any breed it is a public health issue period. Sadly for most the issue is a referendum on dog owners rights. Victims suffer this indignity at the expense of the dog owning public and the media as well. In my sons case only one station did a general report from a ER Doctors perspective. The news knew they would not get details of the individual incident. That does not stop them from interviewing ER doctors in general. Instead ,on the general topic they defer to Veterinarians and volunteers who offer only testimonial appraisals and platitudes about dog behavior. They do not lobby or spend any funds to bring any of their suggestions to fruition unless a dog is the victim. Imagine the indignity this little girls family is suffering and will suffer that greater concern is on the animal welfare not human health and safety.

Where the issue gets off course is very simple. No doctor will recommend anyone who does not have health insurance to own a dog. Second they will endorse that all dog owners have insurance incase of such an occurrence. I bet 97% of people will say OK I am for mandatory insurance. That is because you have it and live a sensible life and ASSUME your fellow man offers you that same consideration. Now why does the media not ask the AKC and all animal related industries why they don’t endorse mandatory insurance. It won’t be so cute when the same friendly dog at the play ground or next door sniffs your kid .when you start to bring that question to the forefront of your brain. I won’t let Dale Ernhardt drive me to the store if he said “I don’t have insurance but hey it is all in how you drive“. Ask BARC or Animal Control Baltimore County or any shelter why they place any pet without making that part of placement policy. You should see some of the contracts they draft and home visits they make on behalf of the pet. They don’t look left or right of the adopters door or require an ability to assume liability it is all about the dog. That could be anyones retro active policy it requires no law change or ban of any breed. When Patch asks that question they will set themselves apart form the rest as an objective and investigative resource not another news and drama buffet.

I know they are going to need money. Do they have health insurance? Does Patch know if either the owner of the dogs or the victim had home owners or renters insurance. Is there any fund set up for the child or a place to send get well cards and e-mails?

I forgot to ask if this is the correct spelling of the little girl's name. The article above has it as Amanda Mitchell
I know from experience, a simple get well card is very healing and will help this little girl . Believe it or not, it helps the parents also as they will be worn down emotionally from protecting her. The road is still long. You can send well wishes to

Johns Hopkins Children Center
600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, Md 21287
Mark it ATTN: Amanda Mitchell CMSC -4-16 (Make sure CMCS is in capitial letters.)

On a side note, when the pit bull Phoenix was brutally set on fire, the last report I heard they raised over $25,000 from complete strangers and they want to have a law in the dog's name. We had much support from friends. Dominic got many cards and 20.00 dollars from a complete stranger. When you see those ratios you can tell where priorties rest. You may even understand the money involved in this industry and so then the rabid debate over a simple breed name.

I don't care what breed you own, if you do not have homeowner's or renter's insurance or a breed that your insurance extends coverage to, you don't belong owning a dog. If you have a dog now in this circumstance, then muzzle it. It is not cute when breed ambassodors hang out at the playground and parks, move in rental houses in your neighborhood or own any dog in general they can't assume liability for. I had health insurance, the renter dog owner had none.

I would like to say that Amanda is doing well and expected to come home next week. I live on her street and saw her several minutes after the attack. It was a horrible, horrible attack and I am grateful that those dogs were put to sleep. I am not an animal hater. I have an Olde English Bulldogge myself but this should not be about the dogs it should be about what people can do to help Amanda and how we as humans can prevent animals we keep as pets from doing something so horrible.

First and foremost is concern for Amanda. I can't imagine the impact this will have on the rest of her life. I also do hope that someone starts a fund for her recovery. I have every intention of making a donation for her. Never once did I think the dogs "shouldn't" have to be put down. That was a no brainer. Secondly, I am a volunteer, foster, etc. for some of the local shelters and rescues. I am a Pit-advocate. I am happily married, work a full-time job where communication is key between various departments, have an extremely active social life and in fact love being around people and making new friends. I have attended almost every court hearing for Phoenix since the beginning. This does not make me someone that has given up on the human race. For me, I struggle enough with seeing how animals, mainly Pit Bull type dogs are "slaughtered" in and around Baltimore. I'd love to branch out into becoming an advocate for children, young adults, special needs individuals but I don't think I could handle the heartache of what I'd see. You have so little control over what you can do for them. I'm hoping to gain more focus so I can also move into these areas. With the animals, they basically have nothing...not even a voice so anything you can do for them goes a long way plus I can fit it into my lifestyle. Tony....that's just a little bit about who I am. the majority of the people I know are just like me. We have not withdrawn from society.

I forgot to add, I also donate to many charities that don't involve dogs and benefit humans. I'm not trying to slam you, honestly. There's too much hate in the world as it is. Just want you to see that we are not all like what you are describing. I would venture to say....most of us are not. Let's face it, many of us base our likes and dislikes on our life experiences. My experiences with Pits have been positive but I don't put ANYTHING past ANYBODY...human or dog. That's what makes me successful in what I do in my life.

PS - I probably should have said this as my second item but I'm VERY sorry to hear about what you went through with Dominic.

Jeanne G, are you proposing that if this breed did not already exist citing all of it;s problems, from exploitation abuse and dominating /overwhelming rescue resourses all the way up to their extrreme mauling ability even if only when ill trained, are you sayoing you would endorse creating or breeding this breed into availability to the dog owning public. Are You saying that if all dog owners had cocker spaniels the death and injury rate would be the same as if we all had Pit Bulls? You are clearly a kind person who like many in the rescue world are debilatateed by your own empathy. Even if only by accident you good intentions enable the problem. This is a public health and safety issue where injury is the concerned, it is not a referendum on dog owners rights. In proper context it should be held to the advisement of the medical profession who would lead and mandate to the veterinary and rescue professions. In that role just as with window blinds,plastic bags, Tabacoo ,seat belts and air bags the burden would be on the designer/manufacture. Breeds are a design to say that breed has no influence on behavior is absurd if only by definition! Put down the Koolaide and think

I have a question? You can't get Homeowners Insurance or Renters Insurance if you have these dogs. So I guess the did not have Renters or lied sbout Homeowners.

Some companies will cover any dog breed. Many simply do not. The problem is people are not required to have insurance regardless of breed. The animal lobby fights such a move in favor of animals over Humans. This simple requirement would stop these finacial disaters. This is the chief responsibility. Responsibility does not start by how you train and treat a pet it starts with the type of pet you own and how you assume accountability. Please somebody from the rescue and breeder lobby tell me why you do not require insurance when you place a pet.

It would be greatly appreciated if anyone who is a high end breeder or a animal rescue worker and/or volunteer could post the contracts with the list of rigorous requirements you place on a person wishing to be considered as a candidate to own a pet. Tell us about doggy citizenship, temperament testing, obedience school, Serving as a breed ambassador, certifying you have or will spay or neuter, even home visits to approve the dogs living quarters. Absent will be liability policy requirement as a fail safe. Tell the readers who are thinking “Gee” I never thought about insurance, I have it, doesn’t everybody? No because they have no clue what responsibility taking is in a real world where training works better on paper. Do people really think the college age kids who rent and rescue dogs offer you the same umbrella of protection you the homeowner does for your neighbors? What about the breed ambassadors you send to schools and parks do they have it? It only requires someone to make a copy of their policy cover letter. I have a drivers license and a drivers education certificate and I can not protest to the MVA hey I am a good driver. Tell the people are pondering that my point as they read this why you not.

Soory about the last sentence I had one of my usual Norm Crosby moments. It is supposed to say Tell the people pondering my points as they read this why not. A , child has beeninjured that makes this a public health and safety issue requirements, policies and the at risk behaviors assessments should be lead by the medical community not dog owners.

There should be more laws on aggressive animals

Baltimore County Animal Control should be ashamed to impose a fine or collect it unless it is on behalf of this poor child.
Laws will help but not the victim only insurance will cover that. I don't think people realize this was an 85,000.00 dollar incident in Hospital bills alone for our son. Then thier is follow up and thearpy medical bills. Please stop refering to these incidents as bites or using bite scenarios as a frame of reference this is a very specifc and horrific event. It is like being stabbed repeatedly these are sustained attacks not bites but maulings

I agree with you then any fines should be collected for the Victim and the money should go for the Bills of this little girl. Has there been any update on her condation.

I see BARCS on the airwaves again WBAL TV with the usual demographic in both ambassodor and pet. Still no one
talks about the welfare of humans like Amanda . Never did they mention or ever say remember there where 4.5 million dog bites reported by the CDC last year. Why don't they at least say "Any dog can bite before you own any pet make sure you can account for it's actions we recommend insures". Why is this not their policy to not place a dog otherwise. Policy does not single out any breed or require law change it is just that policy. Why are all of the other participates on this thread in support of PIT BULLS and children like Amanda alike not informing us as to why this gap in protection exist?

Jeanne G,
I think you in particular have an obligation to respond to why this imbalance in fail safe protection "insurance" is not part of placement policy and standard advice to any dog owners in general as a parting statement when rescue ambassodors have the TV air time. You said you cared and most of your colleagues care about both animals and children and that you where an excellent communicator.

Silence is always the result. The doggy ambassodors who attempt to promote a dangerous breeds good side are told by thier rescue sponsors to stop responding if I get onto the subject of "Reposibility". Not only in dog training and pet welfare but also a dog owner assuming liability by carring insurance to cover the risk. Any pet management plan that reconizes any dog can bite, establishes bites, mauling attacks and fatalities as an actuarial inevitability. Any plan that does not take measure to account for the inevidable is fostered in denial and is both reckless and negligent. These are two word that some how are counterintuative to what one would take "Responsibility " to mean.

Friday, March 25, 2011 share


Another Gruesome Attack by a ‘Grandparent’s Pet Pit Bull’
Excuse-Ridden
South Bend, IN - It was reported this week that another grandparent's pit bull brutally attacked a grandchild. Troy Gladura,1 the young victim's grandfather, is "still trying to cope" with what happened. He told reporters that his 2-year old pit bull, named Spike, had never attacked or bitten anyone before. He also recounted his heroic, self-sacrificing rescue effort: "I actually had to put my hand and arms in his mouth to get him to bite on me and away from her," he said.

The Internet is littered with stories of pit bulls owned by grandparents that attack and sometimes kill their innocent grandchildren.
There are several reasons why it is a very unsafe idea for grandparents to own a pit bull or other dangerous dog breed. Most importantly, the visiting child is often not a household regular -- the child does not know the dog well nor does the dog know the child -- thus creating a larger risk for an unpredictable attack. Grandparents usually have less critical stopping power than their 30-year old counterparts too and frequently become victims trying to stop an attack.

NOTE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

Spike ripped off Sarah Bailey's ear before Gladura could gain control of his dog.

The City of South Bend has an ordinance that requires pit bull owners to register their animals as "dangerous dogs" and to carry a $300,000 liability policy in the event that their dog chooses to maul a person. It is unknown if Gladura was in compliance with this law.2 What is known is that Gladura's excuse that his pit bull had not attacked or bitten before is about as valid as Monopoly money at a pricey jewelry store. Wisely, he had the dog put down.

NOTE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

JeanneG,
My questions still stand but you wrote a kind letter and If my response to you is pointed or offensive, I am sorry and I apologize. This is the way I communicate and I can do better if I stop and think. My ways have served to be both my defect in sensitive situations and my best friend in the extremes it ultimately is me being me and I accept your observations of my comment as it pertains to you and I again am sorry . Above all when someone who is civil as you have been, tells me I have offended them, I will as best I can temper my words. I am Sorry

JeanneG
You posted a reply to me and I don't know if you realize it went further up the board. I don't know if the others saw why I apologized for your being offended. To anyone who follows this thread my points that I stand by and equally the comment that I apologized for as it pertains to JeanneG preceed this post by 16 comments.

An American Bulldog.
Country of origin U.S.A.
[hide]Traits
Weight Male 27-75 kg (70-140) lb)Bully type can greatly exceed this weight and Height.
Height Male 50-71 cm (20-27 in)
Coat Short, harsh
Color Combinations of solid or degrees of white; all shades of brindle, brown, red, or tan
Litter size 7-14 puppies
Life span 10-12 years

[show]Classification and standards
UKC Guardian Dogs, Working Dogs standard

Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

American bulldogs are beautiful dogs socialize them and u shouldn't have a problem blame the owner don't be racist

American Bull dogs are a breed like any other. All breeds are created by man. What upside does this breed have to offer that makes it superior over the other breeds? What downside does it have that makes it inferior to other breeds? Why do we choose, favor or even creat the breeds we do, if all dogs are the same? By your logic everytime a dog bites it is a bad owner like a dog is some kind of robot unable to act and respond on it's own. It is as much how you treat it as what it is that you are treating. It is not all one or the other. There are just as many dogs and far more breeds who don't harm directly because of their breed regardless of how bad owner their is. And far to many " good owners" whose bad breeding overcomes thier good intentions. Responsible dog ownership does not end with how you train and treat a pet it is just as much what type pet you own.

It makes a Great babysitter. That's why they have the title of "Nanny Dogs".

http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=676

Babysitter your kidding right. That is a 80 year old title and like most accolades about the breed nothing since 1990 institutionally. None used as SARS at ground zero or the Tsunami in Japan and banned by many agencies including the US miliatary and the country from which they where first breed. Like any breed their are many wonderful individual dogs among them but as a whole an extremely ill conceived breed in a modern dog owning society both inb terms firstly in how dangerous they are to humans an other animals and their own well being from abuse ,neglect and brutality visited on them in the fighting life. Ifthe breed did not already exist I don't think any humane society would suggest breeding it into existence sighting the current condition of the breed as evidence. This is the deliemma of the breed.