Pit Bull Attack

[Doodlebug]

Two days ago one of the pit bulls next door jumped the fence into the neighbor on the other side's yard and attacked his lab puppy. I just saw my neighbor and said it was a vicious attack. His dog is still at the vet with drain tubes all over its body. He said it was a horrible bloody attack. I could see this coming and put up a 6 foot privacy fence around my yard to ensure my babies were safe from it was very, very expensive, but my pups and our lives are worth it. The neighbors were so mad when I put the fence up they quit speaking to us. They told us their dogs were so gentle, play with his mom's Maltese etc etc. It is a nanny dog, its not the breed, but how the dog is raised. They have raised this dog from a puppy right from a breeder. I saw this coming and so did my neighbor but unfortunately the pit bulls owners were in denial. I don't know if the puppy will make it but vet bills are already over $1,000. I am so upset about this. I have read some excellent information on TiaTorez's Pit bull and Parolee site. It is good info for anyone owning a pit bull or thinking of getting one.

Pit Bull Facts : Villalobos Rescue Center

This is just so unfortunate.

[Yorkiedaze]

I'm so thankful you posted this site. My son, who lives 3 1/2 hours south of me has just adopted a 3 month old Pit Bull puppy. We took the coach and drove down to spend last week-end with them. I did not take my three Yorkies into his home because the prey drive is very strong in that breed and even if she just wanted to play, she is huge, very playful and jumps on you. I did not want my girls around her at all despite my son wanting his dog to get use to my girls. There is going to be a problem soon I'm sure when they come up to visit us. I have told him that his dog would not be allowed to be around my girls, but he won't kennel her. Don't have any idea how that's going to play out, but there may be some hurt feelings and him not wanting to visit us at all. I'm sending his the sight you posted. We shall see.

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

I'm so thankful you posted this site. My son, who lives 3 1/2 hours south of me has just adopted a 3 month old Pit Bull puppy. We took the coach and drove down to spend last week-end with them. I did not take my three Yorkies into his home because the prey drive is very strong in that breed and even if she just wanted to play, she is huge, very playful and jumps on you. I did not want my girls around her at all despite my son wanting his dog to get use to my girls. There is going to be a problem soon I'm sure when they come up to visit us. I have told him that his dog would not be allowed to be around my girls, but he won't kennel her. Don't have any idea how that's going to play out, but there may be some hurt feelings and him not wanting to visit us at all. I'm sending his the sight you posted. We shall see.

Good for you to protect your little ones. I hope there are no hurt feelings but I would stand my ground on this one.

[maxdog]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

Good for you to protect your little ones. I hope there are no hurt feelings but I would stand my ground on this one.

Agreed. I will NEVER allow pit bulls near my dogs. It is in their instinct to attack and fight. No amount of training can remove natural instinct. I hope the lab pup recovers.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Just awful that yet another pitbull has attacked to kill an innocent dog. The problem is the owner for not properly fencing his dogs in - need at least 3 feet taller than most men - 8 - 9 feet should do it. Most pitbulls are loving, gentle, precious babies but obviously some have fighting genes in their bloodlines and that aggression could explode in those dogs if they don't have strong leaders for owners. Your next door dogs are dangerous dogs that need to be reported to Animal Control if they haven't already as they are a danger to the neighborhood dogs, at the very least. Poor babies, it's not their fault - they are just reacting to their bred-in instincts and lack of adequate control. It's so sad for them and potentially for everyone in that neighborhood.

My son works with pitbulls and has for years and says most pitbulls can get easily jump over a 6 foot tall fence when after prey, clearing it by several inches - unless it's one of the exceptionally small pitties. So don't rely on your 6 foot fence to keep you or your dog safe by being there and always stay between that fence and your dog when outside. I have a 4 foot + tall fence and my neighbor's pittie jumped that fence from a standing start beside it, clearing it by several inches with virtually no effort. She didn't even get any kind of running start - just standing kind of parallel to it and it leaped up and over, landing in my yard. She was a lovable, dear, sweetheart of a girl pittie, sweet as a baby, and I could let her put her whole mouth over my face or head without fear when we played - she loved to do that for some reason - and she was gentle as a kitten - but once her prey drive was engaged, she went after kids or whatever with frightening intent.

Tia is a pitbull advocate and usually tells it like it as far as their nature but read other websites for a fuller picture of the bully type dogs so you can be better prepared should you ever meet one when out in your yard, have your little Yorkie with you or getting in/out of the car, etc. They can jump either the front or the back of their fence and be out in the neighborhood apparently anytime they want. Now that you know those pits are dangerous dogs, be prepared to confront them one day. Hopefully it never happens but if it does, you will be prepared.

Sure hope that little lab puppy makes it through. Keep us updated if you will.

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Just awful that yet another pitbull has attacked to kill an innocent dog. The problem is the owner for not properly fencing his dogs in - need at least 3 feet taller than most men - 8 - 9 feet should do it. Most pitbulls are loving, gentle, precious babies but obviously some have fighting genes in their bloodlines and that aggression could explode in those dogs if they don't have strong leaders for owners. Your next door dogs are dangerous dogs that need to be reported to Animal Control if they haven't already as they are a danger to the neighborhood dogs, at the very least. Poor babies, it's not their fault - they are just reacting to their bred-in instincts and lack of adequate control. It's so sad for them and potentially for everyone in that neighborhood.

My son works with pitbulls and has for years and says most pitbulls can get easily jump over a 6 foot tall fence when after prey, clearing it by several inches - unless it's one of the exceptionally small pitties. So don't rely on your 6 foot fence to keep you or your dog safe by being there and always stay between that fence and your dog when outside. I have a 4 foot + tall fence and my neighbor's pittie jumped that fence from a standing start beside it, clearing it by several inches with virtually no effort. She didn't even get any kind of running start - just standing kind of parallel to it and it leaped up and over, landing in my yard. She was a lovable, dear, sweetheart of a girl pittie, sweet as a baby, and I could let her put her whole mouth over my face or head without fear when we played - she loved to do that for some reason - and she was gentle as a kitten - but once her prey drive was engaged, she went after kids or whatever with frightening intent.

Tia is a pitbull advocate and usually tells it like it as far as their nature but read other websites for a fuller picture of the bully type dogs so you can be better prepared should you ever meet one when out in your yard, have your little Yorkie with you or getting in/out of the car, etc. They can jump either the front or the back of their fence and be out in the neighborhood apparently anytime they want. Now that you know those pits are dangerous dogs, be prepared to confront them one day. Hopefully it never happens but if it does, you will be prepared.

Sure hope that little lab puppy makes it through. Keep us updated if you will.

There are only chain link fences between yards here. The pits lost interest in my pups for the most part, because they can't see them through the fence anymore. These dogs have always run up and down the fence snarling and growling at my pups. I knew something was going to happen sooner or later. Our city has a lot of restrictions on fences. I did the best I could legally. But the pits shifted all of their attention to the dogs in the other neighbors yard.

The people said they are going to rehome the dog that attacked but we will see about that. I'm not as worried about the other pit because it is fat and has bad hips and I doubt it could jump 6 feet. But last week we came home and found that pit bull sitting on our front porch. It is not the first time it has gotten out through their gate. That one sits on their hill and growls at me every time I go in my back yard. My pups are never in my front yard. They are carried from the back only to the car to go to the park or vet.

On the other side of us, there are two more pit bulls. They run and charge our fence and even though it is a good strong fence I can see it bow when the pits attack it. Luckily there is a drop off on their side of the fence so the dog would have to launch off of an awkward angle and jump higher than 6 feet. We have asked them over and over to keep their dogs from jumping on the fence. They say they are trying to come up with something but that has been over a year ago and they have done nothing. They let their pits run loose in their front yard and also in the park.

As far as reporting them, nothing is done. I begged everyone in this city from police to animal control to calling every alderman in the city, sending tapes of the pit bull BEHIND us butting its head so hard against the chain link fence that the stakes were pulled out of the ground, trying to get at my babies. I even appealed to the mayor. Nothing is done. And yes, there are pit bulls in every yard surrounding my house and many more in adjoining yards. When I asked if my tape could be returned to me they flippantly told me that it was lost. It is a very political issue around here that everyone is afraid to touch, unfortunately.

[ironmike86]

Its not the Pitbull. But all dogs. I had a Pom that would attack. Its just when a Pit, Rottweiler,Doberman ect. Any big guard dog its gonna kill. Pitbull and other big dogs are only good with there own. So a big dog may like their family they still may pose a threat to the neighbors. The owners were careless in thinking otherwise. But another reason to always supervise your dog. Both owners... regardless hope the puppy makes it.

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by ironmike86

Its not the Pitbull. But all dogs. I had a Pom that would attack. Its just when a Pit, Rottweiler,Doberman ect. Any big guard dog its gonna kill. Pitbull and other big dogs are only good with there own. So a big dog may like their family they still may pose a threat to the neighbors. The owners were careless in thinking otherwise. But another reason to always supervise your dog. Both owners... regardless hope the puppy makes it.

I think the family is now afraid of the dog. They have taken their baby somewhere and not been home since the attack, but they come home to feed and let them out a couple of times a day. Their window is open and we can hear those dogs wailing and making the most awful sounds. I have never heard the sounds they are making. I just hope they don't come out of one of the Windows. I look all around before going to my car.

I know any dog can bite and attack, for sure. For that very reason we don't even let our Yorkie Daisy around small children. She is nervous around fast moving kids and has never been around small children. She would be unpredictable. She will sometimes snap at a dog of any size. So we have to watch her like a hawk. So yes, even a Yorkie can be unpredictable and bite.

I will post an update on the lab when I hear something. She is almost full grown, so she is not tiny.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

There are only chain link fences between yards here. The pits lost interest in my pups for the most part, because they can't see them through the fence anymore. These dogs have always run up and down the fence snarling and growling at my pups. I knew something was going to happen sooner or later. Our city has a lot of restrictions on fences. I did the best I could legally. But the pits shifted all of their attention to the dogs in the other neighbors yard.

The people said they are going to rehome the dog that attacked but we will see about that. I'm not as worried about the other pit because it is fat and has bad hips and I doubt it could jump 6 feet. But last week we came home and found that pit bull sitting on our front porch. It is not the first time it has gotten out through their gate. That one sits on their hill and growls at me every time I go in my back yard. My pups are never in my front yard. They are carried from the back only to the car to go to the park or vet.

On the other side of us, there are two more pit bulls. They run and charge our fence and even though it is a good strong fence I can see it bow when the pits attack it. Luckily there is a drop off on their side of the fence so the dog would have to launch off of an awkward angle and jump higher than 6 feet. We have asked them over and over to keep their dogs from jumping on the fence. They say they are trying to come up with something but that has been over a year ago and they have done nothing. They let their pits run loose in their front yard and also in the park.

As far as reporting them, nothing is done. I begged everyone in this city from police to animal control to calling every alderman in the city, sending tapes of the pit bull BEHIND us butting its head so hard against the chain link fence that the stakes were pulled out of the ground, trying to get at my babies. I even appealed to the mayor. Nothing is done. And yes, there are pit bulls in every yard surrounding my house and many more in adjoining yards. When I asked if my tape could be returned to me they flippantly told me that it was lost. It is a very political issue around here that everyone is afraid to touch, unfortunately.

Any city whose leaders won't take a powerful dog getting out of its yard and attacking another dog in its yard to the point of death seriously truly needs new leadership from stem to stern. Haven't heard of such shirking of duty of a public safety issue in a long time. Those neighbors have a right for their dog to be reasonably safe in its yard and not be attacked by ferocious, huge dogs coming in and eating it. That these dogs owners haven't been visited and questioned by AC as to its health, rabies vax status, quarantine it if it's not current, given a dangerous-dog warning and ordered to make the fence taller and more secure, is scandalous. Sounds like the community needs to be more proactive or these - ahem - dolts will sit on their duffs until another little dog is maimed nearly to death - or worse, a child. Sad situation. Either the neighborhood becomes activists or loses out on the safety side. Can't you get a local TV reporter involved, to tell the story of what's going on there?

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

I think the family is now afraid of the dog. They have taken their baby somewhere and not been home since the attack, but they come home to feed and let them out a couple of times a day. Their window is open and we can hear those dogs wailing and making the most awful sounds. I have never heard the sounds they are making. I just hope they don't come out of one of the Windows. I look all around before going to my car.

I know any dog can bite and attack, for sure. For that very reason we don't even let our Yorkie Daisy around small children. She is nervous around fast moving kids and has never been around small children. She would be unpredictable. She will sometimes snap at a dog of any size. So we have to watch her like a hawk. So yes, even a Yorkie can be unpredictable and bite.

I will post an update on the lab when I hear something. She is almost full grown, so she is not tiny.

They may be chained up or something or hurt. Maybe AC needs a welfare check on them. You can't help but feel for the dogs - it's not their fault. They are just giving into their instincts and doggie ways. Their owners should be throttled and those city leaders who won't make people keep their pets confined to their own yard and others pet and loved ones safe from them. How did AC know the attacking dog isn't rabid or otherwise ill - did they bother to check?

Yes, any dog can bite but only the big, powerful ones vicious enough to go into prey drive, leave their yard, attack and not just bite and run immediately away but bite over and over and sustain an attack until it badly maims or kills are the ones whom people must truly keep away from other, innocent animals and children as they are as dangerous as any other deadly weapon.

[Doodlebug]

The dogs are not chained up. They really are decent people who love their dogs. I know they are in a state of total shock and disbelief. They apologized over and over and are paying all vet bills. They are just uninformed people who got mad at us when we told them that we felt that their pits were a threat to our animal's safety. They turned a deaf ear to us and refused to believe it. The dogs sounded like they were wailing to get out and finish the fight with the other dogs. They were not chained or in pain.

They have had rabies shots. The other pit just had surgery for some condition. They are well taken care of. They would never let any harm come to those dogs. AC will come to your house and knock on your door if you have not gotten your city tags by the end of April. You have to have proof of rabies to get your tags. These are decent people who keep their house nice, dress nice and have good jobs and drive nice cars.

[ironmike86]

IMO doesn't matter what the neighbors think. Mine had a GSD who was smart, nice ect...But oneday it lunged at my 8yr old daughter.....15yrs ago.... But I never trusted him. He would off leash ect. I seen him coming I grabbed my daughter in MY yard and kick the heck outta the dog. Next day I put a fence all around my house then planted hedges and blocked there view.. I don't care my yard. Dog seen my kid as prey or competition. He was young. We still don't talk much. I'm about protecting mine

[yorkietalkjilly]

That's a huge relief to know the dogs aren't neglected and that the people see they were wrong but the sad thing is, sounds like the dogs are having bad separation anxiety and nobody is helping them. So sad. Hopefully, they will soon settle into their new routine and sleep while their owners are away, owners who will build a good, new, sturdy, escape-proof fence. But both dogs need help with their anxiety and that attack dog needs help and quick. He's a bomb waiting to go off. Training and rehabilitating him could make him over unless he's brain-damaged or ill.

So the city officials require you all to abide by the letter of the law for tags but apparently won't enforce any stronger safety rules or give a warning ticket to the owner of a dangerous dog for the protection of innocent neighborhood pets and kids, huh? That out-of-control, prey-driven dog may attack again, given the chance; and from the way you describe it, it's just itching to do just that. As far as the dog is concerned, it's his job to go after prey and attack it. He doesn't know why. He's just got very strong, prey-drive bred into him and just cannot help himself. Any dog who leaves his own yard to jump a fence, attack and maim another dog to the point of death has dangerous prey drive, poor baby. It will one day get him and his prey into more terrible trouble if no one takes control of him and lovingly works to rehab him into a submissive, happy pet with control of his baser instincts.

Nice work if you can get it for those city officials, collecting their taxes faithfully but rendering little help to people like you or your neighbor by requiring extra high and sturdy fencing for people with big, powerful dogs who have proven themselves dangerous to others.

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by ironmike86

IMO doesn't matter what the neighbors think. Mine had a GSD who was smart, nice ect...But oneday it lunged at my 8yr old daughter.....15yrs ago.... But I never trusted him. He would off leash ect. I seen him coming I grabbed my daughter in MY yard and kick the heck outta the dog. Next day I put a fence all around my house then planted hedges and blocked there view.. I don't care my yard. Dog seen my kid as prey or competition. He was young. We still don't talk much. I'm about protecting mine

I used to keep shovels and other "weapons" strategically placed around my yard just in case. Even though the neighbor tried to convince me that their dog would never jump the fence, I knew it was going to happen. Those dogs had a very strong desire to get over the fence to get to the other dogs.

[ironmike86]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

I used to keep shovels and other "weapons" strategically placed around my yard just in case. Even though the neighbor tried to convince me that their dog would never jump the fence, I knew it was going to happen. Those dogs had a very strong desire to get over the fence to get to the other dogs.

My wifes situation awareness= yard "weapons" for 4 and 2 legged beast that might happen to wander in out back yard.