That is the saddest thing i've ever heard!!! How many of those "Pitbulls" do you think are purebred American Pitbull Terriers??? Not many! Any statistics on dog attacks by "pitbulls" is completley untrue! A "ptibull" is a just a short way to say "american pit bull terrier". Not staffordshire terrier or cane corso or the rest of the breeds people automatically call Pit bulls! I can't believe something like this could happen so close to me! That's horrible! You can't be much shallower than that! These poor inocent dogs! How dare the news help their bad reputation! Stuff like this makes me feel no sympathy what so ever for the family! I feel for dogs and the dogs only! It's not "stupid dogs" it's "stupid owners"!

-a very dissapointed/mad doglover (and future proud APBT owner!)

PUNISH THE DEED - NOT THE BREED!! as the owner of a beloved dog that is *pit-like* i find the story that aired tonight about breed specific bans especially disturbing. if pit bulls only account for 15% of the total attacks by dogs why don't we hear of the other breeds that are involved in attacks on news broadcasts? do you know which breed has the highest percentage of attacks? i'd be interested in knowing. pit bulls were NOT originally bred to be mean, humans have MADE them mean. because pits are tough and strong animals with a high tolerance to pain, HUMANS have chosen the breed to be used in fighting arenas and as guard/attack dogs... this was not the animal's choice! it is unfortunate that pit bulls ARE so strong because when there IS an attack, the animal's sheer strength makes the attack very severe if not fatal. instead of banning the breed, why can't something be done about the breeding and sale of pit bulls at venues such as flea markets, parking lots or on street corners? why can't a law be passed that would limit the number of pit bulls any one household could have and that those animals would HAVE to be spayed or neutered to limit indescriminate breeding by irresponsible owners that only want to make money off of their dogs? how about a specific licensing with a higher than usual annual fee per(sterilized)pit bull? what about some sort of *grandfather* clause for mature pit bulls over a certain age that are beloved family pets that don't even like to go out in the backyard to go potty if it's raining!? here again, applying spay and neuter requirements on the age-qualilfying dogs falling under such a *grandfather* clause. at the very least this would limit the future population of pit bulls especially if the sale of pit pups was prohibited in public traffic areas. it is NOT RIGHT that because of ignorant individuals who think that it's cool to have a mean pit bull (or ANY breed for that matter!) that responsible pet owners should have to worry about the future of their even-tempered, devoted and loving 4-legged family members. who can i contact within this county group who will be discussing a possible ban of pit bulls? any information you can give me would be MUCH appreciated!
thanks,
ann

p.s. i just saw where you are leaving channel 11!! i applaud your wanting to do something different but want to say that you will be sorely missed and impossible to replace. good luck in your new venture, hope to see you around town!

NO, it starts with pit bulls, then chows, then German shepherds, then any dog over 60 pounds, then...Owners should be held responsible. I own a 12 year old pit bull, & a 10 year old chow mix. They have both been to obedience school, they are never allowed off leash when out of the backyard, & my gate has a pad lock. They have been properly socialized to get along with my 2 cats, as well as other cats & dogs of all ages that I have fostered. They have never bitten anyone. I think a better option would be to make it mandatory for dogs to be microchipped, & owners fined if the dogs are found running loose.

Please look up the statistics and you will see that more dogs = more bites. Where that particular breed's more plentiful then it only makes sense that there will be more bites of that particular breed in that area. For instance, if there were an overwhelming number of Doberman's in this area than there would be more dog bites/attacks from that breed, because there would be more of that one breed, but we happen to have an overwhelming number of the Pit breed and mix of this breed because of people letting them breed and not spaying and neutering. Breeders of this breed is known to not breed the Pit Bull with care like other breeds do, they do not do it right, same thing with the Dalmatian's, they breed them and breed them until many are born blind and deaf now.
When this breed is used by drug dealers to guard, used by people to fight then of coarse this dog will be mean, but I swear these animals can be so good, they can be wonderful members of a family.
I'm so very sorry about the little boy, I don't have the answers for what to do about these dogs being capable of this kind of actions, but I do know that there are actually places saying the same things about Black Labs right now in parts of the world, so for that reason I say to seek out this particular breed here is as wrong as people that do it to other breeds, and I will tell all of the large breed owners that stand behind this action, your large breed of dog could be the next breed picked to do this to, just ask a person that owned a Chow or Doberman back some years ago. Bad People make a dog bad! The size of the mouth, the strength in it's bite can be terrible and do harm to an adult and especially a child so I do not have the answers when people continue to abuse the Pit Bull Terrier. I happen to think the Pit's have large brains compared to most canines and are capable of thought and learning that most dogs do not possess. This is based only by one dog I had named Black Max.
I didn't give to the Humane Society this year, I usually do, but I will not give to any organization that singles out any one breed to be killed. In the name of Black Max they are not going to get anything from me ever again. This animal should not be killed because of it's breed, these dogs can be good with the right training, I know this to be true.
I can't understand when I see the animals on television that are so mean, when we had the one before that was a big baby his whole life, it makes me so sad, but then I do realize children can't be hurt like the little boy and killed, it's just so sad, and it's the fault of humans not animals.
A chow attacked a little boy in our county the other day, and bit him on his face, will they pick on and kill the Chow Chow's next? I sure hope not, I have my chow mix Miss Bear you know, who is a teddy bear and lives up to her name of a bear. I say no that I do not agree with anyone wanting to extinguish the life of any breed of animal, I feel strongly about this, I feel it in my heart that I am right.
"The Greatness Of A Nation Can Be Judged By The Way It's Animals Are Treated" quote from Mahatma Gandhi.

I challenge everyone reading this blog to go to this website and see if you can find the American Pit Bull Terrier on your first try.
Anyone who harbors a vicious animal should be banned! It should be illegal for people to harbor these animals.
Not all pit bulls are savage creatures. Many times the attacks are caused from dogs whose owners have kept them outside side on a chain for most of their life. This would make any dog agressive. Dogs are pack animals that need to be with others.
www.unchainyourdog.org
As the saying goes, Ban the deed and not the breed!
You wouldn't blame a gun for shooting someone, you would blame the handler.
My dogs have play dates with several pittie mixes that do not keep their animals chained up outside and there has never been a problem. I am heavily involved in animal rescue and have come in contact with hundreds of pitties that are just as sweet and gentle as my lab mixes at home! Please do not ban the breed, ban the deed!!

Irresponsible dog owners should be banned in Houston. Don't blame the dogs.

The true temperament of pit bulls has been much maligned in the press. “Pit bull” is a descriptive term that encompasses a large spectrum of dogs with similar body types including the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, and the Boxer. As a result of these similar physical characteristics, numerous dog attacks and dog bites are attributed to the “pit bull” when in fact, the dog is a victim of mistaken identity. I am an animal shelter volunteer and have worked with numerous loving pit bulls, however I am unable to identify a pit bull with unfailing accuracy.

The American Temperament Testing Society (www.atts.org) scores a dog’s temperament defined by W. Handel as the “sum of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents that determines, forms, and regulates behavior in the environment”. American Pit Bull Terriers score favorably according to this test. Breeds typically revered as superior family pets such as Golden Retrievers, Boxers, Bulldogs and mixed breeds have scores similar to the American Pit Bull Terrier. Breeds that score lower on this temperament test are the Cocker Spaniel, Dalmatian, and Pomeranian, indicating a high likelihood of aggressive behavior.

The most important message is any dog, regardless of breed can be dangerous under certain circumstances. To assume one breed is more dangerous than another and therefore should be banned only provides the general public a false sense of security. The true criminals are the irresponsible dog owners that allow their dogs to roam unleashed, or worse, feloniously raise and train their dogs for the cruel underworld of dog fighting. Specific laws prosecuting irresponsible owners under the fullest extent of the law would address with the origins of dangerous dogs, regardless of breed. Perhaps if we as a society placed blame appropriately instead of focusing on treating just the symptom, we could prevent and eliminate dangerous dogs. Please punish the deed, not the breed.

For obvious reasons, neither the Houston SPCA or Humane Society will adopt out pit bulls???
Obvious reasons, sounds like the Houston SPCA and Humane Society has already banned pit bulls, I don't own one but the most friendliest dog I have ever known was pit bull my friends owned. I had a pekingese and he would bite anyone including me his best friend, a lot of the small breeds are very vicious, if we are going to banned pit bulls, whats next, all dogs?

I don't believe that specific breeds should be banned. A bad dog is the result of a human...no training, the wrong training, unaltered males chained up, abuse, and the list goes on. I know a family that has pitbulls and those dogs are virtually "lap dogs". They were trained properly in obedience, trained not to be agressive towards other dogs/people, were spayed/neutered, etc. They are good dogs...and they are pitbulls. I've seen small dogs that were as aggressive as the big ones, so you can't put a tag on specific dogs. What's the solution? I'm not sure. I don't think a good dog should be put to sleep because it's a pitbull, or pitbull type though. I think maybe there should be a requirement/law to have those dogs spayed/neutered unless it's a reputable breeder. Those breeders should in turn be required to scrutinize the adopter, just like shelters do. Those dogs shouldn't go to people without a (secure) fenced yard and the ability to have them properly trained in obedience. I don't know the answer, there are so many variables. But banning these dogs would take good family dogs away from their homes, from the people who love them and work with them to be good dogs. (And take away the chance for the good neglected ones from finding a forever home to live out their life whith good people.) Like you always hear, and is so true...Research the breeds you are interested in to make sure that they and your lifestyle will go together, so that you can give them the best life possible because it's a dog you can handle.

This is the link I meant to post in my "Find the Pit Bull Challenge!
www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

Nice and simple: PUNISH THE DEED, NOT THE BREED!

I don't think one breed should be banned. What would be much more effective is going after bad owners who do not train or control their dogs- regardless of the breed. I am a pit bull parent myself and she has been through 3 obediance classes and will test for the CGC in the spring. I get no complaints about her and she's is one of the best behaved dogs at our local park.

I urge authorities to hold the irresponsible humans at stake. If they raised and treated their dogs (again, irregardless of breed), the attacks would be much less frequent. I would never allow my dog to roam the streets. She's not allowed unsupervised with children. I am a responsible owner and proud of my dog.

I think you can say that pet owners can definitely make an impact on how their dogs will be in adulthood, but I think it also goes back to the breeders as well. There are no controls over breeding dogs, and nothing to make breeders want to breed for temperment. Breeders should immediately spay/neuter any of their dogs that develop aggressive tendencies toward other dogs or humans. I do think bad genes has a lot to do with the temperment of a dog/breed. If breeds such as rottiweilers and pit bulls, etc were bred as one of their main goals for good temperment, you would see a change over all in the breed. In England, as quoted by John Rogerson, when they banned some of the breeds, it actually made the current breeders start breeding more for good temperment because they did not want to loose their livelihood of breeding the type of dogs that they loved. So they focused more on the temperment of the dogs they were breeding. So instead of holding the entire breed responsible for the percentage of aggressive dogs, lets go back and see if there is a way to have more control over the breeding. There will always be underground breeding of pit bulls even if banned, but I think something such as having to be licensed to breed them, would be of a great help. But of course, as in anything the city/county/goverment governs, the program would only be as good as the people running it.

While I am a little uneasy when I see a pit bull, I don't see a reason why they should be banned all together. I recently met my friend's pit who was one of the sweetest dogs I have encountered. But here is the question: What about those owners who acquire a pit bull for malicious purposes?
You know the old saying "Guns don't kill people, people do?" Well I feel like we are dealing with something similar here. The pits aren't born into an aggressive personality. That personality is learned and usually very aggressively taught by the owner. Also, pit bull is not the only potentially aggressive dog breed. Are we going to then ban Doberman pinschers, rotweilers, and German shepherds, too? Chances are the answer to that question is no, right?
Now, I don't have an answer to the problems, but I think euthanizing an innocent dog after only three days in a shelter is the most inhumane and ludicrous thing I have EVER heard! Just because the dog is a certain breed it receives an almost automatic death sentence? What happened to checking their temperament to see if they are suitable to be adopted? I personally get my feathers ruffled at the thought of a kill shelter though. I can't even walk into those places without my skin crawling.
Just thought I'd put in my two cents.

I am the very proud owner of 2 pitbulls! One is 9 yrs.old and is the sweetest dog I have ever had. Everyone who has met him marvels how sweet and well behaved he is. They all say none of their dogs are half as good. He loves children, dogs and cats. Last year I took in a 4 mo. old pit that someone had dumped! He is deaf but learned quickly. He is also sweet and would do anything to please! He has NEVER tried to bite anything! He loves everyone and will play with anything or anyone! I am angry at the awful people that get these dogs and train them to be mean! In the Houston area numerous places have been found where they are fighting these dogs. These dogs are only trying to please their stupid owners! They will even fight and die for them! We rescue these dogs from the fighting rings and the poor dogs are euthanized for doing what they were told to do! The horrible people who have committed these crimes get nothing more than a slap on the hand and infrequently a small fine! And hundreds of dogs are killed because of their crimes. Why are we not protecting these dogs more from these atrocities? They get away with abusing helpless dogs who never had a chance! Many of these dogs are dumped on our streets and never have a chance there either! Because of the bad press they now have a bad reputation, although you said they accounted for 15% of the dog bites! We need to procecute these abusers and stop them from fighting and killing these dogs! As long as the fighting rings survive, these dogs will be bred by irresponsible people and put in the wrong hands! Does it make sense to anyone that the dogs always pay the price and not the people who do this? It is pure insanity to ban a breed. Dogs are loving animals who only ask to be loved in return! The only thing that will change that is inhuman behavior! It is time we stop blaming the dog!

BAN BAD OWNERS NOT DOGS! This is ridiculous!
What's next? People are just going to move onto a different breed of dog it's obvious! Im appauled.....I have 3 Pit Bulls and I just recently found one starved and dumped next to a dumpster and he's the sweetest dog I have ever met only humans could be this cruel!

First it's German Shepherds then it's Chows, then Rottweilers now Pits...... so who's next huh?!
They will just move onto another breed!

~Megan

II have owned an American Bulldog (which looks like a HUGE American Pit Bull Terrier)in the past and currently own a 7 month old American Pit Bull Terrier(A.P.B.T.). The day after the attack which brought on this discussion I had an elderly woman approach me at the Petsmart on Shepherd and ask me if Prissy (my little A.P.B.T. girl) was a Pit Bull and then informed me that my dog has a bad reputation for being a vicious animal. The first thing purebred owners need to do is bring their well behaved dogs out to dog parks and walk them where people congregate. When asked what kind of dog you own PROUDLY say the ENTIRE name... most people don't associate A.P.B.T. as a Pit Bull unless you reinforce that misnomer. I personally wonder if CPS is getting involved with the neglectful parents for allowing a 4 year old child to ride a bike unsupervised in a neighborhood where it is known that "dangerous animals" roam. My experience with these dogs are great, just like may other people have posted. All responsible dog owners need to support and reinforce educating the masses of ignorant citizens. Be a diplomat for your breed. And remember "When Life's the Pit's.....Don't take the Bull!"

"For obvious reason the humane society/spca won't adopt out these dogs". Please what are the obvious reasons. I had one of my APBT stolen if he tried to run away later he would have went to the pound most likely. If I didn't find him in three days he was dead. WHY? What were the obvious reasons? He had never bit anyone/thing? Sweet enough to trust the humans he jumped in the car with while I played with his playmates in a field. None of my dogs have ever bit anyone..so what are the obvious reasons? Anyone, who takes the time to learn about the true nature of pit bulls know..they were never..never bread to be human aggressive. Its people teaching them or neglecting them that bring out the instinct to be aggressive.

Also, I think people need to teach their children how to behave around dogs as well. I can't count the number of times children bark, growl, throw stuff, yell, and numerous other things to my dogs. LUCKILY, my dogs are trained and socialized. I've tried to talk to the kids parents...but usually I'm met with negativity or I get cussed out.

There are many proven studies that show breed specific legislation doesn't work.

I find it interesting we have troops fighting for another countries freedoms while ours slowly dry up!

Simply we can't let this happen or there will be no dogs soon. The monster is on the other end of the leash!!

Stacey
The Pit Crew ~ HOUSTON, TEXAS

Why do parents always wait until the worst happens. Why do they realize that they should have done something different. I think that if a child is suprevised that these sort of things wouldn't happen.. I think if parents would keep a better eye out on their children they would have noticed that two loose dogs were approaching their child. I have owned American Pit Bull Terriers since 1997 and am now showing them. I have always been given the upmost respect from my American Pit Bull Terriers. I have three children and even though I own American Pit Bull Terriers I would never let my kids be unsuprevised even with a Labs, Cocker Spaniels , or any other breed as well.. I think if the city Bans this wonderful breed People would just decide to get another breed and do the same thing... I worked for CAPS and it was so sad there that I could only stay for 3 days because they put all American Pit Bull Terriers or even apbt/mixes down. But they are quick to adopt out dogs that tried to bite them in the back because they were a small breed in their words (easy to adopt out). I can't see how Banning them is going to solve anything because next people will be putting aggression on other breeds. This sort of problem would be helped if people would selectively breed only the best stock of APBT and not just for the money. I also own other breeds as well and have had them have more issues with their temperaments than my American Pit Bull Terriers.

No...

The breed should not be banned. BUT..there should be some very serious consequences for those found to be training these Dogs to be aggressive and/or fighters. Perhaps a "special permit" much like if you wanted to own an Exotic Cat or other wild animal. Strict restrictions on fencing,ect may be necessary. I also wonder how many dog attacks (by any breed) might have been prevented by simple supervision by Parents of their children and/or supervision of their pets by owners?

I have a lovable pitbull of my own who is my baby I don't believe that it is fair to ban pitbulls. I don't believe that every pitbull should have to suffer because of this tragedy. I understand that pitbulls have a bad name, but it's not the dogs fault. It is all about how they are raised just like a child. I believe that the owners of aggressive dogs should be punished. I believe that the problems of attacks are because of the owners make the dogs mean and then when they can't control them anymore so the let them loose in the streets. If they are raised to be mean then that's all they are going to know for the rest of their life. For example if you raise a child to be mean and violent when they get older they will be the same way. I feel like making animals aggressive, is animal cruelity and that's not right animals are family as well. What about the other breeds. I feel that the owners should be held responsible for their dogs actions just like parents are responsible for their childrens actions. This is not fair because now I have to worry about my dogs future. I feel like the owners of the two dogs the killed the boy should face murder charges and animal cruelity and should face the death sentence.

I was attacked by a male pit living in our neighborhood that was someones family pet. He ran me of the road as I was jogging, severly breaking my ankle. I held him with a death grip behind his jaws, as he snarled like a demon at my neck,and face. If I wasn't so strong he proble would have killed me, thank God I was not a child. This was not a dog he acted for no reason out of know where he came. Who else has to die? Get rid of them!!!! I have been an animal lover and rescuer since I was a smallchild living on the a farm. I have 4 dogs 3 rescued, Pit Bulls are like a tiger or lion. Find out where they live and keep kids away!!!

A few points.
What appears to allude pit bull owners is the fact that the disposition of the breed is not the real concern. No dog breed is entirely dependable. Even if you've raised a dog in the ideal environment for their entire life, when chaos arises, no one knows what their dog will do. We like to think we do, but we don’t. Most often, they will choose instinct over training when the circumstances are unfamiliar. Which brings us to the real problem with the breed.
The lethality is the real problem! A stark raving mad poodle could on most days be outmatched by an elderly female bare-handed. Disposition is next to irrelevant, lethality is why the pit bull breed exists and is exactly why it has got to go (or at least muzzle at all times outside or unsupervised (even gated alone in the back yard) and require similar licensing as a dangerous wild animal like a hyena. Not because they are wild, but because they are animals and they are lethal.
I was attacked with my golden retriever (on its leash) by a pit bull that backed out of its collar in front of its owner. What concerned me as I stood there in shock was not how mean it was, but about how deadly it was. I kicked that dog in the face repeatedly and still think about how horrible it would have been if I hadn't been there. My parents and my pregnant wife, forced by their health and safety to not interfere, would have been forced to watch our pet die in front of them in their own front yard. The whole thing took seconds, and when the lady who was shocked and very embarrassed said he had been neutered, was real friendly and never did anything like this before, my mind was made up.
Owners of these pets, are good people by-in-large, who love their pets. But their pets are lethal and everyone else's are not. To blame the parents of kids killed or mulled by a deadly animal is ignorant and heartless. And (as owners do) try in vain to codename it, call it by its latin name or rename it HAPPY POOFY LUV-POOCH if you insist, but you merely demonstrate that you fail to grasp the simple fact that the breed is a concern for legitimate reasons and that their loving dog is a friendly lethal weapon that thinks & acts on its own, and has all the other dog instincts, like trying to escape (and we all know they succeed occasionally) has roaming instincts, are protective and territorial, like to chase stuff that runs away and sniff and bite stuff on occasion.
Even though, we live on a busy street and consider it a life and death situation whenever our dog has managed to get out, our fear is about her life and death, not other people's or their pets. Owners, parents and the public must learn that lethal canines are infinitely more dangerous than a loaded weapon, because even a loaded machine gun has no instincts, curiosity or legs to carry it around. With all the breeds in the world, why choose a deadly breed? Chances are that they are more likely to mull the mail-lady or kill the kid who hops the fence in a game of hide-and-seek than the murderer-for-hire lurking around the back yard.
I am sorry for being so verbose, but I hope for everyone's sake that no one has to experience what I've had to for the sake of another person's breed preference. Minimum 10,000 cash bonds with the city, random premises inspections and all the licensing required for wild deadly animals should apply to deadly canine breeds as well. Breed deadly canine attacks into extinction!

I would like to add a comment about pit bulls and dog parks. I take my small Lab to the dog park on Westpark frequently and there are always one or two pit bulls there. It makes owners of less notorious breeds, or mixes, somewhat uncomfortable and I heard from one lady that a pit bull had bitten a person there a couple of weeks ago. There are other alpha dogs around, usually, but their owners can and do control them for the most part. (Aggressive dogs aren't allowed at dog parks; same for sick ones. A reminder.) But the pit bull can seem friendly and then, bam, attack. I say ban them from dog parks. And you can tell a pit bull by the muscular body coupled with a big head that has a much deeper jaw opening than other dogs. His jaws are hinged way back--looks like a deep smile close to the ears, but it's not like other dogs' smiles.