Pit Bulls illegal??!!

[gitchesum]

I've never owned one myself, but my stepmother used to raise them. The ones that I've been around have been some of the best dogs around. I know the problems with some of the, but should any type of government make it illegal to own one? Thebad thing is that if you already owned a pit bull, you would have to find a home for it or the dog will be destroyed.

Is this being done in other parts of the country?

More info here.

http://www.americanpress.com/news/docs/news01.shtml



Copied from the Lake Charles American Press website.

WELSH — Police Chief Ben Richard said Thursday that the number of pit bulls in the town of Welsh has diminished considerably since a ban on them was enacted.



Just hours after the new anti-pit bull law went into effect, police made a sweep of areas where residents were known to keep the dogs.



"We went to several houses where we knew people have had pit bulls, but did not find any at those homes," he said.



Richard believes pit bulls were inside two houses, but said the owners were not home when police arrived.



He said officers would keep an eye on those residences.



Another owner turned his young pit bull in to police after failing to find a new home for the pet.



"The guy said a friend had given him the dog and he had tried to find a home for it, but nobody wanted the dog," Richard said.



He said the pit bull will be kept at the town's animal shelter for five days. Afterward, the dog will be sent to the Calcasieu Parish animal shelter to be euthanized.



Richard said police will continue to "aggressively patrol" for pit bulls through the weekend. After that, they will conduct periodic checks.



Violators of the law could face a fine of up to $500, 60 days in jail or both.

 

[sdalton]

I know some might not agree with me, but, I think Pit Bulls and Rottweillers have no business in a residential setting. Espescially where young children are around and heavily populated areas. I have been on the biting end of those dogs on several occassions. You always hear the same old story. "Fluffy never bit anyone before, and he is just the best dog in the world. I dont know what that "child or old person" did to make him angry. I promiss Fluffy will never do it again. Yea right. It seems that 95% of the dog bites I see are from family pets, who are the best tempered dogs, and as friendly as any around, until that one time. The Pit and Rott have an on/off switch. The switch is turned off most of its life until something turns it on, then heaven help anyone on the receiving end of its mood swing. These dogs were breed to fight and guard, and any responsible owner should not allow the animal in any situation where innocent people can come in contact with them. I have met some real nice Pitts and Rotts but I know enough about them to not own one.

Here in Houston, if one is picked up on the street, without a tag, they are put down asap.

I love dogs, even some Rotts and Pitts, but when the safety of humans is threatened, they are lower on the food chain.



The article posted says they immediately started rounding the dogs up after the law was passed. I dont think that is right. There should have been a 5 day registration, then they should have been given at least a month to adopt out the dog.



Scott

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by sdalton



The Pit and Rott have an on/off switch. The switch is turned off most of its life until something turns it on, then heaven help anyone on the receiving end of its mood swing.

Scott

Scott that is an old wives tale with no factual basis. The truth is that Pit Bulls were breed to fight other dogs in a pit. These fights would take place with two handlers in the pit with the animals. If a handler was ever bitten, the dog would be put down. They were breed too not bite humans. Based on that breeding they should be safer than any other breed, around a human being.



Scott, based on you post. I guess you don't think anyone should have a gun either?



These laws are made by the ignorant politicians that are trying to get re-elected. Pit Bulls are great dogs and just as safe as any other type of dog. Humans are more dangerous than dogs, I guess based on this type of law making logic we need some laws to make parents serve jail time when they lose control of their kid and it harms or damages someone else or someone Else's property. This type of law is another reason I live out in the county.

 

[lizzyhermit]

I have never met a dog I didn't like, but I always respected them and taught my family to do the same.



I have been around inumerable dogs in my half century of life including hunting pack dogs in the islands and the only dog to EVER bite me was my uncles daschund who did not want me to pet it. Got what I deserved.



It isn't the dogs, it's the owner/operators.

 

[ata]

From what I`m reading, how many times do you have to be bitten, before you learn to stay away from DOGS because they don`t like you. SEVERAL TIMES I guess. I have owned two Rott`s one is still with me the other has passed neither one has ever bitten anybody or ever attempted to bite anyone. I don`t care what kind of dog a person owns some will bite for unknown reasons but by far most don`t. The only thing else I can say about this is don`t put your self in a position to be bitten. Don`t get close to a dog, don`t make and hold eye contact and don`t put your hand in it`s face.

 

[sdalton]

Pit Bull, I have in fact seen several pitts that have bitten people.

Some of these were pets and some were fighters. It is a misconception on your part that the pit will only attack another dog, just because they were breed that way. The Pit Bulls in America are very inbreed and are not of high quality, in general. That is not to say there arent some well breed ones. Here in Houston they are mainly breed to fight. But they do attack Humans other animals and children. As for the Rott. , same goes for the Houston area.



ATA, my job does require that I come in contact with these dogs. Although I have never been bitten by them, there have been several close calls with dogs that had just mauled innocent people. When I showed up, the dogs attempted to chew on me. Bye Bye doggies. A . 45 cal hollow point took care of each. These were separate occasions but a re-occurring themes, Rott. and Pit.



I love dogs and animals, but these breeds are not bred to be cuddly and baby sitters for families. I will say not all are like this but is it worth the chance, and is it responsible to take the chance??



Scott

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Scott, based on you post. I guess you don't think anyone should have a gun either?

Exactly how did you come to this conclusion? There is a significant difference between a firearm & a dog. A gun requires a person to pull the trigger, a dog thinks/reacts on it's own. Maybe the similarity is the owner... ... ...

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Humans are more dangerous than dogs, I guess based on this type of law making logic we need some laws to make parents serve jail time when they lose control of their kid and it harms or damages someone else or someone Else's property.

Don't these laws already exist? At least they do in the 'city'... ...



Brian

 

[lgibson]

I first want to say I am against this law 100%. I have had a pit bull turn against me. I had over one year contact with this dog. The owner, my friend, could not even come close to him. This is the only one I know about personally and he was put down. What happed I will never know. Did someone come by and do something to him while we were at school?

If someone is able to keep there dogs in their own yard, I don't have a problem. It is the people who make there dogs mean and/or let their dogs run loose that I have a problem with. If this passes what is next?

They don't allow dogs in towns, but they don't have a problem letting rapist and murders out of jail and victimize the town people. What is wrong with this picture?

 

[Todd G]

I had the pleasure of seeing a pit bull break through a door to get at a poodle an old lady was walking down the street. Was that dog a good dog? I don't know. It didn't attack the person at all. All it wanted was the poodle.



I wouldn't have a fighting dog. I would be a little freaked if the neighbor had a pit bull. I have met some very gentle ones but they do not like strange dogs. Very dangerous.

 

[NVR FNSH]

My lab mix doesn't like strange dogs. Should she be killed? I don't think so. If there are 'strange' dogs around and my dog doesn't have a tennis ball in her mouth she goes on the leash. If she has tennis ball she could care less about another dog - in fact that's the only way she get's to go to the dog park.



Owner responsibility is the key. Granted there are vicious dogs out there and they are the ones that should be used as overnight guard dogs in Watts.



Brian

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: IMHO

Originally posted by Champane Flight





I own a Pit bull and it is one of the finest dogs I have ever had the fortune of meeting. He has a sweet disposition and is always under your feet for affection. The animal has gotten a bad rap from people that use them for drug/crime protection from the Cops. I have had people tell me they are illeagal in my town and that my homeowners insurance will be canceled if they find I have him. If they come for my dog, it will be the same as trying to take my guns and I will take it in the same light! I have a dog run and a well fenced yard, I take my dogs to the prarie to run every week. Lower part of the food chain? I don't know why we as humans think we are so superior. I have seen many more Pit bulls I liked, than bratty snot nosed kids!



[/B][/QUOTE]



I agree. You are exactly right!!! It all goes back to responsiblity. My dogs are house dogs. My yard is double fenced for my dogs protection. My dogs are never outside in the fenced area, unless I am home, and I know they are safe and my wife and I can keep an eye on them. My dogs never leave the fenced area unless they are under my control on a lead. I also live in the county outside city limits. But nobody has the right to say one type of dog is bad. The facts show that it is not the breed of dog but the owner. Dog breeds should not be band, but owners need to be held accountable.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by NVR FNSH





Exactly how did you come to this conclusion? There is a significant difference between a firearm & a dog. A gun requires a person to pull the trigger, a dog thinks/reacts on it's own. Maybe the similarity is the owner... ... ...



Brian

No difference car, gun, dog. All are the responsiblity of the owner. Should we band "bombed" CTD's because they have the potential of going very fast and they might hurt someone? This is about freedom and rights and no one has the right to tell me that I can't have a gun or a breed of dog, unless I abuse that right. It is about personal responsiblity and making people accountable. I will agree that we don't do a good job of making people accountable for their actions. That's why a lot of the kids are screwed up, they never learned to take responsiblity for their actions, it's alway somebody Elses fault.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by sdalton



The Pit Bulls in America are very inbreed and are not of high quality, in general.



I will say not all are like this but is it worth the chance, and is it responsible to take the chance??



Scott

Scott, suggestion. Get a book on Pit Bulls, read it and then we can talk about it. You know not of what you speak

 

[illflem]

If any dog should be banned it should be Dobermans, you just can't trust them. I had a Pit once, very gentle, affectionate dog, never bit another animal or person but while playing it would sure latch on and not let go for anything, in my opinion a bad trait that they were bred for. I won't own another but see no reason others should be prevented from it. Any breed can be dangerous.

 

[GSchlegel]

I grewup on a farm and had a pit bull. Best dog I ever had. He saved my mom once when a bull went crazy and had her pinned in a corner of a lot. "Jiggs" took on the bull, drove it out of the lot to the far corner of a pasture and held it there for about 10 minutes. When he knew mon was safely out of the lot he came trotting back. From that time on he could do nothing wrong.



He had fantastic strength in his jaws, he would crack open black walnuts to get the meat. But he had the finess to jump up and get a kernal of corn from between your fingers without you feeling it.



If a stray dog came around he went into attach mode. Water, clubs, etc. wouldn't phase him, the only way to get the other dog free was for me to grab my dog by the tail and start to swing both dogs around in a circle. After a while Jiggs would momentarily relax his grip and centrifugal force would throw the other dog out.



I miss Jiggs and am very upset with the reputation Pit Bulls have. It's not deserved. Its the irresponsible owners.



Gene

 

[Ted Constantine]

I do not beleive that any breed should be banned ever. It is, as stated above, the reponsibilty of the owners to control there dogs and accept the consequinses of the dogs actions. I work for a Vet and am working toward going to vet school. We deal with every type of dogs cat lizard, you name it we see it. All I can say I thank god cats are small because a ****** off 100 pound cat would put a rot to shame. Every dog is a potential biter and the vets and techs have the scares to prove that dogs that "don't bite" have a trigger point just like any other animal. I will say that the most common dogs to snap in fear are small dogs. Nepolian conplex The problem from our stand point with Rots in particular but to a certain extent with pits is that with Rots it is very very hard to read emmotion. you will all saythat you can tell everything your dogs are thinking but I am talking from the stand point of a outsider not the owner, It is hard to read the body language of a rot is comparison to any of the retreivers, sheperds etc. I really like rots and pit bulls. Pits get the worst rap as they are beautiful strong agile dogs but have been bred, to a great extent, for generations to be dog aggressive. They also have a potential to be trained to be people aggressive and very protective and BAD people take advantage of this propencity. As a result they have a very bad image in the public eye i do not beleive that this image can be altered with the drugs dealers and hoods using the dogs in negative ways. A negative image on the news is much more powerful the indelable than a image of an affectionate dogs playing frisbee.



Ted

 

[GLASMITHS]

Pit Bulls Banned

Since this is in my backyard - what brought this on was several unprovoked attacks against children, and I believe one died. The people were given a month or so to dispose of the dogs.



I appears to me that mo0st of the offending dogs were chained to a tree, and were halfbreeds/highly inbred and all that together makes for trouble. That is what has happened to Dobermans. There has been too much inbreeding and the results have been terrible. The worst traits sometimes comes out, and is amplified. We do not have a problem with Dobes or Shepards here; just the Pit Bulls AND fighting Cocks

 

[Morphious]

If you follow this logic, then the Bull Mastif I had would fit into this category since they were bred as war dogs..... Ivan the Terrible (dogs name), might have drooled all over you wanting to be played with, but I was not afraid to have him and my boys together. He protected them from stray dogs on several occasions while I had him (some ******* stole him last year). And would love to have another one in the future after I get out of this dinky apartment. He was protective of his owners and let me know when strangers were around. I've also owned Chows, Siberian Huskies, Muts, Britney Spanials, Pointers, and the worst I had was this little female Siberian Husky. She was nuts and would bit you if given the chance..... My male was the most mellow dog you have ever seen, alot of it's in the personality of the animal and who raised the dogs. The male I raised, and bought the female after she was several years old. Two totally different dogs and ended up having to get rid of the female due to having a baby and not wanting her around an infant. I've been around pit bulls and rotties quite a bit as well, some I wouldn't turn my back on and others I trusted, depended on how they were raised and treated.



Morph.

 

[TxDieselKid]

I was never fond of larger dogs untill I meet my girlfriends rotty. This dog I have seen "bow down"(get scared of) a Taco Bell dog. That's how big of a sweetie she is. She obeys better then ANY dog I have ever seen before, and never went to school for it. If a dog attacks somebody, then the dog was not rasied right. I think it is the owners fault more then the dog's for not knowing any better.



My $0. 02,

Andrew

 

[TxDieselKid]

Re: Agression

Originally posted by Champane Flight

This is the same animal that can take a full grown Badger by the scruff of the neck and shake him like a rag doll

Speaking of dogs and critters, the rotty that I wrote about above swallowed a WHOLE rabbit a couple of weeks ago. It was brought up to the house by one of the other dogs, and he laid it down. It twitched, and the rotty picked it up, and swallowed the whole thing, live and all.



Andrew