Pantagraph.com | News | Woman killed by her two pit bulls

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

TheEducator wrote on Jan 15, 2008 11:56 PM:

" People, it's NOT a "family pet" if it doesn't live in the house as a member of the pack. She was attacked walking into her backyard. A dog becomes protective of the area in which it spends the majority of it's time. If you're going to keep it in the backyard and not socialize it, how are YOU any different from a stranger? These were NOT "family pets", they were RESIDENT DOGS. There's a huge difference. There has NEVER been an attack by a neutered, family pit bull. The media needs to get their references straight. This is no different than the woman who got killed by her GOLDEN RETRIEVER in Texas last August. Of course, that didn't make national news because it wasn't a pit bull. It also wasn't a "family pet", but was kept in the backyard as the resident dog. Why even have a dog if that's where you're going to leave it? "

Joe wrote on Nov 21, 2007 1:58 PM:

" so this is the dog your talking about or the candy that is sweet "

to to the Latest wrote on Oct 27, 2007 12:20 PM:

" No kidding. It happened. however, I heard last nite on the radio, that the kid was given ANOTHER horse. Funny how they did not mention what happened to the killer dogs. ( It was in another state.) too bad there is not enuf communication between the states to get all these cases together & actually fix this problem with these killer dogs "

to last "NOTICE" poster wrote on Oct 26, 2007 2:42 PM:

" according to dogbitelaw.com, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, conducted a detailed study from 1982 to present day. According to the study, Pit Bulls-Rottweilers-Presa Canarios and their mixes, are responsible for 74% of attacks. 68% upon children, 82% upon adults. 65% resulted in death, 68% resulted in maimings. at this site, there are other statistics too numberous to mention here, but it is interesting. Of course, depending on which side you want to look at, you can find pro and con in regards to any subject. But the numbers here, speak for themselves. "

Re: to I'm no notice FROM notice wrote on Oct 26, 2007 1:50 PM:

" You are maneuvering statistics by saying number one and most. Look at the actual numbers and words. Pit bull type is what they say do you know how many breeds this includes, typically bulldogs and boxers fall into this class. Also 66 deaths over a 20 year span. If every pit bull is so dangerous shouldn't there be thousands? I am not saying that pit bulls can't be dangerous but this is ridiculous, the numbers do not represent a mass problem. You have a way better chance of dying in a car accident. So should we ban cars now? "

To: The latest wrote on Oct 26, 2007 8:45 AM:

" No way! Really? Are you just being sarcastic? "

THE LATEST wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:44 PM:

" is 2 pits mauled a 3 yr old cancer victims pet horse to death , one that was given to him by the Make a Wish group "

To: too bad wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:47 AM:

" I agree! I wuv my two kitties!! They are so much fun, they create so much fun entertainment for onlookers - especially when they react to each other!! Plus, you don't have to take them outside in the middle of winter, in the middle of the night, to go pee. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting with my dad's doggies, but I wouldn't love the maintenance that goes into it! Plus, when it rains, they smell bad, and their slobber smells too. My dad had a dog once that would whip it's head side to side, and ear wax would come flying out and hit the walls and stuff! Gross!! "

too smart I guess wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:34 AM:

" If I had the time (and a lobotomy) I would read all these comments. Get a life, people. You are becoming servants and lovers to animals. ECCH! "

to bad wrote on Oct 23, 2007 3:58 PM:

" Shoulda got a couple of kitties instead........ "

TO: Problem wrote on Oct 23, 2007 1:03 PM:

" I agree, it's very sad. I was lucky to find a wonderful dog through a woman who no longer wanted her pit. Tracking down the breeder was easy and it turned out they were bred specifically for the sweet dispositions and personalities and to be great family dogs. Too bad this person is no longer breeding :( My girl is 12 years old and I will never find another pit like her, she's amazing. I also wanted to say that this same thing happened to Dalmations long ago when 101 Dalmations came out. They became an extremely wanted dog just because of the movies and in turn, they were over bred rediculously. This is why many dalmations have extreme temperament issues, blindness, and deafness. Temperament is a genetic trait that is bred in to animals. If you are going to breed these wonderful pits, do so with health, temperament, and type in mind. Not just how mean and big headed they can look. "

The Problem wrote on Oct 22, 2007 12:17 PM:

" The problem with pit bulls are that they one of the most breeded/inbreeded dogs, this leads to genetic defects. Thats whey we hear so much about pit bulls lately. Im not going to bash on the breed because they can be one of the most loyal dogs as long as they come from a good blood line with no inbreeding or over breeding. But now a days you cant find a pit bull around here that isnt overbreed/inbreed. "

To Dog hater wrote on Oct 22, 2007 11:32 AM:

" I have personaly commented on that page, (about the man beating the 4 yr old) over and over, obviously they are not putting them up! You should not assume. and as far as ppl feeling like the animals are their family, who are you to say they should not. no wonder everyone is hammering on you like that!! gesh and to think i ALMOST stuck up for you. "

to dog hater wrote on Oct 19, 2007 7:26 PM:

" no, I did not pass judgement on your parenting skills, just because you won't have a pet for your kids. and I really don't think anyone was passing judgement on how you choose to raise your children. that is noones business. but you must realize that you have insulted many ppl with your insinuation's about ppls "stupid" pets. there are alot of ppl that although you might think it is stupid, look at their pet's as their kids. If someone insulted your kids, you would take offense to that. This article is tragic. Pet owners of pit bulls and other dogs are trying to make some sense of why this happened. You had no right to "loudly" exclaim that you HATE dogs. I think the only point that was attempted to be made, is that children can learn alot about feelings when they experience the love of a dog or cat, and you damn that experience for them. This article is not of the norm. There is something more sinister to it. Maybe someone in the family teased or mistreated these animals. Dogs are domestic, not wild. They had to have a reason to attack. "

so pretty much wrote on Oct 19, 2007 6:23 PM:

" we all agree-DUH-that it depends on how you raise your dog on whether or not it will attack you-actually I don't think it would really matter b/c you can raise you dog the way you want and one day have some MORON come in and treat it the opposite-I just went through that with MY DOPE head of a cousin-AND YES she is no longer to go anywhere near my dog-she's got 2 pit bulls and she was dumb enough to hit them on top of the head-what do you think they're going to do after having enough of that crap? More then likely turn on her?! I agree-with everyone-it all depends on how you raise your dog and NO it doesn't matter what kind of dog you have! "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 19, 2007 3:04 PM:

" There was an article posted on Tues. about a man beating two children and there is not one comment on there. People care more about dogs being poisoned (which is completely wrong, I def do not condone cruelty) than children being beaten? That to me is so much more sad. And, you are right, that sort of job would probably suit me. Not because I simply don't care but because I could do the job without personal feelings getting in the way. You certainly wouldn't want a Jahovas Witness giving you a blood transfusion. Not because they don't care, but because their personal beleifes would get in the way. "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 19, 2007 3:04 PM:

" To: to dog gog hater - If you are the one who was passing judgment on my parenting skills because I do not allow my children to have a pet, then yes this was directed to you. If you do not have children, its your choice. Then you have all the time it takes takes to be a proper dog owner and you don't have one just to teach your children lessons. Lessons in life can not be taught by simply owning a dog. I do not condem people who have pets, my problem is with people who think animals are just as or more important than humans. Yes, there are amimals that are good for some things I will not deny that but that still does not have to make them good for me. My first post was to get the attention. I had something to say! "

to ignorance wrote on Oct 19, 2007 2:27 PM:

" this story is a tragedy beyond words. I can't even imagine the pain that the family is experiencing, especially the son that couldn't stop it. Most of the things being said here are from ppl that own pets, and are trying to make sense of all of this. How can one comprehend a family pet turning on an owner? Is it the breed, or is it the way the breed was raised and treated, or could it be that the dogs were affected by a disease that caused them to become so vicious. It seems that tests should have been done on these animals to determine that. So it sort of leaves things open for many unanswered questions. As far as it turning into a personal issue, that began, when one poster in particular entered loud and clear about being a hater of all animals, and insulted pet people in here, by telling them they should quit crying over their "stupid" pets. Granted, this is not about us, but about this poor family, and there was no reason for this person to offend so many ppl. "

ignorance wrote on Oct 19, 2007 1:12 PM:

" is whats harmful to this community. 1/2 of you on here have NO CLUE what the hell your talking about, and yes its sad that they turned this in to a personal issue, I would love to get on here and hand you all A MOUTH full of act right, but I however don't have the time. Sending condolences to the family. And I don't think anyone tried to say it was the owners fault I think you'all get so wrapped up in this you don't take the time to think about the post before seeing something you hate and reacting. Something caused this. None of you even know if they were true"pit bulls" so lay off, relax, take some time for thinking cause yo' all are looking sooo ignorant. "

to dog hater wrote on Oct 19, 2007 1:08 PM:

" there are some people that choose not to have children, but choose to have pets instead.. so that being said, as a pet owner, with no children, are you telling me that I don't have my priorities in place? After reading all of your statements, I have an idea for you, if you need a job, you would be a perfect candidate to euthanize animals that need to be put down, since it sounds as though you would not have any compassion for anyone's devoted companion, and doing that wouldn't bother you one bit. "

to opinionated wrote on Oct 19, 2007 1:00 PM:

" although this story might help to add to your essay, it gives no information as to why pit bulls might be dangerous to a community.., or any dog for that matter. as far as you being upset about any comments made between posters here, we all, as you , have a right to our opinions just as you do, and if we want to make it a personal debate, that too is our business. If you don't like the posts, don't read them. go search out a website that gives info from professionals, that might have some answers for you. "

Opininonated wrote on Oct 19, 2007 12:06 PM:

" Perosnally, I think pitbulls are agressive by nature, not by how they are raised. It's in thier blood. They have to be the dominant at all times, and if someone threatens it they take them down. I would like to point out that this is a tragedy and I am appaled that you (dog hater/ dog lover) would make this such a personal debate! Save the drama for myspace! I looked up this website for an essay I am doing on how harmful pitbulls are to the community. This will be a wonderful addition to my essay. Yours, Opinionated "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:17 AM:

" Oh wait, that would take too much more time and effort huh? I mean if you wanted to go out to dinner or a movie you would have to hire a sitter and not just lock them up in their cages and put a bowl of water out for them. Instead of teaching your children about companionship through pet ownership, why not get them involved with organizations that volunteer to actually help humans!! I would much rather my children care about a lonely elderly human than a homeless animal! Animal lovers need to check their priorities!!!!! "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:16 AM:

" I can assure you that I and ??? are not the same person. I do however agree with their post as to why people care more about the dogs than the person that this happened to. I do not have to justify why I can't stand animals just the same that animal lovers do not have to justify why they choose to love animals over people! Until the human race can stop worrying about animals and start putting more focus on caring for the human race I will continue to hate animals!! All you people want to say that your pets are like your own children. If pets are like children, why are there so many homeless children in the world? Let alone our own Country!!!! "

To: ??? wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:11 AM:

" I never once put down this breed. My only point was that way too many people are getting offended by the story, as if it's some sort of scheme to make pit bulls look bad. I hate to have to be the one to break it to you, but the pit bull in this story, and many other pit bulls in other stories, are making the rest of the breed look bad. YOU keep saying it's the victims fault, rather than sounding even a little compassionate about a life was lost. I have friends with pit bulls, they seem to be very nice animals. However I would never own one because of all the reports of these dogs turning on their owners, and I have a small child. I hate to wonder what these comments would be if it were a child that was killed by a pit bull. Would you say it was the child's fault as well? "

To: To it's very clear wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:56 AM:

" Now who is pretending to be another poster that somehow agrees with your ridiculous and far-fetched comments? "

To: It is very clear wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:56 AM:

" YOU are sadly mistaken, and obviously very jaded. But I do appreciate your unique cop-out. I think dog hater had good reasons for not owning a pet, I'd never go online to say hateful things to people because they own a pet. My point is that most of the pit bull owners here are trying to make it sound like this never happened and it's some big conspiracy to give pit bulls a bad name. YOU even went so far as to blame the victim for being attacked by her dog! While dogs can make lovely family members, a person's life should mean much more than defending the very beast that killed her. If a person had killed her, everybody would be outraged at the killer. This killer is dog, you are blaming the victim, and everybody else is blaming the Pantagraph. I'm sure the victim never asked to be attacked, and the Pantagraph merely reported the story, they didn't make it happen. Some of you need to get a grip on reality and rethink your priorities. Do you really think some mutt is worth more than a human life? "

to: its very clear wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:53 AM:

" I 100% agree with you! on all acounts!!! "

To:??? wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:09 AM:

" OK let me break it down for you. We all feel real sorry for the family. funny thing though ppl just like you are so busy putting down the breed, making hate filled comments we feel the need to defend them! YOU nor I or anyone else really knows what happened here now do we? but you felt the need to instead of giving condolences yourself be hatefull and but down a beautiful breed of dog, because why? oh thats right because of what you have heard! well honey let me tell ya, you can't believe everything you read! do some reserch, be around one of those dogs for a day, i would take a mean pit over ppl like you, and the others here that are so full of hate and ingnorance!! "

it is very clear wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:06 AM:

" that ??? and dog hater are the same person.. dog hater has never responded to the post directed to them, which would have required them to justify their initial post, that clearly upset alot of posters. so in order to continue his/her hatefulness toward pets, they have chosen to attempt to hide behind a different name. But the personality clearly shines through.. nice try ,, dog hater,, but you aren't fooling anyone... no one here can answer why these dogs did what they did, but unless they were rabid, which has not been proven, SOMETHING, or SOMEONE caused them to do this. "

To:TO and what wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:57 AM:

" wow you are sorely mistaken. frist of all the "2 pit bull" that attacked the cat, not even pits, one was a bull dog and one was a freaking retreiver!!! LOL "

To: To ???, From ??? wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:23 AM:

" Distorted? One could say the same thing about your observation as well. Most of the pro-pit bull psychos posting here are more concerned about defending the breed, when it was an animal from that breed that did the killing. YOU have distorted the entire story by making this to be the victim's fault somehow. But I do thank you for proving my initial point. You and others are trying (pitifully) to convince the rest of the world that this whole story is a lie. You need to take a cold hard look at the bottom line: A woman was killed by her own dog. That dog happened to be a pit bull. Why are there no messages of condolences, of sympathy, and letting family members or anyone who is willing to listen know that someone is praying for them? Isn't this what people do when somebody tragically dies? But not for this story, oh no. Not while there are people that are so jaded, and deluded in their obsession with their precious pit bulls that their first reaction is to feel sorry for the killer and not the victim. "

To To ??? wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:15 AM:

" I've read the posts from the "pit bull lovers", and they are NOT "trying to understand what happened to these dogs..." But what a nice way to give them a good cop out. They must of been provoked, right? Tell me, what would a human have to do to provoke their own pet to the point that their pet wants them dead? Sounds like all these so-called "lovers" are more worried about how the newspaper is giving that breed a bad name, when it is these DOGS that are doing the attacking. All these "lovers" are more into trying to convince the rest of the world that this story is all a lie, and that THEIR precious pit bulls would never do such a thing. You know what? I bet the woman in this story thought the same thing. Why are so many people working so hard to defend the dog, while completely ignoring the fact that a HUMAN life was lost because of that dog? "

to ??? wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:28 PM:

" sorry, but you have a very distorted view of the discussions going on here. seems to be that the pet owners are trying to understand what could have happened to these dogs to make them turn on their owner. sounds like they may have been provoked. and of course we all know whether it be animal or human,, when provoked, the anger nerve gets pinched, and each individual reacts differently. I feel sorry for what happened to this lady, but I think there is more to this story than what we are being told. "

??? wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:28 PM:

" Does anybody else find it strange that these so called LOVING pet owners care only about animals and not the people they hurt and kill? "

To And What wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:27 PM:

" I seriously doubt your credentials, when you state that people give pit bulls a bad name. I'm pretty sure it was a pit bull, NOT a person that killed its owner. It was a pair of pit bulls that mauled a cat to death in somebody ELSE'S home. The PIT BULLS are giving pit bulls a bad name. When they stop attacking people and killing other animals, they will stop making headlines, and therefore will cease to have such a bad rap. Nobody gave the pit bulls any money or put a gun to their heads and forced them to attack. Pit bulls have it in their breed to be violent. Those tendencies can be calmed through behavior modification training. As a supposed vet tech, YOU should know that. "

to dog hater wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:46 PM:

" you brought all of these negative responses upon yourself by the way you entered this room in your first post.. You were looking for trouble just by posting how you feel, DOG HATER. Go back and read your Oct. 16th 9:48 am. "first" post, and ask yourself if the nastiness in those words was not an opening for the type of responses you have gotten. Of course you have a right to express your opinion, but WHY did you come in with guns firing? The only logical answer to that is that you WANTED an argument. You knew that the discussions in here were from ppl trying to make sense of what could have caused these dogs to turn on their owner. You insulted the pet owners in this room by stating that they should quit crying over their "stupid" pets. If you would have posted that you are not a dog owner, and don't care to be,,noone would have taken offense to that, but YOU, with your attack with words, instigated ALL of this. "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:53 PM:

" Okay, well maybe I should go to the local animal shelter and adopt a poor dog in need of a home where it will be care for and tolerated by a loving owner. And then when I decide that, Wow! I really don't like this animal, I can just go dump it off somewhere just like so many others have done. How does me not liking animals make me think I know everything? I don't know everything. I just know that I do not like animals and feel that it is just plain wrong to try to act like you do like them. All of this started because some one passed nasty judgment on me and the way I care for my children just because I do not wish to own a pet. Only a truely nasty person would pass those kinds of judgments to another human being for rightly stating their opinion. So if I am still wrong for instead of choosing to cuddle with an animal that I don't like rather than with my children, you know what you can do............ "

get a life wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:38 PM:

" you guys all need to just get a life. seriously....i think dog hater deserves to be on here because he/she proves some good points as well as others. i do know a lot of people with pit bulls as well as i used to have one myself. i think everyone has their own experiences with them. some might be good and some might be bad. you did say though that it was the owner and i believe that to be true and not to be true. my pit was a great pet for 6 yrs and then all of a sudden started snipping and constantly growling and we were doing nothing different so i do think pits have more of a fight and split personalities to them. my friend also was in the same situation with her pit....she had it for 8 yrs and one day it took a chunk out of her arm.....who knows. "

shut up wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:07 PM:

" you know what your problem is dog hater???!?!?! you think you know everything when in fact you know nothing. If u hate dogs so much then get out of here. I'm sure they hate u too "

and what and ugh.. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:06 PM:

" yeah same person, I'm ready to defend my dog no matter what! You people are saying that pit bulls have a bred in tendency to be violent, the truth is... the aggression these dogs may have is not toward humans, at all!! It's dog on dog aggression, that is it. I have a pit, i have a child, im pregnant, i have a kitten.... shes great with all the above. She knows not to jump on me, she knows to be gentle around my 1 year old, shes knows to be careful with the kitten... they are very smart dogs, loyal and a good family pet. It u just research farther into them, you would find out. And if your a dog hater, and outta here! "

ugh.. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:01 PM:

" Ignorance kills... go get some knowledge before you talk bad about a breed. IT IS the owners fault if a pit bull is mean. That lady wasnt even killed by pits, it was just a news scam. The pit bull is one of the most loyal american breeds, they get a bad rap b/c ghetto people want a strong dog to fight. By the way, they are not ugly dogs, not mine! She IS a GREAT family dog, she has NEVER shown any aggressive behavior. You know why... b/c we trained her right? It's funny b/c i bet you people don't know any pit bulls and here u are, so quick to judge. I was just like u all at one time, then i stopped being ignorant and I did a ton of research. REAL research, i didn't just google them! "

and what wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:56 PM:

" So wow! I think you people are all a bunch of idiots!!!! You know NOTHING about dogs at all!! I am a certified vet tech, so don't argue your stupid points with me. Let me tell you something, I have a pit bull... They make great pets! They are great with kids!! It's just people like you who give them a bad rap! You know, most of the time when a pit bull news story hits, its not even a damn pit bull! They just want to make it a better story so idiots like you having something to do! I do agree with some of you, your right... ghetto people breed pit bulls to fight b/c they are stronger... NOT b/c its in there blood to kill. Get a life u idiots! You are so ignorant! You know, i thought what all of u people thought UNTIL i actually did my research. you people probably dont know anyone with pit bulls, they are not all ghetto and the dogs are not always mean! "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:22 PM:

" First off, I am here because I can be, I have an opinion and a strong voice to express it, and yes, I absolutely LOVE to argue with stupid people like you who think that evryone should feel the same as you do. Second, I answered you stupid question twice already I think. If you are too dim witted to read the entire post, stop replying to mine unless you want to move on to something else. Third, you asked if I ever allowed my children to have a pet and I answered. Did I not? And you are right, cats and dogs don't eat each others heads off........dogs eat humans and cats. Hence my name, DOG HATER!!!!! So back off and go play with your stupid mutt! This article is not about self rightious animal lovers, it is about a human being being killed by her animals. I am most certain that that would happen way less often if more people were a little more honest about their feelings toward animals BEFORE they decide to "give it a try". You gonna argue that too? You would! "

to Dog Hater wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:32 PM:

" contrary to what you believe, Cesar Milan, a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer, does NOT talk to dogs. He has other techniques, that work, but then how would YOU know that? Why would a dog hater watch the dog whisperer? I just have a couple of other questions, why the hell are you in this room anyway?!, you hate animals, are you here to continue to "stir the pot?",, you've made your point,, And why haven't you responded to the questions about the positive points of many dogs and cats. (not hamsters), dogs and cats don't eat each other's head off. So how about it??? Seeing eye dogs, therapy cats and dogs, bomb and drug sniffing dogs,,etc... as I asked before,,cat got your tongue? on answering those questions? eh? "

animal lover wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:26 PM:

" pit bulls were raised to fight. They are used for protection, mostly against police, they are an ugly dog, so why would anyone want one other than the above mentioned reasons? Is is a status symbol? What in the world is wrong with a poodle? "

To Dog Lover wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:54 AM:

" Obviously, you know nothing about the very animals you love. Of course breed has something to do with it. It's kind of like how African Americans are more prone to having sickle cell anemia. Pit bulls, rotties, germ. sheps, they are all breeds with violent tendencies. True, they can be trained to modify that behavior, but their breed is what causes that behavior. Do a little research. Google it. "

To Hear we go again wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:52 AM:

" The answer is simple, because it is the pit bulls that keep attacking and killing people. Don't be mad at the newspaper for reporting the news, be mad at the pitbulls for attacking and killing, without which there would be no story. "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:38 AM:

" The Dog Whisperer? LOL Surely you do not think that this person actually talks to animals! They give the advice that any good Vet. would. And as far as the "good" dogs go.........Fine, whatever works right? But that still does not change the fact that I don't like animals. And because of that I am a "nasty, hateful person"? No, if I were a nasty, hateful person, I would take in animals knowing that I didn't like them just to get rid of them again. Right? And to answer another question.....Yes, when my daughter was in 2nd grade, we allowed her to get two hampsters. We bought all the things it could need and then one day she woke up to find that one of them had eaten the other's head off. What does something like that teach? Love and compassion? I don't think so. If my children decide to own a pet when they are older, good for them. But for the time being, I will not. Stop your judging and go pet your dog!! "

Dog Lover wrote on Oct 18, 2007 6:32 AM:

" Pit bulls are not violent dogs, neither is any breed of dog, it is what you raise them to be. "

to have to agree with dog hater wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:07 AM:

" Dog Hater cast the first stone, with the first sentences in her/his first post.."I HATE ALL DOGS." "People need to stop crying over their stupid pets.",,, There was no need for that attack. Pet owners, who are posting here, get their dander up, when someone directs that type of nastiness towards them. Pet owners all know that they are passionate about their pets. Sure, there are some animals that have behavior problems, but if you have ever watched the dog whisperer, you can see that with determination and patience, alot of these problems can be corrected. The story here is sad, but it is not the norm for dogs to attack and kill. Dog Hater, is nasty, and hateful, and just because he/she feels that way, it is not fair to his/her children to force that belief upon them. Whoever this person is, can't or won't reply to the questions asked about how they feel about the positive things that dogs and cats do. i.e. Seeing eye dogs, bomb sniffing dogs, therapy animals, etc.. Is it just because the mean streak that they have won't let them? "

here we go again... wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:43 PM:

" Why does news media always have to post things about pit bulls and no other breeds, seems to me that the media really have it "in" for pits. All large dogs are capable of this in a group. "

Have to agree with dog hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:32 PM:

" Not that I think we should rid the world of all pets or anything - I wuv my kitties! However, everybody has a right to their opinion, just like the self-righteous unfortunately have the right to their loud-mouthed opinions (looking in "To Dog Hater/Also to Dog Hater's" direction). Dog hater has some very legitimate reasons for not having a pet. Don't we all agree that if someone isn't willing to put the time and effort into training and discipline, they shouldn't have one? Isn't everybody claiming that it isn't the breed but the owners? This non-owner is doing their part not to become one of these dramatic headlines. Just because Dog Hater doesn't have pets doesn't mean he/she isn't a good parent. It's actually good that she realizes that her kids probably wouldn't have it in them, at this time, to put the effort into proper pet ownership. And Dog Hater has a good point in saying that maybe they don't care about pets, but do care about people. Why are we feeling sorry for this wild beast that killed it's owner, and not the owner who lost their life?! "

Hey DOG HATER wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:15 PM:

" cat got your tongue when it comes to responding to questions posed to you about the good things that dogs and cats do for humans?? or is it that you just don't GET IT?? you are one sad case,, and we WILL continue to pity your kids, because of YOU being their parent... by the way,,,,have your kids EVER asked to have a pet?? better yet,,,will you tell the truth about that? "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:28 PM:

" Wah Wah Wah!!!!!!!!! Whatever! My children learn about responsibilty by doing things much more rewarding then owning or caring for a pet! Like caring about HUMANS!! You think that because my children do not have a pet that they will never learn these things through other activities? No need to feel sorry for my kids, they will not be the ones crying over a dumb animal when it dies. And please don't even try to tell me that it is a good way to learn about death.......they will deal with it when we lose a close freind or relative. At least then there will be a real reason to be upset. And to whoever said that they wish they could adopt my family...........get a life!!!! My family is just fine! PET FREE!! "

also to DOG HATER wrote on Oct 17, 2007 11:53 AM:

" NO RESPONSE ??? to all of the positive things that dogs and cats do, as pointed out in one of the posts responding to you?? What about all of those things? What if someday, YOU, might need the assistance of a seeing eye dog. Or who's life may be saved by the assistance of a bomb sniffing dog that saves your life before boarding that plane? etc, etc,,,,, "

to Dog Hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 11:47 AM:

" "Bothering your children",, with taking care of a pet, in ANY capacity, teaches them responsibility.. It let's them see that living things are dependent upon other living things to survive.. Like they have had to depend on you..There are MANY ppl here, in this room, I would suspect, that agree with this. I agree with you that there are alot of ppl that aren't "pet people", but in your case, you are FORCING your feelings and beliefs upon your children. Your own admitance that your children think puppies and kittens are "so so cute" shows that they do not share in your beliefs. I don't know how old they are,, but I would bet that by now, they have begged and pleaded with you to "Please, mommy, or daddy, which ever you are,, Please let us have a puppy or kitten.. , or some kind of pet.. You are very selfish, and are depriving your children of learning a very important lesson in life... "

to : dog hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 11:17 AM:

" LOL i want to laugh at you more then feel sorry for you, and i didn't realize you knew the victom and the circumzances of her situation. i am a singel mother my children and my dog are VERY well behaved, our dog gives us protection and yes she takes some work, (even trained in hand signals) but she gives us laughs, and joy and fun. all things i can tell (from your posts) that you are sorely lacking!!! YOU POOR THING! i wish i could adopted your family! :( poor kids! what kind of childhood you must of had to be such a hateful person! "

To Dog Hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:24 AM:

" Just because you don't like domestic animals or view them as important, we should get rid of them all? Must be fun thinking the whole world should revolve around you. "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:03 AM:

" How can you say that someone is unhealthy and abusive just because they don't like animals? Yeah let me tell you that I would just love to bother my children with the tasks of caring for an animal..........picking up dog pooh or cleaning a litter box or changing a nasty hamster cage! I do not deny my children being around animals and yes, they think puppies and kittens are so so cute but they do not stop and think about all the care that is involved. So, to better our household, I do not own any pets and I never wish to own any pets. Not all people are "animal" people. Also, any dog can be trained to protect their owner just like all dogs can turn on their owner. I am sure that this poor poor woman in the article never expected her "babies" to turn on and kill her. She probable was a single mother who could not properly train them and thought that they would be perfect for protection. When all she had to do was exercise her right to own a gun!!! "

To dog hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:43 AM:

" seems like YOU are the problem. NOT the dogs. "

also to dog hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 6:32 AM:

" There are dogs that are trained to protect humans, that may not be able to protect themselves. There are dogs that are trained to "sniff" out drugs or bombs at airports, train stations, etc.. There are dogs that "guide" blind people. There are dogs and cats that are taken into retirement homes and hospitals, as therapy for depressed people. It has been found that people's pets have had a way of lowering their owners blood pressure.. It has also been found that people's pets have provided great companionship to those that are totally alone.., giving them a sense of need. and on, and on, and on. It is a shame that you have not allowed yourself to absorb the positives of owning a domestic animal.. It seems that it would be miserable to be you.... "

to dog hater wrote on Oct 17, 2007 6:23 AM:

" I feel sorry for your children... Your expression of outright hatred for dogs, or domestic animals in general exposes a deep seeded nastiness within you.. Even though there are some breeds that are not as "friendly" or calm as others, all start out as babies, that learn "actions" from their owners,,, the same way that children learn what they live.. Your feelings toward these animals, have denied your children the chance to express love for dependent, helpless, creatures, that look to humans for survival. Which in turn , teaches children to tap into that soft side of themselves. What a SAD person you are.. I hope that as adults, your children take it upon themselves to find out for themselves how rewarding it is to experience the love of a pet.... "

To Dog Hater wrote on Oct 16, 2007 2:20 PM:

" I can’t believe that you have children. Evidently your mate never read the red flag list of potential signs of behavior abuse. Your comment here is a classic telltale warning sign that you are an unhealthy and abusive person. "

To Dog Hater wrote on Oct 16, 2007 2:17 PM:

We also... wrote on Oct 16, 2007 1:20 PM:

" had a Doberman growing up. She was the most mild mannered dog I've ever seen. We also had a miniature Poodle. This dog was the meanest dog I've ever had. "

To dog hater wrote on Oct 16, 2007 1:18 PM:

" I feel the same way about you. "

Trisha wrote on Oct 16, 2007 12:17 PM:

" I personally was attacked by an Australian Shepherd when I was 3 and had over 250 Stitches in my face. I almost bled to death before my father could get me to the emergency room. Thankfully, I was too young to remember the attack itself, so I am not afraid of dogs. I am leary of large, growling dogs and won't go near them. I am a dog owner (boxer/hound mix 50lbs) who goes to the dog park at least twice a week. There are several pitbulls that are there all the time and none of them has ever been aggressive with anybody there. Do not let a few "bad apples" affect your opinion on a breed as a whole! "

Dog Hater wrote on Oct 16, 2007 9:48 AM:

" I hate ALL dogs! Actually, I don't care for animals at all. I think people need to stop their crying over their stupid pets. They are just animals people! The only animals I like are the ones that end up on my dinner plate. And since we don't eat domestic animals in this country, I say get rid of all of them! They are nasty! Why should I have to put up with the pet owners beloved animals? Or worry about my children being bitten, scratched, jumped on, knocked down, or harrased by these "beautiful" creatures? I will never understand how some people can veiw animals in the same regard as humans. "

kill the source wrote on Oct 14, 2007 3:47 AM:

" The problem is that this bread has caught the eye of dog fighters who bread for aggressive dispositions and endurance with zero attention to the overall soundness. These breeders produce dogs that are impulsive, hyper aggressive and just plain unstable. Only the most aggressive pups are kept and the rest are sold to homes or backyard breeders where they corrupt the general gene pool. If you destroy pits, these people will just move on to a new breed. The key is to go after they dog fighters. Also, regular people need to purchase from a reputable dealer and not just pick up the cheapest pup they can find in the paper. "

ALL Dogs need love wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:49 PM:

" no matter what the breed is. Does any one know if this lady did something to these pet's that cause them to attack? "

to: Zingo & the other narrow minded people . . . wrote on Oct 13, 2007 6:09 AM:

" I own a pit. I'm female so obviously I don't have a pee pee, small or otherwise. I'm also in my late 40's, stand 5 foot 5 inches & weigh only 110 lbs., so who do I intimidate? While growing up my folks had a doberman, a chow who was still around when my kids were small & later a pit bull all three died of old age. They've only had 2 mean dogs in my lifetime - a miniature poodle & a toy poodle (that even the doberman was afraid of). The neighbors used to joke that the "Beware of dog" sign that my folks had up was for the mini. poodle & NOT the pit bull! Pit bull dogs if raised properly are sweet, loving, loyal & highly inteligent. My grandson plays with our pit (he says it's his best friend) & even bit this poor dog once, the dog's reaction was to yelp, run & hide under our bed. This same kid bit one of his other grandma's shith zhu's (forgive spelling) & ended up with 6 stitches in his face. Better ban those mean dogs! "

90 percent of pits involved in attacks are misidenitified wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:01 PM:

" If you ignorant people who think all pits are bad, vicious dogs, go check out the website the pit stop for famous dogs. You'll find Superman's dog, Pete the pup from Little Rascals, Chance from the Homeward Bound movies, Nipper from the RCA ads, Tige from the old Buster Brown ads, Popsicle who was the K-9 responsible for the largest drug bust in US history & several others. You'll find out that at one time this was America's FAVORITE breed. It's idiots like Michael Vic & people who wrongly identify all large, muscular dogs with broad heads that attack as being pits that are giving them a bad name. Poor Petey, banned in some towns, guess they can't show the classics on TV there anymore. "

zingo wrote on Oct 12, 2007 6:41 PM:

" come on ! a u can own a cat but not a lion - other breads have a very hard time killing people - these things are lions - people that own them do for 1 or 2 reasons ..intimidation or small pee pees "

Spuds McKenzie wrote on Oct 12, 2007 3:06 PM:

" I would never bite anyone I only like cold BEvERages. "

omg wrote on Oct 12, 2007 3:05 PM:

" Its in the paper (our local paper) because of the breed. You don't hear much about neighboring states even, unless its great head line and they seem to love it when they can smear the name of this breed in to anything! and Chewy makes a great point! but we should all be carefull no one thinks we are lashing out. LOL "

amanda wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:38 PM:

" um, afraid not darlin'. but that's cute. "

CHEWY wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:25 PM:

" To: I'm Not Notice But....Have you ever seen a dog chase a cat? I'm not talking about a min Poodle chasing a cat nor am I talking about a cat and dog that live in the same house. Strangers to each other, the dog will try to get the cat, just as if it was a Rabbit!!!! I've known many good pitbulls, and i've heard of many bad Pitbulls...just like I've known many other good dogs and have had heard of other bad dogs. Just be smart and wise when it comes to any dog, expecially the most popular breeds such as German Shephard, Rotweilers, and even Golden Retrievers. A few years ago right here in Ill. a Golden Retriever bit a 8 year old girl right in the face. Wow huh....any dog can turn. "

To: Amanda wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:17 PM:

" We all know you are commenting over and over again, claiming to be someone else that agrees with your post! "

To: OMG wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:15 PM:

" No, the reason it's in the paper is because two dogs killed their owner. Don't hate just because the newspaper is reporting the details. Be mad at the dogs for giving the breed a bad name! Duh. "

George wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:00 PM:

" TO: no kidding...sounds like you might need to do a little research on "dogs"! Daschund, cocker spanials and many many other small breeds are more likly to bite you or a child then are pitbulls and other large breeds....if they were big enough they too would kill you. The truth is, just like people, you'll find a nut in every one out of 50....that's including Golden Retrievers, German Shephards, chows, and yes even labs. I've worked with all breeds and I've seen more phycos with in these breeds that I just mentioned then pitbulls. "

LOL wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:39 PM:

" so i am not a responsible dog owner (or my mother for that matter) simply for voicing my opinions? ingnorance was spelled ingnorant for a reason. "

re: to amanda wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:58 AM:

" actually you seem to have missed my point. ratios would provide an accurate look at the likelyhood of biting. not just this many happened. this figures need to be compared to the actual number of dogs in the community in order to get a realistic and accurate picture of what dogs are "dangerous" and what dogs are not. and as far as it being in their breed: sorry but you are terribly misinformed on that one. "pitbulls" were used for generations of animal sport, not human sport. in fact they were immediately put down if they showed any type of human aggression. i do however agree with you beyond a doubt that far too many idiots are allowed to own any type of animal (or have children for that matter) that are uninformed, uneducated, unmotivated and irresponsible. "

Ha Ha wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:41 AM:

" I have to laugh at the people that call everybody that doesn't agree with their opinion ignorant, and then go on their own ignorant rants. You are proud of your pit bull, just as others are proud of their "ignorants"? It's actually I-g-n-o-r-a-n-c-e, but thank you for your delightfully ironic and ignorant post. I guess we are all the same aren't we? By the way, with the attitude you have about your dogs, I wouldn't be one bit surprised to hear of YOUR dogs, or your mother's rotties, attacking and possibly killing someone. Be a responsible owner, and not one that lashes out at every perceived offense. That only tells the rest of the world that that's how you raise your pets, who will also soon be lashing out. And if that is really case, you have no business owning pit bull or any other dog. "

omg wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:21 AM:

" i agree 100% w/amanda. and the "to amanda" you are right about one thing "if i don't agree with the facts they don't exist at all" this is the mentality that has given the breed a bad name. There have been more probablems with pits because they are the most wanted breed. more of them around, if it were german shepards it would be about them! same for any other large breed. ppl need to be responsible for THEIR animals! PERIOD! none of us know the circumstances around this situation. the only reason its in the paper is because of the words pit and bull. there are like 20-30 different kinds you know, and they called it a red bone (this is a hunting dog for those of you that have no knowledge of dog breeds) so do we even know if these were "real pit bulls" or is it the same as the other story just in the paper about 2pits and there was only one who did no damage?? funny how that works huh? but i guess we can only blame the dogs for human error! right? LOL w/e "

amen amanda wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:23 AM:

" Lets all go to the dog park!! :) this is just getting funny, all these ingnorant ppl realizing that they are not so smart after all!! Pit bulls are dogs. Dogs can bite, live your lives accordingly! gesh ppl get it together! My moms rottie will KILL you too, IF she sits on you! OR if you hit one my moms grandkids. Same thing goes for my Pit. Most of you ignorant ppl would not even know she was one if you saw her, cause you ppl that believe everything you read negative, and validate NONE of the good. Also have a preconceived image in your head of this junk yard pit bull with a boxy head clipped tail and ears... I would bet money and WIN that within 5 yrs there will be another breed on the chopping block. none of you even care that you are runnign your mouth off about something you know NOTHING about but its ok. i have no need to change your mind. ppl like you enjoy being dumb~ i however enjoy owning a pit and i am PROUD as proud as you are of you ignorants!!! "

To Amanda: wrote on Oct 12, 2007 9:37 AM:

" It's like your saying, "maybe those are the facts, but since I don't agree with them, they don't exist at all". I've been doing some research on this myself and have to agree with "Notice's" assessment. The statistics are true. However, behaviors can be modified depending on the dog's living environment. Pits are getting such a bad rap because ones that DO attack often have owners that got them because they would be so easy to train to be mean. Sometimes it's a wee-wee measuring contest, sometimes owners think that by doing that, they'll be safe from intruders and robbers. And there are those oblivious owners that LOVE pits but don't want to take time to properly train and discipline them. What happens in those cases is their novelty pet or "protection" turns on them. There are also the very few pits that had a docile nature, and suddenly attack a family member for no apparent reason. Why, you ask? It IS in their blood, it is their breed! To reiterate, however, these attacks can be avoided through proper ownership, discipline, and behavior modification training. "

SOMUCHLUV wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:52 AM:

" I LOOOOOOOOVE MY PITBULLS!!!! THEY NEED ME TO GIVE THEM SWEET LOVE & CARE, & THAT'S JUST WHAT I DO. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR BOTH OF THEM! SEE YA @ THE DOG PARK!! "

amanda wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:24 AM:

" those statistics are also not given scientific basis since they make absolutely no comparision to the popularity of the breed or any ratios. as announced by the AKC Association, there are currently no accurate statistics pertaining to the the actually likelyhood of an individual breed to attack for precisely that reason. if i put my hand in a sack of 8 blue marbles and 2 red, the odds are i will pull a blue marble out. In the 1980s, german shepards were one of the most popular breeds in america, they at the time were also considered one of the most likely to bite based upon those same "statistics". in the 90s the same was true for dobermans. Now, the "pitbull" (which is a generalization of anywhere between 20-30 different breeds) is considered one of the most popular breeds in america. ratios provide accurate numbers and percentages, not just shocking "statistics". "

to I'm not notice FROM notice wrote on Oct 12, 2007 6:39 AM:

" Thank you for coming to my "rescue",LOL, from all of these Pit defenders. In defense of my post, I've done some searching, and have found this information. According to statistics documented by the CDC, and Prevention, while at least 30 breeds have been known to attack humans, 10 dog breeds are on the most dangerous list, meaning that they tend to bite most frequently. #1 on the list is Pit Bulls, followed by Rotties, German Shepards, Huskies, Malmutes, Dobies, Chow Chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas. The breeds most likely to kill, are Pit Bulls and Rotties, and the majority of attacks happen at home or in a familiar place. This info is obtained by reports given from victim's that have had to seek medical attention, or even worse succumed to these animals. Facts are facts.. "

sick wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:48 PM:

" thats all I can say about these mutts "

To "I'm not 'Notice'" wrote on Oct 11, 2007 2:07 PM:

" As a responsible pit bull owner, I have no problem admitting that these dogs were dangerous, and I'm glad they are not around anymore. But as an EDUCATED, responsible pit bull owner, I know the problem is not with the dogs' breed. Dogs are individuals, and just because a dog is a pit bull does not mean it will be unstable/unpredictable. These dogs were unstable dogs that just happened to be pit bulls (maybe). The article didn't even report the breed correctly - "redbone" is not a type of pit bull; it is a type of Coonhound - so who knows what breed the dogs really were? Most people (even vets and shelter workers) cannot accurately identify an American Pit Bull Terrier. To most people, any dog with a blocky head, muscular body, wide jaws, etc. is a pit bull. "

again wrote on Oct 11, 2007 2:02 PM:

" AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and to "i am not notice", lets be honest i sleep fine at night thanks for your concern! :) and dogs ARE what ppl make them. and YOU nor anyone else know the WHOLE story nor will we EVER! so lighten up. if you meet MY dog tomorrow you would not even know she is a "pit" and this argument could go on for days my point is, this was floirda and we will never know all the detials or IF these were even pit bulls. OR why this happened! PPl kill more PPL then any kind of dog. this was very tragic but everyone can put down the pitch forks. the statements made about the "breed" on these blogs are so very foolish and uneducated its insane and some of them are so mean it makes me wonder "how could there be mean dogs, don't we humans use up all the hate in the world?" "

TO ALL DAWG OWNERS wrote on Oct 11, 2007 12:07 PM:

" IF YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE TAKING OF AN ANIMAL DO NOT GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. HAVING A PET IS NOT A STATUS/FASHION THING IT SEEMS TO ME MORE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY GET DOGS THAT SEEM TO FIT A LIFE STYLE. AND WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF THEMSELVES BY THE TYPE OF DAWG YOU OWN. YES THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR CLOTHES , CARS AND OTHER MATERIAL ITEMS, BUT CLOTHES UNLIKE ANIMALS WILL NOT TURN ON YOU...ALTHOUGH A ZIPPERS HAVE CAUSED HAVOC IN MY TIME. POINT BEING ...ANIMALS WILL BE ANIMALS ....LEARN IT....KNOW IT ...LIVE IT. "

I'm not "notice" but wrote on Oct 11, 2007 12:04 PM:

" Notice does have a point. Maybe YOUR pit bull wouldn't do something like that (whatever helps you sleep at night), but these pit bulls have. Don't get all crotchety with the commenters' remarks or even the Pantagraph's reporting of the incident(s). Be mad at the dogs that killed this woman. Be mad at the dogs that are responsible for the attacks. On another note, while it is perfectly normal for dogs to chase cats, it is NOT normal, nor is it acceptable, for dogs to barge their way past people to get into somebody else's home and rip their family cat to shreds. It might be normal for dogs to chase cats - it is NOT normal for dogs to KILL them. "

To another one to Notice wrote on Oct 11, 2007 9:24 AM:

" amen!!!!! amen amen amen!!!!!! i am pretty sure if the story about the dogs intown being poisened were are about a pit bull EVERYONE would comment on that too! only the comments/story would surely find a reason the poor animal deserved that treatment simply because of the breed. so many fools!!! but seriously you make SUCH a good point!!! no one is recanting their comments about kill all pits just because they (oops) found out that guess what one of them was NOT pit and the pit that was there did NOTHING! amazing how foolish some ppl can be but i am glad someone with common sense finally posted, sad how its seems there are less caring ppl in this town then hatefull. "

Another one TO: Notice wrote on Oct 10, 2007 11:30 AM:

" If you had actually read the story and posts to which you refer, you would have realized that, although the headline says 2 "pitbulls" there was only 1 "pit" and another breed (I believe retriever or Lab) and the Pit did nothing in this story except be present. The dog that actually attacked and mauled the cat (as ALL dogs do regardless of breed) was NOT the pit. So please read the stories you reference before you come out looking ignorant (for those of you who feel this is an insult, ignorant means uninformed.) "

re: notice wrote on Oct 10, 2007 10:28 AM:

" are you kidding me? are you honestly trying to make us believe that dogs don't chase cats!? the only difference is that these two dogs caught the cat. My parents had a blue heeler and a yellow lab that did the same thing to a cat that they had been around for years on our farm when i was a kid. and for the record, my boyfriends cat (8lbs) has attacked my APBT (75lbs) 3 times (drawing blood twice) and she's never done anything in retaliation other than whine and run to the nearest human for comfort. In fact we can't leave them alone when we leave for fear the cat will terrorize the dog. and his meek siamese happens to be my vicious killer's little buddy. "

To: Notice wrote on Oct 10, 2007 9:49 AM:

" Pit bulls are the most popular breed-type of dog in the US today. ("Pit bull" is not a breed, unless it is referring to the American Pit Bull Terrier. "Pit bull" is a breed type that encompasses many breeds, much like "Retriever" encompasses many breeds.) The American Dog Breeders Association alone registers over 200,000 new American Pit Bull Terrier puppies a year. Is it really a surprise that a few of them make the news? For every one pit bull that attacks an animal or person, there are hundreds of thousands that don't and live their entire lives without harming a fly. For every story about a pit bull attacking a person, there is a story about a pit bull saving someone's life. Pit bull haters don't want to read those stories, though. It hurts their argument that all pit bulls are evil, vicious killers. "

Notice wrote on Oct 10, 2007 5:49 AM:

" the other story in the box on the right about the 2 Pit Bulls breaking into the house and mauling the family cat to death? WHY?, can any of you defensive pit owners explain those actions? I so totally understand a pet owners love for their pet, no matter what it is,,, but, with that being said,, I pray that your defensive words that adamently resound that YOUR pit hasn't got an aggressive bone in his body, don't come back to literally bite you in the lower , or upper areas of your body. All it takes is ONE time for an unpredictable, unprovoked action to occur., and this breed has been well known to be very unpredictable.... "

Pharaoh wrote on Oct 10, 2007 1:03 AM:

" Look at Prohibition.When alcohol became illegal,organized crime flourished.It is impossible to completely eradicate the use of alcohol.Look at dog fighting.Before it became illegal, the American Pitbull Terrier didn't make the news in a negative way like it does today.The breeds gene pool was kept more pure so the dogs would never bite the human referee and handlers that stayed close to them during a contest. If dog matches were legalized today; they could be licenced ,regulated and more easily scrutinized by the government and society. The matches could be more humane.Drug testing could be included.The criminal element could be virtually eliminated from it.And the people like Mike Vick would not be allowed to participate.It's the lesser of two evils because dog fighting will never be totally eradicated. "

re history lesson wrote on Oct 9, 2007 2:23 PM:

" While what you say is true of old it does not hold true today. The nature and make up of who the "dogmen" are today are mostly gangbangers and drug dealers. They purposely breed the most aggressive pits without regard to the level of human aggression. In some cases that quality is sought. These breeding practices with any breed are deplorable. Well bred (not back yard bred bought at walmart for $50) dogs do not snap. Only in cases of true mental or physical ailment problems result in good dogs "loosing it". Most bite cases warnings were given and ignored. Most bites are the result of ignorance around canine behavior on the part of the human. "

Proud pit bull lover wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:14 AM:

" Presa Canarios have very different temperaments than American Pit Bull Terriers. Presas are guard dogs that are suspicious of strangers. Although APBTs were traditionally bred to be aggressive toward other animals, they were also bred to friendly with all humans and know no enemies. A human-aggressive APBT would have been removed from the gene pool by the "dogmen" of old. Unfortunately, people with bad intentions are breeding unusually and uncharacteristically unsound pit bulls for their own pleasure and profit. A responsible owner of any breed of dog - small or large - recognizes warning signs of potential aggression problems, doesn't make excuses for them, and takes appropriate action to keep themselves, their family, and their neighbors safe. There are always warning signs before attacks; most owners just don't recognize them, ignore them, or make excuses for them. "

amanda wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:14 AM:

" quick history lesson as well: while "pitbulls" were used for many years for dog fighting, they were also trained to be companion animals. Seeing as how owners had to be able to break up a fight without being hurt themselves. animal aggression and human aggression are two different trains of thought for the animals. and during the years of dog fighting, that so many love to reference during articles such as this, any "pitbull" that showed any bit of aggression towards any human (even while the fight was happening or being stopped) was removed and immediately destroyed. Many times as well, the offspring would also be destroyed in order to prevent any type of human agression being "bred" into them as a breed. "

amanda wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:10 AM:

" if anyone actually cares to meet an apbt rather than talking out of their lower region, why don't you just come to the dog park and meet one romping with dogs of all sizes? my apbt is well socialized, well trained and receives enough exercise in order to help keep her calm and controlled. she is fixed, microchipped, has her shots, and is registered. responsible owners make responsible pets. and 98% of all dog bites involve unneutered mature males. responsible owners fix their pets. she has also helped a friend overcome a deathly fear of dogs that she has had since she childhood when a family friendly black lab (that wouldn't hurt a fly) ripped half her face off and fractured her skull. responsible owners make responsible pets. Out of all the dogs i've owned in my life APBTs have been the most loving and loyal of all the breeds i've personally encounted and that is why I choose to own one. "

Also wrote on Oct 9, 2007 8:13 AM:

" lets also talk about the fact that going by the statistics given to us already, even if every dog bit death were a pit bull, humans killing humans still out number the dog bite/death count so lets start killing those who kill as well. I WISH it were as easy for a murder to get the gas as it was for that dog who "killed" the cat (lets not forget that the two pits in that story one of them was not even a pit) I think maybe if the death were used as much to punish those ppl who kill as it is use to kill dogs who kill other animals even (not even to mention the ppl) then there would be less death in this country due to murdering heathans!!! but of course this is just MY opinion and everyone has one!! :) "

to..to dog lover 2 wrote on Oct 9, 2007 5:52 AM:

" And so your point IS???? A Presa Canario, (correct spelling), is of the bulldog family.. It is a "very powerful" breed, as is the Pit Bull...so they are related as far as size and stature are concerned. Give your "information" to the victim in this story,,,,and see if it really makes a difference to her..and by the way.,,what breed do you think was being used in the dog fight arena on Michael Vick's property. As a dog lover,, I don't want to see any dog hurt or euthanised, but I'm not so naive to not believe that some breeds just have that "extra" gene that (not of their own fault) makes them much more unpredictable that others. "

again wrote on Oct 9, 2007 1:49 AM:

" not again who , fualt is it now , not the dog ,mistreat some how by human's dogs will be dogs cats will be cats ,,sorry about the lady , i have one pitt and .yes if it bites me i will bite him back. . "

statistics wrote on Oct 8, 2007 3:23 PM:

" Okay, since everyone wants to throw the word proven around and claim an animal to be the deadliest I thought I would provide actual numbers. According to the CDC from 1979 to 1998 there were 482 dog bite related fatalities. 66 of these were pit bulls type (13.7%). 238 were an unknown breed. They state there are 47 million dog bites per year. so on average there are (we will even round up) 4 pit bull fatalities per year. So that translates in to of the people who are bit by a dog there is a .0000085% chance that it ends up a pit bull fatality. "

The best solution wrote on Oct 8, 2007 1:59 PM:

" I agree with several of you. I think the best way to reduce the danger MANY dog pose to the community is to make the owners financially and (in some cases) criminally responsible for their dog's actions. Some people have a very...inconsiderate attitude towards training and/or restraining their animals. It is frustrating and I think too often we target the animal and not the keeper. "

To: Dog Lover2 wrote on Oct 8, 2007 1:30 PM:

" That woman, Diane Whipple, was killed by two Presa Canarias, NOT two pit bulls. "

Tired of it all wrote on Oct 8, 2007 1:07 PM:

" You know what I dont understand is that when we tried to get insurance on our house they wanted to know what kind of animals we owned. We told them 3 dogs. They didnt even ask us the breeds, they told us that if it was a Rot, Pit, Doberman Pincher, or get this a German Sheppard that they would not cover us. I guess they all have a high rate of being aggressive. I wouldnt own either. But for the record my mother in law has a German Sheppard that I have never seen get aggressive, but we had to put our Collie/Terrier mix to sleep because she attacked my daughter for no reason. She was raised with my daughter, and just turned. So, I do not trust pits, but any dog can for no reason. And dont tell me I abused my dog. I raised her from a bottle, and had her for 10 years. She was spoiled rotten. "

small dog wrote on Oct 8, 2007 11:08 AM:

" Just an FYI for you people that think small dogs can't hurt someone. I had a miniature dachsund growing up (7 pounds to be exact) who sent 2 adult men to the Emergencg room with dog bites. One an IWU football player had his lip completely separated and had to get 35 stitches, the other 25 stitches. Both within a week of each other. The dog had never bit anyone prior to that. So yeah crazy as it may sound it does happen. Oh and by the way both are permanently scarred. Point is any breed of dog can turn and any breed of dog can do damage. "

Pharaoh wrote on Oct 7, 2007 1:19 AM:

" a REDBONE is a type of COONHOUND. Maybe somebody doesn't know the difference between a coonhound and a pitbull. "

THYRA wrote on Oct 6, 2007 9:34 PM:

" Who even knows if these were APBT?? They mistakenly identified 99% of the time. In addition, it is INCREDIBLY RARE for any breed of dog to snap like that.......clearly there is more to this story than is being reported......sounds like another opportunity for the media to create panic to me. "

to pete wrote on Oct 6, 2007 9:44 AM:

" All of the dogs you mentioned are considered pitbulls besides the Spuds bull terrier and he might be to. You also have Stuby world war hero, Helen Keller had a pitbull. ton of celebs have. I have had them for over 20 years. Love them. Smart, funny, and very loveable. We always need to hear all of the story when it comes to something like this. It's like raising a child. Ya she raised them since puppy's, but how good did she do. Was she abusive? were they chained up their whole life? We just always need to hear the whole story. Sucks it happend for sure. "

Dog Lover2 wrote on Oct 6, 2007 6:42 AM:

" Although it is clear to us "pet" owners, that we all believe we have the sweetest pet that anyone else does, it is common knowledge that the pit bull breed has been known to "snap". One example is the savage attack on the woman in California a few years back that was attempting to get to the door of her apt. and was mauled by a neighbors 2 pit's, and killed. This article say's that the woman here, raised them from pups. She was only walking in the yard,,,what "threat" would that be to either of those dogs? Not to mention that they attacked her son, whom I'm sure both animals knew well..I really believe that ANY pit bull owner should accept the fact that these are proven to be more unpredictable and vicious dogs than some other breeds. All it takes is ONE time to say that it could never happen to me because of the way I raised these dogs, with love and kindness.. I'm sure the woman in this article felt the same way..Maybe it is time to stop producing this breed,,by spaying and neutering needing to be mandatory for all potential births coming up. "

Guns wrote on Oct 5, 2007 11:32 PM:

" Guns are not dangerous either until they are missused. Yet everyone wants to ban them. Lets get the thugs and there guns and dogs off the streets. That will solve the problem. "

dodd wrote on Oct 5, 2007 9:25 PM:

" I have the sweetest pitbull ever!He playes with cats &is scared of other dogs. I got him from the pound when he was a puppy. I DO NOT chain him up, & he is around alot of different people &animals, so he is very social.Do I love my dog? YES! Do I trust my dog completly? NO. I believe all dogs can turn, &PitBull have got a bad rep. I play w/my dog, BUT ONLY WITH TOYS. Tug-o-war, or fetch. Me &my husband DO NOT wrestle with him or roust him in any way! I do not "kiss" my PitBull or hug him. I will pet him, but I do not let him jump in my lap or get in my face for kisses,because of the fear of him ever turning. Although I would like to say "He's different than other pitbulls" but thats naive to say, but I will not punish him for being a PitBull! I can honestly say my dog has never growled at another animal OR person, he is timid and sweet natured, &that gives me hope. Dont punish the breed,but dont be stupid enough to think it will never happen to you! "

not other dogs wrote on Oct 5, 2007 7:05 PM:

" its just pit bulls haven you all been reading every dog that kills a c hild r a adult is a pit bull .even just the first day of this month oct 1 in lincoln county north carolina a 2 year old was killed by two dogs why wasnt this reported on o i know why they were german shepards thats why. "

bites you may have missed wrote on Oct 5, 2007 5:13 PM:

" Large number of labs and German shepherds have bitten and killed this year shall we ban them too. Even a Dachsund nearly took out the eye of a child. Unprovoked attack rarely if ever occur. But all breeds can cause serious damage and all breeds can kill. Increasing fines and or adding criminal charges to dog owners whose dogs attack outside of what is currently allowed (protection of property and persons). More education available to people to understand their breed, and canine behavior would go far in reducing the number of bites per year. Much further than a breed ban. A group called CHAKO has bite stats for all breeds for 2007. Check it out especially the non-pit stories and bites. "

Tough one wrote on Oct 5, 2007 3:39 PM:

" Thoughts and Prayers go out the the family.. There are many factors here, I think. I believe that pitbulls are in the news a lot. They get negative attention for certain things that are and aren't their fault. Naturally they have an attack instinct. - Some other dogs do as well. And you can train some dogs (any) and they may be fine for their whole life and some may turn. There are a number of circumstances there as well. I think the thing that people have t

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