Georgia toddler mauled to death by family's pack of dogs

[Sigokat]

A neighbor on one side of my house has dogs that are locked in a pen 24/7, rain or shine. They feed the dogs by dumping the dogfood over the top of the kennel onto the ground. I've never seen them go into the kennel to clean it. Cops said they can't do anything since they are sheltered and being fed and water

Can't the Humane Society do anything? You should call them.

I can't right now since I'm deployed. I did call Animal Control before I deployed and they said the same thing as the cops. I guess in North Carolina its not much different than Mass. like another poster said.

What's sick is both these families are military, one retired (the one that keeps the dogs caged) and the other active duty. You'd think soldiers would have a little more compassion because we see so much suffering both human and animal, but I guess there are scumbags in all professions and walks of life.

 

[Thestral]

I have long advocated for the extinction of this Frankensteinian breed of dog.

Pit bulls are generally more docile than other breeds the same size. The reason that you hear about so many bad ones are (aside from media knowing people will read it) that pits are fight dogs, taught (not bred) to be aggressive and have such a strong jaw that IF they are agressive, they're going to fuck someone's world up.

Chow's are worse, but since they're so weak comparatively you don't hear about what they do.

Agreed.

Individual dogs owned by irresponsible people are dangerous. An entire breed is not. It is up to people to educate themselves on breed characteristics and to only choose a breed that matches their lifestyle and their ability to keep the animal obedience trained.

When I was working as a trainee vet assistant I received my worst injuries from small dogs. Tiny fear biters were far more worrisome to us than large, well trained, well socialized, dogs who knew they had nothing to fear.

There was a time when people wanted to eliminate German Shepherds (my favourite breed of dog...a breed I could never personally own because my lifestyle will not match his breed characteristics), Dobermans, and Rottweilers. People have learned that these are all fantastic breeds when owned by responsible people who train and socialize them properly.

I hope someday the Pit Bull will be on this list as well. They are generally kind, docile dogs when not owned by people who want a visible symbol of how "tough and dangerous" they are themselves.

 

[Pegaritaville]

I have long advocated for the extinction of this Frankensteinian breed of dog.

Pit bulls are generally more docile than other breeds the same size. The reason that you hear about so many bad ones are (aside from media knowing people will read it) that pits are fight dogs, taught (not bred) to be aggressive and have such a strong jaw that IF they are agressive, they're going to fuck someone's world up.

Chow's are worse, but since they're so weak comparatively you don't hear about what they do.

Agreed. The problem lies with the owners, not the breed.

In this case, I don't question the breed as much as the number of dogs the family owns. Granted, I don't know their particular situation, but I'd think it would be hard to properly socialize 9 dogs without specialized training and/or experience.

 

[Squiggy]

Pit bulls are generally more docile than other breeds the same size.

Pit bulls are responsible for almost half of all fatal dog attacks on humans, usually children. They've been banned in Ontario since 2005, which is something I am quite happy about.

Yes, because most people who own Pitt Bulls treat them like shit and they learn to act like shit and they're extremely powerful dogs so when they act like shit around someone, that someone usually gets hurt, and the reason children get killed are because they have zero defense. There is zero connection between the breed and it's agression. It's not like Pitt Bulls are naturally attracted to delicious infant humans.

 

[scotpens]

In this case, I don't question the breed as much as the number of dogs the family owns. Granted, I don't know their particular situation, but I'd think it would be hard to properly socialize 9 dogs without specialized training and/or experience.

This may be a tad inappropriate, but I can't help thinking of Jeff Foxworthy's joke: "If your front porch collapses and kills more than three dogs, you might be a redneck."

 

[Sector 7]

It mystifies me that some people place more importance upon animals (or breeds) than upon human life.

I still stand by my earlier statement. This breed has been bred for fighting. Just as some are bred as gentle lap dogs by choosing appropriate characteristics; the pit bull was bred for aggressive characteristics. This makes it a dangerous breed.

 

[Squiggy]

Have you actually interacted with a pitbull?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

It mystifies me that some people place more importance upon animals (or breeds) than upon human life.

Oh, FFS. Just because those people who do have positive experiences or knowledge of the breed offer a different explanation for their frequent involvement in mauling deaths than you do doesn't mean that they're placing more importance on animals than upon human life (well, some people on TBBS do, but I don't think it's anyone in this thread so far). Just because they defend the breed and criticize the owners who misuse and abuse the dogs doesn't mean they're indifferent to babies being mauled or anything like that. That's just insulting and ridiculous. You really need to learn to cut back on the hyperbole.

 

[Squiggy]

cum hoc propter hoc

Because there is a disproportionate number of African-Americans in prison, then they are more prone to be criminals.

This is science.

 

[Rhaven]

I have long advocated for the extinction of this Frankensteinian breed of dog.

Pit bulls are generally more docile than other breeds the same size. The reason that you hear about so many bad ones are (aside from media knowing people will read it) that pits are fight dogs, taught (not bred) to be aggressive and have such a strong jaw that IF they are agressive, they're going to fuck someone's world up.

Chow's are worse, but since they're so weak comparatively you don't hear about what they do.

Agreed. The problem lies with the owners, not the breed.

Exactly. I'm so sorry this child died because the adults didn't "notice" a toddler went missing. Seriously? As a parent, when my children were young they were never out of my sight. Over protective? Maybe I conceed that.

In this case, I don't question the breed as much as the number of dogs the family owns. Granted, I don't know their particular situation, but I'd think it would be hard to properly socialize 9 dogs without specialized training and/or experience.

Large breed dogs in a pack, is IMO, a recipe for a disaster. In the practice I work for, we have all types of animals seen. When working with larger dogs such as PB's or GSD, Mastiff's ect, we use more than one tech to handle them, and we muzzle the animal as well. I've been bitten, scratched and semi-mauled by dogs that fear or aggressive bite. In every case, the owner was shocked that their pet was biting.

 

[Shanndee]

It mystifies me that some people place more importance upon animals (or breeds) than upon human life.

Oh, FFS. Just because those people who do have positive experiences or knowledge of the breed offer a different explanation for their frequent involvement in mauling deaths than you do doesn't mean that they're placing more importance on animals than upon human life (well, some people on TBBS do, but I don't think it's anyone in this thread so far). Just because they defend the breed and criticize the owners who misuse and abuse the dogs doesn't mean they're indifferent to babies being mauled or anything like that. That's just insulting and ridiculous. You really need to learn to cut back on the hyperbole.

Thank you Locutus (and everyone else who has weighed in). I was just too frustrated and tired when I read that comment to reply. I was afraid I'd get very rude and very personal so I decided not to post, but you all said the things I wanted to say.

 

[Kirby]

I really want to hear more about this family. Unless you're a breeder, then you have no need to own nine dogs, let alone pitbulls. I'm sure they were the sweetest, kindest, most loving dogs ever to walk the earth, but when you have more than say, two, you have created a pack, and that pack's territory was the backyard and the child invaded that territory. That result is expected.

 

[Miss Chicken]

In Australia one generally has to have a kennel license to own more than 2 dogs and I assume this is so in many other places in the world.

I know that my local council doesn't issue kennel licenses it for most urban surburbs.

 

[Kirby]

^^ Not so in at least most places in America. I wish it were.

 

[Pegaritaville]

In my county you can have up to four dogs without obtaining a special breeding/kennel license (exceptions are made for puppies). But I'm not even sure the county even issues special licenses- I think they just have to register as a kennel or a breeder.

 

[Yoda]

I really want to hear more about this family. Unless you're a breeder, then you have no need to own nine dogs, let alone pitbulls. I'm sure they were the sweetest, kindest, most loving dogs ever to walk the earth, but when you have more than say, two, you have created a pack, and that pack's territory was the backyard and the child invaded that territory. That result is expected.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-death-SEVEN-pit-bulls-Bryan-County-yard.html seems to have a few more details.

I think 4 dogs is the line where you just have to start calling someone crazy. 1 dog is great. I could see getting 2 if you don't want your dog to be lonely while you're at work. Fine. 3 you're starting to push it, but whatever... 4? You're just fucking nuts sorry.

The mother's 18 years old, the daughter was almost 2... well. You do that math. Not necessarily dealing with the most responsible people here. I mean come on. A kid that young? You set up those little toddler gates/fences so they can't get themselves killed. Is it really that hard?

 

[HaplessCrewman]

The pictures in the link above make this story even more upsetting.

 

[Mooch]

Yes, because most people who own Pitt Bulls treat them like shit

I think this is an extremely unlikely assertion. Do you have any actual data to back that up?

 

[Captain Ice]

I think 4 dogs is the line where you just have to start calling someone crazy. 1 dog is great. I could see getting 2 if you don't want your dog to be lonely while you're at work. Fine. 3 you're starting to push it, but whatever... 4? You're just fucking nuts sorry.

The mother's 18 years old, the daughter was almost 2... well. You do that math. Not necessarily dealing with the most responsible people here. I mean come on. A kid that young? You set up those little toddler gates/fences so they can't get themselves killed. Is it really that hard?

I'm not sure that three is an out of line number. Sometimes it happens.

The age of the people involved is a telling thing though. How many people can say that they were responsible people at 18?