Neighborhood Dogs

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Permalink Reply by Liarskorner on July 1, 2009 at 1:47pm

I agree with you......It's great living in the country so a person can let their dog run free. What I hate is to see a beautiful dog in a kennel all the time. I believe a dog is a big part of a family and should be allowed in the house, have his or her own bed next to my bed. Pit-bull should be keep on a chain and not allowed to run free and if a person takes their pit-bull out they should be on a leash, but if a person has one they should be treat as part of a famiy and allowed in the house instead of being chained outside 24/7.

Jim

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Permalink Reply by Mandy Valencia on July 2, 2009 at 8:57am

Yes, I love love love doggies, but I think they should run free out in the country. I want to be able to walk down my neighborhood street without being afraid of someone's dog chasing after me. That actually happened to my husband and I, we were walking home late one night in Ashland, and THREE, I kid you not, three pit-bulls came running full speed out of someone's house and chased us down the street. The owner had the front door of their house open.

Liarskorner said:

I agree with you......It's great living in the country so a person can let their dog run free. What I hate is to see a beautiful dog in a kennel all the time. I believe a dog is a big part of a family and should be allowed in the house, have his or her own bed next to my bed. Pit-bull should be keep on a chain and not allowed to run free and if a person takes their pit-bull out they should be on a leash, but if a person has one they should be treat as part of a famiy and allowed in the house instead of being chained outside 24/7.

Jim

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Permalink Reply by sbutcher on July 2, 2009 at 10:13am

I too am an animal lover and REPECTOR......Why do people put their animals in these positions? You as an owner should also protect your animals at any cost.....With anydogs or cats when the fronts door open and (if living in the City) is just inviting trouble , etc.....the dog running out/ or cat and getting hit by a car, that kind've stuff. A few bad pitbull owners cause so many problems for the very responsible owners and also the dogs.

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Permalink Reply by Liz O'Mara on July 2, 2009 at 11:23am

I have a pit bull and he is a very sweet & loving dog. My boyfreind & I have three kids & they love to play with him. He is a GREAT dog. A few weeks ago we were taking a walk with the kids & dog when another dog started to chase us. I was afraid for my kids and our dog. I am not sure what kind of dog it was but it was a common breed (not a pit bull). I don't think there should be any ban on anykinds of dogs, I think pit bulls have got alot of bad press & it is not fair to the thousands of pitbulls that are making families happy!

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Permalink Reply by Susana Perez on July 2, 2009 at 2:05pm

First of all, the lady shouldn't give the dog the bisquit without letting the owner know first!! SHAME ON YOU LADY!!! MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!! (I have a pit bull and if I caught anyone feeding her I would be very angry!) Finally, the officer should not have kicked the dog! As a human if someone were to kick me I would most certainly fight back! SHAME ON YOU MR. POLICE OFFICER!!

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Permalink Reply by GreatDaneGirl on July 2, 2009 at 6:04pm

Here is a website full of dog attack statistics: http://www.dogexpert.com/Dog%20Bite%20Statistics/Dogbitestatisticsh...

Ban the DEED not the breed. I've met dozens of friendly, sweet pitbulls at public parks AND I had a great dane with me which means there are many dog-friendly pitbulls around too. How many hundreds of pitbulls are in the Southern Oregon region, and how many of those do you honestly think would harm a human? Of those that are actually dangerous, how many of them can you imagine were mistreated, abused, or neglected?

The truth of the matter is YES there was a dog attack, but did you notice something about the article? Can you tell me where it mentioned the circumstances of the attack, the background of the dog, the owners of the dog, or anything like that? Nope, media propaganda at its worst...again. The most aggressive dog I have run into here in Southern Oregon was a laborador retriever at the bear creek dog park in 2007; the owners brought in their kids with hamburgers and ignored their dog, it viciously attacked multiple dogs - the family didn't bother to leave until after their dog drew blood from a persons' arm who was breaking up a dog fight, involving that family's dog. Bear Creek Park has an entire picnic table area for families to eat, so why did this family come into the DOG park to eat their meal? Again, please don't blame the 'pitbull', blame the owners - for both never socializing their dog, as well as not restraining the dog in their home or in a well-fenced yard.

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Permalink Reply by HereIamagain on July 2, 2009 at 9:53pm

Hello,first off I want all of you to know that I was there shortly after the pitbull bit the woman in Medford. I had met this dog in question several times before when visiting my friend. I don't believe it was the breed of the dog that made it that way. The owner had always said he couldn't trust his dog and would take it in while we were sitting in the back. The dog was not socialized as a puppy. I think that that is where the real problem lays. Owners that get these dogs, or other breeds known for agressiveness, have a responsibility to socialize them. To teach them that people are okay. Especially when you live in a neighborhood full of children that love to play outside. And on that note, I want you to know that it was a blessing that the dog bit adults and not someone's child.

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Permalink Reply by Buck Eichler on July 3, 2009 at 5:44am

It seems difficult to assess any particularly aggressive traits of the breed itself. How do you distinguish inherent breed characteristics from learned behavoir due to treatment by the owners or others who encounter them? I have heard stories of well loved pitbulls suddenly attacking other dogs with no warning, etc., but these are anecdotal. You have to wonder how many pitbulls have bitten due to their sensing fear from the approaching human. My understanding is that their sensing of aggression or fear (fight or flight) is the same sensory mechanism, meaning they, or any dog, might be unable to distinguish between the two. In this circumstance, the aggressive reputation of pitbulls would be furthered due to the fear reactions of humans, a reaction triggered by the persons memory of the reputation of pitbulls for aggressiveness. Attribute it to self -fulfilling prophecy, Catch 22, etc. It certainly qualifies as irony, but the pitbull is the one who ultimately pays the price. When a pit bull goes into an animal shelter, they are often put down immediatly without regard to their personality.
I have to confess that I tend to avoid them, and have twice refused the opportunity to rescue them. Owning a pit bull has pretty much become an anti-social act in itself, which again gives rise to questions about owners attitudes. When seeing a pitbull, many people tend to avoid rather than approach.
I realize my arguments are cyclical, but that is because the way I see it, the problem is too.

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Adams on July 3, 2009 at 6:24am

My daughters doxie is more apt to bite than my son's pitt bulls.I am a firm believer in outlawing the owner not the breed.Someone poisoned my sons old pitt.Cut a hole in his wooden fence that also had wire inside buried a foot deep.The fence was Not because the dog was bad but because the people were afraid of pitts in his neighborhood.He thought he was making a safe home for his dog.One other incident with the dog in the 10 years he was alive was a near law suit.A boy about 16 with blue striped hair broke into my sons house while no one was at home.The pitt grabbed him by the arm and held on.The family was set for a good suit against my son even though the bite was not a bad one..In that case the DA felt the dog was just doing his job and it went no where but there is the public trying to take advantage of the breed.Trying to make money off the reputation. And no, the boy was never prosecuted for the break in.This has really gotten out of hand and in large due to the publicity.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Haberle on July 3, 2009 at 8:48am

Now when I read the article I have to think whether that dog was trained to be aggression. I have a 2 year old pit bull who has never shown any aggression or anger toward me or my husband. When him and our other dog start to play to rough we discourage it. Pit bulls are not the enemy in this, its there owners. I have seen some mean pits in my life and when we decided to bring ours home I was a little worried but he has turned out to be the most loyal loving animal I can ask for. Please don't blame the breed, they can only do what their owners tell them is right. The owners should be jailed for as long as that dog is cause it minus well be the owner who had bitten the lady and the officer int he article.
Though I do know the way the world see pits so I try my hardest to take every precaution I can when taking him to the vet or for a walk. He is leashed up on a normal lease ( not any of the spikes and chains crap... that just makes them look stupid) I have my husband hold him cause I know with his 70 lbs of muscle to my 130 really wouldnt work out to well.
But I have the laziest pit there can be. He sleeps all day and would rather lay on your lap to read or watch a show than to be out playing... he doesnt even chase things.
So please, blame owners for training these beautiful dogs to act so violently, not the breed

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Permalink Reply by James Hill on July 3, 2009 at 8:49am

I like dogs and have a couple (sisters) who became larger than thought!

I'm also a bicycle rider and I've been chased by dogs in the city, in rural areas and on Indian reservations. I've been chased by dogs big and small and had a larger dog one time jump up and bit me on the thigh ripping my clothes and drawing blood.

I've seen dog's remains in nearly every setting, as well, from being hit by cars. I have plans in case of dog pursuit -- hopefully I'm on either a flat or a downhill because it is hard to outpace a dog going uphill on a bicycle! Bicyclists have a vew pointers (that I am not hugely qualified to give) but one can either stop and hold up the bike to fend off and look larger than life to the dog; peddle like the begeezes; grab a water bottle and spray in the dog in its face; grab a gun (pistol if licensed to carry one) and use it; or take other action as seems to work. Dogs, rural or city should be bounded by either fence or other means.

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Permalink Reply by Jsaun on July 3, 2009 at 10:32am

Not to burst anyone's bubble here, but the Oregon senate just voted down any kind of ban on dogs less than 5 months ago. So basically this whole argument is irrelevant and I for one am thankful for that.

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