Michael Vicks Dogs - One Year Later

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Pit Bulls don't bit any more often than many other dogs. It's just when they do, it is more dangerous because of the strong jaws.

My MIL's ex used to raise pits- she remembers they always had sticks especially made to pry the dog's jaws open should they lock up when they bit. They can be more dangerous than other breeds because of the damage they do, but if one knows what they're doing and raises them in a calm, loving environment they can be pretty cool little guys. I've known more than a few people who had pitbulls and never had a problem with them, ever.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Pit Bulls don't bit any more often than many other dogs. It's just when they do, it is more dangerous because of the strong jaws.

Same story with Rottweilers. We would love to get one (when we have space for it), but probably won't for liability reasons.

So I guess I will just have to get a Pug

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Pit Bulls don't bit any more often than many other dogs. It's just when they do, it is more dangerous because of the strong jaws.

That's a big "just." Plus, I don't buy it. How many dogs do you have to worry about murdering you when they're in heat and around a mate? As with that poor kid who was killed in San Francisco.

I view pit bulls the same way I view certain types of firearms. You can talk all you want about training and responsibility, but the fact remains that these things exist because of their appeal to a certain type of irresponsible, violence loving person. The stupidest things I've ever heard human beings utter have been uttered by pit bull owners after their dog had mauled somebody. If all the pit bulls in the world were neutered and spayed, I would view it as no great loss.

[bewitched]

Great Article, NA!

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

but the fact remains that these things exist because of their appeal to a certain type of irresponsible, violence loving person.

I agree with you 100%. However...that is hardly the breed's fault. Pitbulls have been around since the 19th century and usually refer to either purebred Staffordshire Bull Terriers/American Staffordshire Terriers or a dog that is mixed with one of these breeds. From early on, the breeds were well known to be very people friendly:

Dog fighting, which could be carried out under clandestine measures, blossomed. Since Bulldogs proved too ponderous and uninterested in dog fighting, the Bulldogs were crossed with English White and Black and Tan Terriers. They were also bred to be intelligent and level-headed during fights and remain non-aggressive toward their handlers. Part of the standard for organized dog-fighting required that the match referee who is unacquainted with the dog be able to enter the ring, pick up a dog while it was engaged in a fight, and get the respective owner to carry it out of the ring without being bitten. Dogs that bit the referee were culled.

As a result, Victorian fighting dogs (Staffordshire Bull Terriers and, though less commonly used as fighters, English Bull Terriers) generally had stable temperaments and were commonly kept in the home by the gambling men who owned them.

What I agree with is it is many of the people own these dogs and breed them with no regard to temperament (they just want a "cool" or "badass" dog) are irresponsible and often drawn to violence. They revel in their dog's ability to be vicious and often foster that ability.

I would (even with an 8yo child) own a "pitbull" that I knew to be well bred, by people who care about the breeds and know what they are doing with not an ounce of trepidation. On the other hand, Staffies are "advanced" dogs and I am what I would call a very experienced dog person...there are many breeds, no matter how well bred that someone who is inexperienced with dogs and/or has a submissive personality has no business owning. It is not the pitbull as a breed that concerns me, it is the individual pitbulls that come (at some point in their lives) from irresponsible fvcktards who have no business being near these animals.

In short, there are, unfortunately, some "bad" dogs (of all breeds) out there, but generally it's what dog people say all of the time about all "bad" dogs (because it's true), it is rarely the dog that is the problem (although that is the unfortunate, and eventual, outcome), it's the owners who are the problem.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Rehabbing a dog is a big job, but I'm glad somebody is doing it for these guys. Dogs don't ask to be turned aggressive; they just want to be part of their pack and have some food and lovings now and then.

I love pits, but I don't want to deal with the liability that can come with owning one. Probably what, 99 of 100 dogs, will be perfectly fine, but it only takes that one to really mess up somebody's life. I'm glad to see some rational discussion about the breed, and people realizing that most of them are just like other dogs. Some dogs are gentle and good, others are aggressive, and others have certain circumstances that can set them off. My hubby had a terrier as a child that would go off on anyone wearing cowboy boots or leather gloves. The difference is that pit bull terriers are capable of doing a lot of damage. Then again, German Shepherds (I'm told) cause a lot of damage, bite a lot of people. So I'd say pit bulls deserve their chance at being adored pets.

[BarTopDancer]

That's a great story. Thank you.

[Disneyphile]

Love the outcome! Thank goodness they've been given a chance to live after spending so long imprisoned in hell.

Now, if only the prison would make Vick fight his fellow inmates and then electrocute him if he "doesn't win".

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I didn't read the story earlier but got to it later, and I'm glad I did. It's incredible that they were able to save nearly all of them. Hell of a story. I hope it goes a long way towards a reformation of the pit bull reputation.

[Gemini Cricket]

Whatever became of that f*ckstick Vick?
Did he go to jail?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Whatever became of that f*ckstick Vick?
Did he go to jail?

From Wikipedia

In 2007, a U.S. federal district court convicted him and several co-defendants of criminal conspiracy resulting from felonious dog fighting and sentenced him to serve a 23 month prison sentence. He is being held in the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. Vick is also under indictment for two related Virginia state felony charges for his role in the dogfighting ring and related gambling activity. His state trial has now been delayed until he is released from federal prison, and he faces a maximum 10 year state prison term if convicted on both counts.