Pit Bulls

[Anonymous]

lattemom… It seems that video is a prank people play on other people (people with too much time on their hands, it seems). It has something to do with spam and all I know, if it screwed up my computer at all, that is really not cool.

Share This

[JenV]

ahem…you were Rick Rolled. Now can we all shut the $!#^&!* up and get along?

Share This

[JanS]

hey, San, Barmargia, Lattemom…take it outside. If you can’t get back on topic in a civil, adult manner,then please, for the rest of us, keep your personal attacks to yourself. It really detracts from the forum. We should all be above name-calling, etc, that has nothing to do with the topic. The webmaster of these forums gives us a lot of leeway on here, but expects adult behavior in return. The rest of us do, too…

Share This

[Anonymous]

Well said, JanS!! All I was trying to do is bring up the subject of Pit Bull attacks and so many people ganged up on me because they are so defensive of their pit bulls, but hey they wouldn’t have to be defensive if they would be more responsibile in the first place! Gee, wonder why there are more dog bite and attack from pit bulls then any other breed????? Bottom line, be responsibile.

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

On the topic of responsible dog owners-I had gone to Blockbuster tonight and saw a somewhat “sketchy” man with a Pit Bull inside the store. Personally, it made me uncomfortable especially with the recent Pit Bull attacks in the West Seattle area. Do you all find it reasonable to call the manager and complain???

Share This

[JanS]

beachdrivegirl…was the dog on a leash and controlled by it’s owner? I don’t know the policy that Blockbuster has re: dogs inside, but I think I would rather have it on leash with the owner than tied up outside unsupervised. Maybe you should call the mgr. just to ask what the store policy is.

I know some “sketchy” looking people who are just great people, so would be on the fence about that.

Share This

[littlebrowndog]

A possibility for the dog in the store is that it is a service dog. The man may have a disability; not all disabilities are visible ones. The dog may be trained to provide services to mitigate his disability. State and federal laws do not require that a service dog have certification or special identification. It is OK to have a service dog in a public place without it wearing a cape. I myself choose to put an identifying cape on my service dog when using him in public and private buildings as it reduces the number of questions and challenges, but I don’t use one when we are simply going for walks outdoors. It is a matter of personal preference.

Share This

[Jeannie]

Yes, let’s cool off, guys. One comment, and you can draw your own conclusions: My ex-husband was a prosecutor before he went into private practice. One of the cases he prosecuted was a pitbull-fighting ring. Fortunately, the creeps ended up in jail, and it was a horrible, sick thing to do to these dogs, some of whom were very young. On the other hand, it wasn’t a dachsund-fighting ring, a golden-retriever-fighting ring, it wasn’t a sh

Share This

[Jeannie]

Yes, let’s cool off, guys. I have one comment, and you can draw your own conclusions and interpret it any way you wish: My ex-husband was a prosecutor before he went into private practice. One of the cases he prosecuted was a pitbull-fighting ring. Fortunately, the creeps behind this ended up in jail, and it was a horrible, sick thing to do to these dogs, some of whom were very young. On the other hand, it wasn’t a dachsund-fighting ring, it wasn’t a golden-retriever-fighting ring, it wasn’t a shih-tzu-fighting ring.

Share This

[ALS]

Lattemom said: “All I was trying to do is bring up the subject of Pit Bull attacks and so many people ganged up on me because they are so defensive of their pit bulls, but hey they wouldn’t have to be defensive if they would be more responsibile in the first place!”

Actually, I think what makes people so defensive is that they ARE being responsible, and the idiots that aren’t responsible ruin it for the rest of us and only serve to perpetuate the negative stereotypes. It drives me crazy when people talk about pit bulls snapping for no good reason – like their brain is a ticking time bomb and at any second they’re going to go from sweet and lovey to Cujo. And they aren’t hardwired to fight, as so many assume. They’re hardwired to be tenacious which makes them good fighters, but then again, so is any terrier. Jack Russels were bred to hunt badgers, but no one assumes a Jack Russel is just going to snap at any second.

Share This

[Anonymous]

Als.. Why then do pit bulls account for one third of all vicious dog attacks?

Share This

[JoB]

the pit bull incidents in the past week have been frightening… for those who love dogs as well as those who don’t.

This was clearly an irresponsible owner. If they knew the dogs could escape the house, it was their responsibility to correct the problem or kennel the dogs.

No responsible pet owner has their dog off leash and out of control in public where it is possible for other people to interact with their animals…

but, they should be able to take a leashed dog for a walk, play ball with their dogs in a public area under controlled circumstances (if your dog can approach or be approached by another dog or person.. the circumstances aren’t controlled) … or be in their own yards (fenced or not) with their animals.

I am one of those aggressive dog owners (not pit bulls.. aggressive dogs come in all sizes and shapes) … and i can tell you from personal experience, it can be a heartbreak… Not because my dogs are vicious and out of control but because having a dog is like driving a car. You might be able to control yourself and your dog, but there is absolutely nothing you can do about the other people and/or dogs on the road.

i am perfectly aware that i have a huge responsibility for my dogs… and sometimes that means i don’t get to do things with my pets that i would like to because there are too many other people around and i accept that. But i am not the only one responsible when a strange dog… or child… or adult… approaches my leashed animals. And i don’t feel i should have to muzzle my dog to prevent dogs or people from being bitten when they invade my space. I am willing to be careful (even beyond reason), but I can only do so much to avoid unwanted encounters. yet, if my dog bites someone, i will be held responsible regardless of their actions.

I don’t know how many times i have had to be incredibly rude to people to stop them from coming up to pet my “cute” dogs… yet those same people would holler like a stuck pig if my dogs bit them …in what to the dogs would be self defense.

For every thoughtless dog owner…. There are at least an equal number of thoughtless adults.

I had my fill of both this week on vacation. I am not sure exactly why some people believe that their “rights” extend into allowing their out of control children and dogs to cavort through the space you also paid good money to enjoy… but i have a lot of sympathy for cranky little old ladies…. I nearly became one:)

Long story short, no-one wants to be placed in the position of enduring the obnoxious and/or dangerous behavior of other people’s dogs or kids…. or having no choice but to correct them yourself.

Here’s the deal when it comes to petting other people’s dogs… don’t unless you are invited.

Dogs in parks or other public spaces are not there to become a free petting zoo.

When you ask a dog owner if you can pet their dog, you put them on the spot… and most don’t want to be rude… so often dog owners tense up and hope the children approaching their dogs are not too rough and hope for the best… and many dogs who don’t want to be petted endure the uneducated attentions of children who are not as gentle or respectful as they should be.

How would you respond if someone walked up to you on the street and asked to pet your children?

Yes, i know there is a big difference between children and dogs but there is not a big difference when it comes to respecting boundaries. It makes everyone uncomfortable at best and is dangerous at worst.

When i had a dog that liked to be petted by children, i would invite them to pet her when i saw them gazing longingly in her direction… until she too became old and cranky. then the invitations stopped.

And if the parents didn’t like me correcting their children when they approached my dog, then they didn’t get to pet the dog.

You should never approach anyone else’s dog without an invitation. (asking and receiving permission does not qualify as an invitation).

You should never allow your child to touch a strange dog that you have not petted yourself to find out how they react to strangers.

Your child should never touch any dog without your assistance to make sure they handle the dog respectfully.

It’s just not safe for your children. If you leave it up to the dog… you won’t like the outcome. Dogs correct one another… and the humans that surround them… by nipping… often at faces. They don’t mean to cause harm, but accidents often happen.

I know children want to pet dogs… and i know that it isn’t possible for every family to have a dog…. but it’s up to you to teach them how to behave around dogs whether you have one or not.

If a dog owner notices your child staring longingly at their dog… or realizes their dog really wants to be petted by your child … if they have the time and their pet is agreeable… they will ask you if it is ok for your child to pet their dog. If you don’t get an invitation, the answer should be no.

It really is that simple.

Even under the best of circumstances, accidents happen when you put dogs and children together… (they happen when you put dogs and adults together). Nobody deserves to be bitten, especially children… but any time you put your hand out to any dog, you are accepting the responsibility for unintended outcomes.

Laying blame just on the dogs (by calling them “bad” dogs) or the dog owners is simply shirking your own responsibility.

I am not trying to lay blame on anyone.. just stating what seems perfectly obvious to me.

Ok.. so maybe i have reached the cranky old woman status…but there are a lot of us living on this planet together and if we are going to get along we probably need to have as much respect for other people’s rights as for our own… and that includes taking responsibility for the risks we choose… instead of expecting others to make what we want safe for us.

Share This

[barmargia]

whoops, I also posted to the wrong post…

JoB, I don’t think you have reached “cranky old woman” status, I think what you said was spot on and very well done. As someone who has had a dog, has friends with dogs, loves dogs, but is still cautious around dogs, thank you.

Share This

[Anonymous]

Exactly!! Pit Bulls attack more than any other breed, period. The statistics prove it. What I can not stand is people touting that pit bulls are a loving breed of dog and than we hear of yet another child or adult attacked because god forbid they played in their own yard or someone walked down the street minding there own business and was chewed up by one of these oh, so loving dogs. NOT!!

Pit Bulls do not belong in the same catagory as labs, spaniels, or any other family dog.

I have seen too many teen and twenty something kid use the pit bulls for defensive as they past by us or others on the street and use them fighters. I have seen adults with pit bulls and they just don’t act with a self-righeous attitude the kids do. We live in a safe, famiy-oriented neighborhood, and it is a shame we have to be afraid to go outside because of irresponsibile dog owners allowing their dogs to wander the streets.

Share This

[barmargia]

lattemom, again you really need to reread your rants before you post them, that last paragraph made just an inkling of sense.

Also, I’m sure that the woman that saved little Milo is someone that is going to use her dog to terrorize you…NOT.

http://www.komotv.com/news/16150947.html

Share This

[JoB]

Lattemom… this really is out of line…

“LatteMom and NewResident are not the same person, so get over it will you! And you sound so arogant suits your name SanDearie!! Hey! Are you the owner of the pit bull from the latest attack, you sound arogant enough. Whait a minute your name must be SanJerald! :)”

as is your last post… You definately have a bias.. but it isn’t necessary for everyone else to agree with your bias.

People simply do not report all dog bites. when your kid/grandkid is bitten by your jack russel or pomeranian or poodle for getting out of line… you simply pay the doctor bill and try to educate the children or parents. most bites don’t get reported at all.

and even if a bite is reported, it is not generally publicized.. unless the dog is a pit bull.. or an akita.. or in the past, a german shepherd. I have shared my life with all three breeds.

it is unfortunate that so many people are not educated about the dogs they choose to spend their lives with. some dog owners buy two or more dogs to be company for one another because they are not going to be home to spend time with their dogs. The unsupervised dogs become a pack.

When dogs are bred to hunt and have hunting partners, they hunt as a pack… and pit bulls were bred to hunt.

pit bulls (and akitas) and many other dog breeds are also escape artists. they need to have a more secure fence than most dog owners are prepared to provide.

If dogs aren’t trained and properly supervised, it isn’t the dog’s fault, it’s the owner.

Having said that, accidents do happen even to the best of owners.

However, eliminating pit bulls isn’t the answer…. any more than jailing all children who wear hoodies because children who throw rocks at cars often wear hoodies.

And, as for what the webmaster said about the identities of lattemom, cinnamon and new resident… she said they weren’t all the same person… (or registration with the same reported contact information… if you want to be technical).

You all three do use a lot of the same phrases and share some of the same hot buttons… so you can’t be too angry with people who notice those similarities… even if you aren’t the same people.

i assume you are different people… and since i do, i often wonder at new resident’s defense of your more inflammatory posts. It does neither of you justice.

Share This

[Anonymous]

Again, my opinion and no yo won’t change my beliefs that pit bulls are wonderful family dogs. It won’t ever happen!

As for Job and her comments, I do agree with her for the most part, ill-behaved children and aggresive dogs aren’t the same, but simiiar in the sense they are both annoying and shouldn’t be tolerate. But children do not go around attacking another child or an adult as pit bulls do. Again, look at the statistics.

Share This

[JoB]

lattemom..

apparently you haven’t looked at the statistics.

children are far more deadly to other children than dogs.

Unfortunately the same lack of responsibility that causes some people to purchase dogs they won’t or can’t control also causes them to have children they won’t or can’t control.

And as a society, we don’t help overwhelmed parents any more than we help overwhelmed pet owners. It’s a disgrace, but there it is.

nobody expects you to adopt a pit bull into your home… anymore than anyone expects you to adopt any of those neglected children.

but, if you did, they would expect you to be responsible.

Share This

[Erik]

Children not attacking other children? Seems like there’s a story a week about some limbically challenged youngster going to school with their dad’s favorite gun and mowing down a half-dozen or so of their mates.

As long as we’re an achievement oriented society we’ll be sacrificing our youngins emotional developement for their intellectual.

Share This

[JoB]

erik.. it’s sad, isn’t it. we focus on so many of the wrong things..

Share This

[Anonymous]

Why would someone want an aggressive animal in their house, with their children and put them at risk?? Makes no sense. You can defend the pit bulls and other aggresive dogs but if anyone comes near we will use force by any means to protect our family and ourselves. Walking down the street, playing in the park or playing in our yard we should not have to run and hide because of aggressive dogs.

Tonight we visited the Jack in the Box in SeaTac for a quick bite to eat after grocery shopping and we were very concerend with the foul language, the threats made to customers and other young kids (gang or not we don’t know). AAWe felt our safety was in jeopardy because of these kids, all balack, wearing baggy pants, wearing lots of red (the bloods)? One woman and her adult female friend and young 3 year old daughter had had enough and spoke loudly to the group of kids, shut up and stop with the foul language and htreats or I will call the police. ZThey stopped briefly then went outside in the parking lot circled several cars including our van and made themselve very intimidating. We grabbed our daughter and our food and went to the van, the kids growled at us something that was filled with mispronounced words and we quickly drove off. So just going to Jack in the Box became a threatneing experience! So, what is someone to think when they come upon a person dressed like they forgot their correct size and their butt is hanging out?? If you want respect, dress with respect for yourself.

Share This

[Jerald]

Wow, Lattemom, you seem to lead a life filled with so many troubles. I wonder if you wouldn’t be better off in a less urban environment.

Share This

[JanS]

Lattemom…it’s a big world out there. Sometimes there will be places where things happen, but the whole world isn’t like that. Grocery shop up here in the Admiral District, and then stop at the Jack in the Box down the street from me. It’s safe, clean, no threatening people, and I don’t see dogs running around unsupervised.

Perhaps you should have talked with the manager….perhaps you should still talk with the manager, and gently and kindly inform him/her how you felt. Then write a letter to the parent company.

You cannot raise your children in a sanitized world. I hate the baggy clothes, but..it is a style. How one acts gets more respect from me than how one dresses. What color one is has nothing to do with bad behavior…there are as many white kids who have foul mouths and baggy clothes as there are blacks. And labeling them “bloods” or whatever gets you nowhere. My daughter wears red all the time…it’s her favorite color…it doesn’t mean that she’s a part of something more sinister that we hear about in the media.

You were right to leave, but do it with your head held high, ignore them as much as you can. They want a reaction, and they got it..and that spurs them on.

Sorry you had such a tough time.

Share This

[Kayleigh]

Here we go again.

Lattemom, maybe you could call the school and see if you can get them expelled. That’ll teach ’em to swear around you and to pull up their pants.

(and since I reckon you will post something along the lines of “how would you feel, what would you do?”: If they were just obnoxious and annoying, I would have left and eaten elsewhere. If I thought anyone was in real danger, I’d have stepped outside and called the police.)

Share This

[Anonymous]

Thanks JanS I will call the Manager of Jac in the Box. We do most of our shopping at Safeway or Freddy’s on 1st Ave South in Burien and we only stopped by Jack in the Box on our way home, did not expect to go through what happened in the restaurant. As for the kids wearing red I hold strongly they were a gang they way they were talking about following certain people and when a certain car drove up near the restaurant alot of those kids ran to the windows, and then ran outside to fight the other kids, we were hoping against hope they didn’t have guns!

As for Kaleigh and her suggestion about calling the kids school, how are we to know which school they these kids are even enrolled in school? They were very intimidating to every customer in that restaurant. They also made very derogotive comments about white people being white trash. Our daughter kept saying to us Daddy please stay with us she knew we were in danger and she is only 7 yrs old. Our daughter attends Roxhill and when she is in middle school it will be either Explorers West or a private school.

Lastly, I want to note my husband did call the police but once we had left the parking lot since those kids were watching us to closely. And the only reason I said they were black is because of the comments that they made about our color. Yes I am aware that white kids also wear those baggy pants, our son does not as I do not buy them and his school does not permit them.

Share This

[Author]

Posts