A 4-year-old girl was watching television when her mother said she was attacked without warning by the family's 130-pound pit bull. The child died and police had to fire 12 shots to take down the animal because he kept coming after them.

Investigators say Niko was a 'monster' of a pit bull and was registered on a pedigree database as an American Bully breed. According to the American Bully Kennel Club, they were bred from pit bulls with the goal of breeding out dog aggression and maintaining a muscular appearance, loyalty and stability.

More here. 

How sad 

So sad! When will people ever learn that this breed can not be trusted? 

I have a niece that has them and you can't tell her. Every time I see a picture with that dog and the little kids, I just want to go shake some sense in her. 

I don't get it either. 

why would you have a 130lb dog unaltered in the home with a female dog in heat and mix that with a young child in the middle?? 

People who sit here and say that "the breed can't be trusted" honestly are ignorant. There is no such thing as a bad dog, bad owners yes. Heres where some of you completely forget that comprehension is key...the article states " According to the American Bully Kennel Club, they were bred from pit bulls with the goal of breeding out dog aggression and maintaining a muscular appearance" First and foremore, ANY dog...when you rais it from birth, is gonna eat and sleep and wanna play around with no intent of malicious-ness....so how does such an animal learn to be so deadly and lethal you ask? Hmmmmm, I wonder...instead of blaming the dog, why not blame the owner of the dog whom they either got the dog from or the owner themself. If a dog is bred to breed out dog aggression, to whom does that fall on? the Dog or the Owner? A dog UNLESS raised in the wilderness and knows viciousness as a means of survival(WHICH THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE CASE) isn't just gonna go an attack your face, they've got to be taught to do so. Blame the owner, not the dog. The dog is guilty of the act but they're trained to do so from their breeder. So before you go and just judge the entire breed and say "They're vicious animals and should be outlawed everywhere" know your facts and analyze the entire situation before you just jump to the crutch that america seems to be on which is "Pitbulls are vicious and dangerous creatures who aren't mans best friend but mans worst enemey" 

Every time I see a picture with that dog and the little kids, I just want to go shake some sense in her.

While your at it, can she and the kids shake some sense into your norrow minded skull? You sit here and penalize every dog for one dogs actions that it's breeder is responsible for. Yea, sure...THAT makes sense. Smh... 

People who sit here and say that "the breed can't be trusted" honestly are ignorant. There is no such thing as a bad dog, bad owners yes. Heres where some of you completely forget that comprehension








There's both. The breed has issues now. People caused it, but the result is STILL a bad dog who is aggressive can and does kill people.


We need to regulate ownership. The people who have this breed should be checked out to see what they're doing. And if they're idiots.

I was just recently at BARC and I saw one nursing PB after another being surrendered, some with puppies. It's utterly sickening. It was a stream of them. I guess they were done fighting them.

It's time to make owning a PB a "process" . Plenty of other places have done it. They need to regulate ownership and have muzzle laws as well. And harsh punishment if these regs aren't adhered to. 

All dogs can bite. All of them. The difference between the breeds is the extent of damage those bites cause. The range of breeds that people commonly refer to as pit bulls have bites that cause serious damage sometimes leading to death. Other breeds are capable of similarly serious bites. Advocates of the breed need to stop the mindless defense because it doesn't help their cause any, especially when they are making misleading statements. Angie Kaye is right here. It is irresponsible owners who put that child at risk by putting a large intact dog, a dog in heat and a small child in the same territory. A little bit of common sense would have prevented this. Education on responsible dog ownership would have prevented this. It is sad all the way around but it's a mistake to say that any breed is inherently safe around kids. All dogs have the ability to bite, the difference between dogs is the extent of damage those bites can inflict. Education on dog behavior can reduce the incidents of bites. If you have a dog or have kids or just don't want to be bit, learn about dog behavior. 

People who sit here and say that "the breed can't be trusted" honestly are ignorant.

I agree with that 110%. My family raised rotties when I was a kid, but because the HUMANS involved were responsible, guess what? No one ever got hurt, or worse, killed.

You know we talk on here about gun control, but you as an individual are more likely to be killed by the family pet than by a firearm (overall you're still more likely to be shot down, but it's two different stats). (and you're about SIXTY times more likely to be killed by your dog than by some random shark attack! But people don't fear dogs like they do sharks...go figure!) Wolf-Hybrids reportedly killed 14 people last year. 21 babies were killed by dogs in 2012. So the argument goes, if there's a gun in the house, you're liable to killed by it... well, if there's a dog in the house.... same, same.... (Though I still think the logic of the argument is stupid.)

AT the same time, the global condemnation of the breed is stupid as well, I've known quite a few pitties and every one of them has been a well-trained, well-behaved, sweet, and kinda dumb dog. Would I leave them alone with my child or chihuahua? NO. But I wouldn't do the same with any of my rotties.

ALL DOG CAN BITE. There is no truer statement. The most vicious dogs I've ever known have been small, fluffy, irritating dogs.

In the end, it's not the dog that's the problem. It's the PEOPLE... You know, the monkeys with thumbs and an SUV. 

The ignorant ones are the ones who continue to defend a breed of dog that is notorious for its unwarranted and unprovoked aggression. 

?but you as an individual are more likely to be killed by the family pet than by a firearm (overall you're still more likely to be shot down, but it's two different stats).


Can you please share some legitimate stats on that claim? 

Ah, the "all dogs can bite " argument!

Compared with pits, how many springer spaniels kill children? 

Chihuahuas can be nasty little buggers, but they don't kill people.

Common sense....it isn't for everyone. 

The breed is being abused. People are the ones doing it. There needs to be some kind of program where people are screened. After what I saw at BARC, there is obviously something very wrong going on. These dogs don't have normal lives, it's obvious. The people surrendering Pits that day looked like cold fish, no love for the dogs, like surrendering a used car.

These dogs are capable of great harm when abused and used for fighting and breeding fighters. We have to step in and stop it. Some people are just clueless. But it's causing some to loose their lives, lots of them are children.

It's enough now. I wanted to slug hose people at BARC. And who is going to adopts a dog like that now? 

A cousin of mine had a pitbull. I was always scared of that dog even though it was 'friendly'. Something just wasn't right in his head. 

Can you please share some legitimate stats on that claim?

It's either the BLS or the CDC that has a report that you can find. It's too early to do research. If you care enough, go search the BLS.GOV or the CDC.gov website.

Compared with pits, how many springer spaniels kill children?

Compared with pits how many irresponsible scum bag humans own springer spaniels? 

What is it about the breed that typically draws in the most ignorant of people?

My friend has several in her house, with her pregnant daughter and toddler granddaughter, and admits the newest male is human and dog aggressive but swears she can train it out of him.

The adoption agency was negligent in allowing a young pregnant girl to adopt a known aggressor.

Unfortunately, this seems to he the rule and not the exception. 

Ogre, you brought up the argument.

I read a study the other day about chihuahuas being the most neglected breed and overcrowding shelters. Do they typically maul children after being neglected and abused? 

The adoption agency was negligent in allowing a young pregnant girl to adopt a known aggressor.

Unfortunately, this seems to he the rule and not the exception.





But that's the problem, anyone can get one. There are no regulations or screening. 

It is the problem. You're absolutely right!

They don't belong in the hands of most people. 

People who sit here and say that "the breed can be trusted" honestly are ignorant.

Yes, This!^^^^^ 

Also a big problem is the owners are, for the most part, held harmless for these attacks. Some face civil charges, but none really face criminal charges.

If you chose to own a pit, pit mix, rott, or rott mix, and it severely injures someone, you should be arrested. No questions asked. You need to control your dog. The fact that an attack happened is evidence enough that you did not control your dog.

And we do not need this law for all dogs. It is a significantly different level of responsibility to own one of these breeds, than it is to own any other kind. 

If you chose to own a pit, pit mix, rott, or rott mix, and it severely injures someone, you should be arrested. No questions asked. You need to control your dog. The fact that an attack happened is evidence enough that you did not control your dog.



I think something along these lines needs to be done now. People need to be screened and show they're educated about the breed.

Not much different than owning a deadly weapon, is it? 

The problem is that people want to own this breed because of it's bad reputation to show how macho and cool they are. Criminal charges need to be applied to there people even if the person injured or killed is their own child. Involuntary manslaughter if the dog had never been aggressive, second degree murder if it had. 

The problem is that people want to own this breed because of it's bad reputation to show how macho and cool they are.




That's exactly the impression I got from what I saw at BARC.

It's maddening. 

The ignorant ones are the ones who continue to defend a breed of dog that is notorious for its unwarranted and unprovoked aggression.

Exactly. 

Our 10Lb Mini Dachshund is more vicious than our 100Lb Doberman :) But boy does our Dobe look intimidating lol 

the breed should be banned from being owned within city limits

if a person is ignorant enough to own one...let it be on farm-sized acreage where the animal will hopefully only harm their ignorant selves 

The only good pit is a dead pit. 

beyoutiful --- 8 min ago - quote - hide comments
Our 10Lb Mini Dachshund is more vicious than our 100Lb Doberman :) But boy does our Dobe look intimidating lol


Not to mention the fact that your 100 pound Dobie could inflect way more damage than your 10 pound mini that could be punted across the room. 

about chihuahuas being the most neglected breed and overcrowding shelters. Do they typically maul children after being neglected and abused?

I'm not sure how I brought THAT argument up. But it's a ridiculous comparison, but have you ever been bit by a mean chihuahua?

Blasted Dachsunds are bred to hunt badger! If a Rat terrier weighed 90lbs it would be exceedingly dangerous. You ever seen one of those dogs actually go to work? My Pomeranian is a better ratter than my cats!

(Course, if some kid said my dogs bit them, I'd beat the kid).

If the child is small enough, a small dog can do serious damage. Would you put an infant in the room on the floor with a Chihuahua you knew bit?

But a comparison between a toy breed and a working breed is ludicrous. 

I think of people who leave children alone with pitts the same I think of people who leave children alone with large constrictor snakes.

There's always some idiot that's going to do it. But you can't BLAME THE FRAKKING SNAKE! (OR THE DOG for that matter).

 

I think of people who leave children alone with pitts

the little girl wasn't alone with the pit...

although the mother is stupid for having one...the dog is at fault... 

Not to mention the fact that your 100 pound Dobie could inflect way more damage than your 10 pound mini that could be punted across the room.

Yes definitely. Our Dachshund is the one with the attitude problem Lol. Little ankle biter. We are very cautious with both dogs, especially the one that can chew through bricks. 

especially the one that can chew through bricks.?

WTF?! 

WTF?!

Yes, I would hate for someone to break into our home and have to feel the wrath of big Samson boy lol. 

People who sit here and say there is no such thing as a "bad dog" are ignorant. Over and over again people have been mauled to death by these vicious animals. No one should be allowed to own these dogs, they need to be wiped out period!
Enough attacks on humans especially babies. 

Ogre, you're right. It's ridiculous to compare a small breed with a pit. So why do people consistently do it?

Why, in the pit attack debate, does someone ALWAYS bring up the chihuahua can bite too argument? It's irrelevant.

I own a JRT and have extensive experience with Doxies. I've been nailed by both, so I'm well aware of the damage they can inflict.
I've also been nailed, in a playing situation, by my Doberman who left a massive bruise. The damage he's capable of inflicting outweighs anything my JRT could ever do. So, it's ridiculous to compare the two.

So the question is - why during any conversation regarding the death of a child does some schmuck ALWAYS say that a Papillon can bite too?

It's a sad fact that decades of irresponsibility has caused the pit bull to be the dog it is today, as a whole.

While I agree that the pit draws in a certain kind of unfavorable, I think the other half are convinced that they can tame the wild beast.