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Pit Bull Regulations Needed

On September 25, 2008 a pit bull charged out of its yard, crossed the street and attacked a 13-year old girl here in Panama City.  Like so many pit bull owners, the owner of this dog claimed it had no history at all of biting.  How many times do pit bulls have to attack, maul, and/or kill someone before we tire of this excuse from pit bull owners?

These dogs are dangerous and extremely unpredictable.  While poor ownership of a pit bull may exacerbate aggressive tendencies, the pit bull is still an innately aggressive breed.  Pit bulls have been selectively bred since the 1800s for the purposes of fighting and continue to be bred for fighting today.  US courts agree that the following breed characteristics of pit bulls are not in dispute: robust strength, unpredictability, tenaciousness (the refusal to give up a fight) and high pain tolerance.

Perpetuators of this myth (that it is the owner and not the dog) also cannot account for the many instances in which responsible pit bull owners are victimized by their dogs. In 2007, pit bull type dogs (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier) were responsible for 60% of attacks that led to fatality. Half of these attacks involved a family member and the family pit bull.

I truly hope the family of this 13-year old girl knows how extremely lucky she is the attack she endured wasn’t worse.  Katya Todesco, of Simi Valley, CA died last week as a result of being attacked.  She was at a friend’s house and wandered into the backyard where she was attacked.  Hearing her screams, the mother ran outside and physically tried to pull the dogs jaws apart to save her daughter.  The damage was so extensive, Katya died two days later.

In Louisville, KY an 8-year old girl is still hospitalized after being attacked by the pit bull she was playing with last week.  The dog inexplicably turned on her.  The victims of these attacks, when lucky enough to survive, are left with years of rehabilitation.  The only people making there voices heard are the pit bull owners and the rhetoric is all the same.  They all think there pit bull is different than all the rest.  As a society, we cannot take this risk.  Breed specific legislation and regulations do help save lives.  Stiffer penalties need to be levied against pet owners whose pets attack.  The most recent Panama City dog ordinance I could find dates back to 1963.  This is outrageous!  The time to act is now.  We had our warning last week…let’s not wait until somebody in Panama City is dead.

Entry submitted by on 09/30 at 01:40 PM

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Submitted Comments: (if any)

Yes, sign me on to out law pit bulls in Panama City and PCB.  I also know of a once adorable little boy that now has scars from forehead to neck and nearly lost an eye.  The family still has the dog and the insurance company and lawyers paid only the medical bills.  What a shame!!

Comment submitted by  on  10/02  at  08:15 AM

No kidding, and these attacks happen every day around in America and around the world.  On October 5, 2008 a 2-month old infant was killed by the family pit bull.  The Hawaiian Humane Society refused to allow the local news crews to videotape the dog while the dog was in quarantine because they were trying to keep the fact that it was a pit bull secret.  They simply referred to the dog as a “mixed breed.” The truth has come out though and it has been confirmed to be a pit bull.  (http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081005/BREAKING01/81005004/-1/localnewsfront)

Comment submitted by  on  10/07  at  12:47 PM

Usually, I would agree that pit bulls need to be outlawed.  But, I could have sure used one when I was cornered, held against my will and being terrorized by a local Convicted Felon who was desperate for money and trying to force it out of me. 
I the cowardly sub-contractors didn’t dare to come to my rescue but I bet that if I had a pit bull there he could have taken a bite out of the thug’s back side.  That would have been justice!

Comment submitted by  on  10/09  at  01:06 PM

http://gosanangelo.com/news/2008/oct/09/duo-guilty-in-dog-attack/

If more communities start holding people responsible for the actions of there dogs like the community in the posted link, then people just may start thinking twice about having a pit bull.

Comment submitted by  on  10/10  at  01:11 PM
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