Pit Bulls: a real reason to fear?

As they say - its the deed, not the breed. If you look back, pitbulls were not seen as any sort of problem whatsoever until maybe sometime in the mid 1980s. Petey from the Little Rascals I believe was a pitbull, as well as there were many service dogs in the wars that were considered heros. They are not for everyone because of the level of mental stimulation that they need (they aren't a zero energy, throw rug type of dog), but they were always treasured as dogs that were trustworthy with children and very much "people' oriented. Pitbulls started to be unscrupulously overbred by thugs beginning about 20 years ago, so dogs in poor health and in poor condition and who had ill temperments were bred right along. Also, when you badly mistreat a dog, or condition it to fight by withholding food, and keeping it confined in a tight cage, its like a human being treated cruelly and unusually - you could understand they are the way they are. Unfortunately, this causes a PR problem for the very GOOD dogs that happen to be the same breed. I think that anyone who thinks pitbulls or poorly bred pitbulls are by nature a nuisance should review this story. There was a young male pitbull that was at a county pound where I try to find rescues for the dogs at. He apparently was a lover not a fighter because they mutilated the poor boy. It wasn't dog bites - he was victim of a "home neuter" that they may do to prevent vets from reporting their activities - despite being horribly mutilated and missing some necessary boy parts that wouldn't be involved in a neuter - at the shelter he was the most incredibly loving dog. His rear end wiggled (he had no tail left either) when he saw people especially kids and would make little contented noises when you sat on the floor and rubbed his ears. If a dog, despite human cruelty can still have a large potential for love, than that's proof that its the actions of people and not the dog.

I agree with you. It really depends on the owner on how the pitbull behaves. A friend of mine told me that pitbulls are nice to people. They are only mad to other dogs. If you really maltreat any kind of animal, they will really fight back because it is what you call animal instinct, they have to defend theirselves from enemies. I don't have plans in taking care of a pitbull because you really needed enough enough time and I am always busy with my work.

I wouldn't say I was "terrified" of them but I would have no interest in owning one and I would never, ever allow a child to come into contact with one. I'm not specifically singling out pit bulls here - there are other breeds of dog that I would feel the same way about. I don't agree with you that a dog necessarily has to be mistreated to "turn". About 10 years ago I witnessed an incident involving a pit bull and it really WAS terrifying. I knew the dogs owners and I knew the dog and trust me, this dog had never been mistreated. Any dog can turn nasty - I had a Welsh Corgi as a pet years ago and as he got older he was truly the most bad-tempered dog you could ever meet. The problem with dogs like pit bulls is the damage they can do. If people want to keep them as pets that's fine just as long as they ensure they are kept well away from me and my family.

I used to run a dog shelter and Pitts were my fav.LOVELY animals,I miss working with them, I'd own one in a heartbeat.

Oh I totally agree with you! I have NEVER believed in that whole 'bully breed' theory. A dogs personality adnd agressive will never be based on it's breed to me. I love pit bulls, and I think they are very beautiful. I also like Rottweilers a lot. I work with animals as a Nighttime Pet Care Specialist at a PetsHotel. That means I spend a whole lot of time with dogs. So far out of the "bully breeds" we have had 3 rottweilers, 2 dobermans, 2 boxers and a pitbull mix stay at the hotel. And I have taken everyone of them out and let them run around in the kitchen with me. Or I'll sit in their rooms with them. They are the SWEETEST dogs ever, and I can't understand how people can think certain breeds should be banned.

i would say they are not to fear. i think is the way the owner trains them. i have a friend she has the meanest looking pitbull on the block but he is actualy friendly and very protective of her son. if you treat them like crap i have heard they might rebel.........but i honestly don't fear them.