Dog attack report by breed - Nov 2014

Since the previous report in October, pit bulls have continued to single themselves out with a high rate of disfiguring and fatal attacks against humans. The dogs that commit the attacks are not, as some like to infer, abused, neglected or mistreated animals. Virtually all of the dogs involved in these attacks have been well treated "family pit bulls", many of which were also well-behaved before launching the sudden, violent surprise attack.

A quick review of the top 5 breeds associated with fatal attacks since record keeping began in 1982 shows pit bulls as the worst offenders with Rottweilers a very distant second, followed by Huskies, Wolf hybrids and Bullmastiffs, which had previously displaced German Shepherds from the top 5 and are moving up the list very quickly. Given current trends, fatalities from Bullmastiffs are expected to surpass those from wolf hybrids within the next few months, and from huskies within the next year or two.

A picture is, as they say, worth 1000 words, so here is a pie chart presentation of the fatalities listed in the spreadsheet snippet above:

We find it rather telling to compare the distribution of attacks by breed over the past 30 some years to what we're seeing in the past 2 years. As pit bulls have increased to about 6% of the dog population, their share of fatal and disfiguring attacks on humans has simply swamped all other breeds combined - this despite the fact that the vast majority of pit bull attacks are committed against defenseless animals. Their violence against humans is merely the faintest echo of their violence against animals

You may download the full report for your study here

Hounded - a grieving father tells his story

Jeff Borchardt, like many of us, had bought into the myth that pit bulls are just like any other dog, and that it's all in how they are raised. He learned otherwise, losing his son Dax in a gruesome nightmare that nobody should ever have to experience. While his son's babysitter was carrying him, her well behaved pit bulls attacked her, knocked her down to get to Dax, and mauled him for 15 minutes in a relentless attack, during which the babysitter was also badly injured as she tried in vain to save him.

This alone is a heavy cross to bear, but there's more. As difficult as it is to believe, there are organized groups of people dedicated to suppressing the bad news about pit bulls, and spreading dangerous propaganda - the sort of propaganda that got Dax killed. These people are without conscience or common decency, and will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who dares to speak frankly about the risks associated with pit bulls.

Read the full story at Daxton's Friends

Innocent victims of pit bull politics

"The pit bull owner did not face any charges in the attack, as he enjoyed the protections afforded by the new Ohio legislation. It's unfortunate that there was no protection for Zainabou"

Zainabou Drame, forever silenced by the neighbor's pit bulls

The injustice of Ohio's pit bull owner protection law is becoming more apparent as the victims pile up, and people are starting to speak out.

Dick Johnson weighs in - A remedy for Commissioner Philbrook
SRUV was first with the story - SRUV - A Remedy for Commissioner Philbrook
Scorched earth has also been speaking out - Scorched Earth: pit bull roundup

Life - AT ALL COSTS

The pit bull propaganda machine has had a huge head start, being well funded and having gotten started long before anyone had a clue what they were up to. But the one thing working against them is the fact that, by nature of daily new atrocities, pit bulls and their owners are making new enemies at a dizzying pace, and eventually all the well-funded and orchestrated propaganda campaigns money can buy won't make a dent.  Elsie is an animal lover who was introduced in a typical rude fashion to the pit bull movement, when her beloved Chihuahua, Ricky, was nearly mauled to death by a neighbor's pit bull. Here is her story:

My journey into 'Pitdom' began after my Chihuahua Ricky and I were attacked on the 3rd of October, this year. Thus began my journey into total fear, confusion...and hatred for what a Pit Bull can do. And what disturbed me even more was how much I hated that Pit Bull for the horrendous suffering he caused my Ricky. 

Ricky

I felt consumed by this hatred in a way I have never felt before. Then I realized my hatred was spilling over through my fear onto all big dogs, but especially Pits and similar looking dogs. A couple of nights ago as I tried to go to sleep, I could not let go of the anger, so that I could sleep in peace. I kept re-living the attack over and over. I kept hearing Ricky scream in pain, I kept smelling the warm blood and smelling the Pit Bull's breath on my cheek as he bit me trying to rip Ricky back out of my arms, I kept seeing the fixed, glazed over blood-lust in his eyes. But mainly I kept seeing Ricky looking at me with agony in his eyes and beseechingly asking me for help when the Pit Bull kept ripping and tearing his flesh off and my feeling of absolute helplessness and powerlessness to stop the attack, to stop Ricky's pain. 

I kept seeing myself being attacked again and again...but this time I had all sorts of weapons...first a knife, then a gun, then a break-stick. Sometimes Ricky was in the Pit's mouth, sometimes it was just me. Then I knew it was time to try to heal this rip in my life or it was going to destroy any happiness I could ever have. I prayed and asked for help to release the anger and the hatred... and the overwhelming fear. 

After the pit bull attack

 I know animals are an extension of us humans and are dependent upon our goodwill in so many ways. I also know that sometimes this dependence we feel from the animal kingdom, especially our canine and feline friends, can go wrong. We can begin to idealize our part in these animal's lives to the point that we cannot separate idealization from logic, fact from fiction, truth from falsehoods, what we wish to be from what is. We become blind to the fact that an animal is still an animal and that genetics play a large part in WHO our animals really ARE at the basic root level and we forget that no matter how much we love them... they remain animals with a genetic makeup different from ours. 

So with the anger and hatred still seething in me and tons of 'not wanting to' I began to watch the videos of attacks by Pit Bulls and I began to watch the videos of Pit Bulls that people have put up on YouTube of their pet Pit Bulls being the family dog. I saw the murderous fury in the attacking Pit Bulls and I saw the love from the family Pit Bulls toward their humans. And there was no doubt that they loved their humans. I watched videos of family Pit Bulls being loving towards their humans...and an instant later attacking one of the family members that it loves. All this was not unexpected to me. BUT what was unexpected by me was watching the confusion in its' eyes once an attacking Pit Bull calmed down. Absolute confusion. It had no clue that it had done something so horrendously savage. 

This is when the anger and hatred in me for these pit bulls left me. They really are not to blame for doing what their genetics lead them to do. The ones to blame are the humans who wish upon them the ability to be something that they are not. It is not that attacking pit bulls have bad owners, though many do as is the case with pet owners of any animal, it has nothing to do with being mistreated... it is what they are. You cannot love out genetics that were created to attack and attack until either they or their chosen victim is dead. They are not lap dogs and never will be. Put all the tutus you want on them, it will not change their lethal genetic makeup. But what it will do is cause untold suffering to these dogs and it will lead to their injury and death by people trying to protect themselves, their loved ones and their pets, and rightly so - just as these humans would do in the event of an attacking bear or mountain lion who is out of its' territory and attempting to do what its' genetics lead it to do, namely to attack. 

I've been a bleeding-heart animal rights person all my life. I use to get furious when I'd hear about animal shelters euthanizing cats and dogs. Feeling anything was better than death for these poor creatures. And when I would hear about no-kill shelters, I would be ecstatic, thinking "okay, they are finally getting it that killing all these strays is wrong". When I would hear about dogs being shot, especially by police officers, I would be furious, and demand that person's head on a platter. Never once did I question why the dog was shot. In my ideological thinking death was death and always wrong in reference to an animal losing its life by a human's actions, regardless of the reason. 

 Now to the Pit Bull and Pit Mix breeds or lineages...My first encounter with a Pit Bull was in Georgia when one was at large (not a stray) and killed my sister's Shitzu, Gizzy. It was not reported and the hunters who owned the Pit Bull were not confronted. Then the second time the Pit Bull who was at large (not a stray but owned by the same hunters) that came onto my sister and brother-in-law's property and attacked my sister's 17 year old cat, China. My sister was not at home but my brother-in-law was and stood by helpless to stop the attack that in a mere minutes left China in shreds and an unrecognizable bloody mass in what she had always believed was her safe home to laze about in the sun. My brother-in-law got his gun and when he came back out with it, the Pit Bull owner pulled up and asked in sad hysterics 'You not gonna shoot my dog, are you man?' No my brother-in-law didn't shoot the Pit Bull and the man loaded up his blood-soaked dog into his truck. Leaving my brother-in-law in horror at what had just happened and wondering how the hell he was gonna tell my sister that her beloved cat was dead, not from natural causes after a life well-lived, but by a nightmare called a Pit Bull. He buried China before my sister came home because he didn't want her to see the condition China was in. And again the attack was not reported and the Pit Bull owner was not made to be accountable. 

Several years later I moved to Florida where my sister and brother-in-law now lived. There were two chained Pit Bulls next door. One of them got off his chain all the time. One day my Chihuahua, Ricky, happened to cross paths with this Pit Bull. There was a chain-link fence around the Pit Bull's home and around my sister's home. But that did not stop this Pit Bull. I heard Ricky screaming and ran out the door with my sister and brother-in-law. The Pit Bull had Ricky. He 'de-gloved' Ricky's whole back-end. By this time the dog's owner was trying to get his dog to release Ricky. His wife was screaming at him that she had told him to get rid of 'those dogs.' A neighbor got to Ricky before I could and brought him to me. I could not tell just how bad his injuries were because there was so much blood. I held him under the faucet to wash away some of the blood to assess his injuries. They were horrific. I wrapped his back-end to try to stop the bleeding. The Pit Bull's owner came over and was crying and telling me how he will 'replace' Ricky if he dies 'with any dog' I chose. Right. Our beloved pets get murdered and they are just replaceable. I stayed by Ricky's side, tending his wounds and praying while he went through pain, shock and horrendous fevers...On the third day he looked at me and wagged his tail. I thought I was all cried-out but I wasn't. This time I cried because I knew he was going to make it. It took days and days before he could stand. His left hip still goes out on him and I have to massage it back into place. He also has the scars on either side of his hips and on his hind legs that are a testament to this attack. But did I ever once think that I should report this attack? No. Did I even once expect this vicious Pit Bull, that obviously cannot be controlled by his owner, to be put down? No. Did the owner keep this vicious Pit Bull? Yes. He continues to get loose and up until this last attack on Ricky, my sister would yell at him to go home. 

After the attack on me and Ricky on October 3rd, my sister now knows to not do that and she also knows that her grandchildren are potentially in danger from this dog. Let's talk about the two attacks on my sister's pets by Pit Bulls owned by a hunter. Would this hunter tell you he loves his dogs? Absolutely. After all he allows them to run loose because when they are not running loose they live boxed in a prison with bars. Is he a responsible Pit Bull owner? Absolutely not. Does he respect other people, their pets and the law against unlawful trespass? Absolutely not. Should he lose all rights to own a killer dog? Absolutely. 

Now, this Pit Bull owner loves his dogs, right? Yet he knowingly puts these dogs in danger of being shot by allowing them to run at large. Right? If he loves his dogs so much, why would he put them in danger? He puts them in danger because he knows most people love animals and do not wish them harm. Thus he does not feel he is putting his Pit Bulls in danger. So actually, he's not just putting his Pit Bulls in danger, he's putting all pets and other domestic animals in that area in danger. Does he care? No. The owner of the first Pit Bull that attacked Ricky...Would he answer yes if you asked him if he loves his dogs? Absolutely. But he keeps these dogs that he so loves on a chain the majority of their lives. Like slaves of the past or like the prisoners in the chain-gangs in the past, like the elephants and tigers and lions in circuses. 

Were those slaves or those people on the chain-gangs and those exotic animals that live their lives within caged bars and in chains, happy? No. And neither are his dogs. He lives with these Pit Bulls in the city so of course he thinks he is doing the right thing by keeping them on chains. After all, he knows that they are not lap dogs. And he was horrified that the one Pit Bull attacked my Ricky. He tries to make sure that his beloved dogs do not get off chain, but being Pit Bulls, they will get off chain and they will get through a chain-link fence, and they will attack. Is it their fault that they do what their genetics tell them to do? No. For that is what they know. 

The fault lays with a human being that is forcing these dogs to live an unnatural existence and then crying when they revert to what they are - dogs - with the genetic lineage to attack and not stop until the prey is dead. It does not matter that the prey may be a child. Dog science has proven that these dogs do not differentiate between animal prey and human prey, especially human prey that is small. These dogs do not need anything to 'set them off' - what sets them off is their genetics kicking in. When they attack, maul and kill the child who has been by their side since birth, it's not that they suddenly hate that child, it's because their prey drive was stronger than their love for their human. I have watched video after video and looked at picture after picture of these dogs during an attack, and after the prey-drive has abated. 

During the attacks they would look like demonic hounds of hell, worse that anyone's nightmare; these pit bull attacks were the most horrific things I've ever witnessed, and that includes my many years as an ICU and ER nurse. Watching these videos and looking at these pictures of and after attacks is so not easy. After the attacks when the adrenaline dies down and their prey-drive is abated they are the saddest looking, most confused looking blood-covered creatures imaginable. 

They have no clue what a nightmare they just caused. They have no clue why the humans are screaming at them. They have no clue why the humans have wounded them. They have no clue why they are being cruelly lassoed by AC and thrown in a cage in the back of a vehicle and are being driven away from the humans they love. Do not for a second think these dogs do not love, for they do and they do wish to make their human owners happy, but they cannot resist their genetics forever. No more than a Siberian Tiger can resist its' genetics. No more than the Bear can resist its' genetics. 

Just like the Siberian Tiger and the Bear that loves their human masters but 'snaps' one day when their prey-drive kicks in, killing the person who loves them and whom they love, these dogs cannot resist their genetics when it kicks in and overrides whatever love they have for their human companions. And for humans to continue to torture these creatures by expecting them to be other than what they are is an inhumanity indeed. 

And what is even more wrong for these Pit Bull genetic-lineage dogs, if they survive an assault after they attack, is that they all eventually end up in an animal shelter, and a great many are euthanized. Some live out their lives for years and years in unrelenting isolation with a 'bone' thrown to them here and there while they wait out the rest of their lives in confinement. This is how the bleeding heart animal lovers show their love for these poor dogs. Life at any cost, whether to the dog itself, or to the people and animals these dogs attack. There must be life for this sad dog, at any cost.

Not to even mention how many safe adoptable animals lose their lives or receive less than ideal treatment due to the over-abundance of Pit Bull types taking up limited shelter resources, leaving little for the rest of the animals. The bleeding heart animal rights crowd know it is wrong and to try to atone for that wrong, they push these creatures on an unsuspecting public through their unending attacks on anything or anyone contrary to their aberrant love and anyone or anything that sees how wrong they are. 

They attack, smear, use the terms 'racist,' 'breedist,' 'unfair,' 'hatred,' 'ignorant.' - a never ending list of vicious descriptors. Meanwhile they totally dishonor these dogs by dressing them in tutus and push propaganda that has been proven false and while they take pictures of their babies with these poor dogs, being forced to portray a fantasy image about them, and more importantly, putting their children in harms way. 

Their aberrant love for an animal outweighs their love and responsibility for and to their children. Knowing this is wrong, they push unrelentingly an unholy and unsafe agenda to give these dogs status above a human. The world these dogs were created for is over. That is why people who use them for their intended purpose are found guilty of animal abuse. 

Horrible thought it may be for these dogs to have been designed and bred to fight each other, that was their purpose and that is what drives them. This will no doubt piss off the animal rights and the Pit Pushers but it's the truth. The only difference in the people who use these dogs for their intended purpose NOW and the men who created them for fighting THEN, is that back then it was a well-respected 'sport' and the dogs were valued and their well-being was valued, much like a race-horse is valued. The people who use them NOW for dog-fighting are the dregs of humanity and the dregs of the dog world and have no respect nor well-wishes for their dogs. They do their dog-fighting in secret and in shadow because they know it is wrong. The dog-fighters of old DID NOT know it was wrong. They took pride in their sport and that pride showed in how they treated their prize dogs. I am so thankful that we now live in a world where it is KNOWN and ACCEPTED how cruel and wrong dog-fighting is and we want the stiffest of punishments against people who do such.

But, in a nutshell that is is exactly why these dogs no longer fit in in our world. Their world is dead. They have NO PLACE in this world for their killer genes. Except to dog-fighters who will never totally disappear because the dogs they use are the dogs bred for the purpose...Pit Bull and Pit Bull Mixes. As long as this genetic line exists, there will be dog-fighters. Plain and simple. And you bleeding heart animal rights people and you Pit Pushers have condemned these dogs to lives of hell because you are trying to force them to fit in in a world where they do not belong. YOU are NOT 'animal lovers' nor 'Pit Bull lovers'...you are aberrations of the most cruel kind who force life at any cost upon a genetic species that are making life hell not only for the dogs themselves but for every other living creature, human and animal. pit bulls are not in the wrong, you pit pushers and bleeding heart animal rights people are correct in that - don't blame the breed. But I will complete the sentence for you: blame yourselves.

 The last attack on Ricky almost cost him his life, again, and ended up also harming his human...an attack by a Pit Bull that is so loved by his female human owner that he spends 99% of his time in a feces and urine-soaked wire cage because he is too vicious to be out in public. But she loves him, so much that his being in her life is all important...to the point that he is an unwilling and unhappy prisoner all the days of his life...

He loves her and the small children that live with him...until his genetics kick in and over-ride his love for his humans and then he will look out from his blood-spattered eyes in confusion when his prey-instincts abate to find one of his young humans that he so loved laying under him, and as he is being led by AC to be euthanized, he will be looking back at his human and wondering what he did wrong. In the year that I have lived next to this long-suffering young Pit Bull I have seen him 5 times. The 4th time was when he attacked me and Ricky when he was being brought out his front door on a leash. He was an it loved... above and beyond all costs by his human jailer.

Welcome new blogger!

We are pleased to introduce Dick Johnson's new blog, "mainphrame"

We've long enjoyed Dick's insights here and at other places where he's commented. Let's extend a warm welcome to Dick, and check out his inagural blog post here: A closer look at a "hero pit bull" story

Dog attack report by breed - October 2014

In this month's update it is, not surprisingly, the pit bull type dog - originally designed specifically to commit atrocities against animals for sport - which continues to commit fatal and disfiguring attacks at a rate greater than all other breeds combined - this despite the continued insistence from pit bull promoters that "it's all in how you raise them".

Human victims of pit bull violence

 
Animal lovers also continue to be hit hard by pit bull violence, as beloved animal companions are killed in front of their horrified owners. Occasionally such attacks make the news. Lady, the harmless little dog shown below, was mauled to death on a Portland street car by a pit bull, even as she tried to get away by hiding behind her owner. One witness told reporters that it was the most horrific thing he'd ever seen.

RIP Lady (L); the blood spattered street car (R)

Aside from the violence against animals, pit bull type dogs injured 72 people, maimed 47 and mauled 4 people to death in the past month; pit bull mixes and other bully breeds committed 5 attacks.  

All other breeds combined were involved in a total of 3 attacks during the same period.

Top 5 offenders over the past 32 years

Without the pit bull attacks, it would have been a rather quiet month. It's apparent, when one looks at the 32 year record, comparing it to current month to month totals, that the pit bull problem is worsening. Unfortunately it will continue to worsen, until our leaders find the political will to stand against the pit bull lobby.

A copy of the full report as of Oct 5 2014 can be accessed here

Dog attack report by breed - Sept 2014

The top 5

In the 25 days since the last published report on August 7th, there were no reported attacks on humans in North America by Rottweilers, Huskies, Wolf hybrids, or Bull Mastiffs. There was one attack by a Boxer and one attack by an unidentified breed. During the same interval, pit bulls inflicted serious injuries on 25 people, maimed 19, and mauled to death 3 individuals. 

The human cost of pit bull violence

The rate of pit bull attacks against animals is far more horrific, there being on the order of 100 times as many attacks on animals as there are on humans

There are many serious or fatal pit bull attacks on pets every day. 

It's worth noting that, if you remove pit bulls from the equation, it would shape up as a relatively quiet month, and that's the case most of the time.

The full current report from animals24-7.com is available here

Dog attack report by breed - Aug 2014

We've been busy lately with some other "big picture" activities, but with the summer of 2014 beginning to wind down, it's about time to publish a current version of the statistics on serious and fatal dog attacks. 

Since the previous summer report in June of last year, 39 people have been mauled to death by pit bulls; an additional 737 have been maimed or disfigured. Attacks from all other breeds combined are but a small fraction of that number.

One of the lucky ones - pit bull attack survivor Lorrie George

In reaction to these reports, there are invariably accusations, denials, and questions from pit bull advocates who are angered by the identification of breed in the attack data, and who charge that the media reports are all based on hearsay, that nobody can identify a pit bull, etc. So it's helpful to share an excerpt from the report here:

Compiled by the editor of ANIMALS 24-7 from press accounts since 1982, this table covers only attacks by dogs of clearly identified breed type or ancestry, as designated by animal control officers or others with evident expertise, who have been kept as pets. All accounts are cross-checked by date, location, and identity of the victim.  Attacks by police dogs, guard dogs, and dogs trained specifically to fight are also excluded. 

What does this mean, in practical terms? Well, first of all, it means that the breed identification is fairly reliable. It also means that the attacks counted in this report did not come from fighting dogs or guard dogs, but were, for the most part, committed by family pets. The only anomaly in that regard affects Huskies, as many of the Huskies involved in the recorded attacks were actually semi-feral sled dogs, raising the numbers above what would normally be expected.

Here is a graphical summary from the report, listing the 5 breeds most involved in serious attacks on humans. As you can see, pit bulls remain the top offenders, and all other breeds combined don't come close to their level of violence.

You may access the full report here

A tale of two breeds

Since this article was originally published 4 years ago, there have been scores of people killed and thousands maimed or disfigured in the US by "family pit bulls", and yet the myth persists that pit bulls are harmless, misunderstood dogs. Pit bull advocates like to try to deflect the negative attention away from pit bulls, to other types of dogs, such as Akitas - which they claim are much more dangerous than pit bulls, but interestingly enough, Akitas have been responsible for a grand total of zero human fatalities in the US during the same period. I've taken the liberty of updating the facts and figures from the original article to reflect current reality.

Naturally, we all know that dogs can be dangerous, and some types are certainly more dangerous than others. We rely on the dogs sanity and good temperament to inhibit them from attacking us, our families and our animal companions. Some breeds have caused more concern then others, some due to their unpredictable behavior, others due simply to their size and strength. Many communities have reacted to horrific attacks by enacting Breed Specific Legislation, a subject that seems to drive some folks completely over the edge. It's not my intent to make the definitive statement about Breed Specific Legislation here, but perhaps we shall look deeper into that contentious subject in a later article.

What with all the reports of pit bull violence in the news lately, I find it interesting to compare the "marketing" of pit bulls with that of another breed which is also considered dangerous - the Akita. Both breeds are physically capable of causing a lot of trouble, and both breeds have their fans, rescuers and advocates. But the marketing of the two breeds is very different, as are their respective records of violence.

Let's take a look at how Akita advocates characterize the breed, for those seeking information:

Akitas are inherently aggressive towards other animals and for this reason, they should not be allowed to run free or roam at will.

Akitas like to take charge--an inherited trait from their wolf ancestry and may at some time, challenge you for the dominant position.

Akitas may respond with aggression if treated harshly.

Akitas do not like to be teased and can respond by biting.

Akitas consider eye contact a challenge and can react aggressively. 

That sort of advice provides some serious food for thought, making it clear that these dogs can be dangerous. While responsible Akita owners generally have good, well-behaved dogs, it's clear that Akita ownership is not for everybody. That particular advice came from the akitarescue.org site, but the same advice has been available for some time from most Akita organizations.

It's interesting to how compare this to how pit bulls are described by their advocates - the following points were taken from a representative pit bull information site, and any of them, if googled, will provide pointers to a number of other web sites where you can read these and similar claims:

The bull breeds are nicknamed the "nanny dog" - they are great with kids.

Pit Bulls are not human aggressive. They are gentle and loving dogs.

In actuality, pits are bred to be affectionate toward people

Pit Bulls are no more vicious than Golden Retrievers, Beagles or other popular dogs!

Very interesting. In contrast to the dangerous Akita, the pit bull seems rather harmless - it's all blue skies, rainbows and butterflies, if the pit bull advocates are to be believed. Apparently pit bulls are ideal family pets.

Just to make sure though, let's see if we can confirm this marketing info with empirical evidence. There have been a number of 3rd party studies on dog attacks that we can reference. Here are a few of them:

U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008
Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to June 25, 2010
Mortality, Mauling, and Maiming by Vicious Dogs
Are "Pit Bulls" Different? An Analysis of the Pit Bull Terrier Controversy

Even a casual glance through studies referenced above destroys the assertion of the advocates that pit bulls are harmless and gentle with people.

Some highlights of the studies: Pit bulls, estimated to be around 6% of the dog population, were responsible for more maimings and deaths than all other breeds combined during the 28 year study period. Rottweilers are a distant second, while Labs, German Shepherds and Dobermans were far below the leaders. Akitas were further down in the rankings, with around the same number of deaths as Boxers, Chows, and Dobermans. There have been 8 deaths attributed to Akitas, most of which apparently occurred in guard dog scenarios. In contrast, there have been a total of 86 deaths by Rottweiler and 301 deaths by pit bull. The pit bull death toll is aside from the astounding number of pit bull attacks in which the victim survived, but with permanent disability and/or disfigurement.

The study by the Emergency Room doctors (Bini et al) made the following conclusion: "Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs."

So to recap, Akita advocates warn that Akitas must be treated with respect and caution and can be dangerous. There have been some injuries and even a death from an Akita bite. On the other hand, pit bull advocates claim that pit bulls are just misunderstood people-pleasers who have been unfairly demonized by a vast media conspiracy. But what do we see in the cold hard reality of the real world? While referred to as "nanny dogs", and touted as "great with children", the "family pit bull" is statistically the most dangerous type of dog one could possibly own. Pit bulls are known to have killed far more children in the USA than all other types of dogs combined. 

The contrast between the Akita and pit bull communities can be as striking as the difference between the respective records of violence of the two breeds. While the Akita community can be generally characterized as cautious, frank and responsible, the pit bull community appears to live in denial and has a credibility problem.

The disconnect with reality is unbelievable. But what is even more is concerning are the increasing pressure to increase the magnitude of that disconnect. There have been renewed efforts from top pit bull advocacy groups to "rehabilitate the image" of the pit bull and counter it's "bad rap" by ramping up the "education" campaigns.

Let me get this right - instead of working to reduce the number of pit bulls dumped into the system by breeders, or holding pit bull owners accountable for attacks committed by their animals, we are just going to turn up the volume on the pit bull hype machine instead.

Instead of help for victims of pit bull violence, or better yet, preventative measures, we'll instead have to make do with fabricated pit bull hero stories, and feel-good articles about how wonderful they are. More pit bulls will be pushed onto an unsuspecting public, and the pit bull death toll will continue to rise, even while the propaganda machine blares forth the message, ever louder and more frantically, that pit bulls are wonderful. War is peace. Black is white. Love is hate. It's 1984 all over again.

One can only hope that, as pit bulls and their owners continue to over reach, and to make new enemies every single day, with each new atrocity, each new beloved animal companion mauled to death, each new toddler torn apart by the "family pit bull", a tipping point will be reached, and a critical mass of people will rise up and say "enough!"

I just saved my dogs life

Lucy says:

The pit bull across the street (a new one) darted across the street into my yard and started going after my Chihuahua and ran in side my house trying to catch her. I have this combo mace/alarm siren device and a knife I always carry on me. I deployed the siren, dropped the mace, opened up my knife. It was complete mayhem. Both of my daughters and my husband were trying to get the pitbull away from our Chihuahua. The pitbull then ran outside and the owner of the pitbull face planted on our driveway and was all bloodied from trying to get his pitbull under control. I stabbed it between the shoulder blades in the back, and it took off across the street back to his house with the bloody owner chasing it. I stood in the driveway and screamed at the top of my lungs. My husband told me to get into the house which I did. My girls came with me while my husband talked to the owner. I do believe that, this time, I was prepared. I managed to save my dogs life.

Roxanne, safe after the attack

Update: the owner of the Land shark that came into our house to attack our dog didn't know that I stabbed the beast until he read the police report today. He called the police to press charges against me and they said "Absolutely Not".

Update - the owner of the mauler that tried to kill Roxanne has concocted a story to peddle to social media:

 The all too predictable reaction from those eager to form a lynch mob:

Unfortunately this is quite typical after a pit bull goes on a killing spree. The pit bull owner paints himself and his mauler as victims, and spreads his own narrative. Lying comes to these people as easily as breathing comes to most of us. (Fortunately the post above was removed once the fraud was discovered - but the damage has been done)

The epidemic of pit bull violence against pets, livestock and companion animals is horrific, and getting worse every decade. Roxanne was blessed to have an owner who was ready and willing to defend her.

A close escape

The number of innocent animals mauled by pit bulls is simply heartbreaking. It's a welcome reprieve when a beloved animal companion survives such an attack. Here is one victim who survived.

It has been a year since my Yorkiepoo, Colette, was attacked by an unleashed bully breed dog. I'll never forget her screams while she was being attacked.

The attack was awful, but could have been much worse. I was walking my Yorkiepoo and Jack Russell terrier when two unleashed bully breeds (one American Bulldog and one Pit Bull) came at us. Luckily, the pit bull and my JRT just stood there, but the American Bulldog savagely attacked. I keep reminding myself that I was fortunate that Colette wasn't hurt worse (or killed), that the second dog didn't attack, that my JRT wasn't attacked and that my injuries were minimal. but it makes me hesitant to walk in a very nice neighborhood.

A recent picture of Colette.

Note - out of all canine attacks on animals, pit bulls appear to have committed no less than 95% of such attacks, an unprecedented level of violent aggression, but one which can be accounted for by the specific purposes for which pit bull type dogs were developed, and the specific resulting traits which define their genetic imperative.

See the study How many animals do pit bulls kill? for more information.

The Akita

Are you considering an Akita? Think again. Richard Gere gave this breed a boost in "Hachi: a dog's tale"  but this is no Retriever or Shepherd we're talking about. In order to properly care for one of these large, strong willed animals, you'll need to know exactly what you're dealing with. We came across this article on the apparently defunct dogster.com, and felt it was worth passing along. 

It really has been a long trek with me and the Akita, as for a long time they were on my secret list of breeds I could not stand. My very first childhood dog was part Akita, and while I loved him dearly his aggression was just a trauma to me....not merely that he had it, but HOW, which I would come to know to be rather Akita specific. I then went through an extended history of Akitas aggressing on my own dogs and on those of my comrades, and just for my own sensibility could not exactly connect with a dog who was so NOT a GSD.

For a working dog, I would like to see something more trainable and handler thirsty, thank you very much, and so for the longest time while those who I would review the breed for never would have guessed my personal feelings, there was no love lost between me and the Akita. He was a pretty face but a marauder, and stacked up against other breeds not worth much to me personally. Didn't like him. Didn't like him one bit. I didn't even admire anyone who liked him....I thought they were being sucked in by an impressive form and were just clueless to how dogs COULD be.

That would change in, of all things, a shelter setting when I was asked to test out dominant dogs. And people were not too keen to mess with this staunch figure who did not bark, did not growl, did not flinch, but just in his stance lent the firm suggestion that he was packing heat and was not afraid to use it, but would not let you know when. I am also not only a wildlife rehabber but more to the point a stallion manager, and what I found was an animal strikingly reminiscent of the latter. Not the jiggy, over thirsty stallions, but the crested ones who were vats of confidence. The ones who would try to fake you out.
And in time, we came to an understanding, the Akita and me, and he won my begrudging admiration. For in such a dank, depressing dungeon of chaos, with nothing left to hold onto, he would still stand proud. A sense of self and self assurance....science says animals do not have that, but they would do well to pull their faces out of books and stats....that belonged only to this dog. This defiantly proud animal, stuck in domesticity but never quite electing to bow. 

Now before I say a word more, to underscore this CLEARLY. They are adorable as puppies, they are stunning adults, and they are impressiveness on a leash....massive ego dogs. And massively overbred, milled to the gills. You will see many variations in Akita temperament. I have found some softer, I am found some affably outgoing, even some submissive. The Akita being spoken of here is what breeders go for, judges look for, and what breed fanatics revere most. THIS is the Akita in America when he is what his greatest supporters would expect him to be. Some would call the Akita dominant. To me, more aptly put, he is the personification of ALPHA. He is confident, contained and never out-stated. Drama and the Akita are often many miles removed. He is mysterious at times and can be hard to read. He does everything with self assurance....he doesn't rush in - he just responds. He is often intolerant of stranger dogs in his backdrop. I have more than a few times seen an Akita not show aggressive response until within strike range, and then it comes fast and hard. For he is not aggressive in a traditional sense - he is resolved, absolute, intent. He can, more than most, be intolerant of those messing around with his possession or his own sense of order. He is, infamously, intolerant of heavy or harsh handling, or being treated disrespectfully.

This is the romantic Akita, but it also can be the actual Akita. This is a niche breed who should be SO less popular than he is. Those who love him do so profoundly. A dog from quite a different culture, he is not a fawning or highly emotive dog, but he is intensely loyal to his family. He would defend them to the death, considers them his own, wants to be near them, and separates from them poorly. Rehomed as adults, Akitas can take a while to settle in.....this is a dog of discretion and they do not open their hearts carelessly. Once embraced by an Akita however, he is yours for life. And in death as well, much as Akita legend would show. To understand the Akita, cultural understanding is important, as is to function. There are many hats this breed has worn in his history, but I think the one that most defines him is a hunter of large game, which he pursued not only with determination, but also held at bay until the hunter could arrive. Now when it is a bear being held, should the dog back down he would likely get killed, but getting too riled up, also, would have escalated the situation and perhaps prompted the bear to strike.

So in the Akita character, we do see a dog with lots of determination, an absoluteness of holding his ground and tremendous rates of confidence and self control. Many who are drawn to this breed find something reminiscent of the wolf in him and something primal....a "savage beauty." They also are able to enjoy some marvelous qualities the Akita can bring. One is that for all his size, he is not bursting with energy, has a marvelous in-home energy, is very tidy, and can be rather good at not being constantly underfoot. He is, in short, a superior house companion. He also has a vibrant, charming demeanor and an enthusiasm for life that brightens his personality tremendously, and is extraordinarily devoted to his people and his life. He is a protector and a guard dog who takes the matter of turf very seriously....an excellent breed for a sense of inner security....and yet is not a noisy animal.

When an Akita barks, LOOK, for infrequently is he a random barker....he is not one to sweat the little things in life. Many of the other breeds considered for security and protection are considerably more reactive than this dog. These are qualities that partner well with our modern lives. As well, beauty is as beauty does, and this is an enormously intelligent breed and a true thinker. You may not always know his thoughts, but that he is always assessing and always aware is vividly clear. A very wise animal, he seldom does anything stupid and has a very knowing presence. It IS that presence that draws people. 

There is much Akita brings to the plate. Presence personified, he is one of the most loyal of all breeds, offers a distinct brightness and he is amazingly responsible. He has a great energy, is easy to live with and offers a tremendous sense of security and pride in ownership. I am sure Taz is destined to agree, however, that this is NOT the dog for an inexperienced owner. Akitas need a great deal of socialization. They need an owner who will ensure their world to not become too "small"...getting out with them frequently, having them experience many different situations, so that they will not define their territory lines too profoundly. And they need the experience of someone who knows how to be a calm, strong and effective leader.

This breed is a total Goldilocks. If you are too soft with him he may well not respect you....and this is a dog who can be naturally driven, to function, to enforce his wont....and yet at the same time if you are too stern with him, he will not tolerate that, even if you are his beloved. There are very few breeds who are as infamous to their responses for overbearing handling....this IS a dog who will put you on the floor....but not having control of a dog so determined is an equally bad idea. He already loves you....now he wants to be sure you know what you are doing, that you do it well, and that you treat him with respect. A dog of very strong will and at times an achingly independent mind....far less a follower than many....the Akita is a training challenge where fairness, consistency and self assurance are paramount.

Those who connect with this breed can manage OB titles with him and even can turn him into a hunting dog and retriever. They also can do well in therapy work.  A good mentor is essential, as well as is a devotion to laying a good foundation down, always having control of your dog, and being someone worth listening to.

The single greatest piece of sage Akita advice I can give is that an Akita WILL decide what is acceptable and what is not. If that sentence made you nervous, this breed may well be too much for you.

The original article was found at this link, which may or may not remain available:
http://www.dogster.com/forums/choosing_the_Right_Dog/thread/625201#

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For more information:
Akita Rescue: Facts about Akitas

Strategies for dealing with dangerous dogs next door

An anonymous reader sent these suggestions for dealing with maulers next door. This is a threat to be taken seriously as evidenced in tragic cases like those of  Klonda Richey and Juan Campos, not to mention the staggering number of innocent pets mauled to death in their own yards by invading pit bulls. We welcome comments, and if there is enough interest, we'll incorporate updates, improvements and refinements. 

First of all, get the neighbors on board.

Get as many neighbors to call in every single complaint they have, and send letters when needed. You cannot be the only one that wants the maulers gone. Make sure the owners get anonymous notes about their dogs being a threat, and let them know that every time their maulers leave the house someone is watching them, waiting to have them removed.

Do not harass them or be nasty, just let them know they are posing a threat and they will not be tolerated. Even the biggest jerk is bothered by a steady onslaught of complaints. REMAIN ANONYMOUS. There is power in this, as well as safety.

Keep in mind that if you engage these people directly, they may get violent. People have been shot and killed over this.

Stay safe. The owners are often as volatile as their grippers, and they frequently have anti social behaviors and criminal proclivities. Let the authorities handle them, and keep your actual names out of any actions.

You need the neighbors to be witnesses and write their own complaints about the dogs, so the sooner you organize them, they better. Just know most people are both lazy, AND hesitant to get involved. This may be the most frustrating thing. Head this off by offer to write the letters for them, as long as they agree with the content and are willing to sign it. The more people you can get to complain the better it is for you. Letters to the local newspaper can also help, if enough neighbors do it.

Secondly, approach the landlord or the property management company. 

Send the owners landlord a certified letter telling them all about the danger this dog poses, and list all of the attacks and escapes, plus any other witnesses. Make sure you include the bill for your dogs vet bills, with a detailed description of the wounds. Ask them for reimbursement, and ask who their insurance carrier is (you should already know this).

Let them know that they WILL be liable for any more attacks. Since they have been notified, if they do nothing to remedy the situation, it will be even worse for them financially if any attacks happen. Let them know that the average insurance claim for pit attacks is $500,000, with awards being much higher if a lawsuit is necessary.

Let them know that you understand their position, but that you cannot live in terror each day. Spell out clearly that your small children are in serious danger; they may have kids too. Be polite, be to the point, offer a way out: eviction. I would send it overnight, with a signature required for delivery.

Call the landlord and see if they are willing to do anything, and when this will happen. Make sure you wait until they get the letter. Be kind and polite, and make sure they know that they will be on the hook for any attacks from the maulers. If they are going to help, thank them profusely and tell them they are saving lives. People need to feel good
about doing the right thing.

Thirdly, approach their insurer.

Find the insurance carrier and send them a similar (but shorter, and more professional) letter. If you weren't paid by the landlord, make a claim. If you were paid, make sure they know this.

Tread carefully! Be advised that this step could result in the insurance company dropping the coverage.This could force the landlord to have the mauler removed in order to secure new insurance coverage, but it could also result in a victim being unprotected financially. Without insurance, victims can only get a judgement against the landlord, many years later, if you are lucky, with no guarantee of recovery.

To be fair, you may be unprotected anyway, as many carriers will not pay out for pit bull attacks. They are often not covered because of the inherent hazard. You can find out if they cover pit attacks BEFORE you let them know about the situation- if they don't, you might as well let them know, you have nothing to lose. If this is the case, also let that
landlord know that HE will be personally liable!

Fourth: Call the cops.

Engage the police department, and push for removal of the animal and for charges from the last attack (based on the pattern, which you MUST document carefully).

Call them about the dogs anytime you feel threatened, or they are lose, or trying to get loose/ ANY excuse to have them come out, you need a record of complaints. Be frank with them, some might actually help you. They may also be more apt to come with guns drawn if they know the dogs are likely to attack. This is good, one snarl and the grippers may be
dispatched.

Then send the Police/ Sheriff, and Animal Control, a letter with the same information, plus the dates of any complaints. Firmly request that the dog is removed, and remind them that they too have been informed, and when an attack on a human occurs, they may be considered responsible. They won't get hit financially, but people may lose their jobs or get suspended if the case is egregious enough. I wouldn't bet on this outcome, but it is still a good threat.

If the steps above just won't work, you might opt to go vigilante, in which case your legal covering will be shaky at best. But it is a matter of safety at this point, and I would call it self defense. (As a wise man once said, it's better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by 6.) The maulers will at some point "somehow" get loose and seize a human victim. Your children are in very real danger. If only I were kidding - but a pit bull attack is so sudden, and so violent that, even if you are right there, you may be unable to stop them. Your conscience must be your guide here in choosing between greater and lesser evils, for the greater good.

It would be best if you could see them at large, and record it on your cell phone. Then you can call the cops and tell them that you are in deadly situation, that they are violently aggressive and have killed before. When cops have to come out to take care of a pit bull running loose, things often escalate in such a way as to result in the removal of the threat.

Do not call animal control (aka, pit bull social workers), they won't help you, as they tend to be primarily concerned with trying to maintain a positive image for pit bulls. The police, on the other hand, see these attacks often enough they know to shoot to kill.

Of course there are other ways to rid the neighborhood of these killers permanently, but I don't think the owners of this site want anyone posting things that encourage harming any animal. It sickens me that it can come to this in order to keep people safe from these beasts.

To pit lovers who think this is cruel: F you. We are tired of being forced to deal with your deadly dogs everyday - especially those of which owners know to be aggressive, those that have killed animals and attacked humans in the past. It's on you to keep your maulers contained. They shouldn't be killing and attacking, ever, let alone at this insane rate. You all like to talk about responsible owners, but finding one is near impossible. 

The danger needs to be resolved before someone dies.