midjd
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Post by midjd on Dec 5, 2014 9:14:37 GMT -5
It's not about pits or other dogs being "naturally bad" -- it's about the potential for harm. If a Chihuahua bites you, you may end up with a few stitches. If a pit/boxer/GS/mastiff/etc. bites you, you could end up dead.
While I agree that each individual dog should be judged on its own merit, it seems like a couple of posters are saying that there is no greater categorical risk from large dogs than small dogs, and that is simply not true. Tiny dog Pixie may be 100x more likely to cause you harm than big dog Brutus, but 100 tiny dogs are much less likely to cause serious harm than 100 big dogs.
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movingforward
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 15, 2011 12:48:31 GMT -5
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Post by movingforward on Dec 5, 2014 9:42:37 GMT -5
Just hearing the name Michael Vick makes me want to hurl. He is a disgusting human being.
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Dec 5, 2014 11:05:04 GMT -5
I'd be curious on the follow ups to the dogs that were rehabilitated and adopted. I'd also be curious about the homes the dogs went to... how carefully the potential owners were screened. Did these dogs go to people who are more likely to be able to supervise and handle a dominant dog? Or did they parcel them out to anyone who expressed interest in them? I wonder how many of those rehabiltated and adopted dogs have found their way back to a shelter.  And yeah, I'm sorry but I'm of the opinion that dogs (all the breeds) have been bred to have certain qualities. I also think that dogs sometimes dont' win genetic roulette and they are born aggressive or with "mental issues" that can't be overcome. Think about it... some individual dogs of a terrier breed will kill small animals. It isn't that their owners didn't love them enough, or train them enough, or abused them in some way... it's part of their genetic makeup. Same with herding dogs or sight hounds - some of the herding dogs exhibit herding tendancies and the sight hounds will 'course' instictively. We've done a dandy fine job of instilling some amazing qualities into our dogs. I think can remove some of those inborn tendancies with enough training or enough love. Yeah, while you're around the dog might not respond to stimulus - but if you aren't there  I, personally, wouldn't want to have to deal with owning an aggressive dog. No matter how much training, how much loving I bestowed on that dog - I'd ALWAYS have to supervise that dog. Actually ALL dog owners should supervise their dog(s). I'd be loathe to leave a little kid ALONE with the family dog - no matter how loving/protective/gentle that dog was. It's a dog and child. Not a good mix. But, FWIW: I'd probably be more likely to give a Pit Bull/American Bull terrier/Akita/Chow bred by a breeder who's breeding for the 'show ring' or for 'temperment and conformation' more of a pass - than a pit bull (or any of the other fighting breeds) that's probably got a few generations of 'fighting dog' breeding. 'Cus, you know I'm guessing the people who fight dogs - probably aren't just breeding dogs willy nilly - they are breeding the best fighters or most aggressive dogs. But, yeah, I'm sure a good fighting dog can spawn a nice calm non aggressive family pet... but, I'd rather have a one of the "fighting/guarding" dog breeds that's been specifically bred for "family life" than one that's got a bunch of "killer instinct/aggression" from recent ancesters. We don't really know the background of the dog the little girl has. Just saying. These are the dogs you don't hear about in the news. They are well mannered, but yes, some traits are instinctual, just like any other dog. When dogs are bred by disreputable breeders for fighting- the dogs are screened. Those who are aggressive are trained to fight. Those who are not are used as bait dogs for those training. In other words, the aggressive ones use the non aggressive ones for practice. They aggressive ones are the ones that they then breed trying to get that trait as dominant. When you hear about fighting dogs being rehabilitated it is usually the bait dogs. I have a friend who works for county dog control. A few years ago, they got a call about a dead pit bull on the side of the road. She went and discovered that it was still alive. When they took it in, they discovered that it's internal organs were really messed up. Not damage, but in the wrong spots. Her heart was on the wrong side of her body, and not all the arteries were present. Her intestines were messed up too. A fundraiser was put on for all the surgeries this dog would need and she was eventually recovered. My friend adopted her and she was the sweetest dog. Unfortunately, there are far too many breeders out there with complete disregard for the Pits. While the above is an extreme case, there are many disreputable breeders that put dogs out there, and unfortunately, there are people that will take them. |
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Dec 5, 2014 11:10:10 GMT -5
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movingforward
Junior Associate
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Post by movingforward on Dec 5, 2014 11:26:11 GMT -5
I am not a fan of the NFL and I don't recognize most of the names on this list. I think you have a fair point though. Most people (even those who don't follow football) know what Michael Vick did, these others we may not even know about. Thanks for posting. |
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 5, 2014 12:54:07 GMT -5
It doesn't surprise me and I don't think he should be forgiven I bet he's just sneaker about it. I feel more for animals than humans because animals are trapped. |
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Deleted
Joined: Oct 11, 2024 6:24:33 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2014 13:25:36 GMT -5
Well, the Vick case was wildly televised and all the animal rights groups kept it in the headlines for a long time. Everyone heard about it, knows about it and knows Vick's name. The other cases may have been big news for a short time but then forgotten. Plus, there is the "innocent victims" aspect. Glancing down the list of crimes there, a lot of them are drugs or money laundering. Even the murders, people may wonder how much the victim had a part in it. Was it a drug deal gone bad? Fight over someone sleeping with someone else's spouse? With Vick it was obvious exploiting of something helpless. If it would have been a child porn ring it would have probably got just as much outrage. |
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