Holy Shit!

[ZLTFUL]

So I just got back home from the hospital. I got a call a few hours ago from my brother stating that my dad had been attacked by a dog and that it had killed my nephews dog.

I knew my parent's neighbors had a pit bull but always saw it as a well mannered dog and it was a rescue that was treated VERY well. The city also requires pits to have special registrations and insurance which the owner was religious about.

Apparently my dad had just let their dachsund out on his leash and my dad heard him barking up a storm. He opened the door just in time to see the pit bull attack the dachsund. My dad didn't think he just reacted and "jumped" into the fray. The pit virtually instantly killed the dachsund(a mini) and turned on my dad locking onto his hand first. My dad started kicking at it and it turned on his leg breaking his leg and causing several lacerations. My step mom heard all of this and came to the door with my brother's .40cal pistol. She put 2 rounds into it center mass and it released and backed off still not going down. My mom helped my dad into the house and they closed the door.
They called 911 which dispatched 2 patrol officers and an animal control unit. They found the pit bull back in the neighbors yard nursing its wounds. They were able to restrain the animal and take it away with little incident.

The dog is still alive and at the city animal shelter. The owner has SOME recourse to get it back but normally the procedure is to put the dog down because it killed another animal/attacked a person. The owner has expressed her condolences at the attack and was immediately forthcoming with all pertinent information to law enforcement. She has expressed that she has no intentions of trying to retrieve the dog because of what happened. She knew going in there was a risk but she always felt the risk was to her and not those who lived around her and now has some deep regrets.

My dad is going to be mostly fine. Some severe damage to his hand and several scars on his hand and leg plus a broken leg. It's going to be tough for him for a while as he is an amputee and only had the one good leg to begin with. Of course he is very angry at the situation and is ranting on about suing. But as he calms down he will begin to think a bit more logically.

The other horrible part is my brother now has to tell my 4 year old nephew that his dog is gone because of another dog. I am worried about what kind of effect that is going to have on him in his future interaction with dogs.

Everything is kind of surreal at the moment. I have been bitten by strange dogs before and it was never a big deal as they were just skittish or stand offish or whatever. I have never been part of or seen a pit attack before so this is all kind of overwhelming. I of course feel horrible for my dad and the dachsund as well as my nephew but I can't help but feel sadness for the owner of the pit bull at her loss and some pity for the pit bull.

[SacDuc]

Damn. I don't know what to say. I hope your dad gets better soon. Horrible situation for all involved. Very sorry to hear about it.

sac

[Monster Dave]

Wow - it's good to hear that your dad wasn't hurt worse. It's really easy to underestimate the power of a ravenous dog (especially a pit bull).

I've always questioned the reason that people own them (knowing their dispositions and behavioral tendencies). No offense to anyone here who may own one. I had a friend that had one which was always nice and docile, but there was just something about it that seemed more carnal than most other dogs that I personally found to be a bit frightening.

Speedy recovery wishes to your dad and hopefully your nephew will have a new puppy soon to help put a smile back in his life.

[DCXCV]

Yeah that sucks all the way around.  I wouldn't bother explaining to the four year old too deeply about what happened, though.  Something simple like "the dog's gone and he can't come back" should suffice for someone that age.  No need to add to the trauma.

[Triple J]

That sucks. Hope your dad heals quickly. I suspect your nephew will be fine, as long as everyone else continues to act normal around dogs in general.

Hard to tell what happened? Sounds like your neighbors Pitbull was off his leash and out of his yard?

[SacDuc]

I've always questioned the reason that people own them (knowing their dispositions and behavioral tendencies). No offense to anyone here who may own one. I had a friend that had one which was always nice and docile, but there was just something about it that seemed more carnal than most other dogs that I personally found to be a bit frightening.

That "something" is bred into them. There is nothing inherently bad about pitbulls. They are supposed to have an aggressive temperment for the type of work they were originally bred for. Good breeders make sure they are smart enough and trainable enough to be easily controlled with good training. Backyard breeders don't give a shit or worse select out only for aggression to make fighting dogs out of them. Toss in a little abuse and voila, danger.

People who rescue pits usually do it with good intentions. Some are up to the task. Some apparently are not. With certain breeds (like pits or my big ol' rescue Dane) I think its best to get some professional input to start. At least a once over with a behavioralist. A good one will tell you if a dog is too risky for how you plan to rehabilitate him.

sac

[Monster Dave]

That "something" is bred into them. There is nothing inherently bad about pitbulls. They are supposed to have an aggressive temperment for the type of work they were originally bred for. Good breeders make sure they are smart enough and trainable enough to be easily controlled with good training. Backyard breeders don't give a shit or worse select out only for aggression to make fighting dogs out of them. Toss in a little abuse and voila, danger.

People who rescue pits usually do it with good intentions. Some are up to the task. Some apparently are not. With certain breeds (like pits or my big ol' rescue Dane) I think its best to get some professional input to start. At least a once over with a behavioralist. A good one will tell you if a dog is too risky for how you plan to rehabilitate him.

sac

It would be nice if more people looked at dog adoption like that. 

[RAT900]

Thank God your mother had the presence of mind to get the pistol

This is tragic...

I hope your father has a speedy recovery

[Popeye the Sailor]

Good shooting mom.


Sorry about your dad-hope he heals up okay.

[Porsche Monkey]

Thank God your stepmom was there and as others have said had the right mind to use the pistol. Good luck to your pops.

[Grampa]

 

positive thoughts and well wishes sent to you and your family

[mitt]

Wow, that is crazy.  Sorry to hear about the little dog  

That is a serious testament to a PB's toughness with two .40 cals in it.  I have experience with a crazy PB taking a dozen .22 shots, but .40 cal, dang.

mitt

[hadesducati848]

I have had pit bulls my whole life, and cant think of ever having another breed of dog around to protect my family. Growing up in Guam pit bull fighting is all too common and though I would never participate in that bloody torturous sport, 3 of my puppies came from game proven parents. I firmly believe that even though the linage of a particular dog all come from fighting champions, that alone wont make a mean vicious animal. Abuse and neglect are the real reasons for these dogs to attack. My dogs have all grown up in my house as part of the family and I trusted them with any children or other animals that may be in the house at the time. In the case of your father and dash hound I am horrified to hear that this happened to them. And would like to wish your dad a speedy recovery. However I would like to point out that it could have very easily have been a Rottwieler, Akita, Doberman or even a German Shepard that attacked you dad. And the sad truth is that another Pit bull will be put to sleep because the owner “neglected” to properly secure her animal. And even though I completely trust my dogs, I never give them the chance to get outside of my house/yard unattended. I think personal think it should be a crime to let any large dog roam around the neighborhood with out the owner present and the dog on a proper leash.. I guess it just bothers me to see people bashing the breed without understanding that 99.99% of the time it's the owners fault and not the dog.

Oh and +1 on not telling the 4 year old the whole truth “snoopy ran away” should be all he needs to hear.

[cyrus buelton]

Wow dude. That's all I got.

My neighbors american bulldog (pretty much a pitbull) one night turned on me. I got bit twice in the leg before my buddy got him back.

We had no idea what happened. Smitty and I had hung out all the time. We will cool. Then one day he came after me. Thank god Shane was there to pull him off or I would have been in make the beast with two backsing trouble.

He always said that he had the proper insurance (very few actually carry it) so I wonder if that dog had some sort of issue in the past with aggression.

I start to think about him, his wife, their divorce/fighting it really might have screwed up the animal.


Again.........+1 on the owner and not dog.


Take the that story and mix it up a bit with me at the dog park.

The American Bulldog above was replaced with a loveable amerian pet called the Labrador. Jesus Christ did that dog turn on me for no reason.

Again.....+1 on the owner and not the dog.



Doesn't matter on breed. Owner neglect is the problem. That is why our dog for now (RIP Alex) Greta the Doberman has always been treated like a member of the family. She now of course sleeps with us, lays on the couch with us or on the chair, etc. The only difference in our lives is that brat doesn't have to work but has to shit and piss outside.

Raise them right and they are not replaceable.


It will be weird with losing Alex and getting a friend for Greta in a few weeks. It's just an odd feeling.

[somegirl]

That's terrible, I hope your dad heals up quickly.

Good job stepmom.