What would you do if a pit bull attacked your dog?

Question

This horror story was from a few days ago where she lost her lower lip when she tried to rescue her dachsund from a pit bull attack.

"Pit bull attacks woman and her dog"

Feb 21, 2007
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(TULSA, Okla.) February 21 - A Tulsa woman tries to save her dog from a pit bull but in the process she was attacked. The woman is recovering from injuries to her face.

FOX 23 News’ Emily Sinovic spoke to the pit bull's owner.

There's no mistaking the danger. All the signs and chain-link fences quickly become mere illusions of safety when a pit bull attacks.

The screaming was so horrific that everyone in the neighborhood came out. It was so bad neighbors thought somebody was getting killed.
Animal Control says the pit bull attacked the dachshund's owner when she tried to pull her dog from the pit bull's grip. She survived the bite. Her bottom lip is ripped off but neighbors worry about what will happen the next time http://www.fox23.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=4fc0e4dd-9359-496f-8871-bbbc52e5023b

Answer 1

Back when I was a teenager, my dog while I was walking her was attacked, not by a bully breed, but rather a German Shepard.

We were walking on the sidewalk when we were attacked. My dog was on a leash and was a Lhasa Apso. The dog came running at her from it's backyard and was not on a leash. It basically bowled my dog right over and went for it's throat.

I did what I could and that was kick the Shepard in the head with the boots I was wearing at the time. Fortunately they were steel tipped and actually would make an impression on the dog when kicked by one. I kept on the dog till it stopped attacking my dog. Basically when it was done, both dogs were lying on the ground injured.

The owner came out after the incident took place and threatened the cops, I said for them to go ahead. They did. The cops show up and the owner of the Shepard wanted me arrested for attacking his dog. I explained what happened and the cops noticed the leash on my dog and none on the other gentleman's dog.

Needless to say, the cops sided with me and asked if I wanted to press charges or would I like to speak with my parents before hand. I actually told them that while I don't want to press charges, I would like to have a report done so that when I get the final bill for my dog from the vet, there is no mistake on who will be paying it.

They did make the report and the other owner paid over $700 in vet fees, but tried getting me to pay theirs, they had well over $1000, apparently their dog was much worse off.

They took me to court as I refused to pay their vet bill. the judge sided with me and told the other owner that had they had their dog on a restraint of some kind, this would have never happened. they were 100% in the wrong and that I did what I could to defend my dog and myself had the dog's attention changed to me.

This was roughly 18 years ago. With today's court system I don't know what way the verdict would have gone.

I regret what I did because I seriously hurt that dog, but I did what I had to do in order to keep my dog alive and myself from getting injured. I would do it again if the situation arises.

Answer 2

Never directly attack using your body as a weapon. A dog, of any size, has a very powerful bite and can do a lot of damage.

Treat a dog like an attacker using a knife. If someone comes at you with a knife and you are unarmed your best approach to defend is with an improvised weapon. A broomstick can work well. It is light enough for easy swing but dense enough to pack a punch.

Don't forget about the intimidation factor. When approaching to strike, puff up using your clothes or coat to appear larger. Know when to pull out of your bluff though as getting too close to an angry dog or one defending what it perceives as food. If within 20 feet it hasn't fled or reacted, drop the puffed up act and prepare to strike.

Knowing a little about the animals natural weak areas helps also. Dogs have an inordinate amount of blood vessels and nerves in their noses. When defending against an attacking dog make this your primary target. Blunt force delivered to the tip and bridge of a dogs nose will quickly incapacitate it with shock and blood loss.

And of course when put into a survival situation against a stronger more determined adversary, a loaded gun helps a whole lot.

The best advice though is to know the neighborhood. If there are known larger dogs; be aware that they are potential enemies. Be sure your fence is strong and has a firm footing that prevents digging under. Check out side your home before leaving to make sure it is clear.

Dog breeding has very little to do with socialization of an animal. Any breed raised as an attack dog or a fighting dog will behave accordingly. Right now, the Pit Bull breeds have a stigma as a breed that attacks. This has more to do with the handling then the breeding. Laws that treat owners as accomplices in assault/murder will soon correct the problem. Such laws are already in place in some states (such as Arizona's stiff class 6 Felony for such mishandling of a dog.)

And lastly, I would be very leery of anything from Fox "News". It is sensationalized and manufactured for a specific bias. The underlining connotations behind the fear-mongering from "news" sources like Fox are often overlooked. What would it mean if a "breed" of anything domestic could be labeled as unsafe in it's very nature apart from environment? What other "breeds" within society might follow such an implication? I hope you become more discerning in what you qualify as reliable reporting.

Answer 3

When my pit bull was attacked by a chocolate lab I pepper gassed the lab and made the owner pay the $200 it cost to stitch him up. When the toy poodle attacked the mail man he kicked it into the bushes. When my nephew was bit by a chow he socked it in the nose. when my Dad was attacked by a blood hound his brother shot it, it was his dog and they found out later it had a brain tumor. The AC officer was attacked by a beagle he traned. There were two dogs killed by a collie yesterday here, onwer tried to stop it and it truned on her. A 18 year old football player was attacked BY a three dachshunds and had three fingers bit off, He did not have a chance to do any thing. There are hundreds of dog attacks every day you almost never hear about any of them. Ever wonder why. No that would make it to where you had to think hey maybe I'm wrong and we all know you can never be wrong.

Answer 4

That happened to my mother-in-law's puppy. It was a Pitt Bull that got away from its owner. She tried to separate the two dogs but failed. She was not bit but her puppy was so bad it almost died. They had to put a steel plate in the puppies jaw and he also had torn muscles in his leg and shoulder. He is doing fine, just has a cooked smile and limps in damp weather.

The next day she reported the incident to the police. Friends and relatives of the dog's owner came over to my mother-in-laws house and threatened her so she dropped the charges. What could she do, she's a widow living alone.

To this day she is afraid to let the dog out in her fenced in yard alone for fear that same Pitt Bull will jump the fence. All the animal control people did was tell them to keep the Pitt Bull in a six foot kennel. This attack happened on the back steps of my mother-in-laws home. The Pitt Bull was running loose when the attack happened. She always sees it loose in the park across the street so she can't even take her dog for a walk nor complain for fear they will retaliate.

In some cities people just don't have rights.

Answer 5

responsible pitbull owners are aware of the risks of owning these dogs, and they take the proper measures (training and socialization) to insure their pets are not aggressive. The danger of a pitbull is not that they are an overly aggressive breed-they are not. Their danger is the strength of their jaws. Responsible owners know this. Then there are jerks who think it's cool to nurture aggression in their dog, because some how the idiots think it will improve their image or perhaps make their penis appear larger than it is?

This pitbull may not have been any more or less aggressive that any other dog. Also keep in mind that dachshunds are notorious for having a scrappy attitude.

Bottom line, what would I do? I have a concealed carry permit, so I could shoot (not the dog-just fire off a round into the air or straight into the ground.) -often times just the sound of a loud report is enough to jar the animals from their fight. ONLY A COMPLETE MORON GETS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO DOGS FIGHTING! And the breed of the dogs doesn't matter.It's almost guaranteed that you will be bitten.

Answer 6

I have never had a Pit attack me or my dogs, but I did recently have a Golden Retriever attack me. It attacked me in my own yard where I was standing with my dogs on a leash, and then my dogs started defending me. The Golden ripped part of my dog's eyelid off, and bit me bad enought to require stitches. I immediately called my friend to take my dog to the vet, and then I called Animal Control. They came out and shot the dog, and then I went to the ER and got about 25 stitches on the back of my leg. The owner then had to pay about $5000 in fines for letting a knowingly aggressive dog run loose, plus the medical fees for both me and my dog (the vet bill on the dog was almost $500, and I am not sure how much mine was but I am guessing at least another $2500).

Any breed of dog can attack, Pits just have the reputation for it even though it is not always deserved.

Answer 7

Well, since 2 of my dogs are Pitbulls and one is a Pitbull Cross I doubt I would have to do anything.

Pit bulls aren't bad dogs, they need proper training and they too need to be loved, they crave attention just as much as other dogs, and they aren't more prone to attacking then any other breed.

I'm sick and tired of people like you blaming pit bulls for everything, if they were vicious dogs would we own 3? No, There's 5 people living with us and 3 are under 14. (I'm 14, my sister is 12 and my brother is 10)

You should also remember that dachshunds are dog-agressive too and could have given the pit bull a reason to attack him, dogs can tease or provoke other dogs just as people do it.

Answer 8

most dogs get there bite power from there back legs so picking up there back legs and pulling them back will make them let go. If it is a trained fighting dog you'll want to get a stick because in pitbull fights the only way to get the dogs pried apart is to stick a stick between there jaws and pry the mouth open. Hitting a fighting breed only intensifies there attack so thats not a good idea.

Answer 9

in some cities a dog, no matter what breed, would mandatorily be put down if it attacked and killed another animal or attacked a human. just depends on the law. if the guy has been robbed several times, there are alternatives to protect himself. it isn't really fair to the dog to be chained up or locked up or be taken on walks with a cinder block chained to it. that's abuse to me. the guy is just asking for trouble. a dog isn't going to protect him or his home if it's chained up anyway. how dumb.
he's got a huge liability on his hands and it's just another attack waiting to happen. he should just get a good alarm system on him home. as far as the dog goes, if he gives it up it will be put down because no adoption center would adopt out a dog that has attacked before.

Answer 10

my dog didnt get a chance to live when he got attacked by a pit bull!He was only 1 1/2 years old