My pit bull is being put to sleep today today, because he bit a kid, should I go see him before it happens?

Question

I have a six year old American Pitbull Terrier that I bought from a breeder with a good reputation, I even traveled 6 hours to Georgia to pick him up as a puppy.

I took him to obedience school, and researched every thing I could to train him well, I thought he was so sweet!

On Saturday I was walking him and he saw this kid and just freaked out, I have no clue why! The kid was just walking and never even looked at me or the dog. My pit totally flipped out and yanked the leash out of my hand, I never saw it coming, before I knew it he was all over the kid. It took me and another guy all we had to pull him off. The kid was in the hospital overnight and the cops called and said they are coming to get my dog. This morning they got a court order declaring my dog as vicious and he will be put down this afternoon. Should I go see him before they do that, they said I could say goodbye, but I am not even sure if I want to see that….

What should I do, I never though my dog would go from Jekyll to Hyde just like that especially since I spent so much time training him. The only reason I ever bought Pitbull was because I heard they were sweet dogs and that their reputation was undeserved. I spent a LOT of time training mine, researched a good breeder, and did everything I could do....I can't believe this happened.

I spent months researching before I got a dog, I picked the best breeder I could find and drove 6 hours to get my puppy. I spend a lot of time training him and he didn’t show any signs of what he was going to do, he just took off, I seriously was face first on the ground holding him back, it just happened so fast.

And I feel horrible for the kid I have been crying since Saturday, a kid is hurt, my dog is going to be killed, and it looks like I am going to get sued. This is just a horrible situation, I can’t believe I trusted all the pro Pitbull propaganda that said this would never happen to a well trained dog.

sorry if I am rambling, I tried to write everything down before I wrote the question but I guess its too much, I am just upset.

Answer 1

Wow... that sux dude.... severely.... Yea, please go see him before they put him to sleep. Think of it this way, if say your own son (heaven forbid!) had killed a kid, and was sentenced to death, would you go see him one last time? Don't you think your dog needs that same moral support? If it were me, I would want the last image my dog to see before dying, is ME. I would want him to know he is falling asleep with "Mommy" safely holding him. It would cause me to be heartbroken for years watching him die, but in my heart I would know that he died comfortably, and in MY arms, not some stranger's arms.

(Dangit, now you've got me crying my eyes out!!!)

As for the whole Jeckel & Hyde Pit thing, that's kinda why I never liked or trusted pits. I don't like to admit that I'm a "breedist" but it's true. Pits are the only breed that I will not trust, without a shadow of a doubt. BUT, I have a pit next door, that is slowly changing my mind on them. I trust her to play with my puppy, and she seems as though she would never hurt her... But, accidents happen, as you've come to realize...

Good luck, and I wish you the best of luck in recovery from your loss.... And the lawsuit....

Answer 2

There are never any guaranties that a dog won't bite someone. Just because a dog is "sweet" and has been obedience trained, that doesn't mean the dog can't be 'triggered' to be aggressive.
Pitt Bulls have gotten a pretty bad reputation over the years and it's too bad. If you do your research, you will find out that not only have Pitts gotten a bad rap, other powerful dogs have as well. Pitts are usually on the nightly news after they have bitten someone, killed or maimed someone but there are other dogs that can do just as much damage.
I am a dog trainer but it's impossible for me to know what kind of relationship you had with your dog prior to this incident. Many times, dog owners don't see subtle changes going on with their dogs until something happens and they call a trainer or behavioral specialist as the last resort. Your dog may have viewed the child as 'prey' and for whatever reason decided to attack. Even if the child is going to be physically alright, he or she will be traumatized by this event for the rest of their life. I feel sad for the child and your dog. Pitt Bull dogs were bred to fight bulls. They are powerful and unfortunately when they bite, they hang on with their powerful jaws to bring the large bull down. When a dog attacks another animal or person, attempting to break up the fight will only get you injured and even killed. The dog's brain goes into the 'fight or flight' mode and the dog doesn't stop until the fight is over. The best way to break up a dog fight is to get behind your dog, grab his legs and sweep him away from the other dog. This breaks the dog's concentration and hopefully you can gain back control. It helps if someone else is grabbing the other dog or if it's a person being attacked, hopefully that person will have time to get away.
Saying "goodbye" to your dog isn't beneficial to your dog, it's only an emotional feeling for you. Dogs don't feel emotions.
Next time you decide to get a dog, do your research and find a dog that is bred to have a gentle, non-aggressive temperament. Don't pick a breed that was bred to kill.

Answer 3

Well, I know how you feel. I used to own 3 American Pit Bull's.
A male and 2 females. They were great pets, until all of a sudden. they turned vicious. The male attacked my husband for no reason. The vet diagnosed age related dementia.
One female attacked me 2 years later. Vet said the same thing The other female attacked a neighbors child a year
after I got attacked.
I've found out through a lot of research that Pit Bulls have an 80 percent chance of developing age related dementia after age 7. The percentages go up with each year.
Sadly, I found that out way too late.
Yes, unfortunately, you probably will get sued. That will cost a lot of money. (think at least $25,000). You'll probably also get fined by your town for harboring a vicious animal. (You will get a bill for having the animal put down.)
I wouldn't bother going to say goodbye. Instead, use the time to call 1. A good lawyer. and 2. Your Boss. Ask boss for all overtime he can give you. if that doesn't work, go look for a second job. You'll need all the extra money you can get.

Answer 4

oh i feel sorry for you i had the same situation like you my amstaff was put to sleep , but i could tell you one thing
do What you think is good and think should i deserve it to see it die think was you responsible ,the problem why he bit was because pit bull have that tick bite one bite your dog is aggressive i had that mine the vet said it was a tick or flea but listen do What your heart says and i would say you should see that dog ,,but now i am getting a bull terrier so i advise you buy a bull terr its better you cant save pit bull half of the world is against that...but listen next time buy a dog and train it to kids,walk it with parks let it play with other puppy's and when the dog is big put a muzzle and a leash check this website www.fordogtrainres.com OK good luck and i hope you will find a good dog and a nice companion ..lets say your own son you drove him six hours lived him then don't want to see him die in your eyes OK just let stay with him...Good lick second time and god will be with you ,also let the dog rest in peace...good luck

Answer 5

Do what your heart tells you to do my friend. That's all you can do.

Any dog and I mean any dog can flip. Yes a breed like Pits are more liable to do it, but it looks like you did everything you could to prevent it.

I do think it's best that the dog is put to sleep. I'm sure you do too. That won;t stop it hurting. I know how I would feel if I were in the same position.

I'm sure there is going to be a lot of negative feedback on this thread, but I can tell you are a totally responsible dog owner.

Yes you will probably be sued, but don;t go fretting about it. See a lawyer. No doubt this will cost you in some form or another, but today just take care of the emotional part. Tomorrow is another day.

Don't apologize for rambling. It's obvious you are in a lot of pain. That alone shows you are a good person.

I am praying the child was not badly hurt. I'm also sending a prayer and a hug for you.

God be with you and as I said just follow your heart.

Answer 6

I am not familair with the laws in the State of Georgia or your financial situation. Did you consult an attorney? Could you get a temporary injunction agianst the dog being put down? I do feel for you but quickly look into your legal rights before it's too late. If it turns out the dog cannot be saved, you'll grieve and then think back on how or what you can do to prevent this from happening again should you get another dog.

Answer 7

Sorry to hear about your... situation.. Hope the kid is doing well. You have to decide on your own if you want to go see him. I don't know if I would. I mean I would rather remember him the way he was, rather than seeing him in that pen, knowing that he is about to die. I wouldn't go..

If you truly did everything you said, the research the training and everything else.. Kinda hard to say that it's not the breed given your situation.. I have heard it many times before from people.. Dog raised w/ the family and the dog suddenly does something very out of character. I know dogs can and do bite, but really they don't just do it for no reason.. Pain, being provoked, illness, something, bad training,.. usually there is a reason if people researched and learned more, or were able to see it clearly.

I personally don't trust them, not because of their reputation, but because I have seen them attack people. I have seen several people bit, without the dog being provoked, or trained to be aggressive. I don't trust them because they are so strong, they can bite so much harder than other breeds, and it seems to me that it's usually the smallest person holding onto the end of that lead.. I won't trust them around my dogs. It might be fine, but I won't take the chance with them, just like I wouldn't take them anywhere that I thought was dangerous, I wouldn't let my dogs play with a Pitbull. Care and control.

I hope you are being honest and this truly happened.. I would hate to think that someone would tell a story like this just to try and prove to people that it is a bad breed of dog.

Answer 8

My own 'sweetest dog in the world' pit bull attacked my 3 year old daughter, totally unprovoked. Don't beat yourself up about this, but you will likely feel better later if you tell him goodbye. It was kind of the authorities to allow this. I hate to sound materialistic, but it may also have a bearing on the lawsuit, if you show that you love your dog and visited him.
My pit bull was taken quickly by my brother- in-law, to be put down while I was caring for my daughter. I wished, later, that I had told him goodbye.

Answer 9

That is a bad situation. I would just let it go now and not look back I would also send something to the boy and tell them that you understand it they sue you. These are things we all have to deal with as a pet/home owner. Things can happen. Since you said you felt bad for the boy send him something. A note saying how sorry you are and that you hope he feels better. Maybe a gift card to chucky cheese or something for his age. Yes you will still get sued but you have to think about how you feel to. I would also save all records of the training you have and talk with your vet. Maybe it will help for them to know you are a responsible pet owner.

Answer 10

Think about how you'll feel if you don't say goodbye; if you'll regret it, definitely go. Nothing says you have to stay there while they do it, but you may choose to.

It's very hard to see a pet put down; I've been there for pretty much the same deal (but my dog was a mixed breed, not a pit). It sucked then and still sucks today.

My heart goes out to you and your dog.

Answer 11

I've worked with rehabilitating pit bulls and pit bull rescue and I've fostered so many pits in my day, I know where you are coming from. While pit bulls get a horrible rap for "just snapping" like that, it does happen. All dogs have a potential to "snap" but pit's obviously have a hightened potentialed because we put over 100 years into making this breed vicious, it's going to have a higher rate of aggression and a higher snapping point.

That being said, next pit you own needs to be brought to a trainer that SPECIALIZES in pit bulls. That way the trainer can point out what behaviors to correct and watch for. I believe you had the best of intentions and maybe it couldn't have been prevented no matter who you took your dog to or where you bought him from.
I believe you owe it to your dog to be there when they put him down. Regardless of your dogs aggressive behavior, he did his part in devoting his life to you faithfully, you at least owe it to him to be there or at least say goodbye when the time comes. It'll be hard, given, but again, he's going to be scared and unhappy and you can releive some of that in the last few moments of his life.
Again, I'm truely sorry. I'm always sad to hear stories like this