What does the media have against pitbulls? Truth.

By now, most people have probably heard pitbull apologia's desperate and deplorable cry that there is a "media bias" against pitbulls.  Seeking to mitigate the stark contrast between the volume of attacks betwixt the 'chosen breed' and others, they claim that the media over-reports or reports only pitbull attacks, and that other breeds attack all the time but go under-/un-reported.

Now let it first be said what the criteria for an attack is...  finger-nips, one quick bite-and-release, and self-defense/fear biting that results in only superficial injury is NOT newsworthy.  Such a deluge of common happenstance would saturate the media so much that it would be extremely difficult know much of anything if we had to sludge our way through 'report' after report of every growl and nip.  What constitutes an attack, and what I am referring to when I use the term here is;

serious injury requiring urgent medical care, such as:

• lacerations deep enough to require stitches or staples,
• significant and dangerous blood loss,
• broken bones,
• snapped spines,
• cracked or crushed skulls/ribs,
• lacerated internal organs,
• evisceration,
• crippling, disfigurement through loss of eye/ear/nose/lips/muscle tissue/cartilage/bone/scalp or degloving (being 'skinned' through traumatic ripping force),
• permanent nerve damage,
• permanent loss of bodily function,
• brain damage,
• loss of limbs,
• loss of life,
• and/or dismemberment.

As of December 31, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission reports that there are 30,432 television and radio broadcast stations within the United States(1).  The National Newspaper Association presently represents 2000+ newspapers(2)--this being a dramatically reduced number due to the massive cultural shift to digital mediums within the last 15 years.  A simple Google query for news websites in the US yields over 1, 340,000 results(3).  As of 2012, the  Bureau of Labor statistics shows that the US employed approximately 57,600 reporters, news correspondents, and broadcast news analysts(4).  Education News' Career Index showed that, as of 2010, there were 105,350 journalism professionals working in the United States(6).

And yet, pitbull fanatics would have you believe--and unfortunately, have been quite successful in convincing far too many--that every station, outlet, publication, reporter, and journalist has some sort of personal vendetta against a single breed of dog... so much so that they would defy journalistic integrity to persecute an animal many of them have either never had a negative experience with or, predominately, have not encountered at all.  Pitbull apologists expect you to believe these people, for no fathomable reason at all, would risk their very careers or that these stations would risk their credibility and endanger the public at large by pointedly ignoring the (mythical) attacks committed by other breeds.  They claim the media is all about reporting on pitbulls because they are sensational--yet the sheer volume of attacks--occurring on a daily basis throughout the US...  makes pitbull attacks anything but.   They are business as usual.

The very definition of sensational is that which invokes intense interest or curiosity.   There's nothing new (and therefore novel, new, or interesting) about a pitbull inflicting serious injury or death on a person, pet, or livestock.  This high frequency leaves sensationalism to be found only in how horrific the aftermath is.  What IS sensational is a member of dog breed not known for aggressive tendencies or destructive behaviors, or physically unlikely to cause grievous harm (the ONE and only fatality by a pomeranian mix that killed a newborn) disfiguring or killing someone.

The bizarre and unusual are media's lifeblood; the ability to offer something that hasn't been heard of before, or that doesn't seem to make sense with the masses understanding of the world... such tales are attention grabbers.  They can give a media outlet a competitive edge over their contemporaries. 

The unusual, no matter what it is, promises the most payoff.  It makes absolutely no fiscal sense for any medium to regularly forfeit attacks by other breeds.  It is within their BEST interest to do so as often as the opportunity arises.  This makes the 'media bias' conspiracy theory all the more absurd... so absurd and contradictory to volumes of tangible evidence that it borders on the same psychosis of Holocaust-deniers.  This ridiculous "media conspiring against pitbulls" assertion requires the belief that tens of thousands of people working in and for the media are conspiring against  a single breed ...to the very heavy detriment to themselves, their employer, their paycheck, and the public.

What IS strange--a genuine curiosity, if you will--is when a 'tried and true' breed, the most relied-upon for service work and family environments, such as the Labrador, kills someone.  The data-gathering magazine ANIMAL PEOPLE issued a report showing that, from September 1982 through December 31, 2013, purebred Labradors have killed only three people.

The death toll rises by 9 if you include Lab mixes... one of which was an Akita (the Japanese equivalent of a fighting dog) mix, another mixed with German Shepherd (known for their boldness and aggression--which is why they are the top breed in schutzhund and police work), and five of which were pitbull mixes.

In stark contrast, 263 people in that same time-frame were killed by purebred pitbulls.  If including pitbull mixes, that number rises to 277(5).

For the 2013 year alone;

credit: "BSL Saves Lives" Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/bslnow/timeline

In the last week: (at the time of this writing) 

A 22 month old Montana toddler was mauled into critical condition by the never-bit-anyone-before family dog of 10 years(8b), which tore off her grandmother's fingers as she intervened, and would not stop attacking the helpless baby girl until a neighbor Jonathan Banta arrived to help and stabbed it repeatedly with a steak knife(8).  Another life-flight victim.  Little Deriah Solem was attacked Thursday evening and died at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center the following Monday afternoon.

Despite weeks of regular interaction and familiarity, Joel Chirieleison of Tanning Springs, FL, was mauled to death by his aunt's two pitbulls--neither of which had a history of aggression, both of which had interacted with children many times prior without a problem(7).

6yo Armani McKinnis was attacked by a loose pitbull while attending a friend's birthday party.  It took the intervention of witness Micheal Marshall and his two nephews--beating the dog with chairs and even standing on its neck--to get the dog to release(9).  The injuries to his face and leg were so severe he had to be rushed into emergency surgery and spent the night in the pediatric intensive care unit. (9) The child's grandmother described his face as "demolished" and "gone"(9b).

 

59yo Cindy Whisman was mauled to death in her own backyard, in front of her 2yo grandson, by her daughter's never-aggressive-before, raised-from-a-puppy pitbull.  Her daughter was living with her; the dog was a 'household member' wholly familiar with Cindy(14).  Detectives reported she had extensive injuries all over her face, neck, body, and hands.  Butler County coroner Dr.Lisa Mannix simply put the cause of death as accidental, "due to dog bite" on the autopsy report.  In the sidebar of other articles on the news-site featuring this article, were several pro-pitbull stories as well, including a piece titled "pitbulls aren't the only dangerous dogs"(14b).

 

Another Butler County resident, 67yo Pamela Middlebrooks, was attacked by a neighbor's pitbull while on her daily walk.  When she saw the neighbor and dog approaching, she stepped off the curb to avoid being in close proximity to them.  The owner even picked up the dog, but it immediately broke free of his hold, ran after Middlebrooks, and attacked her from behind.  Fortunately but atypically, he was able to wrest his dog off of her and returned it to his domicile.  A neighboring witness, Terry Brown, ran to help Middlebrooks and described her visage as thus; “She had blood all over the inside of her legs. Blood was running down both thighs.” The owner had the gall to tell her the dog wasn't his--after first taking it and placing it back inside his home.  Officers' subsequent investigation revealed a backyard kennel with a female pitbull.(28)

A third Butler resident--a black Labrador retriever in Hamilton, lost an ear to a pitbull serially loose in the neighborhood.  Officers and Animal Control finally caught the offending dog on the same Monday morning that Pamela Middlebrooks was attacked and Cindy Whisman was killed.(28)

In Hot Springs, AR, a pitbull mix invaded an elderly woman's yard with escalating hostility toward the 72yo and would not leave until she fired a shot in the air(10).

3 scrapyard Rottweilers killed a 57yo man working there.  He was employed there for years, and was reportedly a very kind man who "took care of those dogs like children".(13)

An Ardrie pitbull with a previous history of "incidents" as described by local Mounties broke free of its collar and leash to get at and kill a neighbor's loose, small,  "poodle-type dog". (12)

When Anastasia Pavlova's business-as-usual trek to the Marcus Garvey Dog Run with her 3yo white Maltese, Bentley, she noticed a few unfamiliar dogs in the dog park.  Before entering with Bentley, she asked the owners if their dogs got along with small breeds.  All of them said yes, so she entered.  In a flash, a large pitbull snapped up Bentley and crushed into his ribcage with jaws so powerful teeth penetrated his lungs.  Anastasia somehow managed to free her dog and get to an emergency vet, but it was too late.  The little dog bled out and died in Anastasia's arms.  The owner of the pitbull immediately took off with his dog and never came forward.  No one could identify him by name.  

The article included quotes of blind speculation by the organizer of dog-run events, Millie Gonzalez, whose concern was clearly more for the public image of the pitbull than maintaining the safety of her human and canine dog-park patrons; after pointless speculation that would have the public believing this was not a dog-park matter because the owner of the pitbull "might have just been dog-walkers"--when the attack CLEARLY happened INSIDE the dog-park and was not a result of a random dog-walker's dog either attacking another dog just outside the run or somehow seizing an opportunity to break into the run--she was quick to say, "The last thing I want to do is demonize a breed that’s already been victimized,” said Gonzalez, 44. “This is an issue of what responsible pet ownership is.”(15)

81yo Jack Harper was walking his bichon frise, Fliss, in Weaverham when a loose Staffordshire terrier* seized her by the throat, ripping her windpipe, esophagus, and puncturing her skull in multiple places.  Harper beat at the attacking dog with a stick to no avail.  It took one heavy-booted bystander kicking it and another beating it with a pole to get the dog to release Fliss.(16)

*A Staffordshire terrier IS a pitbull... breed names, variants, and attributes will be a post in its own right.

San Franciscoan Mike Lindstrom's pitbull mauled 3yo German Shepherd Max.  The attack was caught on a passing motorist's dashcam.  The pitbull turned on Mike when he tried to stop the attack, even knocking him to the ground.  Max ran from the scene at first opportunity and has not been seen since.(17)

A 40yo New Braunfels woman confronted by police (while trespassing)  allowed her pitbull mix loose, which then went at them with hostility.  The officers had to defend themselves with their service weapons.  The article put quotation marks around "aggressive" when describing the dog, as if the very clear threat witnessed by multiple people was in question. (18)

A Lakewood, WA landlord was chased off his property and into a neighbor's yard by his tenants two English Bulldogs*.  Neighbor Katherine Holmes described the scene; 

"I drove down a very long driveway and the whole time saw dogs on top of this man viciously attacking him.  He was on the ground and had been there for quite a while as these dogs took chunks out of him," Holmes said. "I had to use everything that was at my disposal. I used my child's car seat and full water bottles and they still didn't get off of him." 

*English bulldogs are part of what created the modern pitbull streamlined for dog-fighting.  See the post 'Purpose Bred' for details.

A Lakewood Police official called the dog mauling one of the worst he's ever seen.  The victim spent a week in Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.(19)

Another Lakewood man was attacked in his own home by the 2yo family pitbull.  He was holding his infant child, and suffered over 20 puncture wounds to his arms and thigh to keep the dog from getting at the baby.  A woman in the home (her relation to the man/baby goes unreported) also suffered injuries, while they were reportedly not as severe as the man's, both required emergency medical treatment.  They went to separate hospitals as the man's wounds required higher trauma services not available in all hospitals.(20)

Later that same day, in a wholly separate incident, a little boy suffered injury to his back when a pitbull in the home attacked him.  He was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus for treatment.(20)

5yo Quentin Holman of Kansas City, MO, required facial reconstruction after a loose chow-mix entered the boy's yard and bit him in the face.  The article did not specify what other breeds constituted the dog's 'mix', but there were some startling aspects of the attack that parallel a methodology very specific to fighting breeds.  

⦁ The dog moved with deceptive body language before its explosive aggression; witness Billy Vaden described it thusly;

"I didn't think he'd bite nobody. He didn't look vicious. He really didn't. He looked like he was calm and cool, just walking down the street content, like he was glad to get loose from somewhere," Vaden said. "He was just enjoying it, enjoying his little moment of freedom."

⦁ The attack was wholly unprovoked; little Quentin was playing in his own yard at a family gathering.  

⦁ The presence of adults did not deter the dog 

⦁ and it exercised extraordinary tenacity--they had to "shoo it away" from the property repeatedly throughout the day.  

⦁ The dog went straight for the little boy's face 

⦁ and inflicted catastrophic damage 

⦁ with long-term effects.  The nerve damage to his mouth and lips was significant enough to impair sensation and the ability to talk.(21)

Despite knowing nothing definitive of the dog's history and circumstances, the article included speculation about what 'made' the dog attack;

"I am very happy. My daughter is happy. But it's a happy-sad because we like animals," she said. "Because of his previous owner's neglect or abandonment, he had to fend for himself. And that's not a good thing, either."

However, no witnesses nor Animal Control reported the dog as appearing abused or malnourished.  In cases of dog attacks in which the dog is determined to have been abused or neglected, it is among the first thing the involved animal professionals mention to the media... and many animal professionals wind up involved in processing dogs when they attack. (That will be a future post in its own right.)  It is also notable that the dog in this scenario, despite having the opportunity to go after the 'easier target' right next to Quentin--the family Yorkie--the dog went after the boy's face and did not attempt to consume the boy's flesh.

  

A 50yo Eugene woman allegedly trespassing on a man's property suffered serious injury to her arm when his pitbull-boxer mix latched on to her and would not let her go until the owner intervened.  To his credit; dangerous dog signs were posted on the property and the badly injured woman was cited for second-degree criminal trespassing.(23)

Two of Marty Stevenson's four pitbulls escaped and attacked a neighbor.  His other pitbulls were already impounded for aggressive behaviors--which were caught on tape by his neighbors--and had not been released back to him because he failed to meet the city's requirements for proper enclosed cages, tattoo or microchip identification, and proof of rabies vaccination.  Despite the bite injury and witness and video evidence, the article put quotations around every mention of the dog's aggression, as if it were in question, and also included the assertion (made by one of the owner's friends) that “I haven’t seen any dog bites or anything like that."(23)

A 27yo Bluffton man was on break at work when a coworker's pitbull spontaneously emerged from under a vehicle and savaged his lower right leg.  He spent nearly five hours in the ER getting it treated and closed up.(24)

Californian horseback-rider Natalie Lilley and her 12yo daughter were out riding in the morning when two loose pitbulls went after them and sparked a chase.  Lilley screamed at her young daughter to ride in the opposite direction. Lilley thought they could outride the dogs but the dogs overtook the horses and started snapping at stirrups and one of the horse's belly.  She jumped off, hoping that alleviating the horse of her weight would enable it to escape.  It still suffered deep lacerations and "chunks taken from its legs".  The dogs' owner refused to give Lilley any form of identification and took off with the dogs before police arrived.  They remain at large. (25)

Two Riverside County boys, ages 11 and 5, suffered bites in the head, stomach, and hand from a neighbor's pitbull that broke free of its restraint to attack them.  The dog had previously been put on dangerous dog 'probation' for biting the owner's son in the head less than four months earlier.(26)

The force required to interrupt a family's internal pitbull vs pitbull fight was best dealt via a heavy cast iron pan.  Unfortunately, when 15yo Brian Brown tried to do exactly that--hurling the pan to stop the fight--he missed and it fatally struck his twin brother Ryan in the head.(27)

17yo Davon Jiggetts of Riverdale, GA, was struck and killed by a car fleeing an attacking pitbull (which was also struck and killed by the same vehicle) that went after him right after he stepped off the bus home.(29)

 

Image Courtesy Sanctuary of Mary (29b)

Another Georgia teenager, 13yo Demonta Collins, was killed the same way in Augusta, only two days before Davon Jiggett's death.(29)

 

Image Courtesy Sanctuary of Mary (29b)

46yo Celiflora Maldonado was unloading groceries from her car when she was attacked by one of her neighbor's two pitbulls.  That neighbor's dog-sitter was trying to get the dogs inside their fence when they attacked her, right before going next door and commencing with Maldonado's attack.  Neighbor Johnny Campos described the sounds he heard; "Blood-curdling screams, horrible, something you never hear."  10yo Justin Melesio heard, came outside, and tried to help his aunt, frantically hurling things at the dog and screaming for help when his efforts proved futile.  Maldonado's own children also came outside and tried to help.  It took the efforts of more people--neighbors--to finally free her.  Her arms and breast were so savaged she had to be hospitalized near Greenspoint.(30)

51yo Joan Carter of Lamaha Springs was killed by her sister's two pitbulls.  She had been living with the family for over three months.  These dogs were 'family' dogs of five years, with no previous history of aggression. 'By the looks of it', according to sister Sue, Carter had desperately fought and tried to get back into the house during the attack--she was found on her knees slumped over on the steps leading to her small flat.  Blood pools and spatter remained smeared on the door and steps.(31)

 

The article goes on to blindly and falsely claim that pitbulls are primarily used as security and protection dogs and in "some" cases, dog-fighting for profit.  The truth is quite the opposite.  The top breeds historically purpose-bred and used for protection(31b) are;

⦁ bullmastiff

⦁ doberman pinscher

⦁ rottweiler

⦁ komodor

⦁ puli

⦁ giant schnauzer

⦁ german shepherd

⦁ rhodesian ridgeback

Other breeds of note for guarding purposes (including guarding livestock/flocks/herds) are the: boxer, Australian Cattle Dog, Manchester Terrier, Beauceron, Kuvasz, Norwegian Elkhound, Alaskan Klee Kai, Argentine Dogo, Basenji, Alano Espanol, Bernese Mountain Dog, Ariege Pointer, Boerboel, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Doberman Pinscher, Border Collie, and the Appenzeller Sennehund.(31c)

Professional dog-fighters often have large numbers of pitbulls--50 or more.  The number of people estimated to be involved in dog-fighting in the US alone numbers in the tens of thousands.(31d)  According to an HSUS 2007 report, annually, approximately a quarter-million pitbulls were placed in fighting pits nationwide, approximately 40,000 people were involved in organized dog-fighting, and another 100,000 people were involved in 'street-level' dog-fighting.(31e)  Pitbulls are indisputably the most popular breed-of-choice (having been purpose-bred specifically for dog-fighting, after all) for dogmen, and the above figures are staggering.  A far cry from... hardly... "sometimes".

A 1yo Racine, WI girl was mauled by her grandparent's pitbull.  Another life-flight victim. (32)

One of four resident pitbulls lunged at a Middleton, Ohio police officer during the service of a  drug search warrant/child-welfare check, forcing the officer to shoot the dog's muzzle in self-defense.  The shot was non-fatal, and once the area was secured, officers immediately transported it to an emergency veterinary clinic.(33)

Ellen Mohan's dog Zoey was attacked by two neighborhood pitbulls.  In her own words, "It happened in just the blink of an eye...  I can’t even put it into words," she said. "I mean, it is your absolute worst nightmare. They tore my dog up in front of me.  There was blood everywhere. Her intestines were coming out, I mean it was horrifying."  She tried to save her little dog, but even with her boyfriend's assistance, the dogs managed to both mangle her hand and kill her little dog.  Mohan suffered over 50 lacerations to her hands and had to remain hospitalized for a week. Other neighbors came forward to report being attaacked as well.  Despite this, Northfield TWP released the attacking dogs to their owner for quarantine... residents no longer feel safe walking around their own neighborhood as a result.(34)

Two pitbulls went on the rage in Buchanan, killing one woman's cat in her own yard, a small dog in another yard, and one charged a police officer tailing their frenzy.  He fired two fatal shots when the pitbull was within five feet of his person.  The other, 30 feet away, was secured.(35)

1. https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-325039A1.pdf

2. www.naa.org

3. https://www.google.com/#q=%22news+website%22%2C+united+states

4. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts.htm

5. http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-merritt-clifton-2013.pdf

6. http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/journalism-schools/

7. http://blog.dogsbite.org/2014/08/2014-dog-bite-fatality-pit-bulls-kill-6-year-old-child-in-florida.html

8. http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2014/08/08/toddler-critically-injured-in-pit-bull-attack/13796517/

8b. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-charles-county-toddler-attacked-by-family-dog-has-died/article_0fce4a27-d83c-5804-be60-7e6f39867fa8.html#.U-keUCxu1vA.facebook

9. http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/6-Year-Old-Boy-Seriously-Injured-in-Dog-Attack-269925121.html

9b. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/08/04/child-6-injured-by-dog/

10. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/72-year-old-woman-fires-shot-in-the-air-to-scare-vicious-dog-hot-springs-daily-news-events-and-lifestyle-for-hot-springs-ark/

11. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/dog-euthanized-for-viciously-biting-kc-boy-in-the-face-woman-in-leg-fox4kc-com/

12.   http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/dog-killed-in-airdrie-attack-mounties-say-owner-has-given-up-animal-to-be-put-d/

13.   http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/torn-by-three-rottweilers-in-the-courtyard-of-a-junkyard-observator-tv/

14. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2716890/Grandmother-59-mauled-death-family-pit-bull-Polo-two-year-old-grandson.html

14b. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/crime-law/dog-involved-in-fatal-attack-will-be-euthanized/ngw3y/

15. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/pit-bull-that-killed-bentley-the-maltese-sought-by-dog-run-organizers-central-harlem-dnainfo-com-new-york/

16. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/pensioner-helps-save-dog-from-vicious-attack-from-northwich-guardian/

17. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/german-shepherd-missing-after-pit-bull-attack-video-sfgate-blog/

18. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/new-braunfels-police-officers-shoot-aggressive-dog-san-antonio-express-news/

19. http://www.king5.com/news/English-Bulldogs-attack-Lakewood-man-269697741.html

20. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/the-lakewood-scoop-3-hospitalized-after-2-separate-pit-bull-attacks-the-heartbeat-of-the-lakewood-community/

21. http://www.kctv5.com/story/26192930/2014/08/04/boy-suffers-serious-bites-from-dog-roaming-neighborhood

23. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/woman-seriously-injured-after-dog-attack-news-the-register-guard-eugene-oregon/

22. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/lr-k-9-officer-escapes-bites-2-people-katv-breaking-news-weather-and-razorback-sports/

22b. https://www.google.com/search?q=dutch+shepherd&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS575US575&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=O8fpU5zPEMHB8QHr14HQDQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=680&bih=614#q=purebred+dutch+sheperd&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=yF0n6aB8zQSDzM%253A%3BTyXnoTvhwjRQUM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252F2%252F2e%252FHollandse_herder_korthaar.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FDutch_Shepherd_Dog%3B600%3B450

22c. https://www.google.com/search?q=dutch+shepherd&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS575US575&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=O8fpU5zPEMHB8QHr14HQDQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=680&bih=614#q=dutch+shepherd+pitbull+mix&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=QVPYMw_W8ZNmJM%253A%3BGV2DYqO6yp7yGM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fs3.amazonaws.com%252Fpet-uploads.adoptapet.com%252Fc%252F6%252Fb%252F95265266.jpg%253F336w%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.adoptapet.com%252Fpet%252F7870297-torrance-california-dutch-shepherd-mix%3B247%3B329

22d. https://www.google.com/search?q=brindle+pitbull&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS575US575&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3c3pU8_BOMyI8gHJ64CACA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643

22e. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/05/mom-of-mauled-boy-says-people-more-concerned-about-the-dog/

22f. http://www.examiner.com/article/mickey-the-pit-bull-skirts-death-after-mauling-4-year-old-gets-life-sentence

22g. https://www.google.com/search?q=purebred+white+pitbull&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS575US575&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=E9PpU4CHAcn68QHyooDIBw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=643#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=2YYwke7lemt8mM%253A%3BnG9esh18OGnmyM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.petclassifieds.us%252Fuser_images%252F1675505.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.petclassifieds.us%252Fc%252F1461%252FPit-Bulls%252F2.html%3B640%3B480

23. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/4-dogs-taken-away-declared-dangerous/

24. http://www.thestate.com/2014/08/09/3610591/bluffton-man-bitten-by-dog-at.html

25. http://www.dogsbitedecatural.com/2014/08/saugus-ca-2-pit-bulls-charge-after.html

26. http://www.dogsbitedecatural.com/2014/08/indio-riverside-county-ca-neighbors-pit.html

27. http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/26233439/15-year-old-boy-died-after-alleged-accident-with-twin

28. http://www.dogsbitedecatural.com/2014/08/hamilton-butler-county-oh-woman-on-her.html

29. http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/2014/04/12/2-teens-running-from-dogs-killed-by-cars-in-2-days/7645005/

29b. http://sanctuaryofmary.blogspot.com/2014/04/demonta-collins-and-davon-jiggetts-two.html

30. http://www.click2houston.com/news/woman-hospitalized-after-vicious-dog-attack-near-greenspoint-area/27339478

31. http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2014/08/06/woman-51-mauled-to-death-by-familys-pit-bulls/

31b. http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/top-10-dog-breeds-for-protection

31c. http://www.dogbreedslist.info/guard-dog-breeds/#.U-qGlfldX4A

31d. http://www.aspcapro.org/resource/disaster-cruelty-animal-cruelty-animal-fighting/dogfighting-faq

31e. http://www.ocfl.net/Portals/0/Library/Animals-Pets/docs/AnimalCrueltyNationalStatistics.pdf

32. http://whbl.com/news/articles/2014/aug/06/1-year-old-racine-girl-hospitalized-after-pit-bull-attack/

33. http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/butler-county/middletown-community/police-shoot-pit-bull-during-middletown-drug-busts

34. http://www.wxyz.com/news/local-news/investigations/pit-bulls-released-home-after-killing-pet-sending-woman-to-emergency-room

35. http://dangerousdognews.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/cop-shoots-pit-bull-after-attack-on-smaller-animals/

Hero Pitbull

Like many of my posts, this one is borne of commentary.  Namely, the recent story about a pitbull that took two bullets.  The story purports that Omar Persisco resisted two armed would-be truck thieves and was attacked.  The dog lunged into the fray when blood was drawn. (Omar's forehead was grazed.)   

“[Max] saw the blood and was furious,” Omar said. “He left like a rocket to attack the thieves. One of them ran away but Max dominated the other one. To defend himself, the thief ended up shooting my dog."  

The dog took two shots in the chest and one in the leg.  He made a full recovery in only a few weeks.  Accompanying the article was an image of Persisco and Max (when Max was fresh from the fray and still in a cast).

In the comment section, fellow safety advocates shared their thoughts, such as; 
note: these are comments from different people; a person per paragraph, authors spaced between

(after comments that mused about the breed of the dog, speculating about being a boxer mix)

They are always Pit Bulls until they get into trouble, then they are "some other" breed, that's how that works. They have websites you can go to and pictures of mixed breed dogs and you can pick one and use that breed.

The hypocrisy is ridiculous. If this dog had attacked a child they would be calling it anything but a pit bull. FWIW I see boxer too.

I'm sure every once in a while the mauling instinct comes in handy and finds a suitable target.

'Hero Pit Bulls' don't cut it for me, or anyone sane. No other breeds need this kind of 'heroism' broadcast and shoved down our throats constantly (oh, I wonder why...). Dogs of all kinds attack intruders, would-be rapists, bark at fires etc-bloody-etc. THEY don't need these 'hero dog' labels that the damn Maulers do. NOTHING they do can cancel out or make softer and better, the mutilating injuries or the miserable and painful death of one child. 'Heroism' does not resurrect the dead nor restore formerly innocent smooth faces back to their former beauty.

people who want a protection dog should choose another breed not known for random violence 

The dog just did what he wanted: attacked someone. That someone could be anyone. No heroism in it.

With the exception of breed speculation, I agree with the above.  I wrote;

Everyone's already said what I think about these hero stories and the underlying motivation of the dog (attack happy, not defense happy)... however, I do see clear pit in that image. It's uncommon coloring, and the angle of its head obscures the trademark cleft head, but the shape and proportions are congruent with pitbull. (note; trademark 'pitbull smile') I don't think every pitbull hero story is a wash.... that's just too black and white for me; that's how nutters think. (i.e. pitbulls are *never* at fault).

The point I would remind fencers and the public is... is that is part of what makes pitbulls so dangerous... their ability to, for a time, play the part of a 'normal' dog. Their temporary docility and mimicry of affectionate dog behavior misleads a person, lulls them into a false sense of security, makes them think it is indeed an appropriate companion animal.

These behaviors are misconstrued as genuine affection akin to that in other breeds, when in reality they are more rooted in the bloodsport kill-set they were bred for... namely that the element of surprise is a plus in battle, and therefore it is in a fighting dog's best interest to NOT broadcast intent; they do not growl. They do not snarl. They do not tense. They do not assume an aggressive stance. They just... GO, suddenly, instantly, *without warning*.

Aside from genetically endowed tactical deceit, this misleading affectionate or calm behavior bonds the animal to its owner (via the owners emotions and perceptions, not through a dogs deliberate motivation--one sided love, if you will), which makes it all the harder to fathom anything other than their limited personal experience with the breed, and makes it harder for them to face the cognitive dissonance and opposing world view that pitbull reality presents.

Think about it; by the time abusers become obviously abusive, they've played enough 'prince charming' to manipulate their victim's heart... it's very difficult for a victim of domestic violence to absorb that the love they feel is so real was a sham, a ploy, a manipulation... we are always reluctant to give up things that we were so certain was good and right. Humans intrinsically shy away from being wrong. That's why denial has such a broad scope across differing issues.

What I want people to understand/remember is that the very same 'good' dog is no safer than the family pets that have suddenly turned and killed their loving owners, children, friends, visitors, fellow companion animals/members of the same 'pack' as people view it...

This breed is incapable of genuine fealty, as is evidenced by the multitude of aforementioned victims. Hell, the blog Craven Desires (and other good blogs listed on its blogroll) has a tag for people that are spontaneously attacked by their own pet/family dogs, titled 'Darwin Awards'.
It is NOT a short list. I think the average person not-yet-familiar-with-the-issue would be stunned by how long it is, and how frequently it happens within this particular breed.

What it all boils down to is; yes, these hero stories can/do happen. But that has no bearing on all the idiopathic attacks that have/do happen[ed]. One doesn't cancel out the other. And when it comes to differentials among breeds; true, genuine hero stories, such as this one--where the dog runs headlong into danger in defense of or to save its owner, well these are extremely rare in bully breeds.

By comparison, you are much much more likely to be protected/saved by established companion breeds such as retrievers. Serious/fatal attacks can/have happened by other breeds but it is in such stark contrast that, statistically, these other breed attacks are likened to flukes, while serious and fatal attacks by pitbulls are common enough to establish congruency of dangerous behavior in the breed. 

Purpose Bred

This began as a riposte to a grossly misinformed commentator's blather about the origins of pitbulls, however, by the time I went to enter my comment, I was notified the article is no longer receiving comments.  I included a fair number of resources, links, and information in my comment... I couldn't scrap it.  It's a message I wish for all to hear, so I decided to copy and paste it, and expound on it as an entry/lesson in its own right.

The article; http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/05/13/barbara-kay-attack-of-the-pit-bull-advocates/

Barbara Kay is an award-winning columnist, author, and radio/tv pundit who frequently parries sadistic pitbull mania as a result of reporting on pitbull news with all the hard facts many news outlets have been intimidated into glossing over.  

As a result of her commitment to the truth (which so many find uncomfortable because it unseats their presumed and self-titled authority over a favored animal) and the subsequent debunking of popular lies, she is the recipient of a never-ending stream of obscene and fanatical hate.  Still, she perseveres, and as her knowledge of and experience in the cause deepens, so, too, does it seem--her resolve to combat the frothing insanity with reason, logic, facts, and wit.

The Comments sparking my writing:
(any textual emphasis added by yours truly, including on my own original comment)

Ignoramus;

 Stephanie Eberhardt W****y
Pits are not bred to be fighting dogs no more than chihuahuas are bred to be in a Taco Bell commercial.

[after a voice of reason informs her they were bred for dog-fighting] 

The original Pit Bull was used primarily for boar hunting as well as companion and guarding purposes and appears in paintings dating back as far as the 1500s. They then, due to HUMAN greed, went to bull baiting. So Gabriel, find another source.

The Informed;

 Gabriel B****s Stephanie Eberhardt W****y • 18 hours ago
Do a search for books on pit bull boar hunting, count how many you find. Then do a search on pit bull dog fighting, count how many you find. 

You'll find volumes of books and articles on pit bull dog fighting. Don't forget to check Amazon. Free shipping of you have a premiere membership.

There are my sources. Pit bulls are primarily used for dog fighting, not boar hunting. I don't think you'll even find a book on pit bull boar hunting. LOL!

[the only mention of pit bulls in boar hunting are online comments from dog-sport enthusiasts--using the animals in hunting feral pigs within ONLY the last 10-15 years.  Additionally, these hunts are extremely impractical and dangerous --especially to the dog, since these dogs are not used to merely 'alert' of a pig's location, but go 'all in' and fight these surprisingly fearsome swine-- and therefore a matter of recreation and sadism, not a kind of 'service' of culling non-indigenous pig populations (a big problem in the south, including my home state of Texas)... though enthusiasts may and do use that philanthropic cover for their activities.  Battling, injury, and even death from feral pig or pitbull attack is often a very slow and painful process--certainly not a humane 'method' of anything.  Several animal services agencies have even issued bulletins to pitbull enthusiasts and shelters that the dogs are being procured for hog hunting as a spectacle--watching one animal kill another.  This makes sense, given the history of dog-fighting evolving as various types of bloodsport; more on that later.]

Committed Ignoramus;

 Stephanie Eberhardt W****y
Hate to bust your bubble so soon. They were BRED for boar hunting. Your original comment "they were bred to fight". And while there may be a buttload of books on dog fighting, that is still a HUMAN sport using dogs as weapons. I know this because I've been up close and personal with the dogs, the fighting, and the damage for more than 30 years. And truly, I didn't mean for you to go to the library although its encouraging that you have a card. You can Google on the computer. It too is a fascinating weapon

By Stephanie's own standards, she fails, and also demonstrates her hypocrisy and failure to operate according to her own demands.  Instead of posturing and bluffing, I decided to hit back with actual traceable resources... the product of, yes, Google, which yielded tomes of information derived from academic, third-party (objective), scientific, and historical sources.  These sources are cited and easily accessible in the various links provided.  A person can easily backtrack to the original texts for reference.

My textual parry would have been:

http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs-pit-bull-faq.php
Second question down answers and details the history of dog-fighting and the origins of the pitbull breed.

Note: There's a lot of hostility aimed at dogsbite.org by pitbull fanatics, who spew libel of 'lies' and 'bias' about the site.  While it is true that the founder is a pitbull attack victim herself, that does not necessarily negate the content of her organization.  If anything, in its own way, that fact validates her credibility.

How? One of the most common things people suffering an affliction of any kind (an illness, cancer, loss of a loved one, permanent and life-changing injury) is to educate themselves about it as much as possible.  Directly (self), or indirectly (loved ones);

• Domestic violence shelters tend to be run/staffed by those who have personal experience with it, 
• people tend to specialize in the medical field according to their experiences with it, 
• people tend to participate in causes and campaigns according to their experiences with it, 
• donors and benefactors contribute to a cause according to their experiences with it, 
• so on and so forth....

  To dismiss the legitimacy, research, and value of a given cause just because those operating within it are intimately familiar with it (and therefore best suited to educate and speak from experience with real authority) would be to dismiss the phenomenal work of groups such as Susan B. Komen's Race for the Cure and MADD (mothers against drunk driving).

Additionally, in dogsbite.org and other organizations/blogs I list herein, hundreds and hundreds of references are used from all sorts of external, unbiased, unaffiliated sources...

...from physicians, scientists, universities, studies, news groups, authors, animal control agencies, shelter workers, independent and/or firsthand film/pictures/testimony, historical archives, law enforcement, and animal specialists from around the country--even from around the globe.  Many references predate the founder's very existence on this earth, and yet, according to blind or willingly deceptive fanatics, all are somehow supposedly 'in bed' with a person/organization many even recent sources  don't even know exists.

More compelling, the educational and charity groups involved operate with complete transparency--the same cannot be said of the self-proclaimed 'experts' pitbull advocacy hangs its hat on. The specifics for dogsbite.org--> http://www.dogsbite.org/dogsbite-about.php

Another great site:

 http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/
about page-->  http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/about-us/

In summary;

pitbulls did not exist until the emergence of dog-fighting, because they were PURPOSE bred for dog-fighting. Pitbulls were the deliberate mixture of the bull-baiting bloodsport champion breed--Olde English Bulldogges (for strength--especially superior jaw strength--and aggression) ...and terrier breeds (speed, agility, prey-drive, and tenacity). 

It is of note that bulldogs (a closely related, ancestral, but still distinct and separate breed from pitbull terriers) were used in bull-baiting--that is part and parcel of the breed name. 

In 'layman's terms';  Bulldog may = great great great great great great great great (insert as many greats as needed) grand-pappy of pitbull, but bulldog =/=pitbull.  Bulldogs predate pitbulls and can be tracked to the 1500s, but the pitbull terrier breed canNOT--because it did not exist then.

There exists no certifiably dated painting of pitbulls that conform to the breed standard that dates back farther than the last 150 years.  There do exist bulldog paintings in accordance with Stephanie's time-frame, but their breed is unmistakable to anyone:

1. capable of reading and viewing a breed standard and
2. with working eyes.  Need not be 20/20, even, but enough to dependably ascertain color, texture, size, and shape.

The pitbull terrier as a breed emerged in the mid 1800s, with origins in England and Ireland, and heavily exporting to the US after dog-fighting was banned in the aforementioned countries.

Before dog-fighting was outlawed in the US, it was explosively popular, and many books, magazines, and even news items were written about the sport and game dogs... in fact, the UKC was originally created as both a legitimate way to 'recognize the breed' (the breed was that new, and the AKC would NOT do it precisely because of the breed's FIGHTING ORIGINS) and as a register for fighting dogs.

Returning to the boar-hunting claim for a moment; how credible is the assertion that it is more cover for sadistic bloodsport than utility?

It lies within the historical adaptability and ingenuity of those who love watching animals die.  Bulldogs were used for bull-baiting.  When that was outlawed, for a time, cock-fighting became 'all the rage'.  When that was outlawed, grotesque and impractical dog ratting competitions became hot stuff.  When that was outlawed, bloodthirsty men set the dogs upon each other. It stands to reason--since dog fighting is now illegal, but hunting boar with dogs is not, that they could/would/have avoid(ed) legal recrimination by moving the desired battle-to-the-death  onto foes that skirt law-breaking.

Though something should be said for the diversification of animal bloodsport--fanatics try to invalidate BSL (breed specific legislation) by claiming that, were the breed banned, the 'bad men' would just move on to fighting other dogs.  There is so much folly in that I can't even think of a witty analogy about it.  

The reasons that justification is a problem;

1.)the heritability of physical conformity and behavior. 'Form follows function.'  Dog behaviorist and author Alexandra Semyonova explains in scientific detail how, when dogs are bred for a certain behavior, their physical body evolves and changes shape to optimally fit the task--in a nutshell--the basics of evolution.  

Huskies look the way they do because they were bred for heat economy.  

Greyhounds have their telltale physique and deep chest for optimal oxygenation while sprinting.  

The border collie's skeleton (on which physique rests and therefore affects shape) is optimized for stalking behaviors that would cause acute arthritis in other breeds.

 http://www.scribd.com/doc/14810086/Heritability-of-Behavior-in-the-Abnormally-Aggressive-Dog-by-A-Semyonova

Certain characteristics are ideal for bloodsport, and selective breeding only accelerates and exaggerates the process.  Take the Russian fox experiment, for example.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox  A team of researchers started breeding Russian silver foxes for desirable companion behaviors--diminished aggression, affection for humans, etc..  In the span of less than 52 years, this breeding program dramatically altered not just the natural behaviors but the very appearance and shape of the foxes.  They went from this:

to this (and the above right): 

This is firsthand evidence that specific task breeding develops a certain physique.  Breeding dogs for fighting will inevitably elicit changes that generate the pitbull breed all over again.  It wouldn't take a rocket scientist or collective army to modify legislation as new problem breeds develop.  It WILL be possible to identify the products of continuing dog-fighting.  Creating an open-ended ban of fighting breeds is the most responsible and sensible course of action to take.  

We added amendments to our constitution (civil rights) because it was the right thing to do, and the fact that doing so could not eradicate problems and injustices a 100% was not grounds for maintaining the negative, violent, and abusive status quo.

2.)that is suggesting we enable criminal behavior by doing nothing to counter and resolve the problem.  when banning fighting breeds, possession of a fighting breed becomes a tip-off for illegal activities--in that sense, banning serves as a positive for the breed.  Eliminating supply makes it harder to fulfill demand, and making the components of criminal activity illegitimate makes it harder to hide.  Right now, it's extremely easy for dog-fighting rings to hide 'in plain sight'.  These people probably have the strongest vested interest in fueling and perpetuating fighting breed propaganda--especially considering individual fight purses can run as high as 100K.

3.)just because criminals are capable of adapting their chosen crime by finding new ways/tools to fulfill their sadistic needs, does not mean a 'war' against what they're doing is futile, pointless, and without value.  Drunk driving is illegal, but it continues to happen on a wide scale--because it cannot be eliminated wholly, should we throw in the towel and repeal punitive drunk driving laws?

Throughout history, drug purveyors developed (and continue to do so--think crack as the poor mans cocaine, bath salts to replace PCP, krokodil as a cheaper meth alternative, and synthetic marijuana to substitute the obvious) alternatives to various drugs.  How on earth does a new problem make an old problem a free-for-all?  It's not just reckless, dangerous, childish, and senseless; its lazy and a nihilist non-solution.  

"Why bother because bad stuff still happens"?  That is what waxing on about other dogs being victimized is... an attempt to excuse doing anything to stop the current victimization (which sucks in countless innocents and destroys lives in its wake).  That sort of attitude would cease the study of and development of new medicines  for viruses and bacteria because they continue to evolve and develop resistance against current medications.  These pathogens will continue to evolve into something else but that will never change the fact that the old ones will continue to exist and afflict ...and will continue do so indefinitely unless we continue being proactive about eradicating them.

Here is part of an interesting expose on the foundations of the pitbull breed:
http://blog.dogsbite.org/2010/05/1909-fatality-john-p-colbys-fighting.html
(it specifically addresses the falsehood that 'man-biters were culled' and is testimony to the breed's fighting origins)
Please note, at the bottom of the entry is a full list of external sources full of great information from HISTORICAL (not personal musing) sources.
Adding to the massive oversight in pitbull breeding practices (aka the aforementioned 'man biters were culled' lie) is an additional, highly disturbing fact worth mentioning (as noted by a commenter on the Craven Desires blog entry on Colby);

FormerAKCmember said...
May 12, 2010 at 1:37 PM
    The Colbys also had a 2-year old child that died. She might have died from many different causes, including having her neck torn open by a Colby dog.

 [The commenter provided the link below, but Florence's name does not appear on the genealogy anymore.  The link was provided in May 2010, over four years ago at the time of this writing, and Craven Desires has drawn a lot of negative attention from pitbull fanatics.  It's highly likely the Colby family may have decided to obfuscate the record.  However, the child's existence cannot be entirely denied, via the headstone below the link.
I think it is also very telling--the fact that this child's life and death were conspicuously struck from records post dog-fighting expose...  Speculation alone is not nearly as telling as when that speculation moves someone to action/hiding--what is there to hide?  Why hide something... unless it affirms something you don't want known?  ...and the Colby line is quite a source of wealth for some in these contemporary times...]

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~colby/colbyfam/b198.html#P26749

More on Colby--> http://cravendesires.blogspot.com/2010/05/john-p-colby-fountainhead-of-american.html
Also of interest:
Check out (and by check out I mean at the library or glimpse through at the bookstore; considering who the authors are* and what any profit goes to...):  
COLBY'S BOOK OF THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER: by Louis Colby and Diane Jessup 192 pages, hardback. ISBN# 0-7938-2091-X
*Diane Jessup is a nutter warranting her own chapter.

Pitbulls were not 'chosen', they were CREATED for the sole purpose of blood-sport.  That is what purpose-bred means.  They were never guard dogs, or farm dogs, or herding dogs, and certainly not nanny dogs (that deadly obscenity still circulates today, even though pitbull advocacy juggernaut BADRAP itself flaccidly acknowledges the lie).  I think everyone should read http://thenannydogblog.blogspot.com/ just as everyone should learn about the dangers of fire, wild animals, driving safety, etc..

Refusing to address the issue, and allowing animal fanatic sociopaths to continue disseminating dangerously false--fatally false!--propaganda that places, essentially, canine timebombs-under-cuddly-companion-guise is what continues to create tragedies like these:

WARNING: GRAPHIC/TRIGGERING IMAGES

SOME OF EXTREME BODILY INJURY/DEATH

These images are for the express purpose of educating the public about dangerous dog breeds and what they are capable of and frequently do to their human victims.  These images and the use thereof is protected under the Fair Use Act.

These are the potential side effects of pitbull ownership/affiliation/encounters.  If only it were as easy to warn people about these animals as it is to view the side effects on a label of medication or pack of cigarettes....  People are actively working to subvert the truth, with the flimsiest of excuses and the boldest of lies.  Hey, not every drunk driver crashes every time they drive, not every smoker gets lung cancer... so those are safe right?

Included below are some thought provoking visuals.  One of which is physically graphic.

note; I am not the mind behind the following two creative and compelling images, but a fan of their message.  If you've read Kay's original piece (link at the top), you can surely understand why people may be reluctant to attach their names... safety advocates and truth-tellers are harassed, fired, alienated, lied about, have their identities stolen, lives threatened (especially media reporters--even when reporting only the facts), have their homes and loved one's grave-sites vandalized--I'm NOT kidding! (the most egregious being the vandalizing and breaking of a small child's grave) among other things...

examples evidencing the severity and frequency of such obscene bullying and harassment can be found at http://fatherofdaxton.tumblr.com, under a post labeled 'hate mail'--while it was actively updated, new volleys of grotesque harassment appeared on a daily basis (according to the timestamps of the communications sent, not according to update dates--so many were coming in he updated around a weekly basis.)

Several blogs on the issue have similar (hate mail) sections where the public can see for itself just how horribly threatening and abusive fanatics are to decent and grieving people.

For this reason, I do not presume to attach names on these unless specifically desired by their respective creators.  If you are the proud producer of either of these, you need only to say the word and will put credit where credit is due.