Pitbulls

[Neon Heart]

Lately, pitbulls have been a huge problem for the Kansas City areas, on both the Kansas and the Missouri side. On the news, you CONSTANTLY hear news of people (adults, the elderly, children, etc.) being mauled. Whether the injuries are minor or life threatening, it's being reported. Just today, there was a report from Kansas City, KS of a lady who was mauled to death by a pitbull in her own backyard. All she was doing was her garden work, she wasn't doing anything wrong to the dogs at all. Just minding her own business.

In my opinion, the city of Independence isn't doing a whole lot to solve this problem. Recently, they passed a law(?) that stated, people may not buy new pitbulls, but they may keep the ones they already own. Overland Park, KS just recently passed something exactly like this. So, it makes me ask this: If there are numerous reports of people being injured, even KILLED, by a pitbull attack, why does the city allow pitbull owners to keep their dogs? Just because they passed a new law, doesn't mean the dog will magically decide not to possibly jump the fence and charge at somebody. And what about the stray pitbulls? What is the city going to do about them?

Unlucky for me, the people who live on the corner of the street own a pitbull. And a German Shepard. And a Rottweiler. And a chow. Yeah, I hate my neighbor for that. ¬___¬

So Discuss:
*What do you think of pitbulls?
*Are pitbulls a problem in your neighborhood? If so, what is the city doing about it?
(you can discuss one, the other, or both if you like)

[Tiff]

Well, not all pitbulls are vicious. I've known people to have some very sweet pitbulls. While they do seem to be more prone to violent outbursts, I think a lot of cities don't outlaw them simply becuase you can't really prove that all pitbulls are going to attack someone.

You can't judge an entire breed of animal based on any that has attacked someone. Some elephants have been known to go crazy and trample people, but that doesn't mean all elephants should be hunted and shot. Oh, and german shepards, chows, and rottweilers can be just as sweet. I've known people who have all sweet versions of all three. My friend had a rottweiler that was the sweetest dog EVER.

There's also such a thing as "grandfathering", which basically means when a new law is passed, in this instance banning something from a neighborhood, those who already own that particular thing may keep theirs.

Here's an actual definition:

"grandfather clause n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (particularly a city ordinance) which permits the operator of a business or a land owner to be exempt from restrictions on use if the business or property continues to be used as it was when the law was adopted. Upon passage of the statute or regulation, the specific property may be referred to as "grandfathered in." Example: the city passes an ordinance which does not permit retail businesses in a particular zone, but any existing store can continue to function in the area, even with new owners."

These people are protected under grandfathering.

Really, it's not fair to punish a family who may have a perfectly tame and nice pitbull just becuase the pitbull down the road mauled someone.

[Alexclow345]

Lately, pitbulls have been a huge problem for the Kansas City areas, on both the Kansas and the Missouri side. On the news, you CONSTANTLY hear news of people (adults, the elderly, children, etc.) being mauled. Whether the injuries are minor or life threatening, it's being reported. Just today, there was a report from Kansas City, KS of a lady who was mauled to death by a pitbull in her own backyard. All she was doing was her garden work, she wasn't doing anything wrong to the dogs at all. Just minding her own business.

She DIED??!!

Ok...

Any way I have a friend who owns a pitbull and it bites me a lot. I mean A LOT! They're are bite marks and scratches on me. Especially on my left foot. Anyway, I think that people should know how much responsibility it is to have a pitbull. I'm never getting one....

[Musashi]

The breed itself? I love 'em, but prefer sheepdogs.

Pitbulls usually make the news more because everyone hates them/they have a bad rap. Whenever there are other dogs who kill people, they don't get on the news- I remember once where there was a news story of a pitbull attack.... turned out only one or two were actually pitbulls, the other(s) different breeds.

I've known people who have some very sweet ones.
The reason so many are violent too is because they're usually either bred for fighting or bought by silly people who want to look 'tough' who don't know how hard it is to care for them... and do a horrible job.

Here's a site on pitbull myths.
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/myths.cfm


Although I guess banning them would keep the wrong people from owning them... it'd also mean the same for the right people.

[Rin]

Most dog attacks are actually by St. Benards. (Sorry, I can't remember where I heard this from, it may have been animal planet.)

And yes, like everyone has said, there are sweet pitbulls.

I'm indifferent towards them. I would never get one because I like shaggy dogs.

I think you have to be more careful around pitbulls that you don't know who they belong to in case they were bred for fighting. Unlike other dogs, their attacks are much more brutal and violent.

[Tiff]

I think you have to be more careful around pitbulls that you don't know who they belong to in case they were bred for fighting. Unlike other dogs, their attacks are much more brutal and violent.

See, a lot of people who own pitballs misuse them for that reason. They train them to be vicious, or they neglect them, making the dog untrusting. So this gives pitbulls a bad name in general.

[Panda]

I love being from KC. I know about everything you're talking about.


But as for the pitbulls... well. That's very unfortunate. I'm not up for killing the dogs but, maybe, a law should be passed that requires special conditions for owning pitbulls? I don't know...

[Neon Heart]

maybe, a law should be passed that requires special conditions for owning pitbulls? I don't know...

I think current pitbull owners now have to register with the state. And if their dog is caught acting up, I think they have to either pay a $500 fine (I've heard $3000 fines too, but that sounds like an insane amount of money to pay), or spend a decent amount of time in jail.

[jupiter23]

You should bear in mind that the media makes its money off of reporting stories like this. Just because you hear about pitbulls attacking people all the time on the news doesn't mean it really does happen that much. It only seems like it does because of the attention it gets, and because of the fear it subsequently generates in the people who see it.

That said, I agree with the others here who said you can't judge the entire breed based on how a few acted. The only reason pitbulls have so many laws against them are because they are most commonly found in dog-fighting rings and are the hardest to break of a violent history or nature. Any dog is subject to attack someone at any time, it doesn't matter what kind it is.

[yoshmaster5]

WEll, it depends on teh dog in general, I think. if it's been raised wrong, yes. and, tehre are really retarded people anyways. *remembers hearing one story*

... Some lady locks her son in the basement, and tells him not to come upstairs. she doesn't tell him why, and goes to the grocery store. You know how when you're told no, you want to MORE. The kid goes upstairs... the mom comes home and finds her son dead. She had locked her SON downstairs because her PIT BULL was in mating season, and she "Didn't want him to damage their leather couch downstairs." ... GAH... some people are just... and it's usually the person's fault too. ANd, here's an SNL quote.

"In order to try and help the bad reputation of the pit bull, the state of New York has decided to re-name them, 'New Yorkies.' So remember parents, it's a New Yorkie, not a pit bull, that's eating your child's face."