Jingles desperately needed, dog attack. RIP Max and Gus. Warning, very disturbing.

[Ishi]

Once again, dog to dog agression does not translate to dog to human agression. It is a common misunderstanding. That doesn't mean a dog can not be dog and human aggressive, but one does not mean the other will happen. In ANY breed.

Huntertwo, The American Pit Bull Terrier was NOT bred to fight. The name says it all. He is still a terrier. He does what all terriers do. They rat, they chase, they sometimes are wicked good retrievers, they are very loyal. They are just another terrier. The 'pit bull' that is being bred today to actually fight, is not even close to the APBT, most are so mixed that they barely resemble any type of the many breeds in the pit bull category. I've been on many (too many) impounds, worked with Animal Control, do pit bull rescue. It is unfortunate that most people don't know what the American Pit Bull Terrier actually looks like anymore (and I don't mean you Huntertwo, I just meant in general) because the term 'pit bull' is a generic term. Just like the Portuguese Water Dog, the Labrador Retriever, and the Golden Retriever all all 'retrievers.' There are many, many, many breeds lumped into the 'pit bull' category, and as with all breeds, each has it's own special characteristics, special to that breed. Not all 'pit bulls' are equal The American Bulldog people have tried very hard to separate their breed from the APBT, for fear of breed specific legislation not allowing the Am Bulldog to be legal, when again, the Am Bulldog is very different from an American Pit Bull Terrier, or an American Staffordshire Terrier.

I believe there are too many healthy, happy, nice dogs dying in shelters daily for homes. These dogs will most likely not be re-homed. If all of this is true, they do not need new homes, but the kindest thing will be humane euthanasia. Typically here, these court cases take 6-12 months. In that time, the dogs on a court hold will be kenneled at the owner's expense. No outside, just in a kennel, cleaned and fed. After a few months (average I saw was 5-6 months), they go kennel crazy, self mutilate, bash their heads into the concrete walls, in general, really do go crazy. It's very sad to see, so I really think humane euth will be a good death, after a horrible life.

I hope for the OP and the dogs, that the court case goes through fast, so all can have resolution. Nothing will ease the pain of losing Max and Gus I know. This is just such a sad thing to have happened. My Great Dane died 3 weeks ago, I am crushed beyond words. I can't imagine losing 2 dogs at the same time, I really am sorry for your Mom, family, and Max and Gus.

[Instant Karma]

That is very, very horrific... it brought tears to my eyes to think of that little guy waiting at the door for help in his condition. Poor baby, I just can't even imagine

Yes those dogs need to be put down. They are a danger to everyone around them. All dogs can be dangerous, and go from happy go lucky mode to attack mode in an instant. But a pitbull has the ability, when the mood arises, to inflict much more damage than any other breed. I have met some wonderful pits, but that is a dog that I would NOT want to mess with when they are predisposed to snapping and going into death mode- Which is what these two dogs proved very capable.

My prayers are with poor Max and Gus, may they rest in peace and know they were very loved.

[drifter05]

Oh my gosh!! How awful!! I am soooo sorry!! (((((hugs)))))

[2hsmommy]

MissintheSouth, I've very sorry for what has happened to your mothers dogs. Very tragic for her/your family to experience.

Please don't bash my Stellas' breed here. This could happen with any type of dog breed.

I agree, these 2 animals lives need to be ended, which in all probablity will happen.

[EventingJ]

I disagree - those pitbulls do need to be put down as they have proven themselves to be dangerous - it may be the owners fault but I don't think that the chance of rehabilitation is worth the risk to the neighbors, their children and their pets

SGray - I'm not at ALL disagreeing that they should be put down - just they need to be put down HUMANELY (OP was suggesting the dogs deserved the same torture her poor puppies endured.. I was suggesting it is NOT the pits fault)

And RugBug - Please re-read this thread...... in NO WAY was I saying that HUMANE EUTHANASIA IS A CRUEL WAY TO DIE... Thanks

One last thing - OP I hope you/your mom can somehow have it ruled that the pit owners are never again allowed to own/have animals on their property. Obviously they can't take care of them correctly, at all.

[romanschief]

Your beloved Stella is not a street pit 2hrs. As Ishi has pointed out, there is a tremendous difference. Street Pits are thus from god knows what that has been bred in. Kinda like a heinz 57, with a name.

[CindyGen]

Well I am a dedicated animal lover and I've done a ton of rescue and rehab, but still in this situation, those two dogs would not have left my property. I would have shot them.

[Just My Style]

Once again, dog to dog agression does not translate to dog to human agression.

I agree, but aggression is aggression and should be carefully analyzed as to whether or not the animal can be kept in a suitable environment that is safe for it and the creatures around it. In this case, I would really not be able to trust those dogs- and it isn't because they are pits. I have met a lot of nice pits and the dogs that attacked my horse were german shepherdX dogs. We also had goats attacked in NJ and the dogs were a husky and chow mix. Sadly, this could have all been avoided if the dogs had better owners. I wish we could re-hab the dogs and euthanize their owners, but the system isn't set up that way.

And sorry about your Dane. I have a Dane too and I can't imagine losing him. They are fantastic dogs.

[Appassionato]

Jingles that your family gets through this. I can only imagine how they feel. My horse was attacked by a neighbors dog on February 9th, 2006 and I was attacked by the SAME dog on February 14th. We are both ok, it wasn't bad, but only when I mentioned sueing did the owners care. Never once got an apology for it even. People suck.

As far as Animal Control is concerned, they probably had to quarantine the dogs for 10 days to watch for Rabies. That's what they told me when this particular dog was picked up.

[Coobie]

I am a HUGE pitbull advocate, owning two of my own. However, it seems like in this case it is about the dogs themselves and maybe not the breed. This is a perfect example of a good breed gone terribly, terribly bad. I don't usually feel this way but something about this case, these dogs do need to be put down. Maybe because this was a totally unprovoked incident. The dogs in the yard were probably barking, but it took and awful lot for the two dogs to "break in" and get to them.
I feel terrible for your mom, I can't even imagine the devastation she is going through right now. Hopefully, in time her broken heart will heal. I am horrified when I imagine what she went through when she got home to find this massacre!

Major Jingles for the family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Flipper K.]

Hugs to the OP & Mom

-Flip

[Selkie]

Why is it when we put our animals down at the end of life it is the humane thing to do but in this case these animals will "suffer a horrible death"?

Because these dogs have PROVEN that they are dangerous?

Because no one responsible should WANT to adopt a dangerous dog?

Because 'an accident' of one of these dogs getting loose could result in more dogs being killed? (And can you honestly say you've NEVER had a dog accidentally get loose? Dropped a leash, left the door open by a second, etc? And can guarantee you never will and no one in your family will either?)

It's very sad. But these dogs have unfortunately been made unsafe, by people who were irresponsibel owners, and the dogs will pay the price. But it's obviously foolish to give these dogs BACK to the irresponsible owners, and with so many dogs who *haven't* bit or killed anything, it's foolish to adopt these two out while there's dogs who *don't* need major behavioral modification or have a problem that may not be fixable (quite likely isn't) while others who are perfectly healthy and temperamentally sound die in shelters.

Caroline

[Ishi]

Thanks Just My Style, I miss my Danish everyday, and it's not getting easier. He was too young, and had so much more life to live. I'm devastated. That's why I can't even begin to imagine the pain the OP's Mom must be going through

I just wanted to be sure I said this, I am in no way saying, based on what the OP posted, that I think these two dogs should be rehomed. Humane euth is appropriate IMHO.

[Just My Style]

I hate to pry, but what happened? I get scared when I hear of one going young. I met my dog's 12 year old grandmother and my lines are long lived, however, things happen and there are no guarantees. As they say, you would rather have a only a few years with a Dane than 10X that with any other breed. That is certainly true for me.

[chai]

I am so sorry for your loss. Your poor Mom. I just thank God she didn't come home in the middle of the mauling, or she might have been seriously injured or killed, too. Your description of that dear little dog waiting by the door just about broke my heart.
I have a farm full of rescues/strays that we have taken in and I love animals, but I believe those pit bulls should be euthanized immediately. They have shown aggression and they have killed for sport...two strikes is enough. I have seen big, aggressive dogs behave like maniacs when they get that pack mentality and I believe they could harm a child.
What if they got loose again and pushed their way into someone's backyard where a child was out playing with their dog or cat? The risk of injury/death is just too great.
It is sad that the pit bulls must pay the price for their negligent, irresponsible owners, but pay, they must. They cannot be allowed the chance to kill or maim again.

[philosoraptor]

I'm so sorry. What a horrible thing. Try to comfort yourself in knowing no people were hurt... and that your pets lived great lives & were very much loved.

You're not alone to have this happen...
My parents live near me in a nice rural neighborhood. One day 2 Rottweilers appeared on their property and were menacing my parents 2 little dogs. My mother is in a panic -- she can't go outside and risk being eaten by mean strays... but she can't stay in and watch her own dogs be chewed to bits.

Just as the dogfight starts a policecar pulls down the driveway. He gets out, pulls his gun, and warns her to stay inside. As he's radioing in the status, one dog turns on him. As it's lunging for him, he shoots it right there on mom's front steps. It runs off leaving a big trail of blood. The second dog vanishes.

Enter dumb neighbor nobody had seen before from way down the road who innocently walks down the driveway to ask the cop "have you seen our family's two dogs?". Somehow his "family pets" who have always been "good dogs" escaped their "fenced" yard.

Turns out these dogs had been running the neighborhood all day and had almost mauled a man who lived at the farm behind my parents' place. The dogs had been harassing other people & pets the entire time they were out -- they were so dangerous the cops were actually hunting them down.

The dumb owner left -- in the back seat of the cop car. Vicious dogs were never seen again. Presumably they were caught and put down. If the cop had shown up 5 minutes later, mom's dogs probably would've been chewed to bits.

Why is it when a dog attacks someone the owner almost always says "he's a good family dog. he never hurt anyone" and they seem suprised?

As much as I love dogs, there is no excuse for a vicious dog! My parents had to buy a big fence and a shotgun... you can't imagine how terrifying it was for them to see their own pets almost torn to bits in front of them and to be powerless to do anything.

I have to say I agree 100% dogs like those need to be put down. It's not worth risking another pet or person's life just to give a killer a second chance. There are so many good dogs in shelters being euthanized every day because nobody wants them... it makes no sense to try to keep proven killers alive. Can you see what is required for an Animal Control department to consider having the dogs put to sleep?

Why do people buy & raise dogs to be this way?

When will people learn it's doesn't make them cool to have the meanest attack dog in town?

I wish your family the best of luck. The owner needs jailtime if you ask me. Can your lawyer include in the lawsuit a court order these dogs be put down? I'm not the kind of person who is sue-happy, but I hope you sue those folks for all they're worth.

I liked what my parents did -- buy a gun and learned how to use it. You might never need it ever... but it's reassuring to know if a vicious dog or rabid animal threatens your home again, you're not powerless. Imagine if your mother went out into the yard to see what happened, and the nasty dogs sprung out and took her by suprise?

Try to count your blessings if you can. Be very thankful it wasn't a family member mauled or killed.

[StefffiC]

Miss,

I'm in North Carolina as well. If you need some help getting some state dangerous dog legislation passed let me know if I can help.

I'm so sorry for the pain your mom is going through. jingles to your mom.

Steph

[MistyBlue]

Dog to dog aggression is also patterned. Once they become canine agressive they'll most likely always be canine agressive.
I rehab wildlife...and am licensed for canids. Wolves, hybrids, coyotes, etc. are on the list of what I do. (carnivore licensed)
Low end pits are dangerous. Period. Well bred, socialized and handled breeds are fine. But they're not the norm anymore. Haven't been for a while. Walk neighborhoods and cities...go to the holding areas for problems dogs in most areas. Those are street pits, and those and their crossbreds make up the majority of the issue dogs. Decent dog owners who get real dogs bred for their temperament and handled correctly from puppyhood to adult and well trained and socialized will always feel slighted when pits are mentioned in ways like this. Don't be. These dogs and your dogs aren't even remotely the same. Many dogs these days are idiotically bred as weapons...for the machismo of morons owning a "cool mean" dog. These types should be illegal, IMO. paper the good dogs, make up a new registry with regs if need be. List the proper breeders. Make a code of conduct for the rescues that are good dogs, take them through a training course with refreshers every so often and license them. The rest, outlaw them. It might be controlled this way.
I am an extreme canine lover...and the love extends to what's best for the species overall. In their own health and safety right down to public opinion and their safety. It's whats best for dogs overall.
Pits definitely weren't started as fighting dogs...but they haven't been ratters or bull baiters for a many, many a decade. (century in some cases) Comparing what the breed started as to what the majority of street pits has become is ludicrous to someone who just lost her beloved family pets to "ratters."
I love all dogs...and other canine species...those two and the rest like them need to be illegal and humanely destroyed. JMHO.

[BornToRide]

How sad. I'm so sorry. Some pet owners are so irresponsible. There's simply no excuse for something like this happening. I cannot tell you how many stray dogs I have rescued here in the States, fortunately they were all nice. Never had that problem with strays in Germany.

(((Hugs))))

[CosmosMariner]

My god. I am sorry for your loss.