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Hello Friend,
Yesterday's article generated MANY comments- it was based on this News Report.
'Pit bull kills therapy dog in Vancouver' on CBC news. It's on my blog here:
http://www.theinternetpetvet.com/pit-bull-kills-therapy-dog/
The dog in question was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which as many readers pointed out is a DIFFERENT breed.
I commented on the need for adequate dog control, YET the Staffie was on leash, with a muzzle, but the dogs some how became entwined, the muzzle came off, and then the small min pin was attacked and killed.
I clearly skimmed the section about being leashed/muzzled, as my attention was taken to this:
"We couldn't get it to let it go, I remember I was banging it on the top of it's head as hard as I could," she said.
Johnson says once the dogs separated, she was horrified to discover her dog appeared to have been disemboweled, and was howling in pain.
"I just held him against me. I held everything in with my hands, against me, and he was alive. He was just letting out these terrible screams, and I just kept holding him as hard as I could," Johnson said.
Johnson says her daughter, Laurel, who has Asperger syndrome and an anxiety disorder, chased the pit bull's owner.
"My daughter was running after her, screaming, 'You're a murderer, you're a murderer.'"
I happen to be human, and yes do make mistakes at times- I should have completely read the article and then commented factually.
Sorry to all of you who regularly take the time to read my newsletters.
This story is so emotionally charged- a young girl with Aspergers loses the one animal she can relate to in this world- that is completely wrong and should never have happened.
The owner of the Staffie shouldn't have been near this small dog.
My older dog Jessie ( who is 15-16) was recently attacked on a dog walk by a Pit Bull who broke free from his leash to grab Jessie's neck and violently shake him.
I 'intervened', but if it had been my kids or wife, it could have been a VERY different result.
Are all Pit Bulls/ Staffordshire terriers and related breeds 'BAD' and dangerous dogs?
Of course NOT, and in veterinary practice I often found that these guys were GREAT patients, easy to examine, easy to treat, and virtually NEVER aggressive.
BTW my most serious bite wound in practice came from a feisty Chihuahua called 'Carlos', who lunged from his cage one day to hang onto my face...
My personal opinion is that breed specific legislation is stupid- that it needs to be focused on responsible dog ownership.
IF a dog is dangerous, then it needs to be handled and restricted accordingly.
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Breeds that attack
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The one site of dogbites.org claims that certain breeds are responsible for MOST dog attacks on people.
Compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2013, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, shows the breeds most responsible for serious injury and death.
The combination of molosser breeds, including pit bulls, curs, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, sharpeis, boxers, and their mixes.
But another review by Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association: 2000-2009 noted this BIG discrepancy..(wikipedia)
The authors found that in a significant number of DBRFs there was either a conflict between different media sources reporting breed and/or a conflict between media and animal control reports relative to the reporting of breed. For 401 dogs described in various media accounts of DBRFs, media sources reported conflicting breed attributions for 124 of the dogs (30.9%); and where there were media reports and an animal control report (346 dogs), there were conflicting breed attributions for 139 dogs (40.2%)
According to this study, reliable verification of the breed of dog was only possible in 18% of incidents.
In other words the media is OFTEN WRONG.
This is a tragedy that should not have happened, and I feel for the family that lost their therapy dog Yuri, the young girl who loses a friend that can relate to her, and the whole trauma of witnessing such an attack.
I have strong reactions against other dogs that attack- be it them going after people/dogs/other animals.
The media sells stories, not necessarily 'the truth'
I need to read everything more thoroughly before I publish it, and comment factually.
Dogs are wonderful animals, BUT not every dog owner is, and some dogs become dangerous. They need to be treated differently so others are not harmed.
And my Chihuahua bite story is real :-)
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Heal Your Pet At Home!
Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM |
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P.S My upcoming web seminar is going to cover 67 New Natural remedies for allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, urinary tract disease, liver disease, kidney disease and more. PLUS there will be specific instructions on using herbs, homeopathy, acupressure and massage, along with my advised dog and cat foods, AND home pet recipes.
This is my most thorough web clinic to date, and your NOT going to want to miss it. Especially IF you are looking for ways to lower your vet fees.
I'll be sending an invitation out soon.
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| DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. Dr Andrew Jones resigned from the College of Veterinarians of B.C. effective December 1 2010, meaning he cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make specific medical recommendations for your pet.
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