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It's interesting that the OP is ready to take away that ^^^ woman's dogs and have them put to sleep but she owns a "teenage cat" that bites and "has quite an attitude"...
Funny how that works...
That woman's dogs were running loose and attacking other dogs. She had absolutely no control and it happened multiple times.
Cats can be dangerous when they bite (though mine does so playfully), but cats don't normally attack people on the street. It's also different when a bad owner (such as this woman on the court show) has no control over her pets and no idea how many dogs they have attacked. If she had control over the animals it would be a different story.
I honestly couldn't even imagine having to put either of my dogs down...even for biting someone. I love my dogs like they are my children! It would have to be something pretty darn serious...and completely unprovoked before I would even CONSIDER it. I think managing the situation is key. For instance...I have a 7 y/o Lab/Shep mix, who does not like children. I don't have any children, so I wasn't aware that there was an issue until she growled and snapped at a child. We immediately removed her from that situation, and have made sure that she has not been in a that situation since. If there are small children around, she's on a leash attached to me...AT ALL TIMES...until the area is free of the little ones. We do not allow children to approach her. Parents have sometimes given me a very odd look when their children ask to pet my dogs, and I tell them they can pet my pittie, but not the other one. She's not aggressive toward them, she's just very uncomfortable around them. I manage the situation to make sure that she is never pushed to or past her limits to envoke a reaction from her.
There are ways to condition an animal to give different responses to things that may normally send them over the edge. It takes a lot of time and patience, but it can be done. That would be my very first course of action, should I find myself owning an aggressive dog. Dogs normally do not bite for truly no reason. There's always a reason there, and it's up to us to figure out what that reason was. Some dogs lash out and bite when they don't feel well. Others, when someone or something makes them uncomfortable. Most bites or attacks are provoked in some way or another. Some people aren't able to read a dogs body language, and try to approach or play with an uncomfortable dog, and end up getting bitten. That, to me, does not justify putting a dog to sleep.
Our chihuahua does not like kids and we have to keep a close eye on her when little kids are around. We keep her under control, though.
Control is the key here. If an owner has good control over a dog then it's not as much of a problem as some bad owners out there who have no control. All owners should have control. It's especially dangerous if the dog has a history of biting. If an owner has no control over the animal maybe they should consider whether they should have the animal or not.
That was my point. I don't necessarily agree with the one-bite rule. I'm not saying all "vicious" dogs should be put down. However, there seem to be many "vicious" dogs with bad owners. That situation needs to stop. When owners are careless, dogs and possibly people are more likely to get hurt. I tend to think careless owners and the new stories about dog fighting are one reason that people seem to fear pitbulls. Much of it is hype, but it's still an issue in people's minds. It's owners faults generally more than the dog, though sometimes dogs do work on their own. Usually it's instinct with dogs.
That woman's dogs were running loose and attacking other dogs. She had absolutely no control and it happened multiple times.
Cats can be dangerous when they bite (though mine does so playfully), but cats don't normally attack people on the street. It's also different when a bad owner (such as this woman on the court show) has no control over her pets and no idea how many dogs they have attacked. If she had control over the animals it would be a different story.
While that woman may be out of control my point is that it's always different when it's our pets...
You're the one who wanted to discuss the "one bite rule".
You should understand how that rule applies to you...
By your own admission, you have a cat that bites and a chihuahua that doesn't like children. According to these laws, you would not be allowed to have either of them. Of course, the laws are "intended" for the good of society at large.
These laws hurt responsible pet owners.
Last edited by World Citizen; 02-25-2011 at 12:58 PM..
I didn't say I approve of the one-bite rule. I just said it exists, which in some places it does.
I understand that we all have situations where our pet could bite someone and it's a serious issue. I wouldn't want my animal put down, either. Like I said I don't agree with that. However, if an owner is known to be frequently negligent, the animal should not be kept in that situation.
One bite laws hurt good dogs and responsible owners...
Quote:
Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989
I didn't say I approve of the one-bite rule. I just said it exists, which in some places it does.
I understand that we all have situations where our pet could bite someone and it's a serious issue. I wouldn't want my animal put down, either. Like I said I don't agree with that. However, if an owner is known to be frequently negligent, the animal should not be kept in that situation.
Obviously most dogs who bite are not vicious.
I'm sorry. I don't like this subject. It's too painful for me...
I don't visit the dog forum often these days because it brings up bad memories.
This subject cost me my life savings, a couple of years of my life and a house that I loved.
Before I moved, I was able to draw attention to the unfair way the law was used in my community and to even get the ordinance changed.
It didn't come without a personal cost to me, however.
I've learned many lessons through my adventure.
Dog owners are a disparate group. As long as it's "every man for himself" and we are quick to jump on the bandwagon to judge other people's animals and support bad dog laws -- there is no hope for us.
Meanwhile, another bad dog law is passed by another city council who doesn't understand the unintended consequences that will follow.
Anytime I get involved in one of these discussions about dog laws, it hurts. I don't want to argue with you.
Time for me to check out again and heal.
Peace to all of you. Try to be gentle with one another.
I'm going to go outside and spend time with my dog!
Last edited by World Citizen; 02-25-2011 at 01:20 PM..
I'm sorry. I don't like this subject. It's too painful for me...
I don't visit the dog forum often these days because it brings up bad memories.
This subject cost me my life savings, a couple of years of my life and a house that I loved.
Before I moved, I was able to draw attention to the unfair way the law was used in my community and to even get the ordinance changed.
It didn't come without a personal cost to me, however.
I've learned many lessons through my adventure.
Dog owners are a disparate group. As long as it's "every man for himself" and we are quick to jump on the bandwagon to judge other people's animals and support bad dog laws -- there is no hope for us.
Meanwhile, another bad dog law is passed by another city council who doesn't understand the unintended consequences that will follow.
Anytime I get involved in one of these discussions about dog laws, it hurts. I don't want to argue with you.
Time for me to check out again and heal.
Peace to all of you. Try to be gentle with one another.
I'm going to go outside and spend time with my dog!
Whatever happened with you...I'm so very sorry and can tell that it upsets you very much! Almost brought tears to my eyes, not even knowing your situation, but it's definitely felt in your words! Makes me want to run home to my puppies too!!!!!!!!
I tried to rep you again...but it still won't let me!
Whatever happened with you...I'm so very sorry and can tell that it upsets you very much! Almost brought tears to my eyes, not even knowing your situation, but it's definitely felt in your words! Makes me want to run home to my puppies too!!!!!!!!
I tried to rep you again...but it still won't let me!
((((hugs))))
i think i remember w.c.'s story..... if it is the one i am thinking of, it was a terrible and terribly unfair story..... and repped for you......
As kids we had a GSD that we called Wolf, and later adopted a floppy little white dog we called lucky. We had both of them for many months successfully but left them alone together for a night. Luckily the lights for low we came home on a Sunday night. Or when our parents went out to finish emptying the SUV back in the days when suburban was the only one they had, they found blood and body parts from our Little white dog scattered from every corner of the garage all away to the other and throughout the entire backyard. It was a horrible scene. If you had gone away and left that if you had gone away and come home with your little dog in small pieces were you looked at this that differently? I hope all are safe in your family. We decided our dog wasn't necessarily going to be safe with the children if you can't trust him around the smaller dog, we couldn't trust him around the baby, so we had him put down. I never regretted it even as a kid. The thing is, if you haven't been there when this happened you would've had the same experience we did. You would've found your dog in small pieces, and probably would've put the bigger dog down for safety reasons. Sometimes when you find out a creature is capable of doing something ...it might actually do it to the point where someone is injured terribly, you have to rethink priorities. I hope you never leave them alone together even for a second. I never want to experience what we did, and we should've known better.
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