Pitbull on Bus (live in, health, required)

[EnricoV]

There's no such thing as an unskewed study. They all are approaching it from one side or the other. And it's up to you (and everyone else) to decide whether the link meets your standard of reliability. Not me. I just provided the link.

And while I'm more than willing to believe that the person has an axe to grind, that doesn't mean the statistics are fabricated. It just means that there was an ulterior motive to compiling them.

As far as them being from press accounts ... I would think that that's going to under report numbers rather than exaggerate them. It usually takes something a bit extreme before the news reports things. All those simple dog bites likely wouldn't qualify for reporting.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Let me say this as a fact.

I am a long time claims adjuster. When I did property claims (for about 12 years) I averaged about 6 calls a year that went pretty much like this: We were walking our pet pit bull to the park.... when he suddenly grabbed out 3 year old and started tearing at her. He's so sweet and loving... she now has 15 stitches and we wanted to know if our homeowner policy will cover it?

I always ask that now their pet has attacked their young child unprovoked, what have they done with the dog. The answer never varies- OH! We will NEVER part with Brutus!!! He's so sweet and gentle.....

Then I tell them that regrettable it isn't covered.Now, I am one of many many claims adjusters who serviced OR & WA and we all get these calls.

Like some other breeds, pit bulls are essentially unstable. Not all, of course, but many. And people who see them try and kill their kids and then defend them more so that they do their own kids tells me something.

[homebeyer2013]

What's worse is that the owners often lack the financial means to take responsibility for the actions of their pets. Average dog bite settlement is about 30K. Your dog bites me; I will sue you in Superior Court, period.

[OuttatheRain]

Yeah....this is Portland. It seems people here bring their dogs everywhere and anywhere. I'm getting tired of seeing dogs in grocery stores myself. Some people even put them right in the carts and push them around like children.

We saw a homeless looking person walking a pit bull around Fred Meyer and asked a cashier about it. She said they were not allowed to ask them to bring the dogs outside because 99% of the time, they claimed the dog was a "service" dog for anxiety. She said they had to pick up dog poop off the floor several times a day. GROSS!!!

The whole dog thing is out of control in this city.

[Minervah]

Speaking of Pit Bulls, I saw one on the bus just yesterday. It was blocking the aisle and had nothing on it to indicate it was any type of service dog. I don't care what the breed, the owner should not have had it on board since it was not in a crate and there was no indication it was a service animal and was violating the rules.

Service dogs and their owners are both better behaved. The dogs always lie under the seats. Not only was it blocking the aisle but it was eyeballing me as I approached. I didn't know if that was good or bad but I wasn't going to pass by until the owner held it back which she finally did. Then she let it sit in the aisle again. Others who boarded the bus after me did the same thing I did. The owner continued to pull it back towards her only to allow them to pass but then allowed it to sit back right in the middle of the aisle.

That was just not the right thing for the owner to be doing.

[kagicre]

I am amazed about how people think about dogs on public transportation and what they assume. People are unpredictable, dogs are very predictable, but you have to understand their "language". I have a service dog I bring with me on the bus and I have mainly very positive reactions to her. I do see people sometimes that are a bit afraid, she is a labrador-mix and black, and I try to help them by my understanding the situation. I see other dogs so now and then and most of the time without any problems, but some are a bit loud (barking), but that isn't the dogs fault, but the owner never taught the dog how he/she should behave right. But you have the same with parents and little children on the bus. Can be quite an ordeal LOL. Do dogs bite without any reason? No! Do we (humans) do understand the reason all the time.... Of course not, most of the time we don't understand the reason why people do what they do either.
I am from Germany and animal on public transportation is allowed and normal, like it should be in my humble opinion. In 50 years I never saw one bad incident with a dog on public transportation.
But I love dogs and understand them far better and easier than people. And to be honest, I encounter quite a bit of people who reach down and want to pet my dog (even with her vest on) and she isn't digging it. She doesn't like to be touched by strangers, just like me :-) She doesn't bit though, she just moves out of there way. She is coping me LOL. I do the same. Maybe people should be more respectful for the space of a dog the same way they are respectful for the space of a person. Less incidents would happen, I promise. Respect goes a long way, people, in regard of your own species and of other species alike. Woof

[Minervah]

The problem is there isn't a whole lot of space on public transportation for a large dog. I have no fear of a large service dog on a bus. I know it will be well trained. But a large dog sitting in the middle of the aisle of a crowded bus with an owner who is taking up two seats both of them glowering at people as they walk by, well both of them make me nervous. This was the situation I recently encountered.

Perhaps German people are more polite and considerate of others. Actually the daughter of an American friend relocated to Germany about ten years ago and she has mentioned that. Unfortunately some people here bring their untrained dogs on the bus. I am afraid the dogs, if not trained to be in tight quarters with people stepping over them will become nervous and bite. I think that is one very good reason that dogs other than service dogs are not supposed to be on buses.

I would never, ever pet a service dog. I am surprised people do. I was always taught that is wrong.

[karlsch]

Ziggy Comic Strip, October 31, 2013 on GoComics.com

[kagicre]

Originally Posted by Minervah

The problem is there isn't a whole lot of space on public transportation for a large dog. I have no fear of a large service dog on a bus. I know it will be well trained. But a large dog sitting in the middle of the aisle of a crowded bus with an owner who is taking up two seats both of them glowering at people as they walk by, well both of them make me nervous. This was the situation I recently encountered.

Perhaps German people are more polite and considerate of others. Actually the daughter of an American friend relocated to Germany about ten years ago and she has mentioned that. Unfortunately some people here bring their untrained dogs on the bus. I am afraid the dogs, if not trained to be in tight quarters with people stepping over them will become nervous and bite. I think that is one very good reason that dogs other than service dogs are not supposed to be on buses.

I would never, ever pet a service dog. I am surprised people do. I was always taught that is wrong.

Yes, some people try to pet my service dogs, but most know they shouldn't and tell me so. People in Germany are not more polite or considerate of others, but they seem to have less of an issue with dogs in general, maybe because they were always allowed from public transportation and pubs and lots of shops (they are not allowed in groceries or restaurants though). But people in Germany seem to have the same issue with certain breeds, like pit bulls and sorts, just like here in the US. It's a shame really, because it is the owner that are really the problem.

[Nell Plotts]

Unfortunately human riders are not required to be trained and behave appropriately.