http://www.indystar.com/article/20101014/LOCAL1804/10140337/Pit-bulls-visits-heal-patients-reputation (http://www.indystar.com/article/20101014/LOCAL1804/10140337/Pit-bulls-visits-heal-patients-reputation)
. . .For the past six months, Kim Lane has visited nursing facilities in Anderson, Martinsville, Mooresville and Plainfield with her "two boys" -- Milo, a 3-year-old pit bull, and more recently Murphy, a 4-month-old pit bull -- to provide therapy for staff and residents.
"I promised Milo when he was a puppy that we would change people's minds," she said. "It was hard at first because as soon as some places heard the word pit bull, they said, 'no.' I even gave up at one point. But six months ago, I decided I would try even harder, because I felt Milo's talents were just wasting away."
Milo already has a Canine Good Citizen certificate and is being trained to be certified as a therapy dog and to serve in hospices.
Lane said what makes pit bulls such good therapy dogs is the same trait that some owners take advantage of when they are training them to fight and be mean.
"Pit bulls will do anything to please their owner, even if it means fighting to their death," Lane said. "But if you channel that desire to do good things they were meant to do, they have the perfect disposition for it. My dogs have been treated and handled with nothing but love, so Milo, in particular, is just one big mush ball."
The people who get weekly visits from Milo and Murphy couldn't agree more. Many say it is the highlight of their week.
Joyce Baldwin, a resident at Plainfield Nursing and Rehabilitation, can't wait to have the dogs climb up on her bed with her.
Baldwin said she lost her dogs just prior to moving to the facility. So Lane's dogs have helped her cope with the depression many nursing-home residents endure.
"Aren't these dogs the sweetest things?" Baldwin said. "They have brought me so much joy and always cheer me up. What you hear about pit bulls isn't true. They are good dogs. I don't know how anybody could not like these two."
Chris Ray, administrator at the Plainfield facility, said he believes in pet therapy and often uses dogs, birds and even fish to help cheer up and relax residents there. So he was delighted and had no hesitation about having pit bulls come into the facility as therapy dogs.
"You always think about the concerns when you hear pit bull, but once you meet them, that all goes away," he said. "You can just see the change in the residents' faces when the dogs come around."
Lane said she believes both dogs can sense when someone needs extra love and attention.
They can even do a few tricks to entertain residents, and Lane also allows residents to feed them low-fat treats.
"As long as we can change at least one person's mind about pit bulls and make someone happy every visit, I consider it a good, productive day, and hopefully, it starts a domino effect that changes people's perceptions," she said.
8)
Good to see pit bulls getting some positive coverage for a change.
Quote from: Locutus on October 15, 2010, 05:11:14 PM
Good to see pit bulls getting some positive coverage for a change.
Oh, no doubt! I swear they get a bad reputation just because of the media frenzy!
Quote from: Palehorse on October 15, 2010, 05:51:11 PM
Oh, no doubt! I swear they get a bad reputation just because of the media frenzy!
From what I can see, I don't think you will not see any change in how most people feel about a pit bull. To me owning one is just like leaving a loaded .357 pistol, cocked with a hair trigger out in the open in a building with children in it. One of them will find it and will hurt someone with it and if you own it, you will pay for it, big time.
Quote from: The Troll on October 15, 2010, 09:58:04 PM
From what I can see, I don't think you will not see any change in how most people feel about a pit bull. To me owning one is just like leaving a loaded .357 pistol, cocked with a hair trigger out in the open in a building with children in it. One of them will find it and will hurt someone with it and if you own it, you will pay for it, big time.
As I've said before. . . spend a half a day with my dog and you will rethink that!
Quote from: Palehorse on October 15, 2010, 10:46:09 PM
As I've said before. . . spend a half a day with my dog and you will rethink that!
You know the thing I have noticed is, there is people like you Palehorse, who take the time and effort to make these good animals, no, excellent animals. BUT it is those who get these dogs and have NO business with them, that makes these aggressive by nature animals, a bad name. I had a friend who had one, and it was a GREAT dog.
Quote from: Henry Hawk on October 16, 2010, 01:26:58 PM
You the thing I have noticed is, there is people like you Palehorse, who take the time and effort to make these good animals, no, excellent animals. BUT it is those who get these dogs and have NO business with them, that makes these aggressive by nature animals, a bad name. I had a friend who had one, and it was a GREAT dog.
I've seen an aggressive Golden Retriever because he was in the wrong hands. :yes:
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on October 16, 2010, 01:29:49 PM
I've seen an aggressive Golden Retriever because he was in the wrong hands. :yes:
yep, I know...and THAT is not an easy task, to make a Golden Retriever a mean dog....
Quote from: Henry Hawk on October 16, 2010, 01:31:20 PM
yep, I know...and THAT is not an easy task, to make a Golden Retriever a mean dog....
Living with you would make any dog mean. Tight ass you at least need to feed him.
Had a crowd of folks over for a fall cook out yesterday. Friends, family. One of the guys was like you Troll, scared to death of a pit bull. He almost didn't come because we have one.
I brought the dog outside and he could tell the guy was afraid of him. So what did my dog do? He grabbed his bone (toy), and took it over to the guy and laid it on his lap. Then he stayed around him for a while. Wasn't long before the two of them were best buds. When they left he said to me, "Man, that is a really good dog! I cannot believe he's a pit bull!"
Mission accomplished! :smile:
Quote from: Palehorse on October 17, 2010, 12:24:44 PM
Had a crowd of folks over for a fall cook out yesterday. Friends, family. One of the guys was like you Troll, scared to death of a pit bull. He almost didn't come because we have one.
I brought the dog outside and he could tell the guy was afraid of him. So what did my dog do? He grabbed his bone (toy), and took it over to the guy and laid it on his lap. Then he stayed around him for a while. Wasn't long before the two of them were best buds. When they left he said to me, "Man, that is a really good dog! I cannot believe he's a pit bull!"
Mission accomplished! :smile:
PH, I am not going to talk about Pit Bulls anymore. I think they are basically a dangerous animal. It's the only dog that jaws lock in combat. That jaw lock works on children, adults and other animals. Why do Pit Bulls have this, it is because it was breed into them. These dog were breed as catch animals, actually going out and catching and holding wild hogs and semi-wild cattle. Imagine a animal so strong and with a bite so strong as to hold these large wild animals.
Oh, they might be sweet and nice and beautiful and a wonder pet for your family, but you will never know what might trigger an attack. That the sword that's hanging over your head not mine.
You and I have to much in common to let your dog come between us. So all I can say is be careful and carry insurance and let's hope nothing bad will happen. :thumbsup:
http://www.pitbulllovers.com/american-pit-bull-terrier-myths.html
MYTH: American Pit Bull Terriers have 1600 P.S.I. in jaw pressure
Dr. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs.
There are, moreover, compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of "pounds per square inch" can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data."
MYTH: American Pit Bull Terriers lock their jaws.
Dr. Brisbin: "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog.
There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Troll, they have a novel way to find out information now days. They call it a search engine and I use it with increasing frequency. There is a person on this forum that I will not name but she is a "pit bull" when it comes to requiring something that is not used a lot in most forums, they call it
proof. Not only will she demand this proof but requires it come from a reliable source. Also I will come out and make a confession I keep secret from most people - I only completed 9th grade in high school. If it is not obvious to the readers yet, I will be the first to admit to being stupid. I usually put that in my introduction when I join a forum before anyone can count coup by telling me what I already know. I am pretty tricky though and can fool many people who think I must have at least went through my junior year in high school! Anyway, I used to write like a blathering idiot, misspelling words, not knowing the purpose nor how to use the comma, and would assert my theories as facts until my unnamed friend took me under her wing and taught me how to put my thoughts down on paper, or in this case a digital format. Before she looked at me with pity and helped me with my writing, I constantly made a fool out of myself on a public forum. People were always making fun of Lester and I was the butt of many jokes. My good friend taught me what smart folks call "critical thinking" or "independent thought". Anyway Troll, keep in mind two important things - "Proof" and "Reliable Sources" when you make assertions about pit bulls.
You see I too once fell prey to the pit bull "lock jaw" myth. Why? Because someone told me that and I wanted to believe it was true. But if you do just a few minutes of research you will discover this breed is a canine with no super powers. I have taken the liberty of posting some information here in an effort to dispel some pit bull myths and, because she is so adamant that I show my work, I have provided a link to my source.
Dispelling some myths about Pit Bulls:
-Is it true that Pit Bulls can lock their jaw?The infamous locking jaw is a myth. The American Pit Bull Terrier and related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed of dog. All dogs are from the same species and none have locking jaws. Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparison to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover, compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data." Furthermore, Dr. Brisbin states, "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."
-Are Pit Bulls naturally aggressive towards humans?While many Pit Bulls do tend to be aggressive towards other DOGS (as are most terriers), the normal, well raised Pit Bull has NO human-aggressive tendencies! In fact, human-aggression was actually bred out of the breed. The majority of Pit Bulls are affectionate, intelligent, trainable dogs. In fact, the highest obedience trial record of all time is held by an American Pit Bull Terrier named Maddy!
-Can Pit Bulls "turn" on people?In fact, no breed of dog does. Dog aggression is nearly always preceded by some kind of warning, and there is always a reason behind the attack. However, many inexperienced owners do not recognize the dog's behavior as aggression, or refuse to acknowledge it as a warning sign. The only exception I can think of is Springer Rage, a rare and controversial neurological condition that manifests itself as a spontaneous attack, followed by confusion, and then a return to normal behavior. Pit Bulls are NOT prone to this condition. There are individual dogs of any breed that may be more aggressive to others.
http://www.austinlostpets.com/kidskorner/2October/pitbull.htm (http://www.austinlostpets.com/kidskorner/2October/pitbull.htm)
Troll, I hope that now that you will realize that a pit bull is just a regular dog. Most humans by their nature are lazy and fail to take the time to properly train their pets.
Note: I am so slow I see that Lolly beat me to it!
Lester, I did some research to. Mine said that to unlock a pit bulls jaws, you could do three things. Break an ammonia ampule on it nose. Hold your hold your hand tightly over it's nose and third, take a stick and pry it's jaws apart. I think in that situation a knife blade in the throat would work too.
I am not going to have a ammonia ampule on my person, I not going to get my hand that close to it's teeth and I am not going to look for a stick. But I do carry a knife that I can open with one hand and I think it would handle that job of breaking the lock. :yes:
Pitt Bull terriers are not the only creature that has a bad reputation Troll. There is a certain reptile whose mere name can make some people uncontrollably cower in fear. This poor creature can be a faithful companion despite all the bad publicity he gets, I am talking about the poor crocodile the source of the derogatory and demeaning phrase "crying crocodile tears". When most fishermen in Costa Rica come across a wounded baby croc the first thing the try to do is kill the poor critter! But not Chito, a poor man who made his living by catching fish to sell. About 20 years ago Chito found a small 150 pound crocodile that had been shot and left for dead by an unknown assailant. Chito took the poor wounded croc home and nursed him back to health. Chito named the little croc "Pancho" and, after he had regained his health, took him back to where he had found him. But Pancho did not want to go back and followed new friend Chito home.
Every day when Chito returned from a hard day of fishing he was greeted by his pet crocodile who was growing bigger by the day. Needless to say Chito didn't have many of his human friends come by and, after the word got out about Pancho, local thieves gave Chto's house a wide berth when they were out prowling around looking for easy targets from which to steal. Then after about 10 years Chito thought "Why don't I teach Poncho some tricks?" and soon Pancho proved to be quite the entertainer. It has been 20 years now since the two friends met and Chito remains single but he has never found a woman who shares his love for Poncho. Chito stopped fishing for a living when he discovered that people would pay to see him frolic with Poncho in the water. Today Poncho had brown to an amazing 18 feet in length and the pair are a popular tourist attraction where Pocho is quite popular.
You can search the net for "Poncho and Chito" and find where many of the people who have seen their act have posted videos. Here is a link that I found for your viewing pleasure.
http://www.asylum.com/2010/09/29/video-costa-rican-man-trains-18-foot-croc-to-perform-for-tour/ (http://www.asylum.com/2010/09/29/video-costa-rican-man-trains-18-foot-croc-to-perform-for-tour/)
This is a good example of a creature of the wild which has overcome the stigma of its bad reputation and become a valuable asset to man.
Lolly and Lester: My dog thanks you for your straightforward answers in an attempt to dispel the mythology around his breed. But as you can see, years of conditioning and blind acceptance are a hard thing to overcome.
My wife and I have done our very best to train our dog to be an ambassador for the breed, and in that respect he does very well on his own in just about every situation. Once he knows you are welcome in our home you will have no problems from him. If he finds you are afraid of him, he takes it upon himself to prove to you how mistaken you are. In the end despite our best efforts, he himself is the most efficient myth buster around. And he is good at it.
ANY dog is a threat to human life if in the wrong hands. Same as a loaded firearm. A good friend of mine raises dogs for personal protection and I have seen the damage a properly trained dog of any breed can do to a human being.
I can also recall the same accusations being levied toward Doberman's, Chows, and Spitz's when each of these breeds achieved popularity with humans. And as with the pit bull, eventually the media frenzy died off and along with it the myths and eventually the stigma.
Elsewhere I posted statistical data the established a "bite rate" for specific breeds, and not surprisingly to me the pit bull had a very low incident rate in comparison to other popular breeds. Its just that their population is far and away larger than those other breeds, and as a result the number of abusive owners are proportionately higher as well. (IE of course there are more pit bull incidents, because there are more pit bull owners!)
To be honest about it, I kind of enjoy the fact that so many hold such falsehoods as factual. It makes them afraid of my dog and makes his job easier, and increases our personal safety as a result. Those who would consider violating our home are more likely to pass us by because of him, and we like it that way.
The truth is something that is 180 degrees from the present day mythology concerning the breed. Those lucky enough to understand this find themselves with a treasured and trusted companion, capable and willing to give his/her life in defense of yours, without hesitation. And equally as capable and willing to return your love and affection with the same, times ten.
I know my dog, I trust my dog, and he in return trusts me. I know he will not knowingly ever violate that trust. For my wife and I that is enough, and more than any one of us would do for the other. . .
Quote from: Lester Sasquatch on October 17, 2010, 03:27:11 PM
Also I will come out and make a confession I keep secret from most people - I only completed 9th grade in high school.
This is actually true. But he doesn't tell you how far he went in college.
Quote from: LOsborne on October 17, 2010, 05:14:30 PM
Source?
:food24: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :cold:
Henry, I just read a book about retrievers and it basically said if you're looking for a guard dog, then you have the wrong pet. :biggrin: It would indeed take some work (or neglect).
PH, you've got a tough fight against you because sensationalistic media will rarely tell your side of the story. You just keep on, keeping on and lets hope the negative tide changes.
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on October 18, 2010, 09:02:01 AM
Henry, I just read a book about retrievers and it basically said if you're looking for a guard dog, then you have the wrong pet. :biggrin: It would indeed take some work (or neglect).
PH, you've got a tough fight against you because sensationalistic media will rarely tell your side of the story. You just keep on, keeping on and lets hope the negative tide changes.
I had a great retriever, that was the sweetest dog ever, but he was VERY protective of my kids, he did not like strangers, and if I would wrestle with my kids he always tried to stop me, usually by licking me, but it made him very nervous when we wreslted...it was a sweetheart...he was stolen from us, in a blink of an eye, and we never say a trace of him after that.....and we have never replaced him, but I hope to get another dog MAYBE this next spring. I'm not sure what kind I wil get at this time.
I'd recommend a pound puppy. :yes:
I'm partial to big dogs. I hate to think of the day when I'll be in the market for another dog because I love Benji so much. I know you and your family were devistated. What kinda jerk does stuff like stealing dogs anyway?!?
We had a springer spaniel mix and while she wasn't a really large dog she was very protective of our kids. One time when our daughter was a teenager and a group of her friends were over one of the boys decided it would be cute to pretend to spank her. The dog grabbed his arm and would not let go until our daughter walked across the room and called her. The dog didn't bite hard but I am sure she would have if the kid hadn't let go of our daughter.
We have had mostly cocker spaniels and I have found them protective of children but not adults so much. They can be territorial and I have seen a couple hold their own with much larger dogs. The one we have now is more timid and laid back than the other ones we have had.
Our neighbors have a pit bull and it is a very nice dog, very strong and imo needs a little more training because he is rambuncious.
The Anderson, Indiana Hearld Bulletin Newspaper
Monday. Family pet Rottwieler attacks 18 month girl. Breaking her leg in three places and causing bruising of her head and cuts requiring many stiches.
:lipsrsealed2: :nocomment:
How does this story of a Rottweiler attack support your blanket condemnation of pit bulls?
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x847470890/Baby-airlifted-after-mauling-by-dog
Tangent: it was gratifying to see Rottweiler spelled "Rotttweiler" in the first sentence of the story, since the Washington Times-Herald, another CNHI rag, yesterday told us about the guy "driving without never being licensed." I actually think "Rotttweiler" is more embarrassing, since spell-check would have caught it.
Quote from: LOsborne on October 19, 2010, 07:57:27 AM
How does this story of a Rottweiler attack support your blanket condemnation of pit bulls?
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x847470890/Baby-airlifted-after-mauling-by-dog
Tangent: it was gratifying to see Rottweiler spelled "Rotttweiler" in the first sentence of the story, since the Washington Times-Herald, another CNHI rag, yesterday told us about the guy "driving without never being licensed." I actually think "Rotttweiler" is more embarrassing, since spell-check would have caught it.
:finger01: :nocomment: Asshole.
Lovely :rolleyes:
Quote from: LOsborne on October 19, 2010, 07:57:27 AM
How does this story of a Rottweiler attack support your blanket condemnation of pit bulls?
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x847470890/Baby-airlifted-after-mauling-by-dog
Tangent: it was gratifying to see Rottweiler spelled "Rotttweiler" in the first sentence of the story, since the Washington Times-Herald, another CNHI rag, yesterday told us about the guy "driving without never being licensed." I actually think "Rotttweiler" is more embarrassing, since spell-check would have caught it.
Yeah, the online edition of the WTH had this headline today -
North Daviess Schools act on bullyibg complaintsCan't even use a spell check, idiots!
Rottweilers were yesterday's pit bulls. They were feared and villified constantly. Ironically at that time I was the co-owner of one and my experience with her is similar to the one PH has with his puppy. She was a sweet and very much overgrown lapdog. We had her obedience trained and she even topped out at the obedience trials. She was loving, supportive, eager to please and would stop on a dime w/a single command.
My story isn't intended to answer Lolly's question though. I'm just sharing...
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on October 19, 2010, 08:16:17 AM
Rottweilers were yesterday's pit bulls. They were feared and villified constantly. Ironically at that time I was the co-owner of one and my experience with her is similar to the one PH has with his puppy. She was a sweet and very much overgrown lapdog. We had her obedience trained and she even topped out at the obedience trials. She was loving, supportive, eager to please and would stop on a dime w/a single command.
My story isn't intended to answer Lolly's question though. I'm just sharing...
:blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: :yes:
I dog sit MANY dogs throughout the year and my favorites are the pits! They are the best snugglers. They listen to commands immediately, so I never have to stand at the door and call and call and call like I do with the smaller spoiled dogs - AKA my old Yorkie that lives with my ex. PITA! I also love Rotties. They just want to be 90 - 120lb lap dogs! I would never buy any dog off the street, but I would be especially careful with buying a pit or rottie. I think their strength is the only real concern.
Quote from: kimmi on October 19, 2010, 05:58:06 PM
I dog sit MANY dogs throughout the year and my favorites are the pits! They are the best snugglers. They listen to commands immediately, so I never have to stand at the door and call and call and call like I do with the smaller spoiled dogs - AKA my old Yorkie that lives with my ex. PITA! I also love Rotties. They just want to be 90 - 120lb lap dogs! I would never buy any dog off the street, but I would be especially careful with buying a pit or rottie. I think their strength is the only real concern.
I kept my friend's Rottweiler one time while she was out of town. That dog was one of the best ones I've ever been around. So sweet and obedient.
Quote from: Locutus on October 19, 2010, 06:43:56 PM
I kept my friend's Rottweiler one time while she was out of town. That dog was one of the best ones I've ever been around. So sweet and obedient.
My friend Sharon (see Sandy's "Volunteering" thread,) rescued a young Rottie about six years ago. She already had a bull mastiff, which had been her husband's service dog, before he died. So Chance, the rottweiler, was her
little dog! I would have a hard time choosing the best dog between Sam (the mastiff) and Chance, and both were welcome in my house. After a four-and-a-half hour drive, they would calmly enter my home -- which at the time included two cats and a black-and-tan mutt, plus two kids in their late teens -- and make themselves warmly welcome to all the inhabitants. Even the cats.
Chance never, ever barked. Sam only barked to warn visitors at the door they needed to wait for an invitation to enter. Neither of them ever showed teeth in a growl. And yet, all kinds of people were afraid of them on sight!
In response to Kimmi's remark about size and strength: the scariest dog I ever knew was an Irish setter. She wasn't a bad dog. But she was convinced she was a lap dog -- and a dog that size hurling herself at you is disconcerting.
Quote from: LOsborne on October 19, 2010, 07:11:39 PM
My friend Sharon (see Sandy's "Volunteering" thread,) rescued a young Rottie about six years ago. She already had a bull mastiff, which had been her husband's service dog, before he died. So Chance, the rottweiler, was her little dog! I would have a hard time choosing the best dog between Sam (the mastiff) and Chance, and both were welcome in my house. After a four-and-a-half hour drive, they would calmly enter my home -- which at the time included two cats and a black-and-tan mutt, plus two kids in their late teens -- and make themselves warmly welcome to all the inhabitants. Even the cats.
Chance never, ever barked. Sam only barked to warn visitors at the door they needed to wait for an invitation to enter. Neither of them ever showed teeth in a growl. And yet, all kinds of people were afraid of them on sight!
In response to Kimmi's remark about size and strength: the scariest dog I ever knew was an Irish setter. She wasn't a bad dog. But she was convinced she was a lap dog -- and a dog that size hurling herself at you is disconcerting.
You mean people will vilify an entire group for the actions of a few??
:sarcasm: :biggrin:
Quote from: Locutus on October 19, 2010, 07:16:45 PM
You mean people will vilify an entire group for the actions of a few??
You're right. It could never happen in the Land of the Free.
Quote from: LOsborne on October 19, 2010, 07:11:39 PM
In response to Kimmi's remark about size and strength: the scariest dog I ever knew was an Irish setter. She wasn't a bad dog. But she was convinced she was a lap dog -- and a dog that size hurling herself at you is disconcerting.
No kidding. I feel like when the bigger dogs want to be held, it is like being too old to sit on grandma's lap and not understanding why that won't work! :biggrin:
And more bad press.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Williamsburg, MO (KSDK) -- Even if there are a few scrapes between them, John Reynolds insists his dogs are friendly. All 17 of them. All pit bulls.
"They were like best buddies," Reynolds says of his father the 84-year-old Rev. John Reynolds and one of the pit bulls. "My dad would sit there and feed him off his spoon. They slept together."
Reynolds says no one knew his dogs' nature more than his father who owned the home and property where John raises the dogs.
The Pit Bulls - See photos here
Which makes what he found on Wednesday night, October 13th, even harder to understand.
"I could see that he'd been attacked by something," Reynolds recalls.
He came home that night and found his father on the ground in the pen with severe bite marks. He did not survive the attack.
The sheriff's department says the dogs were on the loose but, with the exception of one dog who was wounded, showed few signs of an attack given the severity of Rev. Reynolds' injuries.
"They think that my dad might have been out here and they might have been playing or rough-housing and it got out of control," Reynolds says of his conversations with investigators. "But I just can't, I don't believe it."
He admits it's only speculation, but Reynolds believes stray dogs or possibly even a mountain lion may have attacked his father and his pit bulls.
While extremely rare, the Sheriff says deputies have taken reports on, and had sightings of, mountain lions in Callaway County. The official report on Rev. Reynolds' death only says his injuries were consistent with an animal attack.
"I know that there [are] a lot of people out there that are dead set against pit bulls and I'm sure they're going to try to use this to get their point across," says Reynolds, defending his dogs. "I know he wouldn't like it," he says of his late father.
The investigation is ongoing, but the Sheriff says there won't be any charges since the property owner has passed away. The dogs won't be seized because the county doesn't have the resources to handle that many dogs.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=222459
Crap!!! :rant:
QuoteA 2-year-old female boxer/pit bull mix named Angel, which had been turned over to the Nevada Humane Society's shelter in Reno, is credited with rescuing six abandoned kittens Monday, according to Diane Blankenburg, a shelter spokeswoman.
While Angel was on a walk with a pair of volunteers, Frank Gomez and 9-year-old stepson Joel Fontes (pictured below with Angel), the dog became obsessed with something in the bushes.
With temperatures in the 90s on Monday, the two volunteers tried to initially coax the dog away from the bush.
But when Angel refused to move on, Gomez investigated and discovered a box full of 3-week-old orange tabby kittens that were frightened and hungry.
One of the abandoned kittens escaped before shelter staff was summoned to the scene, but Angel tracked it down and Gomez handed it over to safety.
Okay, the story is dated, but a sweet story nonetheless. I guess someone forgot to tell Angel that she's supposed to be mortal enemies with cats. Especially the small bite sized ones. ;D
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/08/pit-bull-saves.html
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on October 20, 2010, 08:52:52 PM
Okay, the story is dated, but a sweet story nonetheless. I guess someone forgot to tell Angel that she's supposed to be mortal enemies with cats. Especially the small bite sized ones. ;D
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/08/pit-bull-saves.html
You ought to see our dog and our cat together! I think the dog thinks the cat is his puppy or something! :biggrin:
Palehorse, do you think dogs are embarrassed with respect to Halloween costumes? It seems there is a big controversy about this issue.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7256270.html (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7256270.html)
(http://www.dogguide.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/282785901_dd5888b1bb.jpg)
Jeebus.
Looks like Burt Lahr with 4 legs.
You know, I think this is a pit bull dressed up as a lion but it might just be the other way around. I guess the only way to tell for sure is to let him bite someone and see if his jaws lock. I recall one of the experts here on the forum said that a pit bull is the only animal whose jaws lack, so that would be a sure way to tell.
:music1: We're off to see the wizard...... :music1: :music1:
Quote from: Lester Sasquatch on October 21, 2010, 08:38:51 PM
I recall on of the experts here on the forum said that a pit bull is the only animal whose jaws lack, so that would be a sure way to tell.
Are you sure? Back when I was a wee, curly-haired revolutionary, an older activist introduced me to the concept of the "Volkswagen jar." What ya do is, ya get a mayonnaise jar, wash it out, peel off the label and replace it with one that says "Charitable Donations." You set it on your desk, and intimidate straight people who come by into dropping in some cash. When the jar is full, you will have enough to hire somebody called Snake or Big Eugene to hit the most annoying know-it-all you know, with a rusty Volkswagen. The impact might not kill him, but it will certainly give him lock-jaw -- which is almost as good.
My designated victim was never a pit bull, so I am reasonably certain there are others walking this earth, now, with lockjaw. I filled the jar four times.
Quote from: Lester Sasquatch on October 21, 2010, 08:24:36 PM
Palehorse, do you think dogs are embarrassed with respect to Halloween costumes? It seems there is a big controversy about this issue.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7256270.html (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7256270.html)
(http://www.dogguide.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/282785901_dd5888b1bb.jpg)
Hell no! My dog loves to dress up, and he sports his Harley shirts and cap all the time. (I had to buy them to keep my wife from playing dress up with him and using some very questionable attire on him. This way she 's happy and the dog keeps his manly pride intact). :biggrin:
That being said, I had to quickly hide the picture from my dog. He gets one gander at that and he'll be nagging me to buy him a lion costume for halloween! :spooked: :rolleyes:
And unlike the dog in the picture, MY lil puppy is the right color (fawn) for the costume, and it would accentuate his muscles! :biggrin:
By golly your dog would make a good companion to a kid out trick or treating. Especially to those miserly folks that won't dish out the goodies.
Quote from: Lester Sasquatch on October 21, 2010, 09:18:08 PM
By golly your dog would make a good companion to a kid out trick or treating. Especially to those miserly folks that won't dish out the goodies.
Sportin that Lion costume he'd probably have them dropping the whole bowl and slamming the door shut too. Grandkids would only have to be out a half an hour and they'd have more than they could carry; even loading the dogs saddle bags to the brim! :biggrin:
I'm gonna help out Mrs. Horse on this one. Please, please, please buy him that costume! He'd look so cool! You can use it this year as a lion and next year buy him a toy guitar and mousse it a lil' and he could be a big haired rocker. ;D
Indianapolis police say two people were accidentally bitten in a Southeastside's religious facility's parking lot by a police dog that had gotten away from its new handler, an officer whose previous dog of seven years recently died.
The Belgian Malinois named Brick was formerly the police animal partnered with IMPD officer David Bisard, said IMPD Lt. Jeff Duhamell. The dog was put in a kennel after Bisard was in an Aug. 6 crash that killed Eric Wells and injured two other motorcyclists on the Northeastside. Bisard is awaiting trial on criminal charges.
Duhamell said the dog was reassigned to Officer Scott Baker. Baker was at home Oct. 30, cleaning out his vehicle, when the animal took off running unbenownst to Baker. The dog bit an 18-year-old woman and then a 26-year-old man who was trying to help her. Both were in the parking lot at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 8202 Five Points Road, at the time.
"He was apologetic," said IMPD Lt. Jeff Duhamell of Baker, a 24-year veteran of the force who he said has worked with police dogs for 16 years. "He feels bad."
Baker's own police dog, Ricky, recently died of abdominal complications, Duhamell said.
Police are conducting an internal investigation and disciplinary action is possible. The dog was not on a leash. Baker was off-duty at the time.
Natalie Bradley-Wilson, 18, who was outside the Kingdom Hall, told WTHR (Channel 13) she was shocked when the dog attacked her out of nowhere. She said she tried holding the dog's muzzle shut, then tried biting the dog back to shock it.
"It didn't act like it even cared that I bit it," Bradley-Wilson told the Star's newsgathering partner.
The male friend chased the dog off with a briefcase, but not before he was also bitten.
Both were treated at St. Francis Hospital South.
Police dog candidates are selected for specific traits and drives. IMPD uses German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch shepherds for felony apprehension and narcotics detection.
A call to the unit today was not answered.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101105/NEWS02/101105026/Bisard-s-former-K-9-partner-in-trouble-too?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com (http://www.indystar.com/article/20101105/NEWS02/101105026/Bisard-s-former-K-9-partner-in-trouble-too?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com)
Yeah, and had that been a pit bull they'd be tripping over themselves to have the dog put down! :rant: :rant: :rant:
I'm siding with the dog here. Why would she attempt to put her hands anywhere near his face? also, she bit him back?!? What an idiot. I'm thinking she did something nutty to cause him to react instinctively to being with. As for the other asshole, what did he do before he started waving the briefcase? My bet is something equally stupid that incited the dog. He didn't think waving a briefcase would be perceived as threatening behavior by the dog? Still the dog should have been secured by the officer. I'm curious about his training to. Maybe Ex will elaborate on that, but I'm surpised that he took off like that anyway. Maybe something attracted his attention?
I wonder why they don't use pitt bulls for police dogs?
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on November 06, 2010, 06:15:51 AM
I wonder why they don't use pitt bulls for police dogs?
Because you got to use a crow bar to remove perpetrator from dogs mouth. :biggrin: :biggrin:
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on November 06, 2010, 06:15:51 AM
Still the dog should have been secured by the officer. I'm curious about his training to. Maybe Ex will elaborate on that, but I'm surpised that he took off like that anyway. Maybe something attracted his attention?
According to the news story, this is the dog which was partnered to the drunk who killed and maimed the motorcyclists. Who knows what kind of strange habits or odd cues he learned living with that guy.
Quote from: LOsborne on November 06, 2010, 08:07:49 AM
According to the news story, this is the dog which was partnered to the drunk who killed and maimed the motorcyclists. Who knows what kind of strange habits or odd cues he learned living with that guy.
Well wouldn't know, old dog whisper LOsborne know everything about dogs and their training. SHWOOOOOOOOOOOOH.
Have you ever watched Pit Bulls and Parolees? It's on Animal Planet right after Pit boss. I haven't seen either program, but I saw the listing and I can't help but wonder if they help a Pit's reputation or hurt it.
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on November 08, 2010, 06:57:53 PM
Have you ever watched Pit Bulls and Parolees? It's on Animal Planet right after Pit boss. I haven't seen either program, but I saw the listing and I can't help but wonder if they help a Pit's reputation or hurt it.
They help it. They do a good job of it:
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on November 08, 2010, 06:57:53 PM
Have you ever watched Pit Bulls and Parolees? It's on Animal Planet right after Pit boss. I haven't seen either program, but I saw the listing and I can't help but wonder if they help a Pit's reputation or hurt it.
I agree with the Troll, they help. BIG time. The lady that runs it is a fierce advocate for the pit bull breed and she takes in animals (pit bulls) from all kinds of bad situations. Then she rehabs them, works with them, understands their weaknesses and strengths, and only places them into a new home when she is sure the home they are going into is a good fit for the animal.
She struggles to keep up financially, but she will not turn her back on any pit bull in a bad situation.
I watched on episode where she and her daughter were gong to rescue on pit bull stray, and while going there came across another that was a stray and starving and obviously very sick. She took that one and went and retrieved the one she was called about, and then paid for the sick dog's checkup. When she found out the dog was terminally sick she paid to have it put down.
I like the show a lot and watch it whenever I am home and it is on. :yes:
She does a good job with her parolee employees too! :smile:
Today my daughter and I spent some time helping out at the animal shelter. We came across a family considering this young and very beautiful pit mix. They asked us about him and what his story was. Well, he was picked up as a stray, so we didn't know his history, but the dog enrichment lady had nothing but raving reviews on this pup. She told us a couple weeks ago how smart he was and that not only was he very obedient, but that he'd learned a few tricks. Everyone there is surprised that his real family has never shown up to claim him because he's such a cool and well adjusted dog. Anyway, as we talked about him, I tried to remember everything you'd said about the breed and I told them that he'd be a steadfast and loyal friend, but that he needed training, activity and unconditional love. I'd love for this family to adopt him and I think they may be, but I wanted to throw that out there hoping they'd get the hint that he isn't a dog that they can bring home and ignore. No dog should be that way, but especially not a high-energy dog. Anyway, about the time I was talking to them, a guy that's employed there walked up and proceeded to tell them that he'd be great w/the kids and that he needs a lot of exercise. He warned them that if they weren't a family that had a lot of time to exercise with him for quite a while on a daily basis, then he wasn't the dog for them. The dad laughed and said, "the girls will keep him busy" and the guy said, "that's good, but he needs more than just playing with the kids." The dad said that he's a bike rider and asked if he thought he'd be trainable to run along side his bike. The guy said that he does that quite well, but offered to let the guy bring his bike up and have the dog enrichment lady help him to make sure that no one gets hurt.
At any rate, I think this puppy found a home. They were still talking to the guy and playing with the dog when we left an hour and a half later. :yes:
The dog's profile:
QuoteI recently passed an assessment by a trainer who has connections with a national working dog organization. I am a very intelligent, curious, highly active large dog with a strong detection drive. I would require an experienced, Alpha guardian to share an active lifestyle with, but I love to frolick with children and other dogs. My regular volunteer takes me on 3 mile bike rides twice a week in addition to 1 hour daily walks and training exercises. I can pick out a toy, after only smelling it for a few seconds, out of a toy box with 50 other toys in it. I even open the toy box myself! My favorite things to do are running, swimming, car rides, baths, mental stimulation, and retrieving balls. My volunteer trainer has taught me to sit and stay off leash while she walks about 50 feet away. I stay until she "releases" me.
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4809/petea.jpg)
If I could have another dog where I'm currently living, then I would have brought Doughboy home with me today:
(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2572/doughboy.jpg)
He's a Pit bull/English bull dog mix. What a total sweetheart he is. :smitten:
This is another dog that we walked today:
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9233/zeusx.jpg)
Maybe it's his "tuxedo", but he's very refined. LOL So gentle and sweet. He's actually younger than the dog the family was looking about, but very settled.
This one has nothing to do with pit bulls, but I had to share her picture. Her head is really that large and her body is really that small. I have to wonder what the lab mated w/to produce this sweetie. :biggrin:
(http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5219/annieln.jpg)
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on November 13, 2010, 05:51:48 PM
Today my daughter and I spent some time helping out at the animal shelter. We came across a family considering this young and very beautiful pit mix. They asked us about him and what his story was. Well, he was picked up as a stray, so we didn't know his history, but the dog enrichment lady had nothing but raving reviews on this pup. She told us a couple weeks ago how smart he was and that not only was he very obedient, but that he'd learned a few tricks. Everyone there is surprised that his real family has never shown up to claim him because he's such a cool and well adjusted dog. Anyway, as we talked about him, I tried to remember everything you'd said about the breed and I told them that he'd be a steadfast and loyal friend, but that he needed training, activity and unconditional love. I'd love for this family to adopt him and I think they may be, but I wanted to throw that out there hoping they'd get the hint that he isn't a dog that they can bring home and ignore. No dog should be that way, but especially not a high-energy dog. Anyway, about the time I was talking to them, a guy that's employed there walked up and proceeded to tell them that he'd be great w/the kids and that he needs a lot of exercise. He warned them that if they weren't a family that had a lot of time to exercise with him for quite a while on a daily basis, then he wasn't the dog for them. The dad laughed and said, "the girls will keep him busy" and the guy said, "that's good, but he needs more than just playing with the kids." The dad said that he's a bike rider and asked if he thought he'd be trainable to run along side his bike. The guy said that he does that quite well, but offered to let the guy bring his bike up and have the dog enrichment lady help him to make sure that no one gets hurt.
At any rate, I think this puppy found a home. They were still talking to the guy and playing with the dog when we left an hour and a half later. :yes:
The dog's profile:
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4809/petea.jpg)
One thing a lot of people who adopt dogs do not think about is how their homeowners insurance will perceive the animal because of his breed. With a pit mix it is far better to tell them it is a mutt, or emphasize the other breed(s) it may be mixed with as opposed to pit bull. Insurance companies discriminate
very strongly against the pit bull! My wife and I had a hard time obtaining insurance for our new home because our dog is a pit bull. We did obtain it from American Family Insurance, so that is an option if they are set on the animal and it happens to be a pit bull.
Now that our dog is 4 years old, he doesn't require quite as much exercise as when he was younger. Typically we will spend about 2 hours a day with him outside, during which he gets a lot of physical exercise. Broken down into about 3 sessions a day. I usually run him until he has had enough, which he will signal by taking his toy bone and going out to the center of the yard and laying down. :biggrin:
One of his quirks though is that while he will urinate whenever he feels the need, he typically will not initiate a bowel movement unless we tell him to. Then he goes right to it. Strange I know, but the dog poops on command! :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
These dogs, when paired with a family that takes the time to properly acclimate and train them, are excellent companion dogs and an excellent deterrent to those with skullduggery on their minds.
They also like to have a sense of "responsibility" and for the mindful owner who takes the time to understand their animal, it's pretty amazing what they will do once they understand what is expected of them. Our dog loves the harness and to pull. He will pull a sled or a wagon until he drops if we would let him. Pulling the bicycle is one of his favorites! :biggrin:
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on November 13, 2010, 06:07:21 PM
If I could have another dog where I'm currently living, then I would have brought Doughboy home with me today:
(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2572/doughboy.jpg)
He's a Pit bull/English bull dog mix. What a total sweetheart he is. :smitten:
This is another dog that we walked today:
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9233/zeusx.jpg)
Maybe it's his "tuxedo", but he's very refined. LOL So gentle and sweet. He's actually younger than the dog the family was looking about, but very settled.
This one has nothing to do with pit bulls, but I had to share her picture. Her head is really that large and her body is really that small. I have to wonder what the lab mated w/to produce this sweetie. :biggrin:
(http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5219/annieln.jpg)
They all look so adorable! But umm. . . err. . . . number three looks like a photo shop dog!
Quote from: Palehorse on November 13, 2010, 06:32:56 PM
They all look so adorable! But umm. . . err. . . . number three looks like a photo shop dog!
She does doesn't she! I was thinking that she looks cartoonish. Lol I swear that I saw her with my very own eyes. Lol She has a new forever home, but she's pending approval of the owners.
Quote from: Palehorse on November 13, 2010, 06:30:01 PM
One thing a lot of people who adopt dogs do not think about is how their homeowners insurance will perceive the animal because of his breed. With a pit mix it is far better to tell them it is a mutt, or emphasize the other breed(s) it may be mixed with as opposed to pit bull. Insurance companies discriminate very strongly against the pit bull! My wife and I had a hard time obtaining insurance for our new home because our dog is a pit bull. We did obtain it from American Family Insurance, so that is an option if they are set on the animal and it happens to be a pit bull.
Now that our dog is 4 years old, he doesn't require quite as much exercise as when he was younger. Typically we will spend about 2 hours a day with him outside, during which he gets a lot of physical exercise. Broken down into about 3 sessions a day. I usually run him until he has had enough, which he will signal by taking his toy bone and going out to the center of the yard and laying down. :biggrin:
One of his quirks though is that while he will urinate whenever he feels the need, he typically will not initiate a bowel movement unless we tell him to. Then he goes right to it. Strange I know, but the dog poops on command! :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
These dogs, when paired with a family that takes the time to properly acclimate and train them, are excellent companion dogs and an excellent deterrent to those with skullduggery on their minds.
They also like to have a sense of "responsibility" and for the mindful owner who takes the time to understand their animal, it's pretty amazing what they will do once they understand what is expected of them. Our dog loves the harness and to pull. He will pull a sled or a wagon until he drops if we would let him. Pulling the bicycle is one of his favorites! :biggrin:
I didn't think of the insurance aspect, but I will next time.
Just watched another episode of Pit Bulls and Parolees ! :smile:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101127/LOCAL/11270355/Grieving-dog-drawn-to-grave-of-boy-who-saved-her?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com|default|t (http://www.indystar.com/article/20101127/LOCAL/11270355/Grieving-dog-drawn-to-grave-of-boy-who-saved-her?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com%7Cdefault%7Ct)
NOT about a pit bull, but it'll break your heart to read this story -
Boy sees dog on side of the road hurt, while passing with his family in a van. Boy jumps out, rescues dog, and nurses it back to health. Boy dies, dog keeps showing up at the cemetery at his grave. . . :'(
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Since her best friend's death, Zelda has taken to wandering.
Neighbors spot the one-eyed, rust-colored dog roaming the farm roads near her home, heading in the direction of the cemetery.
Animal control officers say that's where the dog was found recently, roving the grounds of a brick church on Bremen Highway, yards from her owner's grave.
"She's without her boy," said mom Marci Reed. "She just sniffs all over, looking for her boy."
Zelda and her owner, Joshua Reed, 15, had been inseparable ever since Joshua rescued the dog three years earlier, when she was hit by a car.
It had been nightfall when the family drove past the dog lying in the road. Joshua "jumped out of the moving van," Marci Reed recalled. "He yelled, 'Stop! We have to get the dog!' "
The teen brought the bleeding animal into the van, wrapping the dog in his jacket.
The child stayed up all night talking to the dog, his mother remembered with tears in her eyes. "He kept saying, 'I love you. I love you. You'll be all right. I'll take care of you.' "
Zelda lost an eye in the accident, and her tail was broken in several places, but the dog flourished at the Reed home.
Zelda followed Joshua everywhere, waiting for him every day when he got off the school bus.
Zelda and Joshua would roll around in the grass outside the family's Mishawaka farm. They would race down the gravel drive, with the boy on his bike and Zelda sprinting beside him.
So Zelda, along with the rest of the Reed family, entered a world of emptiness last year when, one day, Joshua didn't come home.
When Joshua asked his parents for a four-wheeler, they first said no. But he promised to earn half the money for the vehicle himself, said his dad, and worked extra-hard on the farm to make the wish a reality.
The Penn High School freshman loved his new ATV, riding it with a group of four-wheeling friends in the summer of 2009.
The Reeds will never know why Joshua didn't stop and look when he approached the intersection of Pierce Road and Ind. 331 on the evening of Sept. 3. It might have been because the road had previously been closed and only recently opened for traffic. . .
tate Police said the pickup truck driver reported that he didn't see the boy on the ATV until it was too late.
Joshua was thrown 120 feet, his dad said, and died instantly.
Joshua, the middle of five brothers ranging in age from 11 to 31, is remembered most by friends and family as a great friend and lover of all animals, especially ones like Zelda who needed extra care.
For days after the funeral, Zelda wandered up and down the farm, searching high and low for her boy.
Zelda had never run away before the accident, but now, the Reeds say, the dog takes to the road any chance she gets.
She was taken to the cemetery only once by the family. Marci Reed brought Zelda to St. John's Cemetery on Bremen Highway after the first time she ran away.
Since visiting the graveyard that first time, the dog has been caught twice more near the cemetery route.
"They always say that animals have that extra sense," said Jordan McGuire, with the Humane Society of St. Joseph County. "It's obvious (the dog) is grieving."
"We're going to get a fence," Reed said. "I can't let something happen to her."
:'(
Someone not only turned on the TV last night while I was sleeping, but turned the channel to whichever channel it is that shows "Pitbulls and Paroles" (I suspect Benji ;D ) and I finally was able to catch an episode. It's a good show. I think she and I share a similar compassion for animals. :yes:
Pit bull saves familiy's life in fire:
http://www.wbaltv.com/r-video/27798107/detail.html
I have often wondered what happened to that family. I had posted this in PH's area because I couldn't find this thread for some reason when I ran across the story. That is sad.