# Pit Bull Attacks Go On? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 11, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188 "2012-01-11T18:35:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/121 "2012-01-12T07:42:28Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Don’t raise them to think they are the boss. What if you are not a dog owner but just a possible future victim? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/122 "2012-01-12T07:44:40Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > So, again, what would be the ball park figure of folks with knowledge to notice problems/train their dogs, worldwide? How about what ball park percentage of dogs in US are currently trained and will be trained? How realistic is this kinda dog bites/attacks happening with how dogs are and are not currently being trained? Who’s fault is it that non-dog owners are being attacked and killed by dogs? How often are people killed by lap dogs? > [@Princhester](#): > > Those who think I post from fear are mistaken. I’m not fearful. I just value having dogs large enough to do any damage around extremely little. So little that it’s like trying to balance some scales with a measurable weight (risk) sitting in the first pan and an abstract concept on the other. The more so since barking and shitting everywhere add weight to the first pan. Ah. Because you don’t like dogs, you think it should be OK to kill them all. Gotcha. > [@brittekland](#): > > What if you are not a dog owner but just a possible future victim? Are you still talking about lap dogs? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/123 "2012-01-12T07:48:43Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > How often are people killed by lap dogs? Or bitten/mauled? > [@](#): > > Are you still talking about lap dogs? Just dogs in general. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/124 "2012-01-12T07:50:03Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > So in my friend’s scenario, her friend got a lap dog, then after a couple of years my friend start coming around and hang out at the house. **There were no warnings of any problem nor were the owner aware of any problem from this docile lap dog.** Then one day the dog instantaneously jumped up and nearly bites my friend’s nose off. By then this dog’s been around and sitting on my friend’s lap for something like 2 years. Everyone was baffled and in total shock as to how, why, what? Do average people expect a docile lap dog to, one day, bite someone’s nose off? Well, since then everyone who was around do. > > How realistic is your suggestion in real life applied to preventing this kinda things from happening all over the globe with all sorts of people in every imaginable scenarios? Your friend’s face got ripped open by a “[small], docile lap dog” and you’re concerned about pit bulls being vicious based on a handful of news reports where they can’t even identify the breed of dog reliably?? When come back, bring logic. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/125 "2012-01-12T07:52:03Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > Your friend’s face got ripped open by a “[small], docile lap dog” and you’re concerned about pit bulls being vicious based on a handful of news reports where they can’t even identify the breed of dog reliably?? > > When come back, bring logic. Whoosh… must be time to go to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/126 "2012-01-12T07:55:51Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Ah. Because you don’t like dogs, you think it should be OK to kill them all. Gotcha. I have no view at all on you swinging your arms, like or dislike. I simply consider that your freedom to swing your arms stops at my face. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/127 "2012-01-12T08:05:07Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Or bitten/mauled? The issue with lap dogs is a completely different thing than other dogs. As someone else said upthread, people tend to treat the little dogs like stuffed toys, or babies - anything other than animals. If the little sucker ends up biting them, they created that situation themselves. Dogs (and cats) are not “furbabies”. > [@](#): > > Just dogs in general. Being concerned about being a “future victim” of any given dog is pretty much a waste of time. People get run over by cars, shot by guns, drown in swimming pools - shit happens. If you know the owner and you know that they are responsible, then you most likely don’t have to worry. If you don’t know the owner or you know they are twits, don’t allow yourself to get in a position where a bite is possible. I have been around literally hundreds of thousands of dogs in the course of working, training and trialing and I can count on the fingers of one hand the ones that bit me. None did serious damage. > [@Princhester](#): > > I have no view at all on you swinging your arms, like or dislike. I simply consider that your freedom to swing your arms stops at my face. You do realize that goes both ways? Or do you think you have the right to swing your arms thru other peoples right to own a dog? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/128 "2012-01-12T08:20:35Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > The issue with lap dogs is a completely different thing than other dogs. As someone else said upthread, people tend to treat the little dogs like stuffed toys, or babies - anything other than animals. If the little sucker ends up biting them, they created that situation themselves. Dogs (and cats) are not “furbabies”. So, again, what a non-dog owner to do? My friend wasn’t the owner of the said “lap” dog. A child, a non-dog owner, goes over to a friend’s house and plays with a lap dog, or a pit bull or any dog, then gets bitten. What can we do about these scenarios? Will you run for president and pass an amendment making dog training for all dog owners mandatory? Or file it away under “Shit Happens”? > [@](#): > > Being concerned about being a “future victim” of any given dog is pretty much a waste of time. \*\* People get run over by cars, shot by guns, drown in swimming pools - shit happens.\*\* If you know the owner and you know that they are responsible, then you most likely don’t have to worry. If you don’t know the owner or you know they are twits, don’t allow yourself to get in a position where a bite is possible. > > I have been around literally hundreds of thousands of dogs in the course of working, training and trialing and I can count on the fingers of one hand the ones that bit me. None did serious damage. Tell that to this “Shit Happened” victim: [Pit Bull Attack Leaves Chicago Jogger In Critical Condition (VIDEO) | HuffPost Chicago](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/02/pit-bulls-attack-jogger_n_1179738.html) ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/129 "2012-01-12T08:26:48Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > So, again, what a non-dog owner to do? My friend wasn’t the owner of the said “lap” dog. A child, a non-dog owner, goes over to a friend’s house and plays with a lap dog, or a pit bull or any dog, then gets bitten. What can we do about these scenarios? Will you run for president and pass an amendment making dog training for all dog owners mandatory? Or file it away under “Shit Happens”? > > Tell that to this “Shit Happened” victim: [Pit Bull Attack Leaves Chicago Jogger In Critical Condition (VIDEO) | HuffPost Chicago](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/02/pit-bulls-attack-jogger_n_1179738.html) I do not do well discussing things with people who over react and exaggerate. If you want to discuss dogs, or training, or breeds that is one thing. To lay blame on a whole species because a man was attacked while jogging is just ridiculous. Would you do the same if that man had been attacked by teenaged thugs? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/130 "2012-01-12T08:32:25Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > I do not do well discussing things with people who over react and exaggerate. If you want to discuss dogs, or training, or breeds that is one thing. To lay blame on a whole species because a man was attacked while jogging is just ridiculous. Would you do the same if that man had been attacked by teenaged thugs? Would surely discuss about the problem and make known the existence of the problem. Acknowledging a problem exists is the first step. I exaggerated what? I did not say anything about killing off a bleeds. Go find the poster you were arguing about that. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/131 "2012-01-12T08:41:07Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > Would surely discuss about the problem and make known the existence of the problem. Acknowledging a problem exists is the first step. Nobody has denied that dog bites happen - not even that sometimes a person is killed by a dog/dogs. > [@](#): > > I exaggerated what? I did not say anything about killing off a bleeds. Neither did I, I said you are blaming a whole species for the actions of a very few. You want some magic bullet that will protect you from one of the many things in life that could maybe cause you harm - it doesn’t exist. Why you are focused on dogs rather than one of the things that is more likely to hurt you, I don’t know, but the way you are posting you sound very paranoid. If you are that afraid of dogs, don’t interact with them - problem fixed. No one can guarantee you that every dog you come across is going to be well mannered, just as there is no guarantee that every human you meet isn’t an axe murderer, or every car you drive isn’t about to lose it’s brakes as you leave the freeway. Shit happens. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/132 "2012-01-12T08:51:00Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > What if you are not a dog owner but just a possible future victim? > > Or bitten/mauled? > So, again, what a non-dog owner to do? My friend wasn’t the owner of the said “lap” dog. A child, a non-dog owner, goes over to a friend’s house and plays with a lap dog, or a pit bull or any dog, then gets bitten. What can we do about these scenarios? Will you run for president and pass an amendment making dog training for all dog owners mandatory? Or file it away under “Shit Happens”? I’m unclear on the point you are trying to make with all your questions; do you have a solution for the fact that people are lazy assholes who don’t learn to train their dogs properly and thereby create animals that could hurt someone? Because no, I don’t. People are lazy and ignorant, it’s a plague of mind-boggling proportions. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/133 "2012-01-12T09:03:33Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Nobody has denied that dog bites happen - not even that sometimes a person is killed by a dog/dogs. So your stand is I’m a responsible dog owner hence it’s not my problem? Weren’t you taking the dog owner/pro-dog position? If not, I’m not getting what this/our argument is about. Out of all the dog owners only a certain percentage is responsible enough to train them properly and leash them etc. What are we to do about the rest is the subject of this thread. > [@](#): > > Neither did I, I said you are blaming a whole species for the actions of a very few. > > You want some magic bullet that will protect you from one of the many things in life that could maybe cause you harm - it doesn’t exist. Why you are focused on dogs rather than one of the things that is more likely to hurt you, I don’t know, but the way you are posting you sound very paranoid. If you are that afraid of dogs, don’t interact with them - problem fixed. No one can guarantee you that every dog you come across is going to be well mannered, just as there is no guarantee that every human you meet isn’t an axe murderer, or every car you drive isn’t about to lose it’s brakes as you leave the freeway. > > Shit happens. I don’t know… why don’t you go down the list of pit bull attacks on the second link on the OP. Maybe it’s just me but I surely hear “pit bulls” a lot. Me, paranoid? If you are running and riding bikes as much as I do and encounter as many badly behaving unleashed dogs, you would be concerned too. I’m not focused on dogs as the only concern in the “Shit Happens” category, as you put it. I’m just discussing about it in this thread since this thread is about pit bull/dog attacks, prompted by the news; this is not the all encompassing thread about all that causes “shit happens”… just dogs… and happens to be pit bulls, on this particular round. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/134 "2012-01-12T09:07:23Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > You do realize that goes both ways? Or do you think you have the right to swing your arms thru other peoples right to own a dog? Why do you need to ask this when as a responsible poster and debater you’ve read and taken on board my post #94? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/135 "2012-01-12T09:08:43Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I’m unclear on the point you are trying to make with all your questions; do you have a solution for the fact that people are lazy assholes who don’t learn to train their dogs properly and thereby create animals that could hurt someone? Because no, I don’t. People are lazy and ignorant, it’s a plague of mind-boggling proportions. So, as a society, we do have a problem of irresponsible people owning dogs, no? I’m not sure why you are taking the position of defending all dog ownerships, either. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/136 "2012-01-12T09:15:58Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > So, as a society, we do have a problem of irresponsible people owning dogs, no? Emphatically yes! > [@](#): > > I’m not sure why you are taking the position of defending all dog ownerships, either. I don’t know what this sentence means. What is a “dog ownership”? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/137 "2012-01-12T09:18:06Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > What is a “dog ownership”? You have a dog or dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/138 "2012-01-12T09:24:54Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > You have a dog or dogs. Come now, don’t be coy. You asserted that I had taken the position of “defending all dog ownerships”. What do you mean by that? That I am defending the idea of _ **all** _ _ **people** _ owning dogs? I am not and you have no reason to think I am. Do you mean to assert that I am defending the idea of all types of dogs being available to be owned? Yes, that I am definitely defending. My issue is with the people, not the dogs. You seem to agree that _ **people** _ are the problem, yet you find it strange that I would defend “all dog ownerships”. You are not being clear or consistent. Please clarify what YOUR position is. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/139 "2012-01-12T09:28:12Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Come now, don’t be coy. You asserted that I had taken the position of “defending all dog ownerships”. What do you mean by that? That I am defending the idea of _ **all** _ _ **people** _ owning dogs? I am not and you have no reason to think I am. Do you mean to assert that I am defending the idea of all types of dogs being available to be owned? Yes, that I am definitely defending. > > My issue is with the people, not the dogs. You seem to agree that _ **people** _ are the problem, yet you find it strange that I would defend “all dog ownerships”. > > You are not being clear or consistent. Please clarify what YOUR position is. Dogs are owned by people so “dog ownership” and “dogs” are linked. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188/140 "2012-01-12T09:28:52Z")
I suspect **brittekland** doesn’t think people should have certain types of dog. Whether one classifies it as a dog or person problem, and whether one classifies the solution by reference to the dogs or the people is (like in the gun control debate) basically meaningless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attacks-go-on/609188.md?page=8)