Today I was out walking my two 3 year olds, my two little terriers who I have had since they were born and bottle fed them when they were tiny puppies. We often go to the big public park here and walk around it, something I enjoy and they REALLY enjoy! They never go outside home or their yard without their harnesses and are registered with all their shots and such. They are very much family.
Today while we were about 3/4 of the way around the route we always take, I spotted some kids at the edge of the park playing with a full grown pit pull. I know of too many stories about these dogs attacking in my area, as many people will raise them and train them to fight other dogs. In fact I lost my previous dog to a Pit Bull that came up to our fence, and tore it up dragging my dog through it. So I immediately was alarmed and started adjusting my route way around where the other dog was, around some trees. I was hoping it would not see us and we could get by.
Then I saw her running full speed right for us and started yelling at her to get back and she started circling. Of course my dogs, who think they are much bigger than they really are, sensed her intent and hit the end of their leashes barking at her and that was it, she lunged for my dogs.
All I could think of was if she got one of them in her mouth, they would be dead. She would either snap their neck or crush their trachea with her jaws and they would just be rag dolls to her.
I immediately let go of their leashes knowing I could not hold them apart alone. They didn’t attack but they were doing plenty of barking trying to warn the other dog away from me. When I let go of them I immediately grabbed the Pit Bull by the neck was was trying to get a good hold on her, while screaming at the kids to come and get their dog. The finally made it down there, saying it wasn’t their dog.
There is a free RV park nearby in the park there and an older couple came running from there, the man had a big board. I just started hollering at them to grab my dogs and get them out of there before the Pit got loose from me. They got one and the other, not about to leave me side, slipped out of his harness.
Somehow I managed to get my cell phone out of my pocket and tossed it to the lady begging her to call 911. I dawned on me about that time she probably wouldn’t be able to figure out my phone since is one of those newer touch screens.
The teenage girl there said she would call on her phone and did.
So I don’t know how long of time is going by, but I am getting weaker and weaker trying to restrain this 80 pound dog that is bent on killing my dogs and chomping on me in the process. All I could think of is if she got loose from me, my dogs would be dead.
I finally asked the girl to call again, and put the phone to my ear and when I heard the dispatcher I started yelling at her, we needed the cops there NOW, that I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on and this dog was not only going to kill my dogs, but who knows what she will do to the rest of us there. Then we started hearing sirens.
A cop about as big as me was the first one there, and he came over and managed to get the dog from me without getting bit himself, and started asking me if I was bit. I didn’t really know at that moment. I went over and re-secured my other dog and asked the older couple to hold them for me for a little bit and went back over to talk to the cop.
By then another cop had arrived and had a rope and restrained the dog and I was finally able to check myself up. I was scratched up pretty good and had a good bruise I have no idea how I got that in the scuffle, but I somehow managed to not get bit, and to keep my dogs from getting bit. It makes me sick to my stomach to think how close I came to losing them.
They of course took it to the shelter and plan on putting a needle it…good riddance.
If I had not been 6′2″ and well over 200 pounds, no doubt that would have been a much different outcome. My dogs would be dead. I would be dead or in the hospital and who knows about those other people.
This is the second attack of a pit bull in just the last two weeks in my little town. Lubbock itself has had quite a number of them this year, where owners dogs were killed and the owners themselves ending up in the hospital. One place with miniature horses has a couple of them killed by Pits.
I have read all the arguments from some pit owners who think they are great dogs, and it’s all in how they were raised. I’ve had plenty of experiences with them, none were good.
My mother-in-law and brother-in-law both had pits, that appeared to be GREAT dogs, until one day they were in the same house together and damn near killed each other. My mother-in-law’s dog bloodied my step-daughters nose one day.
We had a neighbor who had one that was neglected so bad it was nearly dead by the time we were finally able to get animal control out to get it. Then there was that other attack we had I mentioned above.
I hate these damn Pits and wish they would finally outlaw them completely. It’s clear they are a dangerous animal and at the very least should require a special license or permit to own one. At least then you could track down the owners, because it’s a felony in Texas now if your dog attacks another person outside of its own property. A law brought on by the Pit Bull attacks.
I’m ok now, although still shaken, but so grateful my dogs are safe. I don’t know if we will ever go walk in the park any more.
I am glad you and your pups are ok! After reading this I don’t think I want to ever take my kids to that park again! I can’t imagine if that had been me with my 4, 3 and 1 year old. Last year at the Alamo Dome park my kids had a soccer game and there was a pit across the street and it ran over and started chasing kids. Thank the Lord I already had my kids in the car before it got across the street. Scares me to death.
Oh my!!! What a horrifying ordeal! It gave me chills reading about it. I’m certainly relieved that the conclusion wasn’t one of tragedy. I know how you feel about your dogs and having met them myself, they are such great little guys…especially Seal. I’m glad they weren’t seriously hurt.
On the other hand, I’m totally pissed that more isn’t done to outlaw this breed including the sale and breeding efforts. I am tired of hearing about all of the attacks and maulings with little done about it…especially to the owners. I am dumbfounded that such a serious threat to public safety is allowed to proliferate unchecked. When is enough…enough?
David, I am so glad that the outcome wasn’t worse! You’re right, it could have been such a tragic outcome. I don’t know what’s wrong with people releasing such dangerous creatures without regard for the harm they might inflict on another animal or human being.
Something needs to be done about these vicious monsters.
I just googled “pit bull terriers were bred” – the ensuing dichotomy is quite revealing, I think, and probably goes part way to explaining why these animals are still tolerated in society.
Any dog that is mistreated through neglect and bad training has the capability of turning vicious against humans so if laws were brought in to control Pit Bulls there would probably be several other breeds (if not all) that would have to be included too.
That being said, the seemingly regular occurrence of the attacks that David and his dogs had to endure should prompt the authorities to do something about this particular breed. I’m just glad that the situation didn’t end up as bad as it could have been.
Glad to hear your ok as well as your pets, David. I had the same problem with a pitbull mix leading a group of other dogs that kept coming into my yard and attacking our dog. After a hefty vet bill I talked to the chief of police of our small town. He gave me permission to handle it by any means possible as children were also in danger. 4 days later he came into the yard to fight and he was in my cross hairs….Problem solved..I dont trust that type of dog one bit, regardless of what people say. We come up on them every so often on EMS calls.
Wow I wouldn’t know what to do in that situation. I have a pug, and he would not stand a chance against a pit bull, its a good thing they are banned in the UK! However staffordshire bull terriers aren’t banned, there is one in our estate and it is aggressive towards other dogs, I guess if it tried to attack my dog I would just have to try and grab it by the scruff of its neck and pin it on the floor or against a wall. I’m glad the hear your alright though! Have you ever watched the dog whispered? It is quite an interesting show and teaches loads on how dogs behave.
My pug and I were attacked by a pitt mix yesterday in our neighborhood. Everytime I was able to rescue Buster from his grasp, the pitt would jump up and grab him out of my arms. I was bit in the process. I am happy to report that Buster is home today, after a long day at the Vet yesterday. Does anyone know what legal grounds I have for pursuing the owner for reimbursement of Buster’s and my medical expenses?
If you live in Texas it is a felony charge on the owner of the dog if it caused you injury. They would most likely put the pit bull down. Unfortunately this law does not apply if it was only your pet injured, but glad to hear you were able to save him! You could have some recourse in small claims court for damages as well.
pitbulls have a bad name just like dobermans did for such a long time now its all switched on the pitbulls. instead of trying to find all the bad things pitbulls do try looking up some of the great things they do the meida feeds off dog attacks and blame it on pitbulls and most of the time it isnt even a pitbull its a mut or a dog that favors a pitbulls. spot the pitbull
With all due respect John, I left your comment and removed the link. Why?
I and my pets were attacked by one of these dogs, and if you read my story you know that was very close to a major disaster for me. I lost another dog due to these type dogs. I had family members who owned two of these and they got in a fight with each other and it looked like a multiple homicide stabbing scene in the house when they were done, and in fact it was. Nitpicking the particular DNA of the dog is just that, nitpicking. Several of the specific breeds in your link are all VERY similar and carry the same behavioral characteristics.
Shortly after I posted that story, in another small park only blocks from the one that happened to me at…a park that is fenced in all but a small 3 foot opening to get in… a park for little kids … a small child was attacked by one of these dogs and had to be rushed to the emergency room.
Nearly every week there is another story in the area of someone else or their pet that was attacked by one of these dogs. In nearly every case the owner looses their beloved pet. I saw a story just the other day of a toddler in Texas where the pit tore through the fence and killed him in his own backyard.
No, I’m not the least bit interested in “the good these dogs do”. Any good is far outweighed by the bad, at least in my area. The owners here that do try to keep control of them usually have to put them on log chains, even when the yard is fenced, because they rip the fences apart. My neighbors have 3, and those dogs have made it clear to me they intend to kill me the first chance they can get loose.
Other owners let them run free, and things like what happened to me end up taking place. As our local newspaper editor put it, if a pack of wolves or coyotes came in to town and started attacking our pets and children, we wouldn’t hesitate to grab a bunch of guns and hunt them down and kill them.
John, I am assuming you are probably a Pit owner, and consider yourself responsible. Every pit owner I ever met thinks they are. So why are they all opposed to some increased regulations at least to keep the irresponsible owners out of the picture?
I saw, at the very least, REQUIRE BY LAW, all of these particular type of dog MUST be microchipped. If the dog is found loose, a heavy fine is imposed on the owner the first time, the dog is removed from the owner the second time they fail to keep the dog in custody. If one is found without the microchip, it is removed from the owner. If the dog attacks and injures other pets and/or owners, the owner of the dog gets the felony charge. Currently, this law only applies to people in Texas.
After all, if you’re a responsible owner, it really shouldn’t be an issue for you, correct?
I’m curious, if a lot of people started keeping mountain lions for pets, and there were stories of them attacking and killing pets and people, would you be nitpicking that there are many breeds of lions and look at all the good they do in zoos and whatnot? I somehow doubt it.