Well... wrote on Aug 2, 2007 11:25 PM:I applaud this woman's efforts, but Pit Bulls are Pit Bulls, just as lions are lions and tigers are tigers. They are extremely aggressive dogs with violent temperaments; no amount of training will ever change that. My brother owns a Pit Bull and that dog has a great life full of love, but I still wouldn't bring it within 50 feet of a small child, or anyone else for that matter. Let's face it, all dogs are not created equal.

Mark wrote on Aug 3, 2007 7:10 AM:Get real - pit bulls should be outlawed. The owner of any pit bull which attacks anyone for any reason should be charged with the crime which the dog committed. At Crusin Grand we see a lot of these dogs and their owners typically look like gang members who have the dogs to intimidate others. If one of these dogs attacks someone at Crusin Grand the owner will be quick to blame the dog. The dogs end-up in animal shelters because they aren't acceptable as pets.

Tony wrote on Aug 3, 2007 9:42 AM:Nonsense. These dogs have been bred for hundreds of generations to fight to the death. Have you ever tried to keep a retriever out of the water? Thats because they have been bred to be that way. Owning these dogs is the equivalent of leaving a loaded gun on the table and no public relations effort will ever convince me to allow them around my children.

Patrick wrote on Aug 3, 2007 10:00 AM:Good luck with that, I think Pit Bulls should be outlawed nationwide. I was recently in the park behind my home with my son who is 9 years old, we were playing baseball when a Pit Bull with no collar or tags started approaching us growling. Thank God my son was not there by himself because I believe he would have been mauled. I had a baseball bat in my hand, as the dog got closer to me I raised the bat to him and yelled. The dog finally backed away and ran off; I called Animal Control to report it. Pit Bulls are vicious, plain and simple!

I'm Sorry wrote on Aug 3, 2007 10:05 AM:...but...this breed just has a button that could be pushed and OFF it goes, and I'm a big dog lover!

OMG wrote on Aug 3, 2007 10:08 AM:Well & Tony, repectfully, ... Your mentality is exactly what is killing this breed. Not one dog is born a killer. The killers are the human owners. The little ankle biters are the bigger percentage of dogs that bite. If you teach a retriever to stay out of the water, it will stay out of the water. If you teach any other breed, aggressiveness is not acceptable, it will not be aggressive. Don't comment on stuff neither of you know. FYI, I don't own a PB because of where I live, but own a similar breed, who is extremely well trained & reliable.

JB wrote on Aug 3, 2007 10:41 AM:I am convinced that it is in a Pit Bull's nature to be aggressive and violent. It may stay dormant for quite some time, but the littlest thing can set it off. Maybe this woman can explain to me why my dog has been attacked twice by someone's gentle family Pit Bull that had "never done anything like that before"? The first attack happened when I had just begun a walk with my dog. 2 loose dogs approached. One was a boxer and he seemed friendly towards my dog. The Pit Bull, however, came from behind the boxer and with no warning, bit down on my dog's thigh and would not let go. $3000 and 6 weeks later my dog was recovered enough to walk again. The second attack happened 9 weeks after the first attack when my wife was out walking and a Pit Bull broke through a fence and attacked. Don't tell me that Pit Bulls don't deserve the "bad rap" that they get.

Teddi wrote on Aug 3, 2007 11:31 AM:In response to the article, "Negative image of pit bulls has Escondidan fighting mad," Unprovoked attacks by pitbull has this owner fighting mad. The same black pitbull 3 times on 3 separate occasions, unprovoked, attacked my 3 1/2 lb. Chihuahua at Mayflower Dog Park this past month or so. The first time I left the park. The second time, we had just entered the park and the dog came over and had my dog pinned to the ground again and I was afraid as I grabbed the harness and pulled him off my dog. The owner was across the dog park and didn't apologize or reprimand her dog. She did leave. The third time, I made sure that the dog was not in that area of the dog park before entering. My dog stayed along the fence as it was afraid to be at the dog park because of the last two incidents. He went out the gates where people take their leashes off the dog and that black pitbull attacked mine before he was even in the dog park and the owner continued to bring it in to the same area. I said that if this continues I would contact the police and the man said, "This is a public park, lady." I guess he did not read the rules posted on the gate that states "dogs exhibiting dangerous behavior prohibited." I wrote down their license plate number and the type of car they were driving and got the name and number of someone who had been there the second time my dog was attacked and witnessed the third attack from a few feet away. I went to the Escondido Police Department to report it according to California Section I. Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 31601) added to Division 14 of the Food and Agricultural code which addresses "potentially dangerous and vicious dogs" who,(31602) "when unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior 36-month period, has killed, seriously bitten, inflicted injury, or otherwise caused injury attacking a domestic animal off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog." The Police Department wouldn't listen to my complaint and told me that I needed to go to the Humane Society who told me that I needed to go to City Hall because it happened on Park property. City Hall said that they do not enforce penal codes and said that I would have to go to the Police Department. I plan to write a petition and go to places where dog owners frequent, such as dog parks, pet stores, etc. to get signatures to have the Mayflower Dog Park separated by small, large and aggressive breeds and possibly additional regulations listed on the gate, such as stating that owners are liable for injuries caused by their animal and take the petition to the September board meeting. [Web site]

Teddi wrote on Aug 3, 2007 11:35 AM:Read statistics on attacks by dogs. Pitbulls and rotweilers are the two dogs responsible for the majority of incidents. Often times it is children who are attacked and bitten by dogs. There are many children that come with their parents to Mayflower Dog Park. There are also owners of small dogs that feel they have to stay away because of larger, more aggressive dogs. Many large and small breeds can co-exist in the same area of the dog park. Size is not necessarily the issue, but the park should be safe for all who want to use it.

Bull-Pit! wrote on Aug 3, 2007 11:42 AM:Obviously Tony,Mark and Well don't know squat about dogs. These canines are not wild animals, they are just as capable of love and effection as any other dog. Every dog needs to be trained to follow his owners. If you teach a Lab to fight he will be just as dangerous as a P-bull. i have had many different breeds of Pit Bulls for many years. They have always been the sweetest pets and very loyal to me and my children. So you see, it's people that are the cause of the pit bull problems.

Dog Lover wrote on Aug 3, 2007 11:50 AM:As someone who has been around Pit Bulls for over 25 years, I have to say they are great dogs. Not once has one viciously attacked anyone or fought anyone or anything to the death. Leaving a loaded gun on a table is a result of gun owner irresponsibility, and training a dog to kill is just as irresponsible. Place the blame where it lies; its not the gun or the dog, its the owners that should be punished.

Love my PITBULL!!! wrote on Aug 3, 2007 12:16 PM:I have owned two pit bulls, both were and are loving dogs to me and my family (kids included). I wouldn't trade them for anything. Like any other breed of dog they are here to protect...you just need to be a good owner and know your dog!! Thank you to Michelle Knuttila's dedication to help others become more aware at the wonderful dogs this breed really is!!

valerie wrote on Aug 3, 2007 12:23 PM:I applaud this woman's effort's as well. I rescued a pit bull from the Carlsbad animal shelter over 3 years ago, I to like many of you had fear but this dog has turned out to be the most loyal and loving family dog I have owned. It is the people who train these animals to be mean by abusing them, they are not born to be mean Tony.

Kim wrote on Aug 3, 2007 12:32 PM:Punish the Deed, not the Breed. Bad owners should be punished, not innocent animals and owners who do take the time to teach and control their beloved family members. Pit bulls do suffer from poor breeding practices and a bad image because of sensationalist journalism. As a breed, they pass temperment tests with better grades better than what many people think of as safe family pets. Do your research before you stereotype anyone - even dogs.

Pit bull lover wrote on Aug 3, 2007 1:03 PM:I think all of you are wrong and have been brain washed with all the bad reputation these dogs get through the media. I have owned a pitbull myself for 11 years and let me tell you, this dog is one of the loyalest dogs I have ever had. When my niece and nephew were born, we were so grateful to have the dog in our home. When my niece or nephew were asleep in their bedroom, from the second they were put down in the crib to the second we went in to pick them up, the dog would lay at their bedroom door. If he heard them crying he would run to find us and bark at us. We still have our puppy, and we love him very much. Like previously mentioned, they are not bad dog, but bad owners.

k wrote on Aug 3, 2007 1:13 PM:I get soooo tired of people and their ignorant comments when it comes to pit bulls. I own a pit bull... I'm not a gangster, a thief or a thug. I don't have my dog for a status symbol. This dog was given to me and I tell you what.. I've had many dogs in my lifetime and this dog is the most loyal, loving, obedient dog I have ever had. She's not aggressive in any way. Of course she barks if someone comes on my property, what dog doesn't but she has never shown any aggresion. Dogs are not born mean. Just like humans. Someone has to teach them or neglect them or abuse them. Yea, there are pit bulls out there that will attack for no reason. But something had to have been done to them for that to happen but you can't condem the breed overall for a few bad ones. There are human beings out there that do the same thing... so your going to comdem the whole human race? Of course people are scared... the media portrays them as monsters. Yes they can be fierce fighters and to look at them they can be quite intimidating. But before you judge maybe you should educate yourself a little. Just like this woman is trying to do. I applaud her efforts. I know many other people who own pits and have never had anything happen. Your raise your dog right, just like you raise a child, with love and attention you shouldn't have any problems

Patrick wrote on Aug 3, 2007 1:36 PM:To all Pit Bull lovers, give me your phone numbers so I can check with you periodically to see when your kids or you are finally mauled!

Both sides...but wrote on Aug 3, 2007 2:41 PM:There are good and bad pit bulls, just like any other breed...however... the MAJORITY of these dogs are bred to be aggressive and intimidating. Try getting your homeowners insurance to cover a pitbull....it's just about impossible for very good reason.

To Patrick wrote on Aug 3, 2007 2:42 PM:Don't worry about me and my Pitty. Just keep on living your life according to the status-Quo. My kids are well into their late teens and yet to be bitten or even barked at by our Stafordshires(Pit Bulls). And the rest of you Hypos' keep living in fear.

OMG wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:04 PM:Patrick, JB, Teddy and anyone else who said they or their dog "was attacked for no reason", look at your comments. Do you see anything in common? I do. ALL THOSE DOGS WERE OFF LEASH. Geez people. In that situation any dog can be dangerous. Where is everyone's common sense?? People with no common sense shouldn't even be commenting on here. I applaud Michelle Knuttila's efforts. SHE IS IN ANIMAL CONTROL. She has probably seen more than all of us put together. That's why she knows THE TRUTH ABOUT PITT BULLS. We need more people like her.

Nature. wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:26 PM:If this is all true, Why can't I own a Wolf, or a Bear, Heck, I can't even own a Ferret? Why is that!! I'll breed them to be nice, and they will be nice! And they won't ever eat my kids!

Tony wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:33 PM:No human being can know how a dog thinks or how it will respond in every situation: they are animals. Anyone who claims that they know how a dog thinks is delusional. You all have a right to be as stupid as you wish, but if your pit comes near my children with aggression, it will be killed. If your pit attacks my children, you will go to jail. Its your choice, but its also your responsibility to be liable for your choices.

Patrick wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:50 PM:To K, you said it, I didn't. To quote you: "Yea, there are pit bulls out there that will attack for no reason." You obviously didn't think before you wrote.

Tom wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:52 PM:Pit bulls or pit bull mixes kill 10 to 15 people per year. They are responsible for tens of thousands of severe injuries every year. Just because 2 or 3 end up law dogs is no cause to celebrate. They have been bred to be dog aggressive for several hundred years and it's their nature - to say otherwise is to ignore the facts. Get rid of them - people getting killed isn't worth it.

JB wrote on Aug 3, 2007 3:53 PM:Pit bulls may be the most loyal, loving dogs while at their home and in their yard, but get them away from that and they change. My wife's cousin had a pit bull that was treated with kindness and affection, but one day it snapped and killed a neighbor's dog. A pit bull may not be born mean, but there is something in its nature that can't be trained out. You can't convince me otherwise.

responsible pit owner wrote on Aug 3, 2007 4:03 PM:I have been bitten by a dachshund and twice by chihuahua's They should be exterminated eh? Vicious little monsters. You people are all so paranoid. Fear rules your entire life. A majority of owners of these dogs are EXTRA responsible because of the sensitivity to this issue. The "gangster pits" are the only ones you notice because they are already on your fear radar because you are afraid of gangs and lint, and dandruff, and spiders, and milk that is a day past the stamp on the carton. FYI morons, milk is good for up to a week after that date. Go drink a full glass of comprehensive research and stock up on some intelligence and get back to me. Or are you also afraid of learning the truth and having all you parroted misconceptions revealed.

Teddi wrote on Aug 3, 2007 4:07 PM:Read the actual statistics about which dogs are involved in dog bites/attacks on other dogs and people rather than going by media or individual accounts.

Teddi wrote on Aug 3, 2007 4:16 PM:To OMG - Regarding "off leash." Are you saying that pits (or other dogs) shouldn't be OFF LEASH? Are you saying then that there should be no off-leash dog parks because pts (and other dogs) are dangerous when not on a leash? If its dangerous to have pitbulls off their leash why are they not segregated at the dog park? Let's separate facts from fiction. Your "truth" about pitbulls as a whole is not grounded in reality.

Alf wrote on Aug 3, 2007 4:48 PM:The problem is less how mean the dog is, it is the fact that pit bulls have a compressive pressure to their bites that is near or at the top of the list. THAT is the problem, their bites do more damage and they tend to "lock" when they bite. Don't believe me? Look it up for yourself. Just as a cobra or a black mamba has no business being called a "pet", pit bulls or pit bull mixes have no business being classified as a domestic pet and should have the same restrictions placed on their possession. Respectfully, Alf.

Local vet wrote on Aug 3, 2007 5:42 PM:Alf is correct. Pit bulls have a jaw that "locks up" when they bite, therefore making them more dangerous when provoked, or even played with roughly by children. It doesn't matter whether the owner is good or bad. It is their nature. I urge people to be careful around this particular breed and take it into consideration when chidren are in the home.

CatLover wrote on Aug 3, 2007 5:57 PM:Pitbulls are killers. Period. The only good pitbull is a dead pitbull. Outlaw them all and save our children.

Joey wrote on Aug 3, 2007 7:23 PM:Listen to the local vet- 5;42PM. what I know there is a reason for different dog breeds. Sled dogs love to run water dogs swim and pointers point. A nice pit bull has powerful jaws and is very strong and has the instinct to take on another dog and not back down. ReaD ABOUT DOGS-PLEASE. Especially about a class of dogs that are bred to fight. A German Shepard will put up a good fight with a pit, but will be killed. A Doberman will back off if he gets injured and turn tail. A pit will fight on even if severly injured. The giant French Poodle is a very tough fighter. But when a dog is especially bred because he has certain characteristics such a fighting, it has to be acknowledged that it can be dangerous in certain conditions. Provoking a pit bull is more dangerous that provoking a little lap dog such as the King James Spaniel. Lastly in the wrong hands a big dog can kill a person, even a Great Dane can knock a child to the ground because he is so big. Also there are dog breeds that were developed not to bite, but to knock a man down and hold him down until the owner arrives-the Bull Mastiff was developed to do this on the big English Estates to poachers and trespassers. The Boxer was originally called the butchers dog in Germany, as they bit and held cattle. The Rottweiler was a dog that guarded Roman army troops 2000 yeas ago while they slept-Rotweiler means Red-Roofs in German as the dog was from a region in Germany with red roofs. The English Bull Dog- bit and held on to a bulls nose in the bull ring several hundred years ago. The English began to fight dogs using the Bull Dog, but found out by breeding other breeds to the Bull Dog it produced a faster dog in the ring- Staffordshires and the Bull and Terrior breed. Bottom line-man is responsible for all of our breeds, selecively breeding for, work, play, guarding, hunting and pit fighting and bull bating. So-please do not say the dog that was selectively bred for hundreds of years for killing other dogs in a ring does not have the instinct, jaws, teeth, crushing bite, GAMENESS, tolerance for pain and willingness to kill when aroused, or teased.

Joey wrote on Aug 3, 2007 8:24 PM:My first post never made it-so here is a shorter version. Dog Breeds are developed by man to serve man. Over hundreds of years dogs have been selectively bred for hunting, herding, work,and sport. English Bull dogs were bred to bite and hold a bull by the head. Brave and pain tolerant, they were mixed with other breeds to fight other dogs, Monkeys, hundreds of rats and even Lions. Bread to kill he opponent in a ring. So ignoring hundreds of years of special breeding you are taking a big chance with the breed.

German shephards, rottweillers, dobermans wrote on Aug 3, 2007 8:38 PM:now it's pit bulls...every generation seems to have a need to choose a breed of dog that is "devil dog" (and I'm not talking pastries here). What do all these breeds have in common? Irresponsible owners who don't know a thing about the breed and don't care - their dogs are nothing more than accessories for their particular "look". It's not the dogs' fault that people change breeds like hemlines.

Oh, and Teddi... wrote on Aug 3, 2007 8:42 PM:In reading your comments, it's quite clear that the dog's owner was irresponsible and not reacting to its bad behavior in attacking your chihuahua - just like a human child who misbehaves in public, if the parent doesn't reprimand that child it will persist in that same behavior. Should we outlaw undisciplined little kids that eventually become out of control adults? Hmmmmm...there's a thought....

OMG wrote on Aug 3, 2007 9:30 PM:TO TEDDI: Yes, I'm saying ALL dogs should NOT be off leash. When your dog is off leash, you have no control. Dog parks are a horrible idea. It's a place where irresponsible owners let their dogs run free because they can't take the time to excercise their dog on their own. Your idea of responsible dog ownership is extremely blurred. ALF: Please do some research before stating Pit Bulls have locking jaws. THEY DON'T. There is no such a thing. And LOCAL VET, if you agree with him. Thank God you're not my vet.

To OMG wrote on Aug 4, 2007 12:55 AM:I appreciate your sentiments and somewhat agree. Training a dog tends to make that dog more sociable. However, I stand by my first comment. Please understand that I have personally known and spent a lot of time with at least 5 different pit bulls, so I'm speaking from experience. Do 5 Pit Bulls properly represent the entire breed? In this case I say yes. Each of the Pit Bulls I have known were well-cared for by their owners, plus each owner spent a good amount of time both playing with their dogs and training their dogs. I wouldn't be friends with anyone who mistreated their dog. In at least 3 of the cases the owners acquired the dogs while the dogs were still puppies, so they were able to start the training early. However, these dogs were still aggressive and violent, not to be trusted around any new people or animals. One of these dogs had to be euthanized at the ripe old age of 6 years because it suddenly started snapping at people it had previously been friendly with. By the way, "Bull-Pit," I don't claim to be a dog expert, but I have lived with dogs in my house since I was 6 years old, and I love all dogs big and small. My brother's Pit Bull is awesome; she loves to play fetch and at night she loves to hop on the couch and cuddle. She's a great dog, but I still wouldn't bring her anywhere near another animal or human being, especially a child. As some posters have noted, Pit Bulls are, by their nature, very aggressive. I don't think all the love in the whole world can change that. And hey, I'm not killing the breed, Michael Vick is.

Val wrote on Aug 4, 2007 3:00 AM:Local Vet - shame on you, if you knew anything about dogs in general you would no there is no physical mechanism that allows ANY dogs jaws to lock, PB hold on a bite because they were bred to not give up a task. And Joey that is what you refer to a gameness. Teddi you need to learn about dog behavior, you are quite lacking as a subject matter expert, I would reccomend [Web site]. There you can (should your mind be open) that a dog is just an animal, and you need to know yourself before you select a breed. Then you will learn how to be your dogs pack leader...should you choose a PB then you can make it clear ANIMAL aggression is unacceptable. PB are strong willed and very determined dogs, should you own one you need to be an even stronger leader. Folks please understand the difference between animal aggression and human aggression. Please never leave small children unattended with ANY ANIMAL. Never let your dog be in a situation that you cannot control...hmmmmm like a dog park. Know how to seperate two fighting dogs, weather you own a PB or a poodle, as a dog owner it is your responsibility. And most importantly substantiate your arguments on anything with facts and valid information, not hysteria. The latter is a waste of your energy and mine.

DogLover wrote on Aug 4, 2007 5:34 AM:No wonder I love dogs more than people, they have a natural intelligence and a willingness to be taught by someone they respect. It is leally hard to hear this outburst of ignorance from the human speices --- CatLover, out law all animals with teeth, because they can all bite. Patrick either don't have children or don't have dogs, it takes a special kind of responsibility to have both, you are so narrow minded you can't handle both. BTW a viscous dog would not have been intimidated in the least by you holding a bat...he simply would have behaved like "Its On". You need to understand dog behavior...oh but that would mean learning something outside your comfort zone... The people in this thread are dissapointing, and we think we are the superior speices..it's laughable, don't understand something - hell obliterate it. Too bad you folks couldn't focus all this well meaning negativity on something important like child abuse??????????

Joey wrote on Aug 4, 2007 8:29 AM:ABOUT LOCKING JAWS-LOOK THE DOG IS BRED TO BITE AND HOLD ON AND SHAKE. SINKING IT'S TEETH DEEP INTO THE MUSCLES OF THE QUARRY AND HOLDING ON AND NOT RELEASING HIS GRIP-BULL BATING-BUTCHERS DOG--THEY LOCK ON AND LOCKING JAWS DESCRIBES THIS BEHAVIOR AND THERE ARE CSES WHERE THE JAWS HAVE TO BE PRIED OPEN A THE DOG WILL NOT RELEASE IT'S HOLD. DO SOME RESERCH.

Val wrote on Aug 4, 2007 9:18 AM:Teddi, no dog just turns around out of the blue and misbehaves, all the warning signs are there - unless of course the animal has contracted rabies or something. Humans miss it. Your friends missed it, they did not do their jobs and were not the pack leaders, they allowd the dogs to take a higher position in the pack than a human --- THEIR ERROR, they should have never owned PBs, perhaps Chis, when they act out and bite they don't do so much damage. Good Lord Joey you are by far the most stubborn in your ignorance...BULL DOGS, all types were bred to lock and hold, an APBT is a mix way back in the day of a bulldog and a terrier. GSDs and Mals are trained to bite and hold, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Presas, Dogos...all exhibit this trait as it is used in their work...what you are missing is the APBT will tend to hold on because of it's will (game), the others breeds will not. FYI the GSD has the stringest measured bite pressure. What were you saying about research? Any dog will "out" if taught....Joey watch Shutzhund, you will see all breeds, bite - hold and out...hmmmmm

Alf wrote on Aug 4, 2007 9:35 AM:"Joey", no need to shout. I know and OMG pointed out that "lock" is a SLIGHT misnomer, but only slight. Try this, they effectively lock and have, upon too many an occassion required being pried open with tools because they (the pit bull dogs) were out of control, out of the control of their owners and/or anyone else. THAT is quite accurate and true. Alf.

DogLover wrote on Aug 4, 2007 9:54 AM:Teddy, please don't mislead. PBs are bred to be animal aggressive....not human aggressive. Why, the animal aggression is used in it's work. Yes APBTs are WORKING dogs. Originally for cainine combat, now as chase or catch animals. PBs are also bred to be human passive as they are handled closely in their work. A PB that cannot be handled safely CANNOT DO IT'S WORK!!!!GSDs, Mals, Dobies, GUARDIANS are bred with Human Aggression, why IT IS USED IN THEIR WORK...like a K9 or guard dog. Your desire to keep your kids away from any dog is a wise choice as you do not have the insight to teach appropriate behavior for the appropriate situation with any dog...you don't understand the behavior.

Val wrote on Aug 4, 2007 1:45 PM: Alf, a PB will not effectively lock - no locking action...they will bite down and simply not let go, and when a PB goes into drive and bites most assuredly you will need to take the dogs air away so he will open his mouth to try and breath or a breaking stick will need to be used. No locking involved, only the will and determination to not let go...you see. You should see a Mal in drive on a sleeve, or a K9 on a bad guy, they will not let go either...until outed. Since PBs are genetically predisposed to be people passive they very rarely make the cut in the protection sports in the bite work, they are softer on the bite with humans....why because they have to go against years of selective breeding to muster the drive to bite a human as a guardian will.

Big B wrote on Aug 4, 2007 1:57 PM:Pit Bulls are highly intelligent animals. How do I know this? Well, quite a few are able to post comments on the NC Times web site.

To Val=Joey wrote on Aug 4, 2007 3:25 PM:In recent years, the dogs responsible for the bulk of the homicides are pit bulls and Rottweilers: "Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996....[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R

Val wrote on Aug 4, 2007 4:04 PM:Joey - I am an analyst by trade, the demographics and the density of breed of dog is not accounted for in this study, I am familiar with the data. They took their sound bite from an area heavily populated with PB and bully breeds...gee are you surprised with the results. When I wrote and asked for all the criteria of the statistical analysis, low an behold the authors of this garbage were not forth coming. If you believe the results without knowing the study, the parameters of the study and the scientific method, I have a bridge I would like to sell you.....

Joey- wrote on Aug 4, 2007 7:20 PM:I am not at all surprised with the results and there are many more from statistics from another source the Humane Socety of America which also keeps records of fatalaties and comes up with the same conclusion. We are talkig about dog bite fatlaties,in the USA, not number of people bitten. Your the one that is buying a bridge beause you can not accept facts, and the area in the study is the USA! Analyst by trade ( I also have an MBA )does not quite qualify you for the real world. I think the police on the street who do the crime reports of fatalaties know which breeds are dangerous. And I have done many reports. Have you ever seen a person mauled and chewed up by a large dog? I have seen a man with his arm torn off-results of an attack by two Rotts, and other maulings and bites and it is not pretty.

esteban wrote on Aug 5, 2007 12:58 AM:You can't say ALL pits are bad. I've had my pit (CJ) for 12 years and she is the most loyal, loving, pussy cat of a dog you will ever meet. So therefore, not all pits are bad. I just think that if they do bite, they are so strong, they will cause more damage than your average dog. And therin lies the stigma.

Val wrote on Aug 5, 2007 4:10 AM:Joey the number of fatalities by large dogs is going to be higher than small dogs, period. I hope you can see the logic of that. The studies that have been scrutinized by some of the most talented statistical analysts (NASA, Univ PA) those are a few that assessed my "running of the numbers" all conclude that the study fundamentals are faulty and will provide a skewed results. These scientists had no agenda, they just did the math. If you take a sample and mix overall cases as the basis of your study without normalizing to a set of criteria the study is not worth the paper it is published on. It is like going to Asia and saying the race most likely to get a cold is Asian....hmmmmmm. My neighbor is a 20 year ER nurse veteran, seen many childeren brought in for maulings, not one from a PB. I am not saying PBs do not maul people, but I find this an interesting peice of data since we live a heavily populated area where PBs are prevelent. I have quite a few K9 friends, they are dog trainers and they understand dogs. Any large dog has the potential to do the damage you describe, any large dog that is not owned, trained, excersized and led is most likely to this damage - ANY DOG. Conrgats on your MBA, one of my advanced degrees is in Statistical Physics and have worked more than 28 years with military technologies and the study of statistical trends in particulate. I have some credability as well. Dig harder, question more you will find commercialized statitics are generally created to tell a story, where as a scientific study only drives to get to the truth. Yes the stats you are looking at are from very localized areas in the USA...I say open the data base up, there are dogs all over the world, I would not expect the dog behavior to be any different in another area, unless environmentaly affected, aahh another peice of information worth noting in looking for a real solution to this problem. You prove my point.

Val wrote on Aug 5, 2007 9:24 AM:Joey I respect your input and your lives experience. Your passion about this subject is similar to the womans in this article. It just seems to me with all the intelligent people in this world a workable solution can be found. BSL is not working. As a very wise individual once said to me it may not be the PB dogs fault, it is the irresponsible owners fault, but it is the PBs problem. I would like to assist in finding a real solution. Thank you for the exchange, it is good to see good people thinking about the problem, and by the grace of the human race I know we can strive for a reasonable solution without the needless destruction of living creatures of all speices. Regards.

Joey- wrote on Aug 5, 2007 11:07 AM:Not all pit bulls are bad, or big breeds,or pit mixes. Many pit bulls are great and a loyal wonderful dogs. The real crime is the abuse by some gangsters or stupid owners who starve and abuse them, or use them for illegal purposes. It makes me sick to see a puppy PB being carried around with a thirty pound chain tied to his small neck-I saw this yesterday in Oceaside. Owners have a big responsiility to do what is right whatever the breed.

LE wrote on Aug 6, 2007 4:56 AM:As a cop I have seen many pit bull attacks. I have never seen a golden retriever attack or poodle attack. Its not if your pit bull is going to rip your kids face off, its when!

John wrote on Aug 6, 2007 5:31 AM:Don't own a Pit bull but the dogs that Ive known were very loyal loving dogs. Its all in the training of the animal from very young. Yes Pit bulls are not very social with other dogs , And you certainly don't want to wander around in the dogs back yard . So if you folks don't want FeeFee the poodle or your Lapso to be dog chow. Keep the critter leashed. Aggressive dogs come in all sizes and breeds.

Patrick wrote on Aug 6, 2007 9:40 AM:How come I have never seen a Pit Bull for sale in a pet store? Hmmm....

Val wrote on Aug 6, 2007 9:44 AM:LE it is comments like the one you have made that lull folks into a false sense of security with dogs that are not PBs and many other dogs are capable of injuring children. A dog responsible for frequently injuring small children is a Dalmation --- for many reasons, the one that is formost in my mind is 101 dalmations and the slew of bad breedings to keep up with the publics demand for them....I would expect something more intelligible from a representative of LE. But many people have very bad impressions of members in your line of work and mouth off as you just did because they really don't understand your profession. GR and poodles are responsible for attacks, the question should be why???? It is sad when people speak from fear and lack of knowledge, really promotes misunderstanding.

Joey wrote on Aug 6, 2007 11:15 AM:I drove round East Side in Oceanside and saw six pit bulls in three yards. Every one of them was tied to a big short chain, some without shade or a dog house and sleeping in the dirt. Animal abuse?

Val wrote on Aug 6, 2007 11:42 AM:Patrick - Have you ever seen a Cane Corso, a Dogo, a Presa, a Fila, Black Mouth Cur, Cathoula ......hmmmmmmmm all working dogs and their pedigree is critical to it's ability to do it's job - not suitable for the John Q Public owner, thus not sold in pet stores, they can however be found at reputable breeders. If you really want to get hot under the collar go to a flea market...you will see BYB PBs for sale, a crime against the breed!!!!!!

Joey wrote on Aug 6, 2007 12:24 PM:LE the cop is right on. I had a Collie who bit a neighbor kid in the face-got near the dog's food dish. Had a big law suit too. If it had been a PB it would have torn his face off.

Patrick wrote on Aug 6, 2007 2:10 PM:So, if the Pit Bull is a "Working Dog" as Val implies then why is it legal for the general public to have them? Maybe this is the problem; the general public doesn't know how to handle them. It goes back to making them illegal to own...for the general public. If there is a legitimate use for a Pit Bull, fine but keep them out of the hands of those that have no reason to have them.

Val wrote on Aug 6, 2007 2:24 PM:I disagree with LE and Joey. If you have a well bred PB and it is trained and cared for properly, if it is taught the pack hierarchy, it would be less inclined to bite a human period. PB are bred to be human passive. The PBs that are left alone, and not cared for properly are a danger because they are strong dogs, as it would be with ANY large and powerful dog. It is my feeling that if you do not train your dog then allow a child to interact with it - well you have put both the dog and the child at risk. The bottom line is people need to take responsibility for their actions...people. Most dog and children interactions you have just described is an example of the dog correcting the child like it would another dog that got near it's food. An example of the dog assuming a higher position of authority than a human.......

Val wrote on Aug 6, 2007 2:33 PM:Patrick, now you are thinking the way most responsible PB owners think. I do not imply an APBT is a working dog, it is, It cannot be shown in the AKC, only the American Stafforshire which is the show dog version of the APBT. Even though I agree with this statement, you still have the problem of BYBs and other powerful working dogs that folks get with not a clue as to what they are getting and try to turn the dog into a couch potato. All the pent up drive and energy tends to manifest itself as bad behavior. Look at the grounds keeper that was just mauled to death by 2 Mastiffs....people not living up to their responsibilities. Also almost every breed has working bloodlines and show blood (GSDs, ABs, Rotts)lines....would the general public be able to own the show dogs? The problem is a human problem, how about we fix that.

Jack wrote on Aug 7, 2007 12:32 AM:It's not just the breed but dogs are also pack animals and those with the more aggressive genes want to show what we in our world might call macho. Dominance really, top dog. I knew a good family with what we all thought was a great Alsatian. It killed their seven year old son in the back yard one day! The dog had known the boy since his birth and the kid was not cruel to it. It was presumed that the dog was just trying to move one step up the ladder in the pack, the "pack" being his human family. It's suspected that he finally saw his chance one day when left alone with the boy. A big boy at that. Sad and scarey. Those of you who think domestic animals don't revert have either not spent time around them or your in denial. I've worked in stables and with other, smaller, gentler farm animals. You never want to come between a horse or especially a cow and a wall. If the mood strikes them they will intentionally crush you to death against it. Yeah, that's right, even Daisy the doe-eyed milk cow is a killer.

Val wrote on Aug 7, 2007 3:53 AM:And Joey what you see if you have accurately depicted it, IMO is animal abuse. It also is setting up the conditions for a tragic situation. What you are seeing is a classic example of ignorant human behavior. The APBT, American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (all the PB breeds)are valiant breeds of dogs and they deserve better.

Val wrote on Aug 7, 2007 8:59 AM:Jack - I did not know that an Alsatian was another name for a GSD...that is cool. I think you are very on point with typical pack behavior of domesticated dogs. Although PBs are believed to not be social with other dogs, most often the PBs pack is it's human family. High drive dogs (working lines) tend to challange for pack leadership as you have stated. If you want a high drive workin class animal, be prepared to be an even stronger alpha. Make sure that animal knows that every two legged human holds a higher rank in your pack, no matter what the humans age is. If you cannot achieve this, it is your responsibility to NEVER let these two worlds collide.

Le Cat wrote on Aug 8, 2007 7:56 AM:Dog owners are the 'stupid breed'. They think it's cute and endearing when their dog comes up to someone on the street and sniffs and licks them. 'He likes you' and 'she would never bite'. I'm sick of it! Why can't dog owners understand that not everyone is infatuated by dog slobber?

Val wrote on Aug 8, 2007 10:00 AM:LE Cat stay away from any dog owner that allows that behavior, you are correct it is neither endearing or safe. I have the opposite problem..."Oooh can I pet your dog?", or a brisk walk up to my dog by a stranger like they have been life long friends....to which in either situation I command my dogs to a "down, stay" and I step in front of the unwelcome advance and protect my dog. So your classification of "dog owners" is too broad, those that are infromed would never allow this kind of activity, especially with unknown people, they may think and feel exactly like you.

Jack wrote on Aug 8, 2007 7:30 PM:Why is it so hard for you ignorant people to see that it is the bad owners that train these dogs to be agressive. I have a PB and all she wants to do is play with other dogs. What you see in the media is the negative side of the PB breed. Why don't we ever see the loving side of these dogs, the real side; why does the media have to portray these dogs in such a negative light, and for what, ratings. Michelle my heart goes out to you. I too live in Escondido and I will be in contact with you to find out what it is I can do to help.

Kc wrote on Aug 8, 2007 8:12 PM:Ok... Heres a few facts to think about, I don't even know why I am saying this, but the only cure for ignorance is knowlege, so here it is. "Pit Bulls" were origanally bred to fight other dogs. They also can have very high prey drives, but anyone who knows anything about dog fighting, both modern day, and historicly, knows that any human aggressive dog is removed from the gene pool by any means nessasary, for the simple fact that "handlers" are very close to the dogs, even while they are in the "pit" fighting. Often-times "handlers" have been known to even pick up the dogs mid-combat. For this reason, human aggression was not tolerated. Dog aggression is a fact of the breed. You can socialize it, you can train it, but in some cases the will still be "problems." The amounts of every trait varys from dog to dog. I have seen Labs and Retreivers that wouldn't touch a ball and were afraid of water. The major problem we have with "Pit bulls" right now is they are the current "fad" breed... they look big and bad so people get them as a status figure, and know nothing about the breed or how to handle it. Then you have the back-yard breeders that breed for money, a color, and/or size. Pit bulls come in just about any color there is on a dog, the average size for a pit bull is between 30 to AT THE MOST 70 Lbs... The oversized dogs that you see are usually a mix between mastiff, or they have breed dogs with unsound temperments to get the desired effect, even if they have a pedigree. The true pit bull temperment has been ruined thanks to things like this, along with abuse and neglect. I applaud Knuttila for her efforts, and contribution to this beautiful breed. It truly is at the fault of people that any dog is aggressive. By the way, if I made it sound like I support dog fighting, I don't. It's a horrible blood sport that kills innocent dogs, because when or lose, most still die. I'm an animal lover to the core, ALL ANIMALS. I don't just pick and choose. Another good point that several other have pointed out, is ALWAYS leash your dog. NEVER take your dog to a dog park, unless is has seprate enclosers for each individal animal, and NEVER leave ANY animal('s) alone with your children or other pets. You are just asking for trouble, not matter what kind of animal it is. Also I think that you should have to have a permit to have ANY animal... and there should be harsher penalties for off leash dogs, and animal cruelty. Just my opinion as a owner of just about any pet imaginable(including just about every breed of the following: Rodents, non-venomous snakes, lizards, cats, dogs, yes Pit bulls included, and birds. Plus a few hedgehogs, a chinchilla, and a rescued racoon.) and a human being that knows the amount of love an animal can give, and wishes everyone did. I sincerly hope this reaches some of you, Kc

True American wrote on Aug 8, 2007 8:37 PM:I had a friend with a pit bull. It was the most loving caring animal, I was around it all its life. It was never raised to bite people or fight, it was a good pet. Until one hot day when it attacked me without any warning, for no reason. I only required a couple of stitches and I kicked it good to get it off of me. I'm 6 foot, athletic and 200lbs and it was a struggle, I can't imagine a 60 pound kid surviving that. I guess it was luck that it was me and not someone's precious child. It's in the breeding, not in the raising of the dog. I'm absolutely convinced they are trouble, being a dog lover my whole life and having an open mind on the subject, numbers don't lie.

Jill wrote on Aug 9, 2007 12:02 AM:You knonw, more HUMANS attack, maim, maul, kill etc people (including children AND child on child violence) then ALL dog brreds together. Don;t you fools GET it? The unleashed dog in the park was not a danger, the ... OWNER was. He is probably the kind of guy who would also leave a loaded weapon within reach of a young child. So, if the kid shoots someone, will you advocate "putting down" and "outlawing" children? I hope so. I don't care for them anyway--they grow up to be big freaking humans with no sense. I have NEVER been bit by a dog--but I have been stabbed in the back by more than my share of humans.

Alf wrote on Aug 10, 2007 10:07 AM:"Jill", try this on for size "I have NEVER been bit by a dog", YET. I hope that, if you are bitten by a pit bull, you fair better than some others who died. I would hope that you understand the difference between a gun, an inanimate object which does not have emotion or breeding, and a pit bull which has breeding and emotions that you may not fully realize. I use many tools that are deadly in the wrong hands, chainsaws don't care if it is a tree limb or your leg, and for me to get arrogant and prideful enough to declare that "those tools are perfectly safe in my hands" is the time I get hurt. The only truthful thing I can say about my dangerous tools is that I have not been seriously hurt by them YET and that I must be careful at all times when using them. Regards, Alf.

Val wrote on Aug 10, 2007 5:12 PM:True American your story is lacking, no animal attacks for no reason. The reason may not have been of your making but I guarentee if a proffesional studied your incident a reason would be found. Most people that are attacked by dogs never know enough about the behavior to read the warning signs. Your friends missed them, and you paid the price...but put the blame where it belongs with the owner, figure out what they missed. You are right about the nature of the dog being in the breeding...PBs are bred to be animal aggressive and human passive. If a PB shows human aggression it is need of some health care or leadership training or it is the result of a poor breeding, mixing a PB with a guardian, guardians are bred with human aggression. Since I manipulate numbers for a living and have for 28 years..they can always be configured in a manner to suit the reader. In the case of numbers and dog attacks by breed a whole lot of additional information would be required to assist us in coming up with a meaningful solution. BSL does not work..I guarentee if you wiped PBs off the face of the earth, those irresponsible people (the problem) will just start owning Mastiffs, or Rotts or EBs and the maulings will continue. You need to fix the people.

Gina wrote on Aug 10, 2007 9:59 PM:Why is it OK to have a gun, but not a pit bull? I am a million times more frightened of people now days than dogs. Let's outlaw guns then. Oh, ok. Guns in the wrong hands, pit bulls in the wrong hands. SEE?

Kit wrote on Aug 11, 2007 5:52 PM:After the United Kingdom banned pit bulls in the 1990s, a study showed that the number of dog bites remained the same even though the number of pit bulls had steeply declined. (Study cited in B. Heady and P. Krause, "Health Benefits and Potential Public Savings Due to Pets: Australian and German Survey Results," Australian Social Monitor, Vol.2, No.2, May 1999.) As a practical matter, the current tide of public outrage should be focused on the enactment of measures that would deal effectively with the entire epidemic, not merely the breeds that kill. It would be unwise to enact all kinds of controls on one or two breeds, not necessarily because it would be unfair, but because it would produce narrow and therefore unsatisfactory results. The war against crime isn't a war against just the bank robbers, but against all criminals; the war against drugs isn't a war against just the Colombian drug lords, but all drug lords. For the same reason, the dog bite epidemic must not focus on just one or two breeds and stop there. The war on this epidemic must be comprehensive

Ignorance Abounds wrote on Aug 12, 2007 1:18 AM:Yeah, just wait until Chako or Nestle snap and lose their cool, and end up taking off Britanny's adorable face, or worse, mauling her to death for no apparent reason (like all pits do). Miss know-it-all Michelle Knuttila will be play'n quite a different tune about her stupid beloved pitbulls. When you consider the source (she's an animal control officer), it's no wonder why her limited education has left so much more out of her speil about responsible dog ownership. Nowhere does she ever suggest that people who want to own these dogs should also do the responsible thing and carry liability insurance to protect themselves in the event their animal attacks and hurts or kills someone. Most carriers are now refusing to write liability insurance for folks who own vicious pets. They don't want the risk, and you can't blame them. Lawsuit after lawsuits have been filed and large judgments against owners have come down. Tony's observation of the Mexican bangers at Cruisn' Grand is right. They're often seen walking around in their cholo attire with intimidating "pit" in tow. You can bet none of them carries insurance because they're too busy living below the law.

Val wrote on Aug 13, 2007 3:53 AM:Ignorance I will lay odds those dogs owned by the woman in the article are trained and owned responsibly. Your characterization of her education is as defined in your name. I have a friend with a degree in engineering and math who decided one day she wanted to own an animal grooming company and did. More and more insurance comapanies are moving away from breeds and basing the coverage on the animal to be insured...does the animal have a record of human or animal aggression...the correct thing to do. One of my colleagues has a 21 year old daughter that just setteled her law suit after three years. A dog mauled her face quite unexpectedly...she was dog sitting. The dog was a daschund, weighing in at a whopping 15 lbs. Her injury required surgery. Unfortunately you are right about the insurance and the folks that don't carry it...the responsible ones do, perhaps we should make this a condition of owning ANY dog.....

DogLover wrote on Aug 13, 2007 5:16 AM:Hey Ignorance, would you care to substantiate your statement "mauling her to death for no apparent reason,like all pits do" with something factual..or are you owning up to the fact you cannot figure the "apparent" out because you do not know what you are talking about, and factual information in your words are being replaced with emotional hysteria. Yep working with folks like you to solve the dangerous dog problem is SO SIMPLE because you are so rational....and full of good and useful alternatives...did I say rational already..oooh yeh I did?

North County Owner wrote on Aug 13, 2007 12:34 PM:How should one react to such STUPIDITY? I own PB's and American Bulldogs, and they are just as loving, intelligent and most importantly obedient than all other breeds I have owned, including numerous spaniels, retreivers, and even akita's and husky's. 'Ignorance Abounds', persons such as yourself are the primary reason these animals are blacklisted and stereotyped the way that they are. I have a two children, ages 3 & 8. My children maintain the alpha role with my dogs. They command my dogs and the dogs are responsive and respectful. My female American Bulldog did have an 'incedent' with my son at age two approx. 1 week after we got her @ 14 mo. old. He(my son), had snuck out the back door while I was in the shower and headed up the hill in my yard, she picked up my son by the back of his pants and carried him back down the hill. My wife was frantic at first, new dog biting her baby...after making her watch everything traspire she was amazed. Dogs are animals, both very powerful and very intelligent. Without guidance, much like a child, ALL dog breeds will use their skills, senses and strength however they choose if they are not taught otherwise. Mr.'ran him off with a bat', let's hypothesize for a moment: Is it possible that the animal which you encountered very likely viewed you as a threat to your own child, likely because of the 'weapon' in your hand, the sound of your voice, perhaps instructing, coaching, or even yelling at your child? The animal would not be afraid of you and your bat unless it had experienced abuse from a bad owner in the past, and perhaps it saw some of those abusive traits in you? Sometimes there are resons other than 'an angry, vicious and wild dog'. To all who say that "thugs & cholos" with their "dogs as weapons in tow",... people get a clue! You are racist and looking for another reason to discriminate and stereotype minorities. The guys you see at Cruisin' Grand, are very likely in the business of marketing and selling these dogs. They are not there to threaten you, they are there for free advertising. Comparing dogs, breeding secrets, lineage, and even arranging to breed the next world champion are likely the goals of these guys. Imagine selling 1, yes ONE dog for $30,000.00 or more! When people like Michael V*(a nameless NFL player), will pay $30,000.00 or more for these animals, due largely to the monsterous reputation given by people outside of the 'industry' isn't this the best part-time job on the planet for a working class guy(aka cholos, gangsters, & thugs)? Hispanic, white, asian, maybe... but don't decide that they are criminals, it is a simple supply and demand issue. If rich guys will pay, then they will be bred. The more people condemn something the more exotic and taboo, and often times more popular it becomes. Michelle, I do applaud what you are doing, and I say this as an owner of Bully breed dogs, but moreso as a lifetime dog owner and father. I entrust the security and safety of my family to my Bully's and anyone who has not experienced that type of bond with an animal can never understand the true meaning of having pets considered as real members of their family.

Sandra wrote on Aug 22, 2007 7:01 PM:I have owned pitbulls now for almost 6 years and recently our very first one died of old age she was 9 when we resued her my life hasnt been the same the most loyal companion for our family and a huge part of our lives she'll be great missed..Please dont punish this breed until you've owned one you've never experience the loyality,love and affection of this great breed