Who should be punished?

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Justin,this is a PERFECT example of how the pits are used wrong and all the news cares is a pit was involved nothing else.Thanks for posting it.

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No problem. Any time.:D

I am not trying to cause a fight or pick on anyone here.I noticed 1 person marked that pits should be put to sleep.I ask that person this,have you ever been around a pit that was properly trained or cared for? Some people are unable to notice if a said dog is a pit or not until they are told its true breed.I have had numerous people say our dogs are so well behaved and loving when they ask what type of dog they are they are shocked when i say staff/pit and pit.It makes me very mad when people tell me i should make my dogs freindly towards everyone.I tell them so because my dogs are pit or pit mixes they should be freindly to everyone huh? So its ok for a burgler to break into my home and my dogs should allow this.Sorry not going to happen! My yard is fenced in and if someone enters my yard without permission then my dogs are doing there jobs when they react.I have my dogs for companionship and protection just like everyone else.I am sorry if this offends some but why should my dogs be trained how others think they should act? They are my dogs and they are under my control and they stay in there yard and thats all that should matter.Just like my snakes are properly housed and cared for.To many people worry about what so and so down the street has or is doing when they should mind there own business and live there own lives.If someones dogs are not bothering you or that person has snakes you never see then you should mind your own business.Its not like people just started keeping pit bulls or snakes,just certain people became nosy over the last few years.

I also want to hear!!

Let me start out by saying that this is a great thread...


It's nice to see so many people are pro pitbull around here. Unfortunately the media jumps all over fighting rings and dog bites, immediately blame a pit, and BAM - the country has been brainwashed to think that pits are aggressive.

But when the family goes out and buys a POODLE or a DALMATIAN cause it looks cute on TV - they can be up for a surprise. ANY breed of dog will have sweethearts and aggressors. It's what the owners do or don't do after discovering the dog's behavioral issues is that causes a problem. Unfortunately, too many semiagressive to aggressive dog owners find it easier to take the "ignorance is bliss" route rather than getting their dog the help it needs, and thats when we hear about dogs getting loose and mauling other dogs or worse, people.
There are several unfortunate factors to this situation:
*the people, dogs or other beloved pets getting hurt
*the aggressive dog gets punished or killed, when they were never taught how to behave properly in the first place...how the heck does the dog know biting is wrong if nobody has never taught him??
*the idiot owners of these dogs who either intentionally ignored the dogs aggressiveness or purposely TAUGHT them to be aggressive are not banned from owning dogs again, and the cycle continues. Sure, some get fines or whatnot, depending on what exactly happened, but there is no follow-through system with these people to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The animals have NO idea whats right or wrong until someone teaches them otherwise. Its the owners JOB as a "PARENT" to make sure their animal - dog, snake, whatever, behaves if they plan on bringing it around people. So, ban the animals that the country has been brainwashed to believe are aggressive?? NOOOO - i agree that snake giants should NOT be handed out like rock candy, and permits are warranted for these types of pets. The animal should not be punished, humans should be restricted.

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Originally Posted by adizziedoll

Let me start out by saying that this is a great thread...


It's nice to see so many people are pro pitbull around here. Unfortunately the media jumps all over fighting rings and dog bites, immediately blame a pit, and BAM - the country has been brainwashed to think that pits are aggressive.

But when the family goes out and buys a POODLE or a DALMATIAN cause it looks cute on TV - they can be up for a surprise. ANY breed of dog will have sweethearts and aggressors. It's what the owners do or don't do after discovering the dog's behavioral issues is that causes a problem. Unfortunately, too many semiagressive to aggressive dog owners find it easier to take the "ignorance is bliss" route rather than getting their dog the help it needs, and thats when we hear about dogs getting loose and mauling other dogs or worse, people.
There are several unfortunate factors to this situation:
*the people, dogs or other beloved pets getting hurt
*the aggressive dog gets punished or killed, when they were never taught how to behave properly in the first place...how the heck does the dog know biting is wrong if nobody has never taught him??
*the idiot owners of these dogs who either intentionally ignored the dogs aggressiveness or purposely TAUGHT them to be aggressive are not banned from owning dogs again, and the cycle continues. Sure, some get fines or whatnot, depending on what exactly happened, but there is no follow-through system with these people to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The animals have NO idea whats right or wrong until someone teaches them otherwise. Its the owners JOB as a "PARENT" to make sure their animal - dog, snake, whatever, behaves if they plan on bringing it around people. So, ban the animals that the country has been brainwashed to believe are aggressive?? NOOOO - i agree that snake giants should NOT be handed out like rock candy, and permits are warranted for these types of pets. The animal should not be punished, humans should be restricted.

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I thank you for your input here.The problem with the "permits" issue is really a joke in my opinion.In Illinois we have to have a FOID(firearms identafication) in order to "legally" buy a gun,i can take ANYONE to certain parts of Peoria and you can buy ANY type of gun you want without any questions.I know guns are not dogs or snakes but it is a example of the "permit" stuff being worthless.It just gives the state more money period!

Yeah i guess it would be quite worthless if anyone can get one!!!

I don't have time to read everyone's posts but I have thoughts about banning breeds.

I'm personally believe in Cesar Millans methods of dog psychology and human training. Cesar came to America and seen that the majority of American owners did not know a thing about dog psycology or how to be a pack leader. I've read Cesars books and watched all his shows and I'm a firm believer that a lot of owners that may think they're treating their dogs right by spoiling and treating their dogs like human beings but may be damaging their dogs. People can give affection at the wrong times and encourage a behavior that is not good. Pitbulls are banned not only because of irresponsible owners but also because they are in fact a dangerous breed of dog. Bread to fight bears and other predators. Bread to be a fighting dog for thousands of years. I think that's the main reasoning behind the banning of the pitbull in many areas. This is just my opinion based on what I've read and seen over the years. You have to be more than just responsible when owning a dog such as a pitbull because they can potentially be so dangerous. I've helped raise pitbulls in the past and they can be very aggressive if you don't know what you're doing. They are also very territorial to the point of being dangerous to anyone thats not in their "pack".

As for exotics. I agree with banning some exotics such as lions, tigers and bears...oh my. (I know some people who keep lions as pets and have heard of others that have tigers and bears) These types of animals should be banned unless its under strict regulations. If they banned something like pythons I would have to disagree with that because I both love these animals and view them as a learning tool for all.

I've read through most of the replies on this and have to say I'm disappointed.

For those that said the smaller dogs tend to be more agressive, you're absolutely right. I work in a pet store, where we sell everything from chihuahuas to great danes, depending on what puppies are available at the time. Yes. We sell pits. And it breaks my heart every time someone shies away from the display of pit pull puppies talking about how they want a sweet dog.

I too have been bitten and nipped far more by smaller dogs. Dogs in general, as has been said, are only as mean as you allow them or train them to be. I've been around plenty of pet pit bulls who have been absolute sweethearts. Lily, a female pit I lived next to once upon a time, would even allow people to handle her newborn pups without a single growl. Now, if you messed with her family, like some kids did when they bullied the daughter, she would let you know she wasn't pleased. She would stand there and growl and bare her teeth, but she never once actually attacked anyone. She knew better than that.

At the same time, I've had girls with their little chihuahua accessories walk into the pet store, and had the chihuahuas try and take my fingers off as their owners handed me money to pay for whatever they were purchasing. And their owners never admonished them, just giggled and talked about how "cute mommy's little baby" was being.

Now, the exotic pet problem is a problem on it's own. We've had people come into the store asking if we know where they can buy a monkey or a bobcat or any number of other things. I think that it's people's own stupidity in that area. How do you expect a wild-born tiger to become a lap cat? That's just not going to happen.

Yeah I know first hand that smaller dogs are very aggressive. (Have been bitten by a few and a chihuahuas bite stings bad (god is struggled spelling that)). The only thing is I don't think Chihuahuas caused any fatalities. That's the biggest problem. The larger breeds potential to kill. That's why teaching and education is so important.

I've know people to come in asking where they can get wild animals like that. Some people just don't understand what is involved in caring for certain animals. There was an article about German Shepard X Wolf mixes. (I used to help raise one) The dogs were exibiting wild traits and a family came to take a look at the dogs. I believe it was a mother, father, and their young son. The dogs began circling the kid like he was prey. That's an interesting story because it shows that even if you try to breed certain animals and get behaviors out of them they are always going to have some of that wild instinct. People that want to own bobcats are probably not real animal enthusiaists because they would know that owning a bobcat as a pet would be an incredibly stupid idea.

A ban on any pet would be the same thing as a ban on all guns and firearms: only the criminals would have them, not the law-abiding citizens.