Kara Hartrich – Bloomington, Illinois – killed by the family pit bull on her 4th birthday (1/17/14) 287


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Kara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Roxanne Miller Hartrich (Kara’s mother) 

17 years after my oldest son Tyler was born my husband and I got the news that I never thought I’d hear again: my Gyno had told me I had “unexplained infertility”…I always wanted to have a house full of kids but had resigned to the fact that we weren‘t going to have any: We were pregnant,,,9 very long and torturous months were ahead, full of 5 months of morning sickness, gestational diabetes,insulin injections, hypertension, and toxemia, culminating to a c-section birth….. Our beautiful baby girl Kara was born, her daddy had named her after Clark Kents cousin on Smallville” Super Girl”!!! And she was a supergirl in every sense of the way, she rolled over super early, she walked at 7 months, she was running by 8!! She talked in full complete sentences so early people had no idea how old she really was. She enveloped everything that life had to offer, she had a love for everything in nature, everyone and everything, she flashed her irresistable grin and hearts would melt. She would play dress up and tea party, and then go play in the dirt, and swing on her playset for endless hours. She said her ” I love you’s to those she cherished every day all day, even to strangers who she thought needed their day brightened up, she’d introduce herself and say nice to meet you, passing out loving hugs along the way. She had an older brother who she thought hung the moon, he called her his little nugget. She also has a 2 yr old sister Kaylee , Kara is her big sister Hero in every sense of the word, most loving big sis in the world- they were two peas in a pod and inseperable…….January 17th 2014 is the day our world with our princess came crashing down and we entered into the hell that encompasses our every day life–our life without her smiles, hugs, beaming personality, her love for the world…….We woke up late that day and slept in—- it was Karas 4th birthday and she just wanted to snuggle!!

She rolled over and said mama just hold me a little extra longer today , today is my birthday, its going to be such a beautiful day.. She said ” Good morning to her sissy kaylee , hugged her what seemed harder than ever and told her she loved her, next was my turn.. She said mama your the best mama in the whole world, you dont need to loose weight you are perfect just the way you are..i love you. We giggled and we snuggled and sang you are my sunshine as we do every morning, and then we sang many different versions of happy birthday to Kara.. She brushed her teeth, combed her hair , I put it into a perfect – kara approved – pony tail, she put on a beautiful pink dress, as she said she was the princess for the whole day of course, and went downstairs….We made scrambled eggs and toast, and of course her favorite smores pop tarts…. we turned the music on and danced and sang as we did every morning, with some happy birthdays mixed in for fun…. Gramma and grandpa showed up so mommy could go to work…. Kara didnt want me to go and begged me to stay home with her, she was mad because we werent having her party until sunday at GYmanastics etc and begged to open presents today…I promised her some presents could be opened and that we would make a very special shopping trip when I got home,,,she gleefully said thank you momma, you are the best and went back to singing and dancing, I turned and looked at her and sang happy birthday to kara kara bo bara banana fanna fo fanna,,,,,,,,kara! And walked out the door —— that was the last time i would ever see my baby girl alive again

I got off work a little early that day and decided that she needed a few more presents that just couldnt wait to be bought, and then i headed home, my husband called me and wanted to know why brutus was outside when he got home i said i didnt know i was on my way home and would be there soon……..and then my nightmare began…….I pulled into the entrance of my subdivision, and noticed a red glow over the street corner, i remember wondering what on earth could be going on , on my quiet little subdivision full of daycares and minivans….As I rounded the corner I could see the street was blocked off , full of firetrucks, police, and families standing outside–i still wondered what was going on, I was flagged and told to pull over , I then looked up and saw that it was my house they were all at, my yard was taped in crime scene ribbon, full of police officers, fire personnel, lots of noise and commotion, i was met by police officers, my husband covered in blood, and my mother, all of whom were screaming, and crying , and telling me it was bad, so very bad, i asked for my kids, Kaylee was at the the neighbors, it was my Kara, my Kara had been attacked by our family pit bulls, I was told to go to the neighbors, wasn’t allowed to go anywhere near my house, or my yard, told to wait that they were ” working ” on her. I never got to see her to hold her hand, to let her know i was there and that i loved her.. I screamed , i cried, i prayed, i was dying inside …..

we were told to go to bromenn, we flew there,,,,when we got there we were greeted by the receptionist and she said to another lady—– these are the parents—- i could see her name tag said chaplain,, we were led down a hallway to a waiting room, screaming , crying, holding each other for any ounce of hope that there might be…what seemed liked an eternity was mere minutes, the doctor came in and told us she was gone they couldnt do anything for her, and to take our time to prepare to see her to say our goodbyes and make phone calls. I cannot tell you about the ensuing next couple hours it is a blur…… My daughter had been brutally and viciously mauled to death, she died from massive blood loss , her arms, legs, skull, face, and major arteries savagely damaged. the coroner said she didn’t feel the pain as they went straight for the jugular and continued to shred until she was lifeless and unrecognizable……..These were her family pit bulls that we raised from puppies . She picked them out herself. They were treated as members of the family, loved, exercised, fed well, and respected ……… they savagely murdered the little girl who loved and cared for them the most in this world without a second thought, directly following they acted as if nothing happened , she hadn’t riled them up, she hadn’t abused them, she was happily playing in the other room, they came after her and pulled her out of my mothers arms to attack , maul, and kill her. Her 2 year old sister was also there, my mother was able to save her and told her to run upstairs and hide, while she tried to get the dogs to release Kara….. My two year old little girl witnessed this mauling, the final sounds of her hero best friend sister being mauled by the family pit bulls…..The dogs she also loved and cherished……yes any dog can and will bite—- but any dog is not capable of this devastation—— please do not let your children anywhere near this breed of dog,,,something has gone horribly and inexplicably wrong with them—- it is not worth losing them, please i beg, i couldn’t stand if one more parent had to live the hell that we are living now.

PS. My brother had raised many pit bulls and one particularly captured our hearts…He was the sweetest well mannered gentle dog I had ever seen…I was always told the aggressive ones were because they were trained to fight and it was all in how they were raised….and if u got them from puppies that was the best way to raise any dog…Both of the dogs who attacked were brought home as puppies and picked out by Kara…These dogs never displayed any people aggression. ..always sat dutifully by her side ..watched her have tea parties, sat by her side when she was sick, thought they were lap dogs and liked to snuggle…..no warnings…no snapping..no growling…….just snapped!


DogsBite.org reports
‘Happy Little Girl’ Kara Hartrich, 4, Killed by Family Pit Bulls
4-year-old killed by pit bulls had local connections
Dog bites cause 4-year old’s death
DaxtonsFriends.com 2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities
Kara Hartrich 4-years old | Bloomington, IL
Illinois Fatal Pit Bull Maulings – DogsBite.org


Click here to learn more about the American Pit Bull Terrier


 

potentially-dangerous-dog-300x300

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS

This is a list of dog breeds that have a history of being potentially dangerous to people, especially children. Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness understands that any dog has the ability to bite or inflict serious harm to humans. This list consists of several dog breeds that have a higher than average number of recorded human fatalities. Please use extreme caution if you choose to bring one of these breeds into your home. Rental communities and homeowners insurance may restrict many of the dog breeds on this list due to the likelihood of a serious incident.

Pit Bulls, Mastiff, and Rottweiler lead in fatalities and are listed first. The rest of the breeds are listed in alphabetical order:

Pit Bull Terrier Family

Mastiffs

Rottweiler

Akita

Boxer

Alaskan Malamute

Chow Chow

Doberman Pinscher

German Shepherd

Shar Pei

Siberian Husky

Wolf Hybrid


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287 thoughts on “Kara Hartrich – Bloomington, Illinois – killed by the family pit bull on her 4th birthday (1/17/14)

  • Alex

    I wonder what happened to these pitbulls after this incident. Considering bears who ate humans have to be killed so they don’t attack any more humans after finding out the taste of humans and the fact that humans are weak and easy prey, I suppose dogs should be treated the same way. I wouldn’t be surprised or sad if these pitbulls have to be put down afterwards. I wouldn’t even blame you if you decided to kill them yourself to avenge your daughter.

  • Robin

    I was sorry to read about your loss of little Kara.
    I have read about the pitbull bread. I had a wolf.
    I trusted him 100%. I always said I wouldn’t own a dog I couldn’t trust. I bought him when he was 12 weeks old.
    I named him Chase. He was my baby. I was not afraid of him . But I didn’t really trust him around all adults. I had him on a leash at all times when we went for walks. He was an excellent watch dog.
    I had to have him put down a couple of months ago. He had cancer. Now would not recommend a wolf as a pet to anyone only because a wolf is not for everyone. Did l love him yes very much.
    As I said I am sorry for your loss. I think that Tia has some beautiful dogs but they are not for me personally.
    Chase was absolutely mine and he absolutely didn’t like men and any sort of hat on men.
    He was around my grand daughter at times but because he wasn’t around her all the time I was always right there when she wanted to pet him.
    I think Tia tries to match up people with dogs but all dogs have a breaking point and yes pits are a breed that can be unpredictable.
    I just wanted to tell you about Chase.

  • Sue M.

    This is a terrible tragedy. If someone is determined to own one of these bully breeds, it is important that they educate themselves about risk factors that increase the chances of a bite and/or attack. First, no reputable breeder will place 3 dogs from the same litter in the same household. Second, having multiple dogs increases the risk of a bite significantly. Third, and most important, two unneutered males should never be in the same household unless the owner needs them intact and has considerable experience. They should definitely not be left around children. It is entirely natural that 2 unneutered males from the same litter will start to battle it out for dominance as they reach puberty. Hormones are raging, stress levels go up. It is an accident waiting to happen and I sincerely do not understand how this family’s veterinarian would not have stressed how important it was to have both males fixed.

    • Mypibbleistoosweettohurtafly

      I agree that irresponsible ownership is doing a disservice to the breed. Funny, you don’t hear about any other dog breed having strict restrictions placed upon them in order to for them to simply coexist in a home with humans.

  • Clark

    Common sense was once common because so many lived on the farm. If a dog killed a chicken, the dead chicken was tied around its neck until it rotted away. If the dog killed another chicken it was put to sleep. That is the only way to clean up a breed; especially one which has been crossed with powerful hunting dogs like Dogo Argentino which hunted in packs and brought down wild boar and killed it. There are many that do not carry the bad bloodlines and will not kill humans, but how can one tell if the pitbull mix they are looking at is a bad one? Something can set off the bad ones into a prey and kill mode without notice because the normal growling has been bred out of them. The big problem is with the people that think they all can somehow be tamed and try to say none of them should be killed. These people lack common sense and will even move a dog that has killed another dog to a new state and change its name and tell people that it is good with pets and children. They should never be in a family with children, or even elderly people as they seem to sense weakness as prey.

      • Robin

        The oft repeated phrase “it’s how you raise em” is getting people killed .
        Bottom line, are you willing to put a sign outside your door saying ban pit bulls? Are you willing to implement BSL in your community? Legally shoot a pit that wandered onto your property and displayed threatening behavior?
        Sounds easy? Well it’s not. I’m guessing you have relatives that own pits and think you’re crazy for speaking out against them. You’ve tried educating people about this disgraceful fighting breed and been doxxed, shouted down, pitiots have pm’d you death threats, has that happened to you? Well it WILL, expect it.
        No balls, no blue chips said my insurance salesman Dad, and if you don’t get off the internet unless it’s to write to a legislator, the death toll from both humans and animals will continue to rise and rise and the propagandists will only redouble their efforts to sanitize the breeds reputation and to attack the anti pit activists.
        Organize. YOU CANNOT DO THIS ALONE Write your legislators, have concise and sharp answers to the brainwashing pitiots use on the general public, FIGHT. Friends, spouses, and family will think you’re nuts. Expect that.
        If these actions aren’t taken, then all the anti pit subreddits, sites, you name it are just so much whining.

  • Pitbull Lover

    I’m sorry for your loss, but please don’t spread false information. There is no way this all is true, no dog raised the way you described would just attack for no reason. Something would have had to cause it, like the child pulling on the dog, and messing with it. I know pit bulls have bad reputations, but it’s how you raise the dog. I don’t believe that a pit bull would lash out for no reason. I know a dog that has been through 5 different homes, and she was abused. She gets very protective of her people and doesn’t like new people. I trust this dog enough to sit in a locked kennel, in there she could attack me very easily but she doesn’t because it’s not in her nature. I have a pit bull myself and he is perfect around kids, and other pets. We leave him home alone with my cat and he doesn’t ever do anything to her. He would never lash out on someone for no reason at all. Even our old dog, she was a pit boxer mix, and he was attacked by a malamute, no one could get the dog to let go of her, and she was stuck there and could’ve died because she didn’t know how to fight back. Your kid had to have messed with the dog or it wasn’t raised properly. Pit bulls were bred as nanny dogs, they watched young kids and protected them, attacking kids is not in their DNA, so everyone saying that you’re lying. Anyways to prevent what happened you shouldn’t have left a young child unsupervised with any dog, of any breed. Don’t single out any breed, any dog breed could have killed your child. Also, Tia has nothing to do with this, none of this is her fault. In fact, I bet if she had that dog the dog wouldn’t have done anything to anyone. You’re an irresponsible parent to let this happen, I don’t want to be rude, but it wasn’t her fault your daughter died. It wasn’t the dogs. It was yours. Stop trying to make pit bulls out to be something they’re not, please. Sorry for your loss.

      • Alex

        Are you seriously blaming a little girl for her own death? This is really not the time or place to “educate” people about the breed. Are you a veterinarian, or are you just a random person who owns/has owned a few pit bulls? A child has died, this is extremely disrespectful. Just…wow.

        • Diane Dick

          I think if you look at the name of this site the word ‘educate’ is part of the title. The whole idea I got was this site is to EDUCATE. So what do you mean this isn’t the place?
          P.S. So very sorry for the family’s loss…very tragic.

        • Donna Marie Valentine

          You are absolutely right! This story still haunts me. This little girl died a horrific death and her little sister and grandmother were traumatized. I don’t know how that mother could deal with this. This is why I only had pure bred Labrador Retrievers where I went to the breeder to see the parents and other dogs, etc. I have a son on the Autistic Spectrum so I especially wanted a breed that I could trust. I had labs growing up as well. I always taught my children to treat all animals with love, kindness etc., but kids can still do things, like my son would put his hand on the back of the yellow lab’s tail as she walked by. She would stop and just wag her tail, another dog might not be that calm and friendly. I love all dogs, but would never have breeds like Pit Bulls, Mastiffs, Rotweillers, etc. around my children. How many cases of Pit Bulls attacking, mauling and killing people have to happen to know that this is an issue?? My heart aches for this family and this mother!

          • 1upper

            Doubt it makes this poor mother feel any better for other moms or other people period, to say “see that’s why I got my pure breed dog”. Why? Cause you knew a loved family pet owned since it was a baby would kill your child? No. No one believes this can happen to them. That’s why it happens! If anyone believed their pet would do this, they wouldn’t have it! And do not kid yourself, a lab can kill a 4 yr old too.

      • Lori

        She said the dog pulled the little girl out of her mother’s arms so how could the child have harmed the dog who she wasn’t even near? People who think that they are 100% safe from any animal attacking are NUTS. They are animals and people seem to forget that. The reason pits have a bad reputation is because they attack to kill not just to hurt someone. Most other dogs can be taken off of someone before they kill unlike the pitbull. I have never felt safe around pitbulls as an adult so I sure wouldn’t entrust the life of my child around one.

    • Jone

      What an absolutely disgusting excuse for a human being you are. You’ve done normal people a favour by leaving a reply that shows how far cretins like yourself will go to defend this dangerous, unpredictable, ugly, useless, breed of dog.

    • EZ

      Then please explain why pit bulls make up 66% of the fatal maulings and only 6% of the dog breeds in the US. Are pit bulls for some reason, just 1100% more likely to have awful owners??

    • Karen C

      THIS! This is the problem right here. Pit bull nutters who refuse to see the truth about this very dangerous breed. PEOPLE’s lives before dogs. What a tragedy for this poor girl and her family. I hope to see the day where this dangerous breed it eradicated.

    • Pit Nutters Disgust Me

      Yes, a dog ripping out a child’s throat is a perfectly valid response to being pulled on. You’re a joke and a horrible, stupid excuse for a human being, absolute garbage. And she wasn’t unsupervised – are you too stupid to read? Probably, as you’re stupid enough to cite the nanny dog myth. What about all of the other children who have been murdered by these monsters? I guess they deserved it too? I feel sorry for your cat, but I won’t feel sorry for you if your pit is one of the ones that snaps. I hope everyone blames you for it, too.

    • Shannon

      It happens to my friends child. It happened to this child. It’s happened to at least 5 children THIS YEAR
      it’s not false, there’s no made up campaign to lie about the dogs, just blood and death.
      Stop making excuses

    • Tina Mathis

      I was a 911 operator and over the years heard so many tragic calls from people just like you that could not believe that their precious pit bull could have done something this horrible until it did. The all said the same things. It’s so sweet, couldn’t hurt a fly, I’ve raised it from a puppy until it mauled and killed a family member. Something is wrong in this breed. They are not like other dogs. Maybe it’s not inside of every single pit bull but it’s in a whole lot of them and there is no way to tell the difference. They are bred to give no warning when they attack, they have the jaw strength and tearing action designed to destroy and the tenacity to not give up. Why do herding dogs herd without training and pointers point. They are like a ticking time bomb. Your attack of this woman, saying it was her fault is ignorant. Be brave enough to do the research of the other side, even if you don’t want to believe it.

    • Robin

      The ‘nanny dog’ thing is blatantly untrue. No one has ever bred *any* dog to raise children. Bully dogs were bred to fight. Their high pain tolerance might make them less reactive to children when they get rough, and that could sometimes be beneficial when children are around them, but that’s not what the trait was bred for. And yes, you might have pitbulls that lack any aggression whatsoever, but that doesn’t mean no pitbull has that as a trait lurking somewhere in their brains. Also, the girl was not unattended. The dogs ripped her out of her grandmother’s arms. Furthermore, no. Not any dog could have done that. Even if you had the most vicious pair of bichon frises that ever froofed their way onto the stage of life, they would be physically incapable of killing a child, and the grandmother would have been able to swiftly deal with the problem before any serious harm could have happened. The problem with pit bulls is when they decide to attack, there’s not much you can do to stop them.

      Honestly, I think every pit bull should be neutered until the breed is eradicated. Sure, there are friendly pit bulls. There are friendly dogs of every breed. However, the fact is the pit bull was bred to be strong, tenacious, and do a lot of damage with their bite. They are also large and high energy. These are not the traits that people generally want in a dog, and the other traits pit bulls can exhibit can be found in many other, better breeds.

    • Vivian

      Typical pitnutter who demonstrates that they’re not only moronic, but psychopathic. Blaming the child for getting mauled to death by a pitbull, claiming that the child must have “provoked it”? Are you trying to win a game of pitnutter bingo? Even if the child DID annoy the pitbull somehow (which she didn’t if you actually read and understood the article), what other dog breed will rip out someone’s throat because they were annoyed by child? I sure as hell don’t see Golden Retrievers and Border Collies mauling and murdering children (or even other animals), even when they’re abused and being harassed. And since you seem to think it’s acceptable for a child to be mauled to death when/if they annoy their pet pitbull, would you also support planting a landmine in your own home with young children running around? Because in both cases, it’s a ticking time bomb — one that can go off unpredictably at any moment with disastrous results.

      Also, pitbulls were never “nanny dogs”. A 2-second search on Google would have made you look slightly less stupid. The “nanny dog” myth has been debunked multiple times already. It was a slogan revived in the 70s as a marketing attempt to popularize pitbulls.

      Pitbulls are not safe pets, let alone an appropriate family pet with small children around. It’s like keeping a tiger around your children — irresponsible and negligent. People like you are the reason why tons of people get killed by pitbulls each year around the world. Pit advocates really are the lowest scum on Earth, and you illustrate that perfectly.

    • Pitbulls suck

      Fuck you and pit bulls! How dare you come on here abs victim blame this child who was literally shredded in front of her family! Subhuman is what you are.

    • Pamela

      I wouldn’t even know where to begin with this posting, including the final “sorry for your loss.” Do you really believe these people are lying? That “messing” with a dog could be justification for a child’s death? Pits were never “nanny dogs” – look that up. Attacking children “not in their DNA?” They’ve killed several hundred children these last years, and left hundreds others disfigured and terrified. No, “any dog breed” could not kill your child; most are too small. These are irresponsible parents? How could you be….so….very…..dumb and desperate?

    • Newborn

      Whoa. I’d assume you do NOT have children. IF you do, or if you ever do have children in the future- I’d be terrified. Terrified that these words will come back to haunt you. You’d better get on your knees and ask the Good Lord to forgive you, and ask this poor heart broken mother to forgive you also. This is NOT her fault. And she did just what every other pit owner in America does. Allows her kids in the house with em!!!! Sounds like you are saying they could or would ever hurt anyone. Right? Well why did they then? The kid was in a separate room. So can’t blame the kid. And idc if she was pulling on one of em that’s not normal reactions. You can not say these dogs were bred to nanny children!! Lol that’s ridiculous! Google it. That is NOT why they were bred for fighting sports!!!! Google it! Sounds like you shouldn’t be allowed to be around any dogs at all lol I pray you never have to feel the sting of your own words coming back to bite you. I’ve had many pits and I’ve not had any issues with them attacking any of us BUT I kept mine outside and would have never allowed them around small children simply because I would probably not trust any dog around children that small. But it’s true that people like you are the very ones that convinced this poor family that it was 100% safe. They obviously do have something different than other breeds. Maybe just 1 in 100. But that’s enough. That’s enough to issue warnings especially about them being around small children. Probably need an E collar on all of em.

    • Terri

      Pitbulls are great dogs…until the moment they’re not. There is no warning. There may be no history of aggression. Yes, they can be triggered — by a cough, a child running, a baby crying, a sudden noise, or no reason at all. They were NOT bred as nanny dogs. That’s a myth. This was NOT an unattended child. These were NOT dogs that had been abused. Because there’s no way to predict when “that moment” might happen, laws put in place to ban them are required in order to protect people’s children, pets, neighbors, and community. One moment changes lives forever; there is nothing to fix afterward, no chance to try again. You can love them, but you can’t control them.

  • Nancy Endecott

    What a tragic, horrifying loss. I am a dog lover. I’ve owned Shar Pei for almost 30 years and I’m relieved to see the Shar Pei breed added to the list of potentially dangerous dogs. Whether my dogs were raised from pups or rescued as adults, believe me, the potential is there. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it (I’m not a breeder, for the record). I would never leave a small child alone with them. Admittedly, I have never seen any of them just randomly attack and I’ve never had any of them show aggression towards human but the dog-on-dog aggression I’ve seen with several of my Pei could be deadly if a child was the target. Most of my Pei over the years have shown zero aggression but the few that did show aggression had the potential to do serious damage. Don’t assume ANY dog is 100% safe. Be super careful when kids are around them.

    • HonestGenetics

      Genetics are real. Statistics are REAL. Saying that the mother is lying. Youre a sh*t person.

      Pit Bull lovers display a cult like mentality. They will argue that genetics have nothing to do with a PBT killing a family member… then in the next sentence…say that Chihuahuas are mean You moron. Do you see the contradiction here? You cant push aside the reality of genetics when defending the PBT ..but then scream that another breed is genetically prone to aggression. What stupid ppl in this world.

  • Susan

    This is a tragic story and an unimaginable loss for the family. Most reputable dog breeders will refuse to sell 2 same sex puppies from a litter together, because it is not uncommon for them to have behavior/fighting issues as they reach puberty. This article mentions that the 2 males who attacked the child were not neutered – this is a huge risk factor in a multi dog household. Statistics show that having 2 same sex unneutered dogs of any breed together greatly increases the risk of fighting between the dogs and redirected aggression to humans. Because Pits have such powerful bites it is even more important to spay and neuter.

  • Katrin

    It’s very sad ,but you are one in 1000 .They are sweet dogs .They get treated bad and have a bad rap.Something in him snapped .My little bug snappes too .Certain things NO dog likes and who knows what aggravation ( harmless) he was exposed to .It was his only way of saying “ I had enough” .when my little fellow growers at me , he is telling me to leave him alone .How would you like someone tapping you on the head constantly or bulling on your hair ext .You would snap too .Any big breed can become bad if aggravated .Not just pit bulls .So please don’t blame Tia.You also have to take some responsibility for your loss ,but I guess it helps the pain blaming her .That my thought

    • Jean L

      Sick to death of excuses for these killer dogs. They might be the sweetest dog in the world until suddenly they are a killer. My family is looking to adopt a dog and we visited the local dog pound yesterday. About 90% of the dogs in the pound were pits, brought back due to adjustment issues…. even at the pound, one of the pits lunged at my 10 year old granddaughter.

      I know a family that had an adorable pit from the time he was weaned. Cute dog and very friendly…until he mauled and killed another dog in the family. Thank goodness the family decided that the dog was too risky to have around their children and gave him up. There are too many of these stories and everyone always wants to blame the owners rather than the temperament of the breed.

    • Chuck

      Shame on you, you disgusting POS! Did you read what these dogs did to this little girl?! That’s not saying “Stop, I’m aggrivated”! The dogs intended to kil (and probably eat) nthe child and that is preciley what they did. Victim blaiming – you disgust me. i hope they KILL every last one of these viscious animals. They belong caged in zoos with lions and tigers!

    • KAREN H.

      You’re the mos ignorant person i have came across. You need to learn some sympathy and compassion. Those dogs are aggressive by GENETICS. Yes any dog can bite and become annoyed but it is no coincidence that it is always a breed with PIT that ends up KILLING family members. Any dog can be a sweet dog,maybe some pits too, but history has proven it they can and will turn on their owners/family/ children, tought to fight or raised as pups.I know that might be a HARD PILL TO SWALLOW for you, but don’t comment a a grieving mothers post to warn other people about this breed and defend the STUPID DOG.A** HOLE.

    • Adam

      You are goddamned fucking idiot. How fucking stupid do you have to be to not understand these animals are a threat to people, particularly children, beyond comparison to any other breed of dog.

    • Pit Nutters Disgust Me

      Her responsibility was in having one of these monsters to begin with. You’re too stupid to spell, you really shouldn’t be giving any advice.

  • Kal

    First of all I would like to say I am sorry for the loss of this little girl, however this story isn’t adding up to me. It starts with the husband called wanting to know why the dog was outside but then turns into a dog taking a child from an adults arms in a room inside to maul her. First how do you allow a dog to take a child from your arms without it coming after you too? Second why did the dog go for the 4 year old instead of the 2 year old? If the grandparents were there the whole time then why would the husband question the dog being outside? And my big issue with this story is of the dog went for the jugular and killed her instantly where she felt no pain then why “work” on her or fly her somewhere jusy to tell the parents she passed away? I think there are missing pieces that aren’t being shared for 1 and for another parts may have been exaggerated from grief. Again this is a tragedy but it doesn’t fully add up and furthermore tis Torres is not to blame and if you actually watch the show as much as you say then you’d see she helps pit bulls but she also makes it clear that not every pit is ideal, some are not good as pets and bad breeding can also cause issues with behavior.

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      You ever get one of those comments that are so insincere, so backwards, so appalling, so insensitive, you have to approve it?

      Congratulations, detective Kal.

    • J ELKINS

      ii feel so bad for you. . I pray your daughter doesnt have to learn how right you are..people just feel they can raise them with plenty of love and their pits would never harm them. Its in their DNA.

    • Brianna

      I’d like to comment on just one part of your idiotic “case” you had the lack of brains to write out here, from the perspective of a medical professional.

      The paramedics “worked” on her because they HAVE to. Until they have permission from a doctor to pronounce someone dead, all victims have to receive CPR/intubation/full measures to try to regain a heartbeat. Even when we know they’re long gone, we don’t have a choice in the matter.

      As an aside, why comment as if it’s suspicious WHICH child the dogs decided to kill? I suppose from the view of a pit bull nut such as yourself, the obvious choice is to go for the younger, “more tender snack”, huh? You realize of course that this is a DOG, working on genetic instincts, and it’s not like this dog thought about which kid would be more ideal to eat before it brainlessly mauled her. You’re a complete, heartless moron, and I hope for your sake you never have to experience the disgusting violence these dogs are capable of – though it seems it’s usually the only thing that opens a pit nut’s eyes.

    • Judith F

      There is no ‘locking’ mechanism in any breed of dogs jaw, it’s just that pitbulls have a very hard bite. Add the fact that they are grippers and maulers, humans just don’t stand a chance if attacked by 1 let alone 3… it IS the breed, they kill many people, every year

      • Pamela

        Pits hold on and shake….that’s what makes their bites so destructive. It is very difficult, though, to get their mouths open, so I guess you could call it “locking.”

  • Laura Encinias

    Hello,

    Words cannot express the sadness I feel for you and your family! May GOD Bless you and your family and heal your heart!
    I am also saddened by the thought of my beautiful daughter Ashley who has 3 pitbulls, 2 males and 1 female.
    She tells me they are her babies and she loves them and they love her. Ashley also tells me how her babies get into fights with each other and other dogs and how SHE jumps in the middle of them to try and break it up.
    Yes, this is true!
    I tell her these are animals they don’t care that your there to help them. They will chew you to bits and tear you apart. She is very stubborn and doesn’t listen, nobody can change her mind.
    I’m sending Ashley this story of your BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ANGLE KARA in hopes she will listen.

  • Kathy Claflin

    I remember when this happened, but I never knew all of the details until I read this article. Someone told me that these pit bulls weren’t neutered, is that true? This has got to be one of the most heart wrenching things that I have ever read. My heart hurts for this family, I pray they’ve found peace and I know that they’ll see their precious little girl in Heaven someday.

  • Lautelle Embry

    My heart goes out to you. It was so shocking I couldn’t take it all in. I watch Pit Bulls show in New Orleans and admire the work they do but would never have one. And would never get my face near any dog. I think they are all capable of snapping.
    I pray for peace of mind. You brought these dogs into your home never expecting this horrible attach to happen.
    Your little girl is in heaven, do not blame yourselves.God bless you all.

  • Kara

    I so sorry that this happened to your prescious daughter, Kara. I was fostering a dog once and was lied to about the weight and breed of dog it was. It turns out it was an eighty five pound pit bull. The dog went into the room my son was in and started growling and my 10 year old son unprovoked. I grabbed the dog by his collar and put him outside for the dog people to comeback and get him. The dog people said they just need time to adjust. No way I had them take the dog back.
    I know it was completely different for you guys though. You got them as puppies and wouldn’t ever think something like this could happen.

  • Ann L

    I just read about the tragic loss of Kara. I am so sorry. I agree that pit bulls are a dangerous breed. I believe their powerful jaws are unlike any other breed. Please continue to educate people on this dangerous breed.

  • Missy

    Blaming the owners and not the dog just shows the sick mentality of this generation. I wish all pit bulls were ground up for pig feed. If I see one I make an effort to speed up in hopes of running it over. Someone who believes that dogs have “human rights” is mentally ill. Don’t read these sickening savage posts. Please ignore them. I’m glad these devil dogs were put down I’d have dragged them by their jaws on a meat hook, on a chain behind my truck until their legs were broken and they were a mushy, disgusting bag of blood. A slow and painful death is what these beasts deserved.

    • Karen

      This is in reply to “Missy’s” post. Treating any animal in the manner in which you describe is considered animal cruelty and is not the answer to solving this problem. It is not the breed’s fault for they were created and bred by humans to be this way. There are certainly more humane alternatives than what you describe, which, in my opinion, sounds quite disturbing.

      • Vivian

        All sub-breeds under the pitbull umbrella should be sterilized (spayed/neutered) and left to age out and die out, provided they go their whole lives without attack anyone/anything. And let’s slap heavy fines and possible prison sentences to backyard breeders and make it a crime to breed pits. Let’s all make this breed extinct, as pits have no place in today’s civil society.

    • Brenda Williams

      So much anger and aggression in your words. As a clinical psychologist I can describe you as mentally ill. I agree with keeping dangerous breeds away from children. But the cruelty you speak of…. please get help, you need it.

  • Deidre

    I just came across this story & I am horrified that any family had to go through that. I am against Pit Bulls as pets. I don’t care if they’re the most loving dog in the world, it’s in their DNA to attack. I’m so sorry this happened to Kara & her family’s loss. I hope that others will read this and don’t let a pit bull near your family!!

  • Rebecca Saunders

    Gee, where are Chihuahuas, poodles, pomerainiens, skipperts, dachshunds shnauzers? They are viscious little nuggets when they want to be. Or only the big ones on your hit list. What a heater you are.

    • Catherine C McCarty

      I watched my grandmother grieve for her daughter. I cannot begin to imagine how much this woman is suffering, and yet you call her hateful. I’d look in the mirror if I were you.

      • Serena

        One of the most Horrific Heartbreaking things I have ever heard. What I don’t understand is how the dogs just attacked the little Angel by pulling her out of grandma’s arms. I can’t even see a Tiger, Lion, wolf, coyotes, etc even doing that. Especially no provoking, whatsoever Is very confusing to me. Yes Pitbulls “any dog” if trained to be attackers etc can attack but this just doesn’t seem right.
        I’ve raised so many dogs of Different breeds along with Pitbulls and 7 children and Never had any bad situation that put my children in harm. What happened to your Babygirl made me sick to my stomach and can’t imagine your pain. No matter how hard I try to picture dogs just running up to grandma holding that babygirl and Ripping her out of those arms, it’s something that makes absolutely No sense. Questionable..and Absolutely Not right to attack all pitbulls. It like saying every guy that is named Ted Is a Sick Murderer like Ted Bundy. Prays for the Family..and Prayers for all the Pitbulls that will never get homes or euthanized because of what happened to your Beautiful Angel. This is Sad all around.

  • liza

    I agree with this mom in her entirety. Had she of known about this breed she would of never put her precious daughter in jeopardy… Read the statistics ….. Do you ever watch Judge Judy…. they are a dangerous breed and should never, ever be around small children.

  • Cathy Rachel

    Has anyone ever figured out why this happens ? I read about these sad losses every year (at least 3 or 4) times a year or more. No none ever gives the public closure. Why a mild mannered loving dog would suddenly turn on a loved one. Have the autopsied these animals for a chivalry change in the brain or new trauma that wasn’t there before. It’s such a sad problem. I beg veterinarians or dog behavioral specialists come together to discover a cause for this. It would be a blessing to dog owners and the animals. The public is always left hanging. Dis the gy put the dogs down or what, they leave us hanging.

    • Catherine C McCarty

      I don’t know any details, but I read that they were bred centuries ago to be fighting dogs, and it’s now in their genetic makeup.

      • Not Buying it

        Catherine, that’s bs. They were originally bred to be nanny dogs. Protecting children and families. Only recently have they been bred for fighting. Pit bulls who have never been abused/neglected do not randomly attack kids they were raised with. Period. So either she’s lying about how they raised those dogs or she’s lying about what was happening during the attack. Considering she doesn’t know much about the breed it probably wasn’t properly trained to begin with. And knowing kids, her child may have even been pulling it’s tail or ears or jumping on it. And the abused pit bulls who DO attack, go for the smaller, easier prey. Meaning it would have been the 2 year old who was, apparently, right there. Not the 4 year old. This story doesn’t add up at all. And spreading false info, like how they were bred to fight, is abusive and damaging. Kind of like this story.

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          “PIT BULLS USED TO BE NANNY DOGS”

          The Myth:
          To explain vintage black and white photographs that depicted children and pit bulls together, a story was created that back in the Victorian age the pit bull was the “nanny dog”. These so-called nanny dogs were said to be so good with children parents relied on them to babysit and protect them.

          The Reality:
          One fighting breed advocate created this “legend” in 1971 to distance her breed from its fighting origins. This mention was picked up by a newspaper in 1987 and has since been promoted as historical “fact.”

          At no point in history were pit bulls ever “nanny dogs”. There has not been any proof ever given to make this myth a reality. The pit bull advocacy group “BADRAP” (Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls) recently admitted that pit bulls were never nanny dogs and that this myth was dangerous to children. The retraction of the “nanny dog myth” has been highly publicized. Despite the retraction, the myth has lived on and pit bull advocates still repeat it regularly

          “Did you know that there was never such thing as a ‘Nanny’s Dog’? This term was a recent invention created to describe the myriad of vintage photos of children enjoying their family pit bulls (click this link for details about vintage photos). While the intention behind the term was innocent, using it may mislead parents into being careless with their children around their family dog – A recipe for dog bites!”

          Read more pit bull myths: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/canine-myths-2/

        • Chuck

          A myth indeed – one which has been debunked.

          “Today’s pit bull is a descendant of the original English bull-baiting dog—a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. When baiting large animals was outlawed in the 1800s, people turned instead to fighting their dogs against each other.”

          They are part of the Molloser dog family and were used in the colloseums many, many years ago to fight lions, tigers, elephants . . .! The pitbull family is a very dangerous animal! Pitbull apologists are placing countless people in serious danger. May this family’s loss of dear Kara bring about the opportunity for people to learn the truth. Her four short years can be of great service to the world. . . rest in peace dear child.

  • Tara

    You need to add Poodles, Chihuahuas, Pomeranian, dachshunds, Pugs, and every breed of cat there is how dare you blame Tia and her business for your very horrific and truly unfortunate accident I am very sorry for your loss but to prosecute one person is not right. I hope to god you didnt just follow a tv show thats only on an 1 or 2 a week and not back it up with way more investigation did you get an adult dog or a puppy. a lot of big breeds get a bad rap because they are just that big dogs you never hear about the mass crime ring of poodle fighting because idiot animal owners use the bigger breeds but I will tell you that horrible horrible things happen with smaller breed dogs as well and have dealt with it first hand but you will never hear about it especially in the media its is not the breeds that are the problem its people whether care of the animals or lack there of training or bad breeding from horrble breeders. Do your homework and if you are jumping to say you did or have do it again if you are going to be an owner of a large breed dog be smart all animals can be unpredictable somewhat don’t be stupid and for God sakes spay and neuter please

    • Karen

      How ignorant can you be? Yes, all dogs bite but they do not have the massive jaws or strength that pit bulls do. These dogs were purposely created and cross bred many years ago to be more muscular and agile for the sole purpose of killing other animals. Try doing YOUR homework and read about the history of these dogs!

    • Donna Marie Valentine

      Well I would just add that I don’t recall any pure bred Labrador Retrievers biting, attacking and mauling children. It is one thing to be an adult and care for Pit Bulls, but it is another thing to deny the existence of statistics on the breed and dismiss the attacks on people, including children. I love animals. I love all dogs, but there is a reason I chose to have pure bred Labrador Retrievers in which I checked out the breeder, parents, and health histories before bringing them home to be with my children. People need to place the safety and well being of their children above defending this breed of dog.

  • Claudette

    The African Basenji is also an aggressive breed – one bit my friend as we were riding our bikes when we were young.
    My heart goes out to the family that lost Kara – it’s a shame that pit-bulls are allowed to be adopted as pets.

  • Susan

    This is a tragic situation and nothing will bring this little girl back but those out there with Pit Bulls can learn from it. 2 Unaltered male Pit Bulls should never be kept in the same household. Neutering does not guarantee that an incident will never occur, but it greatly reduces the probability of one. Spay and Neuter your dogs. There are already more than enough Pit Bulls out there.

  • A real dog owner

    SO many people here are trying to defend this shitty animal and place the blame on everything but the dog. Well let me tell you something people ALL PITS SHOULD BE CULLED, you dont hear about these accidents with other breeds and if you do it is RARE, its ALWAYS a Shitbull. Why even take the risk to one of these ticking time bombs?

    Do you self a favor and have your pitt euthanized if you have one, you may be saving more life than one.

    HES JUST A CUTE PITBULL HE DINDU NUFFIN IT WAS DA OWNERS!@!!!11

    Also, I know this my opinion, but they look like shit too, always brown shit stained, get a decent looking dog people, one that doesnt have a raised statistic for human attacks.

    please, fuck off.

  • Joy

    First of all I am so sorry for your los. I cannot imagine the grief your family has suffered. My husband has a family member that raised a Pit from a pup and treated the dog like family. The Pit never showed any aggression. One day it turned and killed their infant daughter. Recently a stray Pit attacked and almost killed an elderly friend of mine. He lost fingers and a leg. I am not against Pit Bulls as any dog can be aggressive. I have a female Doxie that is very protective and can be aggressive. The difference is that Pit Bull’s are very strong dogs. If I had small children I would not own one but that is my opinion. Any dog is capable of being aggressive especially with children. I do not have all the answers but your story needs to be a cautionary tale if anyone has children.

  • LM Stephenson

    I too have suffered the loss of a child (although not to a dog attack or at the hands of another’s neglegence). But I cannot imagine blaming an innocent woman nor an entire race of beings for the loss of my child. Your ignorance means that so many people will simply dismiss you or worse, feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for you. I hope you seek professional help and learn to place blame appropriately in the future.

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      “By listing similar recent attacks in my earlier piece, I was labeled a racist by people who think that you cannot “slander” an entire breed based on “isolated incidents.” But isn’t it racist to think that certain people (blacks, Asians, and Muslims were the groups that had the dubious honor of being defended) are analogous to dog breeds? The number of races in the world is a controversial subject, but however anthropologists divvy up Homo sapiens, no group aggregates traits that make it more or less fit for a certain kind of employment, or more or less fit to be around other living creatures, than any other race. Meanwhile, the various dog breeds owe their very existence to man’s desire to, for example, hunt, herd, travel by sled, have companionship, live without rats, impress the ladies, and watch dog fights. If we couldn’t generalize about dog breeds, there wouldn’t be any. Why is this even an issue? We generalize about the African lion and, based on our shared perceptions of its habits, have banned its ownership in all but a few special circumstances. Cats are legal as pets, lions are not because a lion, by the standards of civilized society, is a cat taken to ridiculously dangerous extremes.”

      Read full article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/03/28/pit-bull-owners-attack-too.html

      —————-

      ACKNOWLEDGING NEGATIVE TRAITS IN A BREED IS “RACISM”

      In recent years the term breed “racism” had emerged when addressing breed related issues and regulations. The concept is if you support dog breed regulations or acknowledge negative breed specific traits it is equivalent to the human form of racism. The error in the concept is that humans and dogs are very different creatures. Dog breeds exist because they are specifically designed for a purpose. Dogs are selectively bred for physical and breed trait aspects. Humans do not reproduce in that manner. Humans are not selectively bred and have a choice in their mate. To make this concept equivalent, humans would have to be purposely bred for certain physical or personality traits over the course of hundreds of years. It has not been determined that selectively breeding humans would actually work since there has not been any official scientific studies conducted. The closest humanity came to selective breeding was the concept of Eugenics, which was trying to breed out negative physical traits, such as mental illness, and breed in positive traits, such as a high I.Q. The concept has been abandoned by most cultures due to the difficulty of selective breeding due to the high incidence of unplanned pregnancies. Dogs have been selectively bred for many generations with great success. Since racism in the human culture is based solely on the color of one’s skin, hence the “race” in racism, and not personality traits, it does not accurately compare to dog breeding. To accurately compare, one would have to judge a dog based solely on fur color. Most breeds are judged on physical and personality related breed traits, so the term breed “racism” is not equivalent to human forms of racism. It is surprising that more people are not offended by this comparison. Comparing breed struggles to the Civil Rights movement seems a little extreme and minimalizes the struggles of certain races in history. The comparison of dog breeds and racism has no basis.

      —————-

      Great article I think you’ll like:

      “Millan has probably done more to spread the canard of pit bull trustworthiness as a pet than any other single person. Pit bulls and other genetically-related fighting dogs are high-risk animals, demonstrably – the statistics on these animals are insurmountably inculpatory – not trustworthy, neither with other animals nor with people. That is undoubtedly the reason Millan did not bring Junior along for the show. He undoubtedly did not want the bother of keeping Junior isolated from the other dogs and monitoring his behaviour every second that he was in contact with people. Pit bulls are bred for impulsive aggression, and it is as natural for them to attack other dogs as it is for greyhounds to run after rabbits on a track.

      But Millan’s fetish for fighting dogs has him bruiting the same reflexive, but illogical nonsense that all pit bull advocates spout. Millan says that bans of pit bulls are “prejudicial” and miss the point: “It’s just like an anti-Mexican or an anti-gay law.”

      No, Cesar, it isn’t. Let me explain. Mexicans and gay people are not born in kennels as part of a litter. Their parents were not selected by a “breeder” to produce them because they were fine examples of a certain physical conformation and certain temperament. It was not predictable when you were born that you, for example, would be a dog whisperer or that a gay person would be gay.

      Stay with me here, Cesar. When you breed a greyhound to a greyhound, you will get a litter of dogs that are “fast” when they run. When you breed a border collie to a border collie, you will get a dog that has a “herding” instinct. Still with me? Now we’re going to breed a “fighting dog” to another “fighting dog” and you know what we’re going to get? Yes! A “fighting dog.”

      What do we mean by that? Well Cesar, you yourself know what the traits of a fighting dog are. I quote you: “Yeah, but this is a different breed…the power that comes behind the bull dog, pit bull, presa canario, the fighting breed – They have an extra boost, they can go into a zone, they don’t feel the pain anymore. … So if you are trying to create submission in a fighting breed, it’s not going to happen. They would rather die than surrender. If you add pain, it only infuriates them…to them pain is that adrenaline rush, they are looking forward to that, they are addicted to it… That’s why they are such great fighters.” You go on to say: “Especially with fighting breeds, you’re going to have these explosions over and over because there’s no limits in their brain.” Wow, is that what you want in a pet? A dog that has “explosions over and over” in its brain?

      Please, let us do away with this language of “prejudice” and “discrimination” and “stereotype” when we speak of dog breeds. The whole point of breeding animals is to “discriminate” and to create “stereotypes.” Pit bulls were created by human beings to be fighting machines. They are individuals in their various personalities, but in their “instincts,” they are what they were bred to do. And what pit bulls were bred to do is to attack and hang on like grim death.

      Dog breeds are human inventions, not a species. Dogs are consumer items, not human beings that can feel bad when they are banned. The name of Millan’s show is ironic. If you really “trust your instincts” with a bit of intelligent research backing them up, you will realize that Cesar Millan is defending the indefensible. If you can only love a pit bull, you’re no dog lover.”

      http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/11/28/barbara-kay-cesar-the-dog-whisperer-should-whisper-the-truth/

      “Having been raised in the segregated South and knowing what racism is, it is ridiculous to me to read the word applied to animals. I am a human being; so are minorities, and so are those children who are now in the grave.

      I am highly insulted and dismayed also that freedom of speech does not apply in the “Alice in Wonderland” world of pit bull advocacy.”

      VICKY G. GOAD

      Read more: http://m.roanoke.com/opinion/goad-pit-bull-defenders-try-to-squelch-warnings/article_490e6e5c-bab3-558a-bd50-ae8a010b29d0.html?mode=jqm

      ———–

      Pit bulls do not discriminate and we can’t address this safety problem if the media paints a false reality.

      The fact is black people own pit bulls and black people are killed by pit bulls and white people own pit bulls and white people are killed by pit bulls, too. Equal application of criminal charges is warranted, too.

      Read more: http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/12/14/pit-bull-attacks-racial-issue/77275196/

      ———

      How Pro-Pitbull Crusades Harm Workers — and Dogs

      by LEE HALL

      “But I also know that dog breeds have been introduced into the stream of commerce one by one. Each year, Madison Square Garden hosts the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — a showroom floor for breeds, including new models. (This year, the two “newly recognized” breeds are the Coton de Tulears and the Wirehaired Vizslas.) And if dog breeds have come into existence one by one, then breed-specific legislation to phase them out isn’t an outrageous concept. If we would stop the breeding, wouldn’t the starting point involve animals subject to physical extremes or unremitting abuse, including pit bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios, wolf hybrids and other dogs often selected because of their rough reputations?

      What is outrageous? Likening breed-specific policies to racial profiling, or to a “violation of our rights as stated in the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution.”

      Read more: http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/17/how-pro-pitbull-crusades-harm-workers-and-dogs/

      • Tracy Stout

        Finally, a comment from and intelligent, well-informed individual who also possesses common sense. Thank you! I cannot understand how anyone can deny that a breed of dog is inclined to do what it was bred to do. Any breed. It’s lunacy to think otherwise. Ratters will rat. Herders will herd. Protectors will protect. I rescued a 4 yr old male Doberman a few years ago. He was the first and only Doberman I ever owned. He was impulsive, protective and he stuck to me like glue. He would walk so closely to me, that I actually developed hip problems due to me subconsciously changing my gait just to avoid tripping on him. He was only maybe 6 in. from my thigh at all times. Didn’t matter where I went. If I went to the bathroom, if I went to change the thermostat setting, every single time I stood up this dog jumped up like a cannon and stuck to me like glue the entire time I was up doing anything. Also he did not like to be outside alone or alone ever, actually. I have owned a lot of German Shepherds and they’ll lay outside and just survey the neighborhood all day. Not this dog. He wanted to just cling to me like glue. LOL. It was extreme. Developing chronic hip problems from subconsciously shuffling my feet to avoid tripping on a dog who is walking 6 inches from my side, is something I would have never predicted in my life was even possible. I knew what Dobermans were bred for but to actually see them in action was quite extraordinary.
        They were bred to be personal protection dogs. Now German Shepherds are also very protective but in a different way because they are herders. My Dobe’s motto was protect now, ask questions later. He was an absolute sweetheart and a complete goofball and stunning and beautiful and elegant and graceful. But I never left a child alone in a room with him. My kids were older teenagers and they tried to wrestle with each other once and my Doberman put a stop to it immediately. I told them they cannot do that around this dog. They were bred to protect people and they don’t like any funny business going on. It’s just a reality and it’s completely ridiculous, dangerous and ignorant to deny the fact that every breed of dog possesses the traits it was bred for. It’s common sense.

    • TheVoice

      Shut up and stop being insensitive. You want to state the fact that you suffered a loss of a child makes your statement hold weight. Kara was violently killed and went through a painful ending. Who tf are you to even say anything. Just shut up.

  • Christy scott

    This makes me very VERY sad. First, I am sad you had to loose a child, and are left with another who is scarred by the trauma of seeing her sister killed so horribly. I cannot begin to fathom the pain and hurt you must feel, so I won’t offer any platitudes as they rarely make anyone feel comfort in a time of loss.
    Second, I am sorry that you blame Tia, sorry that you have such venom in your heart for ANY person or specificity to a class of dog because of a personal experience. I think any person who is faced with a tradgedy of the gravity you have naturally will lash out in anger, trying so much to lash anger and hatred, a mere drop of what you are feeling. But alas this is not a salve to your wounds, it will not bring your little girl back and will NEVER make your hurt anything but worse.
    We never know why we have to walk through heartache in this life, why we must feel pain and anguish. But it is all part of this thing called life, choosing to accept and feel our heartbreak is the most difficult part of healing. Choosing to love others in spite of our pain is harder yet.
    Tia is a good person without malicious intent, I believe you know that deep down. She is not clairvoyant not omnipotent and she is completely human. Although I have never had the privledge to meet her, or you, my sincere hope is that you find it in your heart to love beyond the scope of your hurt, and know that there was no way for anyone to be able to predict what would happen to your child. Much like parents who loose children to kidnappings or worse, sometimes bad things happen to good people, and the GOOD people must remain the MAJORITY. I know you are good, I know you must be kind. Please be an example of love and forgiveness, not for Tia, she’s done nothing wrong, but forgiving the dog for that other little girls sake. Loosing a sister would not compare to the hurt that could come from seeing her mother forever changed into someone she is not.
    Love, peace, and blessings
    Christy

    • Nightauel

      As roughly as it was written, you have the best message I’ve seen on this topic. Well said, Christy. I hope you are pursuing a career in the ministry or the the healing arts. The most obvious problems with your post could be corrected if you wrote your replies in a Word program, made the suggested changes then copied and pasted. You’ve got a great message; get it out greatly.

  • Sharon Johnson

    You’re husband wanted to know why Brutus was outside. There’s your clue lady. Grandparents were NOT watching the children and probably did something to the dog. Sue them.

    • Anion

      The dog was outside because it had attacked Kara, dumbass, and the police etc. put it out–or ther grandma got it outside before they arrived. How the hell such an obvious explanation never occurred to any of you moronic pit nutters shouldn’t surprise me, but it does.

  • Renan

    A development I’ve seen among my friends is the habit of infantilizing little dogs or coddling terrier and pit breeds in an effort “to prove” to others that all a dog needs is “love” to overcome its drives. Not wise. This sets a dog up to be euthanized and endangers others.

    This whole topic makes me so sad. I can’t imagine how these parents must feel…but the betrayal and the sense of loss must be overwhelming at times.

  • Cyd

    You know, it’s somewhat possible that there was an accident there at the house and the little girl was killed and the dog was blamed. Of course he would go to her, lick the bleeding etc. It is not as uncommon as you would think. Just a theory folks, don’t get all bent out of shape.

    • Lori

      This is what the mother stated as to her daughter’s condition. “My daughter had been brutally and viciously mauled to death, she died from massive blood loss , her arms, legs, skull, face, and major arteries savagely damaged. the coroner said she didn’t feel the pain as they went straight for the jugular and continued to shred until she was lifeless and unrecognizable”. How, in any way shape or form, do you conclude that this was “maybe” an accident?

    • TheVoice

      That could be the dumbest comment ever. If you’re not going to bother reading the article, please do everyone a favor and don’t comment. Idiot.

  • Luu

    A poodle could have gone that. I’m sorry your daughter died and I understand your anger- it is misplaced in thinking it’s all “pits”, it’s not fair, just like it wasn’t fair you lost your baby so soon.

    • Sally

      Are you kidding me!!!????? “A poodle could have done that.”!!!!???? Do you not understand the difference between the breeds? Try taking a look at the way their jaws work – a poodle that attacks someone doesn’t have the jaw strength to latch on and shred a body part, locking their jaws in a death grip! good grief what a bunch of idiots!

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          Characteristics Of The Pit Bull Breed

          “Mythically, these dogs have been ascribed with supernormal strength and bite force and with “locking jaws,” which are claimed to be responsible for the devastating injuries that the dogs can produce. Although it is clear that this breed of dog is muscular, strong, and tenacious, there is no evidence for the extreme bite force often reported in the applicable literature. The results of osteological studies of skull and jaw morphology suggest that, as the mass of the dog increases, small differences in mechanics due to skull morphology may produce a theoretical bite force advantage. Dr. Brady Barr of the National Geographic Society tested the bite strength of live animals. The bite force of the Rottweiler was 328 psi, that of the German Shepherd Dog was 238 psi, and that of the pit bull was 235 psi. In comparison, the bite force of a gray wolf is more than 400 psi whereas that of a lion is 600 psi. Therefore, it is not the biting force of pit bulls that is responsible for the damage they inflict. With regard to the locking-jaw theory, although pit bulls are bred to not let go, there is no such thing as a locking jaw mechanism in pit
          bulls or in any other canine.”

          Read more from this peer reviewed study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51034290_Mortality_Mauling_and_Maiming_by_Vicious_Dogs

          ———-

          “The attack pattern of pit bulls is different from that of other dogs. With other dogs, children are usually at highest risk of being bitten. In contrast, pit bulls seem to attack adults almost as frequently as they attack children. Pit bulls not only are notorious for their indiscriminate attack pattern but also are well known for the tenacity with which they continue with an attack. The case fatality reported above involved an infant that was mauled by 2 pit bulls. These dogs had previously bitten an 8-year-old relative in the face. When the dog’s owner attempted to stop the attack on the infant by stabbing the dogs with a knife, she became a victim herself, and police officers had to shoot (kill) the dogs at the scene. It is not uncommon to hear of witnessed attacks in which the pit bulls could not be stopped from attacking.

          The inbred tenacity of pit bulls, the unrelenting manner in which they initiate and continue their attacks, and the damage they cause are the result of both genetics and environment. Therefore, this breed of dog is inherently dangerous. As stated by 1 author, “Temperament is not the issue, nor is it even relevant. What is relevant is actuarial risk. If almost any other dog has a bad moment, someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a Pit Bull Terrier or a Rottweiler has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed, and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs and their victims are paying the price.”

          Read more from this peer reviewed study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51034290_Mortality_Mauling_and_Maiming_by_Vicious_Dogs

    • Jessica

      No a poodle would not do this. A poodle would bite and release. The pitbull has been bred to bite, hold and shake. Additionally they go for the neck (jugular) for optimal damage. It is important to know that other breeds bite and release. That’s why the wounds they inflict usually do not cause death or severe mauling.

  • Cara

    It is sad that some people who comment target one breed. My brother was attacked by a boxer, my daughter was attacked by my sister’s Labrador Retriever. Another person in our community had their 13 month old attacked by their Lhaso Also and will forever have deformities. Any dog or any animal for that matter, can snap and attack. And then you put an article where someone is blaming and ripping apart another person who has a show on tv. How is that right? You have this wonderful introduction to the purpose of your organization which threatens to expose anyone who emails or posts something inappropriate yet you allow this story on your page that says put bulls are killing in masses and again blames a person who has a tv show doing something she believes in. As human beings why would you do that to someone or allow that kind of ignorance on your site that is intended to educate people? Not sure about most people but I was raised to be accountable for my decisions, actions and behavior. Our society is dividrd enough and then you promote blame, hate and ignorance. We could always go by statistics and media portrayals when it comes to men who abduct, abuse and then kill children because the profile of these men is pretty damn accurate. We could then ban these men from society. But that would target an awful lot of white males, who knows which ones will snap or not. The answer is no one. To me what another human may do to child is horrifying, I work with the families of these children, it’s horrific. But how do we prevent it, how do we help these families to move forward, how how how? I respect the purpose of the site but it seems to be more than just educating, it is hate, targeting, blaming, disrespect and the list could go on. It’s to bad no one cares to respect those who choose to have a put bull and those who choose not to.

    • Donna Marie

      I would be very interested to know if your sister’s labrador retriever is a pure bred lab? What were the circumstances around the lab attacking her? I am so sorry that your daughter had this experience and hope that she is okay. I have not come across stories of pure bred labrador retrievers attacking or biting children (unless there was some extreme abuse and it was defensive in nature). This is the reason why I would only have pure bred labradors (where I went to see the personalities of the parents and checked the papers on breed specific issues, like hip dysplasia, eye issues, epilepsy, etc.). I have a son with autism and wanted to make sure I had dogs that would never harm my children or any of their friends and they haven’t. They are the best breed of dog with children. I would NEVER have a pitt bull with my children! Why would anyone with a child ever take the risk. My heart and soul aches for this mother and her family. I cannot begin to imagine the severity of the pain and life altering tragedy they have to endure. I pray that with love, support and God they can heal. The poor grandmother and other sister, dear God. Labradors are not bred to be aggressive or watch dogs; however, our yellow lab that passed 2 months ago and my heart still aches for her, was very protective. She would have died trying to protect that little girl. They need to stop allowing people to buy Pitt Bulls when they have children. I will pray for this family.

      • Chuck

        Ironically, I have seen countless dogs is countless shelters being offered for adoption, being advertised as Labarador retrievers – when in fact they were pitbulls. Lots of pitbull apologists have started a campaign to compare the behavior of LT to pitbulls – it is totall BS.
        The fact of the matter ism pitbulls make up 1% of the US dog population and are responsible for about 70% of bites and attacks. Two people a week are attacked by a PB. One person dies every month in a PB attack. No one should have these animals.

      • Staska

        Donna, I agree. I foster for a lab rescue group. Like many groups, being a purebred is not necessary, the dog just needs to be mostly lab (ie they don’t really look like a mix). We fostered a young pup that was unusually rough and bit the kids constantly, so we passed him to another foster. Now, getting to the point- this pup looked like he did have some pit in him. BUT- he will be labeled and considered a lab. This is the norm. So when I hear these stories about lab-mixes attacking, you can bet your life that they are lab-pit mixes. People just love to drop that second breed off the title to hide the true makeup of the dog.

        • Donna Marie Valentine

          Thank you for sharing that information. Not only is that lie causing a serious danger to a family that adopts the dog thinking it is a “lab,” but if and when something goes wrong they are falsely then attributing that harm to the breed of “Labrador retrievers.” Like anything in life you need all the correct information to have a clear picture. It is not enough to just say it is a “Labrador,” but is it a “pure-bred” Labrador bred by a “reputable” breeder, etc. We are the humans and adults and we are supposed to do the very best we can to keep our children safe. If you are an adult and wish to care for Pitt Bulls that is your choice, but when you have the responsibility of keeping your children safe then you should really take that serious. I have “rescued” cats to do my part, but I would never get a dog from the pound with my 3 children who were young and my son is on the autistic spectrum with adhd. Not fair to the dog, but especially not acceptable for the safety and well fare of my children. I will gladly deal with pure bred Labradors that eat our garbage and make a mess, that steal your food, that may knock you down because they are so happy and excited to see you, but will never ever bite or harm you!! I have had 4 pure bred Labrador Retrievers, 3 black, 1 yellow and never once did they nip, bite etc.

  • Mel

    Roxanne I am a sorry for your loss but you are a despicable human for wanting to destroy an whole blood line of dogs. People like you disgust me. You did something wrong… possibly leaving a 4 year old child unattended with ANY ANIMAL is wrong and unsafe. I am sick of people discriminating against this breed. Let’s uthanize black people because they killed the most people in the month of September??? Really! How insane does that sound. These are living blood flowing heart beating animals. We need to look at the owners. Why was this little girl left with a dog alone long enough to take her life.. let’s look at who was caring for her. If someone keeps punching me in the back of the head or pulling my hair(tail) I’m most likely going to retaliate at some point. Do you agree? You can only take so much before you attack back! “

    • Betsy Davis

      She never said other dogs don’t bite but Pits do not let go and will continue to attack. I have had large dogs all my life and I have most certainly left my children and other children alone with them at 4 years of age. If you can’t trust a dog to be alone with a 4 year old that knows not to be mean then maybe it is a dangerous animal. This woman lost a daughter to a family well behaved dog and you call her despicable you are a very cold hateful human and I am so glad I don’t know you. I love animals but not over my fellow humans.

    • Liliana

      Did you even read the story?? The girl WAS NOT left alone… the dogs came and took her from the grandma’s arms… you sound like a lunatic comparing dogs with humans…. dogs do not have reasonign and fallow their instincts… also this mother is NOT trying ro “destroy” a race but to simple warn people about raising this type of breeda along with raising small children.. why?? Becuase eventho ANY animal can snap and attack the demage sone but this specific breed will be a lot more than most of the dogs becuase they are pure muscle..if you read into the pitbulls breed history, you will know that they were created for attacking and as guardians dogs… so yes they indeed are very dangerous dogs…

      • Donna Marie

        Ms. Jennifer

        I am sorry to say, but that is exactly what the mom in the article said about their pitt bulls didn’t she – until they attacked and brutally mauled her little 4 year old to death! Why would you risk the life of your beautiful children? I will stick with my pure bred labradors knowing they will never hurt my children or their friends!

  • Barbara E. Fortini

    Ms. Hartrich:

    You relay a completely isolated and unusual circumstance concerning your own outtbull.

    Pit bulls as a usual rule of thumb are sweet and affectionate and do not attack anyone.

    The fact that you are blaming Tia Torres is relinquishing your own guilt for not being responsible for your own daughter.

    I feel for your loss, indeed! But shame on you for lashing out and trying to impugn M. Torres’ reputation and all the good she does. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!

    • Jessica

      The fact that any dog would find a 4 year old a big enough threat to bite, let alone maul and kill is shocking. Year after year these dogs have been guilty of killing children. What threat is a 4 year old? What made this dog snap? There is no reason for a dog to consider a tiny little girl a big enough threat to kill her. EVEN one attack like this is shocking and unforgiveable. The fact that it will continue to happen year after year….???? As a civilized society we have soul searching to do.

  • Caroline

    YOU ARE A DUMB ASS & have no reason to blame
    TIA TORRES, don’t blame others for you and or you babysitters mistake. I am sorry that happened and wish that on nobody, but DO NOT blame others for this. You have no idea what you’re talking about, that dog is probably smarter than you, and clearly you should never have been a dog
    Owner from the beginning

  • Daffeny

    What a horrible devastating situation.I am not a dog owner nor a dog lover,because of fear.I feel that any dog is capable of attacking but definitely pit bulls.Pit bulls and parolees is one of my favorite shows because I love the thought of second chances.I am so sorry for your loss and couldn’t imagine your life after this tragedy.I agree that these and some other breeds should not be around children,it is their nature to attack,very unpredictable.My heart goes out to Tia because she tries to do the right things,Doing what’s humanely possible to give second chances.Such an unfortunate tragedy.

  • Lorraine Jones

    I’m sorry Kara was killed. I do not believe the grandmother was holding her at the time. The dogs could’ve been going after the grandmother for yelling at or hitting Kara but didn’t realize it was Kara until it was too late. No one knows what were in those dogs minds. They could’ve even confused the grandmother playing with Kara as aggression to Kara and got Kara mistakenly. Male dogs look upon female humans as “sexual partners” and female dogs look at male humans as “sexual partners”. The males could’ve been jealous of the grandmother paying their mate too much attention and wanted to stop it but it went too far.

    I used to own a half Chow half Shiba Inu. The Chow in her made itself well known. She was mean, brutal, bit us, attacked us, intimidated us and was just plain aggressive to everyone. I got her at 7 weeks old and I was never mean to her but she was mean as hornets. She’s bitten several people. Everyone was afraid of her. I put up with that for 11 years until she attacked me last July 4 and she was down July 7.

    I have had several pit bulls that neighbors have owned in my life. I took care of one for a friend for 6 months. All that dog wanted to do was smother me with his tongue, pin me down to lay on me and lay underneath my blankets. Not one aggressive act of any kind. He listened very well. My Chow used to look at me as if to say “Screw you. I will attack you. You know that.” Not this pit. He would listen no matter what. I will NEVER own a Chow again. Give me 5 pit bulls over a Chow any day. I have a Lhasa Apso and he put that pit bull in his place and I’m not kidding. Luciano, the pit bull was afraid of my Fitz, a Lhasa Apso. Fitz bit him several times because Luciano wouldn’t leave him alone so he got bit. After 5 or 6 times Luciano stopped.

    Something/someone set those dogs off. There had to be a change of vibe in that room the dogs did not like. Dogs hear very well. Something the grandmother did caused this, not Tia Torres. None of the pit bulls in her care bit them. If they had they would’ve had to put it down. You can’t tell me that for 9 years none of Tia’s dogs bit anyone but these three dogs attacked Kara for no reason. My daughter had a small child and owned two pit bulls. They never attacked my grandson.

    I have to admit I will never own a pit bull. You just never know with them. I’m happy with my Lhasa Apso that I rescued from our local shelter 3 years ago. Nobody wanted him because he has a Grade 4 heart murmur. I took him without a second thought. His heart murmur doesn’t bother me. I have a heart murmur too. And my Grand Champion American Cocker Spaniel. My dream dog is an English Springer Spaniel. I’ll own one some day.

    Pit bulls require a LOT of training, exercise, mental stimulation and need to be kept busy all day. These dogs are not cute little lap dogs. People that have a lot of time, patience, training experience and are willing to spend hours and hours a day with the dog should own them. People with kids or sedentary lifestyles should not.

    • Laura Reeves

      I don’t get it. So you are saying if you have a pit – don’t make any unnecessary noises, don’t scream or play loudly, etc. And something “must have set them off” – so….I am astonished. Yes, something set them off. They are capable of tearing a human to shreds and being loud or laughing or rough housing with kids is normal behavior and should not warrant being torn apart by the family pet.

  • Chad Rubinson

    Wow, ignorance is definitely not bliss, and as a general rule pit ill owners are ignorant, self righteous morons, who lack the intelligence and foresight to own this breed. And guess what people, I own a pit mix. Pit bulls have an instinctual tendency to fight. Labradors have an instinct to retrieve, dachshunds to hunt rodents, etc. This is due to the very basic fact that this breed was literally created by man to fight other dogs, and other animals. This instinct will always remain in the breed. That does not mean that all pit bulls are evil, or overtly aggressive, but it does mean that all pit bulls could react to environmental stimulus in a much more aggressive way of their instinctual fighting behavior is triggered. Therefore it is possible that these dogs could have been triggered by this poor little girl without her intentionally doing anything to provoke them. That is why when owning this breed it is one hundred percent imperatif that the owner is one hundred percent responsible in ensuring that this breed could not hurt or kill other dogs, or especially humans. Some examples of this would be ensuring that the dog has had professional obedience, and is crated when left alone with children. I obtained my pit mix when I found her as a stray. She is super sweet to my family, and all kids that she comes into contact with. That being said, I would never leave her unsupervised with children, the elderly, or anyone other than myself. A pit bull or pit mix could have a very high quality of life while also being closely monitored by responsible owners. The pit bull owners who constantly advocate for the breed, and become defensive or insulting when the subject of pit bull violence comes up are the single biggest disservice to any bully breed. I pray that this family finds peace, and condemn anyone that insults them based on their opinion after the most tramatic event that could happen to a parent.

    • Cyd

      Chad, you are fairly well informed on pits but not completely. Firstly there is no such thing as a “pit bull”, that name was given to these mixed breed dogs when they were put in literal pits to fight. That’s a fact. Secondly, they do NOT naturally fight. It is not something in their genes. These dogs are at the top of the list for pleasing their pack leader. (YOU) They will do just what you tell them to do. They will behave the way you train them to behave. Don’t yours? Mine do. My 80 lber will see the dummy who’s dog is off the leash and barking at her , start to pull and try to check out the situation and I tell her NO and guess what, she stops. she will “move on” if I tell her to. You get the point. The people that train them to fight, totally abuse them. Kick them. I live in a bad area and have seen people making them do things to become mean.

      Where you are very informed is crate training.. very important even if there are no children. They need a safe place if someone or something is irritating them.

      There is always a trigger and I am not an “ignorant pit owner”. As in one of the statements, the dog could have thought she was being harmed in play, even by her little sister!

      • Daxtons Friends Post author

        The ‘bull and terrier’ type was originally developed in England in the early 19th century. The lineage goes back to the mastiff / molosser types, including what we now call the Olde English Bulldogge, that were used for bear-, bull- and horse-baiting from the 12th through the 18th century. This isn’t the bear-baiting we think of today, when hunters feed bears in order to bring them out in the open to shoot them. Rather, the bear, bull or horse was confined in a public arena where the mastiff ‘bulldogs’ would slowly tear them apart alive for the public’s amusement1,2,3,4,5.

        The popularity of this ‘sport’ declined as education became more emphasized in urban society of the Industrial Revolution and literacy among the population grew (from about 30% in the 17th century to 62% by 1800)6. The ‘sport’ was banned altogether by Act of Parliament in 1835.

        The lovers of blood ‘sports’ turned to dogfighting to satisfy their fancy, breeding the large, mastiff-type bulldogs to smaller working terriers to get dogs both smaller and more agile, easier to keep and to hide, but just as willing to attack and fight to the death. With the rise of the kennel clubs and the desire to distinguish dogs by looks and pedigree as well as by performance, this ‘bull and terrier’ type eventually divided into many official breeds. They all share the same ancestry and function, distinguishing themselves mostly by slight differences in appearance.

        The American Pit Bull Terrier is, like all the ‘bully’ breeds, one of this group of descendants of the British ‘bull and terrier’ type fighting bulldogs. Once imported into the United States, it was bred up to be bigger again, and again used in baiting animals and in dogfighting. The American Kennel Club (founded 1884) was unwilling to register these fighting dogs, so in 1898 the United Kennel Club was founded specifically to register working pit-fighting dogs and to promote dogfighting. In order to be registered, a dog had to first win three pit fights7,8,9. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) became a ‘breed’. As dogfighting declined in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, Colby (the most famous and prolific breeder of these dogs) began to search for a new market and began promoting the APBT as family pets10,11. This despite the fact that his breeding lines included child killers12.

        Learn more: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/

  • Linda

    While I’m so sorry for your loss, you were the parents responsible for getting the animal. Just like when people who own guns and then their child kills themself or someone else accidently. Sometimes you just have to think if a big dog is the right pet for your young children. I hope people will reconsider,if they are thinking of,or have been some how convinced that these types of dogs are right for them. Ms. Torres does the best she can to save and rehabilitate the animals she gets. With ANY dog, there is a risk..

    Again, I’m so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful child. I hope this can be a wake up call for parents with young children, regarding big dogs of any breed.

    • Laura Reeves

      Amazing response – blame the parents for having dogs that they thought would be good companions. Most large dogs will not rip your child apart. The thought is like she said, “if you raise them from puppies, this could never happen.” Well it does more then you think. That is why many countries ban this breed. I personally know 5 people that are wonderful, respectful, and loving dog owners and yet had their “raised from a puppy” pit turn on them, a family member, or other family pet without provocation to the horror of their owners. I have personally been attacked by a pit belonging to our next door neighbor who almost killed all three of my small breed dogs.

  • Diane

    I and my 2 dogs were attacked by 2 pitbulls adopted by the Pasadena Humane Society. I can not in words describe how the owners felt they had no responsibility and somehow blamed my leased dogs. I learned later that the PHS does not do any behavior testing. THAT IS WRONG. I will support a breed specific ban. The dogs that attacked me and my dogs just snapped. I am sick and tired of any pitbull owner that says “they never did that before”. On advice of neighbors I sued them to make a point. I found out that owning a pitbull lends itself to a lot of liability. I won but that nothing compared to the injuries and trauma we all sustained. SUE any pitbull owner that attacks. BTW they never said they were sorry. I am sorry you lost so much more that I did and I wish I could take away your pain. Its time to ban this breed so you loss does not happen again.
    Perhaps animal planet could write something on this!!

  • JP

    Sad story, having animals as pets is always a risk, especially around children. thanks for sharing, hopefully itll shed some light to other potential and dog owners…
    Keep ur dog with a muzzle on and make sure your yard is secured so they cant go and attack neighbors and people walking by your property.

    • Diane

      Pit bulls are not thought of as wild animals, they can be adopted at any animal shelter and most have a lot of them. BAN THIS BREED NOW!

  • Cheryl

    I can’t even express how very sorry I am for this families loss, but blaming Tia Torres for it is just an act by grieving people who want to blame something, anything, anyone for their child’s death. I am sorry , but no one made your family go out and get 2 Pit bull pups, you did that of your own free will and maybe with some encouragement from your brother. I also am not sure at all that i believe this story of what actually happened. Two fabulous family dogs suddenly turn into killing machines and hunt the child down, just doesn’t jive. I also really have to disagree with the list of dangerous dogs, I have had German Shepherds and Dobermans for over 50 years, raised my children and grandchildren with them, they are fabulous, loving beautiful family pets, I still have 3 German Shepherds. There can be bad dogs in every breed and if you want to know what the most aggressive dog is and one that kids shouldn’t be around, it is a Dachshund ! Again, I am very sorry for your loss but don’t blame others and leave other people alone with the dogs they love.

    • Allison

      Well said. There is no happy outcome with this story at all. I have 3 pitbulls 2 are rescues and they are loving amazing companions. No one will ever understand why those dogs did what they did and there are no words for the horrific incident that claimed the life of that beautiful child. But to send such a letter to Tia I just don’t understand… any breed of dog has the potential to cause harm but Tia is doing a great thing for those dogs who do not deserve to be condemned for something that had nothing to do with them. Just a heart wrenching story.

    • Diane

      These dogs do attack unprovoked. Its in their DNA. Don’t you find it a little interesting that the dogs in her home are mostly not pitbull.

  • Meg

    So… The pits randomly stopped what they were doing, went into another room, and pulled a child from someone’s arms, for no reason… Completely unprovoked.. because they felt like it? BULLSHIT. You actually buy that crap? Lmao. You know absolutely nothing about dog behavior. Nor do your realize how much of a liar that babysitter is.. There are myriad incredible pitbulls out there… But please.. Keep only seeing your side of it. You’re clearly pushing an agenda based off of ignorance and fear and it’s pathetic.

    • T

      Statistical facts exist so that people don’t have to accept opinion as the truth.
      The stats are against this breed . Plain and simple. This breed was bred to be unpredictable because that’s how they baited and dominated other animals. They are masters of surprise. You should read the actual data from the CDC , FBI, and national institute of health on dog-human fatalities .
      The vast majority of deadly attacks are in middle class homes with no history of animal abuse or previous aggression.

    • Laurie

      You’re pathetic for talking down on a family who lost a four year old child. It was probably the most violent thing they ever seen and are scarred for life. Whatever your opinion is say it without looking like a indecent asshole.

    • Jake Griffin

      What the hell is wrong with you?????!!!! How can you say such things when something so tragic has happened? You are disgraceful and I don’t care what point you are trying to make or prove. Try having some human decency!

    • Pamela

      How absurd. How rude you are. Yes, completely unprovoked. That’s what they do. Not all of them. Pit Bull roulette, is what it is.

  • Samoyed Owner

    Although Ms. Torres (Villalobos Rescue Center) is trying her best to help both the pitbull and parolees,and, although this, in itself, is admirable, Ms. Torres – and others who do similar work – cannot possibly be aware of the DNA, i.e., the breeding , of any of these animals. There is no dog, statisically, that has a higher rate of attack and killing that the pitbull. This BECAUSE no one really knows the pedigree of any of these animals.I.e., their ancestry is unknown. This is NOTthe case of many other dogs.

    Torres would do well to turn her center into a general dog rescue and simply put down any pitbull. Sounds cruel? Check out the annual history of maulings and killings by the pitbull compared to other breeds and you will see there is ample justification to put down as many of these pitbulls as possible.

    The horrifying killing of this child is unspeakable. Perhaps the family will sue Ms. Torres. This also is sad. However,in the US, one must be responsible for any product one sells, and that includes any damage or injury caused by that product.

    • Lesa

      I disagree with your comments 100 percent. Every breed of dog has the potential to bite or attack. I once was attacked by a sheltie after I had been walking and brushing him for two hours. All of a sudden he attacked. Was headed for my throat. No warning. Does that mean every sheltie should be destroyed.

      It’s not the fault of the Pitbull breed. It’s the fault of the kind of people who raise them for the wrong reasons.

      I am sure there is more to the story of this little girl being mauled to death. That we are not being told. And it definitely isn’t Tia’s responsibility that they chose to get pitbull for their family pets. Her brother had pitbull.

      I believe in what Tia is doing with the Pitbull and the Parolees. She has done a wonderful job. She does rescue other breeds of dogs already for your information.
      Signed
      Lesa, Michigan

  • Kathy

    Sorry for your loss .. But you can’t blame Tia. I have two dogs which are NOT pit bulls and I have a granddaughter. We’re always telling her to stay away from them when their eating and/or leave them alone if their resting. She is 2.5 and tends to try to love them alittle to hard or tries to bother them alittle too much. All dogs are the same .. Their temperament. I’m sorry but your daughter should of been watching closely by the babysitter. It’s not right to blame the dog.. Anything could of happened to set him off. My granddaughter has made my dogs cry or yelp .. She has gotten rough with them so it’s MY responsibility to control my granddaughter around them. .

    • Chuck

      YOU are an ignoramus! You are unable to put together a coherent, grammatically correct sentence in the English language. You are the teacher? Physician heal thyself!

  • Holly Hope

    I am very sorry for your families loss. It is very sad that Kara passed. You can not blame tia Torres though. Every breed snaps and has attacked people, especially children, because children are so high strung and feel the need to. “Bother” dogs, as is apparent in any breed. It’s a natural instinct for a dog to snap being smothered or hugged, and it can happen at any moment. You can’t blame one breed or one person. I am sorry for your loss, greatly. But you need to do some serious research on dogs. In general.

    • miss cellany

      It’s a natural instinct to snap their jaws or growl or even give a warning nip but it is NOT natural to attack, maul and kill a child that the dog has lived with for years just for being annoying.

      There’s a massive difference between a nip and a full on mauling.

      If pit bulls cannot control themselves to the extent that they meet any minor annoyance with fighting the perpetrator to the death then they shouldn’t exist in civilised society. They obviously are not wired right in the brain.

  • Tami Aaron Smith

    I have never commented on ANY subject that I’ve read on the internet but now I feel I should just to say how sad it would be for me to loose a child for any reason but even sadder that you blame someone (Tia Torres) for you’re loss. You weren’t home so you can only go by the word of your babysitter…how do you know something didn’t set the dog off? You don’t! Yet you slam a woman who clearly doesn’t deserve it! Even try to place the blame on her…just wrong! It’s horrible, what happened to your daughter, but it’s not as cut and dry as “it’s tia’s fault” and until you KNOW what happened, you have NO ONE to blame. Freedom of choice…you’re choice, to bring any animal around your child, means in my eyes, YOU are at fault!

  • Lisa Reppard

    I am done with all this bullying. you all know where you can go and what you can do. Don’t respond cuz i blocked all you children.

    • Bobbi Irish

      I, for one, would like to know where Lisa earned her “Masters Degree” in Animal Psychology. Wherever it was, it is amazing to me that they did not even teach her how to SPELL “Psychology”. The errors in simple spelling and grammar indicate that this person, going by the name of Lisa, is simply a liar. There is no way she could have graduated from any type of college, let alone high school, the way she writes. On top of all the work she does with animals, apparently making use of her “Masters Degree”, it is surprising she is also apparently a trauma nurse? Very strange! I wanted to comment on her remark that “no breathing animal is born with the incentive to kill…” That is simply not true. If wild animals did not have the instinct to kill, those which survive by killing and eating other creatures, would die out. Predators are born with the instinct to kill. Dogs are predators. That instinct to kill has been bred out in most dog breeds, through centuries of purposeful, planned genetics by man. Only the extreme fighting breeds, breeds developed for protection, and some terriers retain that natural instinct to kill, which ever carries over to being aggressive with humans. The Pit Bull type dogs have this instinct in spades. It can remain hidden in any particular Pit Bull for years, and then suddenly, for no reason, come to the fore, and result in the maiming/murder of a human being. Sure, there are some Pit Bulls that are sweet and nice, and love everyone. Just as some Greyhounds won’t run, some Border Collies won’t herd, and some Retrievers won’t retrieve; some Pit Bull type dogs won’t fight or bite. For any of the above mentioned breeds, their lack of instinct makes them a failure within that breed’s intended purpose. For the Pits born without “gameness”, it is lucky for the humans around it. All one has to do is check the News every day. Almost all serious attacks on humans in this country are Pit Bull type dogs, or have been developed as a different breed, with the Pit Bull as the nucleus, such as the “American Bull Dog”. This is simply not going to change. Requiring spaying and neutering of every Pit Bull licensed with a City or County would be a start. The world certainly doesn’t need more of these dogs! And for Ms. Lisa, you should really stay away from all animals. Animals obviously do not care for Lisa. Requiring 45 stitches for a cat attack? And then stitches and surgery for an attack by a Sheltie? Normal animals seem to know when people are “not quite right”, and will do their best to keep those people away from them, even if it requires a scratch or bite. One would think that Ms. Lisa would finally get it, and leave the critters alone. I was born with dogs in my home. My earliest best friends were our dogs. I have raised, trained and have been active in Retriever field trials, conformation shows and obedience for 50+ years, titling many dogs with AKC titles. I have worked with hundreds of dogs, mostly retrievers and other sporting breeds, but my share of German Shepherds, herding dogs, etc. I presently have 7 Irish Terriers, 2 Labradors and 1 Golden Retriever that live in our home. I have NEVER been bit by a dog, EVER! This trait of Pit Bull hacks to say “I’m really sorry about your child, mother, father, etc., but then go on to describe how Pit Bulls are really wonderful, and to go on and on about how much they know about all dogs, is sickening. I get tired of reading and of hearing it, and feel so bad for those who have lost family members and/or friends to these unpredictable dogs, for continually being bashed on. It simply needs to stop.

      • Donna Marie

        Dear Bobbi Irish,

        (Love the name – 7/8 Irish myself, 1/8 Scottish)! I totally agree with everything you said. I grew up with labradors and have three children, my oldest diagnosed with autism and adhd at the age of 2.5. We got our first pure bred, yellow lab, Maggie, when my son, Shane, was about 8, Colleen, 7 and Isabella 4. She was the most loving, fun, happy dog ever! We have worked hard to teach my son how to care for and treat all of our pets. He would at times grab her tail (not hard, just to stop her) as she would walk by and she would just wag her tail and lick him. She became ill overnight at age 9 and I had to make the decision to put her to sleep. I was all alone and it was devastating. I am a nurse and handled it well, but I still cry at times when I am alone, because she was so special. We did get another black lab, Murphy, a few years after Maggie and they were so happy together. I truly believe they helped my son in so many ways. We were able to get him mainstreamed after fighting in court and years of ABA therapy, speech therapy, etc. I believe our dogs were a big part of his accomplishments. He ran all through high school, 12 seasons earning 3 varsity letters. He would run with our dogs in the backyard and lay with them on the floor. I had big birthday parties in our backyard with the pool – 45 8th graders – it was awesome and everyone loved our dogs – I never had to worry. I don’t know why any mother would get a pitt bull or rottweiler when she has a baby or children. Why would you ever take the chance? I love all animals, but it’s my job as a mother to keep my children safe. I feel very lucky to have had the dogs that we have had. They are loving, protective and give so much. They really need to stop allowing people with children to get Pitt Bulls.

    • Independent Pekinite

      I doubt you are really gone, Lisa, how many times have you said that already in this thread? You were the one who started the bullying with your heartless defense of killer dogs. People’s responses aren’t for the likes of you (even if they are directed at your comments), we are all aware that people who defend dog who kill humans have zero respect for human life and their thinking isn’t going to change (rarely, their thinking might change if its someone they love who is killed by the pit bull, but all too often, even then, they continue to blame the victim and defend the killer dog.) Our comments are for the many people who were once like ourselves, people who didn’t know anything about pit bulls until they had read a newspaper article about a pit bull murdering a human, and then we looked into the subject to see what was up. And for anyone looking, the evidence is overwhelming, pit bulls are vicious animals that do not belong in a family home, they certainly do not belong in a nursing home pet ministry, nor do they belong anywhere in open society (outside of a zoo or other secure place.) As the evidence for many, many, many, deaths and maulings have shown, just because a pit bull has acted like a lovable, playful animal in the past has absolute zero baring on how it will act in the future. As Lew pointed out, if you really were an animal advocate, you would have to be horrified by the number of pet cats and pet dogs, not to mention wild animals such as squirrels and rabbits who are viciously murdered each year by pit bulls. The death of these pets and wild animals doesn’t get the attention that the deaths of humans get, but it is still further evidence that pit bulls are a menace to life of all forms, and in no way, shape, or form, should they be considered a “family pet.”

  • Mia Johnson

    It is really shocking to read some of these comments. Kara’s family was devastated and Jeff’s family was devastated. Yet he has managed to build a site to advocate for public safety and tell their stories in the hope other people will be warned.

    This is a real testament to their character. People should be thanking them for it. To do anything else is cold-hearted and cold-blooded.

    Please take your negative comments to a pro-pit bull site and leave victims to tell their stories without harassment, including calling them “garbage”. Three more people have been killed by pit bull already this week.

    – For National Pit Bull Victim Awareness

    • Amy

      Amen Mia,

      I absolutely CANNOT believe that even after reading of the horrible, unprovoked, unimaginable death of a 4 year old child by HER loved dogs, they CAN STILL leave comments DEFENDING this tragedy!!
      MY daughter just turned 4, and we have a 4 month old pit bull (we were told he was a boxer mix at 6 weeks old) After reading this article and others like it I have decided to re-home our dog. MY DAUGHTER’S LIFE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD, and it is DISGUSTING that not ALL parents see it that way!!

      • Jaime Godbey

        I am so proud of you! I see it exactly the way you do. I am completely disgusted that so many just want to jump right away and say this little angel” must have provoked this dog, it was her fault” point is IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE! You leave to go work you should NEVER have to return to a tragedy such as this. You are a smart Mommy and did the right thing!! At least someone has some damn sense on here!! Thank God!

      • Donna Marie

        Dear Amy,

        Good for you! May I suggest you look into getting a “pure-bred” labrador retriever. They may chew up a lot in your house when they are a puppy – you can train them to chew a wolf sized Nila Bone! They will get into the garbage, but they will not ever hurt your beautiful, little girl!

  • Lisa Reppard

    Ok for all u jerks who have bashed me for my opinions, may you all rot. I am very sorry about the children but I have the right to my own opinion and the right to voice that, and if you don’t like that you can kiss my butt.And for miss know it all I do have degrees, so I misspelled a word boo hoo on me. I am guessing you all are brainy people but from what I am hearing you are the full meaning of stupidity.

  • Dana Renfrow

    Lisa Reppard, you are lying. You are way too dim to be any kind of expert. Did you read about poor Kara? What about Daxton? Beau? Ifg you can actually read any of that, not shed a single tear, and only concern your

  • Lisa Reppard

    You have your opinions and I have mine so lets just agree to disagree. I am trying to get stricter laws regarding pits and as I well know they can kill, there are those few that like to cuddle and have so much love to give. I am very sorry if I offended anyone and I am sincerely sorry for any losses due to pit bull aggression. Good day to you all.

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      It’s not about “agreeing to disagree” anymore. The death toll from fighting breeds is reaching a tipping point and pit bull type dogs kill more humans and animals than ALL breed types combined. This is about right and wrong. This is about life and death.

      Pit bull type dogs were bred for an activity so brutal, so violent, it is now a felony in all 50 states. https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/

      It is NOT “all how you raise them.” That argument is no longer valid.

      After countless owners of pit bulls REPEATEDLY say over and over, “I don’t know what happened, he just snapped” after a serious or fatal attack, “it’s not the breed, it’s the owners” is no longer an acceptable argument or excuse. Pit bull type dogs were PURPOSELY bred by dogfighters to NOT show signs of aggression because it was an advantage in the PIT fighting ring.

    • Lew Heifner

      The problem with the theory of “rehabilitating” an animal, is that pit bulls are proficient at killing neighbors. “Somehow got out” is a common statement from a pit bull owner after their dog maims or kills a neighbor. If one of your “successful” pits attacks, maims or kills a pet or person, you will be posting about how you don’t understand what happened, it was such a good pit, blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile, other people have to live with the carnage you personally are responsible for, every day for the rest of their lives.

    • Lew Heifner

      It is disturbing that a person claiming (falsely) to be an animal rights activist would support and defend an animal that kills other animals by the thousands every day… for fun. Not many other animals would kill for fun, pits do. Pits thrill kill for fun and the people that defend them make it possible. No animal rights activist would support killing animals for fun, pit bull lobbyists support blood sports and are not animal rights activists.

  • Lisa Reppard

    Person, if your even that, I have worked in both a animal ER and a Trauma ER I see what pit bulls CAN do every single damn day. So don’t tell me I am stupid. I work with a behaviorist that takes pits out of shelters and attempts to retrain them. We have rehomed 3 dogs in past 5 years. No aggression has happened. So I am quite aware of the pro’s and con’s. So don’t tell me my comments are sign of my stupidity. I havent degraded you by calling you what I think you are now have I?

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      Unpredictable Aggression

      Some dogs may have aggression that does not occur on a consistent or predictable basis. There may be no reason or trigger for the aggression. Some dogs are simply not “wired” correctly. Many fighting breeds have been purposely bred for hundreds of years NOT to give any signal or prior warning prior to launching an attack. Many dogs of these breeds can have a high tolerance for annoyance, but a sub-set eventually reach a breaking point and lash out with no warning. Every week, another owner sobs that their dog had “never shown a sign of aggression in its life” until it mauled a child, visitor, or the owner himself/herself.

      Read more: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/identifying-dangerous-behavior/types-of-dog-aggression/

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      No, you’ve only called me a “racist.” Sorry if you took my comment “battle against stupidity” as a direct insult.

      • Lisa Reppard

        Ok I never said you personally were a racist, I said try to kill off pits is just like LIKE racism.please know what you are saying before you respond to me

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          “By listing similar recent attacks in my earlier piece, I was labeled a racist by people who think that you cannot “slander” an entire breed based on “isolated incidents.” But isn’t it racist to think that certain people (blacks, Asians, and Muslims were the groups that had the dubious honor of being defended) are analogous to dog breeds? The number of races in the world is a controversial subject, but however anthropologists divvy up Homo sapiens, no group aggregates traits that make it more or less fit for a certain kind of employment, or more or less fit to be around other living creatures, than any other race. Meanwhile, the various dog breeds owe their very existence to man’s desire to, for example, hunt, herd, travel by sled, have companionship, live without rats, impress the ladies, and watch dog fights. If we couldn’t generalize about dog breeds, there wouldn’t be any. Why is this even an issue? We generalize about the African lion and, based on our shared perceptions of its habits, have banned its ownership in all but a few special circumstances. Cats are legal as pets, lions are not because a lion, by the standards of civilized society, is a cat taken to ridiculously dangerous extremes.”

          Read full article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/03/28/pit-bull-owners-attack-too.html

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          So you know what I’m saying to avoid further confusion. These are quotes from good articles.

          “Millan has probably done more to spread the canard of pit bull trustworthiness as a pet than any other single person. Pit bulls and other genetically-related fighting dogs are high-risk animals, demonstrably – the statistics on these animals are insurmountably inculpatory – not trustworthy, neither with other animals nor with people. That is undoubtedly the reason Millan did not bring Junior along for the show. He undoubtedly did not want the bother of keeping Junior isolated from the other dogs and monitoring his behaviour every second that he was in contact with people. Pit bulls are bred for impulsive aggression, and it is as natural for them to attack other dogs as it is for greyhounds to run after rabbits on a track.

          But Millan’s fetish for fighting dogs has him bruiting the same reflexive, but illogical nonsense that all pit bull advocates spout. Millan says that bans of pit bulls are “prejudicial” and miss the point: “It’s just like an anti-Mexican or an anti-gay law.”

          No, Cesar, it isn’t. Let me explain. Mexicans and gay people are not born in kennels as part of a litter. Their parents were not selected by a “breeder” to produce them because they were fine examples of a certain physical conformation and certain temperament. It was not predictable when you were born that you, for example, would be a dog whisperer or that a gay person would be gay.

          Stay with me here, Cesar. When you breed a greyhound to a greyhound, you will get a litter of dogs that are “fast” when they run. When you breed a border collie to a border collie, you will get a dog that has a “herding” instinct. Still with me? Now we’re going to breed a “fighting dog” to another “fighting dog” and you know what we’re going to get? Yes! A “fighting dog.”

          What do we mean by that? Well Cesar, you yourself know what the traits of a fighting dog are. I quote you: “Yeah, but this is a different breed…the power that comes behind the bull dog, pit bull, presa canario, the fighting breed – They have an extra boost, they can go into a zone, they don’t feel the pain anymore. … So if you are trying to create submission in a fighting breed, it’s not going to happen. They would rather die than surrender. If you add pain, it only infuriates them…to them pain is that adrenaline rush, they are looking forward to that, they are addicted to it… That’s why they are such great fighters.” You go on to say: “Especially with fighting breeds, you’re going to have these explosions over and over because there’s no limits in their brain.” Wow, is that what you want in a pet? A dog that has “explosions over and over” in its brain?

          Please, let us do away with this language of “prejudice” and “discrimination” and “stereotype” when we speak of dog breeds. The whole point of breeding animals is to “discriminate” and to create “stereotypes.” Pit bulls were created by human beings to be fighting machines. They are individuals in their various personalities, but in their “instincts,” they are what they were bred to do. And what pit bulls were bred to do is to attack and hang on like grim death.

          Dog breeds are human inventions, not a species. Dogs are consumer items, not human beings that can feel bad when they are banned. The name of Millan’s show is ironic. If you really “trust your instincts” with a bit of intelligent research backing them up, you will realize that Cesar Millan is defending the indefensible. If you can only love a pit bull, you’re no dog lover.”

           

          http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/11/28/barbara-kay-cesar-the-dog-whisperer-should-whisper-the-truth/

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          “Having been raised in the segregated South and knowing what racism is, it is ridiculous to me to read the word applied to animals. I am a human being; so are minorities, and so are those children who are now in the grave.

          I am highly insulted and dismayed also that freedom of speech does not apply in the “Alice in Wonderland” world of pit bull advocacy.”

          VICKY G. GOAD

          Read more: http://m.roanoke.com/opinion/goad-pit-bull-defenders-try-to-squelch-warnings/article_490e6e5c-bab3-558a-bd50-ae8a010b29d0.html?mode=jqm

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          Pit bulls do not discriminate and we can’t address this safety problem if the media paints a false reality.

          The fact is black people own pit bulls and black people are killed by pit bulls and white people own pit bulls and white people are killed by pit bulls, too. Equal application of criminal charges is warranted, too.

          Read more: http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/12/14/pit-bull-attacks-racial-issue/77275196/

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          How Pro-Pitbull Crusades Harm Workers — and Dogs

          by LEE HALL

          “But I also know that dog breeds have been introduced into the stream of commerce one by one. Each year, Madison Square Garden hosts theWestminster Kennel Club Dog Show — a showroom floor for breeds, including new models. (This year, thetwo “newly recognized” breeds are the Coton de Tulears and the Wirehaired Vizslas.) And if dog breeds have come into existence one by one, then breed-specific legislation to phase them out isn’t an outrageous concept. If we would stop the breeding, wouldn’t the starting point involve animals subject to physical extremes or unremitting abuse, including pit bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios, wolf hybrids and other dogs often selected because of their rough reputations?

          What is outrageous? Likening breed-specific policies to racial profiling, or to a “violation of our rights as stated in the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution.”

          Read more: http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/17/how-pro-pitbull-crusades-harm-workers-and-dogs/

        • Lew Heifner

          Advocating for a breed of “dog” to be spayed and neutered into extinction has nothing to do with racism. The comparison of a dog’s behavior to humans is foolish. Thanks to Disney, Pixar et al, anthropomorphization seems to be the norm. The reality is people have very few hardwired instinctive behaviors compared to animals in general, and for purposes of this discussion, dogs in particular. Beyond a human’s basic “hand to mouth” instinct, nearly every skill a human obtains needs to be learned. Specific dog breeds have most of their skills built in genetically through careful selective breeding. A dog breed selectively bred for hundreds of years to kill is not suitable for a pet. Dog fighting is illegal, therefore the need for a blood sport fighting breed does not exist. For the sake of our children spay and neuter every pit bull and let it slide into history.

        • miss cellany

          Lisa you obviously know nothing about selective breeding or genetics and evolution if you sincerely believe judging dogs based on breed is the same as racism.

    • Lew Heifner

      The “experience” of a mere 3 dogs in 5 years cannot discount the scores of people killed by pit bulls in those same 5 years. It is silly and downright foolish to waste the time and energy on a breed of purpose bred blood sport dogs while so many dogs of safer breeds are put down. Those 5 years and countless hours could have saved many dozens of dogs instead of just 3 pit bulls, animals that could act on instinct at any moment and kill.

      Spay and neuter pit bulls into extinction and destroy any and all examples that have shown any aggression and or prey drive.

    • Harve Morgan

      Your behaviorist friend ‘attempts’ to train them? I doubt very seriously that you know much, if at all, about pits. You claim to be an ER nurse, that can’t be true. It can’t be true because if you were, you would see the carnage of the pit bull on the operating table often. Three dogs in five years? How pitiful but we are grateful there are no more than that from the likes of you. I just know I wouldn’t want to be your neighbor or the neighbor of those three dogs if you were involved in their ‘training’.

      Racism? What is that when it comes to canines? Don’t you realize that we have breeds? If a person wants a collie instead of a pit bull, is that racism? Ridiculous that you even think in those terms. Racism applies to humans, not dogs. If you were educated, you could at least present a decent argument.

    • Lew Heifner

      “Person, if your (sic) even that….” Again another pit lobbyist proving that they care more for purpose bred blood sport animals, while ignoring the suffering they cause. You must not be human (to borrow your childish theme) to support the suffering you personally cause by helping to supply dog fighters with cheap disposable dogs for the fighting pits. If pit bulls were spayed and neutered into extinction, they would be forced back underground, where that would not be able to hide their animals as “the pet next door”. They would have to have their own breeding operations and have more potential exposure to law enforcement. Every pit on the street would stand out and calls from concerned citizens would be able to locate dog fighting centers easier.

      Instead, the carnage continues because the dog fighting entertainment industry has a professional and amateur lobby to keep them supplied with disposable fighting animals.

    • Rebecca Saunders

      This site is nothing more than a pit bull hating site. They are putting out so much misinformation on the breed that they should be ashamed.

  • Lisa Reppard

    You know we can do this all day but I am too busy to defend a animal to a close minded person. Why don’t we work together to do something more positive? I think and stand behind the thought that we should have mandatory spaying/neutering of pits. We do not need to be breeding them there are already too many unwanted pits in the world. So instead of fighting back and forth and trying to kill them lets stop them from being born. Agree?

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      We agree. Then why do pit bull advocates stand in the way of this simple solution?

      No birth = no kill

      From the April 1, 2011 issue of the JAVMA. Volume 238, Number 7

      Page 901

      Table 3 – Prevalence of castration among the 10 reported purebred dog breeds at 651 private veterinary hospitals in the United States during 2007.

      Breed Number (%) castrated

      Labrador Retriever 62,058(72%)
      Chihuahua 32,309 (46%)
      Shih Tzu 31,943 (57%)
      Yorkshire Terrier 23,750 (51%)
      Pit bull-type* 10,691 (27%)
      Golden Retriever 25,150 (74%)
      Dachshund 20,878 (66%)
      Boxer 17,172 (58%)
      Beagle 19,980 (74%)
      German Shepherd 15,526 (58%)

      *Pit Bull terriers (APBT) were classified as pit-bull type since it is possible that identical breeds (ie, American Staffordshire Terrier) which maintain their separate breed designation, may have nevertheless been recorded as APBTs in some instances.

      • Lisa Reppard

        I’m in NY and I have met with several government officials regarding this. They agree we need to stop pits from having more pits. I have to wait till after the election to see if this is passed. It would make both humans and dogs life so much easier. There are just too many pits already in this world. We need to do something with them before we bring new ones in.

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          Good for you. I have also met with several government officials.

          “I was so adamant that the statistics be aired in the segment that I went as far as stating them at least ten times during the lengthy interview. The reporter that interviewed me was very kind and the final story that aired tugged at the heartstrings of the viewer, but she did not use the statistics that I was so insistent on. The next day I asked her why? She said that management uses CDC statistics because it is a universally accepted website; they cite a variety of health related statistics from their website. But the CDC stopped tracking fatalities by dog breed statistics 15-years ago, so there was not any data to cite in my segment. My son’s death and hundreds of others since 1998 are simply uncollected data.

          My experience with WISN, along with other similar experiences I have later, compelled me to reach out to my congressman the following year.”

          Read more: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2014/07/non-profits-urge-cdc-resume-collecting-richer-data-set-for-dog-bite-fatalities/

          • Lisa Reppard

            I am very sorry for your tragic loss. However I do not think killing or labeling the breed is the right thing to do.I think that sterilyzing them is the right way. Im on the phone weekly I send out petitions. I do everything and anything I can to help stop this meaningless killing of both humans and dogs.

          • Daxtons Friends Post author

            “Sorry for your loss, BUT” or “HOWEVER”

            https://maultalk.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/so-sorry-for-your-loss-but/

            NOWHERE in either the US or Canada has sensible BSL (yes that includes MSN) passed without grandfathering existing pit bulls. You’re basing your conclusions on the fear put forth by the extreme pit bull advocacy groups. Ironically, it is “fear” that the pit bull advocacy constantly accuses the victims and their supporters of engaging in all the time.

  • Lisa Reppard

    Ok so should we automatically assume all pits are going to be killers? Hell, why don’t we kill are Iranians cuz couple of them killed us Americans so why not kill them all? You know all of them grow up to be terrorists? Bull shit, It is sterotyping and racist. I don’t care how many so called experts you want to bring in this discussion, I can bring my animal behaviorists who have worked with pits and will tell you THEY CAN BE REFORMED.

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      “Not all pit bulls are bad”

      If anything, the fact ‘They aren’t all bad’ is what makes the situation even more dangerous than if they were ‘All BAD”. It is this unpredictability, the inability to tell a dangerous from a non-dangerous pit bull that sees pit bulls as an unsuitable breed for society. If they were simply ‘all bad’, society would simply take strong measures to protect themselves from the breed. Nobody is arguing that all pit bulls are bad, the argument is based on the fact that more than enough pit bulls regularly maim, maul and kill to result in an unacceptable actuarial risk, just like drunk driving. Just like all drunk drivers won’t cause harm or kill anybody, doesn’t mean they aren’t participating in high risk behavior. 

      People aren’t seeking legislative protection based on the belief all pit bulls are bad, but based on the reality they carry far more risk to innocent people than non fighting breeds of dog. Just as the average person doesn’t want to take the risk of being killed by a drunk driver, the average person also doesn’t want to risk being maimed, mauled or killed by a fighting breed of dog. If they are incapable of understanding such basic self preservation, then there is little hope for them. It must be noted that these people are either risk takers or poor assessors of risk, and quite often have no idea they are putting themselves and others in harms way. It is a battle against stupidity as much as it is dangerous breeds of dog.

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      ACKNOWLEDGING NEGATIVE TRAITS IN A BREED IS “RACISM”

       

      In recent years the term breed “racism” had emerged when addressing breed related issues and regulations. The concept is if you support dog breed regulations or acknowledge negative breed specific traits it is equivalent to the human form of racism. The error in the concept is that humans and dogs are very different creatures. Dog breeds exist because they are specifically designed for a purpose. Dogs are selectively bred for physical and breed trait aspects. Humans do not reproduce in that manner. Humans are not selectively bred and have a choice in their mate. To make this concept equivalent, humans would have to be purposely bred for certain physical or personality traits over the course of hundreds of years. It has not been determined that selectively breeding humans would actually work since there has not been any official scientific studies conducted. The closest humanity came to selective breeding was the concept of Eugenics, which was trying to breed out negative physical traits, such as mental illness, and breed in positive traits, such as a high I.Q. The concept has been abandoned by most cultures due to the difficulty of selective breeding due to the high incidence of unplanned pregnancies. Dogs have been selectively bred for many generations with great success. Since racism in the human culture is based solely on the color of one’s skin, hence the “race” in racism, and not personality traits, it does not accurately compare to dog breeding. To accurately compare, one would have to judge a dog based solely on fur color. Most breeds are judged on physical and personality related breed traits, so the term breed “racism” is not equivalent to human forms of racism. It is surprising that more people are not offended by this comparison. Comparing breed struggles to the Civil Rights movement seems a little extreme and minimalizes the struggles of certain races in history. The comparison of dog breeds and racism has no basis.

    • Daxtons Friends Post author

      Pit bull wisdom & dog pound foolishness

      By Liz Marsden

      “I worked for the Washington Animal Rescue League in 2007 when eleven of the Michael Vick pit bulls were kept there for several months, pending permanent resolution. So I have much more experience with this topic than the average person. From this experience I strongly believe we need more restrictions on pit bulls and other dangerous breeds of dogs, not fewer. But I will focus my comments on the issues pertaining to offering fighting dogs for adoption.

      Vick dogs

      But let us look at the “success” stories of the 48 seized Vick dogs, who were dispersed to eight rescue organizations for adoption, “rehabilitation,” or lifetime care in “sanctuaries.”

      One was euthanized due to “severe aggression.”

      Twenty-two went to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah.

      Twelve of those were deemed ineligible for placement in homes, and were essentially sentenced to lifetime solitary confinement at Best Friends.

      In 2010, two of those dogs broke out of their enclosure and were injured in a dog fight in which a third pit bull (not a Vick dog) was killed.

      Ten of the Vick pit bulls who were sent to Best Friends were later adopted out to homes, some with children and other pets. If any of them have injured or killed anyone, I haven’t heard of it. But I worked with some of these dogs when they were at the Washington Animal Rescue League, and I would not have been comfortable recommending any of them for adoption. One of them is reportedly still so terrified of new things, after all these years of “rehabilitation,” that in my opinion keeping him alive is cruel.

      Another Vick pit bull was equally terrified at all times and ended up escaping from a foster home and being killed by a car.

      Scattered to the winds

      The remaining 25 Vick dogs, those who did not go to Best Friends, were scattered to the winds among rescue groups in several states. Keeping close track of them is not something I have been able to do. I seriously doubt that anyone involved with this case knows where all of them are, how they have fared, or even how many are still alive.”

      Read more: https://www.animals24-7.org/2015/05/06/pit-bull-wisdom-dog-pound-foolishness/

    • Mary

      Your demeanor and lack of knowledge about the actuarial data proving pit breeds to be disproportionately dangerous compared to all other breeds combined discredits any lost points you are attempting to make. You are speaking to people who have seen firsthand the proof that everything you have posted is pure nonsense.

      Why don’t you put mitts on your hands and just read for a few hours? You will learn.

    • Rica

      Humans were not bred in kennels or registered with the UKC or AKC ever. Dog breeds are the product of breeding design for a purpose. Your point Lisa Reppard is moot.

  • Lisa Reppard

    Ok I am very sorry Kara was killed by her pit bull. Do not go around saying ur dog did it. ALL BREEDS can have a moment where they just snap, just like people. So please stop giving pits a bad name. As a vet tech Ive seen cockers and even poodles attack for no reason. Are you going to lobby that we just destroy them all. And hey what about cats? I had a cat that just came up to me and attacked my ankle 45 stitches, Should I have put him to sleep? In fact my upstairs neighbor has a golden retriever , yes a golden retriever, that attacks just bout every one but his owner. Pure bred golden. My landlord breeds labs one of his has a attitude, should we kill him?
    I think instead of bullying the breed the owner, yes the owner, needs to be responsible and watch over their pet interaction with children,adults and anybody/anything you pet comes in contact with. I am not minimizing your pain I am sincerely sorry for your horrible loss. Im just saying take a step back realize a dog as well as a person can just snap. It doesn’t mean we ostercize the breed and sentence them all to death, does it? 20 years ago I had a sheltie therapy dog, 2 years later I was sitting on my couch and Tippy walked in the room and jumped on my lap and started biting my chest, yes real bites with real blood that required stitches and surgery. Now Shelties are a kind breed. I didn’t go around bad talking about the breed. Its just one of those horrific things that happens. Again my deepest sympathies but are you really going to feel better if pit bulls are all killed? Will that bring Kara back? Why don’t you instead of bashing the breed that Kara loved so much Learn about them and love them just like Kara did. They are not a bad breed. God doesn’t make no junk. And all pets are a gift from God. Again no disrespect.

      • Diane DeLuca

        We have 3 very lovable Pits in my family, and now that there are grandbabies, I am in a constant argument with the dog-owners about getting rid of them. Our #1 duty as Parents is to protect our children from all known dangers, and I fail to see how anyone can doubt the proven danger of this breed, whether or not they have been raised from puppies. Life is full of contradictions, one of them being the extraordinarily loving dispositions of this breed, which can morph into savage killers with no provocation. For the sake of our innocent children, people need to snap out of their denial about the danger of this breed.

    • Independite Pekinite

      We aren’t talking about animals attacking, we are talking about animals KILLING. How many poodles or kitty cats or labs or shelties kill their owners? It is pit bulls that routinely KILL people, and irresponsible owners who refuse to acknowledge their danger makes the problem worse. KILL, KILL, KILL. Yes, many people are bit by dogs or cats every single day, but they live to tell about it. Not so with pit bulls. Pit bulls are a dangerous animals, and owning them should be considered the same as owning a lion or bear in a residential area. Pit bull owners should be held guilty of manslaughter when their animal attacks and kills another, and they should be financially responsible for all medical and funeral bills (actually this should apply to all dog owners, but it is pit bull owners who would be most majorly affected by this responsibility, since they insist on owning killer animals and refuse to protect others from their killers. At least people who own lions or bears usually understand that they must keep their killer animal locked up and away from other people.

      • Lisa Reppard

        You, my friend, are very biased. As a animal behavior with a masters degree in animal psycology I can tell you no one and no breathing animal/or human is born with the incentive to kill.It is primarily the way they are born. You show love, you get love. You show hate and indifference you get it back. Its very presumptuous to assume if all dogs are large they are bullies. And I am not at all racist but maybe this will make you think twice before saying ignorant comments bout pits. They are all born the same just as us humans. There is not a gene that makes them want to kill. Its ignorant owners that train them to attack. And why would you leave a young child unsupervised with a larger dog? Think bout that it takes 2. THEY ARE NOT BORN TO KILL. Read your facts before you diss my comments please. Thank you and this is done.

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          Tayrn Blyth – Animal behaviorist, dog trainer

          “While the pro-Pit Bull lobby has done much to very successfully persuade the public that Pit Bulls are like any other dogs and that their temperament is simply determined by how you raise them, many experienced dog behaviourists and trainers do not agree. Certainly my understanding of dog behaviour (through many years of study) and my experience dealing with the breed in training classes, consultations and work at a local shelter has convinced me that Pit Bulls are at far higher risk for abnormally aggressive behaviour towards other dogs.

          As important as environment may be, genetics do have an influence on behaviour. Most dog breeds we have today were originally selected not for their looks, but for a particular type of “work”. Humans selected (through preferential treatment, selective breeding and culling) behaviour patterns which were useful for a particular function e.g. herding or retrieving. The main behaviour pattern which has been altered through selective breeding is the “predatory motor pattern” – the behaviour pattern that enables a predator to hunt and kill prey:

          ORIENT → EYE →STALK→CHASE→GRAB BITE→SHAKE BITE/KILL BITE→DISSECT→EAT

          Through the process of domestication (essentially selection for genetic tameness), dogs have become primarily scavengers and not predators, but some remnants of this predatory sequence have been retained or even exaggerated where they can be useful for a particular task. The Border Collie is probably one of the best examples of this: In order to be good herders Border Collies have been selected to have exaggerated EYE→STALK→CHASE behaviours, but the rest of the predatory sequence has been selected out of the breed (obviously a herding dog that mauled sheep would be a problem!). Pointers have exaggerated EYE behaviours and Flock guarding dogs that live amongst livestock have virtually no predatory behaviours (which is why the sheep don’t run from them).

          Pit Bulls, Staffies and other “Bull-baiting” breeds were selected to kill other animals and each other. The parts of the predatory sequence that have been retained in these types of dogs is the SHAKE BITE/KILL BITE and sometimes DISSECT. In fact these types of dogs usually go straight from EYE → SHAKE BITE/KILL BITE with none of the other steps in between. This is why they are often said to be unpredictable.”

          Read more expert’s thoughts on pit bulls: https://daxtonsfather.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/some-doctors-and-dog-experts-thoughts-about-pit-bulls/

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          The following is a collection of news stories where pit bull owners were seriously wounded or killed by their own dogs. It is common to read pit bull owners say, “it’s all how you raise them” or “It’s the owners” in comment threads after a serious or fatal attack. This blog post is an attempt to squash that theory once and for all.

          Read more: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2015/12/pit-bull-owner-killed-injured-by-own-pets/

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          “We thought he was going to be a great dog. He acted like one. He was a good example of a good pit. Until he just decided to attack. He slept in our bed and everything. We never left the kids alone with him. They were never mean to him. We had 5 other dogs including another female pit and they never fought.
          It’s NOT the way they are raised. Our dog was well loved and raised. He obeyed all commands and never showed any aggression. These myths almost cost my sons life. How many more people have to get hurt because of a lie?”
          Jennifer Arp

          “The backdoor was open and suddenly we heard people screaming from outside. Bexar, with zero warning, had lunged at Gavin, and his jaws were clamped down on Gavin’s face, right in front of everyone. Let me point out that there were 8 people within arms reach of Gavin when Bexar attacked. This is a critical point, because I have heard from many people about this, who say that they would never leave their children “alone” with “any” dog. Gavin was far from being alone when this attack happened. Even 4 grown men were unable to pry Bexar’s jaws off of Gavin’s head. Greg ran out and was finally able to get Bexar to release, saving Gavin’s life.”
          Maggie Bain

          “My brother had raised many pit bulls and one particularly captured our hearts…He was the sweetest well mannered gentle dog I had ever seen…I was always told the aggressive ones were because they were trained to fight and it was all in how they were raised….and if u got them from puppies that was the best way to raise any dog…Both of the dogs who attacked were brought home as puppies and picked out by Kara…These dogs never displayed any people aggression. ..Always sat dutifully by her side, watched her have tea parties, sat by her side when she was sick, thought they were lap dogs and liked to snuggle…..no warnings, no snapping, nogrowling…….just snapped!”
          Roxanne Hartrich

          “Children are blessings from God. Dogs are animals, I understand peoples love for animals and a lot of people choose or may not be able to have children so have these dogs and treat them as their own kids. They will always be animals, not children. For those who choose the dangerous breeds please stop and think, is it worth taking the chance on it turning and killing our children and family members?”
          Johnna Harvard

          “Our son was brutally killed by our pet pit bull of 8 years…On April 24, 2013 we lost both our beautiful son Beau and our family dog, affectionately known as Kissy Face. Our dog had been part of our family for 8 years and lived up to her name, for she was eager to overload everyone with kisses. Oh, she was such a very loving and family oriented dog. Kissy Face had been around since her birth on November 22, 2005. 
          Then with no warning, matters changed dramatically and our world was irrevocably altered. Shortly after Beau’s 2nd birthday, I made a quick trip to the restroom. Just a few minutes later I returned to find my son lying in a pool of his own blood.”
          Angela Rutledge

          “Her right shoulder was dislocated in a backward fashion, half her right face was missing, as well as part of her right neck, and most of her right ear. My mother had bite marks all over her face, neck, and scalp. Her vocal box was ripped, that’s why my niece only heard one yell. Her C1 & C2 were fractured; part of her spinal cord was ripped from her lifeless body. She fought and fought. She suffered from a horrific, sustained, vicious and violent attack at the jaws of a completely unpredictable breed of dog. My mother’s autopsy report shows her wounds to be consistent with defending her grandchild. The report states that my mother was defending her grandchild. My mother is a hero. She saved my nephew’s life.” 
          Ruth Halleran

          Read the full stories and more at: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/victims-stories/

        • Daxtons Friends Post author

          Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education & Awareness was formed in honor of Daxton Borchardt, who passed away on March 6, 2013 due to severe injuries sustained in a dog attack. Daxton’s Friends would like to educate the public about the importance of understanding dog breeds and how, with proper education and pet care, the number of dog-related incidents can be reduced.

          If Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness has incorrect information we will efficiently correct or retract statements. There must be substantial evidence that there has been an error in order for corrections to be made. Please e-mail all corrections or concerns to our email address on our homepage:

          American Pit Bull Terrier

          ~snip~

          The American Pit Bull Terrier is, like all the ‘bully’ breeds, one of this group of descendants of the British ‘bull and terrier’ type fighting bulldogs. Once imported into the United States, it was bred up to be bigger again, and again used in baiting animals and in dogfighting. The American Kennel Club (founded 1884) was unwilling to register these fighting dogs, so in 1898 the United Kennel Club was founded specifically to register working pit-fighting dogs and to promote dogfighting. In order to be registered, a dog had to first win three pit fights. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) became a ‘breed’. As dogfighting declined in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, Colby (the most famous and prolific breeder of these dogs) began to search for a new market and began promoting the APBT as family pets. This despite the fact that his breeding lines included child killers.

          Learn more HONEST facts about the American Pit Bull Terrier: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/

        • Rica

          Humans were not bred in kennels or registered with the UKC or AKC ever. Dog breeds are the product of breeding design for a purpose. Your point Lisa Reppard is moot.

        • Deborah

          Just for the example of straightening out some of the information regarding Ms.Psycologist (Psychologist btw) is some information that might just be enlightening. Since my daughter is going to be a Neuroscientist, I have some direct knowledge to pass on. Of course, that degree comes with Psychology on many different levels. If you can’t spell Psychology, perhaps you just are not what you say you are. Without further ado:

          http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127888976 (Describes the gene that can make killers)

          http://news.discovery.com/human/genetics/murderers-may-be-hardwired-to-kill-141028.htm (Just a little more that has been published in Molecular Psychiatry)

          While the research is still fairly new, even though it has been analyzed for quite a few years, in the realm of sequencing, it’s still pretty recent and not completely understood. Though, it will be. Fact is, pit bull’s have been bred with breed selection for particular traits linked with genetics. They are what they are, fighting dogs, killers, and humans sometimes get in the way in whatever form the dog considers they got in the way. It’s science. It’s nature, it’s a pit bull’s nature. Fancy titles to make them look pretty or singular examples of calmness does not change the fact that the breed has been honed for a specific purpose. They should not be in the general public’s hand because the general public cannot figure out themselves, much less figure out the tenacity of a dangerous, unpredictable dog breed. Selfishness and instant gratification is the ONLY reason for owning a pit bull and putting a child, ANY child at risk, or any human being for that matter for that selfish desire over the understanding of a pit bull’s genetic predisposition, is irresponsible, and those owners should be completely at fault for that decision. I consider it child abuse and endangerment as do MOST Department of Children Services out there. When the consequences for the actions of these dogs include charges like manslaughter, neglect, endangerment, aggravated assault, etc., and the financial responsibility falls entirely in the laps of the people that chose this breed, is when ideas will start changing. When people that are attacked or have their pets attack launch raging lawsuits every time it happens, is when there will start being a change. Fact is, majority of pit bull owners are low income because they’re the poor man’s purebreed. Badly bred, easy to get, easy to exploit. That’s my two cents and it’s factual.

        • Lisa

          You are ignoring genetics.

          I have a sight hound – born to run. It’s in her and always will be. This cannot be trained away. Despite years of training – I can never fully trust her off leash anywhere.

          ANY dog person or lay person knows dogs were created for purposes to suit man.
          You know darned well the inherent PREY DRIVE of Pits. Add to that shitty breeding built on bad temperament and you have a recipe for disaster.

          You cannot train away their Genetics. You can only MANAGE IT. And they are a ‘zero mistake’ dog. Cannot have a glass of wine on the 4th of July and forget to fully latch the gate when putting away the garden hose. Anyone thinking they can fully cure such a dog is NOT a trainer NOR a behaviorist. Or shouldn’t call themselves one.

        • Janis

          It’s so funny, I saw that you mentioned you were a vet tech in one post, then you went and said you were an “animal behavior” (I think you meant behaviorIST) with a masters degree in animal psycology. What is that? Is it similar to psycHology? Well, anyway, I looked you up, and you have a master’s in business administration. Why are you lying?
          And you asking if a cat should be killed if it has given you FORTY FIVE stitches? How is that even possible? Yes, kill that thing! It’s obviously not fit to be around humans! And yes, they are trained to attack and kill BULLS. Hence the name. Maybe if you can manage to go a single comment with keeping your story straight you’d actually start making some sense.

    • Maddie

      So you’re saying you are a bad owner? If you are blaming the owner for having a dog that bites then you must have been one since your dog bit you. I guess you don’t need to own a pit then.

    • ScientificFacts Statethetruth

      Lisa, you are extremely ignorant and your delusional beliefs difficult to ignore.
      It is a disgraceful feeling to be reminded of how awful some Humans think and guide their lives.
      I wonder how you have made it so far in this World.

  • Julie

    I am so sad for days like this. I am a dog lover and have 2..Terrier mutts. No pit bulls. But I am a witness to the fact that any dog can attack in a second. I am so sorry for this family.

  • Mary Conner

    Horrible. I’m happy to know that the word is getting out. They are not and never were nanny dogs, the problems are genetic in nature and basically they are just time bombs no matter how you raise them!

  • Patti Stanford

    Roxanne,
    Thank you for your courage in writing this. It is so important and you have done a wonderful job. It touched me and taught me a lot. Kara is so beautiful from the pictures and the stories of shared and I can only imagine how much you miss her. I just wanted you to know that. Again, thank you. I am a dog lover but am now aware of limits and I definitely agree that this breed should be no more. Breeding them should be outlawed.

    Patti Stanford

  • Jaypee

    You learned the hard way and I am really sorry about your loss. Many people will still learn from the way you did. Darla Napora used to argue with me on dog forums, she defended pit bulls and my posts got downvoted too many times but where is she now? Dead! Killed by her beloved pit bill named gunner.

    • Independent Pekinite

      Wow. I looked up Darla Napora’s story….6 months pregnant when she was murdered by her pit bull. Her husband, still defends pit bulls and had the killer dog’s ashes buried with his wife/child. Sickening. And predictably, the pit bull defenders blamed her for the dog’s attack. How can people be so blind and deluded? There are so many nice dog breeds, why in the world do people want a killer dog?

      • Jerome Davis

        I am sick and tired of pit nutters blaming “responsible” owners and victims for their attack or death! They are natural born killers! They can act cute! They can act friendly! They can act gentle! Eventually, they will show their true colors! Any pit bull that attacks somebody should be shot! Period! If you feel the way I feel, you would never have a dog like that! Period!!!!

  • Deanna

    I am horrified by the “blame the victim” mentality, but not surprised anymore. My heart is breaking for you and your little girl I admire you for being able to survive to tell her story. I know for a fact you will save many lives by doing this for her. She sounds like the kind of child who would have understood and wanted it that way. She was evolved and ahead of her time, and while I hate that this has happened, I do believe that her death will not be in vain. We won’t allow that to happen. She will be an Angel to children who won’t have to leave Earth this way. For your little girl, please keep telling her story, and don’t let anyone blame you, her or anything other than the dogs that did this.
    I am so struck by your words, that something has indeed gone horribly wrong with this breed.
    It’s far too popular and wide-spread now, and it was never meant to be owned by the average household.
    We have been sold a bill of goods and propaganda by a group of people who are literally insane.
    Advocacy groups for these dogs hide behind pseudo science and confusion tactics like “identify the Pit Bull in this poster” and splitting hairs on Mastiffs and Boxers.
    We all know what a PIT BULL DOG LOOKS LIKE
    And I for one am very tired of seeing aggressive and dangerous dogs leave the shelters to be “rehabitliated” while the so called sweet ones wait to be adopted, with totally unknown histories and capable of anything.
    My dear friend was mauled by a Pit Bull that came into her home from a high kill shelter.
    The volunteers felt sorry for it, because it was so “scared”
    The minute it got to her house, it attacked her and her grown son.
    If she’d had a small child, that child would probably no longer be here.
    The vet that put the dog to sleep told my friend that she was saving the life of a child by having that dog euthanized.
    A young man was horribly injured by two Pit Bulls that he adopted from a shelter in CA.
    Instead of him taking them back to the shelter he took them to a different shelter as “stray dogs” and didn’t give the story of how they’d fought and injured him the process.
    He didn’t want them to get a death sentence.
    BUT he didn’t do the right thing either.
    He allowed aggressive dogs with a history of fighting and injuring a human being to be sent back into the system.
    We need to euthanize Pit Bulls the minute they hit the shelters.
    If the person who owned it can no longer care for it, it needs to be put down.
    There is NO other way to control this problem and the danger.
    I do not hate these dogs
    I just wish none of them had been born.
    They should not be bred, they should not be kept as pets, but how could you POSSIBLY have known that, with all of the puff pieces and stories out there to the contrary?
    I know for a FACT that there are people who are saying their dogs are sweet and hiding the fact that they are biting because they fear the insurance won’t cover a bite, or they don’t want the dogs put down.
    You cannot trust PEOPLE to control their dogs.
    And you cannot trust these DOGS even when their people do everything right.
    These dogs need to become extinct.
    There are plenty of “good” dogs in this world that need homes.
    I am SO sorry about your baby, and again, thank you for telling her story.
    Never stop.
    And I promise you I won’t forget her, and I won’t stand silently by while people lie and connive and trick others into owning these animals.
    I am going to write our governor and demand BSL restrictions in our area.
    We just had someone nearly killed by a Pit Bull in our small town.
    It happens every twelve days now, on average.
    Someone is killed or mauled by a PIT BULL
    The numbers don’t lie.
    Sweet baby girl, I am so sorry for what happened to you.
    You mattered. Your life matters.
    And you are an Angel now, fighting for the safety of other little children.
    I am so proud of your mom, and your life will never be forgotten.
    RIP sweet baby girl.

  • Leigh

    do you people seriously think the dogs did this because they are pitbulls ? You’re saying that no other type of dog can and does bite and can be fatal? I suppose you people think black people are inherently more dangerous? Sounds ignorant and ridiculous right? Well it’s Just as ignorant to be That way toward a whole group of dogs based on actions of some. So you judge all based on some?

    • Laurel Davis

      I think a person would have to be an ignorant fool to overlook the breed connection.

      My parents tell me there was a similar problem with wolf-hybrids when I was a child. A few people were harmed–so most places banned them. The difference was that nearly 40 years ago, people cared about public safety. When a problem was apparent, nearly everyone worked to solve it. No one blamed the victims, no one screeched that it was racist to wolves. We had one neighbor who owned a wolf hybrid–and was a responsible owner who had never had a problem. He didn’t complain–he acknowledged the danger.

      Unfortunately, we have raised a generation devoid of common sense and empathy. As pits merrily rack up a far greater toll than any other dog in history, their supporters continually shun common sense and exhibit a depraved indifference to human life paired with an immature idealization of dogs probably derived from Disney films.

    • Independent Pekinite

      Statistically it is true, some years up to 90% of fatal dog bites were by pitbull breeds. Yes, other dog bites can be fatal, but there are some breeds which its virtually unheard. Rottweilers and German Shepherds are also dangerous breeds, but not as dangerous as Pitbulls. In 2015, there have been 11 deaths by dogs, 7 of those deaths were by pitbulls, 1 by Rottweiler, 1 by a pack of wild dogs, and the other 2 its not known. Bear in mind that while pitbulls are causing the vast majority of deaths, they are only about 5% of the pet dog population. Pitbulls are extremely dangerous and unpredictable dogs. Yes, all dogs should be watched with caution, and other dangerous breeds should especially be watched with caution (although other dangerous breeds can be better trained, which is why they are used for police dogs, there is a reason why police do NOT use pitbulls, can you imagine the lawsuits they would get from the deaths of suspects?) Pitbulls are wild animals, like lions or bears, and while they mean seem tame to their owners, they can go into attack mode at any moment. Pitbulls are not household pets.

    • LisaD

      LEIGH – I was JUST thinking this… I have an unusual breed (Saluki) and daily get asked ‘What is she?’ I tell them. Almost ALWAYS they follow up with “What do they DO?” I.e.; What is their ‘thing’ or what were/are they bred for – for what purpose.

      I tell them ‘To Run, to chase down Gazelle or Hare’. But I always get that particular question – what is the purpose of the Breed. This denotes an understanding of what Dogs are. VERY purposefully bred for ‘jobs’. For hundreds of years or in the case of the Saluki, several ‘thousand’.

      Pits were created to Fight/Kill. It’s in their Pedigree/family tree/lineage. If a given Pit had a Printed Pedigree, you will see some nasty stuff behind the dog. It’s IN them and always will be unless someone starts breeding for good temperament, and that only has a shot of working long after we’ll be dead and gone.

      It’s called Genetics. Perhaps they don’t teach the concept in school anymore. But people need to educate themselves on what dogs ARE, whats behind them, and their purpose historically. Dogs are not different shapes of dog born with a clean slate and level playing field.

      Pit owners need to accept what they have and be adult about it vs. attempting to sweep what they are under the rug. There’s a reason Pits end up in Shelters to be pawned off to innocent, naive people with no acceptance of the animal in their care.

      And despite the bond I have with my Saluki, the constant training for Recall, etc. since a puppy…. I will never fully trust her off leash to run after some moving spec in the horizon or a falling leaf on a walk.

    • Peter

      Pit bull proponents are as ignorant and evil as the inbred dogs they are such big fans of. Reading this account is heart breaking, dog fighting sorts and breed fans will only see a prosecution of their dumb decision. Deciding to own one is to disregard the potential for having a innocent death on your hands. Period. I have loved dogs my whole life and those things are different, raised and bred for their purpose. Stop the madness. Even some friends and cops I am friends with have disagreed, until they are attacked. Other dogs and children are not safe around them. Just had a lady and her small dog mauled by one of the monsters that ran around daily due to its outsmarting the idiot(typical)owner. Little dog was hurt badly, the pit was put down. Owner should be doing time at least. Any dog or person could harm, but only the pits are so common and popular to be a horrible thing to be around. Gee, yeah a baby sitter could hurt a kid, but pit bulls are famous for a reason. When I walk around, thats the beast I make sure to avoid. Pepper spray doesn’t always work on the things either. But spray, or a fire extinguisher might though.

    • Deena

      Leigh. You are not comprehending what is being said here. Pit Bulls have a genetic disposition to attack, maim, and kill. That doesn’t mean all of them will, but anyone who would take that chance is not being sensible. The statistics on maulings and killings by pit bulls, compared to any other breed, is sobering. This mothers story should be all anyone needs to rethink bringing any known genetically aggressive dog into or anywhere near homes with children. Ignorance is no longer an excuse.

  • Kathleen

    It says this woman,”bought,” the dog?? If that is true, it is very possible this dog was inbred. NEVER buy a dog. Secondly, males not neutered together, really? There is no mention as to whether this dog had professional training- why not? Finally, NEVER leave a small child unattended with a dog, period. It is a real shame that this child was killed however, ANY dog in the above circumstances (irresponsible dog owner and parent) could have done the same thing.

    • Independent Pekinite

      1) if you read the story, the dog was NOT left alone with the child. The child was with her grandmother in the same room, when the dog attacked.

      2) The mother got the dog from her brother, so certainly the dogs breeding history was known to her. Even if the dog were inbred, its pretty telling of the danger of the pit bull breed that inbreeding runs the risk of a killer dog (with any other dog breed, inbreeding runs the risk of serious health problems, not turning the dog into a human killer.)

      3) No, not every dog kills or would kill. The vast majority of breeds and mixes may bite once, but they don’t keep biting until the child is dead (even if they are poorly trained or inbred.) There are a very few breeds that are responsible for nearly all of the deaths caused by dog, and out of those few breeds, pit bulls are by far, the #1 breed that kills humans. And many of the pit bulls who kill, have been neutered/spayed, are not inbred, were raised in loving homes with proper training…..and yet they still kill.

      Are pit bulls amazing animals? Yes, they are in, the same way that lions and bears are amazing animals. But lions and bears aren’t house pets, and neither are pit bulls.

    • Laurel Davis

      “adopted” dogs come with little if any history. “adopting” is no assurance of anything. Do you want a list of people harmed by “adopted” pits?

      Nice attempt at trying to slip in some victim blaming though. Trying to blame the victim is something only a complete sociopath would do.

    • Maddison

      You must be illiterate or just plain ignorant. Please take the time to read the entire story, not just bits and pieces you choose to pick out. This beautiful child was with her grandmother, not left alone. They “bought” the dog, as a puppy, from her brother, so its not like she didn’t know some of the history on it. I have learned over the years that all pit bull activist come from the same mold as their monster dogs do. They are quick to place blame on the victim, never the dog. They read a story and translate it to fit their way of thinking, they never truly read it as written. They always have excuses for this breed, it’s all how they are raised, the owner was not a responsible owner, their child had to have provoked the dog, but they are Nanny dogs and people trusted them to watch and protect their kids. This list goes on and on. I can not for the life of me understand how any human can come back and be so heartless, blaming, cold, or outright demented to blame a victim for their mauling or demise. I have lost many so called friends over the pit bull debate. I have been fighting for stricter laws for owners and yes, I pray that one day this breed will be banned across the world. It is happening in many places, but its not enough until every country and every state makes the decision to ban or make it so difficult for anyone to own one. If you ever have to experience what this family or any family, including myself have experienced, then maybe you will take a different stance on it. Most think it will never happen to them, many do find out the hard way and some find out yet still support these monsters, something I will never comprehend. How could a mother of a child, who was severely disfigured by a neighbors pit, turn around and buy TWO for pets? Something is definitely wrong in a mothers brain who could do that. The child is terrified of living in their own home yet the mother insist her dogs are safe and nothing like the dog that mauled her daughter. Tell me how that is normal thinking and normal behavior, because I just don’t get it.

      • Jerome Davis

        I agree! Pit nutters are what’s wrong with society! Those who dare to speak out have to be slammed in to silence and hide in shame! There’s a reason why this website and dogsbite.org exist for a reason! Pit nutters piss me off! Arg!!!! I don’t give 2 fucks what they think at the end of the day! What did the child do to provoke the attack? Nothing! All she did was live a normal life! Life is what makes pit bulls kill! Period!

  • Independent Pekinite

    I am from your area, but just heard about your heartbreaking story. Thank you for sharing it. As seen in the comments, there are some people who will ignore the truth, but undoubtedly there are others who will learn and other lives saved because of your story. What many people don’t understand, when other breeds attack, they will stop once they feel they have “dominated” the person or animal they were attacking (which is often after 1 bite.) Pitbulls were bred differently, they were bred to attack until they kill, and indeed, once they start attacking they will stop at nothing until they kill. This is why pitbulls are so much more dangerous than other dogs. This danger is even more intensified considering that they are unpredictable and its impossible to predict what may set off their need to dominate. As you know, your dogs were not at all aggressive, until the day they decided to be aggressive.
    People, especially parents, also need to be aware of the dogs their neighbors, their friends, and their children’s friends have.
    I can’t fathom the terrible heartache your family will always have, I can only pray that God hold your hand until one day you can be reunited with your daughter in heaven.

    • Deanna

      THANK YOU. Your comment, and others pointing out how insane it is to blame the victims here, gives me hope. It is what it is. The lack of empathy and the creep factor of these people who want to blame the victim or find excuses for these dogs is astonishing.

  • Serena

    This story makes me so sad. My condolences go out to Kara’s family. What a beautiful little girl. I am so sorry for your loss.

    We had a pit bull that died two years ago, at the age of 15. She was a rescue dog and not good with other dogs but excellent with people. I loved her so much. Then I got pregnant when she was 11 years old. At this point she wasn’t the same feisty, mischievous dog she had once been. She was slowing down, but still in remarkably good shape. I was worried over what the transition bringing a baby into the house might entail, particularly since it meant kicking my dog out of my bed, then bedroom after the baby came. She didn’t take to the baby immediately, rather ignored her, but never showed any outright or overtly hostile behavior toward her either. I never left the two alone together during my daughter’s infancy, but they managed to coexist peacefully. She never fawned over her, but she never displayed any negative behavior toward her either.

    As my daughter started to enter into toddlerhood she became more aggressive with the dog. As much as I tried to monitor her, I couldn’t be there every second, and she’d pull the dog’s tail, or poke at her eyes. Our dog was extremely patient, but one day she had enough, and growled at her. That scared me. I was not sure how far she could be pushed. I did everything I could to try to keep the two separate but wasn’t always successful in keeping the two apart. Once my daughter locked herself in the bedroom with the dog, and I literally broke down the door with sheer willpower to get to her. She was fine, but I was nervous and worried.

    Then our dog started to decline. She became senile and at that point we started to keep her in another house. It was sad to not spend as much time with her, but I was worried that in her senility she would snap. It never happened. But after reading your story, I can see that it could have. When she died it was terribly sad for all of us and a great loss in our lives. We still miss her. My daughter still cries for her. But we haven’t got another dog, because I have been undecided over what to do. I wanted to get another pit bull, but was on the fence. Maybe we wouldn’t be so lucky again. Your story dispelled any notion that I would ever test fate by expecting the same sort of results with another dog. It’s not worth the worry or the risk.

    This could have happened to any of us who have chosen to keep our beloved pit bulls with our children. It’s unfortunate, but I’m sure like me, you never thought your child was endangered by your pets. In fact, I was more worried about my daughter hurting the dog then the other way around.

    I can only imagine your pain. I am so sorry this happened to your family. I’m sorry you have lost the light of your lives. I am sorry for dear little Kara because she could have very well been my child too. Thank you for sharing your story. We need to hear this to be able to understand that even though we think we know our animals, we can’t always estimate the potential for harm they may be capable of, and once it happens it’s irreversible. It could have been anyone, and I’m sorry it happened to you. I have always staunchly stood behind pit bulls up until reading this story. Now I know that good owners do not guarantee a foolproof situation, and this enlightenment is sobering, but the truth often is. As much as we love our pets, if they pose a danger to our children, it’s just not tenable to keep them. I feel we were lucky. But not every family is so fortunate.
    Love to you, and I hope that your family has been able to move forward, even though I know it will never be the same. Thank you for helping me see that we cannot get another pit bull, no matter how much we loved our last dog. And please know you have possibly helped other families by telling us your story. We all feel for you, and sympathize with your heartbreak and grief.

    • Rebecca Saunders

      You said something very telling,”she never snapped”, and she never would I have to tell you. This attack was an anomoly, they are not as common ss this site would like you to believe. Just like humans can be born with problems, so can animals. We will never know what really happened, but to say you would never get another one is sad. This incident shouldn’t color the wonderful life you had with your dog.

  • No Thanks

    This is a terrible outcome. It’s also important to read between the lines. That these dogs never displayed any “people aggression” is a big red flag that they were, in fact, aggressive. Not mentioned here, but readily discovered elsewhere, is the fact that there were three dogs, including two non-neutered males. This was a disaster waiting to happen, and while this family wants to indict the breed to alleviate their own guilt, frankly it’s their unfortunate decision to keep aggressive dogs around children that facilitated this poor girl’s death. We may want simple answers like blaming the breed, but as always, it’s the particular dog(s) and circumstances that mean any breed can be either a wonderful member of the family or a lasting nightmare.

    • Karen

      The preceding message seems quite out of place and simply should not be on this page. You have chosen to ignore what this brave woman has experienced firsthand and the message she is trying to share. I don’t think she could have possibly portrayed herself and her family in a more loving or nurturing light and yet you chose to ignore the message and let it go right over your head. I have read article after article about ALL aggressive breeds of dogs and it is no coincidence that pit bulls top the list. Try reading the stories of the numerous fatalities caused by pit bulls and make sure you look at every picture of the innocent, helpless victims, especially the beautiful children. There are so many of them… I have fought back tears reading their stories, but couldn’t hold it in any longer when I came to this one. Please listen to her message. With so many other wonderful breeds of dogs, why would you take a chance on a pit bull?

    • Deena

      Your reply was insensitive and mean. This woman told her story for one reason. To hopefully prevent another tragedy. I commend her for sharing it. It’s a shame that not everyone has your immense knowledge and ability to predict the future. It’s also a shame that you lack empathy and common decency in how you post your thoughts.

  • Lavinia

    For karas family; there really is nothing anyone can say to comfort you right now. But there is hope, you can go to Kara and see her in heaven. Because she is with Jesus. Where there is no more sadness , no more pain. I am grieving with you . You are in my prayers. I’m so sorry for your pain and loss.

  • gloria bain

    Dear family of Kara, my heart aches for you. I can’t even imagine the anguish you must still feel. But I want to tell you that Almighty God has a promise for us in the book of Revelation 22:14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of Life, and enter in through the gates into the city. If you are faithful you will be on that sea of glass and the holy angels will place Kara in your arms!

  • Linda SHelton

    I was wondering if you could post something in Monmouth Illinois as we have some saying we dont know the whole story so we cant judge pits I read the whole thing and my heart breaks for this mother and family …. people just dont get it .. yes pits can be nice and cuddly… but once they snap there is no going back … could you post something in the Monmouth paper or on my fb i wish i could have you talk to these people that attacked my son in law for sticking up for your post just because they said he didnt know the whole story which makes me angry a little girl lost her life and they dont have the whole story grrrrr my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family

  • Marian Shaw

    I am so very sorry for your loss. The heartbreak you feel is not something that I can even begin to imagine. Prayers for you and your family.

  • Stephanie

    My heart and prayers go out to your family. I have five almost grown boys and we have two German Shepherd/Brindle Boxer mixes. We rescued them. Your story has definitely put me on alert to watch the dogs carefully. I can’t imagine losing a child. It’s not natural. I feel for you and again you are in my prayers.

  • Anitra Murphy

    There are no words. I read this and cried – immediately went to my fussing18 mth old baby’s crib and rocked him down – crying the whole time. I have a Shar Pei and a lab mix that we love – but have always kept contained in the kitchen – away from the baby. Stories like this make me want to find new loving homes for my dogs – safe away from my baby. I know I have raised my dogs with love and care – but animals are animals and there is no way of knowing what can set them off. Although I have not allowed the dogs to live with my baby – I know a day will come when he will want to be near them and play with them. That is the day I am trying to decide if I want to happen. Thank you for sharing your tragic heart breaking story – it makes me think and really ponder the situation in my own home. I cannot for a moment even imagine what your life without your angel is like – I cannot say a thing that might even bring an ounce of peace or strength. All I can say is I will pray for you and your family and pray you find peace and pray that God will send you strength. Although you will never be whole again – I hope your family can one day redefine happiness – that in some way, for the other children and for Kara’s memory- prayer is that you can find new type of happiness in life. Know that you are helping others with your story and this heartbreak is not in vain!!!

    • Lavinia

      You’re wise for having second thoughts, sharpei breed is known for being aggressive. Love and care is good for a dog but as all animals they need structure and discipline. Not being mean hurting them discipline but leadership. I happen to love pit bulls, and do feel they get a bad rap, but I also am a mom with a 2 year old and so I too have reservations about bringing any large breed dog around her right now

      • Michelle Goodrich

        “Bad rap?” Are you freaking kidding me? Can’t you read? I have had 4 bad encounters with pits. They are dangerous. All 4 over the course of 20 some years. No bad rap. Just bad dogs. Wake up before its too late.

  • Lori Phillips

    My heart is breaking so much for your family. I am so sorry for the loss of Kara. God Bless, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. RIP lil one. Princess angel

  • P

    My deepest sympathies and prayers for you and your family. Thank you for sharing this message. It is better to be safe than sorry, so I pray your personal experience will not be ignored.

  • Jami Ledbetter

    Maybe if you didn’t slave WILD ANIMALS to live like humans you wouldn’t” HATE” these breeds of dogs. You keeping a dog in your house is like you getting a coyote from outside and expecting it to live like humans. THINK people. That coyote is going to get mean. He’s going to do what his instincts tell him too, just like these dogs you hate, you hate them for being dogs. For being animals. Stupid people shouldn’t get mad when they bite or whatever. And the PITBULL TYPE OF DOG HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKING TEMPERMENTS OUT OF EVERY OTHER BREED OF DOG. Think about that one too. Any dog could have done this.

    • Karen

      First of all, the so called “temperament” studies are flawed because the people conducting them are often times trying to fulfill their own agenda. Inaccurate evaluations that favor pit bulls makes them appear to have higher test scores, all to portray them as a superior breed, as opposed to the “underdog.” Second, it is humans who bred these dogs to be “Aggressive Killing Machines” in the first place, so you could say humans are to blame, not the dog. However, that doesn’t mean you ignore the facts and bring them into your home anyway. If you REALLY want to learn about pit bulls read, read, read everything you can about them and you cannot deny that this breed is flawed and should not be considered a domestic pet. Yes, other breeds are aggressive, but it is the size and incredible strength of a pit bull (or larger breeds like the Rottweiler) as well as their jaw strength that sets them apart from other breeds. They are simply too powerful to fight off, especially for the elderly and small children.

    • Independent Pekinite

      The only part you got right is that Pit Bulls ARE wild animals and belong in a zoo. They have absolutely no place in a family home. There are many, many, many normal dog breeds that do not main and KILL every other week. Not “any” dog would have done this, it is pit bulls that KILL at extremely high rates, and far above other dog breeds, even other known dangerous dog breeds. Unfortunately it people like you spreading lies about pit bulls “temperament” that contribute to deaths, as families that don’t know anything but the lies bring these dangerous wild animals into their homes. Pit bulls often pass “teperament” tests after attacking and killing. It is sickening that people continue to defend dangerous pit bulls over human beings, not to mention the thousands of other dogs, cats, and animals that are the victims of pit bulls each year. People are generally not allowed to keep lions and bears in their home because of the extreme danger they pose, and people should not be allowed to keep pit bulls in their homes either.

    • Maddie

      Coyotes are not domesticated animals. The dogs we have as pets are and have been domesticated for centuries. Coyotes and Wolves are not the same species as our dogs. Do some research.

  • Fran

    Regardless of those who say its all in the raising——-Pit Bull’s are a breed that should be allowed to die out completely. They cannot be trusted period. They were bred for killing and they can be nice (at times) but still you cannot trust them. If you have one and love them, too bad for you. If something bad happens because your too smart to listen to those who have learned the hard way.;. You are what smart people call ” a dumb ass”. The government should bann the ownership of any and all pit bulls. Terrorist bull’s is a better name. Sorry if I hurt feelings, but they are bred killers regardless of your stupidity.

    • Jerome Davis

      Make that pit bull “terrorist!” I don’t care what pit nutters say! They can try to bully me all they want! I have a baby niece and I absolutely have hatred towards these 4 legged terrorists! They don’t discriminate! They kill regardless of the right trining, love and care! It’s not a stereotype to say that pit bulls are terrorists! They deserved that bad reputation! All dogs may bite, but they don’t kill you at nearly the rate pit bulls do!

    • Rebecca Saunders

      They weren’t bred for fighting, they were actually bred as nanny dogs. They were trained to be fighting dogs. Learn the difference. By the way, I know one that is a service dog for a friend with ptsd. I will be nice and not refer to you as dumbass, but you know exactly what I think of your thought.

      • Daxtons Friends Post author

        From our “Canine Myths” page:

        “PIT BULLS USED TO BE NANNY DOGS”

        The Myth:
        To explain vintage black and white photographs that depicted children and pit bulls together, a story was created that back in the Victorian age the pit bull was the “nanny dog”. These so-called nanny dogs were said to be so good with children parents relied on them to babysit and protect them.

        The Reality:
        One fighting breed advocate created this “legend” in 1971 to distance her breed from its fighting origins. This mention was picked up by a newspaper in 1987 and has since been promoted as historical “fact.”

        At no point in history were pit bulls ever “nanny dogs”. There has not been any proof ever given to make this myth a reality. The pit bull advocacy group “BADRAP” (Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls) recently admitted that pit bulls were never nanny dogs and that this myth was dangerous to children. The retraction of the “nanny dog myth” has been highly publicized. Despite the retraction, the myth has lived on and pit bull advocates still repeat it regularly

        “Did you know that there was never such thing as a ‘Nanny’s Dog’? This term was a recent invention created to describe the myriad of vintage photos of children enjoying their family pit bulls (click this link for details about vintage photos). While the intention behind the term was innocent, using it may mislead parents into being careless with their children around their family dog – A recipe for dog bites!”

        Read more Canine Myths: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/canine-myths-2/

  • amber

    i am so sorry for your loss. But I am thankful for you sharing your story. I know so many who believe their children are safe with these dogs but they are wrong. We had one knock me down while we were in our yard, I was pregnant and he knocked me down to get to my son who was about 16 months. It took 3 of us to pry him off and I just knew he was going to die. This was a huge pit bull. Miraculously he only had a cut on his ear. The dog had never been aggressive but my son was never allowed near him because of pit bulls reputation. I hate those dogs so much and I wish nobody would endanger their children by having them. they need to listen to stories like yours and get a clue

  • Linda Severin

    I really do hate these types of dogs and what they are capable of doing. My little shipoo was attacked and her back was shredded by a mastiff dog. this was an unprovoked attack by a viscious dog that attacked her from behind and I did not see it coming. The vet bill was $1500 dollars to repair my pet and she endured a lot of pain during the healing. As for my self I still carry the emotional scars of this attack

  • Heather

    Im so so sorry for your loss! Kara was (and is) a beautiful angel. I can’t imagine the horrible grief your family is going through. Thank you for sharing your story. You are saving lives by speaking out.

  • Diane DeLuca

    This is indeed a heart-breaking story, and one to which I can relate. I appreciate your sharing it. One of my sons has two Pit Bull Terriers. They are the sweetest and most intelligent dogs I had ever imagined. However, I do not want my grandchildren (his niece and nephews) around these dogs, because of tragic stories like this one. This has caused ruffled feelings in the family, as you might imagine. I am so sorry this happened to this family, especially to poor little Kara on her fourth birthday. Kara and her parents will be in my thoughts and prayers.