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Pit Bulls Attack Road Crew, Deputy Shoots Dogs In Self-Defense
July 30, 2013
Two pit bulls attacked a road crew and were later shot and killed by an Escambia County deputy Tuesday morning in the Grand Oaks Subdivision in Cantonment near Tate High School.
The incident began just after 7:00 a.m in the 900 block of Brandemill Drive where two pit bull terriers attempted to attack residents that were able to retreat to safety in their homes, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The dogs were next seen near the entrance to the subdivision where they attacked and bit two road construction crew members. The crew was able to fend off the attack by striking the dogs with hand tools.
The dogs retreated back into the subdivision where a resident who observed the attacks armed himself with a gun. He went searching for the dogs in his truck and came into contact with them at the intersection of Brandemill and Grand Oak drives where a man was walking his dog. The pit bulls became aggressive towards the man and his dog, prompting the resident to fire his gun into the air and scare off the pit bulls.
A deputy located the dogs in the 900 block of Brandemill Drive. As the deputy exited his vehicle, the dogs charged him from a nearby porch. The deputy discharged his shotgun once in self-defense striking and fatally wounded both dogs, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The road crew workers sustained minor wounds and were treated and released.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Animal Control are investigating the incident.
Pictured: A road crew back at work Tuesday morning after a dog attack in Cantonment. Photos by Christina Leavenworth, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
76 Responses to “Pit Bulls Attack Road Crew, Deputy Shoots Dogs In Self-Defense”
@2000 PSI BITE . From what I can tell you sited something very much outdated from 1988 and I still don’t see any study on what you pointed out to me. According to Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia:
In regard to claims of massive 1200 P.S.I., 1500 P.S.I., 1800 P.S.I. jaw strength he says, “To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparision to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover, compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of ‘pounds per square inch’ can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data.
I don’t care what anyone’s stance is on pit bull ownership. It’s irrelevant. If your pit bull (or whatever they call them) tries to make a happy meal out of me or my kid, it gets a Colt Python in the ear!
Your land shark minds its P’s and Q’s, we’ll all be happy campers. Otherwise, it’ll be sleeping with the fishes like Luca Brasi.
I watched the whole thing unfold and happen, after that equipment was cranked up “my Theory” these dogs came back to my house in a different demeanor. I feel if you are going to own dogs like this you must have them caged inside or in yard with no means of potential risk of them getting loose, If they do hurt someone you should be held completely liable for all injuries and distress they cause, period.,.This was a very unfortunate situation, what if kids were at the bus stop or the numerous elderly ladies and men that walk there very little dogs or the one older man thats been walkng in here 20 years , this would have gotten very ugly . This was happening very fast like in the 5 to 10 minute range. I am not a dog expert and do not feel one has commented yet, but this is a situation that is going to have to be addressed in the near future, because of the amount of random attacks. The owners will have to stand up and pay, these owners have not been found but I was contacted by both Sheriffs office and Dog Agencies agency and they more or less told me they new who and have video in hand of these dogs. so least just see what happens next. Unfortunate he had to drop those 2 dogs but as I saw it , It
was his only way out. By The way “Good Shot” , No collateral damage.
@IJS the study is included the the record of 534 So.2d 760 (1988)
The STATE of Florida, Appellant,v.Donna Lynn PETERS and Joy Ivy Shupnick, Appellees. No. 87-652.District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
November 15, 1988. SO SORRY YOU COULDN’T FIND IT ON YOUR OWN,LOL.
BIT BULLS AND pit bull mixes must be removed from our community .Until they are we will continue to see the death and destruction they cause .
Debbie Bell you would be correct if you said that they all came from the same lineage but to say they are all pits would be totally incorrect. Do to purpose and breeding practices these particular dogs that you metion have all strayed away from what people like to refer to as a “pit” and are not the same breed anymore.
@Extermination can you please site the study that you got this number from. I can’t seem to find anything to back your statement of 2000 pounds per square inch bite force. If you care to take a look at Dr. Brady Barr’s bite force comparison it may put things into perspective for you. Don’t get me wrong you have to take this study with a grain of salt because it does not take into consideration motivation for biting. 2000 pounds per square inch means that it can equal that of a gator. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
It’s really sad to see all of the bad news constantly about pitt attacks. These dogs are a product of their environment, over breeding & human neglect. If you can’t be responsible enough to keep your pet in your yard or kennel then you shouldn’t have them. It’s the same owners not taking responsibility for their animals letting these attacks happen. They are the ones who should be held accountable. Yes I am a responsible pitt owner & yes my 4 legged babies are in a privacy fenced yard. Not because they are aggressive but to protect them from the ignorance in the world. I agree with the actions of law enforcement w/the recent attacks & feel for the people who were injured but it goes back to being a RESPONSIBLE pet owner & preventing this.
I agree with the comment below mine from @here we go again.
I think people are keeping pit bulls to have a “cause.” There are plenty of dog breeds that offer home protection without being associated with fighting or temperament issues. Those who seek out pit bulls to buy as a puppy know what kind of scrutiny they’ll face as that dog gets bigger and older. When someone adopts a pit bull, they know exactly what they’re getting themselves into.
Guess what? There are hundreds of thousands of mixed breeds and other (even protective breeds) dogs looking for homes in the shelters too. There is not a lack of people seeking pit bulls in shelters. However, there is a lack of docile pits going into the shelters.
Yes, it’s sad when a dog has to be put down because of bad breeding and poor human training, but other dogs go through it too. You’ll never hear about the advocates for *insert tiny fluffy dog here* whose breeding allows for degenerative disorders like luxating patella, hip dysplasia and other medical issues that result in the dog having pain for the rest of his or her life. The only group that has any kind of interest in the breeding standards of those dogs are the AKC it seems. My point: These dogs should be taken out of breeding programs!
The “nanny dog” argument is played out. Yes, in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s pit bulls were considered nanny dogs. HOWEVER, this is 2013 and decades of bad breeding has bred out the docile traits in a lot of these dogs.
I just read some facts about pit bulls from the website that Luis posted above. Dog owners really need to read about the pit bulls. There is a section marked “family dog attacks”. There are multiple stories from all over the nation about how the pit bull attacks their own family. It is worth reading to be informed. Also, it discussed myths about pit bulls. Also very informative. I really hate to see all these differing opinions but the truth is, if the dog didn’t do the crime, it wouldn’t get the reputation that goes along with it. I believe the news would be just as quick to report any dog attack from any breed and if that breed repeated, the news would cover it. So before everyone gets excited, look at that article. It may help you to understand if you are more informed on the subject. Thanks Luis.
PEOPLE: It’s not the dogs. More often than not, it is the OWNERS.
My kitty is more likely the bite my face off than my rescued pitbull.
People love their pets, but why choose a Pit Bull for a pet? These dogs were bred in England to be agressive catch-dogs, fighting dogs etc.. One of the best sites to learn about this breed is http://www.wikipedia.org Just type pit bull in the search block on the top right, and learn more..
Let’s hope the dogs were vaccinated properly or the victims have a tough time ahead of them..
Ok. In the first place, what kind of person wants a pit bull? They are far from appearing to be the cute, cuddly little dog that so many people want. Is it for protection? Or do some guys get a pride thing going on….’oh, look, I got this pit bull….bet he can take somebody’s arm off” ….. well, one did. The pit bull seems to be getting all the negative input because they keep being bad. So, I agree with the lady who thinks they should stop breeding them. Also, I agree that owners should be more responsible, but that isn’t going to happen. As long as people make irresponsible decisions there will not be responsible owners. And, why on earth do people want to see dogs fighting in the first place? What type of savageness is in a person to want to see that kind of slaughter? People are worse than the dogs. Oh, and since dog fighting apparently is not illegal, I have heard of those who fight roosters. So, keep your roosters locked up…people are crazy….
baebae, I am thinking there are no safety vests because of the very hot weather and they are already working around heat plus they are on a non busy street.
Enough said about pit bulls…unusual this day and time not to see construction workers without safety vests these days ( lime green ones )
The CDC did a long term study on dog attacks. Guess what they found… Pit Bulls are almost 2 times more likely to attack than the next highest dog on the list.
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/images/dogbreeds-a.pdf
Plain and simple, restrictions should be placed on the top two breeds in that report, and guess what, that would take care of almost 75% of all the dog attacks.
We have a lot of idiot experts on dogs posting BUT what most of you DO NOT KNOW is a FIGHTING DOG, A DOG USED TO FIGHT, ATTACKS OTHER DOGS…NOT HUMANS. It is conditioned to fight OTHER DOGS. PERIOD.
I have owned dogs my entire forty-six years of life dogs are dogs.One dog on its own may be the sweetest most loyal friend,yet;add another dog and it becomes something entirely different.In all these attacks over the last weeks there has been multiple dogs.Thats the key, .For me,knowing my dogs are safe inside my fence or my house is the same as knowing my children are safe.Some people around our neighborhood think its a dogs right to run free,They never think themselves responsible for the actions of their dog and its buddies that become a total killing machine when they run together.COME ON PEOPLE LOCK UP YOUR DOGS WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING SUPERVISED!!!! If we all did this one thing we could take a real step towards ending the carnage.
NICE SHOT!!!!
This is the third pit bull attack in this area in a week … I’m glad that these two won’t be taking up any more news space.
Keep saying they a mixed breed IT DOSENT MATTER I THE EYE OF THE LAW! “WHEREAS, dogs commonly referred to as `Pit Bulls’ were for centuries developed and selectively bred for the express purpose of attacking other dogs or other animals such as bulls, bears, or wild hogs; and in developing a dog for this purpose, certain traits were selected and maximized by controlled breeding, including extremely powerful jaws, a high sensitivity to pain, extreme aggressiveness towards other animals, and a natural tendency to refuse to terminate an attack once it has begun; and in addition to statistical evidence that Pit Bull Dogs have a greater propensity to bite humans than all other breeds, there exists overwhelming evidence in the form of individual experiences, that the Pit Bull is infinitely more dangerous once it does attack; and the Pit Bull’s massive canine jaws can crush a victim with up to two thousand (2,000) pounds of pressure per square inch — three times that of a German Shepherd or Doberman Pinscher, making the Pit Bull’s jaws the strongest of any animal, per pound ,killing machines.
Its way passed time for the state of Florida to inact the same law as Miami-dade county.Not a single pit bull ,pit bull mix attack or death after they were outlawed.23 deaths last year from pit bull and pit bull mix dogs.So many children Mauled .The number of owner that said there dog is so sweet then it attacks them and there c
Kids rises every year but they keep saying it.EXTERMINATION is the only answer for this breed.
I find it funny how people keep bashing on pit bulls when these dog were clearly mix breed dogs. I own a blue pit and he acts nothing like these dogs, those dogs that attacked us today clearly had some sort of problem because even when they were hit with shovels they still did not stop attacking. The owner definitely n3eds to be located so the proper authorities can find out if these dogs had anything done to the to cause them to act this way. They had no collars on them but one of them just had a litter of puppies so that dog probably wasn’t roaming far from home
Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, American (PIT) Bulldogs are all pits. There are also pit mixes, including Bull mastiffs.
Now that dog fighting is illegal, let’s make breeding more pits illegal too. That’s the way to reduce and end dog fighting. That’s they way to reduce stray pits, too.
You can keep your current BULLY dog, but it must be spayed/neutered & microchipped.
a dog is only as good as its owner.
if you raise a pit to fight an be mean thats all itll everr knows i had a rednose who was the sweetest dog ever.
“Good” pits attack while away from home territory, attack for no reason, attack without first giving warning or first trying to avoid a conflict. These traits made and more importantly MAKE pits the choice of all USA dog fighters still.
This wandering pits were simply “going pit bull”. Normal non bully dogs do not attack far from home, without reason, not guarding a resource.
These attacking dogs were “good” pits. But because good pits do not stop attacking, we commend those who killed these “good” pits.
Pits are different. If you choose to own a pit bull, you own a dog that can never be permitted to become a loose or stray dog. That’s your job. Failure to provide this can prove deadly to others, or correctly, to the pit.
deadly.
If people want to continue breeding/owning this very aggressive and dangerous breed, there need to be some extremely stiff penalties on the books to hold them accountable for their dog’s actions. Maybe that will make these owners take a real hard look at what they have and contemplate whether it’s even worth owning one of these dogs. There should also be a very hefty registration fee for those who wish to own pit bulls. Maybe even a liability clause written into the registration form that holds them legally responsible for their dog’s actions. Most owners that I’ve seen own these dogs as some sort of twisted status symbol and not for the love of the animal itself.
My opinion is it doesn’t matter if the dogs were pit or not they had no business running loose and trying to bite People. I love dogs as much as any of you do, but I don’t want one trying to bite me or anyone else. I use to walk for my health, but decided if I wanted to keep any health at all I better give up walking because of dogs running the streets. To Scooby, you are right what if the dogs had attacked a child. The owners should be held responsible.
First of all Pit Bulls were never ever Nanny Dogs. This was a myth that even Pro Pit Bull now admits was just a” harmless myth” it was anything but harmless. I know its hard to believe that there are actually people out there that are stupid enough to believe that any dog would be a “Nanny Dog” but they are out there and now have injured or dead children. The other myth is the “Its all in how ya raise em” Pit Bulls attack their owners all the time. A lot of well trained, well raised and well socialized Pit bulls have attacked. They may be with an owner several years without any problem , then for no reason, without provocation, they attack. Pit Bulls have become such a problem that its, I would say, at a crisis level. Pit Bulls have killed 18 people so far this year, 11 of them children. I can remember a day when one did not have to be afraid of neighborhood dogs. No one was ever killed or mauled beyond recognition by a dog, but then people started to try and keep these game bred fighting dogs as pets and now look at this mess. Please read dogsbite.org for the latest statistics and all the info about all dogs, not just Pit Bulls. Dogsbite.org is the one site that you can depend on always to have truthful info, All entries have the web address where the info came from, so you can verify the info yourself. Dogsbite.org also raises money to help Victims of Pit Bulls by helping them pay for the plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery they need after being mauled by these dogs. Owners of the attacking dogs are never ever hel accountable for what their dogs do..This needs to change. Own the Breed Own the Deed.
Did anyone read was theres comment? ” Also those dogs were not full blooded Pitt bulldogs, you could obviously tell 5hey were mixed with other breeds.” That is the problem with people they will not or can not read and think for themselves. How about doing a little research . I guarantee that 90 percent of the people that have something to say about the “killer evil demon dog with the locking jaws” would have a difficult time telling the difference between a pit bull , Staff , American Bulldog or any other of the bully breeds. Thats why all these stats that people like to spout are so skewed. Let me know when they start dna testing dogs to verify they are “pit bulls” after they bite or attack someone instead of type casting mutts that may have a large head , well muscled body ,or a certain coloration. If an entire breed is to be banned based on skewed statistics and assumptions that will only be the beginning of many breeds being banned.
” prompting the resident to fire his gun into the air and scare off the pit bulls.”
So his discharged a gun ? He will be arrested?
Exterminate all pit bulls now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Face it Everyone Until the Human Race is held accountable for such actions as of those DogsThis Country will continue to go to Hell…
Another problem is animal control absolutely refuses to respond unless it hits the news like the women that was attacked in the north end a few weeks back.
I was the forman of the road crew and we did not provek the dogs when I got to work I no sooner got out my truck the two dogs ran up barking and trying to bite me I got in the back of the truck to get away and the dogs left and came back 4 different times every time eather biteing someone or trying to bite someone their was something wrong with these two dogs they were hell bent on biteing someone
This is to the comment that “Well” made…
I guess the poor old lady that was feeding her chickens last week and got attacked and lost her arm provoked the dogs that attacked her too? Grow up. Pitts are natural born killers. My sister had one THAT WAS RAISED RIGHT and it turned on my 3 year old neice and it took 16 STAPLES to close her arm up. raises good or not they will turn. mymy
Arrest the owners!!! They need to held accountable!
I was I was one of the first construction workers there this morning and the dogs came out of nowhere and just started attacking us we used shovels to run them off. After a few minutes they returned and started attacking other workers who had just arrived and were exiting their vehicles to start working. They didn’t have anything to fight off the dogs with when they were bitten. Also those dogs were not full blooded Pitt bulldogs, you could obviously tell 5hey were mixed with other breeds. And they were hit several times with shovels and would not stop attacking. ECSO used the right option to defuse the situation before someone really had gotten injured severely
Well it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out. ANOTHER pit bull attack. Still the most aggressive and lethal dog in the US. That’s ok people, just keep stating how sweet they are and how you’ve had one for years. Tell us how your pit just played and played with your children. Continue to tell us how it’s more about the owner than the breed itself…..sorry, that’s BS and your mind says it’s BS as well while your sweet tender little heart says the breed is so innocent. Well I’m not going to pretend that I approve of pit bulls. Those demons weren’t breed to be pets, much less pets that are allowed to roam the streets of our neighborhoods while the kiddos ride their bikes. Personally I’m sick of hearing about these ignorant animals running around attacking people. If your wiener dog nips at my ankle while I’m out jogging then I’ll just give him a nice little nudge with my foot, but I can’t say the same for your ignorant pit bull. If I live after the attack, then I’m coming back….not alone either. I love pets, but I’ve never understood people who want to own something so dangerous. It’s like playing Russian Roulette with your life, your children’s life, your neighbor’s life, the postman’s life, the meter reader’s life. I mean come on people, is it really worth it for you to put everybody including yourself in danger just so you can own a pit bull. I think not!!!!!!!!!! Finally some cities and states are starting to wake up to the dangerous these animals impose. Recently some insurance companies are also requesting to know not only if you own a swimming pool, but also a pit bull. WOW, wonder why the insurance company wants to know if you have a pit bull before they quote you a rate, if they’ll quote you a rate at all. It’s not just people picking on the pit bull. There are state and local governments, along with insurance companies placing restrictions on them as well. Mainly because there are tons of statistics about animal attacks and lethal attacks. The pit bull still sits as the king. New data and old data suggest pit bulls are the most lethal breed. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/images/dogbreeds-a.pdf and http://www.curiosityaroused.com/nature/top-10-most-dangerous-dog-breeds-based-on-bite-fatalities/
http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2012.php
Here is a link to last years fatal bites, as you can see, pit bulls lead the way.
Hey everyone, I live in this neighborhood and on Brandermill. Please know that this is not the first time these dogs have been in this neighborhood. They have terrorized a few of us in the past and we have retreated into out homes. They tore one of our cats literally into pieces one day but they took off through land in the very back that we can’t access by car. That is the same way they come in. I thank God our kids weren’t playing outside as this is a neighborhood full of kids playing on a daily basis. They seemed to be more aggressive towards men but regardless they would only be “provoked” by someone talking to them or making eye contact. Please know that I am the biggest animal lover and I rescue. The absolute last thing I would want is to resort shooting a dog but these dogs were vicious. I do NOT hold it against them that they were pit bulls as I know several good pits that wouldn’t harm a fly. I hate that this is another negative story for them but like one person said they have not been raised in a home or have been mistreated or taught this. It’s always a sad day when it ends in the death of an animal but I promise you all these dogs were vicious whether we like it or not.
@Tiffanie, sorry but your are wrong, pit bulls were not used in “ancient times.” 19th Century is not “ancient times.”
“During the 19th century, England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between bulldogs and terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness, speed, and agility of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog”
They also weren’t used to fight bulls, they were used to bait them, they were actually used to fight rats in pits leading to the term “pit” dog:
“The dog was bred first to bait bulls and bears. When baiting bulls was deemed inhumane, ratting (a sport where a number of rats were placed in a pit for a specified time with the dog) and dog fighting became more popular. The APBT was used in both sports, and its prevalence in being put in pits with rats, or other dogs led to “pit” being added to its name.”
The breed was also not used in the war for anything but to courier messages, not protect officers and were eventually banned or restricted by the military:
“The dog was used during World War I and World War II as a way of delivering messages on the battlefield.”
“American Pit Bull Terriers have been banned from or restricted in several countries, municipalities, cities, counties and military bases under the notion that they are inherently aggressive toward people and other animals.”
Lastly Pit Bulls as a “Nanny Dog” is a myth!
There were over 2 million pit bulls in the U.S. during the 1900’s, so the pictures you see of children or babies with pit bulls is no different than pictures you see today on Facebook, or anywhere else “dog owners wanting a picture of their pit with their children. I will also add one more source, so don’t take me word for it:
“Archive searches of British, American and Canadian newspapers going as far back as the 18th century turn up not one single mention of “Nanny Dog” with regards to ANY breed until 1904 when the first stage production of Peter Pan opened featuring a nursemaid dog named Nana. Though J.M. Barrie patterned Nana after his Landseer Newfoundland, Nana has been portrayed by a St. Bernard, and an Old English Sheep Dog in subsequent stage and screen productions. No mention of Nana ever being a Staffie Bull.”
“So, where is the oldest known reference to the Staffie Bull as a nanny dog? In a New York Times article in 1971.”
That’s a bit later than the 1900’s… and everyone knows Rosemary had a Rottweiler as a nanny dog to her baby in Rosemary’s Baby… and you believe the myths as truths it was guarding the anti-Christ.
Please research things before believing myths and fabrications. Most of this info is referenced from many sources including the American Kennel Club on the breed and historians, who I think know a bit better than anyone else.
Have a blessed day.
In my opinion, all pit bulls should be exterminated or only kept by military for combat. Will this opinion be popular? No, but this action will save human life.
Last year there were two dogs in my yard when I arrived home from work. I told them to go home and the pit bull started growling and walking toward me. I had my long umbrella so I held it out but walked backward to my front door, made it inside, and grabbed the phone. Calling animal control did no good since they refused to respond as it was nearly dark. Calling sheriff’s office also did no good since they said by the time they would arrive the dogs would be gone and if I saw which house they go to then call and they will investigate. That does not help. How do I do their investigation for them if I can’t leave my house at the time?
If you dog owners would not let them run around the neighborhood, that would be a big help to prevent attacks. Be responsible just like gun ownership.
Defenders of the pit bull breed should go to the woman in Nokomis and the children killed. It could have been me too.
This is not really about the pit bull breed rather than yet another lame scapegoat for the irresponsibility of humans. Any dog can have a bad temperament based on bad breeding and/or failure to socialize properly. These are both the fault of humans not the dog. The fact that these dogs were not properly restrained by a fence or kennel… A humans fault. The fact that breeds are OSTRACIZED because of irresponsible owners… Ignorance at work. And half of you buy in to it. It is not the breed. It is a series of bad decision making on a breeders and an owners part. I hope my pics of my pit with my children pisses people off… people gullible enough to buy into media hype are not my problem. Research and familiarized yourself before you judge. Please.
Well, Well, Well
You obviously do not hunt with dogs.
When I get my shotgun out, my killer Basset Hound thinks we are going rabbit hunting and that there is a rabbit where ever I point the gun.
You need better training for your dogs, sheez.
BTW, good shootin Deputy. And thank you.
@Tiffanie, I understand that pitbull owners want to defend the breed. I was a pit bull owner for several years. It was the best dog I ever owned. But, lets face the facts. Chihuahuas may bite more than any other breed, but a dog smaller than a cat cant kill you. A pit bull has the strength and size to kill an adult. Also, I appreciate that you have done your research on the pit bull history. But the pit bulls bred 50 to 75 years ago arent the same dogs as today. Pit bulls have been bred through inbreeding on top of inbreeding for a quick profit. Inbreeding the dogs has been proven to make the dogs more aggressive.
@Tiffanie: There is no positive “imagery” about pit bulls!
First, no dog was ever a “nanny dog.” This foolishness started with a 1971 article in the New York Times, was nothing more than an offhand comment by the president of a pit bull organization (no bias there, I’m sure!) and was never intended to be taken seriously. People in the past had better sense when it comes to dogs than people today and did not even allow dogs in the house. Parents took extra precautions to keep their children away from dogs and the last thing in the world they would have done was leave their children in the care of a dog!
Second, “Petey,” the dog on “The Little Rascals” was such a vicious beast that he bit several people, including Carl Switzer, the actor who played Alfalfa. After the show ended, both Switzer and Thomas Ross Bond, who played Butch, said all the children hated working with the dog because he was bad-tempered and uncooperative.
Third, there was no official “poster dog” during World War I and “Sergeant Stubby,” probably the most famous mascot dog, was a Boston terrier-mix, NOT a pit bull!
Finally, 99+% of those “hero pit bull” stories are greatly exaggerated or fabricated entirely.
These dogs got just what they deserved this morning. As sad as that may be.
These dogs were not provoked the workers on the road, nor by the other person that they attacked and/or tried to attack this morning. There is a total of 3 men that I know of that were attaked by these dogs.
The more tragic part of this situation is the response of some of the community. *Well*—- seriously???? where were you this morning while these dogs were running rampid in this neighborhood trying to attack anyone they could? And really any dog would be agressive when a gun is pointed at it???? ok so what was the reason they attacked the workers??? and what about the poor guy that had to defend himself with his trashcan??? Seriously you need to get a clue. It is clueless people like you that breed ignorance. get a grip. these dogs got what they deserved.
As an owner of 2 pitbulls I can tell you that those pitbulls were aggressive because of bad owners! They were probably chained up in a backyard somewhere with no human interaction. Any breed of dog would behave that way if left chained up all the time. As for shooting the dogs, I don’t blame them. If I was being charged I would defend myself as well. It was either they get shot or put down. Either way those dogs could never been around anyone or anything without attacking. The owners definitely need to be found and charged!!
I never hold animals responsible for careless owners but If my Chihuahua went after someone they wouldn’t loose an arm like the woman attacked in Nokomis recently. Please owners make sure your animals are secure don’t let them roam about the neighborhood don’t abandon them. If you can’t keep a pet make sure you surrender it to a shelter.
@tiffanie: did you not see the comments about the last pit attack that referred to pits being nanny dogs? or about how horrendous Petey was? Let me help you out
“No dog was ever known as a “nanny dog.” This foolishness started with a 1971 article in the New York Times, was a direct quote by the president of a pit bull organization, and was never intended to be taken seriously.
“Petey,” the dog on “The Little Rascals” was such a vicious demon that he bit Carl Switzer, the actor who played Alfalfa. After the show ended, both Switzer and Thomas Ross Bond, who played Butch, said all the children hated working with the dog because he was bad-tempered and uncooperative.”
I agree with you that the whole breed doesn’t need to be punished, but you have to also understand that these bully dogs were bred to catch things…be it a wild hog, bulls, or whatever animal they were after. That’s why they are short, stocky, quick, and have HUGE jaw muscles. Whether or not they are more mean than a Chihuahua or a bassett hound, they WILL and DO cause more damage any time they bite. That is what they were bred for and is how they are still built today. I don’t have a problem with anyone owning a pit, however if I am ever approached by one in a “not friendly” fashion, things will get ugly. I have a Great Dane who doesn’t like strangers and I don’t know what she would do if she was approached and was uneasy; however, I take the necessary precautions of having a dog that could be trouble for someone else. It is called being responsible.
I knew a person once who had a pit bull around their kids, and it stayed in a backyard with a horse for years. Then one day, the horse got too rowdy or the dog got agitated and it jumped up and caught the horse in the throat. That is proof that these dogs can snap at anytime without any obvious provocation.
I don’t totally disagree with all your opinions, but keep in mind what these dogs were bred to do: CATCH THINGS and cause major damage when they do.
@Well – These two dogs charged and attempted to attack EVERYONE in the neighborhood that came into contact with them this morning. I cant imagine that the neighbors, road crew, foremen, dump truck drivers, man that was walking his dog down the road AND the deputy that FINALLY shot the dogs were all antagonizing these two precious puppies strolling down the street. Then again, I cant imagine the workers dont have anything better to do than antagonize two precious pups to the point of getting bit NUMEROUS times all for fun. But hey……apparently you know more than the ones who were there.
Also, I would bet $$$ this story would have made the news with or without the pitbull part. I think it’s EXTREAMLY news worthy when numerous people are sought out and a few are actually attacked by some crazy animal roaming a neighborhood. Goodness people, how would you feel if it was YOUR HUNNY that went to work this morning to put food on your table and got attacked????
Tiffanie,
I did some research. I can’t find any stories about Chihuahuas terrorizing neighborhoods, killing animals, or mauling the owners. I did, however, find three local stories in less than 1 week about pit bulls doing that.
To ‘Taxpayer’: Just remember that pit bulls used to be called the ‘Nanny Dog’ because of how protective they would be around children. Look at pictures from that era…children are posed with pit bulls. It’s how dogs are treated and/or not trained that make them vicious.
Dogs that consider themselves a ‘pack’ can attack anything…doesn’t matter the breed.
I am a Pitt Owner and a mother of two small boys. I don’t like that the breed has a bad rap because our Drake wouldn’t hurt a fly. But it sounds like these two dogs were feral and were not behaving like pets. But like wild animals. That in my opinion is the biggest issue. We expect animals to act like humans. That will never happen. They are animals. And probably the behavior of those two dogs were effects due to how a human had treated well miss treated them. Their instinct was probably that all humans were bad. I feel bad that they had to be shot. But glad no one persons were injured.
Ben, you are a funny guy. That’s why women use a shotgun, we don’t plan to miss. A good pet owner knows to keep their dog locked in the yard. I never had a privacy fence until I got a cocker spaniel. It wasn’t that she was a bad dog, but she sure defended her family and property and I didn’t want to take the chance on her getting out. Also, it’s hot outside right now and the animals are as miserable as people being out in this sun . Shame on the owner of these animals for leaving them out.
@Tiffanie.. I would love to see some stats that prove chihuahuas and bassett hounds get more complaints than pit bulls.. On the other hand, how many humans are maimed or killed by the above mentioned breeds..
Casting the discussion in a different light:
Re: comments over-generalizing pit bull behavior & demeanor –
these remarks are a type of “profiling”, and if you were referring to human beings, you would be called “racist”.
@Well
No, it’s in the news because it’s an animal attack. If it were a lab attack then it wouldnt make a difference. A dog is a dog whether pitbull or not. They were shot at because if they haven’t hurt somebody already, then they were sure going to sooner or later. If a daschund was about to attck you, I’m sure you would proceed with self-defence also. And I also believe that it’s a lie about you saying “if you point any type of gun at a dog and they are gonna charge” because I know my pomeranian wouldn’t go after me, I KNOW that she’ll run away. Think about what you put on here before you click that “SUBMIT COMMENT” button.
Well
These must be your dogs. (Just pointed gun at my poodle and he didn’t charge)
( Humor)
–Well– go back and read the article again. It clearly states ” two pit bull terriers attempted to attack residents that were able to retreat to safety in their homes. Then they attacked and bit two road construction crew members. Then a man was walking his dog. The pit bulls became aggressive towards the man and his dog, Then finally As the deputy exited his vehicle, the dogs charged him from a nearby porch. That was 4 time the dogs went after other people….Could you please show me how the dogs where provoked? Because I don’t see it. I don’t care what type of dog it was..if they were aggressive enough to go after people 4 different times something needed to be done about them.
I hate that the media only covers negative imagery about Pit Bulls. What’s really crazy is that animal control officers will tell you they have more calls on bites from Chihuahuas and basset hounds than from Pit Bulls. I am a Pit bull owner and they are not all aggressive. If you are going to negatively comment about the breed, please do your research! They were not bred to fight and be aggressive towards humans as they first started as bull fighters in pits in ancient times (hence the name Pit Bulls). In the 1900s, Pit Bulls were actually Nanny Dogs to children with no documentation of aggression. Remember Petey from the Little Rascals? He was a Pit Bull who worked with children for long hours and on a daily basis. It is irresponsible owners who fight them and cause aggression. UP until the 1950s, Pits were the Poster Dog for the Military and graced the cover of Time Magazine several times for its loyalty and devotion to humans during the wars. Several dogs gave their lives to ensure the safety of their human owners. The attack on the elderly woman a couple of weeks back actually mentioned that a PIT BULL was killed by the other Pits because it was DEFENDING the woman. I am sorry that anyone was harmed, but I am also sorry that people are ignorant and feel the need to blame the entire breed without actually researching anything. Any breed can turn and be aggressive, don’t knock the breed because of the stories you see in the media. There are more stories of Pit’s loyalty and how they saved lives than aggressive attacks.
Scooby
Read the article it states deputy discharged his shotgun. Thats how both dogs were killed by one shot.
“Well” wrote — “You point any type of gun at a dog and they are gonna charge. I can almost guarantee that the events didn’t happen as it was written in this story.”
OK, let me see if I understand you based up on this and the rest of your comment. The two dogs were on their morning walk discussing the latest leash laws, when somebody on a road crew said “hey, let’s peeve off those dogs. They are pit bulls. I like collies!”. So the road crew attacked them, then a man attacked them with his trash can, and as they hurried home to curl up with their owner, this man with a gun fired at them, then a deputy hunted them down because they were pit bulls and shot them?”
And “You point any type of gun at a dog and they are gonna charge”? Seriously? Dogs recognize the danger of guns pointed at them? Amazing critters, I tell you.
And, on top of all your other consipracy against pit bull theories, the Sheriff and the media got together for morning coffee and made all this up to tell a false story just to pick on pit bulls again?
The only thing missing from your comment is the HelpLine number at Lakeview. (850) 438-1617 if anyone needs it.
Attn: Well – In response to your comment – you were not there and you do NOT know what happened!!! The attacks were NOT provoked.
This neighborhood where these attacks were was just that…a neighborhood where children play and people walk their dogs – it could have ended much worse for I am in this neighborhood often.
I’m sorry but any type of dog will attack if its provoked! Just because they were pit bulls is the reason they are in the news. It could have easily been a lab. 1 road crews have nothing better to do, probably antagonized them. And they were only shot at because they were pits. You point any type of gun at a dog and they are gonna charge. I can almost guarantee that the events didn’t happen as it was written in this story.
@Ben
That is what I am saying!!!! Good shot officer!!
As to why both dogs were hit with one shot, the article said, it was with a shotgun (multiple pellets).
I tell ya between the Pit Bull attacks and the criminals I’m scared to go outside, especially at night. This is getting ridiculous!
one cop + one bullet = 2 dogs
3 cops + 12 bullets = leg wound
Again ,another attack ,Please get them kind of dogs off our streets …Oh that’s right , they are such nice dogs , hay your nice dog did it again .
The deputy killed two charging pit bulls with one shot?
They need to make him the new training officer down at the shooting range.
Could have easily been kids at the bus stop in a few days….. Find owners and hold them responsible; dog bites and Home Owners insurance/ personal liability along with possible Workers Comp if time is missed from work.…
Lastly, Reflective vests and Ear plugs are missing from the photo. I understand its in a residential neighborhood however, its standard for the industry. This is obviously not a city or county project must be 100% funded by local HOA.
If you’re gonna get a pit bull, BE RESPONSIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well it is dog days. Good job LEO.
You know what makes me sick? Seeing people post pictures of small children laying in bed or on around these dogs saying how safe it is. These dogs by nature are killers bread to kill and fight. They will never be as safe as a wiener dog no matter how many post of facebook you put.
Glad to hear that no one else was hurt in this story!
I am familiar with guns, and I am trying to figure out how one shot is fired in self-defense, and BOTH dogs are fatally wounded. But, I hate to say this, I am glad that these two dogs are out of the neighborhood…one could just imagine if they had attacked a child instead of a grown adult!