Airing of Grievances

[Mitch f]

No politics, no name calling, just an airing of grievances.

Im very tired of of Pit bulls and pit bull owners…

In our neighborhood there is a guy who walks his German Shepard and Pit Bull…the German Shepard seems well behaved. The pit bull (and this thing is big) is on his back legs snarling and barking at me and my daughters when we take our walk. The dog has a huge choke chain or I should say a spike type chain and is literally choking every second as he snarls at us. The owner tries to shush him up every time he and the dogs walk past anyone in the neighborhood. I’ve considered getting a concealed carry license just for that dog. Weird part is the owner seems to think it’s not a big deal. 
Fast forward to tonight, at a fairly nice restaurant with outdoor seating. A guy and his wife bring a pit bull into the outdoor section of the restaurant. He told the dog the “lay down” command and after 10 attempts the dog lays down. Then when the waitress comes by to get the drink order, the dog gets up on his haunches and starts barking at the waitress and slightly lunging at her. She (the waitress)  came by my table right after that and I told her she was a lot nicer than I would’ve been. She said, “ well, I’m such a dog lover though”. 
I read online about these pit bull owners saying pits get a bad rap. Also when confronted they claim their dog is not a pit bull,  but a terrier mix or something like that. Trying to distance their dog from the actual breed. My take on it is that training might have a little to do with their behavior, but it’s all in the DNA. I’ve read so many stories about the dog acted great for 5 years then attacked their child one day for no reason. I just have to wonder about the mentality of some of these pit bull owners. My last Yorkie was attacked by a pit bull who ran through an electric fence and grabbed my dog for about 30 seconds. It was a miracle my dog lived but had punctured lungs with bloody air bubbles coming out his side. $1500 and three weeks later she got to come back home. I hate those darn things!

end of rant

[Al Agnew]

I'm with you, Mitch.  I've seen SOME apparent pit bulls that were well-behaved, but a whole bunch that I was uneasy the whole time I was around them.  But it isn't the dog's fault, it's the fault of people who own them.  And I agree, some of those people are owning them for all the wrong reasons, mainly, I think, just because they think it's cool to own a dog with a reputation for viciousness.  

But I have to admit that I have problems with a whole lot of dog owners no matter what the breed.  Just a few of my grievances with them...

1.  Taking their dogs on trails with signs clearly stating "no pets".

2.  Taking the dogs off leash in places with signs clearly stating "dogs must be on leash at all times".  The excuse I always hear on this one is "MY dog is very well trained."  Maybe.  But OTHER PEOPLE don't know you or your dog.  They don't know whether the dog is charging up to you to bite your face or lick it.  These are the kind of center of the universe people who thinks the world revolves around them.

3.  Not picking up their dog's poop in places where other people are going to be.

4.  Picking up the poop but leaving the bag next to the trail.  They say they will be picking it up on their way back because they don't want to carry it all the way with them.  What makes them think other walkers or hikers want to see that bag of crap laying there in the meantime?  If you bring your dog, you're responsible for it's poop no matter when or where it poops.

5.  People who bring dogs to places like public campgrounds and the dog barks incessantly all night long.  Train your dog not to bark or don't bring it around other people who you can expect to want peace and quiet.

I love well trained dogs.  I don't much care for people with poorly trained dogs.

 

[fishinwrench]

Why pitbulls are the breed of choice around here is a mystery to me.   I mean of all the breeds a person can choose from....Why Pitbulls?   

Obviously they CAN BE good dogs, but the problem is that when a pitbull gets into a scrap with another dog...they tend to take it to the next level EVERYTIME.   

Orion got tore up by a pitbull down the road when he was just a year old.  Cost me 400.00 at the vet.   If it had been any other breed of dog he might have gotten a few little abrasions, but that pitbull almost freakin' killed him.    

[tjm]

I think it's still illegal to shoot a dog in Mo. regardless of reason, the "Old Drum"  thing. Probably safer to shoot the owner. 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I hate all "Service"pit bulls. Give me a freaking break. PIt Bull owners do seem to be the proudest of dog owners for having a pit, they always know the exact weight which is usually exaggerated. Kinda like guys with the speed of their Bass boats

[MOPanfisher]

Paraphrasing Al here but, I love well trained dogs, I much care for people OR poorly/non trained dogs.  When a dog gets attacked by a pit bull it's kind of like getting into a bar fight with a trained boxer or mma fighter instead of a drunk redneck, that pit is born and bred with the ability to do a lot of damage quickly.  I like friendly pits but for whatever reasons owners seldom have the ability or skill to train them, they are stubborn.  German Shepard are similar in that they can do a lot of damage in a hurry but are much.more easily trained, they seem to want to learn and do what their owner wants them too.  

I will add my small rant, people who have to bring their dog EVERYWHERE with them.  We bring our dog most places with us, even to Springfield, but my daughter works for a vet clinic and lives next door, with a fenced back yard, so if we want to go out to eat or to a dr appt etc., we can simply drop her off to play and wrestle with her dogs for a while.  If we are going somewhere else we either don't go out to eat, one of us stays with her in the car, or she stays home and you endure the heartbroken look of a Border Collie whose soul has been crushed, until we get back and all is forgiven. The dang dog recognizes the bank drive thru because they give her a treat ever time.

[Quillback]

6 hours ago, tjm said:

I think it's still illegal to shoot a dog in Mo. regardless of reason, the "Old Drum"  thing. Probably safer to shoot the owner. 

Recently here in Bella Vista a man was convicted for killing a neighbors dog, it was a felony and he got some jail time, something like 3 months.

The dog was a barker and lived in a house somewhere behind where the guy who shot it lived, dog was out on the back deck constantly barking, day and night.  The shooter had called the police numerous times about it, and all the cops could do was warn the dogs owners.  Finally the guy got fed up and shot the dog with a pellet gun, the wound got infected and the dog died.  Charges were filed and the guy was convicted.  Can't remember if he pleaded or it went before a jury.  I felt for the guy, bum deal in my opinion.  

[Dutch]

I’ve only been around them a few times and never near.  We had 5 pb crosses show up at one of our farms.  They were pretty wild but always seemed to be found near our cattle.  Their numbers became less over time until there were 0.  I heard that they died of lead poisoning.

[Devan S.]

9 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I’ve only been around them a few times and never near.  We had 5 pb crosses show up at one of our farms.  They were pretty wild but always seemed to be found near our cattle.  Their numbers became less over time until there were 0.  I heard that they died of lead poisoning.

Happens pretty often to me....not pitbulls but neighbors mutt dogs. Excuse is always they have a little working cattle dog in them and they ain't harming anything.

1st mistake you can make is saying anything to the owner or calling the cops....just puts a target on you. 

I just keep quiet....catch the dogs in the act.....video...then solve the problem. Load up the dog and give it a ride several miles away.

Pitbulls I don't deal with thankfully but anytime someone says "their dog is trained" its bologna. I haven't seen a real trained dogs in years. 

[Foghorn]

I've had encounters with pit bulls 3 times in the last 2 years while walking around town. Each time ,the owner assured me "the dog won't bite; and fortunately I didn't get bit. The first 2 times I was carrying an old broomstick handle and it was enough to keep the dog at some distance while he owner secured the dog. I spoke with the animal control officer and the Chief of Police and they also weren't keen on the idea of shooting an animal. They both thought pepper spray would be the right response. I was talking to my older brother about my concerns and he produced a 3 foot long cedar stick that must weigh 2.5-3#. It's a little longer and heavier than some of my old baseball bats but I'm thinking it would have the same effect if I have to defend Susie and I against a dog that charges us.