Labrador Retrievers are evil!! Ban them!!
See, this is the story Bikermommy doesn’t want me to see. Y’all pardon me one moment while I give my mother a hard time and make fun of her. She probably won’t see it anyway.
Almost every time my mother hears about a dog biting someone, she reminds me that Rowdi is going to maul me to death one day, you know, since she’s a pit bull / German Shepherd / maybe Lab mutt. Tuesday night I talked to her, and she was sure to tell me that there were 4!! 4!! pit bull attacks in Amarillo this weekend. Attacks!! All by pit bulls! I assured her that every one of those pit bulls had irresponsible owners and were either neglected, undisciplined, abused, or a combination of those.
She proceeded to tell me that she has a friend whose sister has two pit bulls that she rescued from Katrina and they have full run of the house. They’re not abused at all! They eat whatever furniture they want, they do whatever they want, they’re completely… undisciplined. And… her friend is absolutely terrified of them. Um, mom, that’s because they’re not disciplined. Just as with any other dog, you can’t abuse them, but you must discipline them. Rules, boundaries, limitations are not abuse.
So. Today I go to find the story about the vicious pit bull attacks in Amarillo this weekend, and what do I see? There has been yet another attack in Amarillo.
After four dog bites in one week
What, Bikermommy? Those pit bull attacks were “dog bites”? I’m sure the blow-it-out-of-proportion media would still be harping about the attacks had they actually been… vicious attacks. Don’t get me wrong, dog bites are serious for more reasons than one, it’s just certain moms who like motorcycles also like to make it sound as bad as possible. ahem.
where the dogs were running loose
What’s that? The dogs were running loose? I wonder if that falls into the undisciplined category, or if that’s the neglected type? Doesn’t sound like abuse, but unless they were way out in the country, in which case people should have known not to just walk right up to them — I know I’d never walk right up to your vicious Blue Heeler without knowing she was ok — it’s safe to assume neglected or undisciplined or at the very least, improperly socialized. No? (Unless the people that were bitten were poking and prodding the dogs with sticks and deserved to lose a finger or two.)
this attack occurred in an area where a dog was properly contained.
City officials say 41 year old Randy Lumpkin was reading a water meter in the back yard in the 12 hundred block of south Rusk…
There are actual ellipses in the article, and that makes me laugh because I read “dun dun dunnnn” when I see that. Just wanted to share.
when a labrador retriever bit Lumpkin,
A LABRADOR RETRIEVER!!! You know, those are such dangerous dogs. I see them out at the dog spa all the time, and when they fetch the tennis balls from the ponds, you can just see their locking jaws clamp down on the tennis balls. It takes hours to pry the tennis balls from their mouths. And those gigantic tails are like helicopter blades to anything they whack.
OH NO!! Sizzle has a Lab!! Tell her to get rid of it as soon as possible! I know she loves Diamond and doesn’t want to send her back to the pound, but what about when Diamond’s brain outgrows her skull? That’s when she’ll just go crazy and start biting people!
sending him to the hospital.
What? Are you sure that’s not a pit bull that bit him?
Shannon Barlow of Animal Control tells us, “This would not be considered a dangerous animal
You know. Unlike a pit bull. Maybe it’s me reading too much between Ms. Barlow’s lines, but my head screamed out “Racist!” when I read that. Because I’m thinking she’s thinking “This would not be considered a dangerous animal like a pit bull. I know. It’s just me. She’s probably not a racist. More of a breedist.
All of the previous cases in the city this week involved pit bulls
Dangerous animals.
who were not properly restrained.
What? Not properly what?
The labrador retriever is currently under quarantine here at animal control and if healthy may be released to its owner in ten days.
If it had been a dangerous pit bull, it would have been put down, but you know, it’s a sweet wittle wabwador wetweiver, so we’re gonna give it the benefit of the doubt.
Animal control officers were also called out to another incident involving pit bulls on Raindrop lane…they charged a neighbor mowing his lawn…but no attack took place. That dog owner was issued a citation…and the case is now under further investigation.
In non-news today, dogs chased a lawn mower. Their irresponsible owner who had them offleash outside the fence got a ticket, and he’s being investigated because the dogs are pit bulls. Other breeds of dog are allowed to chase lawn mowers, because they are not the vicious breed of the decade.
Speaking of vicious pit bulls, I have to go walk my vicious beast.
That Rowdi has such a sweet face!
Most dangerous dog? Chihuahuas. Really, those dogs can be vicious. Pekingese too — probably ’cause they look like that or their just so hot under all that hair.
July 27th, 2006 at 10:07 amLOL! Great post, sweetie!
You always get so mad when anyone (other than you) irrationally hates Rowdi :P
July 27th, 2006 at 10:38 amit’s not that pit bulls are necessarily bad. it’s that they are very unpredictable and when they do go bad they are extremely vicious because they are extremely strong. some owners actually make them carry backpacks when they walk them and that just makes them stronger and more able to rip you limb from limb. other than that i really like them. i have to say a lot of prayers for Minerva and Sidney. And Sarah and Frank. from Bikermommy –ps. shock collar
July 27th, 2006 at 11:24 amDogs are individuals and you will find individual dogs who are bad, often because they have been raised poorly. Breeds of dogs do tend to have differing temperments (a friend’s collie has strong tendancies to want to herd people in the direction she wants to go), but even within a breed there is a wide variety of behaviors.
July 27th, 2006 at 12:17 pmpits are just as unpredictable as any other dog. A well-trained, properly socialized pit (like miss rowdi) is just as safe as any other trained and socialized pooch.
I think the reason pits have such a bad rep is that many people don’t take the time to work with them or have them interact with other people and other dogs, and even encourage them to fight.
Sad really, as they are sweet dogs, very loyal and protective. And really really smart.
Rowdi really is a cuty.
July 27th, 2006 at 12:18 pmThat clotting factor isn’t going to save you mommy…
July 27th, 2006 at 12:20 pmA post near and dear to my heart. I have a half pit/half American Bulldog. She’s a frikkin lap dog. A fifty pound lap dog, but a lap dog nonetheless. I have never had a dog that wanted to cuddle so much. Not my Rottweiler, not my Doberman (who never attacked anybody either) and not my Yorkshire Terrier.
You want to stop Pit-Bull attacks? Put the irresponsible owners to sleep when their dog attacks someone.
July 27th, 2006 at 1:40 pmPlus, there is no real guarantee that Rowdi even actually has any American Staffordshire (never say “pit bull” because that’s like calling all “scary” guns “assault weapons”) in her. Based on the pictures, I’d say half-Alsacian (Germany has become too sissyfied to have such a noble breed named for it) and half-Yellow Labrador. There really is no way to tell, unless you know her parents, because all breeds come from the same ancestors and crossing breeds can give you all sorts of unexpected traits. The more you cross the breeds into muttdom, the more you end up with something like a Wolf-Coyote-Dingo mix… now THAT ought to scare Bikermommy!
July 27th, 2006 at 5:35 pmi’m stealing “pit bull” from the bad word column and making it a good dog word/phrase! yay pit bulls! pit bulls are awesome! i refuse to NOT call my dog a pit bull mutt just because some really bad people have made some of them bad dogs.
July 27th, 2006 at 6:16 pmI’m with ya, sarahk. Who the heck wants to say all those letters, Ameriwhatever. Pit Bulls rock.
Boo, long proper breed name!
Hooray, Pit Bull!
July 27th, 2006 at 7:10 pmI think Gullyborg and Sarah are on the right track, in that I have a vague impression of having heard somewhere that “pit bull” is just a nickname rather than the official name of a breed, and that one or more different breeds (Bull terriers maybe? Is that an official breed?) go by this nickname. Because of course, they were used for fighting in pits (dogfighting, cockfighting, bullfighting, etc. definitely being “sports” near and dear to my heart; someone should have jabbed that [AHEM! REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE, ROGER!] Hemingway a couple dozen times with a spear, then finished him off with a sword).
Where was I? Ah yes. A friend owns what he calls a pit bull. I don’t doubt that it is. It has a head and front shoulders the size of a Bradley fighting vehicle, and they dwindle down to a tiny rump and rear legs. The look of the thing would give nightmares to Satan. However, this dog loves everyone, and - as a matter of temperment, anyway - can’t fight its way out of a paper bag. The poor beast is totally dominated by my friend’s other dog, a small mixed breed spaniel. When “bull” comes up for attention, the spaniel snarls him out of the way, and makes him wait while she gets petted first.
As to those deadly labs, a woman I used to practice law with owns two enormous specimens. Every time there’s a new visitor, they both hide behind mommy; once they’re sure he won’t kill them, they’re very friendly. At my brother’s, vistors are asked if they they mind attention from a large, overly familiar predator. If they don’t, then Midnight, the black lab, is given free reign. So once they sit on the couch she will be in their laps, explaining that she has never, never, never been petted, not once, ever, and will someone please, please finally bring just a little affection into her forsaken life?
As you all know, I don’t like dogs myself.
July 27th, 2006 at 10:30 pmPhillipians 3:2
July 28th, 2006 at 12:23 amLOL, essay! I thought it was going to be about honoring mother and father.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:45 amSarahK,
In all seriousness, I’m on the anti-pitbull side of the fence. My co-worker’s 4-year-old nephew was killed by his step-father’s pitbull about six months ago. A dog that had “never even bitten anyone before.” They’re unstable, and have a tendency to turn on people they know. So I certainly can’t fault anyone for wanting nothing to do with a pit bull. I hope your dog’s mongrelness will suppress its pitbullness.
- Beo
July 28th, 2006 at 9:44 amBeo, is that “never even bitten anyone before” a direct quote from someone who spent a lot of time around the dog? If so, is it a quote from someone who might have good reason not to admit that the dog had exhibited dangerous tendencies in the past? Either because they’d be opening themselves to criminal neglect charges for letting a kid near a dangerous animal, or because they feel personally guilty for not having said something in the past?
I’m always wary when someone tells me that their dog attacked them (or someone else) and had never acted like that before. It sounds too much like those parents who insist that their child, who is notorious among their peers for being a bully, is a perfect angel.
July 28th, 2006 at 2:29 pmAlright already! Will you all stop this nonsense!? Rowdi is NOT a Pitbull! She/it is not a Lab either! Nor a Shepherd. Maybe her parents knew each other, and maybe not. Probably not. Rowdi is politely called an “unregistered loved one”. There are other names, but I will not use one. Unregistered loved ones were all I ever had until I was about twelve. My Dad was given a highly bred German Shepherd by my uncle, who was career military and going on a three year overseas tour. This was one special animal. He decided immediately that my dad was not his master. I was. My dad was not really a “dog person”. ‘Pal’ recognized this instinctively. He was my dog. My uncle, Pal, and I actually had a “transfer of authority” ceremony, though I didn’t exactly understand at the time what it was. But evidently he did. I guess he agreed with my uncle’s decision. My once and best friend for eight years. He was about seven then. A mature dog. I don’t have time or space here to tell all the stories about this dog…..so I won’t.
July 30th, 2006 at 7:14 amI have owned a pit bull for the past nine years; she was an unholy terror of a puppy, and if it weren’t for my tender heart, I’m sure my parents would have had her given to a “good home” many times over.
I was bitten by another pit bull we owned shortly after we acquired this one; I had foolishly put my face up to the dog’s after he had exhibited aggression already (he was in his ‘quiet spot’ and apparently did not want to be disturbed’). A dog is not “dangerous” by nature; a dog becomes dangerous when the circumstances dictate it.
July 30th, 2006 at 10:37 pmI have a pit mix named simba and he is the biggest musssh i have ever seen!! he loves my nabors six month old and adors my other naboirs 4 years old. when i fisrt got him he barked at another dog.(that is normal people!) One of the people on my street whose dog got barked at started a rumor that i had a visous rotwierrler!! That is so far from the truth i thought i was going to die. but when she was confronted she lied and said it was not her and that he sould not be so visous any way.(jerk) now that that has been resolved i have an even bigger problem, my state is trying to ban pit bulls!!! not far at all!! What did my dog do to YOU! its the stupid owners fault if they don’t train them! luckly for me and my poochy simba the MSPCA is sticking up for wats right!!
May 11th, 2007 at 10:04 pmI have a gorgeous pitbull/black lab mix breed. She is entertaining, lovable, and very smart at the least. We got her from a humane society a year ago, and for the first six months we had her we did worry somewhat when other people came to the house. She never displayed any signs of hostility (toward us!)but, she is a very protective little lady. She has warmed up to visitors finally, is used to the usual sights and sounds of the house, and her best friend/biggest rival is a 15lb orange tabby cat. She spends most days sleeping in her cage willingly and chasing unlucky bugs that catch her attention. Fierce, and dangerous? Not in the least.
July 17th, 2007 at 10:45 pmwell i have a black lab and hes very sweet and nice and i dont think just because one lab bit someone they should be banned. a lot of pit bulls attacked and even killed other dogs, people, but they arent banned. and even if they do get banned idiots are going to start making the nice dogs like golden retrievers be mean.
im just saying dont be too quick to judge a dog just because they did something wrong. i really like pit bulls too and i think they are sweet cute dogs but i would never get one just like someone said they are unpredictable.
but also a lab im sure…attacked my dog once on a walk and it was a girl. and everytime we pass by and the dog is in the yard her or his i really dont know (the dogs name is rocket) face sticks out the holes of the fence and the fence is all [crappy - read the comment policy, please] and stuff like holes and its chewed up. and when my dog got attacked, the owner was there AND LET THE DOG OUT ON PURPOSE from the gate and he SAW ME AND MY DOG and didnt care!! see those are idiots, [dumbstupidheads] that need to be shot.
sorry about the long comment….
August 20th, 2007 at 2:00 pmsanja, the whole post is sarcasm. i think banning breeds of dogs based on the actions of a few is asinine.
August 20th, 2007 at 3:25 pma lab across the street has attacked my rednose pitbull 2 times leaving puncture wounds both times. im yelling no to the lab,my pit hears the word no and obeys and takes it and runs to the gate wanting in and looking at me like she is in trouble,while the labs owner seems scared 2 grab his dog.
August 26th, 2007 at 11:57 ami should have called the news but prob wouldnt even have come out unless it was the other way around
wonderful post. I too have a lab cross who as she got older we believe has pit in her. In fact your monster reminds me of mine! Love them and they will love you more!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:37 amI a pit bull cross although not sure what the rest of him is. He is the double of rowdi and he is a loving and highly intelligent dog unfortunately in the uk where i live full breed pitbulls are banned however i can partly understand it as most of them are used for fighting but the police here are allowed to seize pit bulls that are pets and have them destroyed which i think is disgusting. I personally adore pit bulls and also own a staffordshire bull terrier which are commonley mistaken as pit bulls and h is the friendliest most loving dog you can imagine i think apart from very rare occasions a pit bull or any dog attacks because it has been treat badly by its owner or used for fighting the poor dogs lose their lives which i think is justifiable if they have hurt someone however the owners should not just walk away scot free
October 31st, 2007 at 3:07 pmI own 2 Labradors….. but I agree that the Pitbull is not treated fairly! It urks me to no end, that intelligent people ?? are so quick to throw away such a beautiful animal without doing the research!! It’s only in the last couple of years, I’ve paid attention to the pitbull and if I could afford another dog, I would take a pitbull in a heartbeat……………I just love them !!!!!
January 25th, 2008 at 3:43 pmI have a 10 month old pit bull black lab mix. He is huge (80lbs +)! But, despite his size, and the fact that he looks like a super-huge black pit, he is the most loving dog I have ever seen. I think that people that stereotype pit’s should be neutered. Perhaps it would end (or put a dent) in the populations ignorance problem. I have seen mean pits, but they have idiot owners. I have never seen a pit with a respectable owner be vicious… unless they were in danger. Mass media needs to stop attempting to scare people into believing that specific breeds of dogs are always vicious. My brother has a purebred Miniature Pincer that is vicious. You don’t see them writing articles about it. He’s small and cute… how much of a threat can he be? Ask my neighbor, poor guy got bit by the ornry little punk. Pit’s are sweet-hearts by nature. Exterminate ignorance…. do honest research!
August 7th, 2008 at 4:24 pmHow can you say labs are dangerous.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:50 pmThey grab tennis balls like because they are bred for hunting. They also play with the tennis ball because they are fun playful dogs. I have two labs and neither has never bitten anybody.
Oh god, I hate it when online news reports a labrador/golden retriever attack and the comments state things like:
The child provoked the dog!
You shouldn’t leave dogs and toddlers alone!
If its a rottweiler, there are calls to ban the breed. Just the other day, my friend, Anna had a scary incident with Portia, her rottie.
They live in the country, middle of nowhere type country, and Portia never strays more than ten paces from Anna, so she’s off the lead, ambling around, and a little dog races up to her and bites her shoulder, hard. On Anna’s command, she sits down, and growls at the dog, but does not snap. Anna said she grabbed the offending dog by the scruff and marched it up to the owners, who were walking close by (right to roam, here in britain).
They thought it was funny, and babied the the dog, hugging it, asking if the big nasty dog hurt it.
Portia had stitches.
What a good girl, for listening to her owner.
Note: I don’t think labs are notably aggressive at all, really, but the labrador & rottweiler attacks have hopeless double standards.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:43 amI have four questions for all of your pit bull/pit bull mix lovers and advocates. The first one is have you ever HONESTLY researched pit bull/pit bull mixes? I challenge, no, make that dare you to go to DogBites.org and spend some time there, read the testimonials, look at the pictures of all the maimed people. Look at the dates. Then go to youtube and search for U.S. pit bull attacks in 85 days - watch the video, read the names, check out the deaths - all in 85 days.
Now, after you have done that, you come back here and swear to God that you see no problem with pit bull/pit bull mixes. Even this search I was doing when I happened onto this site resulted in only two attacks in two years that a lab attacked and one attack was a lab with other dogs - pit bulls/pit bull mixes.
Okay, I REFUSE to argue about whose fault it is, it is a pointless endeavor to do so. The breed, the idiot owner, it does not matter. But I ask you this, what do we do for a solution to this problem? Unfortunately you can not regulate or euthanize stupid pet owners. Most pit bull/pit bull lovers/advocates say punish the deed. Okay, how and who?
How many people have to be maimed, killed or have their own pets maimed or killed before some serious legislation is done? My proposition is to make it mandatory nation wide that anyone that wants to own a pit bull/pit bull mix should be required to have a special permit that is ONLY issued after that person has completed a special class in handling pit bull/pit bull mixes. And even if they complete this class, if anyone or their pet is maimed by their dog/dogs it should be a very stiff fine, restitution for medical bills, pain and suffering and the dog/dogs be put down. If anyone is killed then the owner should spend a minimum of 25 years in prison. What say you?
April 29th, 2009 at 1:59 pmDo you all not understand that its NEVER the dogs fault… its the owner. How you treat your animal and raise your animal is how they will treat everyone and every animal. SO DONT BLAIM THEM THEY ARE INNOCENT!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2010 at 11:24 amHannah, thanks for the driveby comment. Did you bother to read the post?
March 25th, 2010 at 1:02 pmI used to breed Rotweillers, one of my Rotts swallowed fluid during his birth, I performed CPR and he started breathing. I decided not to sell this little fellow, I kept him. He was raised in the house he was born in. Damien didn’t need potty training, he just knew, he was the calmest, gentle, 150 lb dog, I ever met. He knew a hour before I did if I was going to have a seizure. One day we were swimmng in a lake here in Fla. he started to push me toward shore, when we got out, I realized their was a gator in the lake. His beautiful life was dedicated to taking care of me.I was with Damien the day he was born and he was in my arms the moment Jesus called him home.
March 27th, 2010 at 5:04 pmI know Jesus loaned him to me for 8 years as he was a living angel.