I know this is a hot button issue on here, but this one breaks my heart.

[texas1928]

I blame the owner of the dogs, not the dogs.

One Horse Is Dead, Four Others Injured After Morning Pit Bull Attack

They have a special place in the hearts of many and now four of the five Hearts and Hooves Miniature Horses are recovering. Two pit bulls went on a violent rampage Thursday morning - killing one horse, and seriously injuring four others.

The four surviving horses are being treated at veterinary clinics in Littlefield and Wolfforth. In the moments before the attacks happened, a witness tells us it seemed as if the horses and dogs were simply playing.

"I saw two large black dogs and what I thought was playing with a miniature horse," said John McCullough.

Rest of story here.

http://www.kcbd.com/global/story.asp?s=7806297

If most of you don't know, I have a special place in my heart for horses, and I hate to see when something happens to them.

[madinmaryland]

1. The owner of the dogs should absolutely be held responsible for this.

The fact the dogs had been sited before as dangerous, should have clued the owner into keeping the dogs under control and penned up.

[texas1928]

7. I agree...

It is the owners fault that these dogs did what they did.

[montanto]

2. Man, that is a sad story.

The owners need to be held responsible.

[texas1928]

8. I think they should be made to pay for the damages and vet bills.

[LostinVA]

3. The fact that they're pit bulls is irrelevant to the story

A few weeks ago, we took our dog to his Saturday herding class, and there was a almost completely devoured sheep carcass in the field. The trainer explained that it was from a pack of coyotes, because the whole thing was consumed. He said a few months ago, a couple pet dogs got into his herd and killed/maimed over 40 head of sheep. A coyote will kill for food, but pet dogs kill for fun. They weren't pit bulls or anything. Any dog is dangerous around livestock, and it's highly irresponsible to let a dog run loose.

Farmers and ranchers don't even leave their stock dogs unattended for long with livestock, because they get "ideas" in their heads.

[badgerpup]

4. True dat...

Had a friend tell me a very sad story about how she had to have two of her dogs euthanized because they started killing stock.

Beautiful, intelligent, healthy dogs, too...but they got a taste for it and so had to be put down. They were 'working dogs', so it's not like they could have been transferred to 'housedog' status.

Working dogs have more energy than the sun- they're bred to do so- and don't make good pets, especially if they've been used to working.

[LostinVA]

6. I disagree that working dogs don't make good pets

They just need the right person. Our border collie comes from really good working lines. He gets to herd on weekends, but during the week, he's just a house dog. They don't really care what their job is, as long as they have a job. His other job is playing with a soccer ball.

A working dog just needs to have their energy channeled into something. A working-line dog also generally have more restraint than sport-bred dogs. A lot of the border collies are nuts stuff, seems to come from people specifically breeding them for flyball and such. Those dogs have no real off switch, and the breeders are irresponsible.

[badgerpup]

22. Maybe I should have been a bit clearer...

..they don't make good low-maintenance pets. :hi:

[texas1928]

9. Herding dogs and the like have a lot of energy, and need exercise.

Plus, you have to teach them. I hate people who just get a dog and don't teach it.

[LostinVA]

11. Yeah -- Mick was dumped off at a kennel at 5 months with his papers & everything

They gave him up because he ran around and chewed too much. He's a border collie puppy!

In actuality, he's very good about only chewing on his toys (and the occaisional paper towel). And, he's pretty calm, as long as he gets about an hour of exercise a day.

[texas1928]

15. My sister and her husband got a border collie puppy...

They got rid of it because they were tired of her trying to get out of the yard. But that puppy was so frustrated because they did not spend time with it, or play with her. They stuck her in the back yard and hardly ever went out there. They got mad at me when I told them, the dog needed attention and needed play time, and that they were the reason she was trying to get out all the time.

[LostinVA]

18. BCs HAVE to have both human attention and exercise -- and a "job"

They like people. Throwing them in the backyard is almost posioning them, you know?

Mick gets his sheepherding and at least an hour of running, soccer, etc. time a day -- unless it's really icy out. Then, we all go stir crazy!

BCs are the sweetest, nicest dogs...

[texas1928]

21. Oh their BC was a beautiful friendly little dog.

She wanted to play so bad. When we would visit while they had her, she would just love all over me. They would gripe about her being hyper around people, but it was the fact she was starved for attention. The reason she tried to get out is she could hear the neighborhood kids playing and she wanted to play.

[LostinVA]

23. That makes me sad -- it's almost exactly what happened to our Mick

And, he's a big old sweetie goofball.

[LostinVA]

19. DUpe

[Arugula Latte]

5. Glad to be a cat person ...

:hide:

[texas1928]

10. I love all animals, and we have cats only.

But I would love to have a dog, I miss my cocker.

[politicallore]

12. I like horses and dogs

this is horrible

[texas1928]

14. I love them, but horses are a special love for me, I got it from my grandfather.

Someday I will raise horses, and I want to own minis too.

[Deep13]

13. Service horses, I knew it.

These tiny horses are bred and trained to be assistance animals for disabled people. The training is extensive and expensive. Horses live longer than dogs and apparently have a better temperment, so they are more economical. My Dad used to train service dogs and he had to reject a lot of them because of temperment. Even ordinarily docile canines can become aggressive if provoked. Since that is always a possibility, ones with latent aggression had to be weeded out. As a result, there was a great deal of waste in the program. Apparently, that is not a problem for horses. When the article says "minature" they mean it. These horses are only about four feet tall.

[texas1928]

16. These were used to go around to nursing homes and schools.

The one that was killed was the best of the group and a very pretty animal. I cried when I saw the news report last night. And it takes a lot to make me cry.

[Mugu]

17. My doggie died a while back.

He was a big (110#) German Shepard and everywhere he went this old black cat went. The cat knew that as long as he stayed close to the dog that he didn't have to worry about coyotes. His kitty and I both miss him terribly.

Regards, Mugu

[texas1928]

20. It is funny how animals create bonds.

When Katy lost her eye sight, Annie my mom's cat would make sure that Kate had food and water. If one of the bowls was empty, she would pester my father until he got up to see what she wanted, and it never failed one of Kate's dishes was empty.