Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from Attacker

[Mugu]

zootoo.com

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."

The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.

The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.

Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.



http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/straydogsaveswomanchildheldatk">Complete article

[DS1]

1. Dangerous Pitbull attacks and chases cutlery enthusiast

:hide:


:popcorn:

[amdezurik]

8. These dogs (as i am sure you know by your comment)

are not dangerous, stupid owners MAKE then mean and dangerous. My neighbors have a couple and they are the friendliest happiest dogs you can think of.

[Greyhound]

77. Just watch them carefully around other animals and don't even think about

letting them play with smaller dogs or cats.

I know and love these breeds, but they really don't understand how much more powerful they are and the terrier mind gets revved up and suddenly their playmate isn't moving anymore. All terriers were bred specifically to kill vermin and putting those instincts in a body that powerful can be very sketchy.

[amdezurik]

78. well in a way that goes for ALL bigger dogs.

I just hate the blanket condemnatin they get just for being strong.

[Greyhound]

80. It's more than just their strength, they are terriers and have been bred to kill that's their job.

Put a Border Collie on a playground full of kids and the dog will herd them without any training, that's what they were bred for. Put my hounds in a big empty space and they will chase anything that moves, including each other.

I've just seen too many people, including me, get complacent with their pits and tragedy ensues.

Otherwise, they are just the best dogs (if you have the energy), loving, acrobatic, clowns that are smart and unbelievably tenacious.

[bunkerbuster1]

102. Well, they were bred to kill other animals dogs, not people

At least that's what my pit-bull rescuing sibling told me; idea being that the most desirable specimens would be easily handled by its human in a ring.

Doesn't mean they can't be dangerous to people, of course; and obviously there are people who train them as attack dogs.

[amdezurik]

103. very true

and no I am not really arguing with you after all :)

[Greyhound]

104. No argument here either, I'm sorry if it came across that way. I love them

they're one of my favorites, or were when I had the time and energy for them. Now, the retired racers are my first love, but I love all dogs (some of the really tiny extra obnoxious breeds are harder to love, but still...)

People that have them just have to be aware of how to handle them and what to watch for.

Of course, those that make them crazy in order to fight them should have their own pack set on them and then left to bleed to death.:grr:

I guess that's why we have courts.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

109. Actually, my one Border Collie would bite the kids

He doesn't like small children.

Now, sheep are another story. He loves herding sheep.

There's a reason why most rescues and many breeders won't place BCs in homes with children younger than 8-12 years old (depending on the rescue or breeder).

And, many BCs have had all the herding instinct bred out of them so they look "pretty."It's why our two BCs come from working, not AKC, lines.

[Greyhound]

143. Valid points. My sister's hobby is competitive herding, for those that don't know, think of

"Babe" without the pig, and there is almost a schism between the AKC breed and the real working dogs.

AKC is just plain evil, encouraging puppy mills and destroying breeds in the name of profit without any regard for the animals themselves. Just as you said, they're breeding lines are only about conformation, looking a certain way. They have destroyed so many breeds over the years it should be a crime. Due entirely to the AKC and their damned "standards", one of the first things a working BC has to go through is the pin test to check for the presence of hip dysplasia because, like the poor German Shepard a once great dog, their practices and standards have brought this crippling deformity/disease into the blood lines. They're currently working to destroy my beloved Greyhounds.

All dogs are individuals and some Borders do bite, the herders typically use those for cattle since they are so big and stupid they often need some extra incentive to do as they are told. Others are too timid for big stock and they use those to herd ducks (it's really funny to watch those events).

I don't know how I got off on this mini-rant, I probably shouldn't post until I've had a few cups of Tanna Leaves.

Anyway, dogs are our best friends, without them we probably wouldn't have survived as a species.

Never trust anyone your dog doesn't like.

Boycott AKC and all their sponsors.

Get your dogs from rescues.

Turn in abusers.

[Tigress DEM]

127. Many have been bred to protect, so it really depends on the lineage.

There has been a lot of effort over the years with the UKC and AKC to not allow those who would fight the dogs to register them or to boot them out if discovered after the fact.

The best ones as far as being good for families and around animals probably go back to farm stock where they were used to keep bulls under control by clamping down on their snout and not letting until the bull passed out so the farmers could prevent issues herding bulls to slaughter.

The stories of the pit bulls that save lives usually include this type of behavior. If someone has a gun the pit clamps onto the gunman's arm and won't let go.

These will usually be your larger dogs, which look the scariest, but actually act quite a bit different from those trained to fight.


http://www.pitbullawareness.com/Act%20Pages/Pitbull%20History.htm
<snip>

It is believed that the breed's general usefulness on the frontier was a factor in increasing its size.

The American pioneers discovered the Bull-and-Terrier's versatility, bravery and devotion, and soon the dogs traveled west, becoming indispensable members of many ranch and farm families.

The dogs were well-suited to life on the frontier, and guarded homesteads and children with confidence and authority. Many of them also helped round up stock. In addition, they protected the farm animals from predators and varmits ranging from rats and snakes to coyotes and bears.

Eventally, the settlers probably decided that a slightly larger dog, with the same body style and bravery, would have an even better chance of defending the stock against marauding mountain lions and ravaging wolves. Consequently, when selecting breeding partners for their dogs, they chose larger specimens.

[Tigress DEM]

118. My son's pitt bull was good with cats, but he ate a hamster.

WHICH when my son was using play language with the dog and the cat, I reminded him about.

Son was showing the hamster to the dog, hamster lept in the air. Chomp. No more hamster.

I got in the dog's face and told him that was MY Cat and if he ate it, he would answer to me. I had partially raised the dog so I was the alpha female in the house. He listened.

Cat did grow up acting like a dog, though.

[Tigress DEM]

121. Here is an AWWWW!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/08/pit-bull-saves.html


A 2-year-old female boxer/pit bull mix named Angel, which had been turned over to the Nevada Humane Society’s shelter in Reno, is credited with rescuing six abandoned kittens Monday, according to Diane Blankenburg, a shelter spokeswoman.

[Tigress DEM]

123. The following is a reapeat on DU, but a tear jearker.

HERO DOGS Video

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/372417/2270286




Ah, the day when all dogs are judged by the content of their character and not the bred type listed on a piece of paper.

[The Doctor.]

144. Oh, you know she was just saving them for a snack...

:evilgrin:

It's so funny. Often I meet people with their dogs at the park. They always start by assuring me their dog is friendly. I say, "I know... she told me already." I love the dopey Pits and Rottweilers.

[MadHound]

125. 'Scuse me?

Are we talking about the same dog breed? I've lived with, loved, rescued, and healed these dogs for thirty years now, and I've never observed this problem with pits. All of my dogs, including the pits and pit mixes that I've had have lived with and loved cats and other dogs. They have all been kind and gentle towards not just other animals, but children, friends and family also.

[Tigress DEM]

129. I wonder too how much depends on what the owner expects of the dog.

It takes patience and very consistent training practices to get dogs and cats to get along.

And, like I said in an earlier post, the hamster thing was really my son's fault he was using play voice and words that sounded similar to play activity that ended in the dog getting to chew something.

People have to understand what they are really telling their animals to do. Dog may not get the words, but the tone of voice and the repetition of rewards and affection are what they learn to interpret.

[MadHound]

136. I've really never had a dog/cat problem, at least not from the dog's end

It's the cats who generally put the dogs in their place, quickly.

Rodents and dogs can be ugly though. I had mice when I was a kid, and one day took one out for our German Shepard to investigate. She picked him up in her mouth, not to eat, but was too rough and broke his back. She was grief stricken, you could tell. However the rest of the mice she loved. It was funny to see her lift these mice so gently and carry them around the house, or let them nuzzle up against her.

You're right about tone of voice. I once had a Great Dane/Pit mix who I walked everywhere without a leash, strictly on voice command. I had a whole language that was marginally English that he responded to quite well, it was all in the tone of the voice.

[Vektor]

132. Thank you. The voice of experience...

trumps the voice of hysteria and ignorance any day.

I too have spent most of my life with this breed of dog, and I know that you are telling the absolute truth.

And quite frankly, I get real tired of all the hysteria and prejudice. The lynch mob mentality I see from a select few - (toward an animal!!) at DU who claim to be progressives is utterly astounding.

Yet the same people who are screaming for all pit bulls to be put down would be crying and protesting if a serial rapist/murderer was facing the death penalty, and ranting about how they don't believe in it. :crazy:

[Greyhound]

152. Oh well then, since you are the only dog lover that's ever had any experience with

them, all the rest of us are obviously just too stupid, neglectful, and impatient to have seen what we've seen.

I know the 20+ years I spent trying to keep as many of these beautiful animals out of the rings as I could has no relevance, and the fact that my whole family has been involved with dogs of all breeds for generations makes us far to biased to have any valid advice for those that may not know what they migth be getting in to.

[flvegan]

16. Ha!

Good one! :rofl:

[Posteritatis]

53. Win! :D (nt)

[guitar man]

2. good dog!!

I would have fled too!! :D

[hatrack]

3. GOOD dog!!!

:toast:

[Fumesucker]

4. Very Good Dog.. You get a treat...

[Blue_In_AK]

5. And NOT wearing lipstick, I bet. :)

[beac]

72. But now guilty of pallin' around with toddlers!

And possibly a socialist what with spreading the safety around and all.

[roguevalley]

82. bwahahaha! This dog can live at my house. I would hunt for him

until I found him.

[Solly Mack]

6. Good Doggie

Eat that bad man.

[TwilightGardener]

7. That's nice, but I'm still not crazy about the breed. It's a shame what

people have created, in the name of either dog-fighting or imagined security. And please, DU, don't start with all the "they're really sweethearts, they're cuddly!" shit. It's not the animals' fault, but they were bred with powerful jaws and have a big prey/guarding drive--combined with iffy temperament and poor handling (as with all dogs), and they become ticking time bombs. I have one living across the street, and I won't go near it, or let my dogs/cats near it, no matter how much the white-trash chain-smoking owner tries to convince me that he wouldn't hurt a fly--he gets out and runs loose from her and her kids all the damn time.

[mopinko]

9. yup. dog behavior is influenced by genes, and so is ours.

i have known some complete sweeties. the breed that these dogs come from are stalwart, strong companions. but the prey drive is there, and easily line bred up. when you adopt one, you never know.
it is sad.

[TwilightGardener]

13. I am a Humane Society volunteer, and when these dogs are seized

or surrendered, they are almost always euthanized as a matter of policy--too many risks in terms of public safety to adopt out, and there's also the risk of adopting out to someone who plans to use them to dog-fight. It's very sad, indeed, and again, not the dogs' fault.

[mopinko]

25. it is sad. but

my daughter adopted one from an unscrupulous person pretending to be a licensed rescuer, and within 2 days it attacked and nearly killed another dog in the building. it was surrendered to the pound, and guess who got stuck with the $1500 vet bill. plus a lot of pain and suffering, and trauma to all.

[TwilightGardener]

33. What an awful story.

[OnionPatch]

100. I discovered this when I found a stray pit-mix.

Every shelter I called said they would take her but wouldn't "adopt her out." That was even if she was only part pit bull. If they look at all like a pit (and she does) they are out of luck. So I kept trying to find her a home until I realized she was the sweetest dog I had ever met. I still have her five years later and she's never displayed the slightest bit of aggression. She loves kids and is the most kid-tolerant dog I've ever seen. She wants nothing more than to climb into your lap and be loved. I know pit bulls have a bad rep and I am sure there are reasons for it, but I also know for a fact that some of them can be wonderful, loving pets.

[LWolf]

113. My son adopted a pit mix from the pound when he was 12.

There was a whole litter, and the rest were euthanized. A pit/whippet cross.

She was sweet, energetic, loving, GENTLE, kind to the cats, submissive to the other dogs and to all people, including the very small.

She did love to chase. She chased balls, sticks, and, at dusk and in the dark, the beam from my flashlight. She chased the shadows of the butterflies hovering above her head. She tried chasing my horse, and learned instantly why that was not a good idea.

She died about 5 years ago, after a long, full, happy life.

[OnionPatch]

114. What a lucky girl!

She sounds sweet. And she sounds a lot like mine. Mine loves to chase, too. I always thought she'd be a great agility dog if she belonged to someone with the interest in that.

[LWolf]

140. We lived on 5 acres on a dirt road.

Neighbors and friends used to drive past the place just so they could race her. She loved to race; perhaps the whippet half?

She'd run inside the fence, and, on dirt, she always won.

It's been good to remember what a wonderful dog she was.

[MadHound]

128. That's why there are people like me around, to keep pits out of the clutches of the Humane Society,

'Cause the goddamn Humane Society got it up it's ass that all pits are killers and euth's every one they pick up, collar on or not, lost or abandoned, it doesn't matter. Starting around fifteen years ago the Humane Society decided to declare war on pits, and they won't stop until they're dead.

Yet the fact of the matter is that a pit is a great dog. Have you ever raised a pit? If not, get a pit pup, they're quite the cuties, and raise it like any other dog, then get back to me just how horrible this breed is. I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised by a smart, fun, loving, and loyal dog.

Are there killer pits, well d'uh, of course there are. If you take any dog and mistreat it as happens with pits, then yes, you will have a killer dog. It used to be done with German Shepards (the original junk yard dog forty plus years ago), then Dobermans, now pits and rotties. Yet the Humane Society, along with much of the public has, thanks to both the bad owners and sensationalized media, decided it's the fault of a breed and now want to kill that breed off. What's funny is that up until the pit craze took hold, the AKC among others had for years and decades rated the pit as the top family dog.

But hey, don't believe me if you don't want to. But don't fall for the sensationalized crap either. Next time a load of pit pups come in to be euthed, be kind, be merciful to one, take the pup home and see for yourself what these dogs are like.

[madeline_con]

133. There are pits for adoption at our local shelter.

I guess it depends on the area where you live. That's terrible.

[Joe Chi Minh]

93. See, even dogs have a sense of gallantry! I just hope he doesn't try and

hold the door open for the wrong woman. He deserves better!

[Chulanowa]

12. You shouldn't let your dogs / cats near ANY dog, generally

Unless you're absolutely certain that the other animal is going to behave. It's not a breed thing. A cutey-poo cockapoo has just as much a chance of mangling your cats as the big beefy put bull or rott.

The huge problem with put bulls is that they have the muscles of a dog twice their size and the brain of any other terrier. Like every other breed, a would-be owner needs to realize the needs and drawbacks of their animal. With German Shepards, you need frequent exercise and lots of money for the probability of hip surgery. For a collie, you need at least twelve hours free time a day to brush the damn thing, and need to cushion sharp corners 'cause they're farsighted to the point of injury. With a pit bull, you have to be able to handle a hundred pound block of beef on hte other end of the leash, and it helps to steel-plate all your funiture.

[TwilightGardener]

21. I let my animals out in my own yard (and they generally stay there), but this

dog often comes into my yard, and chases my cats--I haven't lodged a complaint yet, because the family does try to keep it inside and they are usually chasing him when he gets out--it's not like they deliberately let him run loose. I sympathize, because my dogs often bolt when they have a chance too. But while I recognize that ALL breeds can become aggressive (dachshunds and weimaraners, too, which are what I own), there are certain breeds that tend to be more lethal, and I will never get over my fear of them. Many dogs will snap or bite out of fear, or protecting their territory or owners, but pit bulls tend to be more aggressive and are also more able to inflict lethal injury. They don't let up, beyond the initial chomp, in other words. That's what they were bred for. My wiener dog was bred for badger hunting, so while he can be fearless and aggressive, he's small and isn't going to have the same physical capability to injure or kill people or other animals.

[ljm2002]

65. I'm generally neutral on these dog-breed threads...

...and the reason is that I do not myself own any dogs. I'm more of a cat person. However, your response dredged up a story from my past that I'd like to share.

A family that we were friends with owned a Dachsund. When their two children, aged 9 and 7, were threatened by a neighbor's German Shepherd, their Dachsund defended them. Guess which dog got the better of that fight? The Dachsund killed the German Shepherd -- bit its throat and did not let go.

I don't know about what they were bred for etc., but it reinforces the idea that any breed can be dangerous. Most of us would assume that a German Shepherd is more aggressive and dangerous -- and of course, the shepherd was the aggressor in this case. The dachsund was defending its young humans, and its shorter height gave it an advantage because it could get to the shepherd from underneath while the shepherd could not get to any of its vital organs.

Just thought I'd share :-)

[TwilightGardener]

73. That was one protective doxie! They were bred to hunt badgers, which

are some of the fiercest critters out there, so weiners tend to have a lot of brass--I have to say, though, that I don't generally think of them as being aggressive enough to kill another dog (I haven't seen that sort of blood-lust in my own, certainly), so I'll assume that's atypical for the breed--but as I say, you just can't ever fully trust any animal not to bite or otherwise act on its more undesirable instincts.

[roguevalley]

84. I have a herd of them and only one of them is smartsie enough to

stalk prey. the others run and bark at bad guys and I believe they would die for me. I would return to favor, believe me. Dachsies are the perfect alarm dog. They scare people and don't let anyone near your house. They also are the nicest damned dogs, so loyal you could shoot yourself.

[sweetpotato]

85. Dachshunds are very aggressive

According to a study I read about, doxies are the most aggressive breed - most likely to snap and bite. Chihuahuas are number 2.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2254479/Sausage-dogs-are-the-most-aggressive-dogs.html

[Joe Chi Minh]

96. Well, the larger ones look to me like sawn-off Dobermans.

[Joe Chi Minh]

95. I knew of a mutt that killed a German Shepherd, too, but I've heard that they're overbred, too,

inbred or something.

I remember now. It was a Labrador, or Labrador cross.

[renie408]

22. With GSD's, you don't need money for hip surgery. You need good breeding and common sense raising.

We breed GSD's and have had no dysplasia problems with our dogs. My oldest female (ten years) is starting to have hip problems, but she was hit by a car about five years ago and dislocated both hips. The vet told us at the time that she would end up having hip arthritis problems. I know breeding only accounts for 25% of hip dysplasia, but if you are smart about how you feed them (large breed puppy food, etc) and smart about how they work as they are growing (very little), you can avoid hip surgery. I get and agree with the point you are making, just wanted to get my defense of GSD's in there.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

110. Pit bulls do not weigh 100lbs

I think you're confusing them with other breeds.

[Chulanowa]

111. Well, that depends on how many kids you feed it

They can get a little tubby if you're not careful.

I keed, I keed!

I may be, yeah, but the ones I've handled always seemed pretty heavy. Migt just be an illusion due to how they don't stop squirming when you're trying to bench-press them.

...i keed still!

[Tigress DEM]

117. Not pure bred, but if you cross with boxer or bull dog the weight can go up.

My son had a mix that had some sort of terrier name to it. He was about 85 pounds.

Sweetest thing, but when he smiled babies cried because there were so many teeth.

My son had to put his hand right in Rawco's mouth to pull out a piece of bamboo that was stuck in that little thing that looks like a punching bag at the back of your throat. I was right beside him and I worried about a reflex chomp. Nothing. My son knew his dog trusted him implicitly.

Rawco looked a little like this guy, but prettier and his ears were never cropped.

ANOTHER HERO
http://network.bestfriends.org/thepitstop/news/2703.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. That's OK.

I still think dachsunds suck.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Eh, when a vicious wiener dog ends up on the nightly news for eating children, let me know.

They can be snappish little shits, but they're not a public safety danger.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. I'll take the "public safety danger."

Over the snappish little shits.

[TwilightGardener]

26. LOL! Ok, then.

[renie408]

27. I'll take the snappish little shit that I can kick unconscious with one shot over the

public safety danger that can rip my throat out.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. I'll take the "public safety danger that can rip out your throat."

Over your throat.

[renie408]

34. Well, I would take MY throat over....wait...I am not sure where to go with this...n/t

[TwilightGardener]

30. That's pretty much it. Not that my weenies were ever snappish or bitey, but

it's nice not to be afraid of them, because let's face it...I could send them flying across the room if I wanted to, and I'm a small woman. My weim, though...he could mess me up. Good thing he's a harmless dope. He's the last big dog I'll ever own.

[renie408]

35. We have five GSD's that average about 80 pounds a piece.

They are the best dogs we have ever had. We also have a rat terrier. She is the only biter we have. People are always wanting to pet her and she bites...she's a biter. They are afraid of the GSD's, which are all the sweetest dogs ever. I tell people that she is 17 pounds of fighting fury. And she is.

[TwilightGardener]

39. It's a bummer about the little dogs being so bitey, but then, I would be too, if

I was so much smaller than all the bigger wolves out there. Although my wieners seem to think they're just as big as the big dogs, and have no problem starting shit with dogs that outweigh them by 50 pounds or more. They are ridiculous, frankly, which is why I love them.

[renie408]

48. Our terrier is just a lot of dog in a small package. Which is what she is bred to be.

She is bred to go down holes and kill things. I think when you are looking at any particular breed, you have to take into consideration what they are bred to do.

[BronxBoy]

56. Our ratter is a biter too...

Never had any problems with our 100 pound lab and bull mastiff.

When the terrier was a couple of months old he was asleep on my lap and I went to move him to go to the bathroom.

That little fucker growled and bit me. Drew blood too.

He's great with us now and has already earned him keep killing vermin in the greenhouse but I wouldn't trust him with strangers.

[renie408]

61. Ours can't stand people it when people bend down over her to pet her.

And sure as shit, if you tell them that, they immediately bend down over her to pet her. It's like everybody thinks THEY are going to be the one person she won't snap at.

She have never bitten any of us, but she has taken quite a toll on our boarders and others.

[roguevalley]

86. I was sleeping with four of my five weiner dogs draped over me.

Two of them got to scrapping and I woke up just in time for Tippy, the dog in my sigline, to nail my chin. I was sitting up with a weiner dog hanging from my chin. LOL. He was so mortified he could hardly look at me and moped around FOREVER until he thought I had forgiven him enough.
Dachsies are the best buddies but they will scrap.

[lukasahero]

145. Well, I still have the scars near my eye from the bite I received by one as a kid

Don't bother with the rebuttal, I've heard it all before. Just want to make sure you understand that all dogs can be a danger given the right set of circumstances.

[AtomicKitten]

32. they are wicked smart though

I won't tell you the story of the pit I adopted because you don't want to hear it. Suffice to say she nipped my cat once early on, we had some tense words, and she never, ever did it again. And five years later, she protects that same cat and, in fact, interrupts fights my other cat, wildthing Renfield, starts with her. She is loyal and smart and cherished.

[renie408]

36. They can be really great dogs.

The problem I see is that they are like cars...some people have the skill and knowledge to drive a Ferrari responsibly and some really shouldn't have all that speed and power at their disposal. We have German Shepherds and they are 'special needs' dogs, too. They need somebody who understands that they are very devoted to a limited number of people and they need a job because they are driven to DO something. They can get into trouble with people who want to crate them 8 - 10 hours a day or who want a big tough dog because they teeny tiny penises and think a really butch dog will make up for it. I imagine pits are the same way.

[AtomicKitten]

41. I think crating is cruel.

I understand the problems people have being away from home and not wanting Fido to have their way with the premises, but crating for hours on end is nothing short of cruel IMHO.

[renie408]

46. Me too. It will drive a good dog crazy.

That's how we got our oldest female. We got her from the local GSD Rescue people. She had been in four different homes and had lots of problems. Turns out, the rescue people were sending the crate with her to every home they tried to place her in. By time she got to us, she had so many claustrophobic problems and just neurotic problems that it took two months before she would come close enough to us so that we could touch her. I think she was afraid we would put her in the crate, so she just stayed away from us altogether.

[AtomicKitten]

52. It's a challenge working with damaged rescues.

For all the fear Seven induces in people just on appearance, she is so fearful sometimes she is almost catatonic. She is afraid of riding in the car or being in a room with the door shut. She has some issues with eating and often appears fearful of her own food dish.

I think their fears are multiplied exponentially when they are passed around from home to home. As you have discovered, it takes patience and time. It's satisfying providing a forever home that all animals deserve.

[renie408]

59. What finally worked for this dog was ignoring her.

I tried to get close to her for awhile, but finally said, "fuck it" and just let her run loose on the farm (we lease a seventy acre horse farm). We left a free feeder in the aisle of the barn and she was eating, because the food was disappearing.She wouldn't come anywhere near any of us. Then one day after about six weeks, I noticed her sitting in the barn doorway. She still wouldn't let me near her, though. Then a week or so later, I noticed her sitting in the door of the stalls as I was cleaning. And that went on for awhile. As long as I didn't try to touch her or pay much attention to her, she would follow me around. Not long after that, she had totally adopted me. She would follow me right behind me to one side everywhere I went. She would follow me while I rode (which drove the horses nuts) and kept an eye on me. When the rescue lady came to pick up her crate, Sasha stood in front of me and barked and growled at her and basically wouldn't let the woman come near me. I think she identified her with bad things and wasn't going to let her 'get' me. After awhile, she became a family member. She is the smartest, easiest dog we have ever had. She sleeps next to our bed on my side and follows me everywhere I go, including the bathroom. If I have to go out of town, she won't eat while I am gone. I try to take her with me whenever I can. She doesn't really demand a lot of attention FROM me, but she GIVES me all of hers. She watches me and takes care of me everywhere I go on the farm. I can see where she would drive somebody else crazy and wouldn't work out for them, but we just love her.

[AtomicKitten]

66. "Not long after that, she had totally adopted me."

Exactly. On her own terms.

What a great story! Thanks for sharing it.

[shireen]

88. wonderful adoption story

you're very lucky to have her .... :)

[Posteritatis]

62. re: big tough dogs as compensation..

I had a weird experience last year that reminded me of.

I was in a different city for grad school last year. My housing fell through at the last minute so I jumped on the first option I found, which was a low-rent townhouse with several undergrads (all of whom were admittedly great, likewise the landlord) - in what turns out to have been a pretty cliche gang neighborhood. All the neighbors wore Bloods colors all the time, massed in two big clusters at the exits to the area we were in so you couldn't get out without going through/around them, etc. Really awesome, really.

Anyway, you'd expect the standard overcompensation dogs for that crowd, right? Rottweilers, maybe German Shepherds, anything else large and theoretically aggressive, all of them raised less than perfectly, right?

Chihuahuas and poodles. Well-behaved chihuahuas and poodles, over which the big tough thuggish types would rather obviously fawn whenever one was in sight.

I shit you not.

That's when I knew I was in for an odd year...

[renie408]

64. That's because all those big tough thuggish types were the real thing.

And must not have been drug dealers. Rotties and pits are the protection dog of choice for drug dealers, I have been told.

Anyway, those guys must have been REALLY tough, so they didn't need the tough dog to make them feel better about themselves.

[Posteritatis]

71. Nah, they carried weapons and dealt drugs openly too (nt)

[roguevalley]

87. as guys age, their dogs shrink. :) We've had dachsies for over

50 years but my uncles went from g. shepherds and such to toy poodles, boston terriers and the like. *SO CUTE* to see them fuss with their little babies. :)

[meow2u3]

112. AAH, so that's what you call...

...that certain male body part :evilgrin:

[roguevalley]

139. you naughty thing, you. LOL!

[TwilightGardener]

37. I am glad she's a good girl, and that you are a loving and responsible owner.

I'm not trying to demonize the animal or make people feel bad, and I realize that good/even-tempered pit bulls are probably more the rule than the exception--but it will be forever a breed that I stay away from, same as I wouldn't keep a loaded gun out on the coffee table. Because that's what they sort of are to me--loaded guns, or grenades without the pin pulled. I must say, I'm a bit fearful of Rottweilers and Chows, too. I love dogs, but I never fully trust them, because you never know when their instincts will override their training or their normally sweet personalities.

[AtomicKitten]

40. I've posted this before, but I think it bears reposting.

This is Renfield kicking Seven's butt, playfully.

[TwilightGardener]

43. Ha! Mean ol' kitteh! My cats do this, too--they have no problem walloping

the dogs. Cute pic!

[AtomicKitten]

45. I think Ren wears the pants in the family.

Don't tell Seven though. It'll tarnish her pit cred!

:hi:

[guitar man]

50. lol

Here's my favorite of my pit mix with my daughter. She wore that poor old dog out and still wanted to play!

[AtomicKitten]

54. that is precious

and a testimony to the beautiful nature of the dog (your daughter too!)

[guitar man]

58. thanks

She is a great, smart dog. Best pound pup I've ever rescued. Now, if anybody ever wanted to see the ugly side of that dog, all they would have to do is threaten that child. That dog would be so far up their ass they wouldn't know which way to turn. :evilgrin:

[Botany]

92. I have my Black Lab "Fluebie"

80 lbs of love, cute, and dumb ....

My Son & he are the best buddies in the world ....
he was walking him last year when a "creepy man"
came up to talk to my son. Fluebie went nuts and
attacked the man who ran away ... I gave him a
pound of bacon when my son told me the story.

Fluebie would not leave my son's side for the next few
hours.

BTW the little border collie next door "beats him up"
all the time.

[roguevalley]

90. awwwwwwwwww

[roguevalley]

89. your babies are fabulous. my gretchen (dachsie) used to kick

Beau's (doberman-huge) butt until he was tired of it and would lay down, putting a paw on gretchen and pinning her. She used to horse bit him, pulling slowly on his chest skin and he would just tolerate her. :) Training and loving is essential.

[AtomicKitten]

137. they sound so cute!

:hi:

[roguevalley]

138. they are my babies. :) I have to put them on a dog treadmill to keep

them in shape. they are ten to fourteen and really cute. :hi: 's back

[renie408]

42. Honestly, you have to be careful of any big dog that can be used for protection.

I tend to think pits end up having more problems than others because their reputation draws the exact wrong kind of owner and breeder, but you have that problem with any breed that is useful for protection. They get bred for certain tendencies which can make them dangerous in the wrong hands.

That said, we had a Rottie when my son was a baby and he used to ride it around like a pony. She was the most universally friendly dog we have ever had.

[TwilightGardener]

49. True--I just generally don't trust my training/alpha female abilities well enough

to own a dog with strong guarding instincts. I leave it to others to assume that level of responsibility--I'll stick with the hounds and sporting breeds.

[renie408]

51. You are smart. A big, smart dog will run your life if you are not 'top dog'. n/t

[guitar man]

60. exactly

Nail meet hammer. My Dad used to say "never own a dog you can't whoop, he'll run all over you." He was right. Every time I have ever seen someone's dog get out of hand with them it is because they were scared of their own dog and the dog knew it.

[Danascot]

47. My wife and I are big-time dog lovers

(two very spoiled cockers) and the couple of pit bulls I know as other peoples' pets are very mellow sweethearts, but my wife has worked in the emergency room for 15 years and she estimates that about 3/4s of the dog attacks she treats are pit bulls. The more severe attacks can result in dozens of stitches, plastic surgery, nerve damage and disfigurement. Most of the victims are kids and the parents almost always say something like, "I don't understand it. The dog never hurt a fly before. All of a sudden it just went crazy."

[TwilightGardener]

57. Yes--there's just some risks in life I'm not willing to take, and owning

or even handling an animal that has a reputation for "going for the throat" (unlikely as it is to occur) takes all the joy out of being with a dog, IMO--there are too many breeds who can't do much more than snap and draw a little blood at the very worst, I'll stick with those.

[midnight]

10. Good news... I love it. I hope his/her owners are found.

[melody]

11. It's good to know he has a home somewhere

Even if the present owner doesn't claim him, he has one with Angela.

[HEyHEY]

14. Ooo, ose a good doggy, ose a good doggy! Hey, this was November 5th

DId the dog's owners claim it?

[xchrom]

15. joyously recommend. nt

[KurtNYC]

17. Hooray for irresponsible pitbull owners! Let them all loose!

and when they menace the right people we can write articles like that one.

:sarcasm:

[Enrique]

19. I now think it's irresponsible to keep pit bulls indoors

how are they going to save people if they're not loose on the streets?

[renie408]

18. Well, that completely negates the two pitbulls that ate their owner last year, doesn't it?? n/t

[uppityperson]

147. Yes dear, posting a positive story about a dog is a bad thing indeed.

Since we all know they are ALL actually killers who can't be trusted and we don't want to post anything positive about them. There is that dichotomous thinking again.


:eyes:

[AtomicKitten]

28. All's well that ends well.

Way to go, Angel. :loveya:

After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.

The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."

[Cronus Protagonist]

31. Awww... that's a sweet ending to a great story

"Angel" deserves a great life with a great family.

[Fleshdancer]

38. AWWWWW

That's awesome!

[roguevalley]

91. they were meant to be. same with my Pip. I felt a huge rush of

emotion flow through me when I saw him. never happened before or since.

[InvisibleTouch]

97. That's great!

He sounds like a sweet dog. It's said that the best protection dogs are friendly, well-socialized dogs who are bonded to their family; they don't even necessarily need protection-dog training, and certainly should never be "vicious." They are normally great with strangers, but will realize if there's trouble and act accordingly.

[Liberal_in_LA]

44. great story. Glad the dog will get a home (If she/he doesn't have one already)

[Shardik]

55. Great story and I love dogs and think all breeds are capable of such actions.

While I'm not a fan of pit bulls or staffordshire terriers, I am still touched by this story.

[slampoet]

63. WHO WAS that Masked Dog? He didn't give me a chance to thank him !!!

and my grocery bag was just full of porkchops.

[ColbertWatcher]

69. NOT! The dog jumped into the backseat of the woman's car! n/t

[CreekDog]

67. this is one of those " dog doesn't bite man" stories

:hide:

[williesgirl]

68. My pug is the alpha dog over my female pitbull and boston terrier! go figure.

[Dr Fate]

70. I love you, Handsome Boy!

Everytime I think I'm some kind of tough guy, a story like this makes me tear up- gotta love our 4 legged friends!!!

[gatorboy]

74. Well it is Florida. Which means it was Bizarro Pit-Bull.

[Iggo]

75. Good Doggy!

:applause:

[The Stranger]

76. I WANT HIM!

Let me adopt him!

[proud patriot]

79. Angel

:yourock:

[Botany]

81. I am not crying .... I got something in my eye

After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to
drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the
police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.

[shireen]

83. a sweet brave little soul

I hope Angel gets adopted by the family he rescued. He seemed to instinctively know they were in danger and ran to protect them. Then he jumped into the backseat as if to claim them as is own! LOL! What a sweetheart!

[bvar22]

94. Stray Pit Bull running loose in children's playground.....

What could possibly go wrong?

[Richard Steele]

98. Good dog. K&R

[malaise]

99. What a beautiful story

Poor dog - probably deserted by people who fled the foreclosures.

[LisaL]

119. Maybe he got lost.

With all the publicity, if he got an owner, then the owner likely to be found.

[PeaceNikki]

101. Leave it to DU to turn this into a thread about how "dangerous" this breed is.

:eyes:

[Vektor]

126. I don't even listen to their crap any longer.

From someone who grew up with this breed of dog all my life, and has raised several of my own, I say if all someone knows about pit bulls is what they've heard from bad press and sensationalist news stories, then they don't know jack squat. Their opinion is then dismissed as invalid.

It's the exact same type of prejudice/ignorance that causes people to believe that all African Americans are criminals because they have watched a few too many episodes of cops.

It's no different, and it's equally stupid.

(Thanks for speaking up, PeaceNikki.) :-)

Edit to add: Isn't it sickening that so many people who claim to be progressives/liberals can direct so much hate, ignorance, and prejudice toward an ANIMAL? Libs are supposed to be better that, but the ignorance, fear, and hysteria directed toward pit bulls by some on this site makes me wonder if I'm in the right place to be around caring, educated people.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

105. Very sweet story, cute how he jumped into the backseat in the family car.

I'd never own one thou. I've been attacked and bit multiple times by different breeds, Dogs just do not like me. At this point, I guess they sense my fear of getting bit, they just go for it. I hate dogs. Cats too.

Do I need a flame suit for this post?

[Sequoia]

106. Yup, consider yourself flamed !!!

Yes, it was cute about him jumping in the back seat. I don't have a dog 'cause you really have to care for them like a child who never grows up. Dogs always want to play with me and knock me down. Just as long as they're other people's dogs I can pet and watch them wag their tales.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

108. Speaking from flamesuit, Glad you're happy and not bit.

:P

[Sequoia]

142. I did get bit when I was 7 or 8 by one of those ugly little dogs

from Mexico. Bit me right on the inside of the crook of my arm. His name was Inky because he was black as ink, but he was a mean little dog.

[LWolf]

141. It's true

that animals can tell when someone fears or dislikes them.

If you don't LIKE them, you shouldn't keep one, anyway.

I like dogs, and cats, and horses, better than many people.

They return it.

[Chulanowa]

151. Maybe you're just delicious

Perhaps it's time to halt the regimen of brown gravy skin treatment?

[flvegan]

107. I like that she's planning on adopting the dog

if her owners don't come forward.

Good dog!

[MrsMatt]

150. She didn't adopt him

he's now in rescue in Minnesota

http://www.midwestanimalrescue.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=1038667

[wildflowergardener]

115. owner

I wonder if she reminded him of his owner - if he was owned by a woman maybe he thought he was protecting his owner?

Meg

[LisaL]

116. Now that's a nice story about a pitbull for a change.

[Hekate]

120. Nice doggy! (never thought I'd say that about a pit bull, but what can you do?)

Good boy!

Hekate

[Mind_your_head]

122. What a good doggey!

I hope that this story is true, can't be too sure these dayz...... *sigh*

(I'll leave it at that)

Peace,
M_Y_H

[Vektor]

124. Yay! Thank you. Now if we could start perpetuating the opinion that all pit bulls are heroes....

We'd be a little closer to the truth about this wonderful breed of dog.

Thanks for this!

[bluedawg12]

130. I love both of my pits,

have four cats too, they all get along just fine.

Wonderful breed from my experience.

[Vektor]

134. That's what people who actually KNOW the breed say.

I've never had a problem with a pit, and I've known countless.

Thanks for another much needed voice of reason on the topic. :-)

[bluedawg12]

135. They are very loving and loyal and very intelligent

they are high energy and need lot's of room to play and run and they are a breed that does well when they are part of the family, as opposed to say being chained up outside,etc.

[madeline_con]

131. My late pit hated guns.

Maybe this one hates knives. :shrug:

[anonymous171]

146. What is Palin doing so far from Alaska?

[uppityperson]

148. k&r for good pit bull stories.

Thank you for posting this, it may open a few people's minds. AND always good to hear about a wonderful dog too.

[Writer]

149. Hey - this pit bull's "one of the good ones."

:hide: