91 y.o. woman Loses BOTH ARMS in Pit Bull Attack

[matcom]

<snip>

Her garden has wilted. The flowers Ruby Sharum tended so zealously outside her manila-colored stucco house in Orange have withered away.

And she will never again know the prick of a thorn or feel dirt through her fingers.

A month ago, Sharum, 91, was attacked by her great-grandson's pit bull while she put away groceries. She not only lost both arms, but also much of the independence that her friends and family say she has shown her entire life.

Sharum now lies in a hospital bed at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, flanked by carnations in florists' vases. The great-grandmother of 13 — who until recently not only took care of her garden but still drove a car — now needs help for the most basic activities: walking, eating, drinking.

http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/showcase/la-me-pitbull15mar15.story

[GOPisEvil]

1. That's just a sad story.

:-(

[rbnyc]

5. It is sad.

Rehab is going to be so hard at that age. It's heartbreaking.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Zion. good name for a pitbull

I hope she gets prosthetic arms soon, and gets back to her garden.

[Mass_Liberal]

3. I hate pit bulls

they should all die. They are mean and vicious creatures.

[rbnyc]

4. It depends so much on their training.

I've known wonderful pit bulls. I'm more inclined to blame the owner.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

6. I agree.

It's hard to remember now, but pit bulls used to enjoy a reputation as the perfect family pet. Here is a great site that tells their story:

http://www.furryfriendsfoundation.com/Truth03/Truth03.htm


That poor woman. :(

[DrWeird]

7. Pit bulls are great dogs.

A doggy Final Solution won't solve the problem of bad owners.

<>

[MadHound]

8. Sorry friend, its not the dog, its the owner

If you train any dog to be mean, they will be, its that simple. Pit bull got a bad rep because they started being trained for fighting, and now for aggressive defense. They will respond by becoming mean and vicious. Forty years ago, it was the German Shepard that got that bad rep for being a vicious dog, thirty years ago, the Doberman, twenty years ago the pit bull, and now they are starting to trash the Rottweiller.

Now we see various laws being enacted around the country to control these "vicious dogs", ranging from outright bans, to containment laws, to crippling insurance requirements. If I was anymore into the tin foil than I am, I would think there is some sort of conspiracy to get rid of all of the good guard dog breeds in this country. After all, a home security system can be easily turned off when various sneak and peekers wish to enter your place, but a good guard dog has to be shot. Messy, messy, not at all in the spirit of sneak and peek.

But thankfully I now live out in the country, where now laws regarding dogs are on the books. I have three great dogs, all of whom are friendly, intelligent and playful. Unless you try to enter my house when I'm not around, or threaten me. Then you will have a Rottweiler mix, a Pit Bull mix, and a German Shepard mix who will do all within their power to protect me and mine. But hey, you're welcome to come over and play with them when I'm around. They're so friendly that they'll roll over and let you pet their belly, lick you up and down, and they all love to play with little kids(including the obigatory ear and tail pulling).

The only time I was bitten by a dog was when I was a kid, and I still carry the scar to this day. The breed? A little old pug, who had grown into a mean crotchety old dog, raised that way by my grandmother. Go figure.

[Coventina]

9. Amen ---- there are no "bad" breeds

Just bad owners, and the occaisional "sociopath" which occur in all breeds (including humans).

Cocker Spaniels are one of the worst breeds for biting.
Don't see any campaigns against Cockers.

[FlaGranny]

11. Enter you house when you are not around?

What happens if you ARE there and have a medical problem and need assistance. Will they protect you by attacking your would-be rescuers? Now if you had said "They're so friendly that they'll roll over and let anyone pet their belly, even a burglar . . ."

[MadHound]

12. Actually when I'm there

They will wait for my command. Sorry, should have made myself clear. I do have friends who just walk right in, and have experienced no difficulties, not even a snarl. I believe in well trained, well socialized dogs. They all respond to voice commands, and I can take all downtown to walk without a leash, just voice command. They all follow along on the outside of my right leg, start, stop, heel, all on command.

I've trained all of my dogs, as has my family. I was brought up with German Shepards(there's a baby pic out there when I'm about two years old, sitting on our shepard, feeding her crackers and pulling her ears, she looks so resigned, "Oh Lord, this kid"), and have always had big dogs in my life, Great Danes, a Great Dane/Pit Bull mix(looked like a giant Pit Bull), Chow mixes, etc. None of these dogs have been vicious, they all have kept watch on my residence, they all have done well with small and large kids. It is all in the training. The dogs are all smart enough, sometimes though I wonder about the owners.

[Mass_Liberal]

14. I've known nice, knowledgable dog owners w/ vicious dogs

everyone thinks their dog is really nice w/ people. My parents friends had a big dog who they claimed loved kids...... and then he put my brother's head in his mouth (my bro was about 3).

Species can be nasty. A wolf will eat you if it is hungry. It's not about mitigating circumstances.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

15. We used to have a pit bull...

sweetest dog ever. Loved kids and cats and dogs. We gave her a good home and didn't train her to be aggressive. She had been a stray that my dad picked up even.

[Piperay]

17. About 15 years ago I had some friends

who had the biggest Pit Bull imaginable but it was the sweetest gentlest dog I have ever come across, they aren't all vicious.

[Uzybone]

10. The owners should be charged with assault

after all all "dogs are good dogs". Its the owners that made them bad right. If a dog attacks anyone , not only should it be put down, but the owner should be charged witha crime for letting its dog roam free. And I say this as one who owns a pit bull and an argentinian mastiff.

[MrScorpio]

13. Pomeranians are the spawn of evil

And Chow Chows are Satan's foot soldiers

Give me a mixed breed pound puppy any day

[Piperay]

16. Sad...

the poor woman, something like that would be so difficult for anyone but someone who is over 90 is going to have a very very difficult adjustment. :-(