Pit Bull Mauling scares neighbors (Cross Post from GD)

[mduffy31]

This is a story that ran in our local paper in Duluth, MN. Now please take the time and read the whole article before commenting, and lets try not to make this a flame fest.

Pit bull mauling scares West Duluth neighbors
Brandon Stahl Duluth News Tribune
Published Tuesday, November 20, 2007

To Jason and Tara Williams, who live at 916 N. 56th Ave. W. in West Duluth, their three pit bulls are basically just three cuddly teddy bears.

“They lay right up on the couch and cuddle you,” Tara Williams said. “They usually end up sleeping in bed with me.”

But some of the Williamses’ neighbors in West Duluth say the pit bulls pose a threat to the neighborhood, and they want the dogs gone. The most vocal of those neighbors is Deb Susnik, whose 7-pound Yorkshire terrier, Cosmo, was mauled Sunday morning by the Williamses’ dogs.

“They killed our dog. It was murder,” Susnik said. “I can’t even begin to tell you what I witnessed.”

The animal control division of the Duluth Police Department said it will ask the Williamses to get rid of the dogs, and the mauling may force the Duluth City Council to re-examine the use of electric fences, which the Williamses use to keep the dogs on their property.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/

Now it appears to me that the owners of the Pit Bulls have done everything right and the owners of the dog that was killed did not keep their dog on a leash, yet they want to punish the owners that did what they were supposed to pay for their neglect. I don't know but I think that is CRAZY!



ON EDIT: It won't allow direct link to the story but it is on the front page of the paper's home page.

[Randomthought]

1. About the fence

It allows other animals and children into the yard. I think that the owner of the small dog was wrong to let the dog off leash but the neighborhood has a right to be concerned about the safety of other animals and small children

[dpbrown]

2. Electric fencing for pit bulls is completely inadequate

Whether or not you subscribe to the idea that pit bull dogs are inherently dangerous, electric fencing is little more than a placebo for owners when you're dealing with larger dogs. First, the dog has to be rigorously trained on dealing with the fence in order to give it even a chance of working, and second any intense stimulus will prompt a large dog to go through the boundary anyway.

An owner of a large dog has the responsibility to keep the public away from the dog, not just keep the dog in the yard.

A dangerous dog in an apparently unfenced yard should be classified as an attractive nuisance. The owner should be liable for any damages the dog commits.

Attractive Nuisance

Property that is inherently dangerous and particularly enticing to children. For example, a swimming pool has a strong attraction to children and could lead to a liability judgment against the pool's owner. The owner must take all necessary steps to prevent accidents, such as building an adequate fence around the pool.

[BuddyKlyde]

3. Just wanted to give you all an update and my veiw on the doggies

Hi, I am close friends with the Williams and I am close with the dogs as well. Update, the electric fence is not used anymore, they have a fenced in area for the two remaining dogs to be outside monitored. The one that was deemed dangerous has been euthinized and the other dogs are closely monitored.
I have spent many a nights cuddle don the couch with them, but that doesn't mean that people dont' respect the way peopel and canines differ. We as human beings are protective of people that are in our lives. Canines are protective of their space, which is why they recomend kennel traingin a dog not to urinate in the house. they will nto use their spaec for this. The electric fence was adequate as the people in the neighborhood(who were fine with the dogs until this happened by the way) knew the situation and that thye needed to be careful. I have lived a couple houses down from the dogs for 4 years and I have never had a probelm with them. You just have to be conscious of your suroundings and respect their priaml instincts to defend.
I am not saying that it wasn't horrible what happened, being as close to the situation as I was but what I am saying is that i understand the whole situation. I understand everyones point of view. I understand the danger of owning big dogs and keeping a lclose eye on them and I understand the frustrations of looking out your window and seeing a neighborhood dog running free of the leash while the owner does nothing but call for them in an angry voice.
I think the situation is sad, but I place no specific blame on anyone. It was just unfortunate. It's hard to be careful 100% of the time.
I guess my whole point is that everyone needs to be aware of the world of canines and respect it. It's not the dogs fault for gonig on instinct, it is the humans fault for not respecting that. The situation has shed light on everyone involved including myself.
I hope that this sheds a little light on the situation and calms people down.
Thanks for listening.