Political & Elections

busdriver11 · Guru

RE: Lennox the dog

romanigypsyeyes · Guru

Bd the statistics are skewed because of breed misidentification and the fact that APBT are the most abused, mistreated, and abandoned dogs. Furthermore, bites from small breeds often go unreported further skewing statistics. APBTs routinely out perform the majority of breeds on temperament tests.

You cannot classify breeds as more dangerous than others.

busdriver11 · Guru

" I don't think you can classify one breed as being more dangerous than another, though."

I think you can. Look at this study: http://dogbitelaw.com/images/pdf/Dog_Attacks_1982-2006_Clifton.pdf

The numbers of pit bull attacks are very large. Rottweiler attacks are pretty numerous also. I know there are gentle, safe and loving pit bulls and rottweilers, and the owners are generally at fault. But...if I am walking with my dogs and there is a pit bull or rottweiler that is running loose, I am scared. Even if my dogs aren't there. If I see a cavalier king charles (notice there are zero attacks doing bodily harm by CKC on that list), I am scooping it up and looking for its owner.

You definitely can classify one breed as being more dangerous. The potential damage difference between a tiger and a fly.

SamuraiLandshark · Guru

I have heard of situations where a dog has attacked a child or it's owner and been put down. I don't think you can classify one breed as being more dangerous than another, though.

The dog that attacked my nephew and his dog was a German Shepard. Fortunately, neither was injured too badly. They didn't destroy the animal.

I was attacked by one of those yippy little breeds as a kid.

I have seen on my street an attack that could have been far worse - it was a pit attacking a smaller dog. The owner was able to break the two apart with a water hose. The pit wasn't destroyed and the smaller dog was going to be okay.

I think that the owners are usually the problem, not the dog.

hope · Guru

I can't stand to even read/watch things of this sort. When that commercial about abused dogs comes on tv I quickly change the channel. I avoid even the music from them because it stays in my mind for hours and reminds me of the commerical. I had a yellow lab who had to be put down two years ago this August and I avoid thinking about it because it was literally traumatic for me. Humans who abuse animals are beneath contempt.

Likewise, I feel the same way about anything of the sort having to do with children. I admire people who can work with these issues head-on. I'm strong in a lot of ways, but not when it comes to dogs and children.

romanigypsyeyes · Guru

The dog was killed last night despite the fact that people all over the world were willing to take him in.

If anything, this will highlight the problem of BSL not only in tiny Belfast but right here in our own backyards. I just hope people realize that Belfast is NOT the only city with blood on its hands.

RIP little Lennox. I hope you're having fun with my wonderful pit, rottie, and all the other "dangerous" dogs that have passed away.

SamuraiLandshark · Guru

That's just so sad.

It's terrible that just the reputation of a breed of dog can doom these animals...I would much rather see the dogs who are dangerous be dealt with. Draconian measures like these don't make sense to me.

romanigypsyeyes · Guru

SLS- the owners are almost always the problem. That's not to say there aren't bad dogs. We had a black lab we had to put down because she bit a few people for no reason- I think 5 of our friends, including my mom, had to get stitches. We tried working with a private trainer with her and nothing worked. ONLY dog we've ever had a problem with so we know it's not from improper handling. She was a rescue and the only rescue we've ever fostered that couldn't be rehabilitated.

Ask any vet and their problems are almost universally with small dogs. I have scars from a poodle. The smaller the dog, the more vicious in my experience. My sister's pug TERRORIZE my pittie. She runs when she hears my sister's car.

I do the same thing, hope. My boyfriend changes the channel the second he hears the first note because he knows I'll cry. I work with abused kids and women at the DV shelter and abused dogs at home. The animals are worse to work with because you know that you're fighting a losing battle. No matter how hard you work to save an animal, the second something bad happens they are put on the euthanasia list. We've been lucky with our own fosters but not all of our rescued dogs. Kids get a second shot.

-- Edited by romanigypsyeyes on Wednesday 11th of July 2012 08:49:03 PM

longprime · Guru

I like dogs, alot. So does DW, although she refuses to deal with the shedding and poop, Plus she can't deal with the unconditional love that they give.

But be aware that the average paid claim on homeowner's liability insurance is dogbites. http://www.genre.com/sharedfile/pdf/InsuranceIssues201109R-en.pdf

DW was nipped in the heel from a neighbor's dog while we were walking in the middle of our rural road. I phoned neighbor.

DW was threaten by this dog a second time, for which I informed our neighbor with the additional warning that their Tour-of-Home House and 10 acres of property (contractor/homebuilder) could be in jeopardy. I have a lawyer on retainer. evileye I could care less about the dog OR my wife. evileye

You think neighbor got the hint?

-- Edited by longprime on Wednesday 11th of July 2012 06:02:45 PM

-- Edited by longprime on Wednesday 11th of July 2012 06:08:03 PM

romanigypsyeyes · Guru

I don't know if anyone is following this, but here it is...

"DUBLIN -- A pug-nosed Belfast dog named Lennox has inspired a two-year legal fight and animal-rights protests on both sides of the Atlantic. But he's about to die at the insistence of Belfast City Council.

Dog wardens deemed the pit bull-type dog a public danger and seized him from his family two years ago. Northern Ireland's senior appeals court last month upheld two 2011 court rulings that Lennox should be put to sleep. The time for further legal appeals expired Tuesday.

His family argues that 7-year-old Lennox is not even a bit bull, has never attacked anyone and could be resettled outside Northern Ireland rather than be killed. His case attracted worldwide attention through dedicated Web sites, an online petition and social media campaign and spurred protests in Belfast and New York."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/belfast-lennox-court-case_n_1663165.html?utm_hp_ref=impact

Absolutely disgusting. I have a pit. She was days from death because of breed specific legislation in my county. She is now a therapy dog who regularly works with children. My heart is breaking for this poor family. I always feel so bad for my dog when I go to a city where I'm forced to muzzle her. The poor baby never understands why I'm caging her mouth and looks so sad. I avoid those as much as humanly possible but she goes everywhere with my dad so it's hard to avoid.