Sam was attacked by a dog

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry that this has happened. I'm not a dog expert but I would think that any animal that isn't fixed would be more aggressive than one that is fixed. Hopefully this dog will be fixed soon. I hope that Sam will make a speedy recovery. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[Bonny]

Good thoughts & prayers sent Sam's way.

[Roxyluvsme13]

Poor Sam . I hope he has a nice and quick recovery. Give him a hug and smooch from me!

[kaycountrygal]

Hello, I saw your thread last night and posted. I didnt see the photo until now; he looks so sad and probably hurting some but I'm sure he was glad to be near you. How is he today- Sunday? Did he sleep much last night... and did you? Wonder if he will be even more sore today? Kay in NC

[dab_20]

Hello, I saw your thread last night and posted. I didnt see the photo until now; he looks so sad and probably hurting some but I'm sure he was glad to be near you. How is he today- Sunday? Did he sleep much last night... and did you? Wonder if he will be even more sore today? Kay in NC

Sam's doing better today, at least mood wise. He was playing with some toys earlier. Begging for food like he always does (he's a pig!). He is more sore and very itchy I think.
He slept ok, kept moving around a lot though cause he can't get comfortable. I slept like a baby, just because I spent the night before with Sam at the vet and had to wake up at 4:30 am for work!

[kuhio98]

I'm so glad that Sam is going to heal. And I'm glad the other owner has contributed.

But, I've got to ask -- why isn't anyone filling out a police report?
When I was 12, I was mauled by a St. Bernard. He grabbed me by the head (I had been down on my knees playing with my dog) and shook me like a rag doll. He put my entire head in his mouth and drug me around. He left. I played dead. He came back and mauled me some more. Almost 400 stitches later, they had my lip and ear sewed back on. Luckily, most of the scars are under my hair line.

My folks filled out a police report. When the police came to investigate, they told us that this same St. Bernard had already killed 2 dogs and I was the THIRD child he had bitten!

Fill out a police report! Get it on the record. As awful as it is -- imagine how bad you'd feel if the next time he kills a dog -- or a child!

[dab_20]

I'm so glad that Sam is going to heal. And I'm glad the other owner has contributed.

But, I've got to ask -- why isn't anyone filling out a police report?
When I was 12, I was mauled by a St. Bernard. He grabbed me by the head (I had been down on my knees playing with my dog) and shook me like a rag doll. He put my entire head in his mouth and drug me around. He left. I played dead. He came back and mauled me some more. Almost 400 stitches later, they had my lip and ear sewed back on. Luckily, most of the scars are under my hair line.

My folks filled out a police report. When the police came to investigate, they told us that this same St. Bernard had already killed 2 dogs and I was the THIRD child he had bitten!

Fill out a police report! Get it on the record. As awful as it is -- imagine how bad you'd feel if the next time he kills a dog -- or a child!

How horrible!! I can't imagine how that must've affected you. This could be true- a good reason to contact the authorities. I'll let you all know what we end up doing.

[pomtzu]

I'm not posting this to make you feel bad or guilty about what you decide to do, but this is my take on the situation. After this - I'll just shut up!

I'm sure you're caught between a rock and a hard place. This dog's owner might be one of the nicest people imaginable, but it's his dog that is the issue here. What's to say another incident like happened to you and Sam, won't happen again. Perhaps if there is a next time, the animal (or person) that is attacked could be very seriously injured - or even worse. This guy could be sued for all he is worth, and then some, and would probably carry the guilt with him for the rest of his life. I don't know about you, but if this had happened to me and one of my dogs and I didn't report it and the dog attacked again - then I wouldn't be able to live with myself, knowing that I kept quiet about it. If I had reported it, perhaps another incident could have been avoided.

You said yourself the attack wasn't out of play, but was a full on mauling. The thought of that scares the hell out of me! I know it's a tough choice for you to make - to report or not - but consider the possible future effects, and not just the here and now. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Okay - I'll step down off my soapbox now. Not trying to preach, but just hoping that perhaps you'll see beyond yesterday's unfortunate happenings.

Please deliver another kiss to Sam for me - and a big {{{hug}}} to you.

[luvofallhorses]

First of all I am really sorry Sam got attacked and hope he will be OK.

The American Pit Bull Terrier was not to bred to kill rats, they were originally bred to bait bulls but in later years bred to fight other dogs. The APBT is naturally dog aggressive as they were bred to fight other dogs. Just like Labs were bred to retrieive and Border Collies were bred to herd sheep. You cannot train or love it out of them, it's what they are supposed to do.

I don't agree that they are more "inherently" likely to be aggressive. They certainly may have dominant behavior, because they are terrriers! It does not make them automatically aggressive. Heck I have met Jack Russells that are more pushy than an APBT. An APBT just wants to love you and please you.

These dogs should never be human aggressive, period. They should welcome all people who are strangers with licks and tail wags. Other dogs, not so much as they were bred to fight. They pass temperament tests a lot more than today's popular breeds according to the ATTS.org. Every APBT and mix I have met has been wonderful with people, but not so great with other dogs and other animals which is common.

I am not trying to ruin your thread as I feel for you and Sam, I really do; but I don't think it's fair to say they are more likely to be aggressive when they never should be with people.

From atts.org
American Pit Bull Terrier - 86.0% in passing temperament tests.

I sincerely hope Sam will be OK.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm not posting this to make you feel bad or guilty about what you decide to do, but this is my take on the situation. After this - I'll just shut up!

I'm sure you're caught between a rock and a hard place. This dog's owner might be one of the nicest people imaginable, but it's his dog that is the issue here. What's to say another incident like happened to you and Sam, won't happen again. Perhaps if there is a next time, the animal (or person) that is attacked could be very seriously injured - or even worse. This guy could be sued for all he is worth, and then some, and would probably carry the guilt with him for the rest of his life. I don't know about you, but if this had happened to me and one of my dogs and I didn't report it and the dog attacked again - then I wouldn't be able to live with myself, knowing that I kept quiet about it. If I had reported it, perhaps another incident could have been avoided.

You said yourself the attack wasn't out of play, but was a full on mauling. The thought of that scares the hell out of me! I know it's a tough choice for you to make - to report or not - but consider the possible future effects, and not just the here and now. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Okay - I'll step down off my soapbox now. Not trying to preach, but just hoping that perhaps you'll see beyond yesterday's unfortunate happenings.

Please deliver another kiss to Sam for me - and a big {{{hug}}} to you.

I totally agree with you on this one Ellie.

[Freedom]

Sam, we are praying for you to feel better quickly, and have a super recovery - both physically and emotionally.

How scary, and for you to be right there, and not able to help your boy!

The owner sounds reasonable from your description, coming over to check on Sam, near tears. And neither of his dogs had shown this in the past, at least not that you know of. He (the owner) seems like he KNOWS this is a major issue, for him, for his dog, for living there, just all around.

I can certainly understand if he didn't have the whole amount handy, that doesn't surprise me, I seldom have much cash on hand.

Hugs to you, and gentle pets to Sam.

Keep us posted on his recovery!

[kokopup]

Sam will be in my thoughts and prayers. It is a shame this this little fella has to suffer through no fault of his own. I am glad to hear that the owner is taken some responsiblity and is helping with the vet bill. Hopefully his injuries will heal fast and this will not leave psychological scares in his future.

Alysser

Just a question..could it may have been out of play? I am sure this seems like a ridiculous question but Pitties are powerful dogs. I just refuse to believe that Pitbulls are "wired wrong" like some people think, and I know of course you never believed that about them. I am just bringing up a possible suggestion. I know it's a long shot, but ya never know.

EVERY bred of dog was created by man for a specific purpose. This was done by selective breeding over many generations. The Pit bull, or Staffordshire terrier was breed for the purpose of killing rats aboard sailing ship. It is true with the right control that they can become loving pets. The problem is the prey instinct is so deeply rooted the Pitty can NEVER be trusted in places where they are not under complete control. I have lived long enough to see to many heart breaking situations where this was the case. I am not a Pit Bull hater, just someone that has
lived long enough to see what happens when your back is turned. I hear Pitty lovers argue that Goldens or Lab bite more than Pit Bulls. Statistically this may be true but it is also true that theses Breeds outnumber the Pitty by Hundreds to one and there is a differents between a bite and a mauling.


According to the Clifton study, pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks that were included in the study, 68% of the attacks upon children, 82% of the attacks upon adults, 65% of the deaths, and 68% of the maimings. In more than two-thirds of the cases included in the study, the life-threatening or fatal attack was apparently the first known dangerous behavior by the animal in question. Clifton states:

If almost any other dog has a bad moment, someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a pit bull terrier or a Rottweiler has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed--and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price.

From years 1989-1994.
57% of the deaths were in children under 10 years of age.
81% of the attacks involved an unrestrained dog.
22% of the deaths involved an unrestrained dog OFF the owner's property.
59% of the deaths involved an unrestrained dog ON the owner's property.
18% of the deaths involved a restrained dog ON the owner's property.
10% of the dog bite attacks involved sleeping infants.
The most commonly reported dog breeds involved were pit bulls (24 deaths), followed by Rottweilers (16 deaths), and German shepherds (10 deaths).

Sorry to hijack your thread. I just think we need to be informed.

[pomtzu]

Poor Sam. What a terrible thing to happen. Sending healing prayers to Sam, that he heals fast and without too much pain.

I do hope that this gets reported to the authorities, before one of those dogs injures or kills another animal, or a person. Being that Sam was treated at the emergency vet, aren't they required to report it to Animal Control? In Delaware it's law that it must be reported. Any animal or person injured by another dog, and that seeks medical assistance at a vet clinic or a hospital (for humans), then the incident must be reported by the treating facility.

Years ago, I was playing with (ok-more like teasing) one of my Lhasas, and I got right up in his face. He wasn't a mean dog, but he was growling at me and warning me to back off, but I didn't listen. Quick as a flash, he snapped at my face and grabbed my lip, which of course startled me and I pulled back, causing a rather nasty tear since he didn't let go. I had to be stitched up at the hospital, and they had to report the incident. I got a visit from AC the next day - checking on Scooter's shot records. He was one week overdue for his rabies (I had an appointment the following week for this), so therefore he had to be "house quarantined" for 6 or 8 weeks, and I couldn't take him anywhere except to the vet for his rabies shot. And AC did a couple of spot checks over that period of time too - just to make sure that I was complying. I was rather upset that Scooter now had a "police record", but it was no one's fault but my own.

Well, that might have been somewhat off subject, but the point I'm trying to make, is that this incident that Sam was involved in, should be reported, even if it isn't state law where you live. I know you don't want to get the guy that owns the attacking dog in trouble, but just consider that you could possibly be saving a life. Dogs like he has, do not belong in an apartment environment. Sorry - that's just my opinion - but if this attack came out of nowhere and had never happened previously - then it could just as easily happen again without notice. Dogs such as this, need a big fenced in yard to run and play and exercise in, not a little patch of green in an area where there are other people and animals.

I do hope that the situation gets resolved, so that something such as this can never happen again to you or you furkids - or anyone else's either.

Please give Sam a gentle kiss on the top of his head for me. Myndi and Sparky are sending out all the good doggie vibes that they can muster.

Get Well Soon, Sam

[kaycountrygal]

I just want to be on record that I too think the incident should be reported to the police. Even if the man moves to a different apartment (and your dogs are out of danger), his dog/s might attack someone else's dog... or even a child. Maybe they will never attack again but you never know. There should be a record on file at least. ... Kay in NC

[wolf_Q]

Poor Sam and poor you. That is so scary, I've had many off leash dogs come running up to me when I'm walking my dogs and I'm always afraid something like that will happen. Years ago we had a pit bull get loose at my work and attack another dog. There was no provocation at all, he went for the throat and tried to kill the other dog who was not even fighting back. I have friends with pitties and they are sweet with people but all are dog aggressive; not entirely, they get along with certain dogs, but they have to be careful what dogs they let around them. So sorry to hear this happened to Sam, hope he'll have a full recovery.