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Withrow, Jay. "Which breed inflicted most of Omaha's dog bites last year?"
Omaha World Herald, omaha.com/news/
which-breed-inflicted-most-of-omahas-dog-bites-last-year/
article_477f29ba-3f47-51fb-8b8a-ba6df426abab.html. Accessed 31 Dec. 2013.

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Pit bulls may be known for their occasional nasty dispositions, but other dogs certainly hold their own when it comes to biting the hand that feeds them.

Mark Langan, vice president of field operations for the Nebraska Humane Society, said Wednesday that pit bulls were not among the top five breeds in Omaha that attacked humans last year.

That top-bite distinction belonged to Labrador retrievers, Langan said. Ninety-two bites by labs, a popular breed among dog owners, were reported to the Humane Society in 2012.

Pit bulls ranked No. 6 among dog bites, with 31 cases reported last year, Langan said.

The American Kennel Club said Wednesday that the lab remained the most popular dog in the U.S. for the 22nd straight year in 2012, followed by German shepherds, golden retrievers, beagles and then bulldogs.

In Omaha, Langan said, Nos. 2 through 5 were strays or dogs that could not be found, 56 bite cases; German shepherds, 46; boxers, 41; and chihuahuas, 32.

Each year, children are among the largest number of Omaha's dog-bite victims, usually suffering painful wounds to their faces.

"Little kids love to put their faces near dogs' faces,'' Langan said, "and that can be a recipe for disaster.''

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Which breed inflicted most of Omaha's dog bites last year?

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Pit bulls may be known for their occasional nasty dispositions, but other dogs certainly hold their own when it comes to biting the hand that feeds them. Mark Langan, vice president of field operations for the Nebraska Humane Society, said Wednesday that pit bulls were not among the top five breeds in Omaha that attacked humans last year.

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Byline: Travis M. Andrews

A pair of pit bulls attacked and killed a 7-year-old boy in Lowell, Massachusetts.

A preliminary investigation suggested the unidentified boy entered a fenced area containing the two pit bulls, which then attacked him, the Middlesex district attorney's office said in a statement to several local media outlets.

Neighbors witnessed the attack at around 6 p.m. Saturday evening and frantically began calling police.

"I heard someone yelling, 'It's my baby! It's my baby!' and I come to find out that it was my daughter's friend's son," neighbor Annmarie Dizazzo told WFXT.

Records show there were multiple 911 calls.

"A child's being attacked by some sort of animal," the operator told police. "Apparently the dog will not let go of the child."

When police arrived, the child was already dead, Fox News reported. By then, at least one of the dogs had escaped the enclosure.

It then charged at a police officer, who shot the dog, which continued running toward him anyway.

"Lowell, shots fired, the dog is hit, it's still coming at me," the officer told the operator.

That pit bull was later captured and euthanized. The other dog is currently being held by animal control officials, according to the Boston Globe. The incident remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed.

One neighbor told WHDH that the boy's mother is "trying to wake up from this nightmare."

The Lowell City Council passed an ordinance in June 2011 that limits pet owners to two pit bulls, which must be spayed or neutered. Owners also have to keep the dogs muzzled or secured in a temporary enclosure, according to the Lowell Sun.

Many who perceived the dogs as dangerous argue that they shouldn't be allowed as pets - and in many cities, they're not. They're also banned from all military bases in the United States for being a "dangerous dog breed."

From 2005 to 2015, pit bull attacks caused 232 deaths, which accounted for 64 percent of all deaths caused by dog bites during that decade, according to the nonprofit organization DogsBite.

But some argue that the dogs themselves aren't inherently dangerous. The breed descended from the English bull-baiting dog, an animal that was bred "to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head," according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Eventually, people began pitting the dogs against each other, once baiting large animals was outlawed in the 1800s. Through crossbreeding with terriers, the American pit bull was created.

But the ASPCA argued that while pit bulls "may be more likely than other breeds to fight with dogs," this doesn't translate into aggression toward humans.

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Pit bulls fatally maul 7-year-old boy in Massachusetts, authorities say

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Byline: Travis M. Andrews A pair of pit bulls attacked and killed a 7-year-old boy in Lowell, Massachusetts. A preliminary investigation suggested the unidentified boy entered a fenced area containing the two pit bulls, which then attacked him, the Middlesex district attorney's office said in a statement to several local media outlets.

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''I told you to get that dog out of here!'' yelled one woman to another. ''You really stink, and so does your dog!''

Ignoring the insults, Joey, the 60-pound dog in question, sighed, sank to his front paws and shot out an ''aren't they silly'' look. His handler burst into giggles. Joey had done the right thing.

Joey is a model pit bull, and this angry conversation was staged. He was one of three pit bulls who participated last weekend in ''The Pit Bull Dilemma,'' a conference on the growing numbers of pit bulls in animal shelters.

The glut results from overbreeding and abandonment of the dogs, which are then sold as watchdogs and fighting dogs, and from reluctance to adopt them because of their ferocious reputation.

Some shelters report that more than 50 percent of incoming dogs are pit bulls. Last year, New York City's Center for Animal Care and Control received 7,285 pits.

The conference, held at the A.S.P.C.A. Center for Behavioral Therapy on East 92nd Street, presented a gentler image of the dogs. As 70 people watched, the three pits kept their cool as a fake hand reached into their food and wagged their tails, and as a fake child, a large blond doll named Sally, approached them. ''We use this doll because we can't use real children,'' explained the moderator, Amy Marder, vice president of behavioral medicine at the A.S.P.C.A.

But stories of maulings by the dogs have long spread, and some apartment complexes, counties and cities, like Denver and Miami, have banned them. New York City does not restrict breeding or ownership. Dog fighting, however, has been illegal nationwide since 1976.

One problem in socializing pit bulls is that they tend to be unresponsive to the submissive signals of other dogs, and give little or no warning before attacking, said Stephen Musso, senior vice president of behavioral medicine at the A.S.P.C.A. But the dogs are loyal and fearless, he said, and if treated well they make excellent companions.

''We love pit bulls,'' Jolanta Benal and Sarah Egan, Brooklyn residents, said in unison when asked why they were there. Their pit bull died recently, they said, and they will probably get another one.

The problem, Mr. Musso said, is that if so trained, pit bulls will attack humans, and thus the dog has been represented ''as a monster.''

Shelter workers must also screen out potential adopters who want fighting dogs. As a result, a pit bull in a shelter waits an average of 60 days to be adopted. Other dogs wait 26.

Qualified adopters often receive extra counseling on dealing with people who assume the dogs are violent.

Stephen Zawistowski, a senior vice president at A.S.P.C.A. Animal Sciences, suggested naming the animal something mild, like Angel or Flower. ''Don't call your dog Death From Above,'' he said. TARA BAHRAMPOUR

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Pit Bulls Are Really Nice Pooches, An A.S.P.C.A. Conference Asserts

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''I told you to get that dog out of here!'' yelled one woman to another. ''You really stink, and so does your dog!'' Ignoring the insults, Joey, the 60-pound dog in question, sighed, sank to his front paws and shot out an ''aren't they silly'' look. His handler burst into giggles.

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Pit bulls, descendants of the bulldogs used in the nineteenth century for bull baiting and dogfighting, have been bred for "gameness," and thus a lowered inhibition to aggression. Most dogs fight as a last resort, when staring and growling fail. A pit bull is willing to fight with little or no provocation.

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Pit bulls, descendants of the bulldogs used in the nineteenth century for bull baiting and dogfighting, have been bred for "gameness," and thus a lowered inhibition to aggression. Most dogs fight as a last resort, when staring and growling fail. A pit bull is willing to fight with little or no provocation.

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Prompted by reports of recent "pit bull" attacks - four in three weeks - Boston is talking about a ban on the entire breed, thrusting itself into a debate taking place in communities across the country.

Outlawing any breed not only violates the Constitution, it draws on ignorance and myth.

Most often in America today, the phrase "pit bull" appears in two contexts. Either it is used by someone knowledgeable to refer to the older genuine breed (e.g., the American pit bull terrier, which was bred to fight), or it is a vague term trusted to generate a kind of hysteria. News of "pit bull" attacks fill people with horror. But I've researched enough cases to know that the media often gets it wrong.

In the late 1980s, I testified as an expert at a case involving one such attack. After enduring several taunts, Pete, one of many guests at a picnic in Rochester, N.Y., chomped down on his tormentor's thigh. Newspaper reports the following day claimed the man died after the dog tore off his leg. According to photographs and eye witnesses, not only was the bite minor, but the man died after doctors mishandled his case.

More often than not, dogs involved in "pit bull" attacks are not true pit bulls, but some other breed, as was the case with Bandit, who was impounded and almost put to sleep by Connecticut officials in 1987 for biting an intruder. While there can be a deviant bull-breed dog, these animals should not instill fear. Studies show that cocker spaniels, Rottweillers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and chows are more likely to bite and with greater severity than a bull breed. Unfortunately, media coverage of attacks by these other breeds lags far behind its coverage of "pit bull" attacks.

Once revered as the national dog, American pit bull terriers stood for courage, loyalty, and intelligence. They were useless as police patrol dogs, but invaluable as nanny dogs and companions to people such as Helen Keller. A famous World War I poster features an American bull terrier, the most common bull breed, draped in an American flag, with the following quote: "I'm neutral, but I'm not afraid of any of 'em."

These dogs were an indelible part of American culture. Mark Twain's "Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" includes a yarn about a bull pup named Andrew Jackson. James Thurber had more than a weak spot for Rex, an American bull terrier. Theodore Roosevelt had a pit bull in the White House, and there were at least two in Coolidge's Cabinet.

It wasn't until the 1970s that the breed went from cherished to maligned. Spearheading efforts to magnify and outlaw dogfighting, groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) perpetuated myths about the dogs in the press. Unsubstantiated claims that the breed was trained on declawed kittens or weaned on Tabasco sauce and gunpowder struck a chord with certain young males eager to put these methods to the test. Just as ridiculous were assertions about the breed's legendary double jaw.

By the 1980s, humane societies' campaigns against dogfighting had completely altered Americans' attitudes. No longer viewed as victims of abusive trainers, Americans now attributed an innate viciousness to the "pit bull." This new image even created a lucrative market for bull breed dogs. Demand skyrocketed, especially among men who saw glamour and status in owning a dog with purportedly bionic strength.

Proposals to outlaw an entire breed should alarm anyone concerned with basic civil rights. Americans need to change the way they think about dogs in general. Like people, dogs want comfort and friendship from humans.

Well bred bull breed dogs are the best cuddlers in the canine world. However, like cockers or any breed, they are vulnerable to careless breeders who promote rotten dispositions. Popular images of dogs as sickly sweet or supernaturally savage - neither of which is accurate - only reinforce misunderstanding.

*Vicki Hearne is a dog trainer and author of 'Bandit: Dossier of a dangerous dog' (Harper Collins, 1992).

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society

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Prompted by reports of recent "pit bull" attacks - four in three weeks - Boston is talking about a ban on the entire breed, thrusting itself into a debate taking place in communities across the country. Outlawing any breed not only violates the Constitution, it draws on ignorance and myth.

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Are pit bulls cuddly or dangerous? That question has been debated for years. Some cities and towns have laws against owning pit bulls and other powerful dogs, like Rottweilers. But many people think those laws are unfair. This summer, South Dakota became the 19th state to ban such laws.

Pit bulls have a bad reputation. Many people say they are too strong and aggressive to be kept as pets. When pit bulls are in the news, it's often because they've attacked people. Some people think banning the dogs is the best way to prevent attacks.

But others say owners are the real problem. They argue that irresponsible owners train their dogs to be vicious. The American Society for " the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) agrees. "What we support are ... laws that hold owners responsible," says Debora Bresch of the ASPCA.

So, are pit bulls really more dangerous than other dogs? It's hard to say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks the number of dog bites in the U.S. each year. But officials say there's no good way to tell which kinds of dogs bite people the most.

aggressive (uh-GRESS-iv) adjective, likely to fight or attack

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Doggy debate: should it be illegal to own a pit bull?

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Are pit bulls cuddly or dangerous? That question has been debated for years. Some cities and towns have laws against owning pit bulls and other powerful dogs, like Rottweilers. But many people think those laws are unfair. This summer, South Dakota became the 19th state to ban such laws.

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Byline: Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

Three decades after officials in more than 700 cities throughout the country began passing bans and other restrictions to keep pit bulls out of their communities, state and local governments are increasingly reconsidering their approach to what not so long ago was America's most vilified pet.

Since June, at least nine communities in the Midwest have overturned pit bull bans that were on the books. Last week, Hallsville, Mo., became the latest to lift its ban after a family successfully appealed to the City Council for a change in law when it learned the family dog was a pit bull mix.

Over the past two years, more than 100 municipalities across the USA have overturned bans and other restrictions that target dogs in the pit bull family, the generic term commonly used to describe the American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier and many mixed-breed dogs with square-shaped heads and bulky builds.

More communities could soon follow suit.

The unified government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., is considering lifting a pit bull ban that has been on the books for nearly a quarter-century, as part of a comprehensive overhaul of its animal control policies.

The push in Kansas City (pop. 148,000) comes as Roeland Park, Kan. (pop. 6,800) recently began reviewing its ban on pit bulls. The nearby community of Bonner Springs announced this year that it was lifting its ban.

Advocates argue the bans have been ineffective in reducing dog bites and led to millions of dogs being euthanized. They say too often animal control officials, law enforcement and the media misidentify offending dogs as pit bulls. "The only ones that are being affected by these bans are responsible dog owners," said Janelle Holland, a pit bull owner who left Roeland Park more than a decade ago after learning she was violating the ban.

There's been action on the statewide level as well. This year, South Dakota and Utah joined 17 other states in passing laws to prevent local governments passing "breed-specific legislation," making it illegal for cities to pass bans targeting pit bulls or any other breed.

photo Steve Hebert for USA TODAY

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Byline: Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY Three decades after officials in more than 700 cities throughout the country began passing bans and other restrictions to keep pit bulls out of their communities, state and local governments are increasingly reconsidering their approach to what not so long ago was America's most vilified pet.

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To listen to this broadcast, click here:

In Montreal, it's about to become illegal to adopt or buy a pitbull. After a dog attacked and killed a 55-year-old woman, the Montreal City Council passed this ban, which goes into effect Monday. People who already own the dogs will have to register and sterilize them and muzzle them in public. This is just the latest place to ban these dogs. The neighboring province of Ontario already had a prohibition in place. Bronwen Dickey is a journalist and author of "Pit Bull: The Battle Over An American Icon" and joins us now.

Welcome to the program.

Thank you for having me.

What is a pit bull exactly? Is it a distinctive, recognized breed?

So there are four pedigreed pit bull breeds. But multiple studies have confirmed that the visual identification of any dogs, but especially pit bull dogs, is highly subjective and unreliable.

It sounds like the old line about pornography. I know it when I see it.

Very much so. And especially when you look at Montreal's ban, I think something that should kind of take everyone aback is that there's a provision that says any dog that has a characteristic of a pit bull breed. And it doesn't say which characteristics they're even talking about. So, you know, four legs and a tail is a characteristic (laughter).

If there's not a lot of evidence showing that pit bulls are actually more aggressive than other dog breeds, why do so many of the dog attacks and fatal dog attacks that we see come from pit bulls?

Well, we're not sure that they do, first of all. So all the data that purport to say certain types of breeds attack more than other types of breeds are just completely suspect and unscientific.

Why do you think pit bulls have fallen into this particular niche?

I think part of what the media did during the 1980s for various reasons was to link the pit bull, in particular, to the urban underclass and make it this proxy for the, quote, "drug dealer" or thug or gang member. And because of all the things that were going on culturally and politically in the 1980s - it was the very beginning of the all-out assault of the drug war - that really struck a chord with people and made people terrified. It was this ongoing vilification of a certain social group.

If you saw a string of attacks by pit bull-type dogs in a city, what step would you advise that city to take if you don't think a ban is a good idea?

I would encourage anyone in the legislature to take the long view. So in Calgary, they have ownership by law that really zeroes in on the problem owners who are, you know, leading dogs to run at large, to menace people, to become a nuisance. And by enforcing the existing leash and containment laws and things like that, they've seen a dramatic reduction in bites.

Bronwen Dickey is a journalist and author of "Pit Bull: The Battle Over An American Icon." Thanks for joining us.

Thank you so much.

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Montreal Bans Pit Bull Dog Ownership After Deadly Attack

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To listen to this broadcast, click here: In Montreal, it's about to become illegal to adopt or buy a pitbull. After a dog attacked and killed a 55-year-old woman, the Montreal City Council passed this ban, which goes into effect Monday. People who already own the dogs will have to register and sterilize them and muzzle them in public.