BOWLER, Wis. — A Wisconsin mother died Thursday, eight days after the family’s pit bull attacked her 4-year-old son, and she intervened.
According to authorities, Heather Pingel, 35, lost both her arms following the Dec. 8 animal attack and never recovered from her extensive injuries, WSAW reported.
It doesn’t make sense that anyone would intervene in an attack of such ferocity except one’s love for another over personal safety. God Bless Heather and flights of angels guide her to her rest.
Pits are fantastic dogs if they are raised properly, this one was not, as they mentioned it had a history of aggressive behavior. So her heroic last ditch effort to save the child doesn't absolve her of not removing the animal from the home in the first place.
On Instagram I've seen posts of infants and toddlers next to large dogs. Mostly Golden Retrievers, but also a fair number of pit bulls. I know its wrong to condemn all but putting that small a child next to a large dog would be the last thing I would do.
Years ago a kid in Charlottesville was attacked by two loving family Pit Bulls. I saw that kid about six months later in a Sears. Shit! That kids face looked like a crossword puzzle of scars. One ear gone, nose half gone and I think he lost an eye. I do not like Pit Bulls and I would never have them around a child or me for that matter.
Pretty ambivalent about this episode. Sorry for all involved, but at any point in the previous history of the dog did someone suggest that maybe, just possibly it was inappropriate to keep a dog with known aggressive tendencies in a household inhabited by young children? Breed notwithstanding, if a dog has attacked without provocation in the past, it is likely to repeat the behavior.
Not to criticize the deceased, but why the hell would you have a Pit "That has been aggressive in the past" around 4 & 5 YO children? I love dogs, but that's insane.
I always love it when people say it's not the breed. I challenge you to raise a wolf from a cub and not have it be a problem when it is older. Pits are not wolves, but the principle stands. Some may be closer to domesticated dogs, maybe most, but the breed is closer to wolves than most other domesticated breeds of dogs.
Our neighbor has an untrained, aggressive pit mix that they allow the run of the neighborhood. I made it clear I was carrying and wouldn't hesitate to shoot it if it comes onto my property and acts aggressively towards anyone in my family. They kept trying to tell me how it hadn't bit anyone, yet. At the same time they couldn't get the dog to come when they called it.
Apples and oranges as far as your challenge goes. Dogs are domesticated, wolves aren't. But owners of any breed are responsible for their dogs, not just their care but their training as well.
My brother, sister, and I were all raised the same. My sister and I were strait arrows. Our adopted brother was constantly in trouble. Individual genetics plays a role. Nature and nurture both play a role. To claim that all pit bulls that act up are based solely on how they are raised is to deny reality. Genetics plays a role.
Oh, there's no doubt that genetics play a role. I've seen dogs that were bred for agressiveness and that's purely genetic. I'm just saying that you can't judge an entire breed because of some dogs' traits. Hell, I've seen mean-ass cocker spaniels before.
I'm glad *your* pit was both raised right and didn't have a genetic tendency to be aggressive. Hell, you can raise a human right and they still may turn out bad. Why would you think it would be different with pits?
I never said anything like that, did I? Matter of fact, if you'll look at one of my replies to another comment above, I agreed with it. It applies to all breeds, though. Don't put words in my mouth, please.
I would agree partly with how a dog is raised. As human centric Labs and Golden Retrievers (owned once long ago) are to humans, I've always said the first question that would come to mind if I came across one aggressive to humans would be. "has this dog been abused?'
I was raised around pits, my dad used to train them for security. They were always the most loyal dogs, but my dad always had a sense of which pups were trainable and which ones were problems. I've found that's true with all breeds, even more so with all the mix breeds of today.
The vey best dogs I've ever had were mixed breeds. I've found them to be easier to train (except for that asshole dog Jack, he's just fucking stupid) and they're not as prone to breed specific traits as much. That can be a good or bad thing. There's a woman that comes into my Vet's with the biggest damned pit I've ever seen. It's just massive, pushing 150 pounds of solid muscle, and the biggest sweetheart I've ever seen. He has to go up to everybody in the room and get head rubs and say hello to the other dogs.
maybe that's my problem, all the ones I get seem to be fucking stupid too... it is worth mentioning that the only common denominator is me!!!!!! I think the human is a large part of the problem when dogs are involved, poor treatment, lack of training, no leadership.
It's a full time job training mine. My Pit/Lab wants to learn. He's under two years old, and I've had him since July. They must know who's "boss". Believe me, it takes work, at least mine does, but my situation is different. I have 4 other dogs and my new boy thinks he has to vie for top dog status with 3 of those four. They must be taught to obey commands. Ohio Guy
It doesn’t make sense that anyone would intervene in an attack of such ferocity except one’s love for another over personal safety. God Bless Heather and flights of angels guide her to her rest.
ReplyDeleteVery sad. Another tragic example of mostly-peaceful behavior from the Breed of Peace.
ReplyDeleteEd
Pits are fantastic dogs if they are raised properly, this one was not, as they mentioned it had a history of aggressive behavior. So her heroic last ditch effort to save the child doesn't absolve her of not removing the animal from the home in the first place.
ReplyDeleteBullshit! Pitts kill or injure over 20 times as many people as Rottweilers or German Shepherds. There is no reason a Pitt should be allowed in the US.
DeleteSorry, wildbill. I've got to disagree with you on both your facts and opinion.
Delete"purely economic factors"
DeleteOn Instagram I've seen posts of infants and toddlers next to large dogs. Mostly Golden Retrievers, but also a fair number of pit bulls. I know its wrong to condemn all but putting that small a child next to a large dog would be the last thing I would do.
ReplyDeleteExcepting a Newf.
DeleteI guess there will not be bail for the dog?
ReplyDeleteIf that woman had a husband I'd be flat assed amazed if that POS dog is still drawing air.
DeleteYears ago a kid in Charlottesville was attacked by two loving family Pit Bulls. I saw that kid about six months later in a Sears. Shit! That kids face looked like a crossword puzzle of scars. One ear gone, nose half gone and I think he lost an eye. I do not like Pit Bulls and I would never have them around a child or me for that matter.
ReplyDeletePretty ambivalent about this episode. Sorry for all involved, but at any point in the previous history of the dog did someone suggest that maybe, just possibly it was inappropriate to keep a dog with known aggressive tendencies in a household inhabited by young children? Breed notwithstanding, if a dog has attacked without provocation in the past, it is likely to repeat the behavior.
ReplyDeleteNot to criticize the deceased, but why the hell would you have a Pit "That has been aggressive in the past" around 4 & 5 YO children?
ReplyDeleteI love dogs, but that's insane.
CC
I always love it when people say it's not the breed. I challenge you to raise a wolf from a cub and not have it be a problem when it is older. Pits are not wolves, but the principle stands. Some may be closer to domesticated dogs, maybe most, but the breed is closer to wolves than most other domesticated breeds of dogs.
ReplyDeleteOur neighbor has an untrained, aggressive pit mix that they allow the run of the neighborhood. I made it clear I was carrying and wouldn't hesitate to shoot it if it comes onto my property and acts aggressively towards anyone in my family. They kept trying to tell me how it hadn't bit anyone, yet. At the same time they couldn't get the dog to come when they called it.
Apples and oranges as far as your challenge goes. Dogs are domesticated, wolves aren't.
DeleteBut owners of any breed are responsible for their dogs, not just their care but their training as well.
My brother, sister, and I were all raised the same. My sister and I were strait arrows. Our adopted brother was constantly in trouble. Individual genetics plays a role. Nature and nurture both play a role. To claim that all pit bulls that act up are based solely on how they are raised is to deny reality. Genetics plays a role.
DeleteOh, there's no doubt that genetics play a role. I've seen dogs that were bred for agressiveness and that's purely genetic. I'm just saying that you can't judge an entire breed because of some dogs' traits. Hell, I've seen mean-ass cocker spaniels before.
DeleteAlways best for actions to happen to the ones who are most at fault.
ReplyDeleteNo use for Pits, good, bad or ugly!
Never thought Pit owners were too bright.
I own a pit.
DeleteI'm glad *your* pit was both raised right and didn't have a genetic tendency to be aggressive. Hell, you can raise a human right and they still may turn out bad. Why would you think it would be different with pits?
DeleteI never said anything like that, did I? Matter of fact, if you'll look at one of my replies to another comment above, I agreed with it. It applies to all breeds, though.
DeleteDon't put words in my mouth, please.
I would agree partly with how a dog is raised. As human centric Labs and Golden Retrievers (owned once long ago) are to humans, I've always said the first question that would come to mind if I came across one aggressive to humans would be. "has this dog been abused?'
ReplyDeleteI was raised around pits, my dad used to train them for security. They were always the most loyal dogs, but my dad always had a sense of which pups were trainable and which ones were problems. I've found that's true with all breeds, even more so with all the mix breeds of today.
ReplyDeleteThe vey best dogs I've ever had were mixed breeds. I've found them to be easier to train (except for that asshole dog Jack, he's just fucking stupid) and they're not as prone to breed specific traits as much. That can be a good or bad thing.
DeleteThere's a woman that comes into my Vet's with the biggest damned pit I've ever seen. It's just massive, pushing 150 pounds of solid muscle, and the biggest sweetheart I've ever seen. He has to go up to everybody in the room and get head rubs and say hello to the other dogs.
maybe that's my problem, all the ones I get seem to be fucking stupid too... it is worth mentioning that the only common denominator is me!!!!!! I think the human is a large part of the problem when dogs are involved, poor treatment, lack of training, no leadership.
DeleteIt's a full time job training mine. My Pit/Lab wants to learn. He's under two years old, and I've had him since July. They must know who's "boss". Believe me, it takes work, at least mine does, but my situation is different. I have 4 other dogs and my new boy thinks he has to vie for top dog status with 3 of those four. They must be taught to obey commands. Ohio Guy
ReplyDelete