Pitbull attacks son of Pittsburgh Steeler
Written by Black Entertainment USA
It’s sad news on any day when you hear that a child has been injured. That doesn’t change where the child has a parent that is famous or not. Because we all want children, anyone’s child, to be safe at all times.
But there is something in this story that infuriates me. The source of the injury to Pittsburgh Steeler’s linebacker James Harrison’s child was a pitbull dog. And I’ve heard these kinds of stories way to often. The breed should never be around children. In fact, I believe the entire breed should be destroyed.
But before I go on, let’s get this into perspective. The pitbull is NOT part of dogfighting. The dog was not abused, or mistreated. There have been no reports of the dog causing trouble, or getting loose, or anything that would indicate it would harm anyone. This is not a Michael Vick kind of situation. This is all about the breed.
Pitbulls are a breed of dog bred for one thing, fighting. They are known for their aggressiveness, and the injuries they give to adults as well as other dogs and animals. They are prone to sudden vicious attacks, without cause. In my experience, every pitbull will at some point turn and attack without cause at some point in their lives. And the manner of raising the pitbull, and it’s parentage have little to do with that.
Case in point, back in the mid-90’s I was working at a stock brokerage firm in NYC near Wall Street. In the middle of one day a call came in that the daughter of one of the brokers I knew had just been taken to the hospital. The cause of her injuries was the one of the family’s pitbulls.
This pitbull had been raised with the child from birth. It was bred as a family dog, and the broker was a recognized breeder. All of his dogs were raised in a gentle surrounding, with good bloodlines. Up to that point there had never been an incident with the dog. The attack occurred in the kitchen, with the mother and a family friend present.
The little girl was just 6 years old. The dog was 5. For no apparent reason the dog turned on the girl as she entered the kitchen. It bit her face, requiring plastic surgery though she face would always retain marks from the attack. But at least she survived.
Just as James Harrison’s son will survive. He was bit in the leg. He will be in a hospital for at least another day, as the injury is considered severe but not life threatening. Just as with the experience my broker acquaintence learned about, Harrison’s dog attacked without provocation. 2 adults, one being the mother of James, were also injured while trying to rescue the boy.
Why do people continue to have these animals? Especially around children? I just don’t understand it.
They are beasts at the best of times. They are popular because drug dealers in the 80’s used them to protect crack houses from police raids. They serve no purpose, and are without any merit in my opinion.
How many children will need to suffer from attacks by these beasts before they are destroyed? How many people will be attacked? How many more headlines will it take before the status of owning such a vicious and unpredictable creature fades?
Owning a pitbull leaves you with one result. Given time it is bound to attack. I’ve found that to be true in every case of someone owning a pitbull. And sadly, children often are the victim of these attacks.
Canada, Australia, England, Norway, France, Singapore, Iceland and even Serbia get it. They all restrict or forbid the breed. Various cities and counties across the nation including Sioux City, Overland Park, Miami-Dade, Youngstown, and Sparta among many others get it. Even the state of Oklahoma has proposed the ban of these dogs.
I am sorry to hear of the injury to Steeler’s linbacker Harrison’s child. But I hope that if any positive can come out of this horrific attack, it is that it helps to end the existence of this breed so that no other child ever goes through this again.
October 4th, 2009 at 2:42 am
why in the world would you say such terrible things about pitbulls. yeah, that picture is scary but that doesn’t mean every pitbull is bad. i have a pitbull and he is probly one of the sweetest dogs you would meet. a lab, or the sweetest dog in the WORLD could turn and attack anybody too. but that doesn’t mean that just pitbulls have pictures taken like that one and that those stories could happen with any dog any dog that could happen not just a pitbull. and you may think than banning pitbulls would change all that stuff to happen but look if god forbid you did destroy pitbulls that wouldnt change any of those stories they will just happen with other dogs.and it all matters about who owns and trains the dog and those dogs are very smart and obediant so they will do anything their owner or trainer tell them or teach. and i am sorry that all that stuff happened to those people and children but that could happen with any dog just not pitbulls.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Nikki,
Yes it is true that other dogs can and do attack people. But it is the difference in the severity that seperates pitbulls from all other dog attacks. Add to this the fact that the breed(s) were created for the singular purpose of dog fighting, and you get something more of a weapon than an animal fit to be around humans.
I realize that many of these dogs have been well trained by a few exceptional owners. It’s the same as some very well trained gun ownwers. Except these pitbulls have a mind and mobility of their own. And inevitably I have found that given time EVERYONE who owns a pitbull will have it turn. My neighbor across the street just had to get rid of his pitbull after it started to nip at his baby daughter.
Given that a bad owner will have a very bad dog. But with a pitbull, even a good owner cannot and doesnot prevent events as described in the post. I am willing to state I am extreme in my views. But that does not change the overall view. Pitbulls just should not exist.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:03 am
You are so misinformed it’s not even funny. I have a pitbull and he is nicest dog you’ll ever meet. He absolutely LOVES kids. He lets them climb on him, pull his tail, ears, whatever they want. Best damn dog i’ve ever had. Now if you come into my yard and try to harm me is gonna react aggressively?? absolutely. but hey i had a lab like that. For you to say all pitbulls should be destroyed is an awful statement. It’d be like me sayin all dumb people should be destroyed, and since you’re a dummy I know you won’t like that.
November 28th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Ryan,
I am glad to hear that so far your dog has not turned yet. But that is only one example. I have heard of and known far too many other stories to agree with you.
And no a pitbull is not like a dumb person. People think far more than a dog does. People are far more accountable for the choices they make, dogs overall are not. And a dumb person can become educated a pitbull cannot become a poodle.
Lastly, personal attacks on me do not win an argument. Over the years I have been a professional blogger I’ve been called more names, and far worse insults, than you could hope to think of. Some people that disagree with me have resorted to the the low tactic of insults and vulgarity, it does not elevate your position - in fact it does the opposite.