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Loading...Pit Bull Is Neighbor of the Year for Saving Woman’s Life
Most choices for “Neighbor of the Year” are human, but a pit bull named Titan received that honor at a ceremony held by the Vintage Pointe Neighborhood Association in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Titan saved Gloria Benton’s life when she fell and fractured her skull after suffering a brain aneurysm. Her husband John was preparing to leave for work. Had Titan not run up and down the stairs, urging John to follow him, Mrs. Benton would have been dead before her husband found her at the end of the day.
Other pit bulls are credited for heroic deeds. In September, a pit bull helped save an elderly woman who rolled down a hill and was stuck against a sewer grate. In a 2009 case, a neighbor’s pit bull saved a woman being beaten by her former partner. And fans of Pit Bull Sharky will be familiar with videos of the lovable pooch gently tolerating a menagerie of ducks, chickens, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits. (See video below.)
On the other hand, an 11-year-old boy in Surrey, B.C., was ripped apart by a pit bull, who would likely have killed him had a neighbor not attacked the dog with a baseball bat. In Yuba County, California, a pit bull bit a five-year-old and only backed off when shot by a neighbor. The owners said he was a family pet and had never shown any violent tendencies.
Pit bull supporters blame bad owners for the breed’s vicious reputation. The American Temperament Test Society gave them a higher temperament rating than most dogs in a 2011 study. However, the dogs were bred for bull- and bear-baiting as well as dog fights. They are a muscular, aggressive breed and need the right owners.
The Dog Breed Info site cautions:
The American Pit Bull Terrier can be willful with meek owners and needs a firm hand. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood. They are very friendly, but not recommended for most people, because most people do not understand how to properly raise and treat a dog.
Pit bulls are known to be exceptionally loyal and loving with humans but aggressive toward other dogs. R.E.D (Rescue Every Dog) offers good advice on training and living with pit bulls and warns: “This is NOT a breed for everyone! The only way to repair the pit bull’s bad reputation is to keep them in the hands of responsible owners.”
Related Care2 Stories
Pit Bulls Have Better Temperament Than Average Dog
Read more: animal welfare, dog fights, dogs, pets, pit bull dogs, pit bulls, temperament
Photo from Texasgirly1979, video of her pit bull, Sharky
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Recent Comments from Causes
Elaine, proofread your posts; your basic illiteracy is showing.
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192 comments
+ add your ownI certainly agree although I've not had a pittie, that the animals are what the people are who train and love them. I don't believe there are 'bad dogs' but there definitely are cruel people who mastermind the poor dogs they breed or train for vicious fights or guards. It is unfortunate that laws (people) categorize certain breeds as vicious and they are banned. There are other breeds that can be just as overprotective and/or vicious, but again, people play the role.
A pit bull attacks less often then the most aggressive dog listed.. Which is the poodle. The problem is that an attack from a pit bull is much worse then a poodle's bite. And gets lots of media attention.
You must treat your Pit bull with firm love and affection but you must be the alpha dog. I have owned three pit bulls over the years, two died. I have a fully fenced yard to protect my dog from humans. You see if you teased and tormented her she would attack you and then she would have to be put down. So I protect her. Fenced yard not allowed to run loose. By the way when my cat had kittens she let one of the kittens nurse her... never have had puppies. Animals see us ..humans as part of the pack any other animals they are raised with are also part of that family pack.
Responsible breeders will try to breed out the over aggressiveness.
Stereotype for all is wrong for a few misguided dogs. Pitbulls are loyal & loving. Even if their human has had a bad day, a Pit can make them smile. My opinion is that government is overstepping boundaries in trying to eliminate a breed of dog as they are also trying to eliminate a breed of horse, the majestic Mustang/Wild horses, an another breed of canine, the Wolf, from which ALL Dogs descended. My opinion is that allowing control of our rights to be taken is ignoring our Constitution as well as the beginnings of saying who lives and dies, under governmental order, in the future.
Thanks.
I LOVE PIT BULLS!!
Thank you.
A well balanced article. It shows to me that it's not the breed of the dog that's bad..but the breed of the human! If a person is going to breed for the right reasons then there shouldn't be a problem. If they are going to do it for the reason of fighting, that's another story! It's like a person who wants a gun..it's not the gun that's evil or kills people...people kill people.. No matter the weapon used..gun or dog! Difference being, the poor dog suffers for the stupidly and cruelty of humans. Stop punishing the poor animals and punish the humans!
Great to hear stories of properly trained/raised pit bulls. Thank you for sharing this article!
People forget that Petey, the dog of the Little Rascals was a pit bull. Like Akitas, Pitbulls need a strong owner, not a cruel one, but one who can establish themselves as Alpha..once that is done, they are always eager to please and have confidence you won't steer them wrong...
It would a good thing if the breeding of dogs like Pit Bulls could somehow be monitored. Unfortunately, this is one breed that has ended up in the hands of people like (Michael Vick!) and other like psychopaths. It seems that even though a Pit Bull has grown up in a loving home
that there can be something genetic that sets it off. This is a tough one. I'm happy to read comments of good owners and good Pit Bulls though.
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