The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) document the breeds involved in fatel dog bites.  The Pit Bull and Rottweiler dogs are responsible for more than 50% of the deaths.  Also, a dangerous dog is any dog that has the above breeds in their lineage.  E.g. American Bulldogs.  Every city needs to have a dangerous dog law that gives the animal control department the authority to euthanize dangerous dogs and applies to dogs that bite people or other animals or requires a person to take defensive action.

“If I were the owner of two dogs that attacked a neighbor and her dog, my concern would not be focused on the welfare of two dogs that attacked Mrs. Martin.  That dog owner might be better off concerning himself with the answers to these questions: 1.  How much will Mr. Martin sue me for?  2.  Will my neighbors still accept me in this neighborhood?  3.  If I can afford to still live here after this ordeal, should I consider getting a different/less dangerous pet?  4.  Will I be financially paying for the Martin’s suffering years from now, because I used poor judgment in selecting pets and then not taking proper responsibility for those pets?  5.  How merciful with the Martins be now that my actions, or lack of actions caused his family and his little dog so much injury, trauma, and pain?  6.  What lawyer out there is begging to take the Martin’s case knowing they can win because of my negligence?  7.  How much is enough for what I owe the Martin family?  Well Mr. dangerous dog owner, Mrs. Martin’s scars are there for life—as well as her dog’s scars.  The trauma alone may never leave her.  You answer that one.  And while you are at it, make the right choice on your dogs—have them put down.  If you do not, at least those dogs will not be around in say, 10 years.  But between now and then they could harm someone else and cause more pain, blood spill, scars….worse!  Put your dogs down, make it right with the Martins, and everyone, including yourself will be at peace.”

_USTIC,

I was inferring that the next individual that was attacked would likely die. 

Webster’s defines Ignorance as a: destitute of knowledge or education <an ignorant society>; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified b: resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence <ignorant errors>
2: unaware, uninformed

After reading your posts on this forum.  I have a difficult time understanding how you could call anyone ignorant.

Hold the dictionary up to the mirror you might just see the personification of ignorance.

Personally, I do not believe the dogs are trustworthy.  In my opinion, the owners showed that they are not able to control the dogs. Let them go to someone who knows how to handle their personality and breed.

A lot of research has gone into dog bites. Over 4.5 MILLION estimated dog bites occur each year. Seventy percent are by intact (unneutered males). Unspayed females seem to attract males and thus agression. So, the lesson is NEUTER and SPAY your pets. They point out that bites by specific breed dog breed cannot be calculated since many dogs are mixes. It’s not fair to say one breed is more likely to bite. The issue is that a large dog does more damage.

Perhaps instead of attacking owners of specific breeds, we need to address the issue of prevention, educate owners on how to keep their dogs and selves safe. Maybe stick our noses in when we see a pet being neglected?

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm
http://www.avma.org/public_health/dogbite/dogbite.pdf

I hope this incident serves to bring people to question how we allow animals to be treated. Fairhope will not allow dogs to be chained. The reason is that chained dogs are shown to become agressive and tend to act out. The entire state of Mississippi has leash laws for both BOTH dogs and cats. Animals do not need to roam free.  They are exposed to accidents and illnesses that properly supervised animals do not experience. Mobile has a license fee that encourages owners to spay and neuter their dogs.  We have had to legislate responsible owners. Owners should be required to prove that the enclosure was adequate, otherwise, they are negligent. Regardless, they are obligated to pay damages their animals create.  We are in society that now believes we are responsible to others. Perhaps, we need to REQUIRE liability coverage by dog owners just in case ANY dog bites.

I do not have anything against this breed of dog. All dogs have been known to bite. Small dogs don’t have the ability to cause the damage that a breed does who has that type of jaw power. Dogs bite depending on the situation. No dog has the ability to rationalize good person/bad person, good dog/bad dog. They cannot overcome their breeding. A Greyhound will more than likely chase a small rabbit like animal, LIKE CATS.  Rat terriors chase RATS and small vermin ie HAMSTERS, GERBILS, FERRETS. German Shepherd Dogs HERD. Golden Retrievers RETRIEVE. Bull Dogs are bred to do what? They act on threat. Owners should be responsible to know their breed and its tendencies.

I am sure those are sweet dogs in the right situation. Unfortunately, the owners left them unsupervised and the dogs were able to get out. The neighborhood becomes the territory. No, it’s not the dog’s fault. They are bred to be protective. Now, the dogs have to pay. The owner has to pay. And Mrs. Martin has to pay.

If you want a cat as a pet maybe a Puma is not the best choice. For the same reason it is sheer foolishness to encourage people to regard Pit Bulls and Rottweilers as just dogs like any other.  Temperament is not the issue, what is relevant is the actual risk.  Any dog could have a bad moment and someone may get bitten, but the risk of being maimed for life or killed is off the charts with a dangerous breed.  By name these dogs in question are American Bulldogs a second cousin to Pit Bulls.  Why do drug dealers chain Pit Bulls outside their crack houses? Because they are friendly loving pets?  I also disagree with “bama” dated 03/04/08 who thinks Mrs. Martin was bitten by her own dog the Jack Russell causing her to require 18 stitches and fell over because she bent down to pick up her dog.  I do however agree that she would have had more than 18 stitches if it were not for her husband coming to her rescue.  And I thought only GA, NY and TN has first bite free laws.

Continuation Part 2 -

You would think that any respectable and responsible dog owner and home owner would have taken care of that the first time it happened.  Even after all of these facts, I’m sure there’s still someone out there that will say “But the dogs must have been provoked.  It’s not their fault.  It’s Mrs. Martin’s.  They wanted her dog and she got it in the way.  Besides, she’s fine.  Her dog is fine.  She was just bitten.”  Well if that’s the case, then I have nothing but pity for these people and it’s shameful to call these people human beings.

Continuation - Mrs. Martin was not in the dog’s yard.  Mrs. Martin was not doing anything but taking her dog out and getting her mail in her mailbox in her yard.  If that’s provoking a dog, then I do that everyday and I’m sure 99% of Americans do too.  Some people believe that their pets are their children.  If these dog’s owners believe that, then why were they left outside by themselves all weekend?  Would anyone in their right mind leave their human child home alone outside all weekend?  It doesn’t matter if they believe these pets are their children.  The fact is they left them outside, alone, and unattended for an entire weekend.  No wonder they escaped from their backyard.  How did they escape?  Apparently the fence they have around their yard isn’t equipped to handle 2 big dogs like that.  And from what I’ve read and heard, this wasn’t the first time these dogs had escaped. 
To Be Continued - again…...

It just shocks me that in this day and age, that there are certain people that seem to refuse to believe that their pet can do any wrong.  That their dog, whose breed is known to be extremely aggressive, must have been provoked in some way for it to attack.  What if one of the Martin children had taken their dog out?  Yes, I know – this is a What If question.  But, let’s play devil’s advocate, shall we?  Their son went to take their dog for a walk.  He steps outside and is faced with the same two aggressive dogs.  He’s attacked.  Now what?  Do we still say, Oh the dogs must have been provoked; he was only bitten on his arm; he only has 18 stitches?  Would the “supporters” still “support” the dogs and the dog’s owners if a small child had been attacked instead of a grown woman?  To me, it doesn’t matter who was attacked; a small child, a teenager, a grown man or woman.  The fact is, these dogs attacked and were unprovoked.        To Be Continued…...