Pit bull attacks and kills Chihuahua

[ErikJ]

I have a couple chihuahuas so this really makes me sad.

Pit bull attacks and kills Chihuahua
Updated: Wednesday, 04 Jan 2012, 11:11 AM EST
Published : Wednesday, 04 Jan 2012, 11:06 AM EST

Farmington, Conn. (WTNH) - A dog owner is facing charges after his pit bull attacked and killed a Chihuahua.

A woman was inside her Oakland Avenue home in Farmington when she heard her Chihuahua yelping outside.

It was 12:49 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3.

The woman told police that she saw her dog was cornered by two pit bulls in her yard. One of the pit bulls was attacking the small dog.

When she went to bring her dog inside, the two pit bulls followed her and one of them continued to attack the small dog.

The Chihuahua died before officers arrived at the home.

The pit bull's owner, neighbor Shakeem Anderson was charged with allowing a dog to roam, having unlicensed dogs, and having nuisance dogs.

The pit bull that attacked the Chihuahua was put down, while the other is being evaluated to determine if it can be returned to Anderson.

[Irishonly]

1. I love pit bulls but I don't love the owners

When your dogs are in your yard you have every reason to expect they will be safe. The other night we were able to save a small dog from a put bull roaming the street. He took off and I don't know where the dog lives. Then not 20 minutes later we saw a pit bull walking his owner and visually locking on to every animal he saw. The dog was not neutered and the man could not control him. If the dog wanted to attack I don't think the owner could have stopped it.

I run into a lot of really dumb dog owners when I walk my two shepherds. My dogs walk by me and I will cross the street to avoid conflict. Both of them have gotten really good at moving on. I have always been fortunate the strangers are kind and will come to my aid. One idiot even does a macho stand while other dog owners walk around him.

I am so sorry about the Chihuahua. There was no reason why the dogs should have been allowed to roam. I would hope they would thow the book at him and impose the harshest thing they can. Some people should not have dogs. My sil in law has two Chihuahuas that I love dealry. Neither are as big as my dogs heads.

The dog should have been safe.

[Magleetis]

2. Labs are bred to retrieve

Terriers are bred to hunt vermin. Huskies are bred to work in the cold. etc....

Pit Bulls are bred to kill other dogs.

[roody]

9. Pit bulls are terriers.

[Magleetis]

11. I thought they were Mollosers

Oh well, doesn’t really make any difference. Their purpose is to kill other dogs. They do it well. Sometimes they kill people and other animals too. As you can tell I don't like them.

[get the red out]

3. I wish the owner would be punished more severely

The penalties on the owner for their dog killing another, especially in someone's yard, should be very stiff. This idiot will probably just replace the dog that was put down with another dog that makes him feel "manly", not socialize it, not train it, not neuter it, and let it get loose at will.

This kind of thing makes me very angry!

[99Forever]

4. Sometimes it strikes me..

.. that SOME pet owners should be "put down." ( I don't really want them killed, but damn.)

[Dover]

6. I think they should at least be asked to either give up the dog or move to a place where they are

not in close proximity to animals/people. Of course then there is the question of what to do with
aggressive dogs if they were given up? Perhaps there are some people or groups willing to take them in
and socialize them, but I'm guessing that's pretty rare.

What kind of people need or breed aggressive animals? If they are so afraid of other people that they feel they
need that level of defense, then they should live far from people.

[Dover]

5. My dog is not a pit bull (he's a mut -pointer/healer mix), but he proudly brought home a baby rabbit

Last edited Fri Jan 6, 2012, 03:25 AM - Edit history (2)

he'd killed. I was just heartsick for the sweet little rabbit, but what are ya gonna do?
At one time certain dog breeds participated in the hunt for food with their human companions.
I let my dog know that this kind of thing does not please me. But there is training and
there is nature. And I'm a meat eater too, so I guess I'm also guilty for the death of other
animals.

I don't know if this is a fair comparison to the OP story, but I do know that as far as my
dog is concerned, rabbits and squirrels are fair game (when I'm not around to stop it).
He seems to know the difference between those animals and other dogs without any
training needed. He's completely gentle and loving.

IF the attack on this little dog is a result of training the dogs to be aggessive, then of course
it is the owners, not the dogs, that should be faulted, fined, jailed ... whatever. Animals that live in
close proximity to people/pets need to be socialized not trained for aggression.

[get the red out]

7. Yes, dogs do hunt

It is natural for dogs to hunt. My Sister and BIL live out in the country and one of their dogs was hell on the rabbit population all summer; but like you said, if you aren't right there what can you do? Her dogs haven't missed any meals but it's a natural response to prey which their ancestors needed to survive.

Dogs being pack animals, I do see attacks on other dogs as different. Owners have an obligation to know their dog and if socialization and training haven't worked, keep it away from other dogs. And there are the horribly negligent owners who don't train, don't care what their dogs do, or even worse take pride in their dog's aggression. Those people shouldn't be dog owners.

[99Forever]

8. Well put.

Dogs killing other dogs isn't "normal" or "natural," it is behavior that has been bred into some. Pit bulls in particular. Yes, with proper training and socialization it can be minimized, but even then, it's still there under the surface. Here's a very good article with the facts:

http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs-pit-bull-myths.php

[get the red out]

10. I have read that article

It is horrible what human beings have bred for and foced some dogs to do. I hope laws continue to get tougher on dog fighting to the point that this can be put in the past and all dogs can be bred for good temperment.

I definitely believe some behaviors are a consequence of breeding, my Aussie mix (maybe Border Collie in her, not sure) started herding a young Standard Poodle at the dog park last weekend and I quickly called her off. She wouldn't have hurt the Poodle, in fact the other dog was bigger than mine, but the poor Poodle didn't like it. My dog and my friend's German Shepherd will herd each other for fun. We certainly didn't teach them to herd. I've taught a lot of obedience commands and am starting on agility with her but no herding, yet she likes to herd.

[Magleetis]

12. Great article

Thanks for posting.

[Dover]

13. But who will socialize the owners? ...n/t