A pit-iful way to start the holidays

Today’s blog was supposed to be about bunny rabbits, not canine killers. But last week’s unprovoked pit bull attack on a child demanded a change of plan. Last Wednesday, as 10-year-old Caltanique Domino and her friends walked down Fairfields Avenue, they were chased by a pack of pit bulls. Before two passersby stopped the dogs, Domino sustained head, face, shoulder and leg injuries that required stitches and staples.

Since one-third of the dogs impounded at East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control are pit bulls and the majority are picked up as strays, the attack could happen anywhere any day.

Over the years, other breeds have been maligned. German shepherds, akitas, dobermans, rottweilers and chows have all suffered image problems after a publicized attack. Realistically, any animal with teeth can bite. But pit bulls are more than just the maligned breed du jour.

Ironically, Understand-a-bull.com, a Web site that opposes breed-specific legislation, offers the best explanation: “For hundred of years, pits were bred to fight dogs, certain traits were bred into the bloodlines for that purpose; high pain tolerance, high prey drive, etc. However, a quality that was never bred into pit bulls was human aggression.” That may be so; but to a pack of pits, a gaggle of little girls can look and sound like prey.

Acknowledging the danger pits present, states such as Iowa and Ohio and cities such as Miami, Denver and Providence, R.I., have banned the breed. However, enforcement is difficult because it’s hard to define and detect what exactly is a pit bull. It is not breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. It’s an amalgamation of American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier. They can be solid color, bi-color or brindle with a variety of eye colors and builds. To illustrate the point, the Understand-a-bull Web site posts a Find-the-Pit-Bull Game as part of its Punish-the-Deed, Not-the-Breed campaign.
While dog fighting is illegal in Louisiana, the large profit and demand for fighting dogs still entices unsavory individuals to breed aggressive animals. The trait is now dominant, so the chance of a pit bull puppy growing up to be aggressive is likely. Certainly, there are exceptions. “Pittie” rescue groups endorse the dog as a loving and family-friendly pet.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exposed Louisiana’s pit problem. At the makeshift Lamar-Dixon shelter, rescuers noticed a large number of pits exhibited scars not only from post-hurricane survival but older ones from ears and tails butchered with scissors or kitchen knives to prepare them to fight. If this is the treatment some pits receive from their owners, how can the dogs ever see humans as anything other than a threat and be anything other than dangerous to strangers?

Exploitation and genetics have made pits a canine assault rifle with a hair trigger and no safety. One or more pits mixed with an inexperienced or irresponsibility owner is a recipe for tragedy.

And, while there is no doubt canines mauled the child in North Baton Rouge, the dogs’ owner is the real culprit. Besides allowing these aggressive animals to roam, the owner never vaccinated the dogs, so there’s the possibility they were rabid.

The owner has expressed her hopes for the child’s recovery. While Caltanique is no longer in the hospital, it will take a long time for her physical and emotional scars to heal. The post-traumatic stress associated with the event may never allow her to trust man’s best friend for the remainder of her life. That is truly a pity.

Advice on Facing Aggressive Dogs

East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Director Hilton Cole offers the following advice when facing an aggressive dog or pack of dogs.

Preferred defense for adults and children: If you have the space, distance and time to make it to safety, run.

Default defense for adults: Face the dog and calmly and slowly back away. Talk to the animal. Offer the animal something: your shoes, shirt, briefcase— anything that it can attack or that might slow it down—at the animal. Remain standing, even if the animal latches on to you. Do not turn your back.

Default position for children: A child who cannot get away is really in mortal danger. If you cannot get away, roll in a fetal position, pulling your arms inward to protect your throat. Hopefully, the dog will go away. Even if the dog bites you, try not to squeal or scream because it will sound like wounded prey to the dog and it may become more aggressive.

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