I'm Annoyed

[Anonymoose]

Yes, Stat, I think all the Hollywood "news" is like a sedative that kind of distracts us from the seriousness of real news. Child abuse is a serious problem, and it's a social problem. Unfortunately, unless you're a social worker, law enforcement officer, judge, etc., you're not in a good position to do anything about it. Children are treated like property. I'm concerned about all the single mothers who end up with loser boyfriends, and ALLOW them to abuse their children. What are they thinking? I'm afraid we raise our daughters to believe that a loser boyfriend/spouse is better than none at all. And, unfortunately, financially, it may be true.

[Anonymoose]

Hey Beck, I hear what you're saying. Especially with big dogs, you have to be very careful. They can knock you down or scratch you and hurt you without meaning to. My dogs don't exactly "jump" on people. One never does, and the other is truly just affectionate, plus, they're small. Anyway, they listen better than most children, they don't talk back or whine constantly, and they go to bed when we tell them to! So, we put up with them, and have never had complaints. But, I have known several people with obnoxious pets, and it isn't pleasant, I'll grant you. That's why it kills me to see some families get puppies or kittens, without any idea about training them or taking care of them. The pets develop bad habits, the families lose patience, and they give them away or take them back to the animal shelter, and the cycle starts all over again. It's sad, really. Kind of like the foster care system is for children. It's like some people have kids, or adopt pets, and don't have a clue about the seriousness of the commitment.

[resigned]

This dog my daughter has is half pit bull and what the other is I don't know. She got the dog from an animal shelter when the dog was almost a year old. The dog had been abused, burned etc which certainly had an impact on it's personality. I think my daughter thought she could bring the dog around with love and kindness. But she also allowed the dog to get by with alot of behaviors that were not acceptable. And in the process the dog has sort of become Master of the House. That was until my daughter had a baby who just turned a year old and she is expecting another baby. This dog recently snarled at the baby and has knocked her over. My daughter thank heavens, knows not to leave the baby alone with the dog but is trying to find a good home for the dog. Her husband is not a happy camper because he is besotted with this dog. They have two dogs and the other one is very kind and gentle. When I am there the hyper dog has learned how to listen to me and obeys. I have only to point to the floor and she immediately goes down on her belly. I just use this very firm voice and she obeys. My son in law is a very kind and gentle person and never raises his voice but tells her in his very kind and gentle voice to sit and of course she never does. He just doesn't know how to be firm.

He is devestated over having to give her away. But does realize that his children are more important. They now give the dog prozac, prescribed by the vet to keep her from being so hyper. I just hope they can find a home for her soon, because I so worry about the baby now that she is walking. It would only take some playful action on the part of this dog to cause serious damage to the baby not to mention if the dog decided to turn on the baby. She has snarled at other children and I believe its only a matter of time before she does it with the baby. My daughter lives in a dream land with this dog, because she keeps saying the the dog is so good with the baby. That could change in a instant. After all this is an animal and I believe that no matter how much you think you know an animal they can turn on you.

I have a friend whose neighbor's golden retriever turned on her, bit her back, her legs, her hands to the point where one of her hands is permently cribbled. Had the dog gotten her down on the ground she probably would have killed her. I just think we have to be aware that dogs can change toward different people.

[Anonymoose]

You are so right. Gosh, that scares me, because I've seen other pit-bull mixes be very aggressive and turn on a dime, when no one expected it. I'm not sure it's just a pit-bull thing, because I have seen lab mixes do that, too. And, under certain circumstances, any dog is capable of turning and attacking another dog, cat, human, or other living thing. People have to understand the survival and competitive instincts in dogs, and other animals.

I hope that your daughter will find another home for the dog, for her child's sake, and for the dog's. The dog needs space to run more than it needs to be overly domesticated, and I don't even want to think about what could happen to the child. Recently, my friend's dog bit into my small dog's neck, and it was my fault, because I was giving them treats at the same time, and it became a competition for them. He bit into my dog's neck, and tore his ear up. My dog didn't even know what had happened. Oddly, the bigger male dog didn't attack my female dog. I have seen two pit bull mixes, who lived and played together for three or four years, nearly kill each other because an unsuspecting person tried to give them both a treat. I should have known better.