I used to carry a five iron around when walking my dog. Mainly as a cane but also as a weapon against coyotes. Have not seen a coyote here in Lynnhaven for a year or so.

There is a "pit bull" like dog around but the owner keeps it at a distance from other pooches and seems to have a good grip on it. I had a nurse friend who was about 100 lbs, if that, and she had a 50 lb pit bull mix and often wondering how she could control her. The nurse's dog did get rough after playing hard at the dog park with a boxer type mix. They eventually had to kick it out of Doggie Doo Run Run along with the boxer type as they both were getting too aggressive. Lots of complaints from other dog park users too made that ban an easy decision for the dog park owners.

Large, heavy dogs can be impossible to control even on a leash. My friend who shows American Staffordshire Terriers at dog shows all over the continent and lives with 15 of them, sent me two of the world’s most beautiful puppies. They require daily training he said. Full grown these dogs can pull me off my feet without too much effort. Although at the time I worked out at the gym every day, I sent them back to him... with great regret.

I 1000% agree with you. When I walk my two dogs, 100lb each, it's always the little dogs that want to attack / bark at my dogs. Mine don't bark or do anything.

There are other dogs that are more "aggressive" than pits, and have stronger jaws than pits. Pitties are great dogs. Super sweet.

I agree. I also have a pit bull. I would have never chosen that breed but inherited it from my Iraq vet son who passed away unexpectedly. I just felt like he would want me to take him and not give to a stranger. That being said my pit is the sweetest and most non-aggressive dog I’ve had...to people. He has never bitten or shown aggression to any human. But I must say I do worry what he could do with another dog or cat. He does show aggression to other animals like squirrels and has even killed a few. So naturally I never go away from home with him off leash. And I would feel awful if he did attack someone’s pet and I would take responsibility. But like my veterinarian said, “There are more aggressive dogs(Chihuahuas & Cocker Spaniels for example that usually bite people), but what separates them from a pit bull is how powerful a pit bull is.

Having The Villages enforce any covenant here is pretty much a joke, especially when it comes to pets. There is also a 2 pet LIMIT but I've seen many people walking all three of their dogs and they are NOT dog sitting. They just choose to break the rules.

It this would have been me, I would have shot the pit bull. That would have guaranteed some kind of action!!!

Rescue dog
 

We had a signed agreement with the rescue to return him for any reason as they are a no kill shelter.

Tv show gunsmoke
 

florida is a stand your ground state. Works for me and hopefully for the people who carry 4 legged weapons.

Where in the “covenant restrictions” is this stated that no dogs over 40 lbs? It is not a deed restriction I know for a fact. I’ve never heard of a “covenant restriction” in TV. I’m very sorry for the attack upon the small dog, but your classifying pit bulls and dogs over 40 lbs as aggressive. This is TOTALLY false, for it is how the dog is raised, trained and such, NOT breed specific and size! I have seen many “small” dogs that would have the same temperament and aggression! There is no possible way that any “restriction” as stated can be put in place in the TV. It is NOT an HOA community. People own there own homes, yes with deed restrictions. If this is fact please cite the it and the authenticity. Thank you!

Ah yes! Resort to gun violence as a first reaction.

Use a 9 iron or wedge------cuts better

You might rethink that!

Wow, breed discrimination. Please read up, a Chihuahua can be as aggressive as a German Shepherd. ITS NOT THE BREED!

Yes, the common denominator is BULL as in Bullmastiff and pit bulls, along with staffordshire bull terriers.

Wow
 

I think I can whaxk a chi chi hard enough to make it
stop biting me. Had two shepherds and know the size and strength of the breed. Kind of like comparing apples to Oranges.

You do whatever you can to stop the threat so you can go home.

I think the problem here is the owner not having the dog on a leash. If you are walking your dog or letting your dog outside for any reason, they should be leashed and controlled by the owner or inside a fenced yard. Can dogs be vicious? Yes. Will they attack other dogs, other animals, and humans? Yes. Simple control would have prevented the smaller dog from being hurt. I would personally hold the owner of the attacking dog responsible and provide them with a letter from the vet, a bill, and possibly a letter from an attorney letting them know they are responsible for all medical bills. I would also make a police report, as someone suggested, if a human was hurt during the situation, and animal control if the dog was the only one hurt.

I am thinking a smart lawyer can make this right.

Pit Bulls are not a dangerous breed. Like any dog training and treatment are important. I'm more afraid of Chihuahua's which are listed most dangerous on many lists. Would you ban that breed as well? Breed banning is not the answer. It starts with the owner.

Do not understand owners having dogs off leash big or small. Sets dogs up for failure. Had a small dog head toward me and my dog while off leash fast as a bullet. It was aggressive but all owner did was chuckle.
Dog typically not the issue. Owner behavior is.

Like I said, when was the last time a white cross or yard ornaments left the property and attacked a passerby. The Villages will take people to court over those restrictions.
Makes u wonder about the mentality of those enforcing restrictions.
ALL DOGS NEED TO BE LEASHED.

The story of Diane Whipple and what happened here is mixing Apple and oranges.
Diane was killed by presa canarios and the owner was a white nationalist. Presa’s make pits look like puppies, the incident was ruled an intentional murder because Diane was gay.
Some Presa’s can weigh upwards of 190+ lbs how many of us villagers can control that. AND there was 2 not 1 dog attacking. The dogs were intentionally set on her, hence the murder conviction.
Hopefully there are no white nationalists living in the Villages, they wouldn’t like any of us.

You’re opinion, that’s it.

Thank you
It all makes sense

Let’s see how many Chili’s have causes deaths and near deaths? Zero, any animal can bit, but only few have the jaw power to break and sever limbs, I agree it not just pit bulls mixes, but they are at top of the danger list.

Similar breeds, chip, off the same block, just like bears and horses. They are still bears and horses regardless of size.

You might want to read the whole article to who was the white nationals
Indictment Charges Pair With Murder in Mauling - The New York Times

Spanish Mastiff - Wikipedia

A home owner's son up my street had one of these and I always avoided walking my chihuahua/terrier when he/she was out on the lawn. It was 120 lbs and a puppy and its poop was massive but all in their yard.

I did like to drive by a get a good look at the pooch though.

When we lived in Palm Harbor, FL our neighbor was renting from a criminal defense lawyer. This was one of a series of renters in the house who from their behavior seemed like they could have been past clients of the defense lawyer. The renter in this story was raising two pit bulls which he kept in cages in the garage. One day he took these two for a walk but did it by walking both of them from leashes hanging out of his car door which he drove around the neighborhood. One of these dog's paws were rubbed raw and a boy called the cops after seeing this. The cops followed the blood trail to the house next door to us.

The media got involved with all the major broadcasters covering the story and PETA and activists also got centered on this.

Just saying that there are some pretty bad "pit bull" owners out there. These two dogs seemed quite gentle when I would see them out of their cages.

A TRAIL OF BLOODY PAW PRINTS // 2 dogs dragged by car, 1 hurt

:agree:

I'm sorry, but I think the small dog owner is a fault here ...now. because they are not doing anything about it!
Obviously the pit needs to be handled, whatever way authority's feel fit. Once a bitter, always a bitter...you figure it out. But if this doesn't get reported...it will happen again, another little dog, at the very least, will be hurt. Good luck neighbors of this dog....I suggest you don't walk your dog, don't have your grand children visit and allow them to be outside. This dog has tasted blood....he will do it again.

40#? I only see 100# mentioned.

Pit bulls should be prohibited everywhere in the US. They are a disaster and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

She could carry bear spray with her. Lighter than baseball or softball bat. Fits in a purse better, also!

This is like the debate about NATURE or NURTURE - genetic heredity or environmental training. Your particular individual dog MAY (?) be an outlier of the breed - may on the surface be friendly (to people) and have had GREAT environmental training. But, the DNA and breeding for dog violence are hidden just below the surface and ready to explode in some particular circumstance.

Pit Bulls were bred for hundreds of years for aggressive, violent dog behavior - not as a friendly, compliant pet and household companion. It is ridiculous to own that breed in a crowded urban environment like TV Land. If you do, you would be wise to just walk it outside on YOUR own property. Walking it on roads and common Village property you lose control of the situation and you invited problems and lawsuits. Find a farm that would take the animal and get yourself a more Village friendly breed. End of "flame".

That fact that 66% of fatal (to humans) attacks by dogs at due to Pit Bulls really stands out to me. I might have expected 25% - BUT 66%. That makes me stand by my statement that the Pit Bull breed should NOT be allowed in the whole US anywhere. Just like an invasive breed of fish or any other useless animal or plant, they should not be allowed inside the country. There are plenty of less aggressive breeds for a dog lover to choose from. A government's 1st responsibility is to keep its citizens safe - even from dangerous pets. You need a special license to own a lion or a tiger - there are GOOD reasons for that - because there are always individuals that would choose inappropriate pets. Your right to own a dangerous animal does NOT SUPERSEDE my right to not get KILLED or bitten.

I disagree and say not to try to manipulate statistics. Junkyards use rottweilers and german shepherds and other mixed breeds as much or more than pit bulls. it is a statistic - not a lab experiment to determine inherent aggressive breeding.

I manipulated nothing. If you actually read the post this is directly from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Why I Love Pit Bulls | Cesar's Way

This is written by someone who knows dogs very well.

Im quite sure you have heard this before. Im quite sure you heard this before you bought a pit bull. You can't deny this is the make up of certain breeds.

Animal control should be notified about this dog. The owners are usually given a warning.

Breed specific legislation is stupid. And it is not a matter of time before a pittie bites. Every pit tie I have ever encountered was a sweetie. My friends pit bulls have been big couch potatoes. The only thing I feared was getting licked. An animal senses p

Of course, no animal should be off leash around people. I have not ever walked my dogs off leash. I need to protect them from people. My golden retriever is gorgeous and everyone wants to pet him. I tell them that in this pandemic I would prefer they not interact with her.

Pit bulls only get negative reviews. Some police departments are using them police dogs. If you look you will see pitties have saved families from fires, protected their owners, which every dog should do.

My German Shepard was always watching I was alone and someone like a worker was in my home. I told all of them that my dog was very friendly, but protective I just told them as long as he did not approach me suddenly and did not yell, it would be fine. And it always was.

You are 100% responsible for what your dogs do. When I see a large dog straining on his leash I pick up my small dogs. If a dog is straining on leash, he is not under his owners control.

Pitt should be trained with love and discipline and have them properly trained. You need to also be trained on proper ways to train them.

I had my shepherd trained for two weeks. He stayed at the trainers home. She came back calm and attentive and listened to everything I asked to do. She was a big girl and 120 pounds,
However she was not the alpha dog. My 10 pound doxie ruled the pack.

This is much longer then I intended it to be. The message I am trying to say is all dogs need to be trained, no matter the breed and Pitt bulls are wonderful pets.

Let’s see? What did tiger’s wife use? Guess that’s why he can’t hit approach shot anymore??:)