Dangerous Dogs....no...Dangerous Owners

**Amy Jo** · 05-07-2004, 07:33 AM

I wanted to share with everyone this story from my local paper today. Bless this little girl's dog for saving her life!, and shame on the Pit Bulls' owners for not training their dogs properly. I've known several Pits that were just big baby-dolls, but around here they have got such a bad rap. It is actually illegal to have a Pit in town where I live!

SALINA -- A family dog intervened to drive off two pit bulls who attacked and injured a 3-year-old Salina girl.
Ryan Forsberg said his daughter, Caitlyn, 3, had been playing in the yard at his house Tuesday afternoon with Osh Gosh, an 8-year-old golden retriever. The pit bulls belonging to neighbor Christopher Stone tunneled under a chain link fence separating the back yards and attacked the girl.

Caitlyn was bitten on the face numerous times before Osh Gosh went on the attack, enabling the girl to break free and run screaming into the house.

Her father said Caitlyn suffered cuts all over her face and puncture wounds behind both ears.

"They basically just ripped her face up," he said.

Forsberg said Caitlyn was in surgery for about three hours, with stitches needed in 18 places. Doctors reattached one eyelid and reconstructed the tear duct, and the other eyelid had to be stitched.

Forsberg and Caitlyn's mother, Kellie Forsberg, also of Salina, spent the night at the hospital with their daughter. She was released Wednesday evening.

Stone, the owner of the pit bulls, was issued citations for having vicious dogs and for failure to have city tags and rabies vaccinations for one of them. Salina police Lt. Mike Sweeney said both dogs had been euthanized and checks were being made to determine if they were rabid.

Osh Gosh, bitten by the pit bulls, was swollen and sore but didn't need medical attention.

"If it wasn't for him, it probably would have been a lot worse than it is," Ryan Forsberg said. "He's kind of the hero of the family right now. We'll have to treat him somehow."

**SewCrafty** · 05-07-2004, 07:50 AM

That poor child! What a horrifying experience to go through. She certainly has a wonderful friend in Osh Gosh!

I feel badly for the other dogs that they had to be put down because of the owners nastiness. People like that should be the ones jailed or worse for a very long time!!

**Guest1** · 05-07-2004, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by Amy Jo
... and for failure to have city tags and rabies vaccinations for one of them ...

What the heck.....this guy should be locked up for wreckless endangerment of his community.....

That poor, poor baby....I hope & pray this does not permanently damage her physically or mentally....

We had a friend with a new "shepherd" puppy...he brought him over one night to play with our shepherd....turns out his is a pit....lunged at Belle (about 6 then) and had her entire face in his mouth....he was just so little - it's almost like it's inbred....GW landed on that dog with both feet behind his head.....Poor little Belle - she's always been so little anyway.....she's still petrified of certain dogs....

**Jayne** · 05-07-2004, 08:12 AM

I'm so glad the little girl is okay and that the dog is okay.....The owner of the pit bulls needs the book thrown at him

**Katybird** · 05-07-2004, 01:10 PM

How tragic for the poor little girl. I will keep her and her family in my prayers.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 05-09-2004, 02:49 AM

Ok, before we get the tar and feathers out for the Pits, let me set the record straight. It was horrible that this little girl had to go through this, but Pits are NOT inherently bad! (thanks for the vey truthful thread title!).

I have worked with many of the Bull breeds for almost a quarter of a century and I have never, ever been even threatened by any kind of bull breed, let alone bitten by one. I HAVE been bitten by a Doberman and a German Shepherd. Do I have a problem with EITHER of these breeds? NO--the owners were morons but the dogs were trained to act in a certain way BY their owners.

NO breed is more dangerous than any other simply by reputation. Every decade, a so-called killer dog appears for the bad boy wanna bees. The theory (according to me--resident expert!

) is that men who have no cajones need a big tough dog to show all their friends just how tough they are. They train their dogs to respond appropriately (in THEIR eyes) by lunging at their friends and enemies alike. They train them to attack on command and the dog, who is only pleasing his/her owner, does just THAT.

Nearly any dog, regardless of breed, will lay down its life for its owner. What Osh Gosh did is commendable, but hardly surprising. He saved "his" little girl! I know that my dog would die without any hesitation if she felt I or anyone in my family were in mortal danger, no matter what the source. She HAS protected me in the past from unsavory characters.

I work as a volunteer at the local shelter and you would not believe the stories I hear about the sheer irresponisbility that some clueless people perpetrate in regard to their dogs! It's ok for your dogs to run livestock, since it's "natural", kill the neighbor's cat, since the cat is "just a cat", poop in another person's yard, chase everyone on a bike, try to peel the bumpers off of cars, etc. You get the idea. Some people shouldn't own a PLANT, let alone an animal that needs to cared for and nurtured just as carefully as a child.

The media has made this even worse by reporting stories like this only when Pits are involved. Unfortunately, if the attacking dogs had been Labs, this probably wouldn't have even made the paper! As soon as all the cretins see this, they think, "Hey, I need a bada** dog like this so I can show my friends just how cool I am!" and the whole tragic thing is bound to be repeated several months down the road.

ANY dog shouldn't be left out unattended in a back yard. Dogs are pack animals and need to be part of a "pack" (one's family) to be properly socialized. They should also be altered. I would bet that these dogs are probably young, unneutered males who spent most of their time out in the yard with little or no human contact. Any dog left in a situation like this has the potential to do damage of this sort on this kind of scale.

Have you heard if the little girl has been released from the hospital yet? I hope this horrible incident doesn't make her afraid of all dogs fro the rest of her life. Poor, poor kid.

**Amy Jo** · 05-09-2004, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by Lori Biever-Launder
Have you heard if the little girl has been released from the hospital yet? I hope this horrible incident doesn't make her afraid of all dogs fro the rest of her life. Poor, poor kid.

Yes, she spent 2 days in the hospital, and was released. They showed her on the news, and she was super shy, I'm sure the little angel is quite tramatized. However, they had her dear Osh Kosh there, and she seemed great around him.......

I so totally agree that these Pits were probably young neglected dogs. Irresponsible owners have given this particular breed a bad name.

On a side note, check out what the little girls town has done for her so far Click Here

Unfortunatly, it looks as if the town is now pushing for a breed-specific ban on Pits. Maybe it is best, because obviously, you can't trust people to be responsible pet owners.

I've found a link to show you what the little girl looks like (now). Beware! Very Grafic Picture

I'm glad to see another pet advocate here! They can never have enough.

**QuilterMom** · 05-09-2004, 06:52 AM

That poor little girl!

It's a shame that all pet owners can't be responsible.

We know someone that has 2 pit bulls (aged 14 and 11) and they are 2 of the biggest babies I have ever met. They are absolutely fabulous around my young ds. It's all in how the dogs are treated and raised by their owners.

**Amy Jo** · 05-09-2004, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by QuilterMom
It's all in how the dogs are treated and raised by their owners.

Too bad they couldn't euthanize the owners......

Really, I haven't heard of any action taken against the owners yet. I can remember an incident that happened a few years ago in Wichita. A little girl was actually killed by two Rottweillers and their owners, I believe were prosecuted for having vicious dogs. Yet another misunderstood/abused breed....

**captclearance** · 05-09-2004, 07:47 AM

I'm so glad Caitlyn will recover from her injuries. Thank God for Osh Gosh ! Their is no more loyal a friend or protector than the family dog.
I won't be very popular in saying this, however ALL large breed dogs have the potential to inflict this kind of harm. Even Chihuahuas can bite, but stand little chance of mauling someone. It's the difference between a nerf gun and shotgun. Even dogs with good loving owners can bite or do harm. I do believe they are however less likely than a dog that has been neglected or abused. Who knows what goes through a dog's mind. What little sounds or actions may irritate them. Great care must be taken by dog owners to safeguard dogs for their own protection and the protection of the public. There are things that good, responsible citizens do. They don't leave guns lying around, they don't leave hazardous materials where children can get to them and they don't allow their dogs to get loose. Not any dog !

**SusieJD** · 05-09-2004, 08:01 AM

I agree, without proper care and training, all dogs can be potentually dangerous. But I have to say here, that most Pit Bulls are breed to fight other dogs and therefore breed to attack. The breed has been ruined by humans that breed them just for this purpose.

I also don't agree that it's just the large dogs. I own large dogs (my Malamutes) and they are gentle and loving dogs. The Native American Inuit Indians used these dogs to babysit their children and made them trusted memebers of their families. There is also the New Findlien, who is the best family protection dog I've ever seen. They are also a very large dog.

I was bitten, quite badly by a Chow that had just torn the arm off a little cousin of mine. I almost lost my buttock to it.

2 dogs that I don't trust and never will...the Chow and Pit Bulls.

Susie in MN

**gkp1031** · 05-09-2004, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by SusieJD
I agree, without proper care and training, all dogs can be potentually dangerous. Susie in MN

My thoughts and prayers to the little girl and her family. It's ashame some animal owners are so ignorant. I was almost bit last Saturday in my own yard by a black lab. Now, I had my 14 pound dog on a leash in my yard, when the new neighbor lets his dog off the leash. The dog comes into my yard, starts to growl at me and lunges at my dog and then ends up on top of him--trust me, he wasn't playing. Meanwhile, the idiot neighbor stands there and watches while I'm screaming at him to get his dog off of mine. He never even apologized--great first impression he made on me. Some people shouldn't own animals--and when a town has a leash law, doesn't it mean your dog is supposed to be on a leash??? Uggg, I'm still aggravated!

**guest2** · 05-09-2004, 04:08 PM

The poor little girl!!! You know, it just ticks me off that so far the owner had not been charged with anything. I hate irresponsible pet owners!!!! The owner of the 2 dogs should have to pay for all the medical expenses, any counseling the family may need as a result of this and some kind of a big fine at the very least.

Another thing that bugs me is when towns have leash laws but don't enforce them. We have one here and yet our neighbors let their dogs run free. Two dogs (lab mixes) attacked and killed one of my cats one night and the stupid mayor would not allow our town police officer to do anything about the owners or the dogs!!! The owners of the dogs denied their dogs did it even though we and another neighbor saw them trying to tear our cat apart playing tug or war with him.