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Question of the day: Are pit bulls inherently dangerous animals?
Print John Tunison | jtunison@mlive.com By John Tunison | jtunison@mlive.com The Grand Rapids Press
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on June 12, 2013 at 12:00 PM, updated June 12, 2013 at 12:06 PM
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Bay County pit bull.jpg
A Bay County pit bull in quarantine after a December incident
MLive file photo GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Are pit bulls inherently dangerous?
A Grand Rapids area man is to be sentenced in July for keeping a dangerous animal, a four-year felony, after his pit bull mix dog attacked a 9-year-old Plainfield Township girl last summer.
The 22-year-old man, who lived in the same neighborhood as the girl at the time, pleaded no contest to the charge Tuesday in exchange for dismissal of lesser charges of having a stray dog and an unlicensed animal.
Related: Pit bull attack on 9-year-old Plainfield Township girl leads to 'dangerous animal' plea
There have been several incidents with similar dogs across the state in the last couple years.
Do you think that pit bulls are dangerous -- or only potentially dangerous, if trained to be so? Could the same be said of any type of dog?
Here are a few examples of stories involving pit bull attacks:
Related: Sister of Wyoming man attacked by pit bulls: 'I want them gone' she says of dogs
Related: After second pit bull attack, Kalamazoo letter carrier hangs up her satchel
A Kalamazoo area state representative is working on a bill to hold accountable any dog owner that displays "displayed dangerously aggressive behavior."
What do you think? Post your thoughts in our comment section below.
Several visitors to the Grand Rapids Press Facebook page already have voiced their opinions. Below is a sampling of their comments.
Chris Deyoung-Kolenda: It's the indiscriminate bad breeding of the dogs, any big dogs that are trendy.. Lack of socialization and training, and management. Look at the humane society and it's population. People use the dogs as status and not as family pets. The dog did not start out that way. Put controls on people and the dog problem will take care of itself. They are gorgeous animals that deserve better.
Kelly Jo Bultema O'Mara: Our 90lb pit bull is the sweetest, most loving, and obedient dog I've ever known! I have 3 kids ages 4 and under and he loves them and protects them. The breed is very popular in our small town as well and like others have said, when ANY dog is provoked or isn't given the love and attention they need, they are bound to "act out." Get over it folks.....I've seen our neighbors golden retriever attack people, my mom's dog constantly nips at my kids, and I've met several very aggressive cocker spaniels in my life! You don't hear about these stories though because those dogs aren't "big scary pit bulls!" Does everyone honestly think pit bulls are the ONLY dogs that attack people??
Brett Davis: They're a lil like humans in the sense that if you're raised improperly, you'll probably behave improperly.
Christina Klatt-Haden: The one thing I remember my dad teaching me was "all animals bite", it just depends on the situation they are in; trapped, scared, trained for defense, to fight, or are aggressive from abuse. It is sad and unfortunate the reputation that some dogs get. I believe it is the human effect that makes the situation dangerous.
Greg Daly: There are no "bad" breeds, only bad owners!
Shelia Marie Burks: Absolutely NOT. Owners make the dogs dangerous. I've seen love bug pit bulls and I've seen ones who would rather eat your arm off because you drove past their house. Those owners need a thrashing. If only people could be put down for being stupid owners.
Victoria Smith: ummmmm, I've yet to hear of someone killed by a pack of pomeranians. it's all in the inherent nature of the animals. my beagle/boxer mix isn't a dog that'd tear thru a closed door & baby gate,and kill the infant it pulled from it's bed. a family raised pit did just that
Sarah Bosscher LaFata: Absolutely they are inherently dangerous. It's in their blood and also the owners bring it out in them as well. People can say they aren't but the statistics speak for themselves.
E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison
Question of the day: Are pit bulls inherently dangerous animals?
Print John Tunison | jtunison@mlive.com By John Tunison | jtunison@mlive.com The Grand Rapids Press
Follow on Twitter
on June 12, 2013 at 12:00 PM, updated June 12, 2013 at 12:06 PM
View/Post Comments
Bay County pit bull.jpg
A Bay County pit bull in quarantine after a December incident
MLive file photo GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Are pit bulls inherently dangerous?
A Grand Rapids area man is to be sentenced in July for keeping a dangerous animal, a four-year felony, after his pit bull mix dog attacked a 9-year-old Plainfield Township girl last summer.
The 22-year-old man, who lived in the same neighborhood as the girl at the time, pleaded no contest to the charge Tuesday in exchange for dismissal of lesser charges of having a stray dog and an unlicensed animal.
Related: Pit bull attack on 9-year-old Plainfield Township girl leads to 'dangerous animal' plea
There have been several incidents with similar dogs across the state in the last couple years.
Do you think that pit bulls are dangerous -- or only potentially dangerous, if trained to be so? Could the same be said of any type of dog?
Here are a few examples of stories involving pit bull attacks:
Related: Sister of Wyoming man attacked by pit bulls: 'I want them gone' she says of dogs
Related: After second pit bull attack, Kalamazoo letter carrier hangs up her satchel
A Kalamazoo area state representative is working on a bill to hold accountable any dog owner that displays "displayed dangerously aggressive behavior."
What do you think? Post your thoughts in our comment section below.
Several visitors to the Grand Rapids Press Facebook page already have voiced their opinions. Below is a sampling of their comments.
Chris Deyoung-Kolenda: It's the indiscriminate bad breeding of the dogs, any big dogs that are trendy.. Lack of socialization and training, and management. Look at the humane society and it's population. People use the dogs as status and not as family pets. The dog did not start out that way. Put controls on people and the dog problem will take care of itself. They are gorgeous animals that deserve better.
Kelly Jo Bultema O'Mara: Our 90lb pit bull is the sweetest, most loving, and obedient dog I've ever known! I have 3 kids ages 4 and under and he loves them and protects them. The breed is very popular in our small town as well and like others have said, when ANY dog is provoked or isn't given the love and attention they need, they are bound to "act out." Get over it folks.....I've seen our neighbors golden retriever attack people, my mom's dog constantly nips at my kids, and I've met several very aggressive cocker spaniels in my life! You don't hear about these stories though because those dogs aren't "big scary pit bulls!" Does everyone honestly think pit bulls are the ONLY dogs that attack people??
Brett Davis: They're a lil like humans in the sense that if you're raised improperly, you'll probably behave improperly.
Christina Klatt-Haden: The one thing I remember my dad teaching me was "all animals bite", it just depends on the situation they are in; trapped, scared, trained for defense, to fight, or are aggressive from abuse. It is sad and unfortunate the reputation that some dogs get. I believe it is the human effect that makes the situation dangerous.
Greg Daly: There are no "bad" breeds, only bad owners!
Shelia Marie Burks: Absolutely NOT. Owners make the dogs dangerous. I've seen love bug pit bulls and I've seen ones who would rather eat your arm off because you drove past their house. Those owners need a thrashing. If only people could be put down for being stupid owners.
Victoria Smith: ummmmm, I've yet to hear of someone killed by a pack of pomeranians. it's all in the inherent nature of the animals. my beagle/boxer mix isn't a dog that'd tear thru a closed door & baby gate,and kill the infant it pulled from it's bed. a family raised pit did just that
Sarah Bosscher LaFata: Absolutely they are inherently dangerous. It's in their blood and also the owners bring it out in them as well. People can say they aren't but the statistics speak for themselves.
E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison