the ronnie republic: Pit bull

Showing posts with label Pit bull. Show all posts

Jul 18, 2014

Lieutenant Tim Brant of the Derby Police Dept Talks About the Recent Pit Bull Shooting

the dog in question

Could not resist it.......that dog, the face, the look, the muzzle, the written story.......had to find out more.....thank you to Lt. Tim Brant of the Derby Police for patiently answering all of my questions........

What a pleasure....an immense pleasure talking to Lieutenant Tim Brant from the Derby Police Department........

Talking about the recent Pit Bull situation--an officer became involved in an incident involving an American Staffordshire Terrier where he felt the life the animal control officer was in jeopardy.

He felt an attack was imminent and this resulted in him making a decision to shoot this American Pit Bull Terrier in the chest.

The good news is that the dog is with a veterinarian--the dog will be okay.

There was also a Husky involved--the Husky is with the Wichita Humane Society.

I must have spoken with Lieutenant Tim Brant with the Derby Police Department over 20 minutes. I had so many questions as the story was very close to my heart.

Yes, I do have a dog in the fight and his name is Ronald.........

Ronnie

In situations similar previous in other areas individuals were not so forth coming with information.

I was really impressed by his professional and informational nature.
Lieutenant Brant was willing to listen to me ask questions without any rushing. I felt like he wanted to readily share information.

The upshot of the whole thing--a judge will decide what to do at a hearing after all of the information is given and the outcome of the dog will be decided. I had asked Lieutenant Tim Brant if there was any chance the dog will be euthanized and he said that will be decided by the judge.

He explained to me the first priority is the safety of the citizens of Derby, Kansas; the animal control officers and the other animals and pets.

It seems like the dogs were out and about on their own all day.

It was a worrisome situation because the dog in question had injured a cat, basically cornered a lady while growling and the officer that shot the dog felt the life of the animal control person was in danger.

Tim Brant told me they have also found information that this dog has recently attacked a horse.

I asked Tim Brant if the police had or knew of any kind of program for the rehabilitation of owners and dogs that have acted improperly. He said he did not but he would really like to know of any program like that if it exists.

I had to ask if he felt dog fighting was a issue here in Kansas. He said he has not found evidence of dog fighting in Derby but it may in fact exist in the metropolitan area of Wichita. He has not seen equipment or tools used for dog fighting and he has not seen dogs with tell-tale scars or injuries.

This is a personal concern for me as a owner of a pit bull mix, Ronnie. Some people are so afraid of my dog they literally pick up their little children and run. He is old now but he actually has a scar on his head from a non-malignant tumor. If everyone only knew he was bossed around by old cats I think they would not run away.

In San Diego there is dog fighting and I felt I had seen signs of dog fighting here in Wichita, too. I am beginning to think Pit Bulls are the most abused dog in our society today.

It does not take a genius or a long time of owning this breed to notice dog fighting and to hear all of the horrible stories. In San Diego, at the dog park, literally someone came up to me with his pit bull and said "My dog could kill your dog."

In San Diego and here in Wichita there are very, very large dogs--American Staffordshire Terriers--they are way too big. Pit Bulls should not be bred so large and they should not be running around loose on the streets. The neighbors are afraid due to their bad reputation, these days--it is not fair to the neighbors or the dog.

Some American Pit Bull Terriers have not been socialized properly--they get out--in need of exercise--get in a dog pack and run after cats and other animals. You know what happens next.

What people do not realize about Pit Bulls is that they are extremely heavy and solid dogs--in my experience I think they can knock any other dog. It is just a matter of time. Yes, they do enjoy rough-housing but in my opinion they are not really a watch dog such as a German Shepard. They are just so darn loyal.

Ronnie is the best--he is not prey driven, but many dogs of all breeds will chase anything that moves. Going to the dog park with any dog, but particularly, a Pitty can be a loaded-gun situation.

Rough-housing is one thing but an all out attack can happen at any time with any breed. It can happen so fast there is not much any one can do once it gets started. The dog attack can happen in a flash--everyone is suppose to have their dog under control.

Man, I do not want to lose my dog.......I do not want him to hurt any one and I do not want him to get hurt as he is on the senior citizen side, now.

Thank you to Lieutenant Tim Brant from the Derby Police Department for taking his valuable time to answer all of my questions and to listen to my concern for everyone involved.

My heart goes out to the Police Officers for the hard job they have to do and the very difficult split second decisions they have to make.

The thing is the officers and the dogs are under the gun for every outcome--if a person is injured or if a dog is injured.

I wish the best for the dogs and the officers involved and I hope the owners have a chance to receive dog training so their dogs will not be out running around if that is what is necessary.

It's not fair for the dogs--everyone ends up hating them....it's not fair for the residents and other animals to be in fear of being terrorized if that is the case....and it is not reasonable for the police and animal control to have to deal with animals that have been raised and cared for improperly--everyone loses--we have to make this a win win all of the people affected.

Agree or disagree--welcome comments and your good ideas and your take on the situation.

Talking about responsible dog ownership and the trials and tribulations of owning and American Staffordshire Terrier.

copied from derbyweb.com

Posted on: July 16, 2014

Derby Police Department Captures Vicious Dogs

On July 15 at approximately 7 a.m., the Derby Police Department responded to a report of a vicious animal at 2121 N. Duckcreek Lane in Derby. After nearly 24 hours, both dogs were captured by the Derby Police Department.

When officers arrived on Duckcreek Lane, they found a husky and pit bull lying on top of a cat that appeared to be dead. The resident at this address discovered that one or both of the dogs had mauled her cat. The pit bull also approached a next-door neighbor when she was putting her trash cart at the curb. The dog was growling and barking at her.

A Derby Animal Control Officer attempted to capture the husky using a catch pole. During this time, the pit bull circled around and moved towards the Animal Control Officer and a police officer, growling and barking. Because of the dog’s threatening behavior and threat of attack, the police officer fired a single shot from a shotgun, striking the pit bull on its chest.

“Any time we deal with a vicious animal our goal is to safely capture the animal without incident,” said Derby Police Lt. Tim Brant. “Because of the aggressive nature of the pit bill reported to and witnessed by the police officer, the officer believed the pit bull was going to attack so he shot it to protect human life.”

After the shot was fired, both dogs ran off. Derby officers tracked the dogs to the railroad tracks between Buckner Street and River Street near an industrial area. The dogs were spotted along a thick line of brush near the tracks, but officers were not able to catch them.

Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, police officers were dispatched to Shirts Plus, 703 N. Buckner, for a report of dogs on the back porch. When the officers arrived, the dogs ran from them again and were not captured. The Animal Control Officer set out a large dog trap in the area and police officers monitored the area throughout the night.

On July 16 at approximately 6 a.m., police officers were dispatched to 228 N. Water for a report of two dogs in the backyard. The resident was concerned about other animals in the yard and didn’t want the dogs to attack them. Both dogs were captured at this location without incident.

The pit bull was taken to the veterinarian for treatment, and the owners have been located. The dogs live outside the City of Derby near 47th Street South and K-15.

“We are happy to report that no other people or animals were harmed during the night as the dogs ran loose,” said Lt. Brant. “The primary responsibility of the Derby Police Department is to protect the life and property of our citizens and visitors. We value animals up until the point they pose a threat to humans or other animals.”

Mar 12, 2014

My Beautiful Pit Bull Son: News about dogs from the ronnie republic

By BILL DRAPER16 hours ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — For much of the past three decades, pit bulls have been widely regarded as America's most dangerous dog — the favorite breed of thugs, drug dealers and dog-fighting rings, with a fearsome reputation for unprovoked, sometimes deadly attacks.

Hostility toward "pits" grew so intense that some cities began treating them as the canine equivalent of assault rifles and prohibited residents from owning them.

But attitudes have softened considerably since then as animal activists and even television shows cast the dogs in a more positive light. The image makeover has prompted many states to pass new laws that forbid communities from banning specific breeds. And it illustrates the power and persistence of dog-advocacy groups that have worked to fend off pit bull restrictions with much the same zeal as gun-rights groups have defeated gun-control measures.

"Lawmakers are realizing that targeting dogs based on their breed or what they look like is not a solution to dealing with dangerous dogs," said Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club.

Seventeen states now have laws that prohibit communities from adopting breed-specific bans. Lawmakers in six more states are considering similar measures, and some cities are reviewing local policies that classify pit bulls as dangerous animals.

Pit bull advocates hail the changes as recognition that breed-specific laws discriminate against dogs that are not inherently aggressive or dangerous unless they are made to be that way by irresponsible owners.

The dogs' foes complain that their message is being drowned out by a well-funded, well-organized lobbying effort in state capitols. The debate puts millions of pit bull owners up against a relatively small number of people who have been victimized by the dogs.

Ron Hicks, who sponsored a bill in the Missouri House to forbid breed-specific legislation, said he was surprised when nobody spoke against his proposal last month at a committee hearing.

"I figured a few parents would be there who would bring tears to my eyes," the Republican said. "Would it have changed my opinion or what I believe in? No."

A version of Hicks' legislation was endorsed by a House committee last month and needs to clear another committee before a full House vote. The state Senate is considering a comparable bill, as are lawmakers in Utah, South Dakota, Washington, Vermont and Maryland.

In Kansas, the communities of Bonner Springs and Garden City repealed their pit-bull bans earlier this year.

Summer Freeman did not know there was a ban when she moved to Bonner Springs last year after a divorce. She panicked when an animal-control officer discovered her pet and told her she had 15 days to get rid of the dog named Titan or move out of town.

"I think of him like my son," she said. "He's my dog-son, I guess you could say. He's at my hip all the time. He's just a big baby that wouldn't hurt a fly."

Freeman was forced to leave Titan at a shelter in Lawrence for nine months until she successfully fought to overturn the law in January.

For dog owners and pit bull opponents alike, the battle is as deeply personal as any gun-control or religious issue. Each side accuses the other of lying, exploiting emotions and using bullying tactics.

Pit bull owners insist their dogs are harmless, loving family members that shouldn't be blamed for something they didn't do. To opponents, they are a volatile breed whose genetics drive them to kill more than two dozen people in the U.S. each year, many of them young children.

Popular television shows such as "Pit Boss" and "Pit Bulls and Parolees" on Animal Planet glorify the animals and minimize the tragedies that occur when pit bulls turn on humans, pit bull opponents say.

"Everything is telling us these animals are safe if you raise them right," said Jeff Borchardt, an East Troy, Wis., man whose 14-month-old son was mauled to death a year ago by two pit bulls that tore the child from the arms of their owner, who was baby-sitting. "My son's dead because of a lie, because of a myth. My life will never be the same."

The two dogs that killed Borchardt's son had lived with their owner since soon after they were born, were well-cared for and had no history of aggressive behavior, he said. Both had been spayed or neutered.

That contradicts the contention that only mistreated, neglected or abused pit bulls attack people.

Colleen Lynn, founder of DogsBite.org, pointed to a friend-of-the-court brief her organization submitted in a 2012 case in which the Maryland Court of Appeals declared pit bulls "inherently dangerous."

"Appellate courts agree with us. Doctors and surgeons agree with us. That is credibility right there," Lynn said. "We also have the support of three divisions of the U.S. military, huge, massive bodies in the U.S. government."

The Marines, Army and Air Force all have banned dangerous dogs — including pit bulls and rottweilers — from their bases because of the "unreasonable risk" they pose to safety, Lynn said.

On the other side stand the American Bar Association and National Animal Control Association, which oppose breed-specific laws because they are discriminatory against a type of dog that isn't really a single breed.

Three main breeds — Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier and American Staffordshire terrier — along with mixes of those breeds are generally considered pit bulls. But many muscular, square-jawed, boxer-type dogs often are misidentified as pit bulls, making breed-specific bans hard to enforce.

And because fatal pit bull attacks are a rarity compared with other causes of death such as auto accidents, dog advocates argue that breed-specific bans amount to legislative overkill.

"All communities deserve comprehensive dog laws that demand responsible dog ownership and that hold reckless owners accountable when their poor decisions wind up getting other dogs or other people hurt," said Ledy Vankavage, a top lobbyist for the Best Friends Animal Society.

Don Bauermeister, assistant city attorney for Council Bluffs, Iowa, led the effort to pass a local pit bull ban that took effect in 2005. He recalled first reading about the issue in the July 27, 1987, issue of Sports Illustrated, which carried a full-cover shot of an angry pit bull baring its teeth. Across the top, it said "BEWARE OF THIS DOG."

After the Council Bluffs ban went into place, the number of pit bull attacks that resulted in hospitalization plummeted from 29 in 2004 to zero the past few years — proof, Bauermeister said, that breed-specific bans work.

The opposition to pit bull bans, he added, is a sign that many American pet owners have lost touch with reality.

"Fifty years ago, you could take a sick animal behind a barn and put it out of its misery," he said. "That's just the way it was done. Now they would investigate you for doing that. The emotional irrationality of Americans and their dogs has never been worse than it is today."

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