" If people want to own the type of dog that can inflict such serious injuries on people, then they should be charged with felony assault when their animal attacks. It should be the same penalty for shooting someone with a gun. "

" I truly hope that the girl recovers fully from her injuries. The owner of that dog is irresponsible and lazy. Any dog, but especially such powerful breeds as pitbulls and other fighting/guard dogs, need to be properly trained and socialized. They must also be properly confined and controlled since they do present a potential danger. If you are unable to responsibly care for a dog, you should not have a dog. I agree that the owner should face much harsher penalties. The dog may have been a fine pet if properly controlled and cared for by responsible people in a good home, instead it attacked innocent people and gets to be killed. This is a sad day for the dog, and especailly for the little girl and her family. "

" I agree with Chip. All dog owners must be in total control of their animals at all times or face stiff penalties if their animal attacks. "

" Imagine that you own an explosive device and you're not sure how to activate it. That's o.k. with you because you like having it and you don't want it to go off. You like the way it looks sitting on your couch and it makes you feel powerful to bring people over and have them look at it. You take it with you on trips because you get a thrill when people look at you and say, "Wow, is that an explosive? Is it safe?" You say, "Sure! It's never gone off on my couch. I read an article on the internet about how to take care of it, so I know what I'm doing. It's a nice explosive - aren't you my big sweetie." Then you set it on a park bench while you play frisbee and it goes off killing 5 people. Absurd? Not really. The people who own these kids of dogs walk around like this every day.

Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinchers have no business being kept as domestic animals. I know what you're saying - "Hey, it's not the dog - it's the owner. Pit Bulls need to be brought up to blah blah blah blah....." Right. How many times have you every seen a headline like, "Child Viscously Attacked and Killed by Collie" ...or labrador ...or Saint Bernard? People who own Pit Bulls should go live on an island somewhere. The rest of us would like to walk down the sidewalk with our toddlers in little red wagons without fear of our scalps being ripped off!! "

" People don't buy pit bulls cuz they're cute and cuddly. People that say stuff like, "They can be just as loving as any other dog" are covering up their true reason for owning one. Pit Bulls are owned by people that want a dog that's a real bad boy (substitute "boy" with any appropriate or inappropriate word you like). Mrs. Howell from "Gilligan's Island" isn't gonna own a pit bull. She's gonna own a poodle.

Pit bulls wouldn't look good with pink bows and lacy sweaters. Pit bulls don't fit in in the Regency neighborhood in Omaha. Pit bulls have a persona and people own them cuz they like the image . . . a nasty, take no crap, aggressive, live by my own rules, mean son of a gun.

Who's more likely to own a pitbull, THE BRADY BUNCH or RAMBO? "

" Cole,

Don't think that collies or labradors don't attack people. They most certainly do. There are irresponsible owners of those types of dogs as as well as pitbulls, rottweilers, and dobermans. The main difference is that far fewer owners of those types of dogs are irresponsible. Unfortunately, many people who own pitbulls and other powerful breeds own them for the image alone and are not very responsible with them. Another difference is that collies and labs aren't as powerfull and don't do as much damage when they attack. All of the dogs in your example were not bread to be pets. They were all bread to be working dogs of some sort, and yet people take them all as pets. "

" If you had to make a choice, would you prefer to be bitten by Nurse Shark or a Great White? If I had to be attacked by one or the other, I know which one I'd choose. Same with a dog. I'd much rather be roughed up by an Irish Setter than a Rottweiler. "

" OK, let's assume that the breed of dog doesn't matter. Any animal that is not trained well can flip out. Let's not even argue this point any more. Pit bulls just cause way too much damage when they attack, though. We should ban these types of dogs using the same rationale we use for not selling sticks of dynamite at firework stands. "

" what about German shepherds, chows, and mastiffs. if you eliminate one where does it stop. I own both a pit bull mix and a pure German Shepard and am a huge dog lover but was once bitten bad myself... by a Australian Shepard mix. theres a mean dog for you. "

" The breed should either be made illegal, or potential owners of such dogs be licensed/trained, have a background check, and also prove that they have a habitat for the dog that is suitable for the breed and the safety of that neighborhood. I imagine that would knock out about 98% of the people that want this breed. "

" There are all kinds of dog attacks every day. The ones you read about are the most serious ones which usually are pit bulls and sometimes they aren't really pit bulls but the media portrays the stereotype because they know people will get up in arms over these "vicious" dogs.

I'm not Rambo, and I own a pit bull. I do not own a pit bull because I'm a "bad boy". I am very aware that if he decided to fight another dog or a person, he would most definitely win. That is why I always harness him when out walking on the trail and never take him to dog parks where he could meet other dogs.

It is sad that pit bull haters stereotype ALL pit bulls as being vicious and stereotype ALL pit bull owners as thugs. My wife and I take exception to that...because there are a lot of things people do every day that endanger others...talking on the cell phone while driving, smoking, drinking and driving. Where is the outcry against these actions? I wish those people would go live on an island. Until then, come visit us in Walton where there are dobermans, american staffordshires, pit bulls, poodles, labs, mutts, you name it. Perhaps you'll even get to meet one of these wonderful dogs on the MoPac trail and be enlightened about your ignorance...or you could just continue to live in hatred. Truly it is the owner's responsibility to know their own and their dog's limits. Don't hate the breed. "

" "Don't think that collies or labradors don't attack people"
Collies and Labradors aren't built like a Rhino. Have a mouth like an Alligator and have the disposition of a Wolverine.
I've been bitten by a Collie, however it didn't take half of my head off.
They are hardwired to be aggressive. "

" I thought this video was quite interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9zaa6gD0I "

" Apparantly this dog had been tormented by neighbors with the lawnmower--real smart. Pit bulls make excellent pets if are trained right, treated right and secured within a fenced in yard. This little girl and her family did not have to have this happen if the dog had been behind a fence and not just chained up. They would not have had to have this happen either if people were smart about treating all animals with respect and teach their children to do the same. Tormenting animals is an accident waiting to happen whether the dog is a pit bull, a golden retriever, or a poodle. "

" It's really disgusting that because of someone elses' ignorance, 2 babies and their Mothers' are injured and will replay this attack in their minds for years to come. I don't care how well these breeds of dogs are "socialized", they will turn on someone. Before you argue with me, tell me HOW you know they won't?? How do you know what it is that triggers that attack ? Shoot the dog and charge the owner with a felony. "

" The owner of that dog should be responsible for all medical bills for that little girl as well as for the others. I feel for that little girl and her family. I know how scary that can be. As for the type of dogs that are violent, I truely believe it is 90% the owner and not the dog. We have had two dobermans who we have trained to be very social and are wonderful dogs. We have a five year old that I feel totally comfortable leaving with the dogs. All of our neighbors love them and also feel comfortable around them. I have been attacked two different times by dogs while I was taking my daughter on a walk in her stroller. Once by a pit bull, whose owners called him "Malice". The owners were out at the time and did nothing to stop the attack and this dog lived across the street from an elementary school. The second time, again out with my daughter we were attacked by a labrador retriever. I have owned 3 labs growing up and they were trained as friendly social dogs, but this one attacked us. Who's fault is that. A lab is supposed to be friendly right? I believe that it is the owners responsiblity to train their dogs but how can we regulate this? "

" I would have to say to (Lets be Honest) there isnt a dog out there that can't be considered vicious. I know a friend who's springer spaniel tore her brother's face up and my nephew was attacked by a Irish setter. As you can see from statistics the pit bull does'nt even make the top 9. I have seen pit bulls that are gentle as can be and not all bad people own pit bulls

According to a 27-year study of dogs in the New York City area made by Dr. Robert Oleson, of the U.S. Public Health Service, these are the 9 dogs most apt to take a nibble out of a human being. They are, in the order of their aggressiveness:


1. German shepherd

2. Chow chow

3. Poodle

4. Italian bulldog

5. Fox terrier

6. Mixed chow chow

7. Airedale

8. Pekingese

9. Mixed German shepherd "

" People who own a pit bull should be required to be heavily insured in the event of a dog bite. Perhaps they could be required to provide proof of insurance when they buy the animal's annual license from the city. "

" It doesn't matter that collies or labradors sometimes bite. There is a HUGE difference between other breeds of dogs and pit bulls. Pit bulls have jaws that latch and do not let go. Pit bulls are bred to keep fighting and keep attacking even after they are seriously injured. Pit bulls were "invented" in England and bred for their nasty ways. Now in England, the country that made them, they are illegal. Twenty-two states in the U.S. have restrictive laws regarding pit bulls, and it is high time we do the same in Nebraska. My husband and I always laugh and make fun of pit bull owners and try to figure out what they are overcompensating for. Gangsta wannabes are so dorky. Now I have a 3 year old, and there is a pit bull living chained up outside about a block and a half down the alley. I actually laid awake last night trying to figure out how to get rid of that dog. I really don't want to have to buy a gun. I do not lie awake freaking out about the golden retrievers, labs, border collies, and dachshunds that populate the block and a half between us and that pit bull though. "

" First I hope Charlotte and her parents come through this with as little pain as possible. No child should have to go through this kind of pain and because of something like this is horrible. Cole said it perfectly. There was another pit bull attack in Omaha last night this time a police officer. He tried to remove the dog from his arm and did once. When it came at him again he had to shoot it like you would any other wild animal that was attacking. Luckily he had a gun most people (say like a 1 year old) don't carry guns to protect themselves from your pet. If these people that insist these dogs are safe had a neighbor that was allowed to keep a mountain lion by saying it is nothing more than a lovable big cat that has never attacked anyone they would be screaming for help. These dogs are a status symbol and nothing more. To most people the status says that you are ignorant poor trash that wants people to think you’re tough or that you are a gang member or a want to be gang member. Either way ignorant and trashy comes to mind. It is so sad that a beautiful child like Charlotte has to go through this and all the pain that she is going to go through the next couple of years IF they can even do the repair they are hoping for? I hope that she is young enough that she won't remember it. I was attacked by a dog at that same age that did a lot of damage but nothing compared to this. I don't remember it even though there are scars all over my face. That dog was destroyed too. Being a girl growing up with scars on my face was very hard emotionally on me. By the way the dog that attacked me was a bull terrier and it was our family pet. It was not commonly known in the 60’s that they could be that viscous. I do not remember the actual attack so I am not afraid of dogs and I am a dog lover. We still had dogs growing up but any (and it didn’t matter the breed) that showed any mean traits towards children or adults got a trip to the Farm. I didn’t know it as a child but there was no farm. My dad learned his lesson and never risked it again. There is no reason for anyone to have to learn the lesson the hard way. These dogs have a tendency towards viscous attacks. Please do not put other people in danger because you feel you are safe with this breed. There are so many dogs that need homes that are not predisposed to attacking. You say all dogs could attack and you are correct because they are after all animals. The chances are higher with a pit bull so why risk it when there are hundreds of lovable mutts at the shelters that need homes and would be less of a risk to everyone involved? "

" I am a dog lover, but Good for them, we don't need dogs that will attack people and must be chained up. "

" Let's not blame the breed, all right? It IS the fault of the owner. Cole, you are WAY off base. ANY DOG can attack like that if the owner is irresponsible. The reason you're always hearing about pitbulls attacking is because the people who own them tend to be irresponsible about them being good PETS because they are interested in fighting the dog or using the dog solely as a guard animal. Remember when German Shepherds enjoyed as lousy a reputation? It is NOT the dog, it's the owner and certain breeds are unfortunately predisposed to getting into this sort of situation because of how powerful they are or intimidating they look. I grew up with a Shepherd, have had more than one neighbor that had a pit- and the only dog bite I ever had came from a German Shorthair mix. I'm not at all against the idea that people who want to own certain breeds need to go through some sort of background check and even provide proof that they're taking the dog to obedience/socialization classes or whatever- that would help to eliminate the ownership of certain breeds for dog fighting... but to entirely ban the breed because of the few bad apples (read: owners) that cause trouble like this isn't fair to those who ARE responsible dog owners. "They are hardwired to be aggressive?" Apparently the name "mindless robot" fits. "

" I agree with the comments that owners need to be made more responsible for their dogs actions. I don't want to group all owners but in my opinion (empahsis opinion) most dog owners don't even ask or know what the temperament of their dogs parents was. You can train all you want but if the parents were bread to be aggressive it is born into their pups to be aggressive. Plus, check out any AKC website and it will give you the standard temprement for any bread that has been bred into them for centuries/decades, and certain ones are more aggressive and/or protective. If you made the penalties higher for those owners if their dog attacks they would pay more attention. You can always sue the owner for negligence but money means nothing if you are dead or your face is mangled.

Plus there is a reason you can buy a BB gun with out a permit but need one for a handgun. Poodles, Labs, Scotties etc.. would be like a BB Gun, they could attack but the damage would tend to be minimal, Rotweilers, dobermans, and pitbulls are more like handguns. Safe if owned by a responsible person but catastrophic if irresponsible. Also, how can someone accuse the media of being biased against a dog bread? ARE YOU SERIOUS?? The reason you read more about pit bull attacks is because they cause more damage than other dogs. "

" Humans for hundreds of years have breed certain dogs to do certain things whether that is herd sheep or be guard dogs, Now we blame the dog for what we have created. Typical "

" You made a very good point. Well said. These dogs are bred to be mean, scary, powerful attack dogs. And some owners I am sure are very responsible and have very loving dogs, up until the dog snaps for some stupid reason like the wagon wheels drove them to break off the leash and attack to babies and rip off the scalp. But, then the first thing you will hear is "oh my baby boy has never done anything like this before" "

" When the wagon trains went west dogs like the "Pit bull" breeds were esential for protection of the family from wild animals, thugs and were good family and guard dogs. There were no neighbors at close range then... unlike now. Times change, breeds must change to meet our needs now, just as they were bread for the needs of yester year.. We are packed like sardines in modern towns... now we need to adjust or dogs to meet our needs of the modern world. How many folks are engaged in farming, ranching or herding for a lively hood? Most of us are city folk and our dogs should reflect our chainging needs. If you don't have the job for a dog to fill, get a dog that is designed to be a dog to meet modern needs! "

" A collie could take the scalp off of a 15 month old. Adults are not the same size and are not as defenseless as children. My family has had German Sheperds for 50 years and not a single bite or attack. It is in the training. I have been bitten by many small dogs. Not as serious, I know but the owners laugh and coo at the dog when they do it. Small does not mean not capable of producing a wound.

My MIl owns a lab that can do serious damage. He his 85 pounds and has very strong jaws. Do not tell me that he does not attack. He has knocked me down and bitten my hand. I am family not a stranger and this dog knows me. All dogs can be dangerous. The owners should be responsible for the dogs actions. To start banning animals is dangerous. Where will you stop and why do you feel the need to take away the right of responsible people to own dogs because you think it is what should be done. If we made people take responsiblity for their actions, quite a few things would be different in society but we don't do that. "

" Yes, other dogs do bite people...but when you hear about attacks from dogs, it is most generally this breed. Why? Because other dogs will bite to protect themselves or their puppies or their owners. It is a natural instinct. This particular breed of dog has been bred specifically as an attack dog and therefore it is in their genetic trait to attack and continue to attack. Not bite to protect, but attack. This is why these attacks are often deadly. They are in it for the kill-factor and not the "I'm threatened so get away" factor. If you choose to own these dogs, then move to the country where they have little contact with others they could harm. Even the most gentle of the breed still have the tendency to blow up because it is genetically in them. I love cats. All kinds. But I would never own a lion because it is a wild animal and no matter how I raised it, you can't 'raise' the lion out of it! Be responsible with your pets and do the right thing! If you must own one of these breeds then expect to pay the consequenses when it blows up in your face (or God forbid, ON SOMEONE ELSES FACE). "

" Before everyone jumps on the "Ban Pit Bulls" bandwagon. Take a minute to google dog attacks. Someone mentioned you never hear of a collie attacking a person. Google it...it happens!

All dogs if not trained or cared for properly can attack. I have a dog that is a Pitbull mix with a Malamute. She is a sweetheart. But she was trained properly. We introduced her to people and other pets so she wouldn't attack. We are also careful on how we play with her so she doesn't get agressive. This should be the case with all dogs. My mom has a golden retriever. Although he is a very gentle dog, if not properly taken care of he could cause much more damage then my dog could simply because of his huge size.

All dogs are pack dogs and have the instinct in them to act as pack dogs. Do not stereotype pitbulls into being "gang dog" or "bad dogs" All dogs have the ability to be bad dogs.

So before you coninue ranting about pit bulls, do some research. You will see that any dog can be mean. Should we ban all dogs? While we are at it why don't we ban anything that could harm us. I better get rid of my childs bicycle. Wouldn't want him to fall off and get hurt and have the city council ban bicycles in the city. "

" The Pit Bull breed was developed for blood sports: Bull baiting, bear baiting, and later, dogfighting. Not for protection...for fighting! If given the opportunity, most pit bulls will fight other dogs, period! This doesn't mean they will attach humans, but given their nature, we need to reconsider allowing ownership. "

" pitbulls as a breed were developed and bred to bait bulls in a ring. this later developed into being bred for dog fights. as a breed, there were developed to be very gentle with humans as their handlers would often have to venture into the ring and separate the dogs without having their dog turn and attack them. think about it...would you want to venture into a ring with a hurt and bloody, defensive animal knowing that it was likely to turn on you? no. they were never intended to be aggressive toward humans. more recent development of the breed has turned to fostering their "gameness" and turning them into a type of animal that they were never intended to be. in the past these qualities would have been discouraged. the breed itself truly is not the problem! they are loyal animals that do make fantastic pets. unfortunately, they have suffered from their "bad dog" image. it is true that they are a powerful breed can cause tragic damage if not handled and trained properly, throw into that poor breeding or an unknown past and you are asking for trouble. however these problems are not inherent to the breed. a small amount of education to owners of pit bulls would go a long way and any responsible dog companion should know their dog, it's temperment, and it's capabilities. my dog becomes nippy around small children and could potentially do a lot of damage...so he is never left unsupervised around small children. encouraging people to be responsible for their animals is a far better idea than banishing us all to an island! "

" The question is, "are some breeds predisposed to this type of attack, regardless of training or care given?" I think the obvious answer is yes. Let's just quit saying the only reason these dogs attack is because someone mistreated them. Sure, it plays a role - but so do their genetics. I'm a mom, a nurturer, and I'd like to think that given the right care & training any dog breed can be a trusted loving pet - - but that's just not reality. I'm sure many pit bulls are MOSTLY great pets (especially to their owners/pack leaders), but that DOES NOT make up for the little girl in the hospital that lost 1/3 of her scalp. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it - - and this is a story that's happened all too frequently. Too bad laws have to be enacted to protect most of us from the idiocy and ignorance of a few. "

" pit bulls are bred for one purpose.. to fight... they are very dangerous dogs.. they have massive jaws and a powerful powerful bite. when they bite, they clamp down, thier jaws lock and they dont let go.. instincts tell them to go for the throat, to cut off breathing... so so sad. these innocent mothers out for a nice walk.. who would of ever thought that they would be getting attacked by a pit bull? i am definately glad the dog was euthanized.. the dog snapped... so scary. i would never ever own a breed as pit bull or rottie's... thier temperment is so unpredictable.. might as well be walking a tiger on a leash!
i pray for the little girls recovery, this mother and child are scarred for life.... "

" Teri - I hope you're not insinuating that this 15 month old little girl was tormenting the dog and somehow deserved the attack. Bottom line, a person's safety always takes priority over a person's right to own an animal. For that reason, any species of dog with a proven record of attacks should be illegal. Would anyone think it would make sense to own a wolf as a pet? Pitbulls should no longer be considered domesticated animals. Shame on you for suggesting this family had anything to do with this brutal attack. What an outrageous claim. "

" Did you know more children will die by drowning in buckets than being attacked by a dog? More children will die by the hands of their own parents than by dogs. What are we doing about buckets and parents?

I understand the need to do something but lumping dogs of a certain breed together and saying they are all bad and deserve to die is not the answer. Target viscous dogs and their owners in general, not just those of a certain breed. Any dog can attack or bite, the breed just does not matter. "

" Did you know more children will die by drowning in buckets than being attacked by a dog? More children will die by the hands of their own parents than by dogs. What are we doing about buckets and parents?

I understand the need to do something but lumping dogs of a certain breed together and saying they are all bad and deserve to die is not the answer. Target viscous dogs and their owners in general, not just those of a certain breed. Any dog can attack or bite, the breed just does not matter.

Also "so sad"- the whole locking jaws thing is a myth- no dogs jaws lock, especially not bully breed. "

" I was not convinced that it was simple media-hype that pit bulls get a bad wrap. So I jumped on to google and found a 20-year study by the federal government at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dogbreeds.pdf. This was a study of dog bite related fatalities (not minor injuries). It seems I was too quick to judge doberman pinchers, however it's clear that pit bulls and rottweilers smoke the competition. German Shepherds are up there, too.

Look - the world is dangerous and we can't live in a bubble. But if we can find a SIMPLE way to lower the risk of kids being viscously attacked and sent to the hospital or morgue, wouldn't we do it? If you and your wife felt the need for canine companionship, it's not like you didn't have choices. "

" I raise and show pitbulls so I want to give you some facts. If you want a pet don't get one. They require a lot of work and an understanding of the breed. They are not by nature human aggressive (check with the ASPCA if you don't believe me) but they can be born "dog" aggresive because of their background. Socialization, and proper confinement is necessary. When someone says "it's not the dog it's the owner" that is only partly correct. If a puppy comes from human aggressive parents, there's a good chance that dog could grow up to be the same way. Good breeding and a good (informed) owner is what they need. Dog Fancy puts out a good magazine called Bully Breeds that anyone even thinking about owning a pitbull should read, in order to understand what they're getting into. We don't sell puppies and only breed a litter every few years when we know we can place them in safe environments because every time someone is injured or killed by a pitbull the breed becomes more endangered. I agree the owner's should be responsible for what their dog does, no matter the breed, and the penalties harsher. Pitbulls once represented this country in WWII propoganda posters and have been loved companions for American ikons such as Helen Keller, Little Rascals, and more than one President. They are naturally people lovers, tolerant of children, fearless, loyal, strong, and loving, and if treated with the respect they deserve tragedies like this wouldn't happen. "

" Agree with a previous comment- breeds that are considered "potentially dangerous" should require training/license in order to own one. The owner should also be 100% responsible for any attacks made by the dog, be fined if an attack occurs, and be punished more if an attack occurs without the license to own. "

" My wife and I have two dogs, a rottweiler/bull dog mix and a westie. When we started dating the big mutt was my dog and the westie belonged to my now wife. The dog that got in trouble was the westie. Westies are smart, have a lot of energy, and can be agressive. Unfortunately, at the time, my wife didn't understand how to properly care for a dog, and the dog ran out one day when the door was opened and bit a little girl. Obviously there was very little damage, but the dog should not have attacked. After that incident, the westie came to live with me and my rottweiler mix. I trained her , socialized her, and provided the leadership that all dogs need. She has since become a very good dog, and my wife and I are not nervous about her behavior now that we are expecting our first child. My wife now knows that dogs need love, socialization, proper training, exercise, and strong leadership, and I am happy to say the she has become a very good dog owner. Any dog, big or small, can attack without the proper training and care. Proper breeding, as Lori stated, is also important. There are too many breeders that will breed dogs that they shouldn't. "

" R2D2, a small, stubby droid, and Chewbacca, a large, hairy Wookie, are playing a game a space chess aboard the Millenium Falcon while C3PO, a bronze, human-like robot and Han Solo look on. R2D2 makes a move in the game that causes Chewbacca, a generally affable, however noisy creature, to become angry and start screaming.

-C3PO to Chewbacca: "It was a fair move. Screaming about it won't help you."

-Han Solo to R2D2 and C3PO: "It's best to just let him win. You don't want to upset him."

-C3PO to Han Solo: "But noboby worries about upsetting a droid."

-Han Solo: "That's because droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose."

-C3PO to R2D2: "I suggest a new strategy R2. Let the Wookie win."

See the point? "

" Why must every thing be one extreme or the other? Instead of banning these breeds why not make the owner register certain breeds as a potential threat and have the animals submit to behavior assessments once a year by a vet or the humane society as part of their license. This way those people who do raise them in a responsible manner can keep them and those who do not can’t. Then Nebraska also needs to step in and make people who breed all animals have a license and obey certain breeding laws, this would also help curb overpopulation. I wouldn’t want to see any breed ban; there is a Doberman that works as a Seeing Eye dog at the State office building for a worker there. What would she do if her dog was banned? "

" I personally believe that the majority of pit bulls have been bred so irresponsibly, usually only to emphasize the "protective mode" and not the "sweet and loving modes", that we need an intervention before some people get their way and we simply eliminate the breed forever.

There ARE pit bulls capable of restraint, love, affection, and obedience, just like any other breed.

We need to create a way to award and monitor all breeding of these dogs by professional breeders, including heavy fines for unregulated breeding (not all, but most of which is currently done to foster aggressive behavior and to make a quick buck). Potential owners should be required to accummulate vast amounts of education on everything from history, temperament, obedience training and restraint techniques before being assigned a license that will help enforcement officials to regulate any undesirable traits and issues with their new pet. Vaccination records, home environments and interaction with the public would be monitored and documented frequently and on a regular basis.

These sorts of breeding and regulation programs are available around the world for certain breeds that also have a history or a tendency to be bred for aggression. This is not the only time America has overpopulated the country with dogs from unregulated breeding facilities -- how many breeds are now known for their susceptibility to allergies, disease, deformity and in the worst cases (such as now), distemperament and violence? We need to start making some major changes.

It's very realistic to save this breed of dogs. I, too, have known many lovable and well-trained pit bulls. I've also known horrendous dogs, of many different breeds, some bigger and more capable of damage than others... though in fairness, an unmonitored small child is just as vulnerable to ANY violent dog, regardless of size or breed.

It will take a large-scale desire and effort by our community to find a more positive solution than simply to ignore the problem by banning the breed. "

" My heart aches for what this little girl and her family and friends had to endure. This poor little girl had to have her SCALP reattached. I don't care what kind of dog it is, the owner of this dangerous animal needs to have more than just a ticket. They need to foot the cost of this girl's surgeries and recovery.

As a side note: some people just moved into my neighborhood who have pit bulls. They put up a fence around their backyard and said, "We have pit bulls. I sure hope they don't get out some time because they don't like other people." Nice. "

" It doesn't matter which dog attacks has the greatest number of attacks. What matters is the rate at which types of dogs attack given the population of that dog. For instance, if there are a million German Shepherds, but only 10,000 attack, that's less of an issue than if there were 100,000 pit bulls and 10,000 attacks. "

" For more information on Pit Bulls and their behavior please visit the following site at Bestfriends.org. This organization rehabilitated the dogs Michael Vick abused.
www.bestfriends.org/vickdogs/ "

" This is NOT about the fact that you or your best friend can effectively train and socialize one of these dogs. It is that most people CAN'T!!!!! And these dogs, unlike others, tear people to shreds when they aren't trained well. I don't give a rat's behind whether it is POSSIBLE to train them well. It is POSSIBLE to handle uranium safely, but MOST people don't know how to do it and that is why we aren't allowed to keep it in our houses. Those who DO handle uranium aren't stupid enough to argue that the rest of us should be able to do it simply because, THEY know how to do it. If you are an expert dog trainer, you should be smart enough to know that most of us can't handle one of these dogs.

And to you, "Every dog bites" people. Go to the CDC website and see what types of dogs bite the most and which types of dogs cause the worse injuries and death. You'll discover that 60% of fatal dog bits are caused by pit bulls and rottweilers. THAT is why these dogs should be banned. I would suspect if you looked at the type of explosives that caused the most injuries, you'd probably find fireworks. If you looked at the ones that caused the most severe injuries and death, they probably would be high explosives.

WAKE UP! "

" They are registered. With the city when they are licensed you must list the breed. Not like they don't have tabs on this. "

" " My dachsund was tethered in our front yard when a stray pit bull came along. It was only a second and the pit had my doxie by the throat, was literally ripping his head off by pulling him one way while his tether held him. I marvel at the fact that I,now having triggered an asthma/panic attack, was on the ground fighting a pit bull to save my doxie. I couldn't breathe and I literally wet my drawers. Thank God the owner heard our screams and ran from the next block to get his pit. My doxie had 45 stitches in his neck. He was a very lucky dog with a wonderful vet. And I was thanking the Lord for saving us and getting me through a traumatic moment without dying from suffocation. At least the owner of the pit was responsible and caring enough to take us to the vet and cover all the bills. However, I do believe these dogs should be banned within city limits. I also agree with Chip (first poster). They may be "so sweet" around their owners but they are hardwired to react to sudden movements or nonfamiliar sounds (like weenie dogs barking at strange dogs in their yard). Pits just plain go beserk. I've lived this. These attacks are NOT rare occurances. Omaha's had 3 attacks in as many days. What more will it take? I think a baby's life should answer those questions and get these dogs banned in city limits. Thank you Osceola. Mayor Beutler and the council..take this issue to heart and do something beneficial for this community. You may just get more kudos than you are used to. " "

" To all the people that think pitbulls and other larger breeds need to be 'illegal to keep as domestic animals'...because they 'do too much damage if they attack...'

Are you listening to yourselves? By your logic, we should not allow SUV's on the road because they have too much power and mass...they kill pedestrians too easily.
And compact cars like a little Kia Spectra...well they take too much damage in a collision, so they should be banned due to safety as well.

The fact is, the OWNER of the pitbull is the blame. Either he conditioned and trained the dog to be a menace, or perhaps the dog was a 'born menace' and he failed to do anything about it.

I've been around many, many pitbulls. They were all much safer to be around than my two little Welsch Corgis, or my mother in law's cat.

Think logically about wanting things banned. Don't think with your emotions...it usually gets you into a worse predicament. "

" You are right. It's not about whether somebody or their best friend can train and control a specific dog. It is about personal responsibility, a concept that is unfortunately lacking these days. A person who has a dog, any dog, regardless of size, strength, breed, etc. must take personal responsibility for the training and care of said dog. It's easy to say "Let's ban such and such breed" rather than enforce personal responsibility. The woman who was watching the dog in this situation should never have allowed herself to be in the position of having to care for this animal. She obviously did not have the means to control the dog. As an adult human being, it was her responsibility to either ascertain her control over the dog or to acknowledge that she was unable to control the dog and give it up to someone who could control it or to have it humanely euthanized. She is at fault for not satisfying her responsibility to control the animal that she was in charge of. Your comparison of dog handling to uranium handling is quite inappropriate. It takes years of specialized study and training to safely handle uranium. It takes far less training to successfully handle a dog as a pet. The knowledge and training are readily accessable to anybody willing to take the time to pursue it. "

" ANY dog would have reacted that way. The issue was that the dog was out wandering, not that it was a pit bull. And that lies solely on the owner. "

" To those who say the answer is to require training/licensing/insurance from pit bull owners, I ask you, "who is going to pay for the enforcement & routine regulation?" Answer: everyone - through increased property taxes. We already pay extra through increased homeowners insurance. Check it out - payouts for dog bites are an ever increasing factor & everyone gets to foot the bill. I hope insurers soon start requiring owners to declare pet ownership & breed - and vastly increasing premiums to those making the poor choice to own these dogs. Hitting these people in the wallet BEFORE the dog hurts someone may be the only way to get to them. If I was the parent of the severely injured toddler (or the toddler herself), the fact that the owner's insurance would cover the bills would be cold comfort to soothe the pain of potential life long scars. "

" With your logic, nothing should be banned as long as people take responsibility for their actions? The sole reason we have laws is to protect us from people who are irresponsible. "

" Strays come and go. That beagle that wanders the neighborhood has gotten barked at by the doxie, but neither the beagle, the retriever, the lab, the Sheltie, the pomerianian, or the mastiff, that walks by the house,stray or leashed, ever tried to pull the doxie's head off.
I said pits were hardwired to react to "suddeness". You can't deny that! It happens with pits, leashed and unleashed, more than in any other breed of dog. AND THEY'RE MISSION IS TO KILL!
If you every walk in shoes like mine, I bet you won't be so anxious to defend the pit nor it's owner. "Oh, that's okay Mr. Pit. Chew me up. I should know it's not your fault 'cos you're just wandering? Where's your daddy by the way!?. Just take my eyeball while we wait for him". "

" Colorado Cities with pit bull restrictions:

• Denver: Total ban.

• Aurora: Banned, but dogs registered with the city before Jan. 31, 2006, were grandfathered in. Owners must be at least 21, have their dogs spayed or neutered, have $100,000 in liability insurance and place signs near their front doors to alert visitors they have a pit bull.

• La Junta: Banned, but with provisions similar to Aurora's.

• Commerce City: Limits ownership. "

" To "It Happened To Me:" I'm sorry about your dog and the trauma that it and you suffered. But I've seen a Labrador Retriever pick up a Maltese in its mouth and shake it violently, nearly killing it by puncturing it's lungs. Shall we ban all labs now? I've been bitten and have scars by a Cocker Spaniel with a bad temperament. Shall we ban all Cocker Spaniels now? In both incidents, the owners did not do their job in restraining their animals. I have interacted with numerous pit bulls and pit bull mixes and never suffered a bite or a scratch. They are not all aggressive or vicious. It would be heartbreaking to see these dogs dumped or euthanized due to a ban, when they did nothing to deserve it. "

" i own a American Staffordshire Terrier better known as a pitbull. his name is rufus. he came to my family as a 4 yr old. he was free ,because the owners were moving to texas where they are outlawed. rufus grew up with boston terriers,because of this he thinks he is a lap dog.all he does all day long is sleep and wag his tail instead of getting off the couch(what a bum).i wish all the people that own bad pits should give them up because you have to know how to raise a good dog not a psychoone like most of the ones that we see.Raising a AST you can NEVER play tug or wrestle with the dog ,bcause it brings out the inbreding the dogs have in them.. that owner should have to work in a trauma hospital so she can see the horrors the can come from owning a dog and raising it improperly can cause. In closing people that want to own an agressive protection type breed should be screened to make sure they will not be STUPID in raising the animal. "

" Thanks for your concern.I'm not saying that Pits are the only dangerous dog that should be banned. What I do note is that these dogs who have been "so sweet" for the majority of their lives do at a moment's notice snap and it' more often than not that we hear of it FREQUENTLY. I don't doubt you've been around "numerous pit bulls and pit bull mixes and never suffered a bite or a scratch". However, it doesn't mean the odds are entirely in your favor. It just hasn't happened to you ....YET.
And "nothing to deserve it"???..Aggression is innate to the breed.HARDWIRED! Problem is, you just never know when. So like Barney Fife says "nip it in the bud". "

" These comments are amazing! This is a 15 month girl severely injured by a pit bull, She's lucky to be alive. The owner should be responsible no matter what kind of dog. Owners of pit bulls, mastiffs, chows ect. are usually trying to make a statement about themselves. Smoking was banned because of the potential harm. How can ANYONE argue for in defense of these dogs. Why take the chance? "

" you have a 'right' to own a pit bull, but i have a right to be in public free from the concern of a dog attack. the pattern of stories about these dogs is becoming very convincing. whether the dog or a careless owner a few bad apples have always spoiled it for the good ones, we all learned that from grade school on. it's time the good pit bull owners have their day spoiled. i understand and would support a law banning the breed. "

" I don't think that we should actually ban pit bulls, but I think there needs to be housing restrictions. I.E.: must have 8 foot fenced in yard, not close to schools. That type of scenario. I have seen lovable pitbulls, and I've seen aggressive pitbulls. It doesn't matter the personality or the person, they all need restrictions. Also, everyone saying that the people who owned the dog need to be charged and pay retribution: I agree, but it doesn't need to be pointed out because they are. As far as it's not the breed, but the owner, I disagree. Dogs snap, even the nicest have triggers that are unstoppable. "

" To "it happened to me:" I work in a shelter. A shelter is one of the most stressful places for any animal to be, especially dogs. If an animal is going to show aggression, this is the most likely place for it. It's in the presence of many other loud, barking, boisterous dogs; it's confined in a kennel a great deal of the day; it's handled by numerous types of people every day. It's not a great environment for any dog and if they are there too long, their worst qualities tend to come out. I have handled so many breeds of dogs in that place I couldn't name them all. The pits have all been extremely gentle and good-natured (while lively). The ones who have shown aggression are other breeds like Blue Heelers and even some smaller breeds. I know some pit bulls come from bad lineage - I think Omaha has a serious problem with that - that's why the Nebraska Humane Society euthanizes them. They know Omaha's pits are mainly from fighting stock, and those ones are going to have serious aggression issues. Not all pits are like that. Some pit bulls go on to be certified therapy and visitation dogs. I'm not sure what the solution is. I've known and loved some very sweet pit bulls that DO NOT DESERVE TO BE PUT DOWN. A friend of mine says we ban breeding altogether and work at it that way, instead of forcing people to dump or euthanize beloved pets. "

" Read the article about the attack again, Teri and others. This monster was on a leash and worked its collar off. Ban the breed. People aren't smart enough to control what they created. Too bad. Sorry. Pit bulls failed the test. Move on! "

" Another dog attack! 74 year old woman killed in her home when two dogs attacked her! Golden lab and australian shepherd mix. BAN THESE VICIOUS DOGS!

Read the story here...http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373325,00.html "

" Pit bulls don't fail temperament tests. In fact, they have one of the highest passing rates of all breeds in the American Temperament Tests. About 84% of all American pit bulls tested in 2006 passed. This is in the same range with "beloved" breeds like Australian Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. If it will let me, I'm posting a couple of links that show the stats:

http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/item.php?item=376
http://www.atts.org/stats1.html "

" Just to clear up a few "facts" stated by so sad. Pitbulls were not bred for fighting and their jaws do not lock. Yes, they are strong but they do not lock. It's to bad that people can be so ignorant that they feel that a few bad dogs means that ALL pitbulls are bad. I would be very upset as well as my kids if BSL came in to take our family friend. And if people would really think about what the pitbull breed is all about, the Brady Bunch would be the one to benefit from the wonderful dog. BSL kills family friends and tears families apart. Punish the deed, not the breed!! "

" To all of you dog killers out there who are just acting on emotions and fear, go meet one of these dogs for yourself. It's really that simple. Ignorant people who want a ban will never change the minds of educated people who know there is no need, and vice versa. Animals, like children, are never to blame. I wonder what would happen if a couple 6 year olds playing with knives kill some people up in Omaha, I bet you blame the parents and not the kids. "

" Pit bulls pit bulls pit bull, You sure it was a pit bull that attacked that child? I was following a lead about a pekingnese who killed a baby.
Little dogs are far more likely to bite period, especially children than big dogs. I had a cocker spaniel once, sweet as she could be could NOT STAND kids. Yet when my grand daughter was staying with me, MY AMSTAFF would die before he'd let anyone even touch her when they were scolding her. Took her for rides let her poke him in the eyes, slept right by her bed at night guarding her. Why the big news about "pit bulls" (they're actually bull terriers you know, a pit bull is one who is trained to fight, and is actually put in a pit......most bull terriers do NOT fit that description one in a hundred will go bad if trained properly) POODLES can be holy terrors, esp the bigger ones...they think they're still bear hunters. What's the matter with you...where's the BIG story.....the one about the baby killed by the family Pekingnese? "