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Accounts differ on pit bull shooting by Lincoln officer

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By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 09:59:21 pm CDT

A Lincoln police officer approaching a north Lincoln house for an interview Sunday morning fired two shots and hit a pit bull.

The dog’s owner, Layton Smith, said the shooting was unprovoked.

Police say the dog was growling and barking, threatening the officer.

Story Photo

The officer, whose name was not released Sunday, went to the home at 37th and W streets to question Smith’s girlfriend about a felony theft.

Lincoln Police Capt. David Beggs said the officer stepped around a corner of the house just after 11 a.m., and the brown pit bull approached, growling and barking. When the dog was 10 feet away and coming closer, Beggs said, the officer fired two shots.

One shot hit and wounded the dog, which Smith said was near death around 8 p.m. Sunday at Pitt’s Veterinary Hospital.

“He’s a well-mannered dog,” Smith said.

He said the dog was in the front yard, which has no fence, when it approached the officer. He said the dog was greeting the officer in a friendly manner, not growling and barking.

Daryl Travnicek, who lives directly behind Smith, said he has never had a bad encounter with the dog or its owner.

“The neighbor is a good man,” Travnicek said. “And the dog was like a lamb.”

Smith has five warrants from Lincoln police and one from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Five are for driving-related offenses and the sixth for disturbing the peace.

Smith said the officer who shot his dog has been to his home before and is familiar with the animal. Beggs said he has no way of knowing whether that is true.

Beggs said no administrative action has been taken against the officer involved. The police department’s internal affairs office will investigate, Beggs said.

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 473-7306 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.


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way to go wrote on September 21, 2008 10:10 pm:
" lincolns finest! wonder if he would have shot that golden retriever from last weeks article "
Wow wrote on September 21, 2008 10:16 pm:
" It sounds like this dog was barking, so the cop shot it. If the neighbor said he hasn't had any problems with the dog or the owner, then I find it hard to believe that the dog just decided to get crazy this one instance. If this was a rottweiler would the cop have shot it? "
CS wrote on September 21, 2008 10:27 pm:
" Just because an animal has been friendly before doesn't mean that it will be every time, just like visiting the 'usual suspects' can result in a cordial "Hi, you again" or the SWAT team being called. If Smith was in the house, and the officer was outside, how would Smith know if the dog was growling or not? "
All it takes is ONCE wrote on September 21, 2008 11:06 pm:
" I know that my story refers to a different pit bull, however...in another Nebraska city about a year ago I was just riding my bike down one of the major streets. I heard barking, turned and saw a dog behind a 4' high fence. I did a double take and saw that not only was it a pit bull, but it cleared the fence with no problem, and was coming after me. God was watching over me that day as I usually had my little girl in a bike trailer behind me. I barely got away from the dog with just myself on the bike. It was at my heels for 1 1/2 blocks before it gave up the chase. Had my daughter been in the trailer behind me I have NO DOUBT that she would have been extremely maimed or could EASILY have been killed from the dog jumping right into the trailer at that level.

I wasn't at this Lincoln location to verify whether this dog was a threat, but just because there has "never been a problem" before means nothing with a dog. That's what I was told by the next door neighbors of this dog, that it "gets out all of the time". Ok? But for some STRANGE reason it jumped over a 4' fence and chased me for 1 1/2 blocks barking & biting! Why? Don't know?

All I'm saying is don't be too quick to feel sorry for the dog & dog owners. When you own a pit bull or any dog whose breed is naturally aggressive, you had better at minimum have it on a leash, behind a fence, or preferably BOTH. The fence didn't even matter in my situation. I'm sure Lincoln probably has a LEASH LAW anyway, why would you put yourself at risk legally by leaving any dog off a leash in your front yard? "
ron wrote on September 21, 2008 11:23 pm:
" I support the officer. Pit bulls are dangerous. The officer does not need to take any chances. People need to take responsibility for themselves and their animals. I hope the city does not have to pick up the vet bill. The homeowner should be billed. "
me wrote on September 22, 2008 12:14 am:
" if the dog wouldn't have been a pit bull, would the officer have shot? "
bill wrote on September 22, 2008 12:56 am:
" As a concealed carry permit holder can I now assume that if a menacing dog is approaching me that at 10ft. I can shoot it? I surly would not be ticketed for discharging a firearm in city limits? Or possibly animal cruelty? Is 10ft the magic number or is 15ft. still alright? Can we only shoot pit bulls or can we blast the next wiener dog that nips at our heels. We really need an ordinance to clarify all of this. "
latho wrote on September 22, 2008 2:35 am:
" pit bull, without leash without a fenced in yard. That sounds like a good combo. Everyone's dog is a good dog after a goverment offical takes proper action to defend themselves. I love dogs, but I know that officer loves having all his limbs more. "
Hmmm... wrote on September 22, 2008 5:50 am:
" Ya know, with this incident, and the "tasering" that happened last week, it's makes a person wonder... Is MTV here in town filming yet another
"Cops Gone Wild" video? Are the police all in the make-up room? Sure has been a lot of unanswered activity in the 18th and G area... "
Dave wrote on September 22, 2008 6:09 am:
" This is tragic, Animal Control should have been called at first blush, rather than this dog being shot. Many forget, that dogs and cats are members of a family, and were my dog shot, I'd be mad as Hell.

This is tragic since it just happened in Omaha. Is LPD keeping up with OPD now? First a tragic accident where a cop hits a pedestrain (a few years ago) a cop runs over a foot not once, but twice, a tragic tasering, now a tragic dog shooting. What next I ask you? "
DogLover wrote on September 22, 2008 6:51 am:
" Even normally lamb-like dogs can behave like guard dogs when approched by someone they don't recognize. I had this happen with the dog of a friend of mine. He barked ferociously at me behind a fence while I walked up to him. Once he got a whiff of me, he calmed down and was quite contrite. Fortunately he was only a 15 pound rat terrier, not a much more menacing pit bull. "
connie wrote on September 22, 2008 8:07 am:
" I'm just appalled at the behavior some people get away with in this city, simply because they're wearing a badge.
If I opened fire on a family pet who was on his own property, because that pet was protective of his family's property, I'd be sitting in a cell right now. That's where that so-called officer should be.
Chief Casady is a man of integrity but he needs to realize that many of his men are anything but and get a grip on them! "
Angie wrote on September 22, 2008 8:20 am:
" Watch out Lincoln, here it comes!! I, too, have a pitbull and I will sometimes let her run off leash when its dark and she will come when called and is usually right on my heels. I have had her for over 6 yrs and she is my baby. I also do tether up in my yard and there are times when people think its okay to walk through and she will bark cuz that's what dogs do. I say her name and all is fine. She is just letting me know that someone is outside. Just last night, I had her outside with me and some gentleman walked around the side of our place and she ran to him and barked, he didn't run away or shoot her but I went to her and he pet her. He had never met my dog before and you know what, she didn't maim him or bite him, she wagged her tail. What she always does when someone comes up. I really think that the media needs to stop with the pitbull propaganda. Yes there are some aggressive ones just as there are some aggressive poodles, etc., but not all dogs are aggressive. Pitbulls were not bred to maim and kill and fight, they are companion dogs and family dogs. I am so tired of hearing all this B.S. about pitbulls. If you love your animal and you respect them and train them, your dog can be a wonderful addition to your family. No matter what the breed. Punish the deed, not the breed!! "
ET wrote on September 22, 2008 8:23 am:
" Get a grip Dave. Cops are not going crazy in this town, just shooting places up and running people over. The dog threatened the office, and even though the dog was 'part of a family', this dog got the same treatment as any human would have received if they had threatened the officer at close range - he was shot. So, this is a non-issue and non-news.
The animal lover freaks don't even realize how insane they sound. "
Tom wrote on September 22, 2008 8:40 am:
" A dog, any type dog, comes up to me growling and barking, it is going to be shot. End of story. I have been bitten before, by a rottweiller and I guarantee it will not happen again. The officer had every right to shoot this dog. What he should have then done is tasered the idiot that had the dog. "
OK wrote on September 22, 2008 8:51 am:
" Some are quick to blame the officer, but yet what about the owner? A dog that is loose with no chain or in a fence? If you love your animals as kids then learn to protect them as kids and not let them just run around. "
no way wrote on September 22, 2008 8:59 am:
" Hard to believe the officer would shoot only because he felt like it. The dog should have been in an enclosed area not free to run in the front yard. Oh by the way, if the homeowner/dog owner would follow the rules and quit breaking the law the officer would not have been on his property and hence the dog would not have been shot! "
Get Real wrote on September 22, 2008 9:03 am:
" Everybody is always critical of the police. Were you there at the time the dog was shot???? If you think we want our police bit by any dog you are wrong. Let the police do there job. Keep your mouth shut unless you know the facts or witnessed the event!!! "
Chris B. wrote on September 22, 2008 9:09 am:
" If I had a gun and a pitbull approached and made ANY sign of aggression I would shoot it also. "
sue wrote on September 22, 2008 9:14 am:
" I love dogs. BUT.... if a pitbull is threatening it's not the same as a golden retriever. Put yourself in the officer's shoes and think about what you would have done. "
Bichon Lover wrote on September 22, 2008 9:17 am:
" I have three dogs at home. One barks when people rings the doorbell. But once they come in, my dog gets friendly and jumps onto their laps.

Dogs are area-territorial by nature. They will defend their area and attack if needed. Pit bulls and other breeds are agressive by nature.

Just because the dog(s) was nice to visitors before doesn't mean there will be no problems. The dog may feel threatened by adults, but will attack a child without any provcation.

I feel the officer was justified in using force to protect himself. If the owner was in the yard or on the porch when the officer walked in, he should have called back or restrainted the animal.

I also think the owner should have been cited for no keeping his dog on a leash or having a confined yard for the dog. LJK. "
J wrote on September 22, 2008 9:28 am:
" I also support the officer. The dog was a risk to anyone walking by. "
Ann wrote on September 22, 2008 9:37 am:
" I think what the Officer did was the right thing. Pit Bulls in my opinion should be outlawed. They are not a good breed of dogs. "
HJT wrote on September 22, 2008 9:39 am:
" The officer did the right thing, if the dog was so special he should have been chained or fenced. It is the law! Dogs will react different to uniforms. Bottom line, chain or fence your dog! Thank god there was nobody hurt. "
Ridiculous wrote on September 22, 2008 9:47 am:
" To everyone that classifies all pit bulls as being mean and aggresive, you need to get off your soap box. ANY dog can be mean if not taken care of properly. Pit bulls are some of the most loving gentle dogs you will ever meet. But any dog if treated poorly will attack...even the little weiner dog. Stop blamming a breed of dog for everything bad that happens. "
Put yourself in the Officers shoes wrote on September 22, 2008 9:51 am:
" You can all be critical as you want, but put yourself in the offiers shoes. You were not there you don't know what happened other than what is printed above. Every situation is different. Every time an officer approaches a home, car, etc. they do not know what they are going to be facing and everything is handled differently by everyone. One whould shot the other would not. Just like the tasing incident last week. Don't judge unless you were that officer. They have to make decisions in split seconds that they have to live with the rest of their lives. So unless you are willing to wear the uniform and strap on a gun and put yourself in harms way don't second guess their decisions. Maybe the city council should ban pit bulls from Lincoln, require people who have pit bulls to carry a $1,000000 liability policy. "
Dog enthusiast wrote on September 22, 2008 9:53 am:
" To start with, I'm a dog lover and always have been. However, if I was approached by an unleashed aggressive dog without an owner present, I would have shot at 20 ft. Additionally, according to city ordinance the owner should be issued a citation for an unleashed dog.

According to City Ordinance 6.08.130: It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to let the dog run at large, whether licensed or not, at any time within the city.
The term "running at large" is defined to mean any dog that is not under the control of its owner, except that a dog shall not be considered under the control of its owner unless on a leash, cord or chain which is securely fastened or picketed in a manner sufficient to keep the dog on the premises where picketed, or on a leash, cord or chain of six (6) feet or less in length physically held by the owner, or confined within a receptacle, enclosed vehicle, fenced enclosure or shelter, or within the real property limits of the owner and in his or her presence and under his or her direct and effective voice control.
Failure to observe this ordinance means your dog may be impounded at the Humane Society and/or a citation issue "
Centers for Disease Control Prevention wrote on September 22, 2008 10:16 am:
" Fatal human attacks between 1979 and 1998

Pit bull-type 66
Rottweiler 39
German Shepherd Dog 17
Husky-type 15
Malamute 12
Doberman Pinscher 9
Chow Chow 8
Great Dane 7
Saint Bernard 7

Golden retrievers, rat terriers, and wiener dogs didn't make the list. Outlaw the breed. Grandfather it out. If nothing else, please get a dangerous dog ordinance on the books. I have a beautiful three year old child. My next door neighbors have two pit bulls and no fence. I watched the owner punch one of the dogs in the chest repeatedly a couple of days ago, and there is nothing I can do about this. We are homeowners, but we hide inside of our house. It isn't fair. "
GMP wrote on September 22, 2008 10:18 am:
" My poodle would have done the same thing. The animal (breed unimportant except to those who are just predjudiced because they heard "pit bull") was protecting his owner/property. This isn't the animals fault. If the owner wasn't "of interest" to the officer, it wouldn't have been put in that situation, and would not have been shot. But, I do say it should have been in a fence or on a chain if outside unattended. Even my poodle is (to protect it from the neighborhood children). "
Jill wrote on September 22, 2008 10:23 am:
" I love that people are saying, "Well even wiener dogs can attack and bite you." Yes, but I can kick a winer dog into next week, I doubt me kicking a pit bull would do much good. "
Melisa wrote on September 22, 2008 10:31 am:
" Pit Bulls, Pit Bulls, Pit Bulls, it's always about the breed. Hmmm...I have a pit bull, a black lab and a 1/2 pomeranian 1/2 schnauzer and I will give you all one guess as to which one is the most agressive to people.....that's right it's the little one. She will be at your heels wanting to tear your head off while my pit is at your feet bowing down wagging his tail wanting you to pet him. Anyway, any dog should either be on a leash or in a fence (high enough to prevent jumping it) and the owner of the dog in this story should be cited for disobeying the leash law. Any dog and I mean any dog is going to bark when someone approaches their home that they don't know, it's all a part of being a dog. This hype about the pit bull breed is just a phase, first it was the dobermans then it was the rotties....which one will be next?? I wish every single one of you who posted negative things about the breed would take the time to research this breed and also do some fact finding about all the dog/human or dog/dog attacks and just see how many are from pit bulls and how many are from other dogs. I will 100% guarantee that the majority of these attacks are by other breeds. The only ones that get front page headlines are the pit bulls, not the others. In my opinion we should stop the prejudice about the dogs and bring it towards the people........like the one who burglarized my home two weeks ago. If I would have had a gun and been 10 ft from him I guess I could have shot him?? He WAS invading my territory....just like the officer in this story. Granted the dog should have been leashed or fenced....he was protecting his territory. 100 bucks says that the dog would have been shot even if it would have been leashed. There would have just been a different excuse. "
Tammy wrote on September 22, 2008 11:02 am:
" "Center for Disease Control Prevention"--did you call Animal Control when you witnessed your neighbor abusing his dog? If not, you are just as much a part of the problem as the man abusing the dog. You CAN report abuse/cruelty, and we all should if we see it. The dog in question should have been on a leash or confined in a fenced area, plain and simple. I own a pit bull, and while he's the nicest dog in the world, I would NEVER let him run in my yard unattended or off leash. I would do the same if I had a Yorkshire Terrier. It's called responsible pet ownership. ANY dog can become agressive/territorial, and there is no accurate predictor of when this can occur. While I wonder if the officer would have reacted in the same manner if this were a different breed, it makes no difference. You CANNOT leave your dog running loose, it's just irresponsible. "
Tired of Ignorance wrote on September 22, 2008 11:12 am:
" I am a owner of a red nosed pitbull and the are one of the biggest pitbulls and he is the most gentle and people loving dog I have ever owned I also have a 3yr old little boy whos has friends over all the time he has never growled or snapped and anyone It is infact how u raise the animal. Just because some people dont raise them right doesnt mean the breed is bad , they are awesome family dogs!. Any dog when PROVOKED will bark or growl whether it be a poodle , chihuahua, or great dane or pit people need to quit this ignorant profiling of a well mannered animal. "
Clueless wrote on September 22, 2008 11:33 am:
" The dog was a lamb? Like a wolf in sheep's clothing maybe. Pitbulls are dangerous. PERIOD. There is plenty of documentation to prove this. They should all be put to death and their species should be extinct. I don't need to read another story about how the nice family pitbull attacked a family's child for no reason. Nice shot officer! "
Nina wrote on September 22, 2008 11:34 am:
" The old adage, 'Better safe than sorry' seems to apply here. Or should the officer have waited for the dog to have the first 'taste?' The pit bull added to the history in criminal involvement of the folks who live there, it would give the officer two reasons to be wary. "
Tammy wrote on September 22, 2008 12:26 pm:
" "Clueless"--the same thing can be said about humans, who are the most dangerous species on the planet. Advocating species irradication is a slippery slope at best. I don't personally like little tiny yippy dogs...but I don't advocate eliminating them. Most pit owners are responsible people, unfortunately those who aren't get all the attention. "
Nick wrote on September 22, 2008 12:38 pm:
" As a former delivery person, I have encountered hundreds of aggressive animals while on or approaching private property. Never once did I kill the animal or was I injured. I wonder how a police officer found no other option than to discharge a firearm in the middle of a the city when approached by a dog, yet other professionals deal day in and day out with this type of situation with no incident. Regardless of the behavior of the dog, the officer demonstrated poor judgment in putting himself in this situation or leaving himself no other options than to use his firearm. "
Beamer wrote on September 22, 2008 1:10 pm:
" This is a sad situation but one I think will continue to make the news. Seems every time I turn around another Pit Bull is being euthanized or shot. To all the pit bull owners out there, my question is, why would you want to own a pit bull? Traditionally, they are known as vicious dogs that can attack unprovoked. Although they may not be as agressive as other breeds they are more likely to cause damage or kill simply due to their strength and size. There is very specific proof of that in practically every canine publication. Any dog can be agressive, but if it's a pit bull it's an automatic reaction to be afraid. It is unfortunate, but the truth. So, if you choose to own a pit bull, then you also choose to accept the reputation that comes with it. Don't be surprised if people are afraid of your dog, and shoot it if it comes at them growling! "
Dog Lover wrote on September 22, 2008 1:35 pm:
" Yeah, I'm with Nick...was discharging the firearm the only option? I understand that the officer had to make a quick decision, but only one of his two shots hit the dog. What about the other bullet? Where did it manage to end up? What if it had hit a person?

Seems like pepper spray would have been a far better tool in this instance. I'm astounded that an officer would reach for his gun ahead of other non-lethal options. Astounded. "
Work with dogs wrote on September 22, 2008 2:20 pm:
" I also have a job where I encouter dogs all the time. Mostly they are nice, but sometimes the dogs can become very aggressive. While I have never been bit, there are about five dogs I would have shot if I had a gun they were that bad. "
CS wrote on September 22, 2008 2:26 pm:
" Well, for one, Police officers are authorized to use deadly force and you are not. Different job, different rules. "
Seriously folks wrote on September 22, 2008 3:10 pm:
" Why would anyone think an experienced officer would shoot a dog without provocation? Do you really think this dog would be worth his/her job?
If you think the LPD isn't going to take this seriously, you're nuts.

1) Not all cops carry pepper spray
2) If you weren't there how can you possibly assign blame?
3) what aboout the owner and his girlfriend's responsibility in this?

Come on people, you can accept that not all pit bulls are on the attack and ask people to quit stereo typing them then you stereo type the cops. Get a grip. "
Taser Dan wrote on September 22, 2008 3:36 pm:
" They should of just tazered him!! "
wrong wrote on September 22, 2008 3:57 pm:
" The dog was on the owner's property, the cop should not have shot the dog. "
Taser him wrote on September 22, 2008 5:51 pm:
" A person can be easily tased because it is a big target- roughly 6 ft tall by 2 1/2 feet wide. The taser probes shoot out at their own will and spread as they get further away from the taser. If one would even attempt to tase a dog that was running AT you, your target area would be roughly the dimensions of the dog's face, not a prayer in the world would land the probes in that small areaa on the quick, shifty animal. Besides. The taser takes effect when the muscles to lock up that are located between where the probes land. If you could even have gotten the dog in the face, it would only make it even more angry. As for using pepper spray- It's a stream of fluid that squirts out, roughly the diameter of a No. 2 pencil. Good luck getting the aim just right for the eyes, and even if you do, the dog can still bite and run with his eyes affected. Has anyone thought about this: How fast is a dog?? How small is the distance of 10 feet. If you play football it's roughly 3 yards. For an adult thats about 1- 1 1/2 steps. Combine that close distance with how fast the dog is coming at you, and the damage that particular breed can do, and is known to do- He only could shoot it to stop the threat- Maybe if the dog had been chained up it wouldn't have been an issue- Tha fault is on the owner who can't take care of his dog or his legal responsibilities (That's why a person gets a warrant, not to mention 5) The officer is not paid to be a chew toy- "
jo wrote on September 22, 2008 7:35 pm:
" "the dog was on the owners property?" What? The dog wasn't on a leash. LPD was trying to arrest a person with multiple warrents. I don't think they were going to wait for animal control, yell "yoohoo" "it's LPD coming to arrest you, would you call animal control , please? So I can do my job? Oh, Please don't run away. The owner is reasponsiable and the poor dog got shot, because his owner didn't have it on a leash. Live with that MR.SMITH! Better yet pay you tickets and quit breaking the LAW!!! "
bad info wrote on September 22, 2008 7:59 pm:
" Nice statistics centers for disease control prevention, however there is a problem with that number. There are over 25 dog breeds considered "pitbull types" that also includes mixed breed dogs whom resemble "pitbulls". Of those 66 the American Pitbull terrier actual accounts for far less than that number. You are 600 times more likely to drowned in your bathtub or a 5 gallon bucket than be killed by any dog. "
Kitties are better wrote on September 22, 2008 8:40 pm:
" First off, pepper spray most likely wouldn’t work and by the time the officer realized this, his arm would be in the jaws and wouldn’t work again in his life because of the disability he would suffer. Is it me or is it mostly criminals and thugs who own these fine beasts? I’ve driven down Y Street by 27th and saw an upstanding Lincoln citizen teaching his pit bull to swing from a tree with his jaws clutched to something hanging from a branch. Is this how you play with these family pets? The dog seemed to really enjoy himself as his owner swung him around and around while the animal hung on with his jaw firmly grasping his swinging toy. It looked like so much fun for the family!
I’ve never heard of a pit bull called Fluffy, Old Yeller, or Lassie; all of which portray a typical family pet. The name Capone reminds me of a Chicago crime boss who left a bloody trail wherever he went. Pure class.
Sioux City just banned these “pets” on the 18th of this month. Perhaps it’s time our city council looked into a similar ban (Robin? Are you reading this? Call me.)

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/09/16/news/local/79377d0e6eca4c9f862574c600111a35.txt "
Really wrote on September 22, 2008 10:35 pm:
" so quick to judge. Officers have a split second to make a decision, everyone else gets days to comment. Who are the people you call when you need help with a problem?? The police. Police are people too, not robots. Police are called to deal with situations that no one else will or can. Until you do what they do, I would suggest not judging so quickly. "
To Taser Him wrote on September 23, 2008 8:19 am:
" Nice argument!..But have you thought about the size of a 9mm bullet that the cop shot at him? And have you personally ever shot a handgun? A 9mm bullet is roughly a little smaller than a dime. Sure he has 15 bullets to shoot, but that is not saying much about his accurecy if it takes all 15. Pepper spray on the other hand is alot like shooting a small garden hose or a can of Raid at a wasp. You cover spray a large area and it only takes a small amount in or near the eyes to affect the subject. Also the choking smell is enough to stop most. Having been around when pepper spray has been sprayed, I think that would have stopped the dog from attacking and would have been much safet that using his firearm in a neighborhood. The officer made the wrong choice. Thank goodness that the dog is going to live. The owner is mostly to blame for putting his dog in the situation, but think about your arguement before you post! "
to To Taser Him wrote on September 23, 2008 11:32 am:
" You clearly do not know much about Oleoresin Capsicum (the real name for "Pepper Spray". The spray LPD uses actually comes out like a stream, so hitting the dog would be much more difficult than you suggest. Also, it can take several seconds for OC to work. Given the fact that the dog could easily cover that amount of ground in that time, the officer made the right choice. Having been a law enforcement officer, I would have done the same thing based on the little facts that we know. "
All of you sayin.... wrote on September 23, 2008 1:13 pm:
" that pitbulls are such bad dogs have clearly never owned one. So quick to judge. And to "kitties are better" you like cats, enough said. A bitbull is a loving, caring and make great companions or course all of this depends on the owner. All these thugs buy them and have no clue on how to raise or take care of a dog. So blame the owners first. And to all of you who don't believe me research the history(before dog fighting, circa 1950's) of pitbulls and see what you find. "

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