If it was a Pit Bull...

When I was a kid, I loved watching "The Little Rascals," the original, not the remakes. The show is never shown now, most likely because it was dated when I watched...dated, but still fun and entertaining. The kids were regularly seen with their dog, "Petey." At the time, I did not know the dog was an American Pit Bull Terrier -- a breed that has a very undesirable reputation today.

While watching the news this morning, I saw a report about a dog that snatched a newborn boy from his crib, almost killing the child. The four-day-old baby was listed in critical condition with two collapsed lungs, a skull fracture, broken ribs and various cuts and bruises. The family pet is a Native American Indian Dog named "Dakota," similar to the dog in the first picture.

As I watched the news report about this dog, I realized that if this had been a Pit Bull Terrier, the story would have been much less forgiving. First, the father said this was NOT an attack...the dog was trying to play with what it thought was a doll. The dog was also known for stealing loaves of bread from the kitchen. This dog's size was also mentioned but I feel that is a moot point. I read a story about a toy dog that killed a newborn so any dog is capable of hurting or killing a child. But why is it an accident when another breed kills or injures a child and it is a vicious animal when a Pit Bull kills or injures?

Statistically, Pit Bull dogs are NOT more likely to kill or bite people. Dogs more likely to kill or bite are intact male dogs of ANY breed. Pit Bull dogs have a horrible reputation for being dangerous but statistically, a child is more likely to be killed by a parent or caregiver than by a Pit Bull dog.

I think people are more influenced by news reports than by statistics. When a Pit Bull dog attacks, photos of similar animals baring their teeth are shown. This dog that almost killed the baby was featured in photos with children appearing to be a loving family dog. The owner's comments that the dog was not aggressive were not countered by some expert. I am not an expert but I know enough that a dog who will steal food is likely to steal anything. To the dog, the baby was something to claim. Stealing bread may have been a funny or annoying habit, but to a dog it was a way to show dominance.

Blame should not be thrown at the parents...they were baby-proofing the home when this incident happened. One pre-caution that could have been taken was to close the baby room door to prevent the dog from entering, knowing her habit of stealing. However, I do not believe for an instant that a dog that kills or injures a baby thought the child was a toy. Dogs have better senses than we do. A dog knows the taste of blood. I believe a docile dog will kill a baby to prevent having a rival in the future. The baby is an intruder into the pack...the dog thinks it is performing a good service by ridding the pack of this intruder. It may sound stupid, but these dogs are motivated by instinct, not logic. The best thing for new parents is to take action to introduce the baby to the dog. Never rely on your dog (or cat's) good nature regarding a baby.