Thursday Pet Spotlight: Pit Bull Saves Two Strangers

The sad thing about this story is the media(besides good hearted non-biased bloggers like yourself) probably didn't run this story because the pit didn't attack or maim anyone.

You are trying to express how they aren't violent yet the story is about how it ran up to a total stranger and threatened to attack him. I really hope you see the irony is this.

Dan - You should also note that the Pit Bull didn't pursue the man, only gave him a warning to back off and leave. As the article states, and anyone who actually knows anything about dogs, no domesticated dog breed is inherently dangerous, dogs who are dangerous are trained to be that way by bad owners. This dog could have easily chased down the man and injured him, but he didn't, he did what is natural to a dog, he gave an aggressive warning as a "back off" and when the man did back off, he let it go. Pit bulls are not inherently aggressive. I volunteer at a shelter and they are some of the sweetest dogs you'll find, the aggressive ones were trained that way by humans, it is not a genetic predisposition.

So wolves aren't inherently dangerous? Seriously? Pit bulls were bred to be aggressive. Dobermans were bred to be guard dogs. Daschunds were bred to be ratters. Border collies were bred to herd. We bred in to each of these breeds specific traits for the specific tasks we deemed to be desirable. Are pit bulls inherently predisposed to agress against smaller animals? Yes. Thats what they were bred for. Over time and careful breeding of the best and nicest can this be removed? Of course! We no longer need our dogs to be aggressive (for the most part) and many breeds such as Doberman, Rottie, Akita, etc are having the aggressive tendencies bred out. Pitbulls still have the bad name because stupid people breed aggressive dogs together for fighting purposes or to look "cool" or "tough". Then these dogs are also treated horribly, compounding the issue. I've worked with plenty of rescued dogs (nonpits and pits alike) who were abused and tormented but weren't aggressive at all. Some pits have the aggression bred out already, some don't. If more standardization of temperment takes place then it will be all uniformly removed. But to say there is no genetic basis to why pitbulls are aggressive is ignorant and naive. It simply needs to be bred out.

i have two pit bulls myself. one of them i have had for about 8 yrs now. never have i had a problem with her. i just rescued another pit, he is awesome also. no signs of aggression towards me,my friends, or their kids. they are dogs. you treat them the right way and you will be fine. put them outside tied to a tree for months at a time with no interaction with people or other animals they could be an aggressive issue. put a poodle up to a tree and see what happens with it. please don't really try this one. i'm just saying it's not the breed it is the ignorance of people. the only aggression from my dogs come from their tongues they lick me to death. and that story at the top of the page should be in the headlines it's a shame it's not.

Dan - please go back to PETA. Also don't date. If a growling dog equals violence, then a smile from a woman probably equals whoring around.
Check your meds.

He is beautiful! Love to hear stories like this. Not all Pit Bulls are dangerous. It all depends on how the owner trains and treats them, just like kids, they can be evil devils, nasty and impolite if the parents don't teach them manners.

in 2 years at an Vet / boarding facility ..... I'll tell you two on my 'short' list not to go near or trust Chows or a Lab mixed ..... the two 'guest' I will NOT go near / a lab-chow mix .... and a lab with a brain twist (he is on phenabar twice a day - within 20 mins of meds .... I will take him out after that NO way - he is in attack mood) .... I resently 're-homed' a pit to my Daughter (whom lives with my youngest Grand-D) with NO fear or worries. PITS get mistreated like any breed ..... my Rottie/Dob (rescue) has more issues than EVERY pitt I have EVER worked with at the animal hospital ..... so PLEASE stop 'bashing' a breed ..... an applaud a hero (Angel)

my error (I was corrected) ..... the Labs are greatish ...... try a Golden Retriever mix

I have a 4 year old Red Nose myself and since the day I got her, she has been one of the best companions I have ever had, human or animal alike. The factor people seem to overlook is that Pit-Bulls do have a very distinct trait that has become desirable amongst certain individuals with malicious intent; that is their renowned cunning and unbelievable ability to resist pain. In WWI and WWII, Pits and Rottweiler's were used to carry messages across the battle field, the Pits were far more favorable than the Rot's due to their smaller size and higher threshold for pain. Early adaption came from Bull and Bear Baiting yes, however, this was seen as a status symbol as the bravest 4 legged pals were viewed as being the most capable of protecting families and livestock from common threats of that time. To say we should turn our backs on this fascinating breed is a slap in the face, since we are shunning them for the very reason we breed them in the first place. Labs and Pits are also two of the only few dogs that are said to have the ability to look into your soul. I love this breed to no end, and will continue to fight for them the rest of my life; I am sure the side of the coin that I argue for will win since it is a balanced serving of unbiased research and diligent research. Anyone willing to step in the ring with an EDUCATED opinion, is welcome to debate, discussions built on "my friend this" and "my cousin that" will not be entertained. I refuse to battle the validity of fiction in any way.

I have a 4 year old Red Nose myself and since the day I got her, she has been one of the best companions I have ever had, human or animal alike. The factor people seem to overlook is that Pit-Bulls do have a very distinct trait that has become desirable amongst certain individuals with malicious intent; that is their renowned cunning and unbelievable ability to resist pain. In WWI and WWII, Pits and Rottweiler's were used to carry messages across the battle field, the Pits were far more favorable than the Rot's due to their smaller size and higher threshold for pain. Early adaption came from Bull and Bear Baiting yes, however, this was seen as a status symbol as the bravest 4 legged pals were viewed as being the most capable of protecting families and livestock from common threats of that time. To say we should turn our backs on this fascinating breed is a slap in the face, since we are shunning them for the very reason we breed them in the first place. Labs and Pits are also two of the only few dogs that are said to have the ability to look into your soul. I love this breed to no end, and will continue to fight for them the rest of my life; I am sure the side of the coin that I argue for will win since it is a balanced serving of unbiased research and diligent research. Anyone willing to step in the ring with an EDUCATED opinion, is welcome to debate, discussions built on "my friend this" and "my cousin that" will not be entertained. I refuse to battle the validity of fiction in any way.

Hey Dan, I'm not inherently aggressive or violent, but if I bore witness to a criminal act with potential for bodily harm. I would not hesitate to react in a manner as to dissuade the aggressor.
My ultimate goal being the restoration of peace. I of course have a great many ways to achieve this goal. Beginning with a shout and minimally elevating my approach as needed. I have a cell phone the dog has teeth.
This dog has obviously gained the knowledge that most people require nothing more than a theatrical display of aggression to elicit compliance. After all, Isn't that what the mugger was doing?

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbullphotos4.htm
scroll down a bit and you'll find an interesting picture - i'm curious if this is pure coincidence

To comment on what Ella Lambert said, Pitbulls were never since day one breed to be people aggressive, just the opposite. Pitbulls had to be good with people, it was and is the animal aggression that's the problem with the breed. If a Pitbull type dog is people aggressive it's because someone trained him that way, it's not a breeding thing. Many people forget that Pitbull type dogs are Terriers, which were breed to be vermine hunters (hense the high prey drive), factor in their later history of bull baiting and dog fighting is where the major animal problems come from. Also there are different breed traits between the Pitbull type dogs, The American Staffy is breed to be less animal aggressive the say the standard Staffishire Terrier. We run a dog rescue and can say first hand they make great family pets, but they are a unique breed that needs to be brought up correctly. I agree the media won't post something like this though, not news worthy enough for the blood thirsty media..

I absolutely love to hear positive stories about the Pit Bull! It's so sad that these amazing dogs' are viewed as vicious, but it's no wonder it's always the negative that makes news! The Parade had a wonderful write up about the Pit Bulls' that belonged to Micheal Vick. Those dogs went through hell, but never lost their ability to love. A must read! DON'T BLAME THE BREED!

What a great story!! I agree that these dogs get a bad name. They get that from dumba** people training them to be that way. It absolutely makes me sick to think of how they are treated! But this is a great story!

the whole world needs to hear and see this, and educate the whole world. There are places in the world that are banding pits and will kill on sight, even if they are nice or owned, iot does not matter.We need to screen people that want or own pits, check on they and that might help people see for them selfs, how awsome they are. It is sad that we are not educated to know this and more, we fight for other in other counrtys to help genocide from happening but the poor pit are being genocide . That is wrong, what has become of us. What does that say about us.

It is simple, not all dogs are aggressive, and any breed can have an aggressive trait! While people do not look at poodles as being a dog that can inflict damage they have and they can. Tell a child that the dog that attacked them and only weighed 10 pounds didn't hurt when they bit down on them. Great Danes are dogs that were bred for being herd protectors but often times they turn and attack the very herd they are suppose to protect. Any animal including humans can have aggressive trait. The APBT breed is no different. There are good and bad in everything. I like to call it the New American Witch Hunt. It is really no different than what they did to those women in Salem so many years ago. You know how it goes "*Gasp* your a witch!!!! BURN HER!!!!" Now a days it is "*GASP* You have a pitbull?? Those dogs are not nice and shouldn't be pets!!!! KILL THEM!!!" People are always more than willing to destroy what they do not understand and as long as we continue to judge things that way we will never grow as a society to reach a higher level of being. I am sorry to any one who reads this and has been or felt threatened by any animal, pitbulls included. But the simple fact is most of the animals that the media has deemed as dangerous or that they report on are some kind of screwed up mix of a dog. I mean you mix breeds you never know what you might get. Either that or the dogs are left to run wild through a neighborhood and then it comes back to the fact that someone needs to be a responsible owner. I am very happy when I hear stories like this just because of the fact that it is a slap in the face of those who judge this breed without really knowing them!!! These dogs were bred for their bravery, stamina, agility and their ability to never back down. No where in their did it say that they were cold blood killers! Pitbulls are one of the GREATEST BREED of dogs in the world and I will stand up anywhere and say that!!!! Punish the DEED not the BREED!!!!!!! Oh and by the way I am owned by an American Pitbull Terrier named Leo the Great and he is a 50 pound LOVEBUG...worse thing he has ever done was pushed me out of the bed cause he is a bed hog!!! Have a nice day!

What a beautiful story and I am balling my eyes out just thinking about it. There is no other breed of dog out there that can turn my head or melt my heart the way a pit bull can. What is cuter that that big smile on such a big head? I was blessed to have had one of the deepest and most profound connections ever...with a stunningly beautiful pit named Charlie. I first saw him at the Humane Society where I was volunteering. His neighbor had witnessed his owner abusing him and could take it no longer so she sneaked him out. Charlie had been tied to a pole by a one foot rope, was beat, had burns all over his body, and had witnessed him own mother being run over and over again until she was dead. He was 4 months old. When I first saw him it was love at first sight..I remember I couldn't take my eyes off of him and I said, "WHO is THAT?" Everyone warned me not to do it. They told me he'd turn on me and possibly he'd eat my first born. "Maybe you should get a dog that's more socially acceptable..." or "What about that cute fluffy one over there..?" Well I have never been one to conform (or believe the masses)...And so as I looked into Charlie's eyes, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that we had come into each other's lives not to hurt each other, but to teach one another to truly love and trust. Sure we had our challenges. He peed on the couch. He bit the stick shift in my truck to pieces. He liked to roll around in dead birds and seals. He liked to poop ON things...beautiful things, like buddha statues in lovely gardens. He had separation anxiety and couldn't be left inside the house alone. He was so strong that he would jump out the window or he would body slam into the door. I tried putting a muzzle on him. He ripped it off. He had issues. He did not want to be alone. As hard as I tried I could not break him of his fear of negligence, so I surrendered to it. I took him everywhere..to school, to yoga, to friends' homes...We ran hundreds of miles on beaches and parks up and down the CA coast. He did not lick, he almost never barked, and if I left him in the car with a big plate of food next to him I could come back to a plate untouched. After a long day at the beach all I had to say was, "Charlie, you know what time it is.." And he would walk himself into the shower and wait for me. He loved wearing his superman outfit. He was the most incredible and soulful creature I have ever known.

Charlie probably never forgot the pain that was inflicted on him, but he did forgive, he did not judge, he did move on with positivity, and he lived each day to the fullest so that he could enjoy his life as it was-In the present moment. He was not a victim of his past and he blamed no one. He never once displayed a single ounce of resentment, anger or aggression towards me or anyone else. He loved all people, animals, dogs, cats and children. He listened, never complained, was always happy, loved completely, and he never threatened to leave. He was better, truer and more loyal than any friend or man I have ever had. So to all the cynics out there maybe we should spend less time judging and in fear of others and more time working on ourselves. Animals like our children, are a product of our own selves. They are in total sync with the vibrations of nature...it is Us, Humans, that project our own suffering and abuse to cause a chain reaction. By the way, I am waiting until I get pregnant until I get another pit bull...and when I do, I will have no fear that he will eat my baby.

To Dan~Sounds like you need a hug

To Charlie~Hope you're having a beautiful day in Heaven!!!

Same story but a little more detail from November 2008 article:
-----
A dog came out of nowhere and stopped a knife-wielding robber from accosting a mother and her young son on Monday afternoon. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Tim Mattson)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."

The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.

The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.

Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.

"I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman," Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse.

"I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life."

The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend.

"You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid," Jones said. "He was like her guardian angel."

After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.

The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."

Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament.

"It's funny, that someone's irresponsibility could have saved someone's life," Jones said of Angel's possible owners.

For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most.

"I don't know what his [the thief's] intentions were -- I don't know why he did it, but I'm glad that -- we call him Angel -- I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened," Angela told NBC2 News.

For a small town with a population of 46,452, animal control officers were kept busy Monday afternoon. Jones says they department also responded to a report about a boa constrictor in a church parking lot.

The snake found its way into a car engine and was able to be removed without being harmed. It took three people to move the massive, seemingly random placed snake.

"It's funny, because we aren't a big place," he said of the Gulf Coast town. "And we can go for four or five months without the media contacting us about a story. It's been a busy week."

Officers from the responding county sheriff's office canvased the area and were unable to locate the suspect described as being in his 20s, tall and dark haired.

Tell us what you think about "Stray Dog Saves Woman, Child Held at Knifepoint" below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman and NBC-2.com contributed to this article.

Some of you people need to be educated. Ella, had you read A S's comment, you would notice she said "domestic" dogs. There was never anything mentioned about wolves. Pit bulls were NOT breed to be aggressive. They were origianlly breed to fight bulls (hence the name). In the 1900's people began using them to fight which has since resulted in the fiasco we have today. It all boils down to human error. It is OUR fault these dogs have got such a bad rap along with other dogs. Now, it should be OUR responsibility to change the opinion. People need to open their minds and not be so closed minded. It's 2010, wake up people. Educate your self before you judge or make comments.

Why is it a pitbull mix when an obvious PURE apbt does something good. But when any dog does something bad it's dubbed as a pitbull. Even if it looks to be a lab shar pei mix.

@Dan
I have two american pit bull terriers, best damn dogs ever!

"Judge the deed, not the breed." And for the record I see more poorly bred snarling ankle biters on a daily basis than I do negative pitbull stories in a year - probably purchased of some online puppy mill because the dang thing is cute. Where's the media for that?!

If a person gets a dog simply because it's cute, they shouldn't own a dog - because that's the definition of an irresponsible moron who can't keep their little yapper on a friggin leash then freak when the thing gets attacked for running up to & challenging a strange dog larger than it self.

There's no bad dog, just stupid ppl