Nail-gun dog 'loved by everyone'

[Miss B]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23256903-2,00.html

THE 21-year-old owner of a pitbull that was shot eight times with a nail gun to stop it attacking a woman believes the dog had not been a danger.

The owner who refused to be named said 11-month-old Diesel, who yesterday mauled her sister in the Sydney suburb of Greystanes, was "loved by everyone".

Last night , Yasmine Elrich, 17, was still recovering in hospital after having reconstructive surgery on her leg.

"People say 'he attacked your sister, doesn't that change the way you feel about him?'. It doesn't change the way I feel," Diesel's owner said.

"They only see this attack, they don't know the joy he brought into our lives. For the past 12 months, he's been the best and most exciting thing in my life.

"I'm devastated. I came home to find my dog dead on my front lawn and my sister in hospital. Of course I'm grieving.

"I was angry, but I understand now why that man did what he did. It could have been a lot worse."

Crazed dog

Neighbour Maxine Upton rushed to Yasmine's aid after hearing her terrified screams.

"In the 40 seconds it took me to get over there, he'd dragged her out to the front door," the 43-year-old said. She suffered bites and bruising as she struggled with the dog before their screams alerted the builders.

"It's horrible but that dog had to die. It was crazed, very crazed," she said.

She said Diesel had attacked and killed a kitten at his family home three weeks ago.

Mrs Upton also believes Diesel had killed her kitten before Christmas.

Humble tradie

Despite his refusal to be labelled a hero, the tradie's actions received overwhelming support from NEWS.com.au readers with more 11,000 people, or 95 per cent of respondents, saying they would have done the same thing.

The "Dirty Harry" style builder, who was working next door to where the attack happened, said he hadn't set out to kill the dog - just save Yasmine's life.

"It wasn't about killing. It was about helping the girl," his business partner said.

"We were just working here when we heard the screams. I picked up a piece of wood and he had the nail gun.

"We're lucky he had it because that dog didn't even feel the wood.

"It's not something that anyone enjoys doing (killing a dog) but there really wasn't a choice."

 

[jessb]

God you feel sorry for the poor buggers who had to kill the dog - it must have been awful...

 

[firedragon]

It's very sad for all involved but I wonder what she did to set the dog off, it's rare for a dog to attack for no reason, unless it was brought up cruelly

 

[jessb]

It's very sad for all involved but I wonder what she did to set the dog off, it's rare for a dog to attack for no reason.

Mind you, it had killed two kittens - it seems like it was pretty nasty to start with, and not well trained or controlled by the silly cow who owned it...

 

[Paliadon]

Good on the tradie. Being one myself, I know that a lot goes on in neighbourhoods that doesn't reach the light of day from domestics to hoon driving to break & enters. It really sucks. Good on him,chalk one up for the good guys.

 

[firedragon]

Mind you, it had killed two kittens - it seems like it was pretty nasty to start with, and not well trained or controlled by the silly cow who owned it...

I was editing as you were replying

 

[cockney red]

Big time dog lover , but situation understood. 10 outa 10 the two boys. Can picture situation, & action necessary. Been there.

 

[cockney red]

Kept so called dangerous dogs all me life. Any dog is capable of killing a kitten. Some dogs are capable of a whole lot more. Depends on who's holding the lead.

It's very sad for all involved but I wonder what she did to set the dog off, it's rare for a dog to attack for no reason, unless it was brought up cruelly

 

[carinacat]

very sad been involved in dog attacks and sumtimes there is no stoppng them poor girl and poor dog

 

[Isis]

Mind you, it had killed two kittens - it seems like it was pretty nasty to start with, and not well trained or controlled by the silly cow who owned it...

Ant dog can kill a kitten, it usually through playing and the dog not realising its size and weight difference. The dog was only 11mths old so still a playful pup. Dont generalize about dogs on such limited information,



We will never know the real story about what set the dog off so no point speculating really. The poor guy must feel really bad.

 

[cockney red]

A YEAR OLD PIT IS A PUP THAT COULD KILL YOU QUITE EASILY.:shock:

Ant dog can kill a kitten, it usually through playing and the dog not realising its size and weight difference. The dog was only 11mths old so still a playful pup. Dont generalize about dogs on such limited information,



We will never know the real story about what set the dog off so no point speculating really. The poor guy must feel really bad.

 

[SnakeyJac]

As a responsible owner of a Pit cross English Staff and an American Staff ( both males ) they are genuinley loving dogs!....its the owners that need to realise they are powerfull and need to be really cared for like babies as pups then they are good dogs as they grow older...People who think are tough getting a powerfull breed of dog and then not realising how you need to treat them really digusts me!

 

[jessb]

Ant dog can kill a kitten, it usually through playing and the dog not realising its size and weight difference. The dog was only 11mths old so still a playful pup. Dont generalize about dogs on such limited information,



We will never know the real story about what set the dog off so no point speculating really. The poor guy must feel really bad.

Regardles of whether a dog "can" kill a kitten - it simply shouldn't! If anyone owns a dog that has killed two kittens, and then doesn't take SERIOUS measures to curb its behaviour, it seems clear that it's only a matter of time before something more serious happens.

 

[Minka]

Poor dog:cry:

 

[venus]

I commend the quick thinking tradies, wouldnt have been a nice thing to do, but they averted any more attacks by the dog.

Dont know why it mauled the girl, perhaps it was being territorial, it could have been a dominant dog, who knows.

Pitbulls or any other strong breed of dog need to be (as any dog should be) properly socialised from young puppies, with other dogs, situations and people.
They need to be trained properly, so they know who is pack leader. Firmly, but kindly. Dogs are not children, they are dogs and need to be treated as dogs.

I have a Staffy, (biggest sook in the world lol) and she is at the bottom of the pack, she comes last.
I come first along with my son, then the cats, then the older dog, then her.
There are a lot of irresponsible dog owners who have no idea how to train a dog, or treat them badly, or sometimes worse still, treat them like surrogate kids and and then wonder why they bite.

Sadly, its just puts another nail in the coffin to BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) and if that gets through, all powerful breeds will be in danger.

Hope the young girl comes through her surgery okay.

 

[venus]

Regardles of whether a dog "can" kill a kitten - it simply shouldn't! If anyone owns a dog that has killed two kittens, and then doesn't take SERIOUS measures to curb its behaviour, it seems clear that it's only a matter of time before something more serious happens.

Not true. It may seem that way, but any dog can kill a kitten.
And because its killed a kitten, or even another dog, doesnt make it more likely to attack a person.

It may have never been exposed to a cat before. Im pretty sure my dogs could kill a cat if a stray got into the backyard, yet they live harmoniously with 4 of them, and the cats are the bosses. Thats the way it has to be, or my cats wouldnt stand a chance.

There are dogs that are bred to chase , bred to hunt, bred to hold, (greyhounds, terriers, etc) and just because they are domesticated, doesnt mean they lose the instinct for what they were bred for. Its still there, (in its primitive form) thats why dogs need to be socialised, trained, etc.

Chasing a cat is in fact a basic natural behaviour for most dogs, just as hunting/killing a bird is natural for most cats.
I say most dogs, because not every dog is going to do it. Pitbulls have powerful jaws, so even if it played with the kitten, it could have accidentally killed it.

 

[jessb]

Not true. It may seem that way, but any dog can kill a kitten.
And because its killed a kitten, or even another dog, doesnt make it more likely to attack a person.

It may have never been exposed to a cat before. Im pretty sure my dogs could kill a cat if a stray got into the backyard, yet they live harmoniously with 4 of them, and the cats are the bosses. Thats the way it has to be, or my cats wouldnt stand a chance.

There are dogs that are bred to chase , bred to hunt, bred to hold, (greyhounds, terriers, etc) and just because they are domesticated, doesnt mean they lose the instinct for what they were bred for. Its still there, (in its primitive form) thats why dogs need to be socialised, trained, etc.

Chasing a cat is in fact a basic natural behaviour for most dogs, just as hunting/killing a bird is natural for most cats.
I say most dogs, because not every dog is going to do it. Pitbulls have powerful jaws, so even if it played with the kitten, it could have accidentally killed it.

I agree that most dogs will chase a cat, and some will kill it, but if a dog has killed TWO cats, then its owner should take responsibilty and train it, muzzle it, secure it safely in the yard or do whatever is necessary to make sure that the next thing the dog chases and kills/mauls isn't a small child, or, as in this case, an adult.

I don't think this dog was "more likely" to attack a person because it has attacked two cats, I think the previous attacks should have been a wake up call for the owner - and full responsibility for the situation lies with the her.

If my dog had killed any animal I would be seriously rethinking the way I trained her and look at making major changes, as I think any responsible pet owner would.

 

[venus]

Hang on, the fact that the dog killed two kittens doesnt mean its automatically going to attack small children (or even an adult) next. :shock:


The fact that the dog (or any dog) killed 2 kittens doesnt make it a bad dog.
The fact that it mauled a woman does.
The killing of the kittens doesnt really come into it.

There are lots of dogs that will chase/kill cats, and it my two had done it, it wouldnt have been a wake up call for me. I would feel sorry for the poor cats because they happened to stray onto my dogs territory.
It would be a wake up call for the owners of the cats to keep them contained. (as all cats should be)
If it were my own cats that had been killed, then it would be a wake up call for me, because my dogs have been socialised with cats since they were pups, and they both know that our cats are above them in the order of "our pack".

Lots of dogs will chase/kill possums too, its all part of the thrill of the chase. Same as when pack mentality sets in, two dogs will be more likely to chase any other animal, be it cat, sheep, cow or horse.

Until we know the full story, its hard to judge why the dog mauled the girl. But the deed is done, and if the tradie hadnt killed it, who knows what it would have done.
Some dogs will just "turn" and attack, with seemingly no provocation. Perhaps this dog had been raised to be an aggressive dog, the thing is, I doubt we will ever know the full story.

 

[Isis]

Regardles of whether a dog "can" kill a kitten - it simply shouldn't! If anyone owns a dog that has killed two kittens, and then doesn't take SERIOUS measures to curb its behaviour, it seems clear that it's only a matter of time before something more serious happens.

Read my post. I am talking of a large boisterous pup accidently killing a kitten not a vicious attack. My 4mth old stag pup plays with our cats but unfortunatelt did kill a kitten, not through a purposeful attack but just by a large size diference. He shares his bed with our other cats and if anything is protective of them he just doesnt realize that he is not as small as they are. You cant judge a dogs temperament on the info given in that story.

As said previously you cant speculate on what happened so you should not be judgung the dog, the victim or the dogs owners.

 

[thals]

Exactly, know one will ever know the full story as we weren't there at the time and lpace of the incident.
Though the majority of cases the owner is to blame, either due to poor upbringing or irresponsibility.

One thing that is puzzling to me is that it seems to be ok if a python kills a cat but when a dog is mentioned to have done so here it's just sooo wrong lol talk about playing favourites