I want to start a discussion about Pit Bull dogs. I live next door to a new neighbor who owns an American Pit Bull dog (also a female of the same breed that's just given birth to three pups). When I'm in the owner's presence the dog allows me to pet him, but when the owner isn't present the dog acts extremely fierce to the point that I'm scared of him. Below is an article that I found. What do you think/know about this type of dog?--Schizm.
Posted At 04:43:40 08/06/2003
Officers kill pit bull after attack By MICHAEL DeMASI Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — City police shot and killed a pit bull terrier in the stairwell of a rented two-family house on O’Dell Street Tuesday after the dog attacked the landlord and lunged at a police officer. The landlord, Motilal Ramroop, 57, said he went to 21 O’Dell St. in the Central State Street neighborhood to evict a homeless man he said was living in the second-floor apartment.
Ramroop called the police at 11:25 a.m. before driving to O’Dell Street from his home in Rotterdam. As he, the police and the homeless man talked in the muggy air outside, Ramroop said the dog rushed out the door and lunged at his neck. Ramroop said he held up his arms to fend off the dog and was bitten on the right wrist. He was able to shake the dog loose, and the dog lunged at Officer Peter Forth. Forth fired once, hitting the dog. The animal retreated up to the second-floor apartment, according to Lt. Peter L. Frisoni Jr.
“My hand is burning up inside, man,” Ramroop, his wrist bandaged by paramedics, said before going to St. Clare’s Hospital. “It’s getting stiff.” Police were told a second person might be upstairs with the pit bull. They rammed through the front door and, as they were climbing the stairs, saw the dog charging aggressively at them. Officer Robert Dashnow fired three times, killing the dog. The dog is being tested for rabies.
Ramroop was in satisfactory condition at St. Clare’s Hospital and expected to be released. Police identified the homeless man as Carlin Harris, 18, who was charged with second-degree criminal trespass and unlawful behavior of a dog. He also has an outstanding bench warrant for failing to appear in City Court on a previous charge of second-degree menacing. He was sent to the Schenectady County Jail Tuesday. Seven puppies, each less than a week old, were removed from the apartment by police and taken to Emerald Acres Pet Motel. They were accepted by Animal Outreach and Rescue in Amsterdam, which matched them up with a stray bulldog who recently lost most of her own litter.
Reach Gazette reporter Michael DeMasi at 395-3118 or [email protected]. http://www.schenectadyny.info/forums/SchenectadyNY.info/arch200308/2881.html