1892 Bulldogs Unsafe Pets

Training and environment does not follow the bulldog through history, genetics does. ~Dawn James

It is a singular fact that some people will insist in making a pet of so dangerous and ferocious a beast as a blood hound or bull dog.  There are species of dogs that are kind and intelligent, faithful to their master, and such are a pleasure to have about one's self.  But of all the mean, vicious and savage dogs there is none that will equal the bull dog or the blood hound.  And yet in spite of their ferocity we frequently see the fact stated that persons have taken them into their into their households and are endeavoring to make family pets of them.  There may be isolated cases where they succeed in taming and subduing these brutes to a certain extent, but we do not believe they will ever entirely forget their fierce and brutal instinct, and the result is that quite frequently persons are severely bitten by them.

In New York city yesterday a boy was attacked by a blood hound, as he entered a gentleman's yard for the purpose of getting a drink of water, and was bitten in a terrible, probably fatal manner.  Several weeks ago an estimable lady of Reading was sitting at home in the parlor when a bull dog, that had been kept in the family, made an unprovoked attack upon her and bit her so badly that she may be maimed for life.

We have noticed several similar cases in other places during the past month, and the surprising feature is that persons will persist in trying to tame these dogs or to make pets of them.  Due regard for personal safety as well as the safety of the community would teach anyone the unwisdom of any such attempt, and in this respect our laws should be strictly enforced.  There are evils enough in every community without that of ferocious dogs being added to them.

Lebanon Daily News, PA, June 4 1892.

The "savage blood hound" mentioned in the article is the Cuban Bloodhound generally believed to be a mastiff and bulldog mix, not the true English Bloodhound.  They were created for the express purpose of attacking people.  Read about them at The TRUTH About Pit Bulls blog.

Dog fighting can be hazardous to your health

In the summer of 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly heard testimony from experts about the need to strengthen animal fighting laws in an effort to not only protect the animals themselves but also humans, in both body and spirit. Raleigh psychologist Dr. Donna Brown said the training of dogs for combat is posing a serious health problem for children and adults. Dog bites, she said, are the number one cause of injury for American children. When bitten by a dog trained for combat, a human can be mauled or killed. (hear that karen? the NUMBER ONE cause of injury) Dr Brown also stressed the unique gripping style of pit bulls, high pain tolerance and the fact that they often do not communicate intent before launching an attack.
Animal cruelty investigator Nancy White testified about children being desensitized to violence and becoming violent adults.
Frank Ward of the Wake County SPCA testified "The blood lust which is implicit in animal fights belittles the human participants and maims the combatants."

Dr Brown's 1986 testimony about the dangers of pit bulls falls smack dab in the middle of the decade of the doberman!

The Robesonian, July 10, 1986





A N.C. dog fighting arena disguised as a church netted a 150 in a police sting, including the host – a former unsuccessful sheriff candidate, 15 children under the age of 16, guns, clubs, brass knuckles, narcotics, cash, alcohol and ONE TRAMPLED CHILD. That's right, the dead game spectators trampled a child trying to flee the po-po, once again demonstrating that they lack the qualities they admire in their fighting dog. Gunfire was exchanged on both sides. But alas, chivalry is not completely dead. The wives and kiddies were admitted free.

Spokane Chronicle, October 31, 1983


And in some cases dog fighting can be fatal.



Warren Sheaf, Minnesota, April 28, 1892