While I have never owned a Pit Bull, I know a few people who do, who claim that the stereotypes behind them, are rather false, that instead they're one of the most affectionate dogs and are very protective. Out in California, about a year or two back (don't know if it's still a thing now,) there was a bill trying to pass I believe in Riverside, where all Pit Bulls were going to become illegal. Originally it was supposed to be where the dog(s) would have to be spayed or neutered, and then apparently changed into where they would just become illegal in that county. I have never owned that specific breed, but I find it rather incompetent that people think it's that breed, which I'm assuming is because "those are the typical dog fighting dogs." Honestly, anyone can make any type of dog become violent and aggressive, can that dog do as much damage as a Pit Bull? Yes and no, it could do more damage, it could do less damage, but any dog, animal for that matter, can be forced to become aggressive and violent. A lot of people think that Pit Bulls are dangerous because of how strong their jaw is, yet German Shepherds, Dobermans, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Wolf-dogs, Caucasian Ovcharkas/Caucasian Shepherds and the Kangal, all have much more stronger biting force than a Pit Bull.

I had a scenario like this, a year and some months back. I own East European Shepherds (basically German Shepherds, but from Russia) they have been taught since they were pups, as hunting and attack dogs. The house I used to live at, I had a huge metal barred fence around my property, with multiple signs stating not to come near, my dogs will absolutely attack without hesitation. I was in the other room and had let my dogs outside to go to the bathroom, while that was happening, some little kid comes up to the fence with an airsoft gun and starts taunting the dogs, eventually shooting one of my dogs a few times. Within a few split seconds, that kid was screaming and crying, because that dog jumped the fence and went at him. His legs were cut from her claws, gashes in his arms from her biting and near his shoulder/collarbone, is where she was aiming for, he had a few puncture wounds there. Parents come running over, beating the dog, which, I guess is understandable given the circumstance, calling the police, until I get out there and am able to get her off (these dogs don't respond to anyone else, especially in English) and to be honest, if I wasn't home or it was farther down from my house, that kid would have been killed on that spot, because she was going at him when trying to pull her off of him. The parents, then attempt to blame me for the situation, saying I'm going to go to jail for it, that they were filing a lawsuit, which they did, and all this other shit. After the police showed up and everything got situated, I was given the option to put the dog down and pay a fine or the dog would be impounded, it would be settled in court, and I would still have to pay every little fine that was put against the dog, where the court case would determine whether the dog is put down or allowed to come back, but not be allowed near a single human other than me. So, I had to put her down. I honestly don't care what happened to the kid nor what his parents thought, because I made sure to make it well aware that I have dogs that will attack if you start messing around the gate, let alone taunt the dogs and then shoot one with an airsoft gun.

I don't know how well the laws in Illinois for dogs on the leash are enforced, but if the dog ran up to your dog, while your brother was walking it, whoever owns the dog that was mauled, should be at fault. Off the leash and then running around, coming up to random people, other people don't know if that dog is aggressive, doesn't matter how small. It's that person's fault their dog was killed. I would honestly try to fight this back, even though what happened, happened, I would still fight back, because they're focusing the blame on you, when they were the ones neglecting their dog and letting it run wherever the hell it wanted to. After my situation, when they filed a lawsuit against me, I hit them right back with it, because, they let their kid come that close to my house and apparently, the kid doesn't like or know how to read multiple signs that everyone can see. For you, that person is focusing the blame on you, because they believe that their dog can run off the leash without something happening. It's bullshit, I know, but it's honestly not you or your brother's fault. So, I would honestly try to hit them back since they let their dog run off the leash. Dog discrimination happens, because some people give a breed of dog a bad reputation. I can guarantee if I had Pit Bulls when my situation happened, all 5 of them at that time, would have been taken and put down, and I would have probably faced jail time for it. Honestly, that little Yorkie, could have been forced to become violent and aggressive, simply by abusing it. I understand some dog breeds are more protective than others, more aggressive than others, more calmer than others, but any animal, can be trained a certain way. You just were unfortunately on the other side of dog breed discrimination, so honestly, I would fight them back if possible, especially if they start trying to fight you, for their mistake.

Duderino wrote I find it funny how people are blaming the Yorki. Let's not forget that this is a dog we're talking about.
When a dog sees another dog, they don't think 'Wow, he looks big, I'd better not go near him or he might harm me or my owners.' they think 'Friend!!! Let's play! I wonder what his bum smells like!'

If you're going to blame anyone from the Yorki side of this, blame the owners for not having it on a leash.

However, I do think there is some merit to the concern that the Pit bull should have had a muzzle. If the dog has never reacted in that way before to another dog being near it, and it has had other dogs near it with no incidents, then you had no reason to suspect that it would need a muzzle.

However, if your dog has never been around other dogs, or has been violent towards other dogs before, then you should have had a muzzle on it just to be safe.

I think, with the limited information we've got, that both sides in this are wrong, and that both of you could have done something to prevent this.

The other dog was running at my dog she felt threatened.
The dog was so small for she knew it could of just been a squirrel.

Check wrote I'm a pet lover man and it all depends on how the owners raise the dog. I believe Rottweilers are slightly portrayed badly in the spot light, I had one before it recently passed, and it didn't have a bad bone in his body, such a lovely dog. It's just some owners have no idea how to raise a dog.

I have owned both pits and Rottweilers.

Good loyal dogs but misunderstood.

HTTK wrote

Duderino wrote I find it funny how people are blaming the Yorki. Let's not forget that this is a dog we're talking about.
When a dog sees another dog, they don't think 'Wow, he looks big, I'd better not go near him or he might harm me or my owners.' they think 'Friend!!! Let's play! I wonder what his bum smells like!'

If you're going to blame anyone from the Yorki side of this, blame the owners for not having it on a leash.

However, I do think there is some merit to the concern that the Pit bull should have had a muzzle. If the dog has never reacted in that way before to another dog being near it, and it has had other dogs near it with no incidents, then you had no reason to suspect that it would need a muzzle.

However, if your dog has never been around other dogs, or has been violent towards other dogs before, then you should have had a muzzle on it just to be safe.

I think, with the limited information we've got, that both sides in this are wrong, and that both of you could have done something to prevent this.

The other dog was running at my dog she felt threatened.
The dog was so small for she knew it could of just been a squirrel.

A squirrel doesn't give off the same smell as a dog LOL. I'm not a dog, so I wouldn't know to be honest actually.

Sorry to hear this man... I remember my dog had to be put down because a kid grabbed it by its legs and the dog bit the kid. I was furious, and upset.

GT86 wrote

HTTK wrote

Duderino wrote I find it funny how people are blaming the Yorki. Let's not forget that this is a dog we're talking about.
When a dog sees another dog, they don't think 'Wow, he looks big, I'd better not go near him or he might harm me or my owners.' they think 'Friend!!! Let's play! I wonder what his bum smells like!'

If you're going to blame anyone from the Yorki side of this, blame the owners for not having it on a leash.

However, I do think there is some merit to the concern that the Pit bull should have had a muzzle. If the dog has never reacted in that way before to another dog being near it, and it has had other dogs near it with no incidents, then you had no reason to suspect that it would need a muzzle.

However, if your dog has never been around other dogs, or has been violent towards other dogs before, then you should have had a muzzle on it just to be safe.

I think, with the limited information we've got, that both sides in this are wrong, and that both of you could have done something to prevent this.

The other dog was running at my dog she felt threatened.
The dog was so small for she knew it could of just been a squirrel.

A squirrel doesn't give off the same smell as a dog LOL.

Doesn't matter. It was small and a threat. It was out of the yard come at one of its owners.

It isn't a stereotype. Pitbulls are proven to be more vicious dogs. Yes, not all are dangerous, but I disagree with the statement that it is a stereotype, when research has proven this. Plus, it probably doesn't help that it was a yorki, since they are known as petite dogs.

I am sorry that this situation even happened to you though, I am a dog owner myself and would be devastated to have mine taken away/put down.

Tricks wrote It isn't a stereotype. Pitbulls are proven to be more vicious dogs. Yes, not all are dangerous, but I disagree with the statement that it is a stereotype, when research has proven this. Plus, it probably doesn't help that it was a yorki, since they are known as petite dogs.

I am sorry that this situation even happened to you though, I am a dog owner myself and would be devastated to have mine taken away/put down.

A study doesn't show for every dog.

She was the least vicious dog ever.

Raised with 2 miniature wiener dogs and 4 kids.

She sees the kids as her kids just protecting them.

HTTK wrote

Tricks wrote It isn't a stereotype. Pitbulls are proven to be more vicious dogs. Yes, not all are dangerous, but I disagree with the statement that it is a stereotype, when research has proven this. Plus, it probably doesn't help that it was a yorki, since they are known as petite dogs.

I am sorry that this situation even happened to you though, I am a dog owner myself and would be devastated to have mine taken away/put down.

A study doesn't show for every dog.

She was the least vicious dog ever.

Raised with 2 miniature wiener dogs and 4 kids.

She sees the kids as her kids just protecting them.

I don't think you can say it was the least vicious dog ever if it killed another dog, even if it felt like it was protecting something/someone. It apparently was vicious to some degree. Maybe the Yorkie shouldn't have been off a leash, but your dog still was a threat. It can't do that just because it thinks there is a threat. It attacked at something that wasn't a threat, so it then became a safety hazard.

Yin wrote

HTTK wrote

Tricks wrote It isn't a stereotype. Pitbulls are proven to be more vicious dogs. Yes, not all are dangerous, but I disagree with the statement that it is a stereotype, when research has proven this. Plus, it probably doesn't help that it was a yorki, since they are known as petite dogs.

I am sorry that this situation even happened to you though, I am a dog owner myself and would be devastated to have mine taken away/put down.

A study doesn't show for every dog.

She was the least vicious dog ever.

Raised with 2 miniature wiener dogs and 4 kids.

She sees the kids as her kids just protecting them.

I don't think you can say it was the least vicious dog ever if it killed another dog, even if it felt like it was protecting something/someone. It apparently was vicious to some degree. Maybe the Yorkie shouldn't have been off a leash, but your dog still was a threat. It can't do that just because it thinks there is a threat. It attacked at something that wasn't a threat, so it then became a safety hazard.

Well it was a little dog.

All she did was bite it once..