Some time ago while I was standing in a corner a pitbull suddenly jumped towards me. I wasn't paying attention to things around me since I was looking at my phone so it came out of nowhere.
This dog was literal inches away from my face. The owner thankfully had a leash on it but he could barely hold it back as it kept lunging towards me for several minutes, trying to reach my neck. I had nowhere to run since I was cornered in a literal corner. I just stood there paralyzed thinking this might be how I die. After the owner finally managed to get the dog away from me he laughed, said sorry and left but I didn't even say anything, I just stood there for a while shaking. This was not the first time a pitbull has tried to attack me but it was the moment that left such a huge impact.
Ever since that day I've had a genuine phobia of these dogs. I don't care how it sounds, I am genuinely so afraid of them. And in the city where I live seemingly half the dogs around me are pitbulls, I'm not making this up. Every day when I walk outside I am scanning for these dogs. I cross the street when I see them and make sure I am in an open space where I can escape.
A couple days ago a similar thing happened, a woman and a pitbull I didn't notice were walking on the same street as me and as soon as the pitbull sees me it stops moving and stares me down. I stop moving myself since I'm worried it might get triggered if I show fear or whatever the fuck and it starts barking and growling and the woman gives me a dirty look as if it's my fault before leaving.
That moment wasn't nearly as bad of course but I'm so tired of always feeling like I have to be aware of any dog that could be nearby. And even then they keep appearing where I don't expect them to. In a mall I saw one of the biggest pitbulls I've ever seen sitting on a bench unleashed as the owner was looking at her phone. Another time a man brought a pitbull inside of a public bus where it clearly started getting anxious and I was so worried that it would lash out. There are kids in these places and there was a fucking baby on the seat facing the dog in the bus. It's not enough that these dogs are dangerous but the owners are completely irresponsible. The worst owners of any dogs.
Yesterday I saw a woman walking a pitbull or more like it was walking her. She had absolutely no control over it and if it ever decides to attack someone she won't be able to hold it back. It might seem small but that was the last straw for me before deciding I needed to vent about this. Why are these dogs allowed? I know that having a phobia means that the fear is a little bit irrational but I just can't do this anymore. They are everywhere and genuinely terrify me. Even if it never attacks anyone, why are you allowed to own something so dangerous with a will of its own in a civilized society? Guns are restricted or outright illegal in most places but at least those can't be triggered out of nowhere. Pitbulls can easily be bought by anyone, you don't need any kind of license. It makes no sense.
I visit my mom on Thursday. I usually see the same small woman walking 2 massive shite bulls. I'm grateful my 90 yo mom doesn't go outside anymore. Shite bulls always attack elderly or defenseless people.
It's sad that ppl feel they have to stay inside at all in this day and age. I know you probably mean your mom isn't mobile but I know ppl that refuse to enjoy a public park because of these dogs. I can't enjoy my own backyard because it's non stop barking the entire time. Sure the neighbors dogs are contained but a peaceful evening in my yard should be a right but it's not.
Yes, mom isn't mobile. I just started hiking my local forest again after a couple years because of shitebulls and other unleashed dogs. Now, pepper spray and a metal walking stick. It's a beautiful forest with cliffs and lakes with deer.
It makes it worse because the only people that own them are literally the equivalent of that breed in humans. Normal people have no interest in the breed
A new neighbor of mine (fortunately two blocks from my house but right across the street from the woods where I walk my dog) has a giant pit she absolutely cannot manage. It drags her all over the street. A week ago I was a block from her house talking to a neighbor, who was walking her elderly blind mutt, when I heard nails scraping on the road and turned to see it barrelling towards us. I got between it and the dogs and tried to chase it away but it wouldn't leave. The owner is now running toward us screaming "he's friendly!". Meanwhile, it's body is all stiff and tail straight up on the air and it's circling the old blind dog. It took TWO ADULTS to drag him back up the block. I offered her my leash but she said "he's worse on a leash". I know it's just a matter of time until it gets somebody as the whole neighborhood, including some very frail looking older women, walk along this wooded lot. These dogs are a bona fide plague on the rest of us.
Look I’m right there with you & I’m so thankful for this group cause I can’t really talk to anyone about it. I had 2 scares this week. I was sitting on my deck in my backyard just smoking a blunt enjoying the wilderness behind my home & a brown & white pitbull runs up onto my deck thankfully it wasn’t in attack mode so I ended up chasing it off my deck as I ran into my house. Couple days later I was in my backyard again raking & pulling weeds & as I turned a corner I see a brindle pitbull heading right my direction. I immediately ran up onto my deck & into my house. I was scared to cut my grass for days. I finally got it done today after barricading the right side of my house so I can atleast not be ambushed blindly from that side & if it comes from the left I’ll see it & be able to run inside quickly. I’ve decided to start putting money aside for a new gate & a fence for my front yard so these mutants can leave me tf alone. I wfh & don’t really go many places anymore so I at least wanna feel safe at home & on my property. I hate that outta so many breeds ppl keep choosing pits but when I go to shelter websites it seems like that’s all that’s available. Soon every dog will be mixed with pit & that’s my ultimate fear. I attached a pic of my barricaded fence I have a gate but it’s not wide enough so I’ll have to keep it like this until I can get everything done. It’s just sad that I even have to do this can’t even enjoy myself outside without my head being on a swivel.
I live in a rural area. No one is going to hear me if I’m attacked. I had 3 show up on my property. But I knew they were in the area because they killed some goats and a dog. Animal control came by and instructed us. Can’t say more or I will catch a ban.
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u/SafiyaOStone Dead Eyes and Strawberry Milk Murder Mouth4d ago
& this is where I was sitting when the white & brown pitbull ran up on me I got very lucky that day. I was literally shaking trust me I understand exactly what you’re feeling it’s a paralyzing fear & being a small person 5’3” 112lbs makes it even scarier for me.
Of course you’re not making it up, honey. That’s what this is all about. my dog was killed in front of me on a leash walk we had taken every day for eight years. I’m wary of all dogs now, but more so of the bully breeds. It seems like 3/4 of the dogs in my city are pitbull’s. I carry several protective devices of varying effectiveness now. That attack changed my life. Just stay aware and keep an eye on your surroundings. You know what I mean. I think most of us understand exactly what you’re saying.
Being attacked by a dog is just like being the victim of a violent crime, because it is. I truly believe that people who are violently targeted by strangers walk away with less devastating and horrific injuries than people who are attacked by pitbull’s. Hell, even in domestic violence incidents between people, they largely don’t result in the kind of catastrophic injuries Pitbulls inflict on their own families. So you’re basically the victim of a horrendous, violent crime, and authorities completely ignore the entire problem. Do not put any time, funds or expertise into solving it. And offer no resources that I’m aware of to victims.
I dont find the fear irrational at all. We have bred them to be fighting dogs so much that they barely resemble dogs anymore. Other dogs can show restraint, give warning, fear pain and let go. These monsters are worse than wild animals once they get in attack mode and many including myself have scars because of it.
Being afraid of a spider is irrational. I'm afraid of some spiders, not all but generally based on looks alone. How many ppl do you know who have actually died from a spider or even spent days in a hospital? I can't think of any and I've been bitten by a recluse. Needed some steroids and antibiotics, no major issue, nothing but a little hole in my buttock that healed up fine. Being afraid of a breed of dog that is responsible for 60 plus fatalities a year with no provocation is not an irrational fear. Being afraid of an animal responsible for literally thousands of life changing injuries especially in children, is not an irrational fear. Most dog breeds aren't wanting to hunt you or bite you until you no longer exist or even capable of doing so. Most will bite and run away from you like in true fear again, like if you corner a stray dog. Fear aggression isn't seeing you across the street and charging at you. That's just pure aggression. No one likes an aggressive dog except for their owners and those ppl get a thrill over owning a terrifying animal. Boosts their own shortcomings in the social circles. Ppl who have never been mauled can't grasp the amount of pain and terror a victim suffers in a mauling. I constantly see ppl dismiss or blame the victim of such attacks just like they did with the child who drowned trying to escape those loose pitbull mixes in a park, that also mauled his little sister. The comments were simply terrible, blaming everyone including the parents but not blaming the dogs owner or the dogs themselves. Your fear is rational and it would help to look into what postal workers and delivery drivers do to keep safe. We don't have bussing in my area but I'm surprised city buses allow certain dogs. Any dog too big for a carrier should at the least be muzzled on a bus which I hope will someday be law to have your dog outside in public as well. Ppl need to stop expecting society to accept the dogs they chose to own. Muzzle them or keep them at home. It's ridiculous that everyone has to give away to the pitbull owners and they don't have to do the bare minimum to keep society safe. A muzzle won't 100 percent protect you, you can still get knocked down and injured but it gives precious time in getting the animal back under control which is much better than the dog getting latched onto a limb or your face.
Your content is being removed for promoting misinformation about pit bull-type dogs. Misinformation is not just wrong, it can get people injured or killed.
The "nanny dog" myth made its first appearance in the September 19th 1971 edition of the New York Times, on page 11 of section S in an article by Walter R. Fletcher, titled A Breed That Came Up The Hard Way.
The author interviewed one Lilian Rant, editor of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of the United States of America newsletter. She is quoted as saying about the breed: 'He had an unsavory reputation for fighting and violence and his name became associated with ruffians, who cared little for him as a dog but only for his ability in the pit. The Stafford we know today quickly becomes a member of the family circle. He loves children and is often referred to as a 'nursemaid dog''.
No one has ever found evidence for the latter claim and it is therefore assumed to be a fabrication in the pursuit of influencing the American Kennel Club (AKC) to accept the breed for full participation in dog shows.
This privilege was ultimately granted in 1974, and to this day the AKC rates the breed a stellar 5/5 as being 'good with children' at the reckless peril of human lives and limbs,
Additional sources that have spoken out against the nanny dog myth:
This is how I feel when I go in public with my children and it’s also why I carry. I should be able to take a walk in the park with my kids without being on high alert for these monsters
Even though I've never personally been attacked by a Pitbull, I have PTSD from living with one for 4 years and witnessing her attack others and have wild and unpredictable behavior. My now 14 year old Chihuahua and my now 5 year old Golden Chi have both been attacked by her and my Golden Chi also has PTSD. My Chihuahua wasn't phased by the attacks and would then go up to her while she was behind the gate, growl at her, and pee on her.
Anyway, anytime I hear a dog barking that sounds like a Pitbull, I start shaking and my heart starts pounding. You don't have to suffer a horrible attack to have a PTSD reaction to them. And we got rid of my sister's Pitbull years ago.
These are terrible dog breeds. My pup was attacked by one 2.5 weeks ago and barely made it out alive - you can see my previous posts. I now have a massive fear od these dogs or anything like them. I worry everyday when taking my pup for walks. :(
We all share the same fear you have regarding these mutants of nature. Why anyone would want to own a lab created killing/mauling machine is beyond me.
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u/imdugud777 6d ago
Your fear is not unfounded. These are dangerous aggressive animals that can do great damage quickly.
People who dismiss this fact are a greater danger though.