Race horse euthanized after pit bulls attack

[a kennedy]

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) — A race horse attacked by two pit bull terriers was so badly injured it had to be euthanized, its owners said. The dogs were ordered destroyed Tuesday after they were deemed to be dangerous.

The horse, named Drink the Wind, won 22 races during his career at Spokane's former Playfair Race Course. He was 33 years old and in failing health.

The dogs' owner was cited for allowing dangerous dogs to run at large.

Both dogs were impounded at the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service shelter, where they were to be euthanized.

The horse's owners, Bob and Leigh Ann Lightfoot, said laws regarding dangerous dogs are too lenient.

The pit bulls attacked the horse in its Spokane Valley pasture after breaking out of their fenced yard a block away on Sunday. They grabbed on to the horse's neck and muzzle, pulling the stunned animal to the ground before mauling its face and neck, said Lightfoot's daughter, Cheryle Murphy, who witnessed the attack and drove away the dogs.

The dogs' owner, Mike Schelin Jr., was apologetic.

"I'm really sorry it happened," Schelin said. "I feel bad about it, but dogs will be dogs, I guess."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2007-02-28-horse-attacked_x.htm :cry: :cry: :cry:

[mainegreen]

1. Pitbulls!

But not Florida.

[ironflange]

2. "Dogs will be dogs, I guess."

Sure, if you had owned beagles or pugs or schipperkes the same thing would have happened.

:eyes:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. Well, if the owner was responsible it wouldn't have happened.

Two dogs of any large breed could have taken down the horse, if they were so inclined.

Responsible owners do not let their dogs run unsupervised. The owner should never be allowed to own dogs again.

[lizziegrace]

4. Good gawd

:eyes:

I've heard that reasoning in assault cases too. "Boys will be boys..."

[distantearlywarning]

5. Dogs will be dogs. Whatever.

More like: dumbass owners will be dumbass owners.

It drives me nuts when people blame their own failing as pet owners on the animals.

And not to get into this debate again, but my Mother-In-Law owned a pitbull and it was the coolest, smartest animal I have ever had the pleasure to know in this lifetime. She was so smart and friendly she was almost like another member of the family - she knew at least 100 english words, maybe more. And she was incredibly sweet, not vicious. She made it her personal mission to be the "kitten caretaker" of my MIL's farm - it was incredibly funny and incongruous to see this huge mean-looking pitbull just covered with the latest crop of tiny, fuzzy barn kittens, crawling all over her, sleeping on her, biting her ears and tail, and her being incredibly patient with all of them. She used to carry the kittens around gently in her mouth and protected them from predators like coyotes. She was also patient and loving with human kids - I think she would have rather died herself than hurt a baby animal of any kind, human or otherwise. We all cried when that dog died, because it was like losing a cherished relative. Say what you want about pit bulls - not all of them are bad just by virtue of their genetics. Some of them love harder than humans do. I'd rather share heaven with that dog than 85% of the people I've met.

And you know what? This dog never had the opportunity to run wild outside and attack the neighbor's livestock because my MIL was a responsible pet owner.

[sniffa]

6. ..

:popcorn:

[LostinVA]

7. Give me some of that, sniffa

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Move over, b-word.

I'll need some of that to keep up my strength.

[LostinVA]

9. Get your own damned popcorn, pit bull lover

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Oh, you are so totally getting no you-know-what from me.

[LostinVA]

11. I love pit bulls

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Too late, corgi-lover.