So far, four Pit Bulls wandering around Hume have been captured by government dog handlers in the past several days.

Authorities think that the animals have offloaded by owners in an effort to avoid prosecution for importing or breeding dangerous animals. In fact, a hotline set up received information on 125 pit bulls and pit bull crosses within the first seven days it was active.

The tough new measures were put into effect following a fatal attack on a four-year-old child in August, and owners of the breeds targeted have until September 29 to register their pets. Any unregistered dogs subsequently found will face being euthanized.

So far, Hume Council has destroyed four Pit Bulls, and is its their options on what to with 15 dangerous dogs that they have in their possession. Peter Walsh, the Minister for Agriculture, thinks that the tough new laws are already proving to be effective. He said

“People are starting to think twice about the risk of owning a pit bull.”

As the deadline looms, many think that the numbers of abandoned pets will rise dramatically. Sue Conroy, spokesperson for the Lost Dogs Home, said that there had been a huge increase in the numbers of dangerous dogs being surrendered to them. She added:

“People need to get some sound information on the dog.”

“Get expert advice on whether it needs boundaries or could benefit from a little training.”

Pregnant dog rescued from canal in Wiltshire

The dog was found struggling in Wiltshire’s Kennet and Avon canal, still with two puppies to come out – though showed signs of having giving birth to others already. The dog, now named Faith, is now at the Bath Cats and Dogs Home and is ready to find a new owner. Sadly though her two puppies, which were born via caesarean section, died shortly afterwards.

Faith was found in the canal by police officers who said she had wounds that didn’t look as though they’d come from attempts to escape the canal. After examination by a vet it was discovered that the dog had recently had puppies, and was still carrying two more, but it is unclear what happened to her other pups.

A police spokesman believes the dog may have been bred for dog fights.

Meanwhile Faith is awaiting a new owner at Bath Cats and Dogs Home, and staff are eager to hear from anyone who would like to offer her a new life.

Juan Daniels was convicted of abusing a dog in 2009. He beat the dog, and even set fire to it. For his crimes he was given a custodial sentence, but alarmingly was up for parole last week. Juan Daniels stood before the ‘Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles’ and could have been released early – had it not been for the star witness, the dog itself.

Louis Vuitton entered the parole hearing, looking much better than he did directly after his ordeal, and acted as a witness against his abuser. After his shock appearance, Juan Daniels was refused parole and was told he would not be eligible again until July 2012.

Louis Vuitton

The pitbull was nicknamed Louis Vuitton after another dog that had been abused in Alabama, named Gucci. Gucci’s ordeal led to the US state toughening its laws on animal cruelty, and this parole hearing drew a lot of attention from animal rights advocates.

It is a breed that was developed for the brutal world of dog fighting, from Staffordshire Bull Terriers, when a larger, heavier and more powerful breed was required. The Pitbull is a medium sized, short coated dog, solidly built with well defined muscles and immensely powerful jaws. It has gained a bad reputation in the media as a vicious killer because of a handful of tragic incidents and its blood splattered history. In reality, this is a placid dog, fondly described as loyal, loving, obedient and protective by their owners. With good early socialisation and proper training it can even be friendly with other dogs, despite its fighting ancestry.

The Pitbull has been banned outright in Sweden, and twelve other countries have enacted some form of breed legislation, including restrictions and conditions of ownership. In the UK, American Pitbull Terriers imported before the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act must be registered, tattooed, neutered, micro chipped, muzzled and on lead at all times in public.

Typical Pitbull facts

Height: 18-22in, 46-56cm
Weight: 30-80lb, 14-36kg
Average Litter Size: 8
Life Expectancy: 12 years
Good with Children: Yes
Kennel Club Classification: Terrier

Colour of a Pitbull

Pitbulls can appear in any variety of colours, from brindle to solid to parti-coloured.

Grooming a Pitbull

The Pitbull’s very short coat needs very little attention. A quick groom with a soft bristled brush once a week will keep it smooth and silky.

Pitbull common ailments/Health issues

The American Pitbull Terrier has a higher susceptibility to Canine Hip dysplasia (CHD), than most other breeds. CHD is a malformation of the hip joint, caused from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Puppies from 8 weeks can be crippled, but other dogs may exhibit no symptoms their entire life. It is sensible before breeding that parents have their hips screened, and the scores are available to potential buyers. The scores show the chance of the puppies suffering from CHD.

Pitbulls may suffer from congenital heart defects, which is a defect in the heart and greater vessels of a newborn. It can cause blood to flow in an abnormal pattern, block blood flow completely or cause irregular heart rhythm (such as Long QT syndrome).

Pitbulls can also be more susceptible to Patella (knee cap) problems and thyroid dysfunction than other breeds.

Temperament of the Pitbull

Pitbulls have a very genuine love of people, making them loyal, affectionate companions within the family, and they are generally friendly towards strangers. Unfortunately their protective behaviour can become over obsessive and seemingly unprovoked, they can unleash their immense bone-crushing jaws and their absolute lack of fear can inflict devastating damage on a potential intruder, another dog, or even a child.

Training a Pitbull

Pitbulls are strong willed and the fact that they know their own mind can come across as stubborn. They have a high prey drive and a lot of energy, which can deem any training useless, unless the energy is channelled and drained and stimulation is provided for their intelligent minds. However, with a firm hand and early, consistent training, they can be fantastic loyal and obedient companions. Trust, respect and training equals a perfect Pitbull pet.

Exercise for a Pitbull

Pitbulls are athletes and go way beyond the old pit fighting sport. They can excel in activities from dog agility, weight pulling, flyball, lure coursing and even in schutzhund. Exercise is crucial to prevent frustrated, destructive boredom. Some are more like lap dogs, but exercise is still needed to keep them fit and healthy. At least 2 daily walks are needed, 3 or 4 are ideal at 30mins to 1 hour each – but they’ll never refuse more!

History of the Pitbull

In the 1870s, Staffordshire Bull Terriers crossed the Atlantic from England to North America for organised dog fighting. Selective breeding began to make the dog taller and heavier, with a bigger chest and larger head to accommodate powerful jaws, and consistently beat the smaller Staffy. The American Pitbull Terrier fighting machine was created.

In 1898, the Pitbull’s creators tried to introduce it to the AKC, but it was rejected due to its associations as a fighting dog. They wanted to establish pedigrees and record the bloodlines of their great dogs, and so set up their own club, the United Kennel Club. In 1900 pit-fighting in America was outlawed. However up until 1990s it was still widespread, having gone underground. The high-stakes involved in gambling kept the bloody sport alive.

In England some Pitbulls began to get imported in the 1980s. Incidents with people and other dogs caused the British Government to pass the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991. Determined not to let dog fighting become a parallel existence to what was occurring in America, the act was rigorously enforced and some 1,000 canine suspects were held at one time. The Pitbull’s resemblance to its ancestor, the Staffy, caused many innocent dogs to be impounded. Clearer guidelines are now in place for the police to follow, and DNA testing is sometimes used to determine what is a Pitbull, and what is just a cousin.

Famous Pitbull dogs

Daddy – The Dog Whisperer’s (Cesar Millan) faithful, mellow and loving companion. One of his forty dogs that often accompanies him to rehabilitate unstable canine clients.

Pete the pup – The famous Pitbull dog character from The Little Rascals that aired during the 1920s and 1930s.

Actresses Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel (pictured) also own Pitbulls.

Useful links:

National American Pitbull Terrier Association

More on the Pitbull breed

Pitbull Rescue Centre

Jesse James owns a motorcycle shop called West Coast Choppers on Long Beach, and the dog, CinnaBun, spends all day with him at the bike shop. Recently Jesse’s dog wandered off, which sent the biker into panic looking for him. Jesse posted flyers up around Long Beach and used Twitter to plead for help in finding his dog.

The Twitter message stated:

CinnaBun our shop dog & pet been missing since 2pm yesterday. If you find her plz call 562-983-6666

Jesse and his dog had been separated for three weeks before eventually the dog was found and returned to him. Jesse Tweeted about his relief yesterday, even adding the photo of the excited pit bull being reunited with his owner.

So Happy! Thnx Everyone for all the help! She looks like she hz had quite the Adventure!

Jesse James had even hired a private pet detective to help locate his missing dog, offering a $5,000 reward for CinnaBun’s safe return. The dog was eventually returned by a woman who spotted one of Jesse’s flyers, and brought the dog back to his bike shop – upon where Jesse’s biker crew all burst into tears of joy.

The programme, “My Weapon is a Dog”, was hosted by Rickie Haywood-Williams from Kiss FM. He interviewed many owners of aggressive dog breeds such as pit bulls and tried to find out just why they wanted to use their dogs as weapons. One of things that Rickie uncovered was the synergy between dangerous dogs and US rap stars, as the US doesn’t have any ‘Dangerous Dogs Act’ such as the one seen in the UK, so pit bulls and other dogs are more freely available. US rapper DMX (pictured) is a known fan of the dogs and features them in many of his videos and album covers. Indeed DMX’s videos are at times bordering on dog fighting videos.

A self proclaimed dog lover, DMX has been arrested for animal cruelty and was sentenced in 2002 when 13 pit bulls were found neglected in his home.

Rickie spoke to one young dog owner who had trained his pit bull to be aggressive to strangers and to guard his home after he was once burgled. The man explained how you sometimes had to be ‘cruel’ to the dog to illicit the response you desired.

Rickie also spoke to Rukhsana Kahn, who was mauled by a pit bull as a child. Her dog attack prompted the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991. Rukhsana Kahn is now 23 years old.

The general tone of the documentary showed that the dogs themselves weren’t the problem. The problem lay in the dog owners who used the dogs as glorified weapons to improve their own status; owners who would abuse their dogs in order to make them more vicious, in order to make them better weapons.

It seems that even children like the occasional extreme sport though, such as this small child who enjoys a spot of ‘extreme colouring in’. Rather than use a colouring book, which is so tame, he chooses to use a pit bull terrier as his canvas, colouring on the dog and around the dog’s eyes with his colouring pens.

I can’t imagine any sane adrenaline junkie trying something this dangerous.

Worry no more, because next month, Wednesday September 17th, is Take Your Dog to Work Day!!!

You shouldn’t have a hard time convincing your boss to allow you to bring your dog to work either, as it’s all for charity; The Blue Cross to be precise. Plus, if you’re worried that your dog might not last the full working day without wanting to misbehave, the Blue Cross are also offering tips on training your dog for their first day at work.

The website www.takeyourdogtoworkday.co.uk contains video clips on how to train your dog for the working day ahead.

If you’ve not heard of the Take Your Dog to Work Day, shame on you as this is the thirteenth year the scheme has been running. Last year saw over 1,000 dogs attend the workplace in places such as TV studios and schools, so your workplace should be fine, wherever it is.

You can do your bit for charity by seeking sponsorship for you and your dog, which will help homeless and abandoned animals throughout the UK. You can signup on the website at www.takeyourdogtoworkday.co.uk and look forward to a great day’s work with your dog.

She’s delighted with her purchase though as Booger, who died of old age two years ago, once saved her life from an attack from another dog.

Despite having to sell her home in order to pay for her dogs, Ms McKinney was tearful as she held her new puppies, exact clones of her dog Booger.

They are perfectly the same as their daddy. I am in heaven here. I am a happy person.

I had to make sacrifices and I dream of the day, some day, when everyone can afford to clone their pet, because losing a pet is a terrible, terrible loss to anyone.

The cost of £25,000, although expensive, was in fact a discounted rate for the Californian woman. The puppies were cloned using DNA obtained from the frozen ear of Booger.

The cloning of pets has now been opened up to customers worldwide, if you’re interested in cloning your dog with a litter of identical puppies. The first cloned dog, an Afghan hound named Snuppy (Seoul National University Puppy) was born in 2005.

Police sniffer dogs have also been cloned in South Korea.

The incident started at 7:20am and even sparked a police helicopter to search for the dogs. Both dogs were eventually caught.

According to police, a 31-year-old man from Cambridge was in police custody after being arrested for allowing the dogs to roam ‘out of control’.

Marie Howard was the owner of the one of the cats that was killed by the dogs.

I heard what I thought were cats fighting so I went outside to see a huge dog shaking a cat in its mouth.

I screamed at them to let it go and it was only when I got close up I found it was one of my pets. There was blood coming out of her mouth and eyes. I have kept cats for all of my life and for this to happen I just feel sick.

One of her neighbour’s teenage sons, Sam Beggs, tried to corner the dogs in a garden, and according to him they ‘lunged’ at him, although he was not harmed.

As is usual in these cases, residents are reacting with anger at the fact that two dogs were roaming the streets. Marie Clements, one of the neighbours, stated:

The cat had really been shaken about – I’m so glad mine were in last night.

When I went out the front the police told me to go back inside, but one of my cats had got out so a neighbour guarded me with a piece of wood.

I didn’t let my daughter go across to the park today – who knows what would have happened if one of them had got hold of a child.

According to the police, there has been no decision on what will happen to the dogs.