To report someone who has a pitbull?

[IAmNotLego]

They boast about it being a pitbull, in IRL and on Facebook. Told me they weren't going to have it neutered (so it would continue to grow as big as possible), but had registered it. Surely it would need to be neutered? As part of this?

They told me they have it muzzled in public.

Second conversation. They've said it attacked 2 dogs, so has now been neutered.

I've seen the dog out in public without a muzzle and off lead..

I'm sure some will tell me to mind my own business. But I'd feel awful if something happened to another dog/animal or a child and it could have been prevented.

Labradors are not the calm, friendly breed they're made out to be in my experience.

I've met plenty of aggressive labradors and plenty of them who are jumpy, who lunge and whom the owners have no control over.

It makes me cringe when people recommend them as good first time family dogs for people with small children - labs are big, bouncy and pretty hard to control when they're young.

“I believe that is the majority of cases where a dog has mauled someone either to death or to the point of life-changing injuries (usually, this involves a pitbull or a bull terrier), it was the first violent episode.”

That’s not the case actually... in the majority of cases there’s a history of behaviour issues beforehand.

I am shocked how many people on here have passed judgement on this dog without any proper knowledge about the dog or education about the Pitbull breed in general (apart from media tales, but I guess if the media reports it it must be true 🙄)
I'm guess that the people who pass judgement so fast are also the kind of people who would also report someone who appeared to be a Muslim for looking at a book of chemistry after all he may be a terrorist looking up how to make a bomb or a black person who listens to gangster rap after all he may well be in a drive by shooting next week cos if he listens to that kind of music then he Must be in a gang!

Racism is the Pits, be it towards humans or animals!
Let's start blaming the Deed and NOT the Breed!

@adaline I 100% agree with you about labradors! They are big, bulky, energetic and I would never recommend one around young children.

It’s why so many are overweight, owners feed them to make them behave and keep them occupied, instead of training and exercising them.

So, would you recommend a pit bull around young children?

I’m amazed at the wilful ignorance of the statistics of pit bull risk on this thread.

“So, would you recommend a pit bull around young children?

I’m amazed at the wilful ignorance of the statistics of pit bull risk on this thread.”

See... that’s not how risk works with dogs though.

They’re not inanimate objects where it’s the design that creates the largest risk.

Any dog with the right owner isn’t dangerous, any dog with the wrong one could be.

I would be fine to have a pit bull with young children if the dog was used to the children and saw them as family/pack.
My staffie is absolutely perfect around the children and I totally trust her. She doesnt just tolerate them, she adores them.
I would not leave her with someone elses kids though. Its always peoples kids that the dog doesnt know well or sees as outsiders that get hurt by dogs, from what I can tell. Visiting grandkids, kids friends etc.

That makes no sense. Any responsible dog owner wouldn’t determine whether their child was allowed near a dog based on their breed. That’s irresponsible and stupid.

Must be reported

Imagine if it harmed a child and you’d turned a blind eye. Even if it’s not an illegal dog it’s better to be safe than sorry

Report them to their local police, call crime stoppers and report anonymously if you have to. Don’t wait until it attacks an animal of human before you do something!

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor the police will deal with dog attacks on assistance dogs as it now carries a fine and possible prison sentence

EntropyRising Long term dog owner here, lots of experience of different breeds, including staffies. Staffies are very low down the 'bite' register as far as biting people goes. They can be aggressive with other dogs if they are not properly trained. But they are among the best family dogs - very gentle and affectionate. Jack Russells, with a much more cuddly reputation, are little buggers with their teeth.

The 'pit bull' isn't a breed as such, but this dog needs reporting if it is being allowed to roam. This puts the dog and other people in danger.

The idea that pit bulls are by genetics dangerous is a cruel, ignorant myth.

Please do not make yourself responsible for this dog's death, it is unnecessary. Considering Toy poodles are also known for being aggressive, why are they not targeted? What about jack russels? Considering there have been several news articles over the years about them killing babies, I don't understand why people are so scared of pit bulls and not other breeds...

Leave the dog be, you know nothing about it and have absolutely no proof it has been aggressive.

Pitt ball is not a full breed, it’s a mixed breed “Pitt ball type” so can be a cross bread, often staffie x mastiff or similar, it’s hard to prove a dog it a Pitt ball type breed.

For those saying “would you have a Pitt ball around your kids?”, any dog can be dangerous if not trained correctly, the difference is a Pitt ball is a powerful dog compared to a chihuahua (even though a chihuahua is more likely to attack), most ball terriers are soft as shit, they are referred to as “nanny dogs” as they are known to protect children. I have had bull terriers around my kids and never had a issue but a dog in the wrong hands can be dangerous.

If this dog is a Pitt ball type then the owners should be responsible and muzzle it when out, they should also stop bragging about it. It may have attacked other dogs, lots of dogs don’t like other dogs but if this is the case the owners should be muzzling to protect other dogs and protect themselves from a persecution. Just because a dog has gone for another dog it does not mean it would attack a child or a adult, it just means it doesn’t like other dogs.

@Osirus wrong. It’s illegal to own one in the UK.

Pitbulls types are banned, they have to be within certain measurement requirements. So maybe not a full pit bull. I have mixed feelings about this as I previously owned a dog that was part pitbull and part greyhound. Honestly he was the most dosile animal you'd come across am sure he thought he was human....
On the other hand if this dog is known to be aggressive and as you stated is not muzzled and let off lead (which isn't a good thing with any aggressive dog not just pitbulls) then maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing... There are strict laws on owning a pitbull and it costs a small fortune to go through the process to owning one legally. And is very hard to actually get it approved. So the person openly bragging probably doesn't even know the breed of their own dog, and if they are boasting as openly as you say if you don't report them someone else more than likely will due to the stigmata around pitbulls in general in the UK!!!!

Absolutely report. They are illegal. For a reason. Anyone who owns one has made it clear what kind of character they are.

Not sure why you’re even hesitating.

Pitbulls are legal in UK as long as they are neutered, registered and tattooed and muzzled and leased in public areas. If you have witnessed the dog in public without a muzzle, then next time, take a photo and report to dog warden.

Adding to my comment above, if this dog is in fact a pitbull then you reporting it would leave you partly responsible for the dogs death as of its pitbull it will be put down, and more people than you alone will know the owner is homing a pitbull so not just your responsibility

This. Spot on.

Regardless of the breed, if in doubt re: safety issue then generally I would report it.

What I would also say is think long and hard. It sounds to me like a load of baseless bragging. If a pitbull was going around attacking other dogs it would be the talk of the local dog owners and news of this type travels fast so it would also be the talk of your area and others have mentioned, if neutered the vet would check it's reg and report it.

I applaud you for being concerned about others but I also urge you to think of yourself and family. If what these people say IS true then clearly they are not nice people and it won't take long for them to work out where the report came from and who knows what the come may be.

Thinking of others is great but think of your own safety 1st.

Report it - it's a no-brainer. The dog has already hurt other dogs and if it turns on a person! It's utterly ridiculous saying you might be responsible for the dog's death because would the bleeding hearts accept responsibility for the harm its already done to other dogs and possible dog deaths in the future caused by it?

Report it - let the experts decide.

Surely your first port of call is your local dog warden? Regardless of assumptions, speak to them first.

Equip yourself with whatever evidence you have - screenshots from social media etc and contact them. If as stated the dog has attacked others it should have been reported and there should be records.
If as suspected the dog is a banned breed the dog warden can take the process forward to either legal licensing or unfortunately pts. The process isn't simple and from what I've heard licenses aren't issued easily, so the owner would have to demonstrate responsibility and the dog would have to pass assorted tests.

The owner may just be talking nonsense to look big and clever - to stupid to realise he is jeopardizing his dogs future. (In which case he shouldn't keep the dog anyway)

And not all idiots own bull breeds - we've had an Ambull, and now have a staff cross both of which we rescued from unsuitable homes at the request of a local rescue group. Neutered, walked, trained and supervised - definately no idiots looking for a status dog here.

Contact the dog warden first. Please

Report it, the police can insist on DNA testing.

Clearly the owner isn't a responsible person if the dog has already attacked others, irrespective whether it was before or after neutering.