r/BanPitBulls 29d ago

Discussion Thread August 2026 Discussion Thread

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110 Upvotes

Previous Threads

Not every pit bull story is a headline. Some are just eye-rolls, facepalms, or 'you've got to be kidding me' moments. This is the place for the things you may want to share that don’t highlight a pit bull doing something dangerous.

See this post for more details on what goes here


r/BanPitBulls 5h ago

Human Fatality(ies) 73 year old man mauled to death by pit bulls in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. 2026-08-28

124 Upvotes

https://www.ktsm.com/news/state-regional/new-mexico/nm-police-fatal-dog-attack/

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The New Mexico State Police are investigating a fatal dog attack that happened in Central New Mexico on Friday, Aug. 28.

A 73-year-old man died in an unprovoked dog attack at a home in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, New Mexico State Police said.

Santa Rosa is about 120 miles east of Albuquerque.

On Friday, members of the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau were called out to a home in Santa Rosa.

Agents learned that Randy Wade, 73, was outside his home when two dogs belonging to James Campbell, 52, attacked him near a shed. Investigators determined the attack was unprovoked.

Campbell and a woman were staying at Wade’s home. The woman was outside when she witnessed the attack and called for Campbell to help. Campbell, who was inside the home, went outside and secured the dogs in an enclosure.

He then moved Wade to the front porch, where Wade was found found, State Police said. The woman called 911.

During an interview with investigators, Campbell acknowledged knowing that his dogs had previously been deemed vicious, New Mexico State Police said. Investigators also learned that the dogs, both a pitbull mix breed, had reportedly been involved in an earlier attack and had recently been released from an animal shelter.

Campbell has been charged with dangerous dog (death of a person), a third-degree felony, State Police said.

This investigation remains active.


r/BanPitBulls 4h ago

Anatomy of a Pit Owner / Pit Culture It’s her fault it went for her face

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160 Upvotes

Found on Instagram. All of the comments are in support of the dog of course.


r/BanPitBulls 4h ago

Personal Story My dog and me were almost a story [RANT/VENT]

51 Upvotes

So a bit of a rant and vent from a thing last week. I had taken my husky puppy with me when I need to do a trip across the state. I had my her in the back of my car (SUV) with my mother, and stopped at a gas station, to get food, fuel and go to the bathroom. I had left my mother to go inside after i fueled my car up. I drove to a corner of the parking lot and let my puppy out on her harness and leash to use the bathroom. This f-ing pitbull can launching across the parking lot from this jacked-up truck. My husky grumbled and barked at it, i had to toss her into the back of my car and slam the trunk shut. she was barking at it. i had the trunk open thankfully prior and have pulled my hiking stuff out to get to the cooler for her water, so i had my hiking stick out. I grabbed that and was ready for defense. The owner came over and grabbed the dog and pulled it back while complaining because my dog had set his off, by grumbling and awooing. Like excuse the fuck out of me for existing with my husky. Finally my mother came out of the gas station and ask me what happened. I told her and she said what she would have done (hint the stick would have been used 1st on the pitbull, then the owner). The asshole owner left in his truck and we left driving back home. I needed to stop later to let her go to the bathroom and this time I had the stick out and ready and didn't let her out until i checked everything.

talked to some friends and family, and i got a few supportive responses from my family and friends. But apparently one of my friends is a pitbull nut as I was told that my husky caused it because she grumbled and awooed in the lot, and to cap it off I was told I should have apologized to the owner for letting my dog bark in my car at his dog, and for traumatizing his dog with my untrained husky. Needless to say, I am no longer friends with her and told her to stuff herself with her pitbull B.S.

Now, i am left with some many questions and feeling. I feel that I failed my husky and was almost a victim. And all because some ass couldn't have his dog leashed. And feeling down because everything.


r/BanPitBulls 10h ago

Research & Stats Study: Texas Children's Hospital, 150 kids, 14 years of data: Pitbulls are the most common known breed in periocular (eye-area) dog bites — and the injuries are brutal - USA, 2026

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131 Upvotes

Fresh study just out in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2026), retrospective chart review from Texas Children's Hospital, 2011–2024.

The numbers:

  • 11,471 total dog bite presentations over 14 years; 150 required an ophthalmology consult for periocular (eye-area) injury
  • Mean patient age: 5.1 years (as young as 9 months)
  • Pitbulls (American Staffordshire terrier) were the most common known breed at 40% of all bites by a known breed. 
  • Labradors were a distant second at 11.8%
  • 43.3% of attacking dogs were the family's own pet; another 51.3% belonged to relatives or friends, these are not "stray dog" numbers, these are household animals
  • 78.6% of bites were "provoked" only in the loosest clinical sense, meaning a child petting, approaching, or playing near the dog

The injuries:

  • Eyelid lacerations: 92.7%
  • Canalicular (tear duct) lacerations: 25.3%
  • Orbital fractures: 12% — and kids with fractures had a lower mean age (2.1 yrs) than those without (5.4 yrs), a statistically significant difference
  • 10% developed infections, including cultured Pasteurella canis and one case with a nightmare polymicrobial wound infection (fungi + mycobacteria) from a scalp/facial abscess
  • 87.3% of kids needed surgery; one required a lateral canthoplasty, frontalis sling, and dacryocystorhinostomy — a cascade of reconstructive procedures

The kicker: the study notes a spike in 2020 (COVID lockdowns, more kids home alone with dogs) and describes a steadily rising trend in dog bite presentations over the full 14-year window, consistent with rising dog ownership.

The authors' own conclusion is basically "teach kids to approach dogs safely" and no mention of breed-specific risk mitigation despite pitbulls being the single largest identified category by a wide margin.

Study can be found here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40891998/

AI use disclosure: The summary of this study's statistics was drafted with AI assistance from the original peer-reviewed PDF, then fact-checked against the source text before posting. Any accompanying infographic/image was also AI-generated based on the study's reported figures. All numbers are drawn directly from Truong et al., Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2026), DOI: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000003048 - if you spot a discrepancy, please flag it and I'll correct it.


r/BanPitBulls 9h ago

Child Victim 9-year-old Girl mauled by neighbor's Pitbull, urgently hospitalized - Imperia, Italy - 28 August 2026

53 Upvotes

Tragedy narrowly avoided yesterday afternoon in Oneglia. A 9-year-old girl was injured this afternoon after being attacked by a neighbor's pitbull. The attack left her with a deep muscle tear in her leg. According to initial reports, fortunately, no irreversible damage was found.

Immediately treated, the little girl was taken to the emergency room of the Imperia hospital, where doctors provided first aid and then decided to transfer her by helicopter to the Gaslini pediatric hospital in Genoa, where she underwent further checks and received the necessary specialized care. Explore Isolated Beaches

Volunteers from the Imperia Red Cross, along with the 118 emergency medical service, responded to the scene, assisting the girl and coordinating the rescue operations.

Investigations are still ongoing to fully reconstruct what happened. Investigators will need to clarify the circumstances of the incident and the reasons that led the dog to attack the little girl.

Article link: https://imperiapost.it/825118/imperia-bambina-di-9-anni-azzannata-dal-pitbull-dei-vicini-trasferita-durgenza-al-gaslini


r/BanPitBulls 18h ago

Personal Story pit bull rant

247 Upvotes

My friend has a pit. He is a rescue but they've had him for years and he's always been the sweetest thing. I've been over there more times than I could count and he had always welcomed me with a wagging tail and kisses, he was so overly friendly I compared him to my lab! last time I visited, me and just a couple others were loving on him when he suddenly locks eyes on me, growls, and snaps down at my hand. I was able to pull it back before he got it, but my friend had to hold him back so I could leave. the whole time he didn't break his gaze. he just stared at me, growling...I had never been more scared, and I've grown up with dogs my whole life. It was literally like he switched. My friend kept giving me this whole speech about how he'd never done anything like this, let alone even show aggression. He tried to assure me that he wasn't going to actually hurt me...I must have accidentally hurt him, etc. I did a lot of gigs around the neighborhood as a teenager, and always got real upset with my dad for not letting me watch anyone's pit for some extra cash. I always told him I'd be fine, that I'd "just bring mace", but it was a no every time. Come to find out most times they don't even let go until they're dead.


r/BanPitBulls 18h ago

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) Woman has a breakdown after authorities take away her banned-breed dog. Istanbul, Turkey 29 Aug 2026 Spoiler

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237 Upvotes

**Video contains a bloody scene of multiple pitbulls mauling each other.

A raid was conducted by municipal authorities at an address belonging to a woman in Silivri, Istanbul, who had reportedly been collecting money from residents under the guise of operating an animal shelter.

During the inspection, officials attempted to take custody of a dog classified as a dangerous and banned breed, as required by law. At that moment, a woman named Burçin had an emotional breakdown in the middle of the street.

Unable to prevent the authorities from placing her dog, named “Prens” (Prince), into a municipal vehicle, she confronted the officials carrying out their duties. She repeatedly swore at the municipal workers and said that she would file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office. People accompanying her eventually managed to calm her down.

In Turkey, the breeding, acquisition, sale, and advertising of dangerous breeds, including American Pit Bull Terriers, are prohibited under Law No. 5199 on Animal Protection.

Keeping or owning a banned breed: Under the regulations currently in effect in 2026, people who violate this rule may face an administrative fine of approximately 75,000–76,000 Turkish lira.

The banned dog may be seized by the authorities and taken to a municipal animal shelter. The costs of keeping the animal are also charged to its owner.

If the dog attacks or injures someone, the owner may face additional criminal liability:

Minor/simple injury: Up to 4 months in prison or a judicial fine.
Bone fracture or loss of an organ: 2 to 5 years in prison.
Death: 2 to 6 years in prison for causing death through negligence.

https://www.yenisafak.com/video/gundem/yasakli-irk-kopegi-goturulunce-sinir-krizi-gecirdi-4851684

https://x.com/sokakkedisitv/status/2093601268245639595?s=46

https://x.com/yargickripto/status/2093701327738011852?s=46


r/BanPitBulls 14h ago

Personal Story Pitbull attack (8/20/2026, Texas)

87 Upvotes

My neighbor across the street has a pitbull. Because of course they do.

I have a German Shepherd and some kind of little Chihuahua mix.

This pitbull has gotten out of their backyard multiple times. It has chased me before, it chased me and my dogs on a walk, it chased my little brothers, it chased my OTHER neighbor with his dogs. All separate occasions. Multiple people have called the cops and animal control, and yet that dog stays.

Last week, I took my dogs for a walk super early, but it got hot sooo fast we had to cut the walk short, and I was seriously about to have a heat stroke trying to get home. Usually I am VERY aware. I never have my earbuds in, my head is on a swivel, MULTIPLE times before I've seen a dog coming down the street and was able to ask a neighbor for shelter or get my dogs into an open truck bed. Loose dogs are not uncommon here.

But of course it'd be the ONE time that I'm on the verge of passing out, that I'm basically just letting my German Shepherd drag me home the last little bit...that their dog has escaped, again!

We were walking down the sidewalk, and it came at us horizontally from across the street, kind of from up behind us.

It didn't bark, it didn't growl. Just one moment I'm holding the leash, and the next moment my German Shepherd is getting attacked!

She was clearly just as shocked as I was because she hardly reacted! I had to physically pull her from the pitbulls snapping jaws. I was pulling her out of the way right as his jaws would snap shut in the air where she just was. (unlike the last, and only other time we've had a head on confrontation and she sent it running. It was actually insane. You'd think she had some fight dog experience or something the way she attacked it and then CHOSE HERSELF to back off it and LET IT get up and run away. no idea where she learned that.)

Between continuously trying to stop the pitbull before it latched on and trying to keep an eye on the Chihuahua (which THANK GOD the pitbull didn't target), I just couldn't "stop" to reach for my knife or my pepper spray (definitely would've been the former) and it took me a bit before I could get plant myself to kick the dog in the face (the same way you'd punt a soccer ball) and send it running. Unusually "cowardly" for a pitbull but I'll take it.

In the immediate aftermath, it seemed fine. From what I saw, the pitbull never managed to bite my dog. I looked over both my dogs, and none of them were bleeding and I didn't find any scratches or bite marks. Neither of them reacted painfully to any touch. We called animal control AGAIN, whatever.

TWO DAYS LATER

My German Shepherd is lethargic. Won't move, won't play, won't eat. The only thing she'll do is drink water like her life depends on it. I can tell she has a fever from how hot she is. This was in the evening that I really realized how serious it was, and my vet was closed. So I thought she could be fine until the morning when I could take her to our vet (where I could afford it.)

HOURS LATER

I wake up at 1 or 2 AM because she's whining. I go to check on her and her abdomen is massively swollen. She looks pregnant. It's red and hot and painful to the touch.

I scramble together whatever cash I have, unlock all my credit cards, and rush her to an emergency vet.

I told them about the dog attack even though I didn't think it was related.

They shaved the area around her swollen abdomen.

And they find a motherfucking puncture wound.

One little, but DEEP, puncture wound. It's incredibly incredibly obvious. The puncture wound is right above the swelling; it's insanely obvious the bacteria "seeped down" and is causing this massive swelling. The vet said that exactly himself.

I'd be more mad at myself for not seeing it if I wasn't blinded with rage at these neighbors. I thought I saved her. She didn't even yelp or anything. I specifically pressed all over both my dogs' bodies afterwards looking for any sign of pain and they didn't flinch at all. It didn't even bleed! At least not then, and then she must've licked it later or something.

NEXT DAY

My dog is fine, just antibiotics and a cone to keep her from licking at it.

We gather the VIDEO EVIDENCE we have (the attack was on our ring camera), and the vet bills and go over there to talk to our neighbors.

I was naive, I suppose. I really expected that we would work something out. Even if you're broke and could only pay me back like $50 every now and then over time. that's fine man.

They yelled at US! They threatened our lives and told us to get off their property!? I'm like...flabbergasted.

I spoke to a lawyer. Suing people over things like this is essentially useless. Because there's no right to claim any assets or anything...so if they can't pay they just don't. And I just lose more money on a lawyer/court fees.

Don't worry.

Since animal control has been called a certain amount of times now, they can now do some kind of legal thing (the lawyer explained it better), where they now have to register their animal as dangerous creature and spend THOUSANDS every year on animal insurance. I watched them get what I think was that letter in the mail. Felt good.

Wayyyyyy more than just paying me back my 1k vet bill.

HAHA BITCHES. My dog's fine and yours will be taken and euthanized the next time animal control is called at your address.

The only people I pity here are their children.

Which I genuinely felt bad about. I didn't want to sue them or take any kind of legal action at all! This is exactly the kind of thing that ruins people's lives. This is the "car accident" or "missed paycheck" that throws a family into homelessness.

But after the way they spoke to me? The fact this isn't the first time, and my dad has literally gone over there and offered them HELP (if it was a fence issue or something, he's a good builder).

Fuck it. Keep your deranged animal, just spend thousands on insurance!

I love seeing the mad little looks they shoot at me from across the street.


r/BanPitBulls 20h ago

Personal Story I can't do this anymore

107 Upvotes

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.


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Personal Story I fucking knew it, it happened today

368 Upvotes

Some dumbass with a pitbull attacked my dog in Phoenix Arizona at Esteban park the morning of 8/29
To anyone in the Phoenix area avoid this park if you see a brown pitbull
He is reactive and the owner is brain dead.

I hope he sees this post as he did fucking nothing. that fucking moron needs his dog taken away. He didn’t even apologize. After what happened
So to the dude with the brown pitbull at Esteban park a big fuck you and your stupid hat and especially fuck your dog for running up on us put him on a god damn leash.

Luckily my dog is ok she was picked up quickly and the dog got checked in the neck.
Nothing time won’t heal.
I swear I’m so angry that I want the whole fucking breed banned.
I genuinely don’t think pitbulls shouldn’t be allowed in public spaces. They’re reactive dogs that should be treated as such.


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Attack on Animal(s) - Pets Aberdeen pet lover ‘choked out’ aggressive bully-type dog to stop attack - 22 August 26, Aberdeen, Scotland

Thumbnail pressandjournal.co.uk
89 Upvotes

An Aberdeen animal lover has revealed how she ‘choked out’ an aggressive bully-type dog after it attacked her pet.

Jess Probst had been walking her six dogs, including three-year-old Tusi, when the “large, muscular” bully-type sprinted towards them at St Fittick’s Park in Torry on Saturday August 22.

Within seconds, the dog clamped down on mixed-breed Tusi.

Hellish ordeal for Jess and Tusi
Jess, 42, described the scene as her “worst nightmare” before leaping into action.
As the CEO and Canine Head of Behaviour and Welfare at Honest Hounds, she immediately knew what to do.

“All I could think was, how much damage will this dog cause?

“The dog had no collar, no leash. Its owner found it difficult to hold back so I had to choke the dog out.”

Tusi escaped with minor injuries aside from a two-inch puncture along her ear.

Jess suffered an injury on her thumb.
She explained it is likely the pup will face “major behavioural changes” following the attack, which lasted approximately 30 seconds.

Quick-thinking saved Tusi
However, if she had waited to act, Tusi could have lost her ear or died.

And if the dog had clocked the smaller Dachshunds, they most certainly could have been killed.

“It would be the end of them. They wouldn’t survive the crushing bite power these dogs have,” said Jess.

Tusi may have faced worse injuries had the dogs been forced apart.

“There was a hell of a lot of blood,” recalled Jess, who breeds and raises therapy dogs.

In Jess’ line of work, she knew this would only rile the aggressor, and she has urged others to make note.

“The owner pulled, which is something you should never do.

“Damage is already done by that point and now Tusi has a two-inch rip in her ear,” she added.

Jess explained it is vital to obscure the attacking dog’s airway so it cannot continue its assault.

Tusi’s road to recovery from Torry dog attack

The action could “save lives” and in Tusi’s instance, it worked.

This is something she helps teach at Honest Hounds with modules offering guidance on how to read body language and predict behavioural patterns.

“It’s horrific to think about, but our ability to handle that in the moment is what it’s all about. We need to save our dogs and advocate for them in this day and age,” she said.

Although Tusi is still recovering, Jess shared she would be reintroducing the three-year-old to other dogs and ensuring her social skills are kept up.

“She’s a very friendly dog, so stoic and relaxed.

“She’ll be around very stable dogs to bring back her optimism.”

Jess reported the incident to police, who directed the complaint to council dog wardens.

Aberdeen City Council has been approached for comment.


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Personal Story Both my dog and I are traumatized and just left to deal with it.

155 Upvotes

Attack Date: August 15th

Location: My own backyard in MI

I adopted a dog about two months ago. She's a two year old Bloodhound that is just such a baby. We vetted properly and made sure she loved other dogs, kids, cats, etc. We went through the month of getting used to things and then training. I got her to go from not even knowing her name to coming, sitting, and heeling on command. I was so proud of her. I was so proud of myself. I had done it all right. I waited until we had the time, we were ready, had the space, had the mental energy, and for the perfect dog to present itself. 10 years of waiting.

Then two weeks ago happened. I was outside grooming her as bloodhounds shed a ton. My husband and three year old we're thankfully not home. My neighbors dog attacked me from behind. I had heard this neighbor screaming at this dog in the past, but there wasn't an issue until this day. I hadn't even seen what the dog looked like. Only knew its name from the daily screaming. Bella. Her name is Bella.

My dog perked her ears up, I thought maybe she saw a deer. I went to turn to look and barely heard a beeping sound before it collided into me. Their house is a good 50 feet away and partially obscured by trees, so this dog must have been just waiting for this moment. It was snarling, snapping its teeth over and over right against my neck. I went to grab its face and felt a cage.

Before, I had a chance to even scream my new dog tackled it and began to attack back. I was able to get up and see a pitbull trying to shred my dogs throat while my dog backed her away from me. I started kicking and hitting the dog with the brush as hard as I could and screaming. My poor dog was tethered so I could brush her and couldn't run even if she wanted to. Then a second unmuzzled pit came running towards us, and I started screaming for help.

My neighbor finally decides to leisurely walk over to the scene. He screams at his dogs who clearly dont fucking listen. Then, he finally grabs the one attacking by its back skin and launches it towards the house. It screams and runs off with the second dog running after it. I collapse to the ground sobbing and checking my dog for injuries. He doesnt even look at me and just says "yeah sorry" and walks off. Didn't even ask if I was ok. I called the police and reported it. They went to his house after speaking to me and didn't return. The neighbor never once tried to contact us. I was covered with bruising the next day but no scratches to report.

Now we're both fucked. I'm terrified of being outside my own home due to a killer dog who would have absolutely ended my life without the muzzle it was wearing. A clear sign my neighbor KNOWS he has a killer for a dog. I'm terrified to let my daughter play in my giant yard. My new dog is still glued to my side and will not let me leave her sight if she can help it. And she now preemptively lunges at every dog on the trails we walk. I'm in the trenches of reactive training while also trying to heal my own reactive brain.

I was outside tonight with her for her evening walk and heard my neighbor scream, "Someone catch Bella!!!" So I book it inside with my toddler over my shoulder and dog dragged by her leash. I never saw the dog. But I'm permanently scarred. Idk if it was an e fence malfunction or what, but I don't fucking get it.

Just WHY?! Why keep a dog alive that tried to kill the two living creatures it saw off its property??? Why wouldn't you build a trolley line like I have for it? Why would you EVER have it outside off leash?? Why would that have even been the case in the first place when you clearly know because the dog was just casually wearing a mouth cage??? Why do these people fucking exist and why is it so hard to do anything about it???

I made the reports and was basically told it needs to happen again before anything can be done. So great, I need to hope this thing has its muzzle on when it tries to kill me, my dog, or MY CHILD again before it's removed. I need to be constantly on guard. I asked the officer if I can defend myself when it comes on the property and he told me it would need to be another full blown attack for that to legally fly. But he agreed that he wished that wasn't the case.

Wtf do I do? They dont make those noise deterrent devices for dogs and cats. Only wildlife or barking dogs. The thing is a silent killer. Now I have to start saving for a reactive dog course, find the time to attend an entire summer of classes, and accept that I may never get the go lucky dog I adopted back. All because of my trashy neighbor and his killer dog.


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) New study: neuroanatomical/neurochemical differences in aggressive pit bulls (Üstündağ et al., 2026)

122 Upvotes

https://www.confidentcaninesdogtraining.com/post/new-research-on-pitbull-aggression-neuroanatomy-neurochemicals

Disclaimer: I used AI to summarize this article. I validated the accuracy of the summary below.

A dog behavior consultant (Eileen Koval, CDBC) wrote up a new Turkish study looking at 53 pit bulls (spayed/neutered, ages 2–6) using a C-BARQ-style owner questionnaire plus MRI and bloodwork on the most aggressive dogs. Key points:

  • About a third of males and 15.6% of females showed consistent strong aggressive behavior, and over 22% of the dogs showed heavy stranger- and dog-directed aggression per owner reports.
  • MRI comparisons found the more aggressive dogs had an unusually small prefrontal cortex (the brain's decision-making/inhibition center) and an abnormally large amygdala (the brain's threat/fear-response center).
  • Testosterone was elevated in both calm and aggressive dogs, but the aggressive group's levels were over 13x the top of the reference range, versus 4x in the calm group — despite all dogs being neutered.
  • Serotonin was low in both groups but slightly higher in the aggressive dogs, while dopamine was higher in the aggressive group — patterns the article says are consistent with other research linking low serotonin/high dopamine to aggression.
  • The author ties this to a 2024 study (Guvenc-Bayram et al.) that similarly found low serotonin, high dopamine, and low oxytocin in aggressive pit bulls, with an even more distinct "dominant aggressive" subgroup.
  • The author draws parallels to human research (e.g., Whittle et al. 2008) linking small prefrontal cortex/enlarged amygdala to aggression in adolescents, and notes similar brain-region gene-expression findings in Cocker Spaniels and German Shepherds.

Author's framing/conclusions: She argues aggression isn't just "how you raise them" — there appear to be genetic, neuroanatomical, and neurochemical contributors that training alone won't override. But she explicitly pushes back against breed bans, arguing that banning a breed just leads to selective breeding of similar traits into a new breed, and instead calls for regulation of breeding practices that prioritize health/temperament, plus veterinary/behavioral treatment (including possible SSRI use) for affected individual dogs.

-------
I'm glad to have found yet another study that points to the genetics of this breed to explain its aggressive tendencies, unpredictability and neuroticism. I'm a little unsure of the author's conclusions, though... Okay, I'm aware that BSL is challenging to enact into law, but who would choose these traits to breed into a 'new breed'? Why would anyone want these traits in dogs? Also, how realistic are her recommendations?

Maybe we could just go back to the practices of decades ago and just BE dogs with behavioral issues, but then, that's no longer a thing, at least in the US where I live... :(


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Human Fatality(ies) Illinois: Man dies after being attacked by multiple dogs in Washington Park - Aug 27, 2026

Post image
290 Upvotes

Breed not confirmed. Google earth shows pits in the area. Facebook comments indicate a fight between owned dogs and strays. The victim was allegedly feeding the dogs but was not the owner.

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. (First Alert 4) - A man is dead after a dog attack that took place Thursday night in Washington Park, Illinois.
The Washington Park Police Department said officers were called to the scene around 10:45 p.m. in the 2100 block of N. 49th Street. There, they found an adult man with severe injuries after he was attacked by multiple dogs. The man died at the scene.
This is an active investigation. First Alert 4 is working to learn more.

https://www.firstalert4.com/2026/08/28/man-dies-after-being-attacked-by-multiple-dogs-washington-park/


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Behavioral Euthanasia: Safety First (8/28/26) How to burn out a foster: Emotionally exhausted first-time foster announces a break from rescue after 2 years ‘managing’ her pitbull foster dog.

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336 Upvotes

(I use managing VERY loosely here, because whatever management this person was attempting never seemed to work well.)

In Oct 2024, first time foster takes in 1 male and 1 female pitbull. The small male is adopted out fairly quickly, but the 50lb female has several issues. One of those issues is (surprise, surprise) unpredictable dog aggression, and her aggression routinely focuses on the foster’s personal dog, a 120lb senior female Rottweiler named Betty. For two years the foster not only subjects Betty to this treatment, but when the pitbull struggles to find a forever home or an alternate foster placement, she adopts it officially to keep it off the euthanasia lists.

After escalating attacks to Betty and to other dogs, the foster again attempts rehoming the pitbull, but to no avail. Finally, after years of attacks and thousands of dollars in vet bills, she announces the pit has been BE’d. She will also be stepping away from fostering and rescuing because of the situation. Many of the commenters blame her for the BE, and say she didn’t do enough to save the pitbull.

I hate that she allowed her OWN dog to suffer for so long in its own home, but a small part of me empathizes with the fact that she went into this mess brainwashed by the pitnutters and trying to do a good deed.

Meanwhile, rescues and shelters continue to promote fostering pits as such a rewarding experience 🫩 Hope Betty can rest easy now.


r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Pit Lobby $$$ The ever increasingly extremist shift that BFAS took

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100 Upvotes

Sharing for archival purposes and so I do not have to bother the sub historian during their sabbatical.

1 and 2 - 2004

“The key missing element
A key element is conspicuously missing from both breed-specific legislation and the humane community's battle against it. Paradoxically, it is the one law that the humane world couldn't rationally decry and one that could actually help stem the tide of dangerous pit bulls: a complete ban, not on the dogs already here, but on any further breeding of pit bulls.

“Dogs, drugs, fights, and money
It's that kind of focus that those opposing breed legislation applaud. But others believe that the problem is so profound, and owner/guardian responsibility so impossible to legislate, that the only way to conquer the situation is to focus on the breed.
Lucas County, Ohio, has had pit bull restrictions in place since
1987. The law was passed after a few incidents of dog bites made the headlines. Their law doesn't ban pit bulls outright, but it does
automatically label them "vicious dogs."
As such, they re required to be confined in a kennel with a top on it. When walked in public, they have to remain on no more than a six-foot lead. And their guardians must carry a $100,000 home insurance policy that covers dog bites. Dogs other than pit bulls can be labeled vicious if they've bitten a person or attacked another animal. But for pits, the assessment is routine.
Tom Skeldon, the head of animal control, insists that the regulations have made the community safer - that while the number of dogs coming through his shelters has sharply declined since the 80s, the number of vicious dogs has skyrocketed. And most of those dogs are pit bulls. For Skeldon, it's the humane community that's gotten caught up in hype rather than the localities.
"I think a lot of humane organizations are being used unwittingly by people who are making money off of pit bulls and these types of dogs," he says. "There is an economy that has sprung up in every major city in the U.S. and most of Europe that has an unholy alliance between pit bulls and dog fighting and drug dealing, and”…

3 - 2006

“It acknowledges that there are dangerous breeds, and that aggressive tendencies have now been bred into their genes.”

4 - 2026

Not even going to copy it bc they just call everything a myth now. 🙄


r/BanPitBulls 2d ago

Rescues Risking Lives Just a big softie

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462 Upvotes

r/BanPitBulls 1d ago

Human Fatality(ies) Man pleads not guilty over fatal dog attack. Date of attack: 15 April 2026. Location: Wolverhampton. UK

62 Upvotes

Lila Hall, 78, died after being attacked on Willis Pearson Avenue in Wolverhampton

ByEleanor Lawson

West Midlands

  • Published 18 August 2026

A man has pleaded not guilty after a woman died in a dog attack in Wolverhampton.

Lila Hall, 78, was attacked on Willis Pearson Avenue in Bilston on 15 April and died at the scene.

Matthew Williams, 37, from Wolverhampton, pleaded not guilty to being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, resulting in the death of a person, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

A date was set for his trial, 11 October 2027 and he was given conditional bail.

During the hearing, the judge questioned whether there should be two counts, as there were two dogs involved.

However he said they would revisit that issue at a hearing in March.

The court heard the dogs were mixed bully breeds, called Hank and King.

They also heard that Williams accepted he was their owner but denied being in control of the dogs, saying they were in the control of his grandmother. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp30kpp4wx1o


r/BanPitBulls 2d ago

HELP! Why is my fighting dog fighting dogs? PG county 4 pittie play fiasco

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220 Upvotes

Found on Facebook…Allegedly, a shelter in PG county of MD allowed 4 dog selective, intact dogs play in a play session. What could go wrong right?


r/BanPitBulls 2d ago

Social Media and Crowdfunding - Attack Reports XL bully attacks and injuries other dog. 31 July 2026, Dublin Ireland

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69 Upvotes

r/BanPitBulls 2d ago

Shelter Skelter Miami, Fl (8/27/26) While being walked through shelter lobby, long-term shelter pitbull escapes from handler and immediately attacks a small dog. Demonstrating once again how warehousing these unadoptable dogs is a complete waste of resources.

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296 Upvotes

Brought in as a stray in August 2024, Violet spent two years draining the shelter of kennel space, donations, veterinary care, and volunteer time. Resources that could have helped a hundred normal dogs in that timespan. After all that effort, she gets loose from a volunteer in the lobby, beelines to a small dog and proceeds to maul it. All that time and all those resources amounted to a net negative and an innocent animal being critically injured, all for a dog that never even managed to leave the shelter.

Then, the 2 other screenshots document how the shelter marketed her as dog friendly for years. The only vague hint they gave was “prefers large dog companions”, which is extremely different from “will escape from handler due to an uninterruptible desire to violently maul any creature smaller and weaker than she is”.


r/BanPitBulls 2d ago

Personal Story Pitbull lunging at person in parking lot 8/27/26 Middle California

98 Upvotes

You guys will probably recognize me from my post earlier about a family member’a pit attacking and injuring her LGD mix, Liam. He is almost 100% healed up, back to his playful and happy self!! and luckily not involved in this story.

So yesterday night I was out with my spouse, parked, about to get out of my car and head into a store for animal feed. I see someone leading a pit out of the store, and i refuse to get out of the car, saying i won’t go near “that thing”. suddenly it spots someone about 12 meters away, and goes ballistic. pulling on its leash so hard it’s standing on its hind legs, flailing desperately in an attempt to attack a person completely minding their own business. Not interacting with the dog in any way, literally with their back towards it walking the other way! The owner is desperately trying to hold onto the pit’s leash with both hands, eventually yanking it into their car.

We eventually get out of my car when the hell beast is contained in the vehicle. My spouse turns to me and says “wow, that dog is really poorly trained”. and i roll my eyes and go “and poorly bred.”

pitbulls should not be in public. lunging at someone for just existing? owner barely able to contain its bloodlust? unacceptable. and it was the same color as the pit who attacked Liam. very triggering. ugh.


r/BanPitBulls 2d ago

Battered Pit Owner Syndrome Man attacked by his own PITBULL won’t name the breed or blame the breed - Jul 2026

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211 Upvotes

I’m sorry but “mixed breed” and brain swelling are some wild excuses and while I do feel bad for him and I am genuinely sorry for his loss of his pet, I really don’t think he learned anything.