Tag Archives: Nature trail

Nature trail

Pit bull attacks on nature trail

Name: Dee
Victim: Adult, Child
Location: Hiking on a trail, North Carolina
Year of attack: 2022

Tell us about the attack

My boyfriend and I, along with our one-year-old child, were finishing up our hike at the end of a trail. Suddenly, an aggressive pit bull appeared from around a bend in the trail and immediately charged us.

I’ve never been afraid of dogs. I was even still in denial as it came at us, but seeing its snapping jaws and wide eyes made me realize that this pit bull was going to attack.

In a “paranoid” moment about wildlife attacks a few weeks earlier, I had bought pepper spray, just in case, not even thinking I’d have to use it against a dog, and had it in my pocket.

The pit bull got within five feet of us still running at breakneck speed when I sprayed it.

It didn’t even stop, or yelp in pain. It just changed its path and tried to come at us again from another angle. By then, the owner caught up to it and managed to restrain it as we walked away. Did he apologize? No. He said that his pit “is a big baby and didn’t mean any harm.”

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
Like I said before, I’ve never been afraid of dogs, but this incident woke me up. I started reading about aggressive behavior in normal dogs vs. pit bulls and realized that the  genetics of pit bulls make them completely different from other dogs.

I keep seeing the “blame the owner argument”, but that shows a severe lack of self- accountability and awareness. I refuse to accept such excuses if what someone thinks is a “big baby” can suddenly snap and threaten my family.

From now on, I will be paranoid around every single pit bull and their clueless owners that I cross paths with .

Legal Consequences
Due to me still being in denial about the “bad owner, good dog” trope at the time, I failed to report this.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Protect yourself. My paranoia saved us an uninsured trip to the hospital at best, and a funeral for me, my boyfriend, or our child at worst.

The average pit bull owner is NOT responsible enough to keep their pit bull from attacking. Letting them off of their leash, around children or other dogs, even leaving them untethered in their backyard for them to get the opportunity to escape IS irresponsible. Their wilful denial of reality is part of the problem.

Nature trail

Fourth of July pit bull attack destroys nature trail peace forever

Name: Walt
Victim: Pet
Location: Nature path along Olentangy River, Franklin County, Ohio
Year of attack: 4th July 2022

Tell us about the attack

On the 4th of July, I was enjoying a holiday walk on a nature path along the Olentangy River with my two leashed dogs, one small 18 lbs. and the other 40 lbs. We came across some people with two unleashed dogs, one of which was a 100 lb. pit bull.

The pit bull immediately launched an unprovoked attack on my larger leashed dog, pinning it to the ground by the throat and harness. One young man grabbed the pit bull’s collar and tried to restrain the pit. My dog was screaming. I yelled “He’s killing her!” but the owners could not control their pit bull. After no relief from the efforts of the owners, I reached my hand over the pit bull’s face and covered its nostrils hoping to get it to release its grip on my dog’s neck. My attempt to have the pit bull release my dog that way failed. But eventually the pit bull lost its grip when my dog slipped out of its harness to escape, and my dogs quickly ran away up the path.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
I am a 77-year-old male who has always been trusting of the safety of my dogs and myself while walking in the area of my neighborhood. Now, I have been robbed of that knowing that pit bulls are everywhere, even here. I will NEVER again have the pleasure of a relaxing walk in the woods. I will ALWAYS carry bear spray or weapon to defend myself and my pets. Fortunately, my dogs miraculously escaped, and after a bath and treatment of wounds with hydrogen peroxide there appears to be no permanent injury.

Legal Consequences
Unfortunately I had no opportunity to get the owners or attacking dog’s names, having to run to catch up to my dogs. Nor did they make an effort to follow us on the trail to make sure my dog was okay. As yet I have made no formal report to police. It has been 16 hours since the attack.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Be aware of the menace that pit bulls can be when uncontrolled. Carry a defence against them.