Ugh here comes more bad press for a pit that was probably just scared to death.

why are police having such problems with the 'nanny dog'? wouldn't all families want to keep these precious babies close to them and never let them go because they are such wonderful and safe pets?

Another case of irresponsible ownership. The dog was probably scared and reacting out of fear. So many of these cases can be avoided with responsible ownership. We have had problems with two pitbulls running around our complex from a house on S. Triangle Road for over a year now. What is SO hard about keeping your dog under control (regardless of the breed).

Pascale...I believe it's because police around the nation have taken the attitude that if it's a pitbull it must be vicious and shoot regardless of how the dog is acting or "re"acting. It's the media...just like years ago with the doberman, german Sheppard, and the rottweiler. I've read stories of dogs being killed by cops when the dog is in it's own garage and not even showing aggression. There is a case in Texas of a cop tasering a dog and shooting it 6 times, unprovoked. The cop is facing charges because a neighbor taped it.

Responsible ownership of a pitbull would mean locking it in a pen with a muzzle. Better to just not have one. Cops are having problems because the breed is dangerous and so many people who want them want them for that specific reason

Pascale, I have never heard someone so uneducated comment on a topic they clearly know nothing about before. As a responsible owner of not one, but TWO pitbulls AND a mother of five, I think I'm qualified to say that these are NOT inherently dangerous animals. They are kind, good with children, protective animals with a bad reputation mostly perpetuated by people who have little to no experience with the breed... people like you... :-( Thankfully there are still plenty of good homes willing to love and nurture these animals who will continue to do so, and reap the benefits of having them. It's really your loss in the long run!

I am an ER doctor and that has given me more blood soaked instances of pitbull attacks then I can count on my hands. You will never find a trauma worker who would name any other breed as destructive and fatal as the pitbull just based on their life's work experience. When 75% of all fatal dog attacks are caused by this breed how can you truthfully think that it has nothing to do with them being inherently violent and dangerous to the public? Show some maternal instincts and do your 5 children a favor: get rid of your pit bulls before its too late.

Pascale, your uneducated words are hurtful and more aggressive than my pitbull. Please open your mind and your heart. Any scared stray can bite; this isnt a breed issue. To the media, every dog that bites is a 'pitbull' and if its not, it rarely gets reported as its not the kind of hysteria that sells. Please do not spread negativity without knowing these dogs firsthand as it does the breed and yourself an injustice. Our own, our friends and our family's pitbulls are simply loved, family dogs, nothing more nothing less. Happy holidays to you and your family Patch!

Here is a story of another perspective that I think deserves equal coverage. Sugar a beautiful,l sweet pitbull terrier has now lost her home to 2 storms: hurricane Katrina & hurricane Sandy. She is sitting at the Pleasantville Animal Shelter (a kill shelter) and they are almost full so she only has a day or two:( Sugar is as sweet as her name, about 40lbs, and was dog tested with a little male and did great. She just wanted to play. Please help her. If you are interested in adopting or are a rescue group that can save her please call the shelter at 609-485-2345 or email lilospromise@hotmail.com. Please help her find a home before the holiday and it is too late, she has done nothing wrong and is truly a victim of circumstance. Here is the link to her picture: http://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=524673090878340&set=a.210251502320502.57238.210079549004364&type=1&theater

Pascale, you might possibly be the dumbest person on the planet. You know, people that stupid should be locked in a pen and muzzled to prevent them from saying something as ignorant as your views on pit bulls.

if some man came running up to a lost child who didnt speak english and that child went in to a panic and was punching and kicking the officer would you be shocked? The dogs have no clue if people are saving them or hurting them .. there is a safe way to help lost animals and obviously both people involved had no clue on how to do this or no one would have been bit ... if the dog was attacking him is would have bit more then his foot ... it was out of fear ....

Tom Lubucki, read the article. The dog bite the cop. Sorry but if a dog was attacking me I'd shooting too.

Amen, Annmarie, Tom, and Nicole!

Frightened animals = dangerous animals. Yanno, that whole fight or flight thing? My parents always told me never approach a scared animal. Incidentally, pits are NOT the most likely to bite in the dog world, and they are high-rated in intelligence and breed temperment tests. Morons who think they're a badass dog make them monsters, abusing their desire to please and empathy. At least this cop didn't shoot to kill.

Good thing it was a policeman the dog went after, because here in Jersey we paltry citizens aren’t allowed to carry a sidearm, you know just in case. Nope, here in Jersey you are supposed to stand there and let the dog chew your leg off while you call 911 and pray the police get there before you bleed to death!

Worse, if one of us measly citizen was actually carrying a gun (illegal in Jersey) and we shot that dog before it bit our leg off, we'd end up going to jail for 15 or 20 years.

Black Bears are becoming a problem in some areas of Jersey, including here, but that's another story!

Any Dog no matter how friendly, if its hurt or scared could bite out of fear, it has nothing to do with the breed.speaking from experience.

Pit nutters are the best! They really are out if touch with reality in the most sociopathic of ways. Like the guy in august who while at work his pit bull attacked and killed his pregnant wife and unborn baby, cops arrived and shot the dog, and then the owner buried all three together - what a awesome breed and what great owners they have. Congrats to all pit bulls! You've made 2012 your most murderous year yet - the only solace for us normal folk that at least half of all fatal attacks are on owners and their families. Karma

Yes Pascale and I'm sure you believe the media tells you all the fact and isn't picking what they report... They report all the new everywhere .. They don't manipulate things so that people watch their channels ... Other breed dog attacks don't get the views that a dog that may resemble a Pitbull but no one is sure cause its a mix so lets call it a Pitbull ... They wouldn't just report those cause they are honest and aren't looking for rating!! Right? I truly believe in Karma and anyone with so much hate in them like you have will get what you deserve in the end ... I really feel sorry for you that you have nothing better to do with you time and life then to go around posting nasty comments ... It's sad really

I would think the media would find it quite mundane at this point to put up another pit bull kills, or pit bull attacks story. They happen do frequently, daily in fact, that it isnt even worth reporting anymore. It's like saying 'sun came up today'.
I think they would love something different like "cocker spaniel attacks and kills 2 year old", "goldendoodle mauls jogger to death" or "labrador kills pregnant owner and unborn child", etc. those would be good stories. These things aren't happening and just aren't being reported, THEY JUST ARENT HAPPENING. Pit bulls are doing these things, other breeds aren't. Stop making up inplausible excuses and take responsible for your dangerous decision to own a lethal and angry animal. Society is tired of being chewed to pieces by the breed you will think is sweet no matter what atrocious things they do.

The fact the dog was a pit bull is secondary: the news story here is that an officer fired his weapon in a heavily trafficked area. We would have reported the story exactly the same regardless of the dog's breed.

Pascale feel free to google Labrador attacks and tell me how many of those stories have you seen in the news.. Try golden doodle and cocker spaniel too

The medial loves adding the "pit bull" part because people will read it..

Karen, did it and all i get is pitbull attacks labrador retreiver, and pit bull attacks goldendoodle, etc

let's remember it could have been anyones dog who happened to dig under the fence that day. because they were pitbulls they were deemed dangerous and both have been put down

allsokay1: do yo have reliable information about the dogs having been put down?

Yes. I know the owner and both dogs (good dogs - bad situation) were voluntarily put down.

because the off-duty that shot the one dog couldn't verify which dog actually bit him the DOH had to deem them both "potentially dangerous". (i find it hard to understand how he couldn't identify which one actually did the biting, but the cops/DOH only had his story to go on, so it is what it is i suppose) BUT, rather than endure a court case and potentially a worried community, the owner chose to have them both put down.

Maybe the police officers should be trained on how to approach a scared dog that is going to protect itself rather than just winging it and endangering themselves, the dog and any others around them for no reason! Cops think they are tough and Know-it-alls, they should take the time to learn more about dog behaviors before attempting something like this. Or at the very least, call in a K-9 unit officer who at least has some experience with dogs.