Portland, Tennessee Blog

Yes JA I have actually seen a pitbull attack someone. I have also seen a black lab attack someone AND a yorshire terrier attack someone too. I have also been around animals all my life and have worked with a few animal rescue places and belong to an animal rescue website. Pitbulls are usually way more animal agrresive than people aggressive, most of the time when humans are bit it's because they were trying to break up a fight between two DOGS. Of course there are cases of pitbulls attacking people and alot of those were misidentified as pitbulls, as lots of dogs resemble pitbulls. ANY dog can turn on people for a variety of reasons, it's not fair to label ALL pitbulls as bad. They were originally bred for fighting (other animals, not humans!) and if they are trained and taught to fight they will....but if raised correctly they can be a good pet.

As for the dog park, pitbulls should not be allowed in the dog park anyway because of their aggression towards other strange dogs. Most dog parks don't allow them. And the discussion here was a FENCED dog area anyway, so children wouldn't be at risk from any other dogs that use the fenced area. Maybe it would cut down on the strange dogs roaming the streets if their owners had somewhere to take them and excercise them.

I would LOVE to see an area just for dogs in the park! We have a fenced in yard,but it would be nice to have a lace I can take our dog for meet and greet with other dogs and a change of scenery. It would be nice if it were fenced so they can romp and play together without having to worry about kids getting hurt/scared or the dog running away.

WHOA back to you SC!

You are the one who is talking out of turn.

Have you ever personally seen a Pit Bull attack someone? I have, and it was a very ugly site!

I personally had a vet tell me and educate me about these animals, and I believe him based on what I have personally witnessed!

Please enliten us on the origin of the name of this animal.

I and my family go to the park nearly every day to walk or ride bikes. I don;t have a problem with a fenced area, anything other than this, I am not for.

Many children and some adults are very scared of dogs. It doesn't matter what size, breed, etc. they are just plain scared of them. And ara, I go to the park quite often as I have 2 grandchildren that play sports there and I don't want a dog park even close to the park. I really feel for the pet owners that do not have a yard for their dog but it is not the City of Portlands place to provide a park for your dog to play.

WHOA! JA for someone claims to have been around animals all your life you certainly are throwing around some false info about pitbulls. I urge anyone to check out this link on the "myths" surrounding pitbulls. They do NOT lock their jaws and their brains do NOT swell. Pitbulls are sweet dogs if raised right. They aren't for everyone certainly as pitbulls can be quite ANIMAL aggressive, which differs greatly from HUMAN aggression.
http://www.realpitbull.com/myths.html
And there are many dogs out there that LOOK like a pitbull but really aren't and they get a bad rap too.
try this link to see if you REALLY know what a pitbull looks like
http://www.nokillnow.com/PitbullFindIT.html

I am all for a dog park in Portland. Personally I'm more afraid of all the loose dogs running around than I would be to see dogs running around and playing in a fenced area.

This is why Portland will never be anything more than it is. The younger people who are moving this way see the slow sluggish town that will not move forward. Why move here? What do we have to offer? Nothing! To oppose a fenced in area for those who have dogs to play is silly.I wonder how many of you that oppose this really go to the park.That why I continue to travel the 30 minute drive to a place that knows and understands the need for puppies and dogs. I hate to say but I can not wait until my husbands job takes us away from here.I hate driving all the time to get things you need.

Oh David, David, David,

I would say you have gotten a bit of issue here, but since you opened this can of worms here is my opinion.

Dogs do not belong in the park, even more importantly the city or government should not be using my tax money to fund such a thing.

As for the Pit Bull issue. I have been around animals all of my life, and for the most part what David says is correct, however, where David is wrong is on the issue of the Pit Bull having a demeanor equal to how it was raised. David, perhaps you could tell us all the origin of the Name of the "Pit Bull"? A Pit Bull can turn on anyone faster than most any other animal out there, and once they lock those jaws shut, you won't get them open until they have torn apart whatever they have locked in and it shreads out of the jaw of this animal. Much of the problem with the Pit Bull has to do with the size of its brain and the size of its skull, the pit bull brain can become larger than the cavity in the skull will allow and as a result, the dog will "loose its mind" so to speak. This is sometimes when the problems arise in these animals. Some of the problem is in how they are raised, but to say they are no more harmful that a Pomeranian, is absolutely brainless.

To hear David tell it, It seems the media has made Pit Bulls out to be some sort of Monster that they really aren't. If you will all study the origin of the name of this animal and study the temper patterns etc...of this dog, you will see why they have a bad reputation. You can find plenty of data online, if you just search for it.

My children will not be in a park where one of these animals (Pit Bulls) are allowed to run free, perhaps David would be okay with this, and that is his choice, but not with my tax money, and my children.

That mess about the pit bulls is just a load. Yes, if a pit bull is raised a certain way, it can attack children. And yes, some dogs can even turn without warning and attack unprovoked. But it is not breed specific. Hell, there is a case I know of where a Pomeranian mauled and killed a 2 year old. Any dog is capable of harm.

The reason the ridiculous idea of "outlawing" pit bulls was thrown around a few years ago is because some children got attacked by a pit bull that was "raised right" by it owners and had never shown agression before. The media (as usual) didn't cover the whole story. How much of a two year old jumping on your back, slapping at you, and pulling your tail would you take if you were a dog? And would it make any difference what breed you were?

My last job exposed me to many different breeds of dogs constantly. I have seen chihuahuas that were pure evil, pomeranians that would take your hand off, and yes, even pit bulls that could not be handled. But, I saw more of them that were the sweetest dogs I'd ever met. I can even recall a Chow (whose reputation is even worse than that of the pit bull) who wouldn't harm a fly.

Before spewing ignorance, get some exposure to the subject at hand and don't just regurgitate what the media has fed you.

I have mixed feelings on this subject,and a very different perspective than past comments reguarding the money issue. I have a 2 year old son who is terrified of large dogs. I believe it is just a phase but for now, his fears are real to him and he realizes that the animal is much bigger than he is and it is intimidating for a small child reguardless of how friendly or unfriendly the animal is. I do not agree with having the pets at the park for the safety and comfort of my child. He would never be able to enjoy swinging and sliding while he is in sight of many unfamiliar dogs,especially large ones.my fear is he would dread our family trips to the park, And doesn't that take away from the reason for the park is there to begin with? So families can come together and enjoy spending time together?Although I dearly love animals, and fully believe they should have a place of their own to play and run, I don't believe our local park is the place to allow that to happen.

I agree with Sam. Right now the last thing Portland needs is a Dog Park at the tax payers expense. I just don't think enough citizens would support something like this. Maybe you can find someone with some land that would be willing to open a dog park and charge pet owners a membership fee. If I had the land I would sure consider it.

I have had a dog or cat just about all my life and I agree they do need a place to run and be free. BUT I do not think it is the City of Portland's place to provide it. As for the law against owning a Pit Bull, I don't recall having seen this put into law. Neither has the many, many, many owners of them that I have seen in places all over Sumner County.

Very well put david!I drive 30 minutes to take my animal to parks were they allow them to play but its worth it.He loves every moment of it.We have never had any problems with another dog.

The are grants available from various places and if the city had someone to research it, maybe it can be paid for thru a grant. Some of you are too negative to see the up side to this. The fenced in area would be for pets only and they could not be any where else in the park(s). This gives pet owners to socialize and let pets play. I have a chocolate lab that stays indoors. We let her out at home, 1/2 acre lot, but other than that she doesnt have much room to run. Pets need to socialize just like humans. Cities all over the country have the pet area so pets are not running free in the parks. If Portland is going to prevents pets from certain areas of the parks, lets give them and place to run around. Deb, I believe there are laws in TN now prohibiting a person from owning pit bulls and other dangerous pets. That would not be an issue. People should not have them anymore.

Good points all the way around but a park for pets is not that big of deal.Moss Wright put one in and it is a fenced in area.Deb not a very wise statement! I love my dog and have had him for 12 years but I live in an apartment so therfore I have to take him out to a park so he can run and play. I would love it but do understand the cost and God knows we do not need anything else being added to our bill

David, I hope you are not suggesting that our tax money be spent on something like a PET PARK.
Geeezz

I can understand the "NO PETS ALLOWED" signs. This is for everyones safety. If pets are allowed you will start seeing people bringing their Pit Bulls and other untrustworthy dogs to the park. A Doggie park would be okay but I feel if you live somewhere that you can't have a fenced in backyard for your dog to run and get excerise then you DO NOT need a dog. I hate seeing dogs tied up to a tree and left there. Why have a pet if you can't enjoy them and give them proper care.

im sure the good 'ol boys in the council
can raise some sort of taxes on our
utility bill to fund this. hey we even have local constuction co's. that will build it, for a small
fee that they'll pay for it with yet another tax increase they'll cerate somewhere. [crooks]

Sounds like a great idea to me. There are lots of cities in Florida (for example, Jacksonville) that actually have parks for pets. It's a wonderful opportunity for dogs to get some exercise and socialize with other dogs.

Dogs are very social creatures; they want and need to be around other dogs.

It's also good for the pet owners to meet at the park. At least they know they have a common interest in their pet's well being!