1907: ‘Pit’ Bulldog Muzzle Ordinance, Gainesville FL

Posted on January 30, 2014 by notforgotten

Three Ordinances Passed at Adjourned Session Wednesday Afternoon
Gainesville Daily Sun
October 26, 1907
Gainsville, Florida
Library of Congress

The ordinance providing that bulldogs running at large upon the streets must be muzzled, and providing a penalty for the failure of owners of dogs of this breed to comply with the same, was read a third time and passed. – Gainesville Daily Sun

The bulldog of the late 1800s and early 1900s is the same dog as today’s pit bull terrier. The only thing that has changed about this dog breed in the last century are the different names it goes by: bulldog, pit dog, bull pit, bull terrier — pit bull terrier. Modern dogfighters still call their fighting pit bulls “100% bulldog.” (See: Disguise breed name)
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1904: ‘Pit’ Bulldog Muzzle Ordinance, Richmond VA

Posted on January 15, 2014 by notforgotten

Would Muzzle All Bull Dogs
The Times Dispatch
December 1, 1904
Richmond, Virginia
Library of Congress

Would Muzzle All Bull Dogs
Committee on Police Recommend Sweeping Ordinance to the Council
The bull dog ordinance is as follows:
1. That no person shall allow a bull dog, whether male or female, licensed, owned or controlled by him, to go upon any street, alley, park or other public place of the city of Richmond without being chained and so muzzled as to prevent such dog from inflicted injury upon any person or animal.
2. Any person violating the provisions of the foregoing section shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not less than ten nor more than twenty dollars for each offense, the same to be recoverably before police justice of the city of Richmond. – The Times Dispatch

The bulldog of the late 1800s and early 1900s is the same dog as today’s pit bull terrier. The only thing that has changed about this dog breed in the last century are the different names it goes by: bulldog, pit dog, bull pit, bull terrier — pit bull terrier. Modern dogfighters still call their fighting pit bulls “100% bulldog.” (See: Disguise breed name)
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1909 Fatal Pit Bull Attack: Harrison Banks, Jr.

Posted on January 10, 2014 by notforgotten

February 1909, Letcher County, KY
Harrison Banks, Jr., Adult
Fatal dog attack involving bulldog (pit bull-type)

The Winchester News
Fabruary 20, 1909
Library of Congress

Elijah Banks Sets Dog on His Brother, Harrison, Whom He Had Struck Down.
It now develops the Elijah Banks was shooting at his wife and terribly beating her, when Harrison Banks, Jr., his brother remonstrated with him, taking his pistol from him. This enraged Elijah Banks and he turned on Harrison. He struck Harrison in the head with a stone fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious, when he “hissed” his furious bulldog upon him. The bulldog literally tore his body to pieces, and Harrison Banks died a few hours later in great agony…
There is much excitement over the county. They are members of a prominent family of Letcher County. – The Winchester News

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1881 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – Frank Fox

Posted on January 1, 2014 by notforgotten

November 1881, New Castle County, DE
Frank Fox, 4
Fatal dog attack involving bulldog (pit bull-type)

A Boy Killed by a Bulldog
[Special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun]
Wilmington, Del., Nov 13 — Frank Fox, a four-year old son of John Fox, trucker, living a mile from the city, was yesterday killed by a bulldog, the property of a man named John Doran. The boy had been left at home alone while his parents went to the market. He had gotten from the house, and while wandering around entered the yard of Mr. Doran, where the dog was chained. The animal, breaking away suddenly, sprang upon the child and fastened his teeth in the boy’s throat. The boy was too weak to protect himself, and when assistance came he was terribly mangled and dead. – Baltimore Sun
Killed by a Canine
Wilmington, Del., November 12 — A two-year old son of John Fox was killed by a bulldog belonging to John Doran. The dog broke its chain, caught the boy by the throat and horribly mangled him, causing almost instant death. – Dallas Daily Herald
New and other Notings
–A four year old son of John Fox was killed at Wilmington, Del., on Saturday, by a bulldog belonging to John Doran. The dog broke its chain, caught the boy by the throat and horribly mangled him, causing almost instant death. – The Cambria Freeman

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1905: Syracuse University Bans ‘Pit’ Bulldogs from Campus

Posted on December 14, 2013 by notforgotten

Bulldogs Must Go
Baltimore American
May 18, 1905

Bulldogs Must Go
Not to Be Tolerated in Fraternities at Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY, May 17 — Chancellor James B. Days, of Syracuse University, today ordered the fraternities to get rid of all bulldogs at the houses within 24 hours, and threatened to expel any student seen on the street with a bulldog. The killing of another canine by a bulldog was the cause of the order. The Chancellor directed that the offending animal be killed. He declared that the bulldog was not typical of the ideals of students. – Baltimore American

The bulldog of the late 1800s and early 1900s is the same dog as today’s pit bull terrier. The only thing that has changed about this dog breed in the last century are the different names it goes by: bulldog, pit dog, bull pit, bull terrier — pit bull terrier. Modern dogfighters still call their fighting pit bulls “100% bulldog.” (See: Disguise breed name)
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1844 Fatal Pit Bull Attack: John Dubernard

Posted on December 9, 2013 by notforgotten

Local Matters
The Sun Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
November 15, 1844

Local Matters.
Dead. — We regret to state that the apprehensions expressed by the physicians on Wednesday evening, have proved to be true, and Mr. John A. Dubernard, who was so severely bitten by the dog of Mr. Roszell, on Saturday last, now lies with the dead. He expired at his residence, in High street, yesterday morning. Mr. D. was a native of France, but has been a resident of Baltimore about fifty years. He was much esteemed by those who knew him. His death is a melancholy comment upon the impolicy, we might almost say, the criminality of keeping dogs so ferocious in their character as this one was, in the yards of private dwellings. The bull terrier, and this dog was one of that species, is perhaps the very worst description of dog, with which we are beset in our community.
They are always fierce, and it is a rare circumstance, that even their masters have control over them — when they take hold, death has been frequently found necessary to make them loose their grasp. Such animals should never be kept in the yards of private dwellings. We have received a note from Mr. Roszell, in which he states that injustice has been done to him in our previous account of the matter. We may have, and according to his statement, did slightly err in reference to the mode and cause of attack made by the dog upon the colored woman; but in the main, it was correct. We did not doubt, and do not now doubt, that everything was done by the family of Mr. R. to prevent the catastrophe, which has ended in so melancholy manner. But the very fact of the inability of those who lived in the house to restrain him, is evidence conclusive of his ferocious character. We would not do injustice to Mr. R.; we have no such motive — and we feel assured that no one in the community regrets more sincerely than he does, this sad affair. — The lesson, we trust, will be a profitable one to others. – The Sun Baltimore

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1906: University of Illinois Bans ‘Pit’ Bulldogs from Campus and Urges Urbana and Champaign to Pass Ordinances Banning the Breed

Posted on November 16, 2013 by notforgotten
Archive articles brought to you by the Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois blog.

Council Bars Bull Dogs
Daily Illini (University of Illinois)
January 25, 1906

Council Bars Bull Dogs
A Rule is Passed Forbidding Them on the Campus
—-
This Action of the Council is Taken as the Result of Several Exhibitions of Viciousness on the Part of the Animals
—-
January 25, 1906 — The University Council Tuesday evening practically eliminated bull dogs as a feature of student life, when it formulated a rule forbidding them presence of these dogs at any time on the campus. It was also decided to ask students not keep these dogs and arrangements were made to petition the city councils of Urbana and Champaign to exclude the animals from the two cities. If such action was not considered legal, it was suggested that steps be taken to keep the animals off the streets.
The action of the council came as the results of several recent exhibitions of viciousness on the part of the bull dogs. Mrs. Laura Riley, a colored domestic at the Delta Upsilon house, is still in the hospital as the result of an attack by one of these dogs. Dr. C.G. Hopkins was the victim of an attack by one of these pets, while another was detected in the act of killing a pig on the University Farm… – Daily Illini

Council Bars Bull Dogs
Daily Illini (University of Illinois)
January 26, 1906

Council Bars Bull Dogs
An Order Passed for Janitors and Policemen to Impound Stray Dogs
—
January 26, 1906 — At a meeting of the Council of Administration of the University, help January 23rd (1906), the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED; by the Council of Administration that bull-dogs shall not be allowed on the University grounds, and that the city councils of Champaign and Urbana be petitioned to each pass an ordinance prohibiting their being kept within the city limits …
The reasons for the Resolution are in general as follows:
1. The bull-dog is essentially a dangerous animal, and when kept under present conditions it constitutes a perpetual menace to human life. Enough accidents have already happened to admonish all thinking men that women and children are entirely unsafe under present conditions.
2. These conditions will become even worse when these bull-dogs will have bred with the street curs, producing a generation of mongrels even more dangerous and under less restraint than are the pure bred individuals. – Daily Illini

Bull-Dogs
Daily Illini (University of Illinois)
January 27, 1906

Bull-Dogs
—
January 27, 1906 — The Question of bull-dogs has come to be of considerable importance within the last few days, for even the Council of Administration has seen fit to take action regarding them. By this action the ban has been put upon the canines by the University authorities, and if the letter of the resolutions is followed out, there will be no more bull-dogs in Champaign and Urbana.
The accidents which have occurred within a very short time have tended to show the dangerous of having such dogs around, hence the action of the Council. There is no doubt but what these dogs are more vicious than any other species, and the council has probably worked in the interests of the people at large by putting on the ban, although it may work hardship upon some who own these dogs as pets and have become attached to them. We are all interested in the welfare of all members of the University community and are willing to do all in our power to make things as safe as possible. If bull-dogs are unsafe and vicious, as they seem to have proven themselves with the last few weeks, let us get rid of them. Let us get some other kind of dogs. Safety before bull-dogs. – Daily Illini

See modern Illinois pit bull issues at: Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois.

Related articles:
1911: Call to Ban Pit ‘Bulldogs’ in District of Columbia
1911: The City of Ogden, Utah Has a ‘Bulldog’ Ban in Place
1909: No Place for Bulldogs in a City – New York Times
1896: Call to Ban ‘Murderous Bulldog’ in the City of Chicago

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2001 – Pit Bull Banned in Capital of Honduras After Killing 10 People in Two Years

Posted on October 29, 2013 by notforgotten

Deaths Spur Pit Bull Ban in Capital of Honduras
Bangor Daily News, December 21, 2001.

Deaths Spur Pit Bull Ban in Capital of Honduras
Tegucigalpa, Honduras (2001) – Pit bulls will be banned in the Honduran capital and owners required to get rid of them by early next month, city officials said Thursday.
Mayor Vilma de Castellanos said those who refuse to give up their pet pit bulls by Jan, 3 will be fined $3,300. Dogs found after that date “Will be pursued and sacrificed by the city,” she said.
“It is essential to control these dogs, which have caused such damage, pain and sorrow among the residents of the capital,” she said.
The decision covers 100 villages around Tegucigalpa as well as the urban sprawl around the city of 2 million people.
The federal prosecutor’s office called on the country’s 297 townships to emulate Tegucigalpa’s decree or impose tighter controls on pit bulls.
The measure follows a public outcry over a pit bull attack that killed the animal’s elderly owner and injured his wife and two grandchildren Dec. 4.
Officials say pit bulls have killed at least 10 people over the past two years in Honduras.

By 1999, dogfighting had taken root in the capital. Human fatalities naturally ensued.

Dog Fighting On The Rise Among Poor Of Honduras
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (1999) – Teeth bared, the pit bulls strain at each other so hard they pull themselves upright on their leashes. At a signal, their owners let go and the dogs throw themselves at one another.
The veteran, Dino, has a 10-0 record. Argus has never fought before, but he surprises the crowd on the wooden bleachers as he sinks his teeth into Dino’s lips and neck.
After 15 minutes, Dino is slumped on the floor with Argus standing over him, both covered with deep puncture wounds, both too exhausted to continue. The referee declares a draw…

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