1911: Call to Ban Pit ‘Bulldogs’ in District of Columbia

Posted on December 17, 2011 by notforgotten

Banish Bulldogs Says Mr. Gordon
The Washington Herald
September 29, 1911
Library of Congress

Banish Bulldogs, Says Mr. Gordon
——-
“Criminal Negligence” to foster the Breed
——-
Protest to Commissioners
——-
Attack by Canine on Little Anna Hayes Leads to Demand that Authorities Protect the Children; Beasts are “More Dangerous Than the Lion or Tiger”
——-
Cites Other Attacks
——-
Mr. Gordon’s letter is as follows:
Gentlemen: I observe by the Washington Herald that the nine-year-old daughter of Thomas Hayes … was seriously injured yesterday by a bulldog … It seems to me that this is becoming such a frequent occurrence that our government should take immediate steps to rid the city of this particular breed of dog. If you will remember, it was only a few months ago that a child was almost torn to pieces by one of these dogs on Columbia road, and in that case also it was the pet dog of a household.
About two years ago, I was attacked by one of these beasts, and since that time I have taken notice that it is not an uncommon occurrence for one of these ferocious animals to turn on children without the slightest of warning and literally tear them to pieces, and in every case would have killed the person attacked had some person not come to their rescue …
I might add that the muzzle law does not protect children from the attacks of bulldogs, for the reason that they always make the attack on the their master’s own family, or within the home or yard where they are not required to be muzzled.
Fiercer Than a Lion
It seems to me that the bulldog is more dangerous than the lion or tiger, for the reason that we protect ourselves against such animals, but there is no protection for the helpless child against this treacherous beast.
I trust that this object lesson will make the same impression upon you, gentlemen, as the killing of the little girl did the other day with the motorcycle carrying two passengers, which you promptly investigated and passed a rule prohibiting. I hope now that you will take the same fearless steps and banish all the bulldogs from the District of Columbia.
I again wish to state that it seems to me criminal negligence on the part of our government to allow these dogs to remain in our District another day.
Very truly yours,
Fulton R. Gordon

Banish Bulldogs - Pit Bulls

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)
pit bull attack Posted in Mile Stones | Tagged , , , ,

1891 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – Don Shorb

Posted on December 15, 2011 by notforgotten

April 1891, Los Angeles County, CA
Don Shorb, 7
Fatal dog attack: bulldog (pit bull-type)
See related map

The Record Union
April 11, 1891
Library of Congress

Fatally Bitten by a Bulldog
Los Angeles, April 10 – Don Shorb, 7-year old son of Hon. J. Debarth Shorb, was bitten by an English bulldog today and is dying tonight. Don had been playing with the dog. Its attention had been attracted by a gopher snake, and the dog was endeavoring to kill it. A crowd gathered and commenced to tease the dog. The animal became enraged and suddenly turned and grabbed the unfortunated boy by the leg. One leg, one hand and one arm were literally chewed up. The animal had to be shot before he let go. Tonight the boy is dying. – The Record-Union

pit bull attack Posted in 1891 Fatal Pit Bull Attack, Pre CDC Acquienscence | Tagged ,

1889 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – John Pumphrey

Posted on December 13, 2011 by notforgotten

July 1889, Hamilton County, OH
John Pumphrey, 73
Fatal dog attack: bulldogs (pit bull-type)
See related map

The Evening Bulletin
July 26, 1889
Library of Congress

…While passing a stone yard two savage bulldogs belonging to Anthony Hess, night watchman at the yards, rushed out, and before they could be called off, they had lacerated Pumphrey in a horrible manner. The calf of his leg was completely torn off by the vicious brutes, while the muscles of his arms were torn in a sickening manner … on account of his advanced years, his recovery is considered doubtful. – The Evening Bulletin

pit bull attack Posted in 1889 Fatal Pit Bull Attack, Pre CDC Acquienscence | Tagged ,

1896 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – Maggie Gorman

Posted on December 9, 2011 by notforgotten

February 1896, Bergen County, NJ
Maggie Gorman, 6
Fatal dog attack: bulldogs (pit bull-type)

Vicious Bulldogs In New Jersey
——-
A Girl Fatally Bitten and a Man’s Hand Badly Lacerated
——-
Rutherford, N.J., Feb. 26 – Maggie Gorman, six years old, while playing in the kitchen of her father’s house, at Kingsland, this morning, was attacked by two bulldogs belonging to Martin Hogan, a neighbor. The girl was unable to protect herself, and was horribly bitten, her flesh being torn from the bones in many places. She was brought to Rutherford for medical treatment, but the doctors give no hope for her recovery. The dogs got away from their owner’s premises, and entered the Gorman house through an open window in the kitchen. – New York Times

[First documented home invasion attack]

pit bull attack Posted in 1896 Fatal Pit Bull Attack, Mile Stones, Pre CDC Acquienscence | Tagged , ,

1911: ‘Pit’ Bulldog Muzzle Ordinance, Ogden, UT

Posted on December 8, 2011 by notforgotten

Bulldogs Are Dangerous
The Evening Standard
August 4, 1911
Library of Congress

Bulldogs Are Dangerous
A vicious bulldog is a dangerous animal. Here is an account of a bulldog making an attack on a horse, taken from a San Francisco paper:
–snip–
The Ogden city administration acted wisely when it passed an ordinance requiring bulldogs to be muzzled. The animals are instinctively a fighting machine and the most vicious of dogs and will set upon man or beast in their mad fury until weakened or killed by clubbing. Running at large, without muzzles, they are more dangerous than hungry wolves on a prairie. – The Evening Standard

Bulldogs As a Menace
The Ogden Standard
January 29, 1914
City Edition
Library of Congress

Bulldogs As a Menace
The ordinance prohibiting owners of bulldogs allowing their animals to go about unmuzzled should be enforced. Complaints are made that pet dogs are being killed by these blood-thirsty dogs. This is not the worst feature. A bulldog will attack anyone and the most ferocious have been known to kill children. No bulldog, however much a pet at home, should be free to go without a muzzle. The city laws authorize any one in authority to shoot down a bulldog not held in leash or muzzled, and that is good law as the dogs are too dangerous when not rendered harmless by the prescribed restraints. – The Ogden Standard

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)
pit bull attack Posted in Historic Breed-Specific Ordinance | Tagged , , , , ,

1905 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – Yvonne Davis

Posted on December 7, 2011 by notforgotten

June 1905, Cook County, IL
Yvonne Davis, < 2
Fatal dog attack: bulldog (pit bull-type)

The Richmond Planet
August 26, 1905
Library of Congress

A Mad Bulldog Kills Baby Girl
——-
The Vicious Beast Had Been a Playfellow
——-
SHOOK HER LIKE A RAT
——-
Bullets Killed the Brute, But His Terrible Fangs Held Unmercifully to the Little Victim —
Little One Torn to Pieces
——-
Chicago — Unconscious that there could be peril for her in the dog which had been her playfellow since she could creed about the floor, Yvonne Davis, 18-months old, toddled bravely in pursuit of a rubber ball with which she had been playing in her father’s yard 1042 Otto Street. Her life was the penalty… – Richmond Planet

Yvonne Davis killed by pit bull in 1905

“The infuriated animal sunk its teeth into the child with a death grip“

pit bull attack Posted in 1905 Fatal Pit Bull Attack, Pre CDC Acquienscence | Tagged ,

1881 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – Miss Shearer

Posted on December 6, 2011 by notforgotten

February 1881, McKean County, PA
Miss Shearer, 16
Fatal dog attack: bulldog (pit bull-type)

Poverty Bay Herald
Volume VIII, Issue 1242
February 9, 1881

At Bradford Pennsylvania, on October 10th, Captain John Shearer of North Beaver having purchased a large bulldog recently, and the dog being very ugly, he kept it chained in the yard. It had taken a great dislike to John Wallace, a young man who was a frequent visitor to the Shearer family. On Thursday last Wallace went to the house. There was no one home except Captain Shearer’s sixteen-year-old daughter. She told Wallace that the dog had broken his chain, and was loose somewhere about the place, and that he (Wallace) must be on his guard. Wallace remained at the house a few minutes. Just as he was going away the bulldog entered the yard. Miss Shearer called Wallace back into the house, and told him to remain there until she chained the dog … Before Wallace could interfere the dog had torn the girl’s throat open, lacerated her bosom, and torn the flesh off her limbs… – Poverty Bay Herald

pit bull attack Posted in 1881 Fatal Pit Bull Attack, Pre CDC Acquienscence | Tagged ,

1907 Fatal Pit Bull Attack – Lena Smith

Posted on December 3, 2011 by notforgotten

February 1907, Philadelphia County, PA
Lena Smith, Adult
Fatal dog attack: bulldog (pit bull-type)

Gainsville Daily Sun
February 16, 1907
Library of Congress

Woman Killed by Vicious Dog
Philadelphia, Feb. 15 — Mrs. Lena Smith of this city, who was terribly torn and bitten by a vicious bulldog at her home died at a hospital later. – Gainsville Daily Sun

pit bull attack Posted in 1907 Fatal Pit Bull Attack, Pre CDC Acquienscence | Tagged ,