14254352_130x180 In Middleburg, FL, Tina Marie Canterbury a forty-two year-old wife and mother of two boys and owner of two two year-old full blooded red nosed pit bulls, was fatally mauled by the dogs she raised. Her 21 year-old son tried to come to his mother’s rescue of the seemingly unprovoked attack; he sustained a wound to the throat while another son called 911 to alert them to the emergency. A family friend shot his 9mm handgun at the dogs, one got away and the other was hit and as the police arrived, the sheriff shot it dead. The escaped dog was later tracked down to a wooded area where is was shot and killed. The owners were described as responsible having safeguarded their property and were never involved in any incidents of violence against or by these dogs. Mr. Canterbury, the husband and father was away on business when this incident occured and has rushed home to be with his family. I am an animal lover, dogs, cats,etc, and I realize that there are two schools of thoughts regards pit bulls, as most regard them as violent animals not meant for families. I happen to have friends who have pit bulls that are menacing looking, but are very sweet and friendly and I have other friends who couldn’t pay me to stay in a room with their animal. Pit bulls were once upon a time considered a good family dog, but after years of breeding with other pit bulls that were trained to fight, there has been a major problem as well as the general abuse of the dog. By it’s nature, it has the predisposition for violence more so than a yorkie or a beagle, so I don’t diminsh this fact. But something else to consider is that dogs, especially the pit bull, are prone to brain dysfunction which causes the dog to attack thinking it is being attacked and any other related siblings will attack in like due to pack mentality. Do your research and weigh all options before purchasing or rescuing a pit bull. Read