Dog kills baby sea lion in Laguna Beach

[The Straight Story]

Dog kills baby sea lion in Laguna Beach
The American bulldog is owned by a step-daughter of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.


LAGUNA BEACH An American bulldog owned by a stepdaughter of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords attacked and killed a baby sea lion in Laguna Beach on Saturday, officials said.

One of Giffords' adult step-daughters was walking the dog with a friend at 1:42 p.m. when the dog knocked her down and got away, said Sgt. Eric Lee of the Laguna Beach Police Department. That's when the dog attacked the sea lion at Goff Beach, he said.

The dog belongs to Giffords' stepdaughter, who lives in Texas, said Jen Bluestein, a senior adviser to Americans for Responsible Solutions, a political action committee launched by Giffords and Kelly.

Giffords and her husband, pilot and astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly, were not with the dog at the time, Lee said.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/dog-501061-beach-sea.html

[bluedigger]

1. It's irresponsible to own a dog you cannot control.

That's all I have to say about that.

[ladjf]

3. That is rule number one. My residential neigborhood has many dogs that seem large enough

to overpower their human walkers, most often young, light females. It all boils down to how well trained they are. Each time I pass one of those large dogs, I'm just hoping that they don't attack my 12 pounder who knows no enemies. So far, there have been no mishaps.

I think many people don't realize how strong, fast and lethal a large dog can be if he/she decides to attack something. They are magnificent animals that shouldn't be taken for granted. One quick bite behind the neck can kill in a split second.

[Honeycombe8]

11. Well, you can own it, but not walk it on a leash. Still, it can happen.

I was certainly in control of a cocker spaniel I used to have. But he took off from me as we were walking thru the front door to go outside on our walk...the leash just slid through my hand. He had never done that before. He was running to bark at another dog walking in front of our yard. No harm done. Dog owner very angry despite my apology and no harm done. I got to my dog quickly, and all he was doing was barking at the dog walking by. My dog was a cocker spaniel..not an attack dog.

So accidents do happen. Still, it was my fault that I wasn't holding the leash in a way to prevent that. I have other dogs now, and I always hold the leash at all times in such a way that that won't happen.

Just sayin' that this is not a perfect world. Accidents happen. But the owner is still responsible.

Horrible thing to have happened.

[bluedigger]

13. I agree that accidents do happen.

I don't know the particulars of this incident as I wasn't there. And control can be either physical or verbal, or hand commands even. Certainly nobody is perfect - I've dropped my dog's leash a few times, but never had her pull it out of my hands. (I take that back - same thing happened as you described - I got caught awkwardly leaving the house when she ran to say hello to a passing dog as we exited and banged my knuckles on the door frame. ) I've also seen her ignore deer when she was off leash - she isn't very aggressive. The key is to know your dog and be prepared for what it will do. This wouldn't have been a story if it wasn't for the Gifford's connection.

[Honeycombe8]

18. The story says it was an American Bulldog. That's a big, powerful dog. Any owner

would know, I should think, that a dog like that needs to be controlled and firmly held on leash at all times in public. And you'd have to be strong enough to hold him back, if need be. Personally, as an average sized woman, I wouldn't own a big powerful dog like that. I wouldn't be able to control him, if he wanted to do something. I would own, say, a golden retriever or Great Dane, if I wanted a larger dog, since they are so docile and sweet natured. Even then, they could take off chasing something if they wanted to...what would I be able to do about it?

[bluedigger]

20. And it could have been a puppy.

I don't have enough facts to make a judgement in this case.

[Honeycombe8]

22. True. Not enuf facts. nt

[theHandpuppet]

31. Exactly!

When you own a powerful dog, the least a person can do is make sure dog and owner have had extensive obedience training.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. Is "American bulldog" a softer and more gentler way of saying pit-bull?

[flvegan]

5. I'm curious about that interesting leap you took there.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

24. You do understand, don't you, that there is a difference between a question and a conclusion?

[flvegan]

28. Sure do. Answer the question.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

32. Here was my question: "Is "American bulldog" a softer and more gentler way of saying pit-bull?"

Your response, "I'm curious about that interesting leap you took there" is a nonsensical one and does not establish that anyone took a leap, interesting or otherwise.

You indicate that you didn't understand my question the first time.

You indicate that you didn't understand my question the second time.

Do you need the question to be repeated again?

Quite frankly, most people understand questions the first time. But some are slower. Take as much time as you need.

[flvegan]

38. No, indicate that you are yet another clueless idiot drawing conclusions that you don't get.

Because, once again, you can't speak to the leap you made.

Sorry, but that's what it is.

Slower...on you. Get after it.

[DollarBillHines]

6. The American Bulldog is a breed, pit bulls are a 'type'

The bulldog is taller and heavier than the average pit.

[Honeycombe8]

14. I've seen that pic before. I think it's an Italian breed called Dogo or something. Not

a pit bull.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

25. The two pictures are totally different. This one looks as friendly as a WW II Italian soldier.

Notice the non-threatening gaze?

[Honeycombe8]

34. Oh, I didn't mean the pic I posted was the same. Same breed of dog.

Dogos look a lot like pit bulls. That looks like a dogo. Maybe it's not, but that's what it looks like to me. Pit bulls have a distinctive face, esp the eyes, that the Dogo doesn't have. Among other things.

The gaze you speak of I think is derived from the unique eyes, sometimes called Devil Eyes. They look like they are threatening you, but sadly, that's just the way their eyes look.

I have the same problem. I have downturned lips....if I don't smile, people think I'm angry or sad, even if I'm in a good mood.

[Honeycombe8]

15. Here are bulldogs

The American Bulldog:


The English Bulldog (more common than the American Bulldog here in America, ironically):



The French bulldog (these are very expensive to buy and owned by people with $, IMO; they are smallish):

[AnotherMcIntosh]

23. The last one looks like it could do some damage to the ankles.

[Honeycombe8]

35. I don't think they're aggressive, which is why they're pampered pets by the wealthy.nt

[Leslie Valley]

27. No, you're thinking of the American Staffordshire Terrier

That's the PC name for the Pitt Bull.

[Honeycombe8]

36. The Am Staff is a different breed from the Pit Bull.

Classed by AKC as "American Staffordshire Terrier" and by UKC as "American Pit Bull Terrier," the American Staffordshire Terrier is generally of larger bone structure, head size and weight then its cousin the American Pit Bull Terrier.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanstaffordshire.htm

[olddots]

4. The Orange County Register manages to to mention Gabby Giffords

in a story she has nothing to do with .

Yes it was dumb to walk a dog like that near other animals if you aren't strong enough to handle it but the winger rag didn't need to involve Gabby Giffords ......well it needed to sell papers .

[Honeycombe8]

19. Any time something involves, even indirectly, a famous person, it's mentioned.

Thing is...how would the reporter have known? Interesting.

[bluedigger]

21. And that is the only reason it made the news.

"Man bites dog" - that's a story.

[Marrah_G]

7. Sad story

I don't see a villian here. The dog was doing what dogs do. Maybe they need to rethink who is walking the dog and maybe some additional training because it's a powerful dog.

[applegrove]

8. Apparently seal pups are starving and heading to shore for some food in mass numbers right now.

Very sad.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. That means these guys will not be far behind, also be looking for food....

[applegrove]

12. .....er.......what a nice smile you have Mr. Shark...

[Honeycombe8]

16. Ruh-roh....

Here he comes

[magical thyme]

9. that is why I use a prong collar

not that my bigger dog would hurt anybody. He would just lick the sea lion pup very clean. But both my dogs are big and strong, and if they are running the same direction, their combined weight is greater than mine and between that and 8 legs to my 2, they could get me off my feet with enough motivation.

The collars don't hurt them, but if they bolt they do feel it. All the training in the world is great, but I feel much safer should there be an emergency event. Each of them once saw something and went for it. In both cases, that something was on the other side of a busy street and the collars saved their lives. They each yipped when they hit the end of the leash, but they never bolted like that again.

I had started with a "gentle leader" type collar, but a dog trainer told me she'd seen dogs break their necks if they bolted with those collars, so on her advice I switched.

[XemaSab]

17. Sad story all around

[itsrobert]

26. Nature in action

n/t

[Live and Learn]

29. Am sure the dog owner felt terrible about it.

Accidents do still happen, believe it or not.

In the meantime, humans legally kill not only sea lions but may other animals and other humans every day.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

33. Aren't sea lions on the Calif coast (Eumetopias jubatus) still on the Endangered Species List?

Have they been removed?

[petronius]

37. This would have been a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), which

is not on the Endangered Species List - it is covered by the MMPA, of course.

E. jubatus is the Steller sea lion, which is listed as threatened in the eastern Pacific, but suggested for removal. Its range doesn't generally extend to Orange County, so this would have been a seriously lost pup if it was a Steller...

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/pinnipeds/stellersealion.htm

http://sciencedude.blog.ocregister.com/2009/02/04/naturalists-startled-by-sight-of-rare-sea-lion-off-newport/17314/

[Socal31]

30. Nature.

Not pretty, not something I personally would want to see. However, I surely wont blame a dog or a human for it.