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As most of you already know, Noah, the 7 year old son of Paul Viramontes at Majestic Kennels, was viciously attacked by one of his own dogs a couple of weeks ago. The dog in question was Majestic N KLarr Jolly Roger, aka "Jake". I had Jake here at my own home just days prior to the incident and he interacted with my own children and family as well. I felt the dog was of stable temperament, as did Paul. However, he has had many siblings whose temperaments have gone poor to bad as they got older and reached full sexual maturity. We have also seen similar temperament trends in other relatives, though not to this extent. Due to this fact, that the temperament issues seem to have a clear hereditary component, both Paul and I are STRONGLY urging anyone who owns this pedigree (either Jake's, his siblings, or a linebreeding on relatives), to pay serious attention to any temperament issues. Both of us are completely removing it from our breeding programs, we suggest that anyone owning Jake puppies do the same. Any dogs related to Jake's brothers, particularly overseas, should be very critically evaluated.
This attack was completely unprovoked and the dog intended to do serious harm to both the child and the mother who jumped in to save him. Noah was attacked primarily on the legs (thankfully), and nearly lost his calf muscles. He spent hours in reconstructive and plastic surgery, and still cannot walk. He doesn't yet have enough feeling in the leg to be able to move it properly. His nerves and muscles are now reattaching, but he has lost alot of skin tissues due to the damage and may need additional skin grafts. Right now Paul doesn't want to make him have more surgeries. He has a walker but has not been able to use it well enough yet to return to school. Thankfully, his school has been very supportive and he has spent a few hours there at a time trying to keep up with the class. His mother will have scarring on her hands and legs, she put her hands between her son and the dog and was also attacked on the legs as she dragged the dog away from the boy. I know this sounds awful, but it is a harsh reality that I want everyone to hear. That Paul wants everyone to hear. This was not just a bite, this was not something that could be explained by lack of training or socialization....this was an AmStaff turning the full force of his terrier nature and fighting instinct on humans.
No ribbon is that important....no dog is so good that his temperament should be overlooked....we have seen some "soft" temperaments in all the Ruffians for some time now, and this is a tragic tragic result of not taking the problem more seriously. I have seen it myself and have not had a hard enough hand in culling these dogs. I am open to speaking with anyone who would like to hear more about the temperament issues and the pedigrees. I am also compiling some scientific information on this sort of temperament dysfunction, to try to use scientific fact to convince breeders to take temperament very, very seriously.
I hope that others take this opportunity to learn a lesson that they do not have to live themselves.
This email is being sent to non-Ruffian folks to spread the word, the truth needs to be out. Please send to others if you feel it may be constructive. If you would like to send Paul a card, email me for his address. I know this has devastated him as a parent and he is finished as a breeder. He could use some support, not blame.
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