Should Pit Bulls Be Banned?
The Pasadena Humane Society bans pit bulls. We found a large stray dog and took him to the Humane Society. They said he was part pit bull and told us he would be put down if they took him. They said they had had many problems with pit bulls and had banned them. Fortunately for the dog, our neighbor immediately found a home for him and his owners have had no problems with him.
I have a secret vice: I am addicted to "People's Court." Many cases of dogs biting people or attacking other dogs come up and many of the culprits are pit bulls. Judge Millian believes that pit bulls are bad news.
Should pit bulls be banned? In studies of dog bites, pit bulls are overrepresetned among dogs that have seriously injured or killed human beings. Pit bulls have been banned in several Western European countries, many towns and cities in the United States, and in China. Most pit bulls don't bite anyone but they have a statistically higher probability of doing so than most other breeds.
Pit bull defenders will argue that the breed is very friendly, good with children and well socialized. They argue that it is not the breed that is bad but what bad owners do with the breed. This is probably true but bad owners are attracted to pit bulls because of their reputation for aggressiveness. An angry, macho person would probably not buy a toy poodle and even if he did, the poodle just can't do the damage that the pit bull can. Pit bulls are dangerous because aggressive traits can be bred in by unscrupulous breeders, or because these traits can be trained in by a trainer, and reinforced by owners. An article in the "New Yorker" reports that between the 1970s and the 1990s more than 25 breeds were involved in fatal attacks. However, pit bulls were in the lead. The CDC states that between 1979 and 1996 279 people in the United States were killed by dogs. Of these, 60 were killed by pit bulls with 29 rottweilers coming in second. Many insurance companies will not cover you for homeowner's insurance if you have a pit bull.
Actually, pit bulls are not one breed but belong to several related breeds such as the American Staffordshire terrier, the Staffordshire bull terrier, and the American bull terrier. All have square, muscular bodies, a short snout, and a shorthaired coat. All these breeds are banned where pit bulls are banned.
Pit bulls originally worked with cattle and were bred to stand up to bulls. Then, in England, they were used in the "sport" of bear baiting or bull baiting. This was banned in 1835 but underground dog fighting became popular. Pit bulls were bred to display dominance and aggressiveness toward other dogs. They will keep on fighting even though they may be in great pain and they don't seem to recognize the submissive behavior (rolling over on back) displayed by other dogs. Like all terriers, they hold, shake, and tear. It is a myth that their jaws lock in a bite over which they have no control. When they attack they tend not to give any warning like growling.
I live in the Los Angeles area and every time I hear of someone, usually a child, killed or mauled by a dog, I think pit bull and usually I am right. These are potentially wonderful dogs that have been bred and trained to kill.
The Humane Society, insurance companies, and statistics all can't be wrong.
Too many dogs and people have been killed or maimed by pit bulls. Pit bulls should be banned.
Published by sandra bell
icon photo by Elvis Santana View profile
Misconceptions Have Led to Breed Specific Legislation Against Pit BullsEvery year there are laws that are passed against Pit Bulls. These kinds of breed specific legislation are based on misconceptions.- Profile of the American Pit Bull TerrierIs the American Pit Bull Terrier the dog for you? Find out here...
- Man & His American Pit Bull TerrierAmerican Pit Bull Terriers are very noble, sought-after pets. I describe my first hand experience with ownership.
How to Own a Safe and Happy American Pit Bull TerrierIn this article I will attempt to educate the new Pit bull owner how to keep their dog safe and happy.- The Attack on Pit BullsMisinformation is stereotyping this breed and causing laws to ban the dog.
- Pit Bulls: Misunderstood Pups
- Why Are Some Pit Bulls Naturally Mean and Others Very Mild?
- Dogs: Pit Bulls Unfairly Labeled as a Vicious Breed
- The Pit Bull; Completely Misunderstood
- American Pit Bull Terrier - Keeping the Beast Under Control
- Can Pit Bulls Make Loving Pets?
- National Canine Research Council Reveals Biased Media Reporting About Pit Bulls
- The Pasadeba Humane Society bans pit bulls.
- Pit bulls are overrepresented among dogs that have killed or mained human beings.
- Pit bulls are bred to fight other dogs.
139 Comments
Post a CommentYes all Pit Bulls Should be Banned in California The Fighting Drugs and gangs
I can not count how many times I have heard of little tiny lap dog s attacking people out of no where, and almost none of them are put to sleep for it. Most animal attacks on humans are based on the sole fact that humans dont know how to handle them or treat them right anyway. If a news report says it "visciously attacked for no reason," I would highly doubt it was for no reason. Humans doing something stupid to the dog is typically the cause for a bite, such as getting your face close, pulling tails, riding them, staring them in the eye (a major challenge to a dog) or hurting or taunting them.
If you think Pitbulls have a lot of bite records based on what ones were actually reported, why not look at the countless bites of little dogs that ARE NOT reported. Just because they are "small and cute" does not excuse them for the same thing that Pitbulls are euthanized for. Yes, Pitbulls can generally do much more damage, but small dogs can do plenty as well and are the same species and therefore should be treated the same. Chihuahuas are known to be much more aggressive for "no reason" than Pits, it just doesnt make it to the news because the bites arent reported.
And just because you dont like dogs is no reason to take the joy of them away from those who do. If you like sports, plenty of people get hurt doing that, sports arent banned. If you like cats, cats claw people all the time, same thing. Why arent they banned?
As my always-so-wise dog instructor tells me "Praise the Dog, Smack the Handler"
Pitbulls are not a breed for every person, and you cannot judge the breed as a whole based on a select few that are viscious. Pitbulls are the 4 highest breed to pass shelter socialization exams out of all the breeds, and just because you havent heard of any other breed attack, doesnt mean they dont. They just dont make it to the news because they are "small and cute therefore we should forgive them" or because "labs dont bite, it must have had a reason or been a fluke." Yet when a Pitbull is cornered or chased with a rake by a stupid human and growls snarles or snaps it is put to sleep based on a steriotype. I have known way more aggressive Labs and nasty little Lap-Rats than Pitbulls. And I am not saying that just because these are aggressive that the breeds are bad, my uncle has a Lab that bit his daughters in the mouth, she is still a sweetheart, but I guarantee you if she were a Pit, she'd be dead now.
I have only known one Pitbull that was aggressive, it almost killed my Coonhound. And I blame the owner for not controlling his dog. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having an aggressive dog so long as the owner realizes it, and takes responsible action to prevent issues. My borzoi is dog aggressive, almost stronger than me and if he wants to kill a chihuahua, he darn well could. But preventing him from having the opportunity is the responsible action, and he has never, knok-on-wood, bitten another dog. Same case with my mixed breed, he has actually almost gotten over his dog aggression entirely.
Just because a dog is dog aggressive or even human aggressive, does not mean the dog has to be killed. And for heavens sake, stop blaming an entire breed for a few's actions! A select few humans have killed other people, does that mean all humans should get the death penalty?
Those of you who advocate so strongly for pits apparently are not up-to-date on the statistics relating to dog attacks on innocent people and other animals involving pits. I will be happy to email you the pictures from yesterday (6/24/11) where a pair 1 - male and 1 - female came onto private property and mauled my miniature horse in his stall. I cannot imagine how he could be responsible for this vicious attack. You folks need to face the facts that this breed and rottweilers are more vicious by nature than other breeds period. When was the last time you read or heard about an attack that involved another breed? They may not be banned, but if those two are found they won't attack anything or anyone ever again!
I have a pit myself. I got him for my first Christmas from my husband. He is almost two and we have had him since he was four weeks old. His father was one of the Vick rescue dogs and his mother was a full pit. However in the almost two years we have had him he has not made any attempt to be malicious or hurt any other creatures with the exception of a few mice when we moved two months ago. I have a small mini-rex bunny and two hamsters. He had been allowed to play with all of them. We have several small nieces and nephews that have all had their turn playing with him. One of the children about 15 months old decided to chew on his ear. She drew blood when she bit him while playing. His response was to yelp and quickly get as far away from her as possible. He made no attempt to retaliate and about two hours after that they were back to playing with each other. Just because breed has a propensity to be violent does not mean they will be. My step daughters have three shitzus
pitbulls are ranked as one of the friendliest dogs yes physically they are designed as a fighting dog but the are actually less of a danger to humans as other dogs. they are relitively small in comparison to many other breeds and the ony reason it is commen that this dog is a dog bite culprite is because people in lower class life stryles have easy access to them if they are bann they will qucklybe replaced by larger less human freindly breeds if you think im lieing we canfuther discuss this email me at urban_element@live.com
No I think stupid people should be ban! Yes I will agree the this breed can be more aggresive than other breeds. A bad owner can make a golden aggresive. I do think that there should be stronger permitts if you want to own this type of dog. I own 2 pit mixed dogs my dog can walk down the street and not stray away from me. No one ever thinks about all the service the pitbull has done for it country. They were used in WW2 along side the german shepard and Rotties. These dogs have such a bad rap because of the fighting of them. That is a true injustice! People walk down the street and will cross the street because they see what they think is a pitbull. All terriers will chase anything or anyone that runs, but to ban an entier breed because owns are not taking the responceability to heart, really sucks for people like me that have great (babies) dog. That would be like saying ban Beer because that kills people as well. Its not the beer its the owner!!!!
you people who wanna banned pitbulls are idiots should we banned certain ethnic groups cause they comitted more crimes than another pitbulls kill 3 people a year smoking 444,000 second hand smoke 30,000 cars 40,000 guns 25,000 an you are concerned with this breed of dog well lets put you in a cage abuse you an starve you an then make fight someone to the death an see if you come out agressive my bet is on you will be prolly violent enough to hurt someone again if you get the chance get a life an concentrate on all the other things that is hurting people like cigarettes an leave these poor animals alone an blame the idiotic owners who dont no how to treat animals
http://pit-bulls.christianfunfair.org/attacks.htm
The Last Smart Person first off, what makes a human life any more valuable then a dog, humans like all animals are capable of being saddistic or kind, "Most Pitbull attacks end in death" how do u know this? will it make the news if the person weant owe owe and drove to the hospital to get stitches?