Don't Hate Me Because I'm a Pit Bull
Breed specific legislation is unenforceable, ineffective, absurd, and more about lazy legislators, enforcement agents, and insurance companies than public safety. It is most seen in attempts to ban pit bulls from the world, or most notably in Denver where they are banned. The fact that pit bulls are not a breed at all seems irrelevant.
The fact that many dogs are mutts and therefore cannot be identified as a specific breed at all seems extraneous. The fact that Chihuahuas and Cocker Spaniels are at the top of the most likely to bite list, while pit bulls are often not even on the list, seems like unnecessary information. And, the fact that it is human criminals that train many breeds of dogs to be their accomplices is a fact that is completely ignored. The result - persecution of the pit bull, prosecution of responsible human companions, and preposterous consequences.
For example - in Denver, a loyal family pet is taken away and euthanized just for appearing to be a pit bull whereas any other dog is entitled to a hearing if their behavior was problematic. Nervous Nellies and "not in my backyarders" become consumed with fear if they learn that a neighbor has a pit bull. Ignorant insurance companies, suddenly concerned for the safety of its customers pile on and refuse to provide homeowners insurance policies for those with these dogs. The list goes on.
Lawmakers and enforcement personnel look for the easiest way to cope which means the use of a number, a label, a color or a one size fits all mandate in order to reduce the need for critical thinking, fact finding and imagination. It is essentially stereotyping and profiling in the worst way.
As expected they spend most of their time in court defending the indefensible - the fact - it is not a pit bull, and the principle - too broad to be constitutional. Think about this - man teaches dog to bite everyone. The dog does what he/she was taught. All dogs that look like that dog are banned!
Instead of discriminating be discerning. All dogs can bite. All dogs can be gentle. Any breed can be a genetic lemon, and any breed can be the best dog ever. Mean people who try to make their dogs vicious (all breeds) are the ones who should be prosecuted. And, legislators, enforcement personnel and insurance companies should be better than this.
Finally, the state of California prohibits breed specific legislation UNLESS it is to mandate that specific breeds must be spay or neutered. All of the above applies. It doesn't work and it doesn't address the issues of responsible pet ownership and pet overpopulation. It's a slower way to wipe out a specific breed.
In case you are wondering - spcaLA does adopt out pit bulls.
OV Social
It is fascinating how genetics is readily accepted in dogs when it comes to pointing, retrieving and herding but when it comes to fighting dogs, dogs that pose an extreme danger to animals and people, you fall back on environment and the tired worn out excuse "it's all how you train them" crap. You guys are hypocrites.
not EVERYONE who owns a pitbull type dog discredits the genetics of what these dogs were breed to do.(whether it be fighting And I happen to be one of those. The dogs that were BREED to be pointing, retrieving or hearding dogs obviously do just that. And yes, to an extent pitbulls who were breed to be fighting dogs do just that...with the help of those that contribute to them being fighting dogs.Not everyone does. But I do believe and its my OPINION with facts from BOTH sides that, if these dogs were breed to be fighting dogs, that these dogs (with time) could also be breed to do the opposite. And yes, regardless of breed it IS how you train the dogs. No, youre right, you cant just say its how you train them, because (again) regardless of breed even training can only go so far.
The American Staff Terrier, which is obviously part of the "pitbull" breed is used for sport. No, not the dog fighting sport. Agility, obedience, tracking and confirmation...THAT is what some people have these dogs for, because they are highly intelligent. The cross of another sport Terrier and a Bulldog (which the bulldog was used for bullbaiting) is how you get the American Staff.
If people would have these dogs and not take advantage of what they can do, then there wouldnt be as many problems as we have today.
And again I ask, if BSL would get as far as they'd like, which is to completely get rid of the "pitbull" breed, then what next. Pitbulls, are gone. No more pitbull related deaths or bites. Is that the end of it? No. It would just be the next breed on the top of the list. Its a never ending cycle.
Instead of completely trying to eradicate the breed, why not put greater restrictions. Hell, even go as far as anyone that would like to own a dog considered pitbull, have to go to classes, get a background check. We do it do be able to buy guns . Why not do the same for owning this "dangerous" breed? I bet the responsible owners of this breed would be willing to do just that. I know I would. You know, those of us that take the time to train and work with them. To give them the attention that they deserve in a positive manner.
Pointing, retrieving, and herding are not instinctual acts. No puppy is born knowing how to do any of those things. They have to be taught how to do so.
Genetics can be credited with breeding certain physical traits that lends then well to these things, but these behaviors have to be taught.
So no, you can't blame genetics here. No hypocrisy at all. If you don't like pit bulls don't own one! That simple.
Not every pitbull will turn and bite your face off. No Matter what website, what article, etc. you read, there will ALWAYS be opposing sides and views. I personally own 2 pitbulls and have never had a problem with either. And guess what. I have a 16month old daughter that love them with all her heart and the dogs show their affection right back. Our female has been nothing but "motherly" towards her. Go ahead and call me a "bad mother", "irresponsible parent" you can even go as far as saying that I dont love my daughter because I have pitbulls. I've heard it all before. No matter how many statistics there are against the "pitbull" breed there will always be those who disagree (even with evidence). No Matter how many statistics there are FOR the breed, there will always be those who disagree with those too.
To an extent I agree with BSL. I see this as people trying to completely get rid of the "pitbull" breed. Assume they accomplish just that. There will just be another breed that they go after, in my opinion. As for agreeing with BSL to an extent, I dont believe you should ban every dog just for having "pitbull" in them or whatever. And you cant just go by, Punish the Deed not the Breed, because yes, there are those people that say they have the sweetest pitbull in the world and years later the dog attacks for whatever reason. Whether it be "just because" or "provoked". So instead of banning the breed why not have restrictions. Lets say, all dogs have to go through basic training (which any dog should). Then go through a temperament test like the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) by the AKC. Both my dogs have, passed with flying colors. Me personally, Id be willing to pay a little more rent, re-test my dogs every 2 years, JUST so we can keep them and prove that not all pitbulls are these vicious, violent killing machines. Because I dont think all of them are. I am and will always be an advocate for this breed no matter what. Because I do believe that with the right enviroments, the correct training..everything, that these dogs ARE good dogs.
Since Madeline commented on her article on another article regarding permitting pit bulls, I thought I would return the favor.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/pit-bulls-can-permits-protect-dogs-from-bad-owners
first of all the article is correct there is not a breed called a pit bull. There are over 20 breeds that are some times called a pit bull not to mention all the cross breed dogs. As far as dogbite.org. the site is run by colleen lynn a web developer who knows nothing about dogs. she claims to have been bitten by a pit bull type dog.. but considering American Pit Bull Rescues only identify the breed correctly 25% of the time when compared to DNA analysis I doubt if she really knows what kind of dog bite her. Her expertise is collecting stories from media outlets... I am sure news reports are experts in identifying an American PIt Bull... I have read stories of 100 lb pit bulls... this is like a 40 lb toy poodle...
All dogs are basically what the owner makes of them. My dogs could be mean but I have choosen to socialize them and train them and treat them like members of my family...
I lost one to bone cancer recently she never bite anyone or any other animal so for those who say wait and see... I say go pound on some sand.
Just google "pit bull" and see all the rescues, breeders that plainly show that yes, indeed, there is such a thing as a pit bull. Here's one of your myths shot to hell: http://blog.dogsbite.org/2010/05/1909-fatality-john-p-colbys-fighting.html
After Colby's death in 1941, his wife Florence continued the Colby breeding program. She was also the president of the Staffordshire Club of America. As stated in the Sportsman article, she "worked closely with the screening process of the American pit bull terrier into the American Kennel Club under the name Staffordshire," which dispels yet another lie voiced by pit bull advocates that pits and Staffies are two separate breeds.
For those who don't know Colby is considered the Godfather of pit bulls. And this particular post in DBO has the old records to show that the myth of no such breed is just that, a myth.
And with your reasoning BB, why is it that free spay/neuters are offered all over the country to "pit bulls", how are they identifying these non existent pits?
DBO has never claimed to be an expert, it compiles the info so you can read it, check the links, and make your own decision. Scares you I bet because now people have a means to see the statistics and the horrors being caused by pits. It means that people are able to see that you are doing nothing more than spreading the propaganda of the dogmen and breeders. Do you think you are the only person in the world that can correctly identify a pit bull? Far from it. It's the site that you dreaded and now it is here for the world to learn the truth. www.DogsBite.ORG fights to save human lives as well as trying to stop the abuse of pits with regulation. You got a problem with trying to stop the abuse of the breed you claim to love?
It's sad that there is this stigma associated with pit bulls because of what some HUMANS train them to do.
They aren't born bad, they're taught to be bad. And how is that there fault?
My friend has a pit bull, who is seriously like the sweetest thing, yet my other friend has a neighbor with a golden retriever who has bitten me a couple of times now, and who is just downright out of control. Golden retreivers are breeds everyone assumes make amazing family pets, but if they don't grow up in a properly structured environment , then they an be just as dangerous as any other breed of dog.
The only pitbulls that turn mean are those that are trained to be mean.
Raise these dogs right and they're some of the best companions you could ever have. Raise them wrong and you get the stereotypical pitbull.
Blame the humans, not the animals.
What were pits bred to do, what is their genetics, their bloodlines? You don't have to train them, you only train them to be better killers. Yeah, you can blame humans for making these monsters, but that's all. Denying the genetics of pit bulls is denying the whole of purebreds, the genetics that make hounds hunt, shepherds to herd, pointers to point. That's why we have purebreds, because they were bred to do certain things. And pits were designed to kill, not follow the book of all the other breeds. When there is a fight and a dog submits by rolling over and displaying their belly, the fight is over with other dogs. Not with pits, they rip the guts out of a dog that does that. Get off that TLC bit because no amount of TLC can overcome genetics, if that were the case we wouldn't need doctors would we? I've never seen where TLC could restore sight or deafness and neither have I seen where TLC changes the unpredictability of the pit bull. Denial of what pits were made to do is costing lives.