Animals become dangerous because they were maltreated by their owners and when the media has exaggerated the danger of its breed to the public. A very good example of lies in society is the concept of the people on the breed of Pit bull Terriers.
Currently, pit bulls have been reported by the media with very horrific and disturbing news of having attacked a child or being shot by a police due to aggression while some are reported to have been abused or neglected by its owners (Forderer and Unkelbach 534). And because the reports keep coming with heated discussions, more and more people have forged a frightening image of pit bulls even to the extreme of refusing to take care of such breed. Pit bull advocates claim that the dogs get a bad reputation considering that people should learn the dogs are not inherently aggressive. What the pit bull advocates would like to point is that the owners of the pit bulls should be considered guilty for mishandling of their own dogs. There are owners of pit bulls that even encourage the dog to be aggressive in order to fight and protect them in a wrong manner and wrong degree of training (Forderer and Unkelbach 536). Pit bull advocates claimed that a well socialized and well trained pit bull would be very intelligent and could be one of the gentle dogs imaginable.
Thesis Statement: Pit bulls are like any breed of dogs that needs to be handled properly by their owners because they can be taught to be less aggressive and more loyal.
II. The Breed
The American Pit Bull is considered as a genuine breed because there are various breeds of pit bull that could have been mixed with other dogs. Pit bulls were raised for baiting larger animals during the hunting seasons. With the faithfulness of t...
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...e of their loyalty to their owners and how they did well with their job (Foster 54). During the World War I, pit bulls were asked to warn soldiers of gas attacks, found wounded men and even listened and warned soldiers of artillery rounds. Even in movies and advertisements, pit bulls were also famous in the campaigns of Levis, Buster Brown Shoes and even Wells Fargo. And even during the World War II. President Theodore Roosevelt kept a pit bull. During the World Trade Center incident of 9/11, pit bulls were asked to look for survivors.
Works Cited
Forderer, Sabine and Unkelbach, Christian. Hating the cute kitten or loving the aggressive pit bull: EC effects depend on CS–US relations. Cognition and Emotion, No. 26 Vol. 3., 2012, pp. 534 – 540.
Foster, Ken. I'm a Good Dog: Pit Bulls, America's Most Beautiful and Misunderstood Pet.
New York: Studio, 2012.
Pit bulls, like any other dog, grow into their temperament. The way the dog is raised rounds out their character and general temperament. According to the “American Temperament Test Society: Pit bulls pass temperament tests 84.1% of the time, which ranks them slightly better than golden retrievers (83.8%) and cocker spaniels (81.7%), and well above miniature schnauzers (78.6%),” (The Biting Truth). Myths have generated atrocious attitudes towards this breed for years. The nature of the dog to be a protector to children and the bulky build of pit bulls makes them a very easy breed to target. These opinions ...
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there is a “great deal of confusion associated with the label ‘Pit Bull,’” as it does not refer to a single breed of dog, but rather to a group of breeds with similar characteristics1. These characteristics include short hair, a wide skull and shoulders, muscle definition, stocky build and a deep jawline, the combination of which create a dog that manages to strike fear into a perfect stranger. The term ‘Pit Bull’ is derived from the bulldog, which was originally bred as a hunting dog for large game, but has since developed into a “loyal companion rather than a working dog.”1 Their history as “gripping dogs” for hunters follows them into modern society, as many of these dogs have been inhumanely pitted against one another as well as other animals for sport and for human entertainment1. It is because of these illegal fighting rings that ‘Pit Bull’ type breeds have become the subje...
Many people associate a negative connotation with the dog breed “pit bull.” These dogs are thought to be dangerous and problematic. However, much of this can be attributed to the mass amounts of negative media attention that pit bull breeds receive as opposed to other breeds of dogs that can be just as dangerous. For example, The National Canine Research Council did a four-day study on dog-bite repo...
Just the sight of a pit bull instills apprehension and even fear in some people, who believe the dog may attack them for no reason and not let go. Many communities have placed this ostracized breed under severe restrictions; some municipalities have implemented bans outlawing ownership of the breed. Today’s society regards the pit bull as the most vicious and unpredictable of all dog breeds, whereas admirers of the pit bull believe this misconception stems from irresponsible owners and the inflammatory and negative publicity concerning this breed.
There are a lot of facts and information about pit bulls that the public does not know. The media blows things way out of proportion with this breed of dog and doing simple research can shed some light. “There are three main types of ‘pit bulls,’ they are the Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and American Staffordshire Terriers” (Pit Bull Rescue Center). The Staffordshire bull terrier is originally from England. When it was brought over to the states it was bred with other terriers and the American Staffordshire came to be. Often times people classify dogs that look a certain way as pit bulls, when in fact they are an entirely different breed or a mix of some sort.
Pit Bulls are without a doubt my favorite dog, I adore them. Pit Bulls are very well tempered, loyal, and resilient animals. Bred for big game hunting, Pit Bulls are strong, fierce animals and people who have the wrong intentions for ownership should never own them. I am a strong believer that a potential pet owner should do lots of research before getting any type of animal, without exception. Owners should do as much research before getting a dog as they do in planning for a new home or any other new family member. One of the main things to really think about and understand is your intentions for your selection of an animal with the breeding of the Pit Bull. If you choose a dog with the wrong intentions, specifically a Pit Bull, you will get a dog that behaves aggressively and is dangerous. This owner behavior is what has caused the current plight of the Pit Bull today, where laws have been passed in thirteen states and hundreds of municipalities, as well as every U. S. Military base, banning the ownership of the breed and forcing shelters to euphonize Pit Bulls within 24 hours. These laws are unjust and cruel, and victimize the breed based on the owners’ behavior. I also argue that the blame for the epidemic proportions that the laws have reached is 100% the fault of owners who purposely acquired the Pit Bull with the intention to abuse and fight the dogs, and that these owners are the ones who should be punished, not the dogs. (Davis)
The media’s attack on pit bulls started when drug dealers were chaining them up using them as a weapon against police. In the media Pit Bulls and portrayed as vicious dogs that attack owners, strangers, and children without warning. There are several other breeds that bite and attack, however you only hear about the pit bulls. For example if on day one a Lab mix bites a child you will see it in the newspaper the following day; day two when a Great Dane bites two adults you will see it on the news the next day; day three a Rottweiler attacks an elderly woman in her backyard and it is aired on all network stations; day four a Pit Bull Terrier bites a mailman and you will hear and see it on every station in the country. This is a good example
In the early stages of America, many immigrants brought their Family Pit Bulls over as part of their families. Although the dogs were bred for fighting sports, they were also incredibly intelligent. They were used for a variety of jobs that included farming, protecting the family farm from predators, watching their children, and providing loyal companionship. When the popularity of newspapers and media grew, many Pit Bulls were recognized for the number of the good deeds they performed. Pit Bulls have earned their place as an important part of the fabric of our developing
They say they see pit bulls are overly dangerous and overly abused by humans. They say that pitbulls , account for 75% of canine-inflicted human deaths. It is undisputed that pit bulls are the most abused dog. They are nurtured for the specific purpose of violence, the dogs are treated cruelly to make them as dangerous as possible, and are mostly abandoned when they are not vicious enough for their devilish
Professional dog trainer and whisperer, Cesar Millan believes that, “We don’t have to kill them. We don’t have to ban them. We have to educate the human” (Kadumaan). Believe it or not, human negligence and naivety almost always relate to every pit bull attack. Whether people do not spend enough time with their dog or do not take the proper precautions when they know that their dog reacts negatively to strangers, dog attacks by any breed usually trace back to the owner. Of course the owner seldom takes responsibility, and rather than working with the dogs to improve their behavioral traits, they euthanize. In America, and throughout the world, we have seen this same kind of discrimination in other breeds time after time. In the 1800’s people considered bloodhounds a ferocious breed because of their involvement in tracking and taking down runaway slaves. In World War II people discriminated against german shepherds that often found themselves associated with the Nazis. Rottweilers, Dobermans, Mastiffs, and countless other breeds have all seen human scrutiny in the past. Studies show that 84% of pit bulls involved in fatal dog attacks grew up in neglecting or abusing households, and another 86% involved unneutered male dogs. Even the White House supports pit bulls and their advocates. In a 2013 statement issued by President Obama himself, he argued, “We
b. “Many people have a difficult time properly identifying a true Pit Bull, so added to the statistics are those dogs that have been misidentified. Considering these factors, the actual number of attacks attributable to American Pit Bull Terriers is considerably lower than represented,” according to the real pit bull. i. Do you think a 4 pound Pomeranian dog would hurt anybody? ii. Stated in the Dog Bite Law, “The most horrifying example of the lack of breed predictability is the October 2000 death of a 6-week-old baby, which was killed by her family 's Pomeranian dog.” a. The American Temperament Test is a test that measures a dog strong avoidance, unprovoked aggression, and panic without recovery. “American Pit Bull Terriers passed the test at a rate of 85.3%,” according to Pitbulls.org. They have the highest test scores, and they out beat the golden retriever “family dog” by 7.7%. iii. I identify the justice of my rival’s claim, but I disagree with my rival’s 100 percent about pit bulls having the highest attacks. c. Now you can see how my rival made a mistake because they didn’t evaluate and understood the facts as clearly as they
Even though pit bulls are the majority of dog attacks anybody hears about, they are loyal and caring dogs. All they want is the love and approval of their owners. They will do anything that they are told to do. Their strength, stamina, and speed fuel the passion they have for their owners. Pit bulls are not vicious by nature; they are good guard dogs fueled by the love for their family; and, they are definitely loyal friends. They have a lower temperament than many other well-known breeds; therefore, they are not vicious by nature at all. They are very strong guard dogs. Pit bulls are known to be a scary breed, so people stay away from them. They have an amazing amount of speed and stamina that they can use to chase predators away, too. Pit bulls are the best friends anyone could ask for. They are loyal and loving creatures that just want to please their family. They are good dogs to train to be around children. If the children are a part of the dog’s family, then the dog will protect the child at all costs. Pit bulls are a good breed to have as a family
Regardless of the history of the pit bull breed, and the lack of knowledge in the field of animal genetics, many people still agree with breed specific legislation (BSL), more commonly in the form of pit bull breed bans. However, there are those who still believe genetics play a small role in the aggressive nature of the Pit Bull. These individuals contend that because breeders once bred and used these dogs for fighting, that the whole breed still poses a significant danger to the public and, therefore are not suitable as pets in today’s society (Preis, 2014).
A common stereotype of “pit bulls are vicious animals” used as an excuse for why parents will not allow their children to go over to a pit bull owning person’s house to play with other children. In recent times the pit bull has received a bad reputation from the media due to dog fighting cases and false stories. During both world wars the American Pit Bull Terrier was used for many military propaganda posters because of its powerful and loyal characteristics as well as held officer positions in the military. Many households, such as my own, find the breed to be the best pets for their families because Pit Bulls are very protective and loving dogs. Even though Pit bulls can have an aggressive behavior if not trained properly, I believe the American
Throughout the years society has sought many different forms of entertainment. For instance, in ancient roman times there were many different forms of entertainment. One form was chariot racing where they used a set of four horses on about seven different teams and raced. There was also Gladiators, which were usually prisoners who would fight to the death. Then came along dog fighting. Dog fighting is a cruel sport that people do illegally. Two dogs are faced to fight and try to kill the other, the winner is presented when the other dog can no longer fight, and therefore it dies. Sounds cruel, right? Humans seek entertainment for many different reasons and sadly, fighting, whether it is watching human beings fighting or watching animals fighting it seems to be the most sought after for entertainment.