Many households in America own a beloved pet, known as man’s best friend. Dogs are a cherished member of the family. They aid as a best friend and good companion whenever we are in a moment of sadness or joy. However, imagine someone forcing you to remove a pet from the family just because it falls into the “dangerous” breeds list. This is the type of situation inflicted on many people as a result of breed specific banning. They target groups of animals who are viewed as a big threat to the public. What if your pet was loving, kind, and gentle but fell into the banned breeds list? No one would be able to resist this change without having to pay excessive amounts of money for restraints, just in case another attack would occur. Pit bulls, especially, …show more content…
have gotten a bad history for violent attacks against humans and becoming extremely destructive. Many people fear the breed because they view them as extremely vicious from seeing awful news reports.
While there have been numerous attacks and deaths against humans, banning an entire breed is not the solution or justified because breed-specific bans do not eliminate the problem, it is not solely the fault of a dog that it becomes aggressive, and they were once an American favorite in the past. The negative effects that breed specific bans impose blind many people.
It is easy to forget that Pit bulls did not always have such a bad history and were once an American favorite. "Far from being considered a killing machine on legs, pit bulls seem to be an American favorite in the early half of the century — indeed, during World War I, the country itself is personified as a pit bull on army recruitment posters, and several pit bulls go on to become famous in the American military” (Bastian). People do not realize that they were a beloved breed and did not have such a horrible reputation for causing fatalities. It is not impossible to train this breed to become obedient and gentle towards humans. However, for this to happen, it starts with the reasons why this once loving breed, turned so violent. Not all the blame that is unleashed solely on the dog can continue because they turn into what their owners create. The way we view Pit bulls and other
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“aggressive” breeds has changed drastically. They once had a great rap and the focus should be to repair their tarnished reputation in a more effective way. People forget about their kind nature obtained a while back, "Yet it only takes a brief look at the history of pit bulls to realize that the dogs are not the problem; the humans who misuse them are. For over a hundred years, holding the owners personally responsible was enough to prevent attacks, and the breed was perceived as very child-friendly” (Bastian). The people who do not take responsibility and care for their dogs have a huge impact on the way they act. This is true for humans as well, because no one can expect children to grow up knowing right from wrong without guidance. These pit bulls do what they are taught and cannot possibly object to their commands. They are extremely loyal and submit to their masters, even if those people are not looking out for what is best for everyone. They do not care about the consequences, are selfish, and have total disregard for the well-being of Pit bulls, or dogs in general. Pit bulls deserve better than being the blame for all attacks and not caring about their physical and emotional state. Breed specific legislation shows neglect and no reasoning towards these animals because of the horrible actions of others. Their history was tampered by the irresponsible handlings of dog owners and their malicious ways. Many factors go into their bad reputation, however, one is very prominent. It is not always solely the fault of a dog that it becomes aggressive. Dog fighting is a cruel “sport” that has persisted, despite being illegal, for a very long time and is still going on today. It is a huge factor that results in Pit bulls turning so malicious and are received as a big danger to people. It is a sport that thousands of people glorify enough to participate and gamble on the suffering of these dogs. "For one thing, despite being illegal in all fifty states, dog fighting made a comeback in the 80s, and the pit bull is the dog of choice. It is also the preferred guard dog for drug dealers and gangs” (Bastian). As a result of dog fighting, owners who practice in this harsh sport do an injustice to their dogs by forcing them to kill for their own selfish reasons. These dogs become punished for something they cannot control because they are forced into this lifestyle. Unfortunately, breed specific bans are only focusing on a drastic fix that only punishes the dogs within these breeds that are innocent and could be cared for by responsible people. They are not targeting the main concern which is irresponsible owners who break the law and abuse these animals to the point where they will kill. They tortured in a pit and forced to fight with other dogs for entertainment, and their training is also gruesome. These dogs endure terrible treatment that leaves emotional and physical scarring which is to the advantage of people who participate in dog fighting. When Pit bulls or any dog, is surrounded by this amount of hostility and brutal behavior, it is expected that they will retaliate when given another situation. Such as, being forced to protect its owner, under any circumstance, even if it means attacking innocents. The actions of these Pit bulls also effect the entire breed when we retaliate by putting bans all over the country. The environment they are in has a massive influence on their actions and there needs to be more sympathy for their pain. There are always stories about kids or adults being abused and in a less than ideal situation. Sometimes we have control over it and most of the time not. We always project sympathy and understanding for their suffering, so it should be the same for dogs who experience similar abuse and forced into a bad circumstance. “The fights have become "entertainment," the people who promote the fights, and who breed and train the dogs, are role models for the children. By virtue of their involvement, the people are felons and, equally often, gang members” (Cummins Chapter 6). This is not a good example to set for children when they are tempted to watch animals. It shows a lack of importance for animal life and total disregard for their well-being. This leads into the pressing question of, are these laws the best approach to this problem? Will they give the best advantage for everyone and help the huge problem with dog fighting? When given the chance, we should be aiding Pit bulls and eliminating the source of the problem.
Blaming them on their actions, which they cannot control, will never solve the problem. Banning an entire breed where many have not done anything wrong will not improve anything either. A huge factor is Breed-specific laws have many flaws that people are unaware of. These laws result in, “dogs going into hiding, good owners and dogs being punished, imparting a false sense of security, and may actually encourage ownership by irresponsible people” (The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals). This shows a less than proactive approach to the situation because it represents very negative results to the problem. It forces innocent dogs and owners into an uncomfortable situation that could be avoided by focusing on a better solution. This results in not getting proper care from the vet, pulls attention away from other laws that can make a bigger difference, and can tempt irresponsible dog owners to engage in illegal activities because it goes against the rules (The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals). Breed specific bans generate inconvenience for people and dogs who are innocent and do not break any laws. It is not fair to punish everyone as a whole because of the reckless actions of others. Many people have committed unthinkable crimes and murders, however, humans are not all bad. It would not be fair to label the human race as selfish and
ruthless just because a handful of people are. So, how is it fair to target breeds, especially Pit bulls, who are set up for their crimes and wrong doings? “There is no evidence that breed-specific laws—which are costly and difficult to enforce—make communities safer for people or companion animals. For example, Prince George’s County, MD, spends more than $250,000 annually to enforce its ban on Pit Bulls” (The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals). Instead of spending an abundance of time and resources trying to ban a breed of dogs, we should start at the source of the problem, which is people who are careless and not accountable for their decisions. It is possible to train dogs properly from when they are puppies to be obedient and kind. We cannot expect them to never misbehave and not overstep boundaries if they are raised in an abusive environment. Owners should be held to a higher standard when taking on a dog. Breed specific bans should have a different approach to this madness, “Responsible dog ownership and public education must be a primary focus of any dog bite prevention policy” (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Staff 3). It is essential that we practice good methods to care for our animals so they do not have a bad effect on others. These bans impose a scary threat to animals and owners who are doing their job by following the already placed laws. The breed specific bans do not seem to consider that it is not just the fault of a dog that it turns aggressive. Owners play a vast part in their behavior and attitude towards humans. Also, people who participate in dog fighting create an even more abusive and hostile environment for dogs which results in a bad image for the public eye. Many people fear their presence because they are unaware of how much the owners have an effect on attitude. They paint a bad picture that represents how they are towards people and encourages cities to start these breed specific bans. They have not been proven very effective because these bans focus on punishing the dogs, and not the reason why they are so aggressive. With hard work and a different perspective on this problem, we can eliminate breed specific bans that target innocents. What if you were forced to remove a loved animal from the family because of breed specific banning? Using a different approach and method, we can restore the image of Pit bulls to an American Favorite that is not known for its viciousness and lift breed specific banning.
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...
What words come to mind when one hears the words “pit bull?” How about aggressive, violent, or dangerous? In many cases, this isn’t actually true. Because of the negative media attention for attacks on humans and other dogs that pit bull breeds receive, many Americans place a stigma on pit bulls, tagging them as dangerous and vicious. This stigma typically applies to all pit bulls, not just the ones that are actually dangerous. To remedy the issue of dangerous dogs attacking other beings, the legislative act known as breed-specific legislation is being debated throughout the United States. Gary J. Patronek, a veterinary doctor, defines breed-specific legislation as a law than “bans, restricts, or imposes conditions on ownership of specific breeds or dogs presumed to pose greater risk of biting people” (788). Breed-specific legislation is commonly debated in communities that have recently experienced a dog-bite related injury or fatality (Patronek, Slater, and Marder 788). However, this law would ban all dogs of the pit bull breed or any related dog based solely on their breed, rather than disposition. Therefore, breed-specific legislation should not be enacted throughout the United States because is biased against pit bulls and is ineffective in reducing dog-bite attacks by ignoring other aggressive dog breeds.
One of the biggest issues with BSL is breed identification. A law that bans a “vicious” being is too broad and can encompass many individuals as it is a personality trait rather than a breed. These laws would then be dependent on what the legislators would define “vicious” to mean. Likewise, there is confusion on what breeds are dangerous. Dogsbite.org claims that breeds such as wolf-dog hybrids, dogo argentinos, presa breeds, cane corsos, and especially pit bulls are indeed dangerous animals and should be banned. However, there are discrepancies involved in even that statement. Of the listed breeds perhaps the most commonly targeted is the pit bull. But what exactly does anyone mean by pit bull? Merriam Webster defines “pit bull” as follows, “a dog (as an American Staffordshire Terrier) of any of several breeds or a real or apparent hybrid with one or more of these breeds that was developed for and is now often trained for fighting and is noted for strength and stamina”. On the contrary, the United Kennel Club has recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier, also called APBT, as a standalone breed since 1898 when UKC founder C.Z. Bennett registered her APBT Bennet’s Ring (Uk...
The media says that it was a pitbull attack even if it was a different dog breed. How is that fair to the Pit Bulls that didn't do anything and are being blamed for this? It's not, so why are we letting this happen. Pit Bulls may be banned because of people that don't know what they're talking about. We hear every time that a pitbull attacks but not when any other dog attacks it is not heard on the news. News reporters think that they can change the story and just say what they want to say happened so we never know if the story is true or not. All in all the media is not doing the right thing by only reporting pitbull
Perhaps the reason why pit bulls are feared by society is because we are afraid of what they are associated with. Pit bulls are often thought of as a gangster’s pet, a role in violent and illegal activities. People stereotype this breed because of the unfortunate acts of few. In contrast, society needs to understand that they are being racist towards a breed of dog. Denver’s systematic killing of pit bulls could be compared to the actions of the Nazis during the Holocaust.
By being uneducated we blame dogs for what owners do to them. With that being said bad pet owners will continue to get dogs, if Pitbulls are banned they will switch breeds. This teaches nothing. The reason most of these dog’s attack is because they were brought up to do so. Whether they are used as guard dogs, fighting dogs or trained poorly it will continue on with any breed. Banning one breed sends an upswing in popularity to other breeds of dogs to attack people or other animals. So when will this stop? When will people understand that this wont change with banning breeds but with how we educate ourselves on facts and stop
Most of the dogs on this list are common household pets, like the Labrador retriever, and are normally non-aggressive and very friendly. Many times these dogs show no sign of aggression and pose no threat to society. Perspective One Breed-specific laws were put in place with the expectation to help prevent dog bites and attacks. The State and Federal government both came to the conclusion that this is a positive way to promote safety from dog attacks. “Both state and federal courts consistently uphold the constitutionality of breed-specific pit bull laws.... ...
When most people today see a pitbull they see it as a monster who could snap at any moment. Something that they should protect themselves and their family from; but that is not necessarily true. Is any one man or woman exactly like the last? A human being’s personality along with their capacity for violence is molded by their past and how they were treated growing up; pit bulls are no different. In today’s society pitbulls are unfairly discriminated against because they are favored among street gangs and dog fighting rings, leaving a staggering number of loyal and loving dogs homeless or mistreated.
...ports Illustrated cover photo of a pit bull (Pit Bull Rescue Central, "Breed Information”). Dog fighting made a comeback during the 1980s and the pit bull became the favorite macho dog for dog fighters. The dogs were trained to kill or be killed. Pit bulls were also the preferred guard dog for gangs, thugs and criminals. Since the supporters and detractors of pit bulls hold such disparate opinions regarding the ferocity of the breeds, it is only hoped that further discussion and education will help resolve the sad fate that awaits these unfortunate animals. Simply placing all the blame on the breeds will not solve the problems of dog fighting, overbreeding, aggressive training, and excessive euthanizations. Lastly, the biased, sensationalistic publicity of horrific dog attacks which has destroyed the reputation of the once beloved All American Dog must cease.
“If somebody is too stupid to understand the fundamental immorality of dog fighting, you’re never going to be able to explain it to him” (Kevin Hench). Most people think that pit bulls have locking jaws. This is false however; no dog breed in the whole world has locking jaws. Dogs are not always aggressive how they are raised and trained determines the behavior of a dog. Dogs have tendencies to be aggressive only if not trained properly. The discrimination against pit bulls is wrong and uncalled for. Pit bulls are not the only culprits of attacks and death to humans. Dog fighting and stray pits are the fault of the people who own them. It is man kind’s job to take care of and be responsible for their dogs. Why should the dogs be punished for the actions of their owners? Pit bulls especially take the blame more than any other breed. This is an excellent breed if trained correctly. Pit bulls make excellent family pets to own because of the facts, traits, and the standards and guidelines for breeding and training associated with these breeds.
What do you think of when I say the word pitbull? Do you picture a cute happy dog, wagging its tail happy to see you? Or do you see a mad dog, foaming mouth lunging at small child? If you are a owner of a pitbull then you probably see the happy cute dog. But if you don't own one then chances are you see pitbulls as mean dogs who are a threat to society. The media has painted a picture in our heads that it's in a pitbulls blood to be aggressive. Due to this false accusation, certain cities have banned breeds labeled as “aggressive”. If someone is caught owning a banned breed, the dog is usually euthanized. This is known as Breed Specific Laws or otherwise known as BSL.
If you were judged solely because of your race, how would you feel? The answer, most likely, is a negative one. Pit bulls, a breed of domestic dog, are victims of harsh stereotyping and unfair judgement. Many people believe the dog is naturally aggressive, but that is far from the truth. The breed does not matter, the size does not matter, and the age does not matter. The key factor on how a dog behaves, is, believe it or not, the person who raises it. Pit bulls are not a dangerous breed of dog.
It is the bad owners that give the pit bull a bad name. Contrary to that popular belief, dangerous animal behavior is the function of inherently dangerous dog owners, not inherently dangerous dogs. One fact that supports this is that pit bulls are the dogs most often shot during drug raids(TELLINGS v. Toledo). Besides the pit bulls that are owned by drug dealers for status symbols and protection, many pit bulls are owned by people that breed them for fighting. These poor dogs have a very slim chance of living a normal and happy life. This is not the fault of the dog, but the fault of the owners that should not have the dog, or should care for them better. The dogs that are forced to fight and are conditioned to defend themselves or die. When these dogs get loose, everything is a threat to them and they defend themselves in the name of survival. If golden retrievers were bred and raised with the sole purpose of fighting to the death, they would be just as dangerous as pit bulls. On the contrary, if all pit bulls were bred and treated as family dogs, they would have the same reputation as golden retrievers, if not better as the statistics found in the temperament test above
Imagine a little child sitting in your driveway, and then a pit bull comes up and attacks you. You have to go to the hospital, doesn't sound fun for an eight year old, does it? A lot of people think that pit bulls should be banned for that reason, they are dangerous. A lot of people also think that pit bulls are important, too, and they shouldn't be banned. A ban on pit bulls is the best way to keep people safe.