Should Pit Bulls be Banned from Certain Public Spaces? If you have a dog, then I would like you to imagine something. Imagine you are walking your dog one day and someone walks past you but moves to the other side of the street or says something about your dog because of the breed. How would that make you feel? Well, this is what people who own pit bulls and other large breeds go through. People all over the world, especially in England right now, are fighting for their pit bulls because people are trying to ban them. There are many reasons why pit bulls should not be banned in certain public places. While poor pet ownership plays a huge role in a dog’s behavior, breed-specific legislation is incredibly ineffective, breed-specific legislation …show more content…
Overall, dogs don’t bite just because they bite to protect themselves. So in order to solve the problem, instead of just going back and forth, we need to find out what is happening that is making them feel threatened. The third reason pit bulls should not be banned is because breed-specific legislation is insanely expensive. So if it is ineffective then why is this the only approach we have taken to solve the problem of pit bulls being “aggressive”. “Nationwide breed-specific legislation would cost about $476 million per year, including enforcement of the law, related to vet and shelter care, euthanization and disposal, and legal fees” (“Pit Bull Bans—Top 3 pros and cons”). This means that it would cost the government $476 million a year to be able to ban pit bulls completely. 476 million dollars is an immense amount of money, there are a huge amount of things we could be spending that money on to better our country than worrying about whether banning a breed makes a community safer or not. For example, bettering the education …show more content…
This is also an immense amount of money and with inflation already happening in today’s world, people aren’t going to want to pay more taxes than what they already have to. Therefore, people aren’t going to want to have to spend more money to worry about banning a dog and the government would have to pay a large amount of money to actually enforce it when there are a multitude of things to spend that money on in order to better the country as a whole. The final reason why pit bulls should not be banned is because every dog has the potential to be aggressive and bite. People shouldn’t be singling out one breed of dog when every dog on Earth has the ability to have aggressive behavior and bite someone. Stephan Zawistowski, science advisor to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), said “you can’t just pick a breed of dog and say somehow that will be predictive of whether the dog will be aggressive”(Eveleth). This is saying that the breed of dog isn’t going to be a determining factor if they are aggressive or not, it’s much deeper than
“Mom! Mom! The dogs got Cody. The dogs got Cody” (Vancouver Sun, 2007). Just a few days after Christmas in 2004, these are the cries that awoke Sheri Fontaine. Fontaine raced from her bed into the living room to find her three-year old son, Cody Fontaine, savaged by the dogs that were staying temporarily in her house. Tragically, young Cody did not survive the attack. A young life taken, a mother’s life ruined. Sadly, this story is not as uncommon as one of violence against people, they exhibit highly stubborn characteristics that make them difficult to control, and such bans have proven to be extremely effective.
Media over exposes anything that has a negative effect on the pit bull breeds. It is their goal to adversely affect said breeds. These atrocious opinions of reporters distort the views of the public, making them think that one breed is a monstrous threat to society and needs to be banned. Breed specific legislation is unlawful and should be prohibited.
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.
Pit bulls are Good Pets Don't judge a book by its cover. Over the years, pit bulls have gotten a bad reputation. It is true that there have been a lot of injuries, but have there been just as many injuries from other breeds of dogs. I think that if you raised them in a loving environment, trained them properly, and if the media stopped reporting injuries, this breed of dog would be more accepted by the public. Proving that pit bulls get the short end of the stick and can make great pets.
If all other breeds are not judged for attacking people, then why are all pit bulls being unfairly judged? Pitbulls are being banned in different counties because they are being wrongly accused of being dangerous. Pit Bulls should not be banned because they can be helpful, the media has given them a bad reputation, and they are only mean if trained that way.
The poem above speaks volumes about the nature of man’s best friend. Dogs are not inherently created bad, but are rather “a product of its environment”. The same principle applies to the world’s most misunderstood breed of dog. When you hear the phrase “pit bull”, what do you think of? A savage beast, murdering out of cold blood? A menace to society, lurking the streets, just waiting for its next victim? This couldn’t be further from the truth for most pit bulls. These fantasised versions plague the breed, outlawing them in many cities, states, and even some countries entirely. These bans are called Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), and in over 700 American cities these laws are in effect. They are in place to decrease the number of attacks
There are plenty controversial issues about bully breeds and whether they are acceptable or safe dogs to own. In July a woman was mauled in her yard and killed by a dog in Montreal. Due to this unfortunate incident the mayor Denis Coderre created a bill called BSL (Breed-Specific Legislation) which was approved by the legislation. This bill states that determined by their breed or pitbull features “American Pitbull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs or any dog with strains of these breeds” will be unadoptable; they must wear a muzzle in public as well as a leash that’s 4 feet long and in most cases they will be euthanized due to their breed. BSL should be reversed because the real problem is irresponsible dog owners, the irresponsible owners will just switch breeds and any dog has the potential to hurt someone.
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.
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)
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.
I feel the dog restrictions in Shullsburg are limiting the lifestyles for both specific dog breeds as well as their owners. When I say I have a pit bull does that frighten you? For most people it does, even though it shouldn’t. Did you know that pit bull isn’t just one breed of a dog? There are seven different dog breeds that are classified as pits. My puppy, a terrier, lab, retriever, and pit bull mix, is both loving and affectionate, but because she is part pit bull people already have a bad image plastered in their head without even meeting her. When uneducated people say bad things about pit bulls, it devastates me. My personal opinion toward this topic may be different than yours; however, I’m just asking you to have an open-mind and take
Should Pit Bulls be banned? Many people will argue that the pit bull breed should be banned due to its vicious and unpredictable nature. There is a belief that they are inherently evil creatures and that they have a genetic predisposition to be destructive killing machines. In many states and cities, this has brought about breed specific legislation. Breed specific legislation bans or regulates the ownership of specific breeds of dogs, which almost always includes pit bulls.
Imagine your a little child sitting on 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.
... -- research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources.” Recognized on a federal level, the injustice of Breed Specific Legislation is still misunderstood by states and counties in America. Something you can do to help is be aware of your own considerations of dogs based on their breed and spread the word. We all know dogs are naturally gentle creatures and no group should have a negative stigma attached to them. The easiest way to make a change is to inform those around you- you can go to www.facebook.com and like the page “STOP Breed Specific Legislation” to become involved and aware of the policy’s status across the nation. If these discriminatory laws don’t change, we might not be able to walk our poodles and beagles down the street either. Remember that dogs cannot speak, so we must be their voice.