Breed bans single out particular breeds of dogs, usually pit-bull-type dogs, and ban or restrict them. These breed bans are over-inclusive and penalize responsible dog owners.
Breed bans are also under-inclusive: These bans do not target all dogs that present a danger to the public. Typically, a number of types of breeds and mixed breeds are responsible for bites. For example, pit bulls and pit-bull mixes were responsible for only 8% of bites in one community considering a pit-bull ban. A pit-bull ban wouldn’t have protected the public from the dogs that caused 92% of the bites.
If dogs bite or attack, it’s not because they belong to a particular breed. Instead, it’s usually because of owner irresponsibility: The dog may not have been socialized or trained properly. The dog may have been abused, chained, neglected or isolated. Or the dog may have been trained to be aggressive or for fighting.
There are no major animal or health organizations that support BSL, including American Veterinary Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control, ASPCA, National Animal Control Association, American Kennel Club, American Canine Foundation, Humane Society of the US as well as countless others.
The National Animal Control Association: (Reviewed/Revised by the NACA Corporate Office- 09/17/02)
Dangerous and/or vicious animals should be labeled as such as a result of their actions or behaviors and not because of their breed.
Basis for Policy
Any animal may exhibit aggressive behavior regard-less of breed. Accurately identifying a specific animal’s lineage for prosecution purposes may be extremely difficult. Additionally, breed specific legislation may create an undue burden to owners who otherwise have demonstrated proper pet management and responsibility.
Policy Recommendations
Agencies should encourage enactment and stringent enforcement of dangerous/vicious dog laws.
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA):
In 2001, a task force on Canine Aggression and Canine-Human Interaction was formed by the American Veterinary Medical Association. In its paper, "A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention", the task force concluded there is no evidence any breed of dog is more vicious or dangerous than the others. The AVMA does not support BSL and instead recommends a dangerous dog law.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
In 1996, the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention observed in a paper on fatal dog attacks that BSL does not address the reasons dogs bite.
BSL does not work to prevent or reduce dog bite incidents
1. In a well known study researchers in the UK examined the frequency and severity of dog-bite injuries at a hospital accident and emergency department. The UK’s Dangerous Dog Act bans four breeds of dogs, the pit bull, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro, as well as mixes and dogs with the behavioral and physical characteristics of these breeds. Under that law the Secretary of State can also ban any dog bred for fighting or which is of a "type bred for" fighting.
Researchers looked at a three month period before the breed bans and found there were 99 bites, 3% of which were by pit bull types. Two years after the ban was implemented, there were 99 dog bites in a 3 month period, and 5% were by pit bull type dogs. The percentage of bites involving "dangerous" dogs increased from 6% to11% following passage of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The study also determined that the Act did not result in any decline in dog bite incidents with 73.9% before and 73.1% after enactment of the law. ("Does the dangerous dogs act protect against animal attacks: a prospective study of mammalian bites in the accident and emergency department", 1996, Klaassen B, Buckley JR, Esmail A., Department of Accident and Emergency, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, UK)
2. In fact, the UK Dangerous Dogs Act was declared a failure in 2007 when it was found numbers of dog bites had risen 10% in a year and 50% since 1998-1999. According to the BBC, hospitalizations due to dog bites increased by 25% after ‘pit bulls’ were banned in Britain.
3. A recent Spanish study compared dog bites during a four year period, 1995-1999, before BSL, and those from 2000-2004, following BSL. Breeds listed as dangerous were responsible for only a small percentage of bites both before and after the legislation. ("Spanish dangerous animals act: Effect on the epidemiology of dog bites", 2007, Beln Rosado DVM, MSc,, Sylvia Garca-Belenguer DVM, PhD, Marta Len DVM, PhD and Jorge Palacio DVM, PhD, Animal Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Merial Laboratorios, S.A., Tarragona, Barcelona, Spain)
4. Another study in Germany from 2000-2002 tested several hundred dogs belonging to several breeds including those banned or deemed dangerous according to BSL. 95% of the dogs, regardless of breed, reacted appropriately during testing. 5% displayed excessive aggressive behavior in inappropriate situations. These instances were associated with the dogs’ fear or inappropriate handling by the owner.
The study found no significant difference between breeds and no indication of dangerousness in specific breeds. The study found no justification for the BSL. (Is breed specific legislation justified? Stud of the results of the temperament test of Lower Saxony, 2000-2002, Esther Schalke, DVM, Stefanie A. Off, DVM, Esther Schalke, DVM, Amelie M von Gaertner, DVM, Hansjoachim Hackbarth, DVM, PhD, Angela Mittmann, DVM, PhD, FTA; Institute for Animal Welfare and Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Hanover, Germany)
The results were then compared to tests done on a control group of golden retrievers. Again, no significant difference was found among the breeds in displays of aggressive behavior. There was no scientific basis for BSL. (Is there a difference? Comparison of golden retrievers and dogs affected by breed specific legislation regarding aggressive behavior, 2002, Stefanie A. Off, DVM, Esther Schalke, DVM, Amelie M von Gaertner, DVM, Hansjoachim Hackbarth, DVM, PhD, Institute for Animal Welfare and Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Hanover, Germany)
Basing its opinion on these studies, the Central Administration Court in Berlin, upheld a ruling that voided Lower Saxony’s ban on Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Pit bull Terriers and regulation of Rottweilers and Dobermans.
5. Just last month, in June, 2008, the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Gerda Verburg, announced to the parliament that the 15 year old rule banning pit bulls in The Netherlands would be lifted. A rule banning rottweilers that was instituted in 2000 will also be lifted. The reason? The breed specific legislation failed to reduce incidents of dog bites.
These laws known as RAD or "Arrangement for Aggressive Animals" exempted registered, purebred dogs. RAD sought to eliminate non-registered dogs if their appearance was of the "pit bull type".
John Payne, president of The Netherland’s Institute of Animal Control Officers, told the committee that then recommended elimination of the BSL, that an American pit bull terrier could be an "extremely good animal" depending on the owner.
6. According to the city of Winnipeg’s own data, when Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada banned ‘pit bulls’ in 1990, there were 214 reported dog bites that year. For the decade following Winnipeg’s ‘pit bull’ ban, there were an average of close to 50 more dog bites per year.
7. There had been just over 500 reported bites, the year Kitchener, Ontario, Canada decided to ban the #8 ‘breed’ in their dog bite statistics (‘pit bulls’, but not the #1 breed, German Shepherds, and not even the #7 breed, Poodles). Eight years later, in 2004, the city again reports just over 500 dog bites.
8. Communities that have repealed pit bull bans because they were found to be (1) too costly; (2) difficult to enforce and (3) ineffective: Detroit, MI, East Point, MI, Redford, MI, Saginaw, MI, Baltimore, MD, Belton, MO, Bourbonnais, IL, Beloit, Kansas, Alguna, Washington, Hudsonville, MI.
In April of 2007, Middletown, Ohio lifted its 2 year old pit bull ban. Pit bulls accounted for 5% of bites the same percentage of bites before and since the ban.
9. Despite its famous, long time ban on pit bulls, Denver’s Director of Animal Control, Doug Kelly, recently said, "We’ve experienced a continuing upward trend of pit bulls impounded since 2001. The ban hasn’t ended the popularity of the pit bull breed in Denver. There are still pit bulls, apparently more every year." When asked if the ban has been effective, Kelly responds, "I don’t know."
BSL is costly to administer and enforce, particularly given that it does not work to reduce bites
1. In Prince George’s County, Maryland, the cost to enforce a pit bull ban from 2001 to 2002 was at least $560,000. Of the 900 pit bulls euthanized during that time, animal control reported that 720 were nice family pets.
2. Baltimore, MD estimated that in 2001 it cost the city $750,000.00 a year to enforce the BSL which was later repealed as ineffective, unenforceable and too costly.
3. Ontario spent $170,000 per year on enforcing a pit bull ban. After the ban passed in 2005, animal control spent 25% of its time on pit bull-related calls, but only 4% of licensed dogs were pit bulls.
4. Cincinnati, Ohio spends $160,000 per year trying to enforce a pit bull ban and millions in litigation defending challenges to the ban.
5. A pit bull ban means additional animal control workers for identification and enforcement and litigation, sheltering, vet care and other costs of care for restricted breeds that have been impounded and must be held pending hearings; less in licensing fees as owners decline to register restricted breeds for fear of not being able to afford or follow through on restrictions; an increase in restricted breeds in shelters in surrounding communities, less shelter and resources for other animals that are euthanized.
Dogs are often mis-identified as pit bulls
1. Pitbull is not, in fact, a breed of dog. The term "pitbull" is typically associated with these three breeds: American Staffordshire terrier, American Pitbull Terrier, and Staffordshire bull terrier.
2. There is a genetic test to determine a specific dog breed, but not aggression. The only way most dogs are identified is by appearance. In her research, Dr. Cornelia Wagner, concluded aggression in dogs cannot be determined by appearance. She found no basis to conclude aggression beyond that found in all dogs is hereditary. (Wagner, Cornelia, DVM, MS, "Are certain dog breeds more dangerous than others?", October 18; 2001; Wagner, Cornelia, DVM, MS, "Is it possible to identify dogs as members of a specific breed?", September 9, 2002.) Also, there are virtually no genetic differences between breeds. (Serpell, J, "The domestic dog: its evolution, behaviour, and interactions with people", 2001, Cambridge University Press, pp 162-178).
3. There are 20+ breeds of dogs that have similar appearances and are commonly mistaken for pit bulls. It is almost impossible for the average person to accurately identify a pit bull.
4. In the case of Margolius v. Denver, the court found animal control officers could not definitively identify a dog as a pit-bull terrier.
5. In the Ohio case of Toledo v. Tellings the dog warden testified if a dog was 50% pit bull but didn’t resemble a pit, then the dog was not considered a pit bull. If a dog looked like a pit, regardless of the % of breed, he considered it a pit bull. The dog warden agreed one cannot really tell whether or not many dogs have pit bull in them. The Tellings appeals court noted "Criminal charges have likely been brought based on purely individual and speculative decisions on whether the jaw of a dog is "massive" enough or the chest is muscular enough or the brow is broad enough to be designated as a "pit bull". The appeals court found the process of identifying a pit bull was too subjective, basically that there is no definitive way to prove a mixed breed is a pit bull. The appeals court found it was likely many non-pit bull dogs had been mis-identified.
6. "Pit Bulls are not naturally human aggressive. The majority of attacks on humans reported to be by Pit Bulls are made in error through misidentification of the breed or through the wrongful lumping of mixed breeds in with reported bite statistics." (Pit Bull Registry)
7. The chance of being killed by a pit bull is one in 145 million. (American Pit Bull Registry)
Dispelling Myths
Remember: There are few genetic differences between breeds.
Fear:
Pit Bulls have "locking jaws."
Fact:
"We found that the American Pit Bull Terriers did not have any unique mechanism that would allow these dogs to lock their jaws. There were no mechanical or morphological differences ." Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, University of Georgia
Fear:
Pit Bulls have massive biting power measuring in 1,000s of pounds of pressure per square inch.
Fact:
On average, dogs bite with 320 pounds of pressure per square inch. The bite pressure of a German Shepherd, an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Rottweiler were tested. The American Pit Bull Terrier had the least amount of bite pressure of the three dogs tested. Dr. Brady Barr, National Geographic
Fear:
Family pet pit bulls turn on their owners.
Fact:
No single neutered household pet pit bull has ever killed anyone. * Karen Delise, founder of the National Canine Research Council
Fear:
Pit Bulls attack without warning.
Fact:
"Pit Bulls signal like other dogs." * The Institute of Animal Welfare and Behavior of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany, which temperament tested over 1,000 dogs.
Fear:
Pit Bulls are "ticking time bombs" that turn on their owners.
Fact:
"No single, neutered household pet pit bull has ever killed anyone." * Karen Delise, founder of the National Canine Research Council
Fear:
While there are some pit bulls with good temperaments, they are the exception not the rule.
Fact:
The American Temperament Test shows pit bulls consistently score above the average for all breeds tested, year in and year out! * The American Temperament Test Society
Fear:
Pit Bulls are more dangerous than other dogs.
Fact:
"A dog is only as dangerous as its owner allows it to be." * Diane Jessup, founder of LawDogsUSA
Source: Animal Farm Foundation
Proactive, positive solutions to keep communities safe
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, developed a successful method for reducing dog bites, and even making their animal control department financially self-sufficient…and they did so without banning any breeds. Calgary boasts the lowest dog bite rate of any major Canadian city, after having reduced dog bites by 70% using the very techniques nearly all experts agree are key in reducing unprovoked dog bites:
1. Educational programs to teach dog owners responsible dog ownership. Promote socialization and training with community-wide programs to reward responsible dog owners and encourage socialization and training as part of basic and common canine care practices.
2. Increased access to off-leash parks for proper socialization of dogs is vital. Representatives from Calgary feel that a large part of their success in reducing dog bites is attributed to the ample access dog owners have to leash-free parks for socialization purposes. Calgary has the largest number of dedicated off-leash areas, of any major city in Canada, with over 200!
3. Pass a dangerous dog law that recognizes that any dog, regardless of breed, is potentially dangerous or considered dangerous if the dog has demonstrated aggressive behavior. The dangerous dog law should allow for different levels of aggressive behavior. The point is to protect the public by encouraging owners to take action to control and manage their dogs – through spay/neuter, training and pet owner responsibility classes – before their dogs’ behavior causes them to be classified at a higher level of aggression.
4. Pass strictly enforced leash or dog-at-large laws that require spay/neuter after the second violation. 82% of dog bites are by dogs running loose. (JAVMA, September 15, 2000) After passing a leash law, the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, reported a 35% drop in dog bites.
5. Pass laws that restrict the tethering, chaining and penning or caging of dogs. Dogs that are chained are 2.8 times more likely to be aggressive. The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated: "Confine your dog in a fenced yard or dog run when it is not in the house. Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior." (May 15, 2003). Lawrence County, Kansas, adopted an anti-tethering ordinance. From 2005 to 2006, the number of calls concerning cruelty and dog fighting dropped from 800 to 260. Officials attribute the decline in large part to the anti-tethering law.
6. Encourage spay/neuter and provide low-cost spay/neuter in your community. 90% of fatal dog attacks are by dogs that are not spayed or neutered. Research cited in a 2000 Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association study indicated unsterilized dogs are 2.6 times more likely to bite. (Delise, National Canine Research Council) 80% of dogs seen by veterinary behaviorists for dominance aggression were not spayed/neutered. (JAVMA, Vol. 218, No. 11, June 1, 2001) More than 81% of dogs involved in bites or attacks were found in one survey not to have been spayed/neutered. (Texas 2002 Severe Animal Attack and Bite Surveillance Summary) The key to encouraging spay/neuter is education and also the availability of a subsidized, low cost spay neuter program. Also, mandate spay/neuter for potentially dangerous dogs, dogs adopted out by shelters or rescues or sold by breeders or pet stores, and dogs impounded more than once or found at large.
7. Encourage responsible dog ownership, including socialization at an early age and training. Dogs should be part of the family. 81% of fatal dog attacks are by dogs that were isolated or not included in the family’s activities.
8. Strengthen dog-fighting laws, and ban training of dogs for aggression. Make animal neglect and cruelty laws more specific and easier to enforce, with tougher penalties. Breeders should be registered or licensed and subject to inspections and sales of their dogs tracked. Sales of dogs along roads, in flea markets and other public places should be banned. Stop felons from owning dangerous dogs. 61% of fatal dog attacks are by dogs that were not humanely controlled, or had been abused or neglected.
Please do not ban bully breeds. It is not the dog that you need to worry about, it’s the people who have them. People who have bully breeds need to be responsible and educated – as does any dog owner. Please realize this and make sure that the owners of these dogs are right for the breed. These dogs should not have to be killed because of their breed. There are many wonderful, loving bullies out there.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Valerie Sanderson
Rescue/MN
Not all pitbulls are bad, it they are brought up in a loving family they can be a perfect pet and not and viscous animal that they are made out to be,
I have owned pit bulls, akitas and german shepherds most of my 62 years. Never have my dogs been a threat to anyone. If you must pass a ban, ban the people who abuse these beautiful animals. It is not the breed it is and will always be the owner.
You need to rethink this ban. It is not a certain kind of dog that causes bits but how they are bred and raised. Pit Bull are not an aggressive breed. More bits come from the small breed dogs then pit bulls or any other med to large breed dog. Dogs bit because they are afraid or abused. You need to stop your puppy mill farms not ban breeds. Support your responsible breeders and owners. The amount of money this one law will cost to enforce could be better put to saving and supporting good breeders and dog owners.
M.A.Milwid
45 years of Responsible dog ownership
I own a Pit and she is truly a family member and loves erverybody she meets. I also have a Golden but she doesn’t like strangers at all, go figure. Pit Bulls are great family dogs please don’t ban them. It isn’t the fault of the dogs for the bad name, it’s the people that fight them. She is also great with my chihuahua’s so this proves they aren’t dog aggressive from birth. Please don’t separate families from their babies just because you may have had a bad experience along the way……………….please don’t.
There are already enough laws holding dog owners liable for the actions of their pets.
Pit bulls are no different from any other breed of dog, and make excellent, loving and loyal pets.
Shred this bill, and spend your time and the taxpayers money more wisely, or I believe you will be looking for another line of work come the next election.
I would like you to please reconsider this bill. We own a pit bull and she is wonderful, she does not have a mean bone in her body. We have a seven year old and she is great with him, we also have a pug and they get along great. I have owned lots of dogs in my life and I can honestly say that our pit bull Maggie is the best dog I have ever had. We take her with us everywhere we go, and she is friendly and nice to everyone that passes by us. I feel it is wrong to penalize a family and breed of dog due to others poor decisions. I believe that the way a dog behaves is all about how you raise it, I think pit bulls are wonderful dogs and I would be truly devastated to loss her, or for her to loss the chance at living a full and happy life. I would truly appreciate your help in not pushing this bill forward.
Sincerely,
Erin
We do not own pitbulls,and never have. I do not think it is logical to ban a specific breed of dog because it is perceived to be mean or aggressive. I have a son who as been bitten 2 times by 2 different dogs neither of which were pitbulls, or any bull breed. The first was a mixed breed mut that has lived and continues to live its whole life on a chain, and occasionally gets loose to bite people.. The second was an akits/husky that also lives its whole life on a chain. Both of these dogs were owned by people who pay little to no attention to their animals, and neither of them ever had any shots. Yet I could not get the county to even take the dogs for quarentine. I literally had to threaten them and after 3 hours of arguing they finally took the dog and it was back 10 days later and is still there. This is the problem. The dogs are not to blame, it is irresonsible owners that are not being punished for their negilance and neglect. At what point do we as humans start to take responsibility for the actions that we take? It has been established on many occasions that it is not the breed of the dog but the enviroment it was raised in that creates and aggressive mean animal. I own four bulldogs and it would break my heart to have someone tell me that I would have to get rid of them or kill them they are part of our family. SO I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER PUNISHING THE PEOPLE WHO OWN ANY VICIOUS DOG INSTEAD PUNISHING THE DOG THAT ALREADY POSSIBLY HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AND PUNISHED ITS WHOLE LIFE BY ITS OWNER.
What the heck!! Any dog, cat, person, etc can become aggresive if treat badly. It’s not the breed ~ its the owners.
I need to add more to my last comment about owners. I know a few pit bulls myself ~ they are treated with love and care and give nothing but love in return. Some of them are the biggest lap dogs you’ll meet.
I have owned 4 pit pulls which have never been aggressive. My cat is more aggressive than the dog. I have 2 children who have been around pit bulls from the day they were born and they have only ever been short of licked to death. Please recosider, they aren’t the problem, it is irresponsible owners.
Please follow the link below to STOP BSL in Montana:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/MontanansAgainstBSL/index.html
ps: I received an e-mail from Rep ARLENE BECKER in response to information I had sent her regarding the breed and SHE IS ON OUR SIDE!
PLEASE FORWARD THE ONLINE PETITION LINK TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.
I have been trying to post the information on every site I can find, but I have carpal tunnel and I don’t know how much longer my hands will work.
But for my pittys I will keep on keeping on. They would NEVER give up on me.
Lucinda L Campbell – Montanans Against Breed Specific Legislation
Endangered Stream Live Premier
Jan 31st, 2009
Listen on demand at
http://wflendangeredstreamlive.org/showlineup.html
Your rights; your dog’s life! Breed Specific Legislation that dictates dog owners surrender pets for destruction. Learn more here!
Our premier presentation is a special format which runs the first Saturday each month. The driving issue for the today’s discussion is regarding specific breeds of dogs and pending legislation that dictates their owners surrender them for destruction.
Join us for a compelling discussion with Guest, Laura Allen, Animal Law Attorney of Animal Law Coalition to learn more about this ramped trend in legislation that currently threatens pet owner’s rights and the core of their human/ pet bond as a family unit. Learn where states currently have BSL pending and what you can do to stop it.
In addition to the discussion of the day the show will include Headliner News on Current Animal Campaigns, other Pending Legislation & Deadlines to Meet, News Tips, Local Stories, Habitat News, Action Tips, Petition Highlights and more.
Breed Specific Legislation Background: BSL is based on a belief the dog’s behavior is dictated by breed, even appearance, and not owner’s treatment of the dog. Breed bans usually require all dogs of a certain appearance be removed; destroyed/ killed.
Hosted by Katia Louise and Co- Host Amanda Daniell. Live call-ins welcome. Registered listeners may comment and take part in the live chat room open during the show.
Make your voice heard!
I firmly believe it’s the way you raise your animal, kid or anything else. I grew up with Rottweilers and they were teddy bears. It’s like a root canal…people hear the word and freak out. Unfortunately, I’ve had a few along with dental implants due to grinding my teeth and have NOT had a bad experience. The same with Pit Bulls…you raise them right and with manners, they will be good dogs.
Look how Best Friends has turned the temperaments of Michael Vicks dogs around and now they are working with elderly and in hospitals volunteering. They are also being adopted out. I have volunteered at BF and they will not let just any dog be adopted out. It’s strict and they work hard with each dog. The Victory dogs have come far after all the fighting they have done.
People stereotype me, you and anything else…they are going to stereotype a Pit too.
Give them a chance. If it’s a matter of being in a neighborhood, then they and any other dog should have to have obedience training before being allowed in a neighborhood. My Yorkie thinks she is a Pit and she’s 5lbs. Any dog can turn on a dime if you give them a chance.
Seriously, this is so sad. My little brother was nipped by a Westie, who was pampered by her owners like she was their child. The owners excused their dogs behavior and blamed my baby brother. He was like 4 years old!!!!! Pit Bulls are sweet, beautiful dogs. If my parents allowed me a second dog I would no doubt rush to my local shelter and chose a pit bull. Unfortunately, the media has created a monster where there is none. My Dad’s friend owns 2 pit bulls and a shepherd/heeler mix rescue. They are beautiful, smart and get along great. His pitbull, Kai, knows more tricks than I have school subjects. My friend has been chased twice by loose dogs, the same ones who are obviously tied out back and ignored. Even though those dogs she’s been chased by are pit bull mixes, she DOES NOT HATE PIT BULLS! She knows it’s the owners fault. I wish everyone was like that. I have seen territorial Daschunds, again, the owner’s fault. The problem is that with small dogs, people sometimes think it’s cute to growl and act all territorial. Bigger dogs just scare them. Please, please, please don’t pass bills banning Pit Bulls. Its no fair. Look at all the labs, Goldens, etc. They abound in plenty, even though they can be aggressive just like Pit Bulls. But Pits are hated by the public, loved among the people who really know them, feared by those who just haven’t experienced their love. Have you ever met someone afraid of a Daschund? Please help SAVE these breeds (Staffies, Pit bulls, etc.), not destroy them!
Yes people need to be educated, my dog is seven years old. We moved here six years ago from New York. My dog has a firm body and when I first came here, everyone thought she was a pit bull. My dog has never biten anyone, she is friendly and I have papers from the VET that she is part bull terrier and german shepard. The complex I live in is stating that they will not allow pit bulls to live here. I have been here two years now and now I am having this problem between the weight and her being a pit bull.
Cat
Miami,Fl
Yes, it is the way a dog any dog is trained or maintained. Not all dogs are wild,it is the owner we should blame most of the time. It is the way they are raised and trained. My dog is seven years old. She has been trained to protect us, but if we tell her, stay and nice she will calm down. We have raised her not to attack anyone especially children, but if there was a reason why she would attack is because that person is of danger. My dog does not like guns, if she sees one she will go crazy.We are originally from New York and we were held at gun point. Our dog protected us, we now live in Miami,Fl (Dade) and they are trying to evict us.Yes people need to be educated and the law in Miami needs to be changed
First, I in no way support taking a pet with no history of aggression from it’s owner. This is horrendous policy and doesn’t address mixed breeds and animals not typically considered aggressive who bite or kill because of improper treatment by their owners.
However, since my precious dog is fighting for his life after being viciously attacked (unprovoked, from behind), and is alive only due to the efforts of three very large men willing to rescue him, which includes my husband, an ex-pro football lineman and Olympic alternate wrestler- how many dogs have this benefit? I say this:
There were signs this was a fighting dog- it’s intent to go for the kill- and signs it was not- the demeanor of it’s owner and friend, and that they were travelling with a little girl. I suspect it was a rescue animal, because they appeared to be the perfect owners for such an animal, and to their credit without their help my dog would certainly have died on the spot. (However, they left the scene while I tended the dog and my husband went to wash off his blood afterward). I hope nobody on this site has to witness anything like the helpless terror in the eyes of my beloved pet as he was first thrashed, then on the ground while my husband first punched the dog’s head (to no effect) then tried to pry open his clenched jaw. Knowing he would not succeed, every ounce of strength went to preventing him from biting further or going for the throat.
From this perspective, breeds that have an instinct to kill, as opposed to protective breeds that bite, need to be regulated carefully, and sterilized if the owners are not licensed breeders. You have many good suggestions, but I have to be in favor of eliminating dogs that demonstrate aggression. I believe that the reason there are so many pitbull rescue sites is because the owners recognized the risk in their dogs, but love them and HOPE some good hearted person can control their dog. But I ask you- if last thursday’s killer dog is able to get away from his owner again, will it’s next victim be your dog, or worse, a child?
Dog on dog aggression is not Breed Specific.
Poodle kills small dog at dog park
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2008/06/death_at_a_dog_park.html
The Media reports these incidents for the most part when the dog is or is alleged to be a ‘Pit Bull’ Breed.
Find the “Pit Bull”
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf
Do you know a ‘Pit Bull’ mix when you see one?
The Media has done a great job of convincing you that you`re more of a victim than others because the dog that attacked your dog may be or is alleged to be one of these 3 Breeds.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
APBT
Their jaws DON`T lock
http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/docs/pdf/6/2006/2006-ohio-975.pdf
[quote]Dr. Brisbin, as well as the other experts, testified that pit bulls do not have
locking jaws. Based on actual dog dissections and measurement of their skulls, the
evidence demonstrated that pit bull jaw muscles and bone structure are the same as other
similarly sized dogs. No evidence was presented to demonstrate that a pit bull’s bite is
any stronger than other dogs of its size and build. He stated that, contrary to information
relied upon and perpetuated by earlier case law2 and law review articles,3 assertions that a
pit bull can bite with a “force of 2,000 pounds per square inch” have absolutely no basis
in fact or scientific proof…..[/quote]
and they DON`T cause injuries unlike other dogs.
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/types-of-dog-bites/dog-bites-injuries/
[quote]No breed or type of dog has a particular method of attack or inflicts an exclusive type of injury. Claims that one breed of dog inflicts injuries unlike other breeds have no merit.[/quote]
I have compassion for anyone who is injured by a dog or has an animal injured by a dog.
I`ve had a dog killed by a Golden Retriever.
You won`t see me claiming that ALL Golden Retrievers should be banned/restricted or have some special treatment or claiming that I`m MORE of a victim than others because of the Breed/type or look of dog that killed my dog.
The Media coudn`t care less unless the dog can be described as a ‘pit bull’
This is getting tiresome.
You`re a victim of a DOG that wasn`t being properly controlled by an owner,nothing more and nothing less.
The Media has you convinced that you`re a “special” victim.
You`re not.
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/find-a-bull1.pdf
…And I never said the dog was a “pitbull”, just that when I tried to determine what type it was, the first page was full of pit rescue sites. In fact, it most resembled a Tosa, being well north of 100 lbs.
I don’t support rounding up pets, but something needs to be done.
Of course any dog can be agressive when mistreated or when it perceives a threat, but are you saying that it would not be wise to regulate the breeding and registering the owners upon the sale of dogs that have historically been bred to enhance their potential to kill?
The owner(s) of this dog were two large men that looked like brothers, and they were traveling with a little girl. The dog was on a leash, away from most people- and we were walking at least 30 yards from it with our backs to it- my dog didn’t even notice it. If these men couldn’t hold on to it, I don’t know who could.
As for the “myth” of locking jaws, if a world-class athlete stronger than 99.9% of the population couldn’t pry open those jaws, who cares whether they actually lock or not, or exactly how many pounds of pressure they can exert?
The problem here is owners who choose to do nothing about the dog aggression. We have two labs in the neighborhood that are finally being euthanized after numerous attacks on people and other dogs. These owners have done nothing to train or socialize them. We have other dogs (large breed, various breeds) in the neighborhood that have also attacked and yet the owners continue to let their young children hold the leash. If the owners are held accountable and made to pay vet bills as well as other fines, they’re going to think twice. Sometimes you have to force people to be responsible. I carry spray because my big dogs have been bit one too many times by little yippers. Others may argue that they do less damage, but one of my dogs has breathing problems because she lost some of her nose to a 4 pound dog. My dog is 74 pounds. She never attacked back. Why? Because she has good, responsible owners who have taken her through training and reinforce it constantly. Nothing happened to that owner (despite the leash law – her dog wasn’t on one) and she refused to pay my vet bills. ALL owners need to be held accountable.
As for jaw strength, that’s what finally did the labs in. They grabbed ahold of an old man and it took four grown men to pry them off. Purebred english labs. All large breed dogs have strong jaws. We can’t ban all large breeds (though it looks to be heading that way eventually). Because we can’t, lets go ahead and start holding owners accountable. The owners of the dog that attacked yours start by paying your vet bills. Then they are required by law to take their dog aggressive dog to training classes that they will pay for – until the trainer signs off that they are able to control their dog aggressive dog around other dogs. Also, they need to pay a fine of $1,000 minimum. Let’s make sure it is so expensive their dog will never bite again because they can’t afford it. If it does happen again, they’re not allowed to own another dog because they can’t be responsible about it.
I am sorry this happened to you. I hope that your dog is okay.