A Short Introduction:
I love American Pit Bull Terriers. I am against banning pit bulls, stereotyping them as "vicious", and any kind of breed-specific legislation. I have had dozens of pits in my life, and NOT ONE has harmed or threatened me. All my pits have been loving, friendly, playful, and all-around wonderful pets. The reason pits become dangerous---yes, I admit it does happen!---is because they're mistreated or neglected. I sympathize with families who have victims of attacks, I really do. But you cannot ban an entire breed for these things. I was mauled by a Doberman Pinscher when I was younger. I had several puncture wounds on my head and shoulders, and my right eye was nearly lost. BUT I understand that the dog was unwell or possibly was mistreated. I still love Pinschers, I will love any breed of dog even if it attacks me. That is, in my opinion, comparable to racism and gender discrimination. There are good and bad of all people, of all dogs, of all animals. If you agree OR disagree with me, feel free to leave comments. I'm willing to debate these issues if you are!
This is a compilation of newspaper headlines, facts, quotes, etc., all dealing with pit bulls.
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ATTACKS (Yes, Pit-Haters, I'm giving you ammunition!)
"Pit bull attacks 77 year-old woman in Kingston."
"Another child recovering after pit bull attack in Boston."
"Pit bull euthanized after attacking Labrador Retriever." Chicago, May 9, 2007
"Three pit bulls attack toddler in Ottawa." February 26, 2005
"Two pit bulls attack four people in neighborhood, both killed by police gunshots." Fontana, California
"Pit bull owner faces hearing over attack on 61-year-old man"
"7-year-old pit bull attack victim recovering from surgery"
"Girl loses part of finger to pit bull" Indianapolis, Indiana. May 15, 2007
PIT-HATE
On April 9, 2007, a newspaper in Denver confirmed that over 1,100 pit bulls had been confiscated from their owners and KILLED.
Cities That Have Banned Or Proposed A Ban On Pit Bulls
Springville, Utah: Active
Council Bluffs, Iowa: Active, 2004
Royal City, Washington: Active, 12 Jan, 2007
Denver, Colorado: Active, Banned on 9 May, 2005 (first banned in 1980's)
Ontario, Canada: Active, Banned on 15 October, 2004
Winnipeg, Canada: Active, Banned in 1990
Prince George's County, Maryland: Active, 1996
Shelbyville, California: Proposed, 18 November, 2006
New York City, NY: Proposed, 28 December 2006
Aurora, Colorado: Proposed, 27 September, 2005
Oklahoma: Proposed, 21 June, 2005
Youngstown, Ohio: Proposed, 10 January, 1999
Richland, Washington: Proposed, 21 December, 2006
Tupelo, Mississippi: Proposed, 28 September, 2006
Parker, Colorado: Proposed, 17 January, 2006
Chicago, Illinois: Proposed, 17 November, 2005
Yonkers, NY: Active, Banned on 3 November, 2006
France: Active: April 30, 1999; Ownership restricted; non-pure-breed animals resembling pit-bulls are to be surgically neutered
Norway: Most Pit Bull variants are illegal since ca. 1980, dogs older than that were allowed to stay with their owners until a natural death.
United Kingdom: Active, 12 August, 1991 (Banned in public places, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991)
Bob Carr, New South Wales Premier said, "A pit bull is a killing machine on a leash and too often someone ends up in an emergency ward after an encounter with one of these dogs. We want to see these dangerous creautres bred out of existence."
"Imagine police and animal control show up at your home. They tell you that your dog, who never hurt anyone is considered vicious by the city governement, and then they take it from you and KILL IT. This is actually happening in Denver, Colorado. The city of Denver has killed over 1100 dogs merely because they were, or looked like, pit bull terriers. Most were not dogs that harmed people, and were people's pets." - From a petition against Denver's ban
PIT SUPPORT
"It's the two-legged beast, not the four-legged one, we have to worry about." - Robin Kovary (New York-based dog breeder), obviously backing the idea that irresponsible owners are to blame for pit attacks.
"Punish the DEED not the BREED" http://content.cafepress.com/si/496189.header1.gif
The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a Pit Bull named Weela. She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California.
http://www.subzerokennel.com/sitebuilder/images/pitbullcomparison-324x328.jpg - Comparison of deaths caused by pits and guns, cars, smoking
"Ban stupid people, not dogs." http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r316/cherrylicious003/BanStupidPeopleNotDogs.jpg
"Pit bulls are famous, in circles of knowledgeable dog people, for the love and loyalty they bestow on anyone who shows them a smidgen of kindness." - Linda Wilson-Fuoco, journalist
"In my opinion, Pit bulls are the least likely to be human aggressive. On the whole, you have to do a lot of work to make them aggressive to people." - Sue Frisch, Dessin Animal Shelter manager
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/HeroicPitties/HeroicPitties.htm - A list of heroic pits who have saved families from fires, donated blood to other dying dogs, died protecting their owners, and aided the Police, the blind, the deaf, and the handicapped.
Dixie, a Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame after she saving children from a Cottonmouth snake.
Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing rate!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/396786588?ltl=1179447445 - One of the numerous petitions against Denver's ban.
American Temperament Test Society Results, December 2002
American Pit Bull Terrier: 83.2%
American Staffordshire Terrier: 82.6%
Bearded Collie: 53.5%
Border Collie: 78.8%
Beagle: 77.8%
Cocker Spaniel: 81.5%
Great Dane: 76.9%
Golden Retriever: 82.5%
Old English Sheepdog: 77.8%
Rhodesian Ridgeback: 73.8%
Samoyed: 77.8%
"We have not had a single serious problem with any of the pit bull adoptions. In fact, people tell us their pit bull is the best dog they've ever had. Some come back for a second one." - Marsha Biggar, "Adopt-A-Pet," Stamford, CT, from "Man's Best Friend"
http://www.trupitbull.com/index.html - Great, informative site about the pit's history, temperament, pictures, legislation information, facts/myths, etc.
Please protect these wonderful, loving, sweet creatures from intolerant, stereotypical, cruel laws. Our innocent family pets and treasured companions are being slaughtered out of uneducated fear. Help save the Pit Bull!
Adding your comment:
However, I do know that some pit-bulls are extremely cruel. But as with anything or anyone, not every type of animal or person matches a stereotype exactly. As for the content of this, I was expecting to read a poem instead of an essay nevertheless, I like how you included both sides of the issue and kept your opinion and stated in clearly and with ways to appeal to the readers emotions. I also thin your title was very effective. As for my opinion, I don’t think pit-bulls as a whole should be banned although, if a certain individual dog has harmed or killed people, I think that specific dog should be put to death for injuring/killing someone. My mother was attacked by a pit-bull that was from a family that neglected caring for it in a good and decent manner, which most likely caused the attack. It may not be just a generic trait, attacks may also be caused by poor household pet management. I do not think the total breed of dogs should be eliminated simply because the actions of they kind. This was very interesting and informational to read. It was also very well written and a good way to get your opinion heard.
