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Man's Best Friend the Pit Bull

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Man’s Best Friend
Dogs have been a companion for humans throughout history. There are currently 161 breeds which are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry (Why Purebred?, 2013). Add the total of mix breeds and the number of dogs the ASPCA rescues daily, and there are a countless number of dogs in the United States. Unfortunately, since dogs do not have the ability to speak, they use their mouths and paws to communicate. Dog bites happen. According to the ASPCA, there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites estimated every year (Dog Bites, 2013). Based on these estimates alone, dog bites raise public health and public safety issues in many cities across the country.
The “Pit Bull
Breed
The term “Pit Bull” is a generalization of many similar breeds. The AKC registers the most common breed of “Pitt Bull” as the American Staffordshire Terrier. Without researching the breed, some assume the name from the UKC, which is an international registry, which registers American Bull Terriers. Some refer to them as cousins, and some disagree on their classification as the same breed. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was originally bred “in the nineteenth century when coal miner in Staffordshire, England, wanted a small, fast dog” (AKC, 2013). Using the original Bulldog and a small local Terrier, the breed is “extremely courageous and obedient, highly intelligent and affectionate with a sense of humor. This coupled with its affection for its friends, and children

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