Julie Conleay
English 121
Kate Harrington
7 December 2015
What Is a Pit Bull? Research into Colorado’s breed specific legislation has revealed two clear view points on the effectiveness and appropriateness of this law. I have found shocking and extreme bias in both parties’ claims, and as such, I have delved deeper and more fervently into the effects of the law itself. While I hold my own biased opinion I feel that both sides have points that are valid and should be taken into consideration. I disagree wholeheartedly with banning a breed of any animal, however I can happily admit to the need for behavioral training for both dogs and owners.
To understand this ban one must first know what it entails. Under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. 8-55, pit
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This is mostly because it doesn’t target the right race, humans. Instead of forcing irresponsible or negligent owners to give up their dogs and take the blame for their actions they blame the dog’s nature. I find that slightly humorous due to their extreme swing from one side to the other. A study reported by Robert reeves law states that 84% of dogs involved in fatal attacks were neglected and abused. And goes on to show a study that states Pit bull terriers passed an American Temperament Test with a rate of 86% with only 201 dogs failing this test.( Robert reeves law) A different study shows that dogs living in census block groups that had incomes less than the county median, $41,278, were 1.5 times as likely to be reported as a biting dog as reported as a non-biting dog. (American Kennel Club) Again I will concede to their logical position on spaying and neutering a dog so as to help them not be territorial of a mating areas or fight due to testosterone levels. Although my first issue still stands, this could be true of any dog. All dogs can bite and cause significant damage. There is no actual scientific study that has been done that can prove that any one breed of dog bites or causes more damage than any other specific breed of dog. There have even been a few cases of dogs weighing less than thirty pounds maiming or even killing children. I’m …show more content…
Let’s say we do outlaw pit bulls everywhere, either dog fighters and unworthy owners will get the dogs illegally or they will ignore the laws and hide the dogs. This in itself raises three problems immediately, new fight breeds being listed, hidden dogs with no socialization both of which causes aggression, dis-temperament in the animal, and fear of new breeds of canines. Can you imagine a Pomeranian fight dog? No, because they’re cute and adorable due to their size. However, I personally have seen a Pomeranian takedown and kill another Pomeranian for simply sniffing a toy in his yard while the owner sat back and had a beer. Dog’s breeds do not account for their attitudes and temperament. That responsibility lies firmly at the feet of the
One reason is that the ¨Dogs suffer rather than give up beloved pets, owners of highly regulated or banned breeds avoid detection by restricting their dogs’ outdoor exercise and socialization¨ ( Breed-Specific) .However, the problem of dangerous dogs will not be remedied by the “quick fix” of breed-specific laws.
Many dogs and cats will walk in and out of many shelters in the U.S. but many Pit Bulls will be able to walk out with a family. I tried to look for someone who has had experience within the kennels and to see firsthand the consequences of the negative reputation Pit Bulls in order to demonstrate the struggle that Pit Bulls faced. I met Jenna Keyes, a Humane Educator, who works for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter and deals with animal control and rescue. I walked into her office where the many pictures of animals on the wall cued to me that she clearly was an animal lover and I was in the right place for my interview. Keyes explains that before working at the shelter, she worked with horses and did dog training at boarding kennels. In addition,
Whether you like it or not, labels matter -- even if you're a dog, especially if that dog is a pit bull. http://www.care2.com/causes/heres-what-pit-bulls-are-really-bred-to-do.html This breed knows a thing or two about labels; the pit bull went from America's darling dog to one of the most feared http://www.dontbullymybreed.org/index.php/information/resources/pit-bulls-a-history (and misunderstood) dogs today. And new research from Arizona State University published in PLOS ONE shows just how detrimental the pit bull label can be.
Dogs seem to be one of the most common and beloved pets in our society. Many even consider their dog to be a family member. One thing that is especially great about dogs is that there are many different breeds of dogs out there that have different characteristics, and traits. Which gives people the option to choose the type of dog that is right for them, but one breed in particular has been banned in various places, and discriminated against that breed being pit bulls. Breed specific legislation targets pit bulls based on misconceptions, appearance, and poor knowledge about the breed.
If you raise a dog With whips and chains, of course they're going to be mean and bite. But that is, the owners fault, not the dogs!!! Besides pit bulls aren’t the only dogs that kill there are many dogs that have taken life’s, and you’re just going to get this one dog? Now look I don’t mean take all the dogs out of the U.S.A, I’m simply stating that there are other dogs that hurt to not just one type of dog. Where do the Pit bull’s go? Do you have a certain place for them to go or are you just going, to let the wonder the streets and, possibly letting them get shot by other people? Put yourself in the dog’s shoes, would you like it to be illegal to have a home? To have it illegal to live your life? How would you feel? Pit bulls are the target of breed-specific legislation for years now. Despite proof saying such laws do not stop the
breed is responsible for its behavior. These laws are commonly referred to as breed bans,
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to petition against Maryland’s law to identify “Pit Bulls” as a dangerous breed of dog.
“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
When BSL is enacted in a community it gives the citizens a false sense of security. They believe that all the “dangerous” dogs are done away with. Breed-specific laws have a tendency to compromise rather than enhance public safety. When limited animal control resources are used to regulate or ban a certain breed of dog, without regard to behavior, the focus is shifted away from routine, effective enforcement of laws that have the best chance of making our communities safer: dog license laws, leash laws, animal fighting laws, anti-tethering laws, laws facilitating spaying and neutering and laws that require all owners to control their dogs, regardless of breed.
When I say I have a pit bull does that frighten you? For most people, it does, even though it shouldn’t. I feel the dog restrictions in Shullsburg are limiting the lifestyles for both specific dog breeds as well as their owners. Did you know that in a way pit bulls are not even a breed? 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 many already have a bad image plastered in their heads without even meeting her. When uneducated people say bad things about pit bulls, it devastates me. My personal opinion to this topic may be different than yours; however, I’m just asking you to have an open-mind and take into consideration what I am saying. Maybe at the end, you will start to feel why I am so heartbroken by what people have said about this specific breed. When people stereotype a pit bull as “vicious” they are limiting the capabilities as well as opportunities for this breed. My dog has to be muzzled, on a four-foot leash and walked by someone 16 years of age or older. At the
People and groups that are pro-BSL say that we should ban “pit bull” dogs because their bite is the worse than any other dog. While American Pitbull Terriers have a very strong bite they are very tolerant dogs and rarely bite. Also, dog bites, even though the can be bad, are rarely deadly. Overall “pit bull” bites are very rare and often are the result of cruel or misinformed owners.
In the United States 75% of dogs do not have any traceable linage and BSL is based off of appearances. There is a large inaccurate percentage of dogs are Pitt Bulls or a Pitt Bull mix. Due to the reputation that Pitt Bulls in the media many criminals and gangs believe that these are vicious dogs and banning them just reinforces that stereotype. Reasonable dog owner go through great lengths to make sure their pet is cared for by training, socializing, and managing them. BSL fails to take into account this by solely focusing on appearances, and not the owner or dog.
Dog fighting is a very cruel thing, and it is happening right under our noses. It is illegal to fight a dog in all fifty states. By being an observer at a dog fight, it is against the law in forty-seven states. So why do people continue this cruel practice? The answer seems to be money. Some people who breed dogs for fighting can sell their puppies for up to two thousand dollars. Even though fighting dogs is making money, it is cruel since pain is inflicted on the dogs; the ASPCA and the Humane Society are trying to prevent this with proper training.
Pit bulls are the most misunderstood dog breeds in the world. When people hear the word pit bull they automatically think of dogs fighting and attacking. When people say "pit bull" they're usually referring to a range of breeds and, often, a mixed-breed dog. (Lawrence, C Louisville Magazine Feb 2007) People think they are a very dangerous breed of dog. Because of this, some areas do not allow pit bulls and breeds like them. Pit bulls are the leading culprit of dog bites in America, but on the other hand, they are the gentlest dogs people will ever meet. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association
Banning specific breeds is not an effective method for keeping the public safe from dog bites or attacks. The ban does not account for differences in each dog's temperament, socialization, or behavior displayed by individual dogs, but groups all dogs of specific breeds as dangerous. Breed banning does not control the problem of dangerous