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Pit Bulls Should Be Banned Essay

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Since the 1980’s, there’s been a high level of concern among the general public

with regard to breed-specific aggression in Pit Bulls. The reasons behind this backlash

against Pit Bulls are threefold; longitudinal studies beginning in the 1970’s demonstrated

that unprovoked canine attacks were carried out by Pit Bulls at a level disproportionate to

their population, misconceptions about their aggressive nature made them attractive pets

to owners who were more likely to raise aggressive dogs, and media sensationalism in the

form of misleading coverage of Pit Bull attacks further reinforced their perception as an

aggressive breed in the eyes of the public. As a result, many states have enacted breed-

specific legislation, regulating …show more content…

Blood sports were eventually outlawed in England during the 19th century, as referenced

in Monica Villavicencio’s piece about the history of dogfighting, in which she states:

In 1835, the British Parliament outlawed all baiting activities. Following the law's

passage, dog-on-dog combat emerged as the cheaper, legal alternative to baiting.

Fighting dogs were crossbred with other breeds to create a fast, agile and vicious

animal capable of brawling for hours at a time. (Villavicencio)

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Dogfighting grew in popularity at around the same time in the United States, and

although outlawed, was widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One may look

to the dogs’ origins as proof that they are inherently more violent than other breeds; after

all, they were bred to be the most vicious fighters possible. However, this is

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