| By Jennifer Ward & Suzanne Laba Buffalo Animal Shelter Volunteers, and Pit Bull Advocates
January 27, 2015
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We are writing in response to Anna M. Howard's articles "Is Pitbull the Problem?" and "Bite Statistics to Sink Your Teeth Into", which seems to be yet another attempt to vilify the "pit bull". First, any responsible journalist should recognize the importance of reliable, factual sources. Ms. Howard appears to base her article and opinions on pit bulls and bite statistics entirely upon a website run by a woman allegedly attacked by a pit bull, and a highly criticized article written by a Time Magazine reporter who also used that same inaccurate source. Here is a link to why information from Dogsbite.org should be discarded http://legal.pblnn.com/pro-bsl-experts/dogbiteorg/109-collen-lynn-seattle-animal-control-records. For reliable sources on the subject of why breed bans don't work in minimizing dog bites, we offer the following website http://stopbsl.org./fortherecord/journalistresources For "pit bull" advocates, Ms. Howard's apparent laziness in writing this story is infuriating not only because of the inaccuracies she reports, and the stereotypes she perpetuates, but because, to the average reader, the story and pictures accompanying it are likely to lead them to walk away from the story thinking that "Yes, pit bulls are dangerous dogs and only drug dealers or dog fighters want them". In our opinion, the media's lazy reporting on this subject is in large part responsible for much of the battle pit bull advocates are forced to fight every day. "Pit bull" is not even a "breed", but a catchall term used by many local dog control officers and municipalities to describe muscular dogs, with big, blocky heads. The American Pit Bull Terrier is the only American Kennel Club recognized "purebred pit bull". The dogs filling animal shelters across the country, the dogs most often being characterized as too dangerous to live in communities where breed bans have been put in places, are actually more likely "mixes" of any number of terrier type dogs, that may or may not have any "American Pit Bull Terrier", "American Staffordshire Terrier" or "Bull Staffordshire Terrier" (the two other recognized purebred breeds) in their bloodline. This catchall manner of identifying dogs is dangerous and deadly because of the stereotypes that surround the term. Stereotypes that in many places across the country get a dog killed when it enters an Animal Shelter, simply because of what it looks like without ever considering what is known about the individual dog's behavior and temperament. Any legitimate expert on dog behavior, bite statistics, etc. will tell you behavior and temperament are the only characteristics that should be used to judge any dog. More important than focusing on any one breed is preventing dog bites before they happen. The National Canine Research Council has a wealth of information on the subject of dog bites, and dog bite prevention (most bites are completely preventable if the humans involved with the dog knew what signs of distress in the dog to look out for). Their website (http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/) In addition, Animal Farm Foundation (http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/) and Bad Rap Rescue (http://www.badrap.org/) are two rescue organizations that specialize in rescuing pit bull type dogs in particular. Each has a plethora of data and information available for the asking. Pit bulls are their specialty. They invest their lives in knowing them, living with them and saving them. Ms. Howard quotes Mayor Paul Dyster as saying "When you see guys sitting around on a porch with pit bulls we know what we have, a drug house, right?" However, the photo chosen by Ms. Howard to accompany her article is not of a porch full of pit bulls belonging to Niagara Falls drug dealers. The picture isn't even of a porch in Niagara Falls but of the family dogs belonging to a woman who runs a blog called "Enlightened by A Dog: A Dog's Blog". A simple Google photo search on the origin of her picture reference, would have led her to countless stories of the love for these particular family dogs. Did the origin of the dogs in the picture not matter because the only point she wanted to get across was: "porch full of pit bulls = drug dealers?" (editor's note: the photo in question was chosen to show that all pit bulls are not drug dealers dogs and consequently the editor chose a picture of some clearly friendly pit bull type dogs). We are not drug dealers. We are dog lovers, contributing members of our communities, volunteers at our local animal shelter and willing and loving advocates of not only our own personal dogs, but the countless pit bull type dogs being abused, neglected, or waiting for a loving home of their own. For anyone to insinuate only criminals have "pit bulls" is a slap in the face to most pit bull owners. Another valuable resource on the history of the demonization of pit bulls and other breeds throughout history is "The Pit Bull Placebo" by Karen Delise. The book can be downloaded for free online by going to this link: http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/publications/ncrc-publications/ There is much to be learned from history, and the fact that each generation had its own larger than life, dangerous dog, but, when you get over the hysteria and just look at the facts, most bites could be prevented if the humans involved were more knowledgeable, more caring and more careful. Finally, we would like to leave you with a suggestion. The Niagara County SPCA and its Director, Amy Lewis, are right in your backyard. Go visit and spend some time talking to Ms. Lewis and her staff, and most important, spend some time with the dogs in their care. The article that could come of that experience is one that would prove genuinely helpful to your readers, and the dogs you are writing about. http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2015/JAN27/pitc.html |
Friday 30 January 2015
Pit Bull Battle Continues Is Lazy Journalism Fueling the "Pit Bull Problem"?
Wednesday 28 January 2015
Study Says Human Behavior -- Not Dog Breed -- Predicts Canine Aggression- By Jenny Kutner
Different dog breeds have different temperaments, which is partly why dog-lovers are sometimes partial to one breed over others. But not all seemingly unique breed behaviors are actually breed-specific, specifically aggression. A recent study indicates that dog owners’ behavior -- not the dog’s breed -- could be key to predicting whether or not a dog will be aggressive.
The research could be one more nail in the coffin of breed-specific legislation, which unduly discriminates against certain breeds based on the assumption that they are inherently dangerous. According to the study, the type of training an owner uses plays a larger role in how their dog will interact with humans -- strangers and family members alike -- than the breed. Attending puppy classes was shown to reduce the risk of aggression to unfamiliar people, while training methods that used negative reinforcement increased the chance of aggression to, well, everyone. Additionally, dogs with owners over age 40 were two times less likely to have aggression issues than those with owners under age 25.
Ultimately, the researchers conclude that training dogs early -- preferably using positive reinforcement methods -- can decrease the likelihood that the dog will become aggressive, despite what rumors might suggest about the breed. While it might make sense to generalize about some canine behavioral tendencies, they say, it would be wrong to assume that an individual dog will be aggressive simply because of its breed.
Aggression in Dogs (Overview)
Aggression in a dog is frightening. Not only for the person who is the apparent target, but also for the pet owner. The possibility that one might be the owner of a pet that has inflicted serious harm on another person is a nightmare. More than a million people are bitten by every year, and this is probably a very low number when you take into account all the bites that are not reported. Most bite wounds are minor, but dog bites account for one percent of all emergency room admissions. Half of the victims are also children, usually under 10 years of age.
Aggresive behavioral traits can pose significant problems if there are other underlying causes. Such traits are not usually predetermined by age, breed, or gender. However, if a young dog shows signs of these traits, it may be genetic in origin, and the condition could become a long-term issue. There is no cure for these personality traits, but there are ways to work with the animal to reduce incidents and to prevent behavior from becoming exaggerated.
Symptoms and Types
Many aggressive signs are accompanied by a fearful body posture and facial expression, and with submissive behavior. Some dogs exhibit these signs if they are cornered, feel like they cannot escape, or are provoked. There are many types of aggression, including interdog, dominant, defensive, possesive, territorial, predatory, parental and those induced by fear, pain, or punishment. Of these, signs of an offensive type of fear include:
- “Frozen” stance
- Growling
- Snarling
- Snapping
- Head up
- Tail up
- Direct stare
- Immobile face
Conversely, signs of defensive aggression include:
- Head lowered
- Tail down
- Body withdrawn
Causes
Aggressive behavior in dogs in mainly attributed to:
- Sexual maturation
- Genetic factors
- Inbreeding
- Environment
- Pack order behavior
Aggression, fear, and defensive behavior may also be a normal response for some dogs, depending on the circumstances. Animals that were abused, roughly handled, or harshly punished have been known to exhibit some, or all, of these behaviors. In addition, living conditions play a role in aggression, as does being attacked or frightened by another aggressive dog, owners who spoil or praise too much, isolation from human contact, and being teased by children.
Understanding a puppy's growth periods may help in comprehending canine aggression. Beginning at 3 weeks of age until 14 weeks, puppies critically need socialization. (If you are purchasing a puppy, it is best to get it between the ages of seven to eight weeks old.) Puppies are very fearful between 8 and 10 weeks old and need to be handled gently by everyone around them (i.e., no harsh discipline at this age).
Adolescence sets in at about 14 weeks and ends when sexual maturity has been achieved -- about 15 months of age. If socialization hasn’t occurred by the time it is 14 weeks old, you may never be able to trust it around people or other dogs. From the beginning of adolescence to sexual maturity, puppies tend to bark at strangers and become more protective. Males begin to lift the leg to urinate during this period. It’s also important to introduce them to strangers in the home -- adults, children, and other dogs -- during this period.
Dogs that have been bred to be protective -- Dobermans, Akitas, and Rottweilers -- are more aggressive by their very nature. Dogs bred to kill small game, such as terriers, retain this characteristic. Non-neutered male dogs, females in heat, and females nursing puppies are also typically aggressive.
Then there is the dog's pack order. It is is built into the way they perceive the world. And body language is the tool for establishing a dog’s rank in the pack. It will look at you and your family as members of its pack and will try to establish its place by challenging the more submissive members, such as children. If the animal growls while guarding its food dish, discipline the behavior immediately. If these types of behaviors are not corrected, the dog will, little by little, gain dominance over some or all of the family members.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is generally made from observing dominance behavior, conflict aggression, and social status aggression. There are currently no medications licensed for the treatment of canine aggression. Behavioral modification training is the prescribed treatment.
U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics
| Companion animals | Exotic animals | Formulas/Calculator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Specialty and Exotic Animals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Formulas for estimating percentage of pet-owning households and pet population in your community | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most communities do not have data on the number of households that own dogs, cats, birds, or horses, nor do they have data on the numbers of these pets in their communities. The following formulas can be used to estimate the number of pet-owning households and pet populations in your community.
These formulas will give you an approximation of the number of pet-owning households and pet populations. These formulas assume that the demographics and rates of pet ownership in your community are similar to national, state and regional demographics and rates of pet ownership. However, because these formulas use sample survey data, they should not be considered 100% accurate.
To use the formulas below you need to know the total number of households in the community in which you are estimating. If you only know the population of the community, you can estimate the number of households by dividing the population of the community by the average number of members per household. In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey estimated that there were 2.6 members per household.
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To estimate the number of pet-owning households in your community, multiply the total number of households in your community by the percentage of households that owned pets. For dogs and cats you may replace the national percentage with the percentage for the state in which the community is located. For birds and horses you may replace the national percentage with the percentage for the region in which the community is located.
The demographics of the state or region may be more similar to the demographics of your community, but, as indicated above the state and regional estimates have a greater degree of statistical error associated with them than the national estimates. Therefore, without additional analysis, it is undetermined whether an estimate for the number of pet-owing households in your community will be more accurate by using the national estimates, regional estimates or state estimates.
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| Estimate the Number of Pets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Use the Pet Ownership Calculator to estimate the number of pets in your community
There are two alternative methods for estimating the number of pets in your community. You can multiply the total number of households in your community by a factor determined by multiplying the percentage of households that own pets by the number of pets owned per household. Alternatively, you can multiply the number of pet-owning households determined above by the mean number of pets owned per household.
As with the number of households, state or regional values may be substituted for the national values if desired. (The number of dogs, cats, birds or horses per household for states or regions can be determined by dividing the total population of the state or region by the total number of pet-owning households in each state or region.) However, the same caution mentioned previously must be noted. Without additional analysis, it is unknown whether the error in the estimate introduced by differences between national and community demographic and pet-ownership characteristics is greater than or less than the error introduced by the larger error inherent in the smaller state or regional samples.
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Formulas for estimating the number of pets using national percentages and number of pets:
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EXAMPLE:
Suppose that you know a community has a population of 50,000. To estimate the number of dog-owning households in this community: Divide total population by the average number of people per household from the Census: 50,000 ÷ 2.6 = 19,231 households 19,231 x .365 = 7,019 dog-owning households To estimate the number of dogs in this community: 19,231 x 0.584 = 11,231 dogs Alternatively: 1.7 x 7,019 = 11,231 dogs
Additional information on state and regional demographics are available in the 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook.
https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Statistics/Pages/Market-research-statistics-US-pet-ownership.aspx | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 27 January 2015
Stop Dog Breed Discrimination in Rhode Island Posted by Chelsea Cooley
Target: Gordon D. Fox, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives; M. Teresa Paiva Weed, President of the Rhode Island Senate
Goal: End dog breed discrimination in Rhode Island
Any local government in Rhode Island can outlaw ownership of a particular breed of dog. Responsible dog owners and lovers of targeted breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier are speaking out against this law, which bans particular breeds entirely without considering individual cases, dogs, owners, or families. Now Rhode Island Congress has the opportunity to vote on House Bill 5671, which will prevent dog breed discrimination throughout the state.
As of February 2013, 10 separate cities banned or restricted pit bulls specifically, declaring them “vicious,” without regard to any individual family or animal. Some legislators in the state have asked pit bull owners to carry a $100,000 liability insurance policy on their dogs. Rottweilers are also heavily targeted. Some dog-lovers feel the need to permanently move from communities in which they are not allowed to keep their favorite companion animals. Others feel like their family units are threatened by the loss of a beloved pet.
Few dog owners believe that breed-specific laws actually work in curbing violence. Activists opposed to the ban cite the fact that breed discrimination has failed to improve public safety, leading to its vast unpopularity and prohibition in 13 states. Furthermore, the enforcement of such bans is both difficult and expensive. They ask instead for stricter punishments for dog-fighting organizers and animal abusers, who are widely regarded as the root cause of violence in animals.
Any dog can be a nuisance to society if he or she is not raised with the proper care and guidance. Ask Rhode Island legislators to end dog breed discrimination.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Fox and Ms. Weed,
You will soon have the opportunity to vote on House Bill 5671, which will ban dog breed discrimination throughout the state of Rhode Island. I ask instead that you enforce stricter punishments against dogfight organizers and animal abusers, who are widely considered the true instigators of animal violence. These criminals have given certain breeds, like the Rottweiler and the American Pit Bull Terrier, a poor reputation. However, dog lovers can tell you that a loving household and a dedicated upbringing prevent animal violence, while the opposite promotes it, no matter what the breed.
Do not punish everyday families who simply love their pets and are loved in return. Do not ask them to pay for extremely expensive insurance policies in order to keep their companion animals. Focus instead on the root issue — animal abuse and neglect. Vote to pass HB 5671 banning dog breed discrimination.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: rmcnicholas via flickr
Thursday 22 January 2015
Center For Canine Behavior studies
Inaugural Study
Please participate in the Center’s inaugural study, the ANIMAL OWNERSHIP INTERACTION STUDY: A longitudinal study to establish once and for all how owner personality and psychological status affect a pet dog’s behavior.
In order to elucidate the positive and negative aspects of owners’ interaction with their dogs, investigators Dodman & Serpell propose the largest owner-dog personality-behavior study ever conducted with a view to establishing once and for all how owner personality and psychological status affects a pet’s behavior. From the results of this study, Dodman & Serpell expect to be able to help owners understand the influence they are having on their pet’s behavior and to be able to modify their interactions with their dog in a positive way.
Dodman & Serpell believe the study will also help predict which owner personality types are most compatible with a particular dog that they plan to adopt, thereby helping ensure a harmonious pairing, owner satisfaction, and the adopted dog thus having a home for life.
Sponsors: Currently available for corporate or private sponsorship funding.
Administration: Tufts University
Administration: Tufts University
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| Lead Investigator: Read more about Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman » | Co-Investigator: Read more about Dr. James A. Serpell, PhD » |
ANIMAL OWNERSHIP INTERACTION STUDY OBJECTIVE
The Animal Ownership Interaction Study cohort will comprise volunteer dog-owner participants and their canines of both pure and mixed breeds. Study analysis will include identifying sub-cohorts by various factors, such as, but not limited to, pure breed, mixed breed, breed mix as identified by voluntary breed genetic testing, owners’ source of the canine (i.e. breeder, shelter, friend, puppy breeder/pet store, etc.), age, pre-existing health issues, etc.
A primary study objective is to follow adopted shelter dogs throughout their lives to gain further insight into the human-canine bond to help reduce relinquishment and return that can often lead to destruction of the dog. From the results of this study, investigators Dodman & Serpell expect to be able to help owners understand the influence they are having on their pet’s behavior and to be able to modify their interactions with their dog in a positive way.
To participate in this study, you must be Registered with the Center. After you are Registered you may read the Study Information and then provide your Consent to the terms of the study, which will permit you to proceed to participating in the study.
Wednesday 21 January 2015
MAJORITY RULES? 84%
National survey shows
majority of Americans polled
support freedom to choose
dogs, regardless of breed
A new national survey commissioned by
Best Friends Animal Society
(http://www.bestfriends.org) reveals that 84
percent of those polled believe that local,
state or federal governments should not
infringe on a person’s right to own
whatever breed of dog they
choose. This survey,
conducted by Luntz Global, is
consistent with a growing
trend by many state and local
governments that have
repealed Breed Discriminatory
Legislation (sometimes known
as Breed Specific Legislation
or BSL) and enacted behavior-
based, breed-neutral
dangerous dog laws.
Everyone benefits from a safe society – both people and pets. But instead of punishing innocent dogs for resembling a specific breed, communities should concentrate on holding reckless owners accountable and responsible.
Kanab, Utah (PRWEB) January 24, 2014
A new national survey commissioned by Best Friends Animal Society reveals that 84 percent of those polled believe that local, state or federal governments should not infringe on a person’s right to own whatever breed of dog they choose.
This survey*, conducted by Luntz Global, is consistent with a growing trend by many state and local governments that have repealed breed discriminatory provisions and enacted behavior-based, breed-neutral dangerous dog laws. Of the 850 polled, 59 percent were dog owners. Only four percent of those polled believed the federal government should dictate what breed of dog a person could own, while six percent supported state government restrictions and 11 percent local government limits.
Supporting the survey is the fact that 17 states have passed laws that prohibit cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs because of breed. Even the American Bar Association passed a Resolution 100 in August, 2012 calling for all political subdivisions to repeal breed discriminatory provisions. (http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/pit_bull_bias_aba_house_oks_resolution_urging_breed-neutral_dog_laws/) Bills to prohibit breed discrimination by local governments are pending in Washington, Missouri and South Dakota. A bill is set to be introduced in Utah in the coming weeks.
“Every American who follows the right safety rules as a responsible dog owner should be allowed to own whatever breed of dog they choose,” said Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society. “Communities should be protected against any dangerous dog, no matter the breed, and abused or neglected dogs should be protected from abusive owners. Owners and dogs should be judged on their behavior.”
“This movement away from breed discriminatory legislation--sometimes called ‘breed specific legislation’ or BSL-- is based on studies and experience that demonstrate that laws targeting dogs based solely on breed are ineffective in reducing dog bites,” VanKavage added. “They also are arbitrary, difficult and expensive to enforce, violate basic property rights and ultimately punish responsible dog owners and innocent family pets.”
“We all want safe and humane communities,” VanKavage said. “Everyone benefits from a safe society – both people and pets. But instead of punishing innocent dogs for resembling a specific breed, communities should concentrate on holding reckless owners accountable and responsible. The simple truth is that breed discrimination doesn’t work.”
Studies in a number of countries with breed-discriminatory laws show that breed simply is not a factor in the frequency of dog bites. Because of this, more and more jurisdictions are enacting comprehensive breed-neutral ordinances that focus on the ensuring the proper behavior of both dogs and owners.
According to the National Canine Research Council and an October, 2010 report in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), studies done in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands found that breed discriminatory laws in those countries didn’t reduce the number of dog bites or improve public safety. (http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/NNB%20now%20available%20in%20JAVMA%20dated.pdf)
Based on these studies and concerns about due process and property rights infringement, the National Animal Control Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Best Friends Animal Society, the ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States are against breed discrimination.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), based on its September, 2000 study of human fatalities from dog bites, published in JAVMA, also promotes a breed-neutral approach to legislation. The CDC found that many other factors, besides a dog’s breed such as reproductive status, heredity, sex, early experiences, socialization and training, can affect the likelihood that a dog could attack someone. (http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2000.217.836)
Many breed discriminatory laws are aimed at pit bull terriers, one of the more popular breeds in the United States. An estimated 5-7 million pit bull terriers live as pets in the United States, and the vast majority of pit bull terriers are loving, loyal family pets.
According to statistics posted online in February, 2013 by the American Temperament Test Society, 86.8 percent of American Pit Bull Terriers successfully pass their temperament evaluations—a higher passing rate than many other popular breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Boston Terriers and Dachshunds. Out of 32,438 dogs tested since the organization was founded in 1977, the average passing rate for all breeds is 83 percent. (http://atts.org/breed-statistics/)
*Luntz Global conducted 850 interviews with men and women between the ages of 18 and 65+. The results of the survey have a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent.
About Best Friends Animal Society®
Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. An authority and leader in the no-kill movement since its founding in 1984, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as life-saving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from 17 million per year to about 4 million. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All®.
Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. An authority and leader in the no-kill movement since its founding in 1984, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as life-saving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from 17 million per year to about 4 million. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All®.
To like Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook go to:http://www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety
Follow Best Friends on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bestfriends
Friday 16 January 2015
Pitbull Attacks: Deadly Pit Bull Attacks and Why They Happen
By Jason Mann
Recently here in Louisville, Kentucky a 14-month old girl was mauled to death by the families Pit Bull.
The mother was feeding her daughter when the Pit Bull "snapped" and attacked the infant killing her.
I am sad about this tragedy because it didn't have to happen. None of the attacks we see didn't have to happen.
How many times did this dog show aggression towards small children? We will never know because no one cares about that.
How many times did the owner reinforce this type of behavior around their daughter? Again, we will never know, it's not important.
Of importance to the general public is a little baby was mauled to death by a vicious Pit Bull and they should start killing them all.
Pit Bull Attacks Happen Because Peopleare Irresponsible and Ignorant
Some people make their dogs mean on purpose. In this case they are cruel, irresponsible, mean people.
Irresponsible owners are the reason why these attacks occur in every single case!.
Uh, oh! I went and said something I shouldn't have. That people are irresponsible, lack morals and have no respect for how their actions effect the rest of society. Uh, oh! I did it again!
Seriously though, all you have to do is read the stories.
Locking a 12 year old (California case) in a basement with dogs that showed aggression towards the children then leaving to go shopping is not responsible and the lady should be jailed for her actions. The result was her son died.
When it comes to small dogs this is annoying at worst. You know, the little fufu yapper bites your ankle while the owner is saying, "Oh she just wants to say hi! (insert annoying barbie giggle here...)"
Solutions to Pit Bull Attacks
Enforcing the current laws would be a great start for our society. Unfortunately, they don't enforce them and when they do they usually avoid people who are the real problem.
Regulating breeding. Yes, I am for this. If you breed your untitled, unproven, incorrect 90 lbs Blue, merle, silver, dog then you should be smacked with a $50,000 fine on the spot.
We should institute breed wardens whose job it would be to regulate kennels and byb's. They report to a head office who then takes actions against kennels and byb's that do not comply with regulations.
Public and Pit Bull community awareness. If you want a Pit Bull rescue a sound adult! If you want to teach the public these dogs are not all baby killers, train them, title them, and take them out to public gatherings where dogs are welcome.
Become an advocate for the breed. Show them your CGC, TT, TDI, certified Pit Bull. Show them that it is the owners and not the dogs who are the root of every single attack that happens.
Finally, if you are a non-pit bull fancier/owner stop whining about banning and get to doing something productive (like helping AC catch irresponsible retards!)
Pitbull Attacks Conclusion
I could write a book about this subject but someone already has so get hers.
Get the book "FATAL DOG ATTACKS" The Stories Behind the Statistics it's a great read and has a ton of great information for Pit Bull owners.
Bottom Line: Until Pit Bull owners and the general public start working together to draft laws that address the core problem (irresponsible owners) we will continue to see unstable, untrained, unfixed, dogs attack and kill.
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