Many households in America own a beloved pet, known as man’s best friend. Dogs are a cherished member of the family. They aid as a best friend and good companion whenever we are in a moment of sadness or joy. However, imagine someone forcing you to remove a pet from the family just because it falls into the “dangerous” breeds list. This is the type of situation inflicted on many people as a result of breed specific banning. They target groups of animals who are viewed as a big threat to the public. What if your pet was loving, kind, and gentle but fell into the banned breeds list? No one would be able to resist this change without having to pay excessive amounts of money for restraints, just in case another attack would occur. Pit bulls, especially, …show more content…
While there have been numerous attacks and deaths against humans, banning an entire breed is not the solution or justified because breed-specific bans do not eliminate the problem, it is not solely the fault of a dog that it becomes aggressive, and they were once an American favorite in the past. The negative effects that breed specific bans impose blind many people.
It is easy to forget that Pit bulls did not always have such a bad history and were once an American favorite. "Far from being considered a killing machine on legs, pit bulls seem to be an American favorite in the early half of the century — indeed, during World War I, the country itself is personified as a pit bull on army recruitment posters, and several pit bulls go on to become famous in the American military” (Bastian). People do not realize that they were a beloved breed and did not have such a horrible reputation for causing fatalities. It is not impossible to train this breed to become obedient and gentle towards humans. However, for this to happen, it starts with the reasons why this once loving breed, turned so violent. Not all the blame that is unleashed solely on the dog can continue because they turn into what their owners create. The way we view Pit bulls and other
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Blaming them on their actions, which they cannot control, will never solve the problem. Banning an entire breed where many have not done anything wrong will not improve anything either. A huge factor is Breed-specific laws have many flaws that people are unaware of. These laws result in, “dogs going into hiding, good owners and dogs being punished, imparting a false sense of security, and may actually encourage ownership by irresponsible people” (The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals). This shows a less than proactive approach to the situation because it represents very negative results to the problem. It forces innocent dogs and owners into an uncomfortable situation that could be avoided by focusing on a better solution. This results in not getting proper care from the vet, pulls attention away from other laws that can make a bigger difference, and can tempt irresponsible dog owners to engage in illegal activities because it goes against the rules (The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals). Breed specific bans generate inconvenience for people and dogs who are innocent and do not break any laws. It is not fair to punish everyone as a whole because of the reckless actions of others. Many people have committed unthinkable crimes and murders, however, humans are not all bad. It would not be fair to label the human race as selfish and
Perhaps the reason why pit bulls are feared by society is because we are afraid of what they are associated with. Pit bulls are often thought of as a gangster’s pet, a role in violent and illegal activities. People stereotype this breed because of the unfortunate acts of few. In contrast, society needs to understand that they are being racist towards a breed of dog. Denver’s systematic killing of pit bulls could be compared to the actions of the Nazis during the Holocaust.
...ports Illustrated cover photo of a pit bull (Pit Bull Rescue Central, "Breed Information”). Dog fighting made a comeback during the 1980s and the pit bull became the favorite macho dog for dog fighters. The dogs were trained to kill or be killed. Pit bulls were also the preferred guard dog for gangs, thugs and criminals. Since the supporters and detractors of pit bulls hold such disparate opinions regarding the ferocity of the breeds, it is only hoped that further discussion and education will help resolve the sad fate that awaits these unfortunate animals. Simply placing all the blame on the breeds will not solve the problems of dog fighting, overbreeding, aggressive training, and excessive euthanizations. Lastly, the biased, sensationalistic publicity of horrific dog attacks which has destroyed the reputation of the once beloved All American Dog must cease.
Many people associate a negative connotation with the dog breed “pit bull.” These dogs are thought to be dangerous and problematic. However, much of this can be attributed to the mass amounts of negative media attention that pit bull breeds receive as opposed to other breeds of dogs that can be just as dangerous. For example, The National Canine Research Council did a four-day study on dog-bite repo...
The media says that it was a pitbull attack even if it was a different dog breed. How is that fair to the Pit Bulls that didn't do anything and are being blamed for this? It's not, so why are we letting this happen. Pit Bulls may be banned because of people that don't know what they're talking about. We hear every time that a pitbull attacks but not when any other dog attacks it is not heard on the news. News reporters think that they can change the story and just say what they want to say happened so we never know if the story is true or not. All in all the media is not doing the right thing by only reporting pitbull
There are plenty controversial issues about bully breeds and whether they are acceptable or safe dogs to own. In July a woman was mauled in her yard and killed by a dog in Montreal. Due to this unfortunate incident the mayor Denis Coderre created a bill called BSL (Breed-Specific Legislation) which was approved by the legislation. This bill states that determined by their breed or pitbull features “American Pitbull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs or any dog with strains of these breeds” will be unadoptable; they must wear a muzzle in public as well as a leash that’s 4 feet long and in most cases they will be euthanized due to their breed. BSL should be reversed because the real problem is irresponsible dog owners, the irresponsible owners will just switch breeds and any dog has the potential to hurt someone.
Most of the dogs on this list are common household pets, like the Labrador retriever, and are normally non-aggressive and very friendly. Many times these dogs show no sign of aggression and pose no threat to society. Perspective One Breed-specific laws were put in place with the expectation to help prevent dog bites and attacks. The State and Federal government both came to the conclusion that this is a positive way to promote safety from dog attacks. “Both state and federal courts consistently uphold the constitutionality of breed-specific pit bull laws.... ...
One of the biggest issues with BSL is breed identification. A law that bans a “vicious” being is too broad and can encompass many individuals as it is a personality trait rather than a breed. These laws would then be dependent on what the legislators would define “vicious” to mean. Likewise, there is confusion on what breeds are dangerous. Dogsbite.org claims that breeds such as wolf-dog hybrids, dogo argentinos, presa breeds, cane corsos, and especially pit bulls are indeed dangerous animals and should be banned. However, there are discrepancies involved in even that statement. Of the listed breeds perhaps the most commonly targeted is the pit bull. But what exactly does anyone mean by pit bull? Merriam Webster defines “pit bull” as follows, “a dog (as an American Staffordshire Terrier) of any of several breeds or a real or apparent hybrid with one or more of these breeds that was developed for and is now often trained for fighting and is noted for strength and stamina”. On the contrary, the United Kennel Club has recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier, also called APBT, as a standalone breed since 1898 when UKC founder C.Z. Bennett registered her APBT Bennet’s Ring (Uk...
When most people today see a pitbull they see it as a monster who could snap at any moment. Something that they should protect themselves and their family from; but that is not necessarily true. Is any one man or woman exactly like the last? A human being’s personality along with their capacity for violence is molded by their past and how they were treated growing up; pit bulls are no different. In today’s society pitbulls are unfairly discriminated against because they are favored among street gangs and dog fighting rings, leaving a staggering number of loyal and loving dogs homeless or mistreated.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there is a “great deal of confusion associated with the label ‘Pit Bull,’” as it does not refer to a single breed of dog, but rather to a group of breeds with similar characteristics1. These characteristics include short hair, a wide skull and shoulders, muscle definition, stocky build and a deep jawline, the combination of which create a dog that manages to strike fear into a perfect stranger. The term ‘Pit Bull’ is derived from the bulldog, which was originally bred as a hunting dog for large game, but has since developed into a “loyal companion rather than a working dog.”1 Their history as “gripping dogs” for hunters follows them into modern society, as many of these dogs have been inhumanely pitted against one another as well as other animals for sport and for human entertainment1. It is because of these illegal fighting rings that ‘Pit Bull’ type breeds have become the subje...
Pit bulls, like any other dog, grow into their temperament. The way the dog is raised rounds out their character and general temperament. According to the “American Temperament Test Society: Pit bulls pass temperament tests 84.1% of the time, which ranks them slightly better than golden retrievers (83.8%) and cocker spaniels (81.7%), and well above miniature schnauzers (78.6%),” (The Biting Truth). Myths have generated atrocious attitudes towards this breed for years. The nature of the dog to be a protector to children and the bulky build of pit bulls makes them a very easy breed to target. These opinions ...
A ban on pit bulls is the best and only way to keep people and animals safe. A lot of people get attacked by pit bulls all of the time and a lot of animals get attacked or even killed, Many pit bulls are very dangerous and vicious. According to the newspaper article Ohio Overturns Pit Bull there was a bill enacted in 1987 which is only state law to discriminate one specific breed, the pit bull. The law states that any pit bull had to be labeled as dangerous at the least, however all pit bulls were included in either dangerous or vicious. Viciousness is determined by whether the dog or pit bull has ever injured a person or if they have ever killed another dog.
If you were judged solely because of your race, how would you feel? The answer, most likely, is a negative one. Pit bulls, a breed of domestic dog, are victims of harsh stereotyping and unfair judgement. Many people believe the dog is naturally aggressive, but that is far from the truth. The breed does not matter, the size does not matter, and the age does not matter. The key factor on how a dog behaves, is, believe it or not, the person who raises it. Pit bulls are not a dangerous breed of dog.
What do you think of when I say the word pitbull? Do you picture a cute happy dog, wagging its tail happy to see you? Or do you see a mad dog, foaming mouth lunging at small child? If you are a owner of a pitbull then you probably see the happy cute dog. But if you don't own one then chances are you see pitbulls as mean dogs who are a threat to society. The media has painted a picture in our heads that it's in a pitbulls blood to be aggressive. Due to this false accusation, certain cities have banned breeds labeled as “aggressive”. If someone is caught owning a banned breed, the dog is usually euthanized. This is known as Breed Specific Laws or otherwise known as BSL.
“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 for the actions of their owners? Pit bulls especially take the blame more than any other breed. This is an excellent breed if trained correctly. Pit bulls make excellent family pets to own because of the facts, traits, and the standards and guidelines for breeding and training associated with these breeds.
A common stereotype of “pit bulls are vicious animals” used as an excuse for why parents will not allow their children to go over to a pit bull owning person’s house to play with other children. In recent times the pit bull has received a bad reputation from the media due to dog fighting cases and false stories. During both world wars the American Pit Bull Terrier was used for many military propaganda posters because of its powerful and loyal characteristics as well as held officer positions in the military. Many households, such as my own, find the breed to be the best pets for their families because Pit Bulls are very protective and loving dogs. Even though Pit bulls can have an aggressive behavior if not trained properly, I believe the American