The world seems to believe that the American Pit Bull Terrier is a vicious breed of dog, violent and ruthless by nature, and that they should be treated as such. However, what if this stereotype about the pit bull that modern society bases their opinions off of, is an improper representation of the breed? The pit bull faces much hatred and neglect in this day and age, but in their prime, the pit bull was considered to be the perfect dog. Although bred for physique and stature that was perfect in the dog-fighting world, the pit bull grew in popularity and became high demand as a man’s best friend. However, that reputation that once made the pit bull one of the most popular and iconic breeds of dog, seems to have been forgotten over the years, and replaced with the idea that they are ruthless attack dogs bred to kill. This stereotype and the specifics that go along with it have brought the name of the pit bull down to it’s knees, making the breed vulnerable to neglect, abuse, violence and many other awful acts that are deemed inhumane, but seem to go unnoticed and unreported because of the breed that is subject to these despicable acts. What if all the incidents and accidents and attacks you hear and read about in the news are only snippets of the true story? What if the breed is nothing like the monsters many believe they are?
(ii) The pit bull was bred from the bulldog, the breed of choice in England during the 1800’s. The bulldog was used as what is known as a “gripping dog,” meaning they were companions to hunters and butchers, rounding up cattle or keeping the livestock in check. In the early 1800’s, “bull-baiting” began in the British Isles. “Baiting” was a sport in which bulldogs were pitted against other large animals like...
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(xxix) Ricker, Nok Noi. "Changing Public Perception of Pit Bulls." BangorDailyNews.com. Bangor Daily News, 17 July 2010. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. .
(xxx) Rock, Robin. "Myths and Facts About Pit Bulls." Petfinder.com. Petfinder, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. .
(xxxi) "The Truth About Pit Bulls." ASPCA. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. .
(xxxii) "Villalobos Rescue Center." Vrcpitbull.net. Villalobos Rescue Center, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .
The misrepresentation of Pit Bull breeds in the media has been reflected in American culture. As these dogs were incorporated into World War I propaganda, they were perceived as symbols of courage and strength, the archetype of American dog breeds5. When, in the 1920s and 1930s, American Staffordshire Terrier “Pete the Pup” starred in the comedy Our Gang, later known as The Little Rascals, Pit Bulls were considered “nanny dogs” and family-friendly pets7. When the media focused heavily on illegal dog fighting rings and gang culture in the 1970s and 1980s, Pit Bulls were called demonic and unpredictable. Through their many roles, they have shown versatility and resilience, and lately they have suffered greatly.
The poem above speaks volumes about the nature of man’s best friend. Dogs are not inherently created bad, but are rather “a product of its environment”. The same principle applies to the world’s most misunderstood breed of dog. When you hear the phrase “pit bull”, what do you think of? A savage beast, murdering out of cold blood? A menace to society, lurking the streets, just waiting for its next victim? This couldn’t be further from the truth for most pit bulls. These fantasised versions plague the breed, outlawing them in many cities, states, and even some countries entirely. These bans are called Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), and in over 700 American cities these laws are in effect. They are in place to decrease the number of attacks
In 18 August, 2011, the source of this event is from Herald Sun. A four-year-old lovely child named Ayen Chol was mauled and killed by a pit bull cross while she was playing in her home. The vicious pit bull escaped from a neighbour’s yard and mauled Ayen in a sudden attack. The dog rushed inside the house and set upon Ayen and some other children who were watching television. Ayen’s mom tried to beat the dog away from the children with a table, but she failed. Then the dog turned on Ayen and the vicious injuries caused Ayen’s death. Dr Cam Day, who is the RSPCA’s Queensland pit bull expert, has claimed that American pit bull terriers are ‘head, shoulder, feet and everything else above other breeds’ in terms of their capacity to injure and maim. If the government doesn’t ban pit bulls, these tragedies would continue to happen and children’s lives would be threatened all the
Breeds: A Case Study Of Pit Bull Owners." Society & Animals: Journal Of Human-Animal Studies 8.1 (2000): 25-52.
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.
Just the sight of a pit bull instills apprehension and even fear in some people, who believe the dog may attack them for no reason and not let go. Many communities have placed this ostracized breed under severe restrictions; some municipalities have implemented bans outlawing ownership of the breed. Today’s society regards the pit bull as the most vicious and unpredictable of all dog breeds, whereas admirers of the pit bull believe this misconception stems from irresponsible owners and the inflammatory and negative publicity concerning this breed.
Daily Progress Staff. “Pit bulls: vicious or victims?” The Daily Progress 07 July 2008. 15 December 2010
Pit Bulls are without a doubt my favorite dog, I adore them. Pit Bulls are very well tempered, loyal, and resilient animals. Bred for big game hunting, Pit Bulls are strong, fierce animals and people who have the wrong intentions for ownership should never own them. I am a strong believer that a potential pet owner should do lots of research before getting any type of animal, without exception. Owners should do as much research before getting a dog as they do in planning for a new home or any other new family member. One of the main things to really think about and understand is your intentions for your selection of an animal with the breeding of the Pit Bull. If you choose a dog with the wrong intentions, specifically a Pit Bull, you will get a dog that behaves aggressively and is dangerous. This owner behavior is what has caused the current plight of the Pit Bull today, where laws have been passed in thirteen states and hundreds of municipalities, as well as every U. S. Military base, banning the ownership of the breed and forcing shelters to euphonize Pit Bulls within 24 hours. These laws are unjust and cruel, and victimize the breed based on the owners’ behavior. I also argue that the blame for the epidemic proportions that the laws have reached is 100% the fault of owners who purposely acquired the Pit Bull with the intention to abuse and fight the dogs, and that these owners are the ones who should be punished, not the dogs. (Davis)
They say they see pit bulls are overly dangerous and overly abused by humans. They say that pitbulls , account for 75% of canine-inflicted human deaths. It is undisputed that pit bulls are the most abused dog. They are nurtured for the specific purpose of violence, the dogs are treated cruelly to make them as dangerous as possible, and are mostly abandoned when they are not vicious enough for their devilish
American Pitbull Terriers are beautiful dogs that can be very misunderstood. They are very unique and talented in so many ways and are very enjoyable to have as pets. In this research paper I will be talking about the theories on where American Pitbull Terriers originated from, how the pitbulls are built, how they act and a lot of the struggles that pit bulls have to go through in their lives. No one exactly knows where the American Pitbull Terrier actually originated from. There are a bunch of theories that can be considered when talking about the American Pitbull Terrier, but the two biggest theories are that one, they originated in Greece and two, they originated from England.
Professional dog trainer and whisperer, Cesar Millan believes that, “We don’t have to kill them. We don’t have to ban them. We have to educate the human” (Kadumaan). Believe it or not, human negligence and naivety almost always relate to every pit bull attack. Whether people do not spend enough time with their dog or do not take the proper precautions when they know that their dog reacts negatively to strangers, dog attacks by any breed usually trace back to the owner. Of course the owner seldom takes responsibility, and rather than working with the dogs to improve their behavioral traits, they euthanize. In America, and throughout the world, we have seen this same kind of discrimination in other breeds time after time. In the 1800’s people considered bloodhounds a ferocious breed because of their involvement in tracking and taking down runaway slaves. In World War II people discriminated against german shepherds that often found themselves associated with the Nazis. Rottweilers, Dobermans, Mastiffs, and countless other breeds have all seen human scrutiny in the past. Studies show that 84% of pit bulls involved in fatal dog attacks grew up in neglecting or abusing households, and another 86% involved unneutered male dogs. Even the White House supports pit bulls and their advocates. In a 2013 statement issued by President Obama himself, he argued, “We
She was asked multiple questions by Greta Schroeder, who is the owner of a pet care facility. Schroeder asked questions regarding the stereotypes of pit bulls, misconceptions, and what their owners are tired of hearing. According to My Pit bull Friend online article, The Stereotypes About Pit Bulls Nicole Arndt emphasizes that, “the biggest misconception about pit bulls is that they are inherently viscous… this is far from the truth. Typically pit bulls are sweet, loving, and gentle… Pit bull dogs have been taken out of the most horrendous of situations and go on to be family, therapy, service, agility, and even K9 unit working dogs.” Arndt then goes on to further explain that Pit bulls have an extremely high euthanization rate and communities should be to be blame for this. The media is still very harsh on pit bulls to date due to their stereotypes and people's misconceptions about them. Although shelters are trying their best to educate people on the real traits pit bulls contain it is not enough. Despite this, progress in clearing pit bulls of their bad reps is occurring, it may just be a while longer until their stereotypes are long
b. “Many people have a difficult time properly identifying a true Pit Bull, so added to the statistics are those dogs that have been misidentified. Considering these factors, the actual number of attacks attributable to American Pit Bull Terriers is considerably lower than represented,” according to the real pit bull. i. Do you think a 4 pound Pomeranian dog would hurt anybody? ii. Stated in the Dog Bite Law, “The most horrifying example of the lack of breed predictability is the October 2000 death of a 6-week-old baby, which was killed by her family 's Pomeranian dog.” a. The American Temperament Test is a test that measures a dog strong avoidance, unprovoked aggression, and panic without recovery. “American Pit Bull Terriers passed the test at a rate of 85.3%,” according to Pitbulls.org. They have the highest test scores, and they out beat the golden retriever “family dog” by 7.7%. iii. I identify the justice of my rival’s claim, but I disagree with my rival’s 100 percent about pit bulls having the highest attacks. c. Now you can see how my rival made a mistake because they didn’t evaluate and understood the facts as clearly as they
The American Pit Bull is considered as a genuine breed because there are various breeds of pit bull that could have been mixed with other dogs. Pit bulls were raised for baiting larger animals during the hunting seasons. With the faithfulness of t...
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