I am a dog lover and enthusiast. They are my passion. I’ve owned dogs my entire life (40+ years at this point) and have had many different breeds over the years ranging from small to large.
I’ve also studied several dog breeds extensively and have tried to learn all I can about dogs in general for more than 25 years.
I couldn’t even tell you how many books I’ve read on dogs, but it’s a LOT. Not to mention the hundreds of articles/posts I’ve read on various dog websites, watched thousands of hours of videos, dozens of reports I’ve studied, multiple experts I’ve talked with, etc… Plus I obviously also run this dog blog on top of it all.
So, even though I may not have any titles or certifications that show I am a dog expert, I absolutely know more about them than the vast majority of people in this world!
My passion for dogs extends to all breeds. However the dog breed I love the most and want to do as much good for as possible is the American Pit Bull Terrier and other “Pit Bull” type dogs.
Before I get too far, I first want to educate everyone (who doesn’t already know) to the fact that there is no such thing as a “pit bull” dog breed.
Actually, there are several breeds that people who are uneducated about dogs tend to lump together into one, and refer to them as pit bulls…
These breeds include: The American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, Presa Canario, American Bully, Boerboel, Bandog; and often even the Tosa, Bullmastiff, Boxer, Bulldog — along with several others.
Those are all 100% DIFFERENT breeds with vastly different characteristics, temperaments, abilities, uses, and so on.
The breeds I am mainly talking about in this post are the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) — and to some extent the American Staffordshire Terrier & Staffordshire Bull Terrier — since these are the 3 main bully breeds that are most often referred to as pitbulls, and they are all three very similar (though not the same).
I am very much AGAINST lumping them all into one breed. However, for the purposes of making it easier to educate you about these amazing dogs, I will follow the crowd and mainly refer to them collectively as “Pit Bulls” just for this post.
There are numerous myths and tons of controversy surrounding pit bulls and I intend to help show the world the truth behind these wonderful dogs, and give as much general information about them as I can. I would also like to get more of them rescued and into happy homes.
One VERY important point that I want to stress right away is that pit bulls are NOT inherently mean or aggressive towards humans! That is a huge MYTH perpetrated by the media. In fact, they are far from it!
In fact, according to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) for dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers receive a passing score better than that of breeds that most people consider “nice” such as the Beagle, Poodle, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, German Shorthaired Pointer, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, St Bernard, Vizsla, Weimaraner, and many others!
Their ATTS score is also above the average among ALL breeds. This proves that the ignorant belief that pit bulls are inherently aggressive towards people is FALSE. You can also ask any true dog breed expert or dog behavior specialist and they will tell you the same thing.
It is humans who make some pit bulls vicious. Bad owners, abuse, improper socialization, and irresponsible breeders are what make any dog, pit bull or any other breed, a “bad” dog;
Any professional dog behaviorist or trainer will tell you that a dog is almost 100% a product of it’s owner and the training it receives. And if the APBT is naturally dangerous, how is it that they are so successful as therapy dogs, police dogs, and as search and rescue animals?
Even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) – and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) – and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) – do NOT recommend discriminating based on breed.
The overwhelming majority of animal experts have always concurred that there’s no scientific evidence to demonstrate pit bull type dogs are any more dangerous than any other powerful dog breed. Even the Supreme Court of Alabama has ruled there is no genetic evidence identifying pit bulls as inherently more dangerous than other dogs.
In addition to that, there is no breed of dog that is even close to being abused as much as so many pit bulls are, but they are still able to love people and be amazing pets even after all that horrible abuse. That goes to show how truly wonderful they are.
“I’m constantly surprised that even pit bulls abused by people have an amazing threshold for unconditional forgiveness.” ~Randy Lockwood, Animal Behaviorist, Senior Vice President for Anti-Cruelty Initiatives and Legislative Services for the ASPCA, former Vice President of research and education at the HSUS in Washington D.C
If pit bull-types were so inherently bad then how could millions of people share their families, their homes and their beds with them without issue? Why would so many celebrities have them? How could the thousands of people working in shelters and rescue organizations work with them everyday? How could they be in so many movies? Why would so many people be such huge advocates for them? How could they have ever been considered “America’s Dog” for so many decades? I could go on and on, but I think you get the point!
Don’t confuse the unfortunate dogs who have horrible owners with the vast majority of properly loved Pit Bulls that remain solid in temperament, affectionate, trustworthy and friendly to their dying day!
Blame the people, not the dogs!!!
The picture below is of my Pit Bull “Tank” whom I rescued from a shelter in 2003 when he was 9 months old. He lived a long and wonderful life, but age eventually caught up with him and we had to put him to sleep in 2014 when he was 12 years old. He was one of the most loving, loyal and obedient dogs I have ever owned of any breed! He was great with cats, other dogs, kids and adults alike. It didn’t matter to him, he loved everyone and everyone loved him! I miss him every day.
Top 10 Pit Bull Myths and the Truth Revealed
There has been a lot of negative press and myths surrounding pit bulls in the past decade or so. In fact, there has been so much that it has lead to the banning of this breed of dog in many places.
So, here are the top 10 pit bull myths and the truth about them:
Pit Bull Myth #1 – Pit Bulls Have Locking Jaws
This is absolutely not true. Expert examination has proven that the jaws of pit bulls are structurally and functionally the same as every other dog breed. There is no locking mechanism.
Pit Bull Myth #2 – Pit Bulls Can’t Feel Pain
The nervous system of pit bulls is the same as all other dog breeds and they do feel pain. Throughout the early years of forming the breed the “gameness” trait was bred into them to tolerate pain and continue to complete their task. So they definitely can and do feel pain but they “tough it out” better than most other breeds.
Pit Bull Myth #3 – Pit Bulls Bite More Than Other Breeds
There are quite a few bog breeds (as many as 10) that are commonly called pit bulls. So, just based on that alone, they are much more likely to be blamed for a dog attack than any other breed.
Plus, it is very difficult to get an accurate count in dog bite statistics but the statistics that are available do not show pit bulls as being number one in biting.
Also, you must take into account that bully breeds are very popular. Some estimates suggest they are the most popular of all dogs. It is logical that the breed representing the most dogs would represent the most bites.
Based on what I have seen, it’s usually the toy breeds that do most of the biting. They just aren’t large enough to usually do much damage so nobody hears about it.
Pit Bull Myth #4 – All Pit Bulls Do is Fight
Now this is just laughable! I’ll bet you have seen at least one pit bull in your life; you’ve probably even seen many of them. Now, how many times have you seen one in a fight? My guess is you have never personally seen a Pit Bull in a fight.
It’s true that Pit Bulls were originally bred for combat and are still illegally used for dog fighting today. However, just about every dog breed was bred for a specific task but you don’t see them doing it all the time. Lab’s were bred for hunting but that doesn’t mean only hunters own them and it doesn’t mean all they do is hunt!
Pit Bull Myth #5 – All Pit Bulls Are Mean
Saying all pit bulls are mean or vicious is just like stereotyping any group of humans. All people are different and so are all dogs. The truth is that Pit Bulls are one of the nicest and most loyal dog breeds there is. Yes, they can be trained to be mean just like any other dog breed can be but they are not inherently mean.
Pit Bull Myth #6 – Pit Bulls Have More PSI in Their Bite than Other Dogs
There is no proof that Pit Bulls have a stronger bite than any other dog breed. How hard any dog bites completely depends on the situation they are in so it is extremely difficult to determine whether they are using their jaw power to capacity or not. It is assumed that the larger the breed of dog, the more biting power they have. There are over 500 breeds of dogs and experts agree that you cannot claim any one breed has the most PSI in their bite.
Pit Bull Myth #7 – The Brains of Pit Bulls Never Stop Growing
Some people untruthfully believe that the brain of pit bulls keeps growing and swells to a point where they go crazy. Before the pit bull craze came about this same myth was given to the Doberman Pinscher. This rumor was never true in Dobermans and now it’s being pinned on Pit Bulls. It’s just as false now as it was back then!
Pit Bull Myth #8 – Pit Bulls are Aggressive Toward Humans
When it comes to any dog breed, aggression towards other dogs and animals is completely different than aggression towards humans. In fact, many breeders today buy “guard dog” breeds to stop their prized Pit Bulls from being stolen in case of a burglary because they are not aggressive enough towards humans to protect themselves. Even dog fighters (whom I absolutely hate) don’t allow their dogs to be human aggressive. And they are not considered to be good guard dogs by experts because they are too human friendly. Saying pit bulls are naturally dangerous to humans is just plain ignorant!
Pit Bull Myth #9 – Pit Bulls Should be Kept Away from Children
Anyone who is a true dog fancier and has any legitimate knowledge of dog breeds knows that Pit Bulls are typically great with kids. Historically Pit Bulls have been a favorite companion of children and tend to be drawn to the excitement and fun of kids. As long as they are socialized and trained properly, Pit Bulls are the perfect dog breed to withstand the rough play typically associated with children.
It is common sense to not leave any dog alone with children but Pit Bulls are certainly no worse with children than any other dog breed, they are better in many cases.
Pit Bull Myth #10 – Pit Bulls Will Always Kill Small Animals
Pretty much every breed of dog will go after cats and other small animals, and Pit Bulls are no different. But there are countless cases of Pit Bulls that show a low prey drive and can live with cats and other small animals without any problems. It all boils down to socialization and each individual dog. No breed is inherently better or worse in this case, it depends on each dog and many other factors.
“The Pit Bull breed is strong, and very intelligent. They are loyal and courageous. Their main goal is to please their owner. Yes, they look tough, but they have not been referred to as the “Nanny Dog” for almost 100 years for nothing! At one time the pit bull dogs were the most beloved dogs in England and the United States.” ~PetHelpful.com
Celebrities That Love Pit Bulls
- Brad Pitt
- Kaley Cuoco
- Jessica Alba
- Jennifer Aniston
- Jessica Biel
- Rachel Bilson
- Katherine Heigl
- Alicia Silverstone
- Marc Jacobs
- Gisele and Tom Brady
- Kevin Bacon
- Channing Tatum
- Miranda Lambert
- Betty White
- Liam Hemsworth
- Rachael Ray
Read some of their stories (and more) at: BarkPost
And famous people no longer with us that were pitbull lovers:
- Teddy Roosevelt (U.S. President)
- Woodrow Wilson (U.S. President)
- Helen Keller
- Thomas Edison
- Humphrey Bogart
- Dr. Seuss
A Pit Bulls Poem
You made me what I am today, courage at its best.
You wanted me to know no fear, a cut above the rest.
Not only did I master that, I’ve thrown in loyalty, too.
Look past my eyes into my soul, you know I’d die for you.
I’ll watch your kids, I’ll watch your house.
Your praise will be my crown,
ask what you will-I’ll do my best.
I’ll even be your clown.
But some of you don’t like me, I’m sure I don’t know why.
The only thing I’m guilty of is courage, love, and try.
But still they want to see me go, they want my breed to end.
Will I see you sitting idly by? You, whom I call a friend?
You made me what I am today, you never saw me waiver.
I’ve done my best to keep you safe. Won’t you please return the favor.
~ American Pit Bull Terrier
Should Pitbulls Be Banned?
Will is a canine behaviorist, trainer, leader, and popular youtuber who discusses many different dog topics.
This is his take on the subject:
When Dogs Attack… Don’t Just Blame Pit Bulls!
I found a page called “Katz Dawgs” with quite a few links and a bunch of information about dog attacks that I found to be an interesting write-up.
Here’s a little bit from the page:
Pitbulls are not the only breed of dog who attack people and other animals, yet cities and towns create laws specifically aimed at this breed. A local town here passed an ordinance this year due to ONE incident where a 6 yr old boy antagonized and teased a dog, and continued to do so after being repeatedly told to leave the dog alone by its owners, until the point which the dog jumped the fence it was in, in its OWN yard and attacked the kid. The dog was a German Shephard/Pitbull MIX…
Why is it that they created ordinances against Pitbulls and not Shephards? How do they know that the pitbull in him is what made him attack and not the shephard? Shephards have been bred to be human aggressive for protection and use as guard dogs.
Why not create an ordinance saying that if your kid provokes a dog, the kid’s parents get fined? I would vote for a politician who created THAT law!
I’m not writing this page to say that pit bulls don’t bite, or that they are all sweet little puppies. They are large dogs, with a history of being bred for the wrong reasons, but so are many other breeds. If you own any breed of dog, educate yourself on how to train it the right way, socialize it with animals and people. And don’t let your kids tease dogs – That seems pretty obvious!
Find the Pit Bull
This is a great test to see if you can find the only pit bull from over 25 pictures of different dog breeds.
It’s a great way to show that most people really don’t have a clue what an actual American Pit Bull Terrier is.
Give it a try: Find the Pit Bull.
Did you get it right the first time? How about the 5th time?
I am very knowledgeable about Pit Bulls and even I didn’t get it on my first try.
If it took me two tries when I had all the time in the world to sit here and think about it… then imagine how hard it would be for the average person — or witness to a dog attack — to definitely say it was a Pit Bull that did it!
Looks can be deceiving and the mind is easily fooled. This is especially true during a dog attack! Most people admit that they only got a quick glance at the offender and that they were in shock at the time of the attack. Think about how reliable a witness that really is!
This is why Pit Bulls are so often identified in dog attacks when in reality it was a completely different breed of dog.
Again, as stated earlier, there are at least 10 different breeds that most people would identify a pitbull. With upwards of 25 or more that are often mistaken as the APBT by the average person. This is a fact that cannot be denied.
So, I urge you to please stop lumping all these breeds together and…
Don’t put blame on a dog until you have the facts!
Some Stats and Information for You to Consider about Dog Attacks and Pit Bulls
Fatal dog attacks overall in the United States are barely even an issue, let alone those caused by Pit Bulls. On average less than 30 people are killed TOTAL by all dog attacks in the United States each year. When you compare that to around 17,000 people killed every year by other people, fatal dog attacks are hardly an issue.
Many people have this crazy misconception that Pit Bulls are beasts that are out killing people all the time. Let’s just say, for arguments sake, that pit bulls cause most of the fatal dog attacks in the United States. That means it would come out to be around something like 20 or so per year (even though in reality it’s NOT that many). Still that’s not exactly an alarming amount. Especially when you consider there are roughly 5,000,000 pitbulls in the U.S. according to most estimates – and MILLIONS more if you lump in some of the other breeds mistakenly called pit bulls.
There are probably more than 20 people being killed by other people right now as I type this sentence!
Let me further expand on this point because I think it is very important for people to really let this sink in…
In the past 10 years there were an average of only 26 deaths due to dog attacks in the United States. Keep in mind that is just 26 fatal dog attacks PER YEAR out of around 77.5 million dogs all over the country.
Compare that to an average of around 47 murders EVERY DAY committed by people in the USA, which comes out to around 17,000 per year. It’s obvious that Dogs (of any breed) are certainly not the problem here and banning certain breeds (such as Pit Bulls) will basically do nothing.
Every time a Pit Bull kills someone, it makes news headlines and everyone thinks it is such a big deal. You hear about it for days and days all over the place. But you hardly ever hear anyone talk about the thousands of people being killed all the time by other people. And you rarely hear about it when any other breed of dog kills someone.
There are almost DOUBLE the amount of people killed every single day by other people than there are people killed by dogs in an entire year in this country. The numbers don’t lie!
Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian and an animal behaviorist from Berkeley, CA and he says the entire issue is overblown.
“I don’t mean to discount attacks by pit bulls, but we’re talking about maybe ten fatal attacks on people annually” he says.
Dunbar maintains more people are killed annually by tripping over their own slippers than all fatal dog attacks combined, regardless of breed.
“Those who say pit bulls are inherently dangerous are dead wrong,” says Dunbar.
The numbers vary depending on the source, but in 2009 there were somewhere around 10 fatalities attributed to pit bull attacks. There are thousands upon thousands of pit bulls all over the place and only 10 of them killed anyone. I’d hardly say that makes them a dangerous breed!
And I would venture to guess that at least half of those 10 weren’t actually Pit Bulls who did it. Most people lump all dogs that look a certain way together into one group and call them Pit Bulls even though they really aren’t. So that likely brings the true number down to somewhere around 5 or less.
Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there are about 4.5 million people bitten by dogs each year. Around 1 in 5 dog bite victims are serious enough to require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries. The actual definition of an “attack” is vague, but requiring medical attention seems like it would fit. That brings it close to around 1 MILLION each year in the United States alone.
Therefore, the handful of pit bull attacks you hear about each year on the news barely puts a dent in the total number of dog attacks that actually occur. Yes, I am sure there are some pit bull attacks you don’t hear about but my point is there are TONS of other dogs attacking people every day but nobody wants to hear about them. People only get into an uproar when it’s a pit.
In a 2006 Ohio court hearing to overturn a dangerous breed ban…
The trial court noted that ALL the animal behaviorists from both parties testified that a pit bull, trained and properly socialized like other dogs, would not exhibit any more dangerous characteristics than any other breed of dog. After considering all the evidence before it, the court agreed, finding that pit bulls, as a breed, are not more dangerous than other breeds.
A study conducted by the Applied Animal Behaviour Science journal found the Dachshund (wiener dog) as the dog breed most likely to bite. The crazy thing about that is my sister actually has one and it really is a mean little thing sometimes. I’ve seen it either bite or attempt to bite several people.
Number 2 on their list was the Chihuahua. I have one of these right now. She weighs 4 lbs and you would think she was a trained killer. Even with all my training experience and knowledge, I still can’t get her to stop the insanity. She goes after people and scares them half to death all the time, even at her size.
Number 3 is the Jack Russell Terrier.
Oh wait! What? You mean pit bulls aren’t even in the top three? That can’t be right! Can it? Yep, that’s right; they are NOT the vicious attacking killers you have been led to believe they are by the corrupt media.
American Pit Bull Terriers
Their love is like no other; their heart is pure as gold.
Yet while going on a friendly walk, they’re faced with stares of cold.
They’re so very close to human, in how they act and what they do.
Unless you’ve known their devoted love, it’s impossible to explain to you.
They are greatly more MISUNDERSTOOD than any other breed.
We tend to punish this loyal dog, instead of mankind’s deeds.
They are always and forever clowns, with a wish for center stage.
Yet while displaying this sense of humor, most people disengage.
They, oh, so want to make new friends, and run and jump and play.
yet when they happily approach, most people shy away.
Often I’ve seen children poke, or hop on for a ride.
And when I felt they might get mad, they’ve only beamed with pride.
I’ve seen these children yank and pull, with nary a reaction.
Yet media’s not interested, unless they’ve put someone in traction.
They love to snuggle up real close, to give lots of loves and kisses.
Yet they suffer more than any, from unfair prejudices.
What animal do I speak of, whose love is so unique?
If you’ve truly known one, you know of whom I speak.
There is no creature on this earth who will ever make you merrier.
The animal I do speak of, it’s the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Author: Patty Letawsky
Cesar Millan “The Dog Whisperer” on Pit Bulls
“My kids are around pit bulls every day. In the ’70s they blamed Dobermans, in the ’80s they blamed German Shepherds, in the ’90s they blamed the Rottweiler. Now they blame the Pit Bull.” – Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer)
Pit bulls get a bad rap because of irresponsible owners. Many people consider the look or popularity of a breed before thinking about whether the dog works for their lifestyle. Please evaluate your lifestyle before taking on the responsibility of a pit bull.
More pit bull information from Cesar Millan – Famous Pit Bulls
“Would it surprise you to learn that pit bulls used to be America’s darlings? It only takes a brief look at the history of pit bulls to realize that the dogs are not the problem; the humans who misuse them are. For over a hundred years, holding the owners personally responsible was enough to prevent attacks, and the breed was perceived as very child-friendly.” ~From an article written by Jon Bastian of Cesar Milan Inc
Check out these facts
Fact: An estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke each year. Yet cigarettes are not banned.
Fact: Alcohol abuse kills around 75,000 Americans each year, and another 40,000 die from other accidents caused by alcohol use. Yet alcohol is not banned.
Fact: Car accidents kill more than 40,000 people on average each year in the United States. Yet cars are not banned.
Fact: There are around 17,000 people murdered every year in the United States by other people. Yet guns and knives are not banned.
Fact: Approximately 6,000 people drown in the United States each year. Yet swimming isn’t banned.
Fact: In the United States more than 700 people die as a result of bicycle related injuries each year. Yet bikes are not banned.
Fact: It is estimated that about 500 deaths per year are caused by aspirin. Yet it is not banned.
Fact: Researchers estimate around 250 to 300 children are murdered by their own parents each year in the United States. Yet parenting isn’t banned.
Fact: An average of 113 children die each year from their cribs. Yet baby cribs are not banned.
I could go on, and on, and on! But I think you get the point. Now let’s look at just one more of these facts…
Fact: There are an average of around 8-10 human deaths attributed to “pit bull type dogs” in the United States each year. And experts agree that the actual number for pit bulls is certainly lower than that (more like around 2-5) due to false reporting. Yet pit bulls are being banned all over the country.
Anyone else think something is wrong with this? I definitely do!
More Facts to Consider
Here are some more facts for you about deaths and injuries among children worldwide…
Road crashes: Kill 260,000 children a year and injure about 10 million. They are the leading cause of death among youths ages 10 to 19, and a leading cause of child disability.
Drowning: Kills more than 175,000 children annually. Up to 3 million children each year survive a drowning incident. Due to brain damage in some survivors, nonfatal drowning has the highest average lifetime health and economic impact of any type of injury.
Burns: Fire-related burns kill nearly 96,000 children a year, and the death rate is 11 times higher in low and middle income countries than in high-income countries.
Falls: Nearly 47,000 children fall to their deaths every year, but hundreds of thousands more sustain less serious injuries from a fall.
Poisoning: More than 45,000 children die each year from unintended poisoning.
Sources: World Health Organization and UNICEF
How many do pit bulls kill? Maybe 5 or so! Again, how is this even an issue?!?!
Animals That Actually Are Dangerous
These 5 animals are protected by laws and/or loved by the vast majority of people around the world. Yet they kill far more people than pit bills ever will, and somehow it’s the pit bull that is being discriminated against and destroyed.
- Hippopotamus – Responsible for killing almost 3000 people every year.
- Elephants – Estimated to kill 500 people annually.
- Tigers – Kill hundreds of people each year.
- African Lions – Kill around 70 people annually.
- Horses – Responsible for the deaths of around 20 people each year in the United States alone. Yes, even beloved horses kill a LOT more people than pit bulls do.
So, where is the legislation to ban these animals? They are much more dangerous than pit bulls or any other dog breed!
Articles About Pit Bulls
* ASPCA – Breed-Specific Legislation
* WebMD – Pit Bulls: What’s Hype, What’s Not
* Dog Luv – Stop Fearing Pit Bulls. They Are NOT Vicious Dogs!
* Dog Luv – Pit Bulls: True or False?
* Yahoo News – Pit bulls’ surprising past: Nanny dogs
* Lucky Dog Rescue – The Truth About Pit Bulls
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) Doesn’t Work!
* In 1991 the UK enacted breed specific legislation that bans Pitbulls. But since then the number of dog attacks requiring medical care have increased 120%. The highest percentage of these attacks are from German Shepherds.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/pets/9024452/Dog-attack-hospital-admissions-rise-for-fifth-consecutive-year.html
* In September 2002, the Administrative Court of Berlin ruled null and void the government of Lower Saxony, Germany’s breed specific law related to 14 breeds of dogs. This ruling was based, in part, by a study by Esther Schalke, PhD, DVM, which demonstrated that breed specific legislation was ineffective.
http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(07)00236-5/abstract
* In June 2008, the Dutch Government lifted a 15 year ban on pit bulls because it did not lead to any decrease in bite incidents.
http://stopbsl.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dutchbanlifted.pdf
* In 2007, a Spanish study compared dog bites reported to the health department of Aragon, Spain for 5 years before and 5 years after the implementation of breed specific legislation in the form of a Dangerous Dog Act. The Spanish study concluded, among other things, that there was no change in the number of dog bites reported, and that the restricted breeds, were responsible for less than 4% of the reported bites both before and after the BSL took effect.
http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(07)00202-X/abstract
* A 2006 Australian study titled Breed-specific legislation and the pit bull terrier: Are the laws justified? concluded that the data collected in the United States to support the theory that pit bulls posed a unique danger to the public is flawed by methodological shortcomings. The study also concluded that the evidence does not sustain the view that pit bulls are a uniquely dangerous breed, and breed-specific laws aimed to control it have not been demonstrated by authorities to be justified by its attack record.
http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(06)00012-8/abstract
* More reading from the National Canine Research Council (NCRC) on BSL:
– World-Wide Failure of Breed Specific Legislation
– Breed-specific Legislation (BSL) FAQ
Statement from the White House and the Obama Administration on BSL:
“We don’t support breed-specific legislation — research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources.
In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at twenty years of data about dog bites and human fatalities in the United States. They found that fatal attacks represent a very small proportion of dog bite injuries to people and that it’s virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds.
The CDC also noted that the types of people who look to exploit dogs aren’t deterred by breed regulations — when their communities establish a ban, these people just seek out new, unregulated breeds. And the simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they’re intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive.
For all those reasons, the CDC officially recommends against breed-specific legislation — which they call inappropriate. You can read more from them here.
As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. And ultimately, we think that’s a much more promising way to build stronger communities of pets and pet owners.”
Punish the deed, not the breed!
Study on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities
In December, 2013, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) published the most comprehensive multifactorial study of dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) to be completed since the subject was first studied in the 1970’s. It is based on investigative techniques not previously employed in dog bite or DBRF studies and identified a significant co-occurrence of multiple potentially preventable factors.
Among their results, they found:
Breed was NOT one of the factors identified
The authors report that the breed of the dog or dogs could not be reliably identified in more than 80% of cases. News accounts disagreed with each other and/or with animal control reports in a significant number of incidents, casting doubt on the reliability of breed attributions and more generally for using media reports as a primary source of data for scientific studies. In only 45 (18%) of the cases in this study could these researchers make a valid determination that the animal was a member of a distinct, recognized breed. Twenty different breeds, along with two known mixes, were identified in connection with those 45 incidents.
Source: NCRC
Don’t believe everything you hear in the news! They want the story to “sell” so they will gladly throw a Pit Bull into the article, whether they know if it really was or not, because they know people will read it if they do.
Toronto’s pit bulls are almost gone. So why are there more dog bites than ever?
From a February 2016 article on Global News Canada:
“It has been 10 years since the Ontario government created laws banning the pit bull breed, but data obtained by Global News shows dog bites are on the rise.”
Toronto’s reported dog bites have been rising since 2012, and in 2013 and 2014 reached their highest levels this century, even as pit bulls and similar dogs neared local extinction.
“We would love to see the pit bull ban lifted,” Buckingham says. “Of the ones that come into the shelter, the majority are the sweetest dogs.” ~Toronto Humane Society spokesperson, Tegan Buckingham
Pit Bull Videos
Save a Pitbull:
Stop BSL:
I Love My Pit Bull – ft. Kaley Cuoco:
Infographic courtesy of 1-800-Pet-Meds
Other Pit Bull Resources
* Pit Bull Rescue Central – The Pit Bull Rescue Center website is a virtual shelter and resource for owners and caretakers of American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and pit bull mixes.
* The Real Pit Bull – Accurate, real world information on Pit Bulls. Breed basics and beyond.
* American Pit Bull Terrier Network – APBTN was started for one purpose and one purpose only: To draw more people into the breed events, to develop a new generation of modern breed ambassadors, and promote the positive aspects of this amazing breed.
* Pit Bull Myths – Some of the huge myths surrounding pit bulls and the facts behind them.
* Pit Bull Breed Profile – All sorts of good information about pit bulls.
* PitBulls.org – Only facts and truth. Dogs for smart people!
* Bad Rap – A diverse and growing group of owners, rescuers, and supporters of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Please get educated about this breed and learn what the experts already know… Pit Bulls are wonderful dogs! Listen to the facts, not the hype or hearsay. I hope this post at least helped with that even a little bit. If so, then I am happy. Please share this post. Tell your friends and family the truth. Please help spread the word in any way you can! The more people who know the truth the more dogs we can save.