Since Pit- bull is a slang term, it is not one specific breed of dog. It is more of a general term representing several different breeds. A Pit- bull is “…any dog displaying the majority of the physical traits of an American Pit Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier- or ‘any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds’” (Maher). “[They are] often confused with other dog breeds of similar characteristics, such as the…Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Bandog, Pit Bullmastiff or even the American Bulldog…” (The Canine Library).
They are said to have descended from an ancient Roman breed called the Molossus dog, a war, guardian, and herding dog. Also, according to the American Kennel Club, the Pit- bull’s heritage comes from the Bulldog. “Until the nineteenth century, the Bulldog [was] used for bull baiting in England…It is thought that the cross of this older Bulldog and a game terrier breed created the Staffordshire Terrier. Originally called the Bull-and-Terrier Dog, Half and Half or Pit Dog, it became known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in England.”
An Americanism sign with a Pit- bull on it
http://blog.timesunion.com/bark/category/breeds/
“The Staffordshire Bull Terrier arrived in the United States from England in the mid- nineteenth century… [while] the American Pit Bull Terrier descends from dogs imported at the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s by the English, Scottish and Irish immigrants” (The Canine Library). They were both“…imported for use in organized dog- fighting” and were later “…crossbred with terriers for ratting, badger hunting, and dog- fighting” (Willox). “They were to become larger and taller producing offspring that was a very versatile working dog fit for guard work, protection to guard cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions” (The Canine Library).
The Staffordshire breed began to form into the American version when “…selective breeding was undertaken to increase the size and weight of the British version. The head and chest were also increased. The ears were cropped to accentuate this more massive head and to prevent them from being ripped during the fights…By 1936 these dogs were recognized by the AKC as a separate breed.” They were recognized as the Staffordshire, not Pit- bull, because, “It was important to the new breed image [after pit- fights were banned] to avoid breed names associated with the pits…which resulted in the name…Staffordshire Terrier” (Willox). They were added to the American Kennel Club because the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier had become an American symbol and were loved not only for their will power, but their ability to be a ‘nanny’ for children. Actually, the United Kennel Club [UKC] and American Dog Breeders Association were both formed by people who loved their Pit Bulls.
One of the most famous Pit- bulls of all time is Stubby, a World War I hero. He was found by the 102nd American Infantry around 1917 and became the “...‘unofficial- official’ mascot” (Stubby). He was “…smuggled aboard the troop ship S.S. Minnesota in an overcoat and sailed into doggy legend.” He kept the troops confidence up during battles and even gave “…early warning about gas attacks or [woke up] a sleeping sentry to alert him to a German attack.” He was awarded many metals and awards, including a blanket made by the women of Chateau Thierry, a lifetime membership to the American Legion, Red Cross, and YMCA, the Gold Hero Dog’s Metal, became the football mascot of Georgetown, has a children’s book written after him, and is preserved in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.
Stubby, the WWI dog hero
http://www.ct.gov/mil/cwp/view.asp?a=1351&q=257892
According to the American Kennel Club standards, the American Staffordshire Terrier should be very strong, even for its size of eighteen to nineteen inches for males and seventeen to eighteen inches for females, measuring from the dog’s feet to its shoulders. Its head is to be “…broad [with a] distinct stop.” Their ears can be cropped or uncropped, but never hanging and their nose should be black, never pink. The muzzle is medium length and the “[u]nderjaw [is] to be strong and have biting power”. The chest should be deep and their back, neck, shoulders, legs, and even tail are to be short, but broad and strong. Their coat can be any color, but if “…more than 80 percent white, black and tan, [or] liver…” it is not preferred.
The Pit- bull has recently been accused of many things, including that it has a drive to attack people because of its aggression towards other animals, like all terriers. This has even led for the breed to be banned in many communities and become a symbol of aggression and dog fighting.
“‘Pit- bulls get a bad rap and they’re always in the news and there are a lot of myths surrounding pit- bulls. A lot of people think they’re naturally mean animals; they think that their jaws lock, they think that they’re terrible with kids, all kinds of things about pit- bulls. And the thing you got to understand is that the pit- bull is just like any other dog. If treated properly, if trained with patience, positive reinforcement, pit- bulls can be a great, great addition to the family. The thing you got to remember about a pit- bull is that they are very tenacious. They have a lot of will power and they excite very easily…Pit- bulls require a lot of positive reinforcement, structure, and a strong leader…” (Letendre).
Several articles on A Rotta Love Plus organization’s website talk about breed- specific legislation. They state that breed- specific laws only hurt responsible owners and their innocent canine companions. The articles also emphasize that bad dogs are created by irresponsible owners who do not properly train their dogs. “‘Any dog in the right hands normally turns out to be a nice dog and Pit Bulls are no exception,’ [Rachel] Anderson [the director of A Rotta Love Plus] said. ‘As long as they receive good training, good leadership, a responsible owner, they’re no different than any other dog’” (Green).
Kellie Dillner is the MSW Volunteer Education Director of A Rotta Love Plus who, “…adopted [her] first pit bull as a puppy from A Rotta Love Plus in 2005. Since then [she has] had over 20 different pit bulls living in [her] house at various times as foster dogs.” Her two current pet pit bulls are both “…therapy dogs registered with Therapy Dogs International and [she] take[s] them to St. Joe's Home for Children (which is a shelter for abused/neglected kids just taken away from their parents) and Bar None (which is a mental health facility for teenage boys).” She describes Pit- bulls as “…people pleasers to the largest degree, which unfortunately is why they are easy to use for the wrong reasons...”
When asked if the breed was a danger to society she answered, “Absolutely not. I would not have a team of 30 dog/handlers (where all of the dogs are pit bulls or Rottweilers) going to schools, after school programs, pre schools, boy scout troups, etc. teaching dog safety unless I was confident that there [were] no safety concerns.” She even adds that being aware of “…media bias and knowledge that others might be scared of [her] dog[s] just because of the breed…” makes her make sure that her dogs are trained very well and “…perfect at all times…” (Dillner). Kristin Mullenix, a breeder from Alabama’s Amstaffs R Us and an owner of Pit- bulls for over eighteen years, agrees that Pit- bulls are not a danger to society. “The breed is not a danger to society, but the owners must be dedicated to training, socializing and caring for these dogs. They need attention, exercise and lots of love…My opinion is, it is not a bad breed it is uneducated people.”
An American Staffordshire Terrier
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanstaffordshirephotos.htm
Many states across the country have unfortunately continued to adopt breed specific legislation including Denver, Colorado. Denver has become one of the toughest enforcers of their breed specific law against Pit- bulls in the United States. There are many that disagree with the law for many reasons; one being that no one has proven that it is working. “Denver has never done an audit of the pit bull ban, never conducted a study of how effective it has been, never established a commission to determine whether one of Denver’s most controversial policies is actually accomplishing what it was created to do” (Maher). Denver started out with owners having to “…[register] the dogs and tattoo [them] with registration numbers; obtain one hundred thousand dollars in liability insurance, install eight foot high fences around their property, and post their [properties] with signs reading ‘PIT BULL DOG’; and muzzle their dogs when off the property’”. Although some people in Denver, Colorado still believe the ban is working, they have to take into consideration that nationally dog bites statistics have severely decreased due to “…how Americans treat their dogs, as well as things like leash ordinances and animal- cruelty laws- initiatives that apply to all breeds”.
One person who changed her mind on breed specific legislation is Carla Madison. In 2006 she ran for the District 5 council seat in Colorado and was for the Pit- bull band because, “‘I would see how gangbangers had abused pitbulls,’ she remembers. ‘I thought it was a way to protect dogs from bad owners.’” She soon changed her mind when she saw the advantages of dangerous dog laws. These laws punish irresponsible owners for not properly training and fencing in their pets. “She’s [now] crafting a proposal that would allow pit bulls in Denver under regulations…pit bull owners would also have to obtain $1 million dollars in insurance and take their dogs to obedience classes” (Maher).
http://www.tahoewarf.com/RP_WebDoc.asp?ttid=44
More people need realize what Carla Madison did and see that the Pit- bull is not responsible for its aggressive actions. All dogs bite when they feel threatened, not just Pit- bulls. This can be triggered when taking away a treat or bothering the dog when it is eating, or when the dog is ill or injured. “Any dog can be turned into a dangerous dog. The owner…most often is responsible…An irresponsible owner…might create a situation that places another person in danger by a dog, without the dog itself being dangerous…Any individual dog may be a good, loving pet, even though its breed is considered to be…dangerous…One cannot look at… [a] dog, recognize its breed, and then state whether or not it is going to attack” (Dog Law). The ways to prevent dog bites are to train your dog properly, socialize your dog at a young age, spay or neuter them, and prevent biting during playtime and eating (Mehus).
The Pit- bull is actually known for being very kind to people and a great family pet. It “…rarely shows any bravura of snapping or snarling. He is quiet and calm…” (Willox). Pit- bulls are “…good- natured and is very sweet with children” (Canine Library). They are “…intelligent and loyal companion dog[s]. Like all former fighting breeds the high tolerance displayed during fights has turned into loving patience displayed with his human family and playmates. Their courage is legendary and they are excellent guardian dogs combining the strength and power of the Bulldog with the agility of the Terrier.” “The modern version of the breed is affectionate and reliable with people and, in fact, the high tolerance which served them well in the blood sport gives them unusual patience with children” (AKC). According to Eric Letendre, the self- proclaimed Amazing Dog Training Man, pit- bulls are gentle, loving, caring, obedient, easy to train, good with people, and very excitable. They need proper exercise and positive training. “The breed already has a bad reputation, it’s much better to enhance the reputation of the breed than to continue to use negative reinforcement and develop aggressive dogs.”
These dogs have “…become the victim of a real witch hunt…the media is responsible for escalating isolated incidents…and…there are those unscrupulous breeders who have produced dogs with highly aggressive tendencies. Some owners have also used these dogs to boost their macho image, intensifying the dog’s temperament either by ill- breeding or harsh training” (Canine Library). “…They should not be held in ill repute merely because some have been taking advantage of this rare courage to use them in the pit as gambling tools” (AKC). “‘…[T]hey’re just like any other dog; it’s just them being in the wrong hands…what we think is crucial to changing the image is educating owners on how to be responsible pit bull owners” (Shenk).
According to Dog Bite Law.com, “in 2007 there were 33 fatal dog attacks in the USA. Most victims who receive[d] medical attention [were] children, half whom [were] bitten in the face.” Most of the dogs that attacked humans were dogs that either belonged to a neighbor or were the household pet, not strays (Bandow). The dogs usually bit when playing, when they were disturbed while eating, someone was trespassing on their property, they were intentionally provoked, and/ or the handler did not properly train the dogs.
It is proven that Pit- bulls and Rottweilers are the most common breeds reported to attack. “Pitbulls were involved in approximately a third of human dog bite related fatalities…” recorded between 1981 and1992 (Dog Bite). “Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human [dog bite related fatalities] reported… “ between 1993 and 1996. Rottweilers and Pit- bulls were also found to be “…accounted for 67% of human [dog bite related fatalities]…between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period… [so] there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities."
“A 1997 study of dog bite fatalities in the years 1979 through 1996 revealed that the following breeds had killed one or more persons: pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Doberman pinschers, chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas” (Dog Bite). The breeds above are also some of the top biting breeds: German Shepherds, Collies, Pit- bulls, Labradors, Rottweilers, Terriers, Poodles, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Beagles, Huskies, Lhasa Apso, Great Danes, Shitzus, Bichon Frises, or mixes of these breeds (Bandow). Even with the other breeds named, Pit- bulls, and Rottweilers, still continue to take most of the burden for dog attacks.
“There is a very good reason for focusing on these two breeds [though]: in recent years, they have usually been the number one and number two canine killers of humans [but]…It is a much broader problem than that, involving all dogs and all dog owners. While pit bulls and Rottweilers inflict a disproportionate number of serious and even fatal injuries, the dog bite epidemic involves many different breeds…while banning the pit bull might lower the number of human deaths, such a ban would probably not reduce the number of dog bites in any significant manner. After the United Kingdom banned pit bulls in the 1990s, a study showed that the number of dog bites remained the same even though the number of pit bulls had steeply declined” (Dog Bite).
“…The current tide of public outrage should be focused on…[dealing with the] entire epidemic, not merely the breeds that kill…the war against drugs isn't a war against just the Colombian drug lords, but all drug lords. For the same reason, the dog bite epidemic must not focus on just one or two breeds and stop there.” It is important to keep in mind, however, that dog bite statistics are not always accurate. They are hard to record because they “…rel[y] on bite victims being able to correctly identify the straying dogs that bit them, and relies on dog owners to correctly identify their dogs at time of registration” (Bandow).
The Pit- Bull has greatly developed from when it first started in Europe. Once being an American favorite, it is now a symbol of fear and illegal pit- fighting. It is now up to the responsible owners and breeders everywhere to show that Pit- bull dogs should still be an American hero and that they are a great family companion.
