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Loading...Why I Back Breed Bans
The mayor of Sioux City, Iowa wants to lift the city’s pit bull ban and modify the “one bite and you’re out” vicious-animal ordinance. According to a recent article in the Sioux City Journal, no new pit bulls may currently be brought into Sioux City, and animals found to be vicious must be euthanized.
Some animal advocates oppose such laws, but I’m in favor of breed bans and wish it was illegal to bring pit bulls into my community. Of course, I believe that any breed ban should include a grandfather clause protecting dogs who are already living in good homes. They deserve to live the remainder of their lives safely and peacefully.
But for my own dog’s safety, I would never want to reside in a neighborhood where a pit bull was living. I simply could not take that risk. Ever since I moved to Sarasota in November, I’ve been keeping a watchful eye out for pit bulls and other potentially dangerous dogs. There is a reason why homeowner’s insurance is often higher for people with pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other potentially dangerous dog breeds: They pose a greater threat to public safety.
Although pit bulls can be loving companions when cared for by kind people, they are bred to be aggressive. It goes without saying that a dog’s temperament and behavior will vary depending on how he or she is treated, but “vicious” behavior tends to be common in pit bulls. Even those who don’t have a history of abuse and have never displayed signs of aggression have “snapped,” mauling neighborhood children or animals, or even attacking their caregivers.
All dogs, including mixed breeds, are capable of aggression, of course, but, according to DogBite.org, in the three year period from 2006 to 2008, pit bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks. Combined, pit bulls and Rottweilers accounted for 73% of these deaths. There were 318 media reported pit bull attacks from January to June 2009.
People who oppose breed bans often point out that people are the problem, not pit bulls. This is a true. Pit bulls have a reputation as a living weapon and are abused more than any other breed of dog on the planet. Many of them are forced to fight and they understandably become vicious as a result. Others are used as guard dogs or “status symbols.” They are starved and beaten and chained to metal barrels so that they will become “fierce” and attack people and other animals. They usually aren’t spayed or neutered, and reports show that unaltered dogs are three times more likely to bite.
If you care about dogs—all dogs, as I do—why not support legislation that will stop people from bringing more pits into the world to be fought, mistreated, and exploited? That doesn’t mean that every pit bull must be euthanized or relocated; it just means that we need to pass laws banning people from breeding more pit bulls.
In case anyone thinks that I’m simply “singling out” one breed, please understand that I’m in favor of a ban on all breeding. With millions of animals euthanized in shelters every year, there is no excuse for anyone to continue churning out pit bulls, poodles, Pomeranians, or any other dogs. But we must start somewhere and since pit bulls are so often abused and are already prohibited in some communities, it makes sense for caring people to encouragelawmakers to pass and uphold similar bans everywhere. This will not only protect the public, it will protect pit bulls and other dogs too.
For a more detailed explanation, and information on PETA’s efforts to help pit bulls, see PETA’s position statements on pit bull bans.
Read more: animal welfare
freerepublic.com
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+ add your owncopy&paste SANJA v.
this is for EVE L. Although I agree your sister is an idiot for breeding pitbulls, its not for the reason you think. Pit bulls are being murdered in shelters every day because of overpopulation. Anyone who breeds pits does it for money and not the love of the breed!
However, you clearly have not met very many pits, because I used to volunteer at a city shelter, where 95% of the dogs coming in are pits, and 99% of them were wonderful sweet dogs who just wanted attention from everyone.
ANd that is why I love pits, and that is why I always have a pit. Because they are in need, more than any other breed and I have extensive experience with the breed and know how wonderful they can be, with the right owner.
You have no right to judge someone based on the breed of their dog. I am your typical suburb, 40 yr old soccer mom. Who happened to volunteer at a shelter. So when I walk my dog in your neighborhood, look at the actions of the dog, not the breed.
Sorry, did not realize the rest of my paragraph did not print. Here it is:
The message here is, parents please be alert to your children and any dog they come upon not to rush the dog, invade their space, be it with their face or hands, their lives are in your hands, please don't let their faces and hands be left in a dogs jaw.
LISTEN UP!!!
I'd like to say a word about the poll. It's misleading. The phrase "DO YOU SUPPORT A BAN ON BREEDING?" does NOT mean the same thing as the phrase "DO YOU SUPPORT BREED BANS?"
A "ban on breeding" would be if you wanted to ban people from having female dogs give birth and then sell their puppies. A "Breed Ban" is when you make it illegal for someone to "own" a specific breed of animal. I voted YES that I would like to have BREEDING banned. NOT to ban specific breeds.
You might want to re-do the poll to reflect this error.
I would support a ban on breeding of pitbulls and chihuahuas simply because these are the two breeds killed in appalling numbers at the Maricopa Animal Care and Control facilities. Every day there are many beautiful, healthy, adoptable dogs killed (let's avoid the word euthanized) simply because their owners either decided to breed them and/or never got them spayed or neutered and then abandoned them. It is heartbreaking to see their beautiful, hopeful faces waiting for rescue that will never come. The rescue groups work heroically to save as many as they can but it is like putting a finger in a dike to stop a flood - there are simply too many. This is NOT to be critical of MACC, they do the best they can in an overwhelming situation. Somehow we need to learn to value the animals we have. In the short term, it would help to have more foster families for the rescue groups. Even though it does not solve the larger problem, it makes a lifesaving difference to one cat or dog at a time.
For 35 years I worked for a well known insurance company and came across homeowner cases that involved dog bite cases. It was very disturbing to see children with their faces and scalps torn up and were pieced back together as if it were a puzzle. A very sad sight to say the least. These attacks involved various breeds of dogs, small and large. Any dog is capable of biting anyone who may be annoying them, in their face or shrieking. Children are usually the victims. A friend of mine stopped by to see me, he remained in his car and his mixed breed pit bull was in the backseat. When I bent down to talk with my friend, as my face became visible, and possibly becoming a threat to this dog he came forward and snapped. I was aware he was in the backseat and saw his movement and was able to pull my face away from his. His strike missed. The theory is, is that he was only protecting his "space" and by my face appearing at his level intruding upon him he naturally reacted to my actions. He missed biting me but unfortunately he came to bite two other people. To avoid having the police involved, the owner took care of the medical bills and "paid off" both victims. Luckily, they were minor bites and did not involve children. I am not afraid of dogs and have never been bitten but am always cautious when around dogs. The message here is, parents please be alert to your children and any dog they come upon not to rush the dog, invade their space, be it with their face or hands, their lives
Well, I've seen pits, and you know what? I trust them more then a number of other dogs I've run into.
I've been bitten by a dashound, charged at by various small breed dogs, had a idiot owner let their SELF ADMITED overly defensive shepard circle me for 10 minutes because she was too busy talking...
The list gose on and on.
What this article overlooks is that dog fighting which causes most of the issues with pits is ILLEGAL to begin with.
So... You really think the problem owners give two damns about any law prohibiting the ownership/breeding/selling of pits? If so, you're rather dim, because if they cared about the law, there wouldn't be issues to begin with!
Eve L. Why don't you just remove your own self from the neighborhood? Because you and Heather like many irrational humans, are insane about these dogs. No dog is a danger without overpopulated humans (the most dangerous animal on earth, and it's an insult to animals to call humans animals) making it that way, and every dog is a danger with that unstable majority of humans..you know the ones that have that "unstable chemicals" perpertually in their brains. Rename the dog Pit bull to Nanny dog which is what it really is and you wouldn't be indulging in that completely irrational human spite and prejudice.
I SUPPORT HEATHER M LOGICAL SOLUTION.
With 56% Voting NO and only 30% Voting Yes (7% leaning Yes) is it any wonder "why there are so many 'pit bull' attacks. Obviously these people who voted No 'are' emotionally attached to their biased opinions. My sister 'breed's pit bulls and I have nothing to do with her because of this. I refuse to even go to her house or even see her - she is unstable too - and that's my point! People personalities MATCH their breed ownership of their dog/s and it's more often than not people who own pit bulls are insecure and think they have to prove they are not by owning a dog which makes majority of people uncomfortable or afraid. Having worked in the Veterinary Industry for over 15years I can vouch for pit bulls unstable behaviour and 'sudden snap personality' they simply can not help it...it's a chemical within the brain that turns on automatically. So even a loyal, loving, caring pit bull can suddenly snap and attack the owner or anybody. It is a very sad fact and feel empathy for pit bulls I honestly do. I support the Ban "all" breeding of "all" dog breeds BECAUSE people are so selfish. We have far too many dogs and cats starving to death, homeless and euthanaised annually its incredible - in fact we have over 100,000,000 dogs and cats 'just' euthanaised EVERY YEAR! this does not include the starving and homeless and not to mention the ones who are murdered by firearms, weapons or by sick bastard people. It makes me furious how people S
Wha...? What is wrong with you? "Keeping an eye out for pit bulls are other dangerous dogs". What the hell? Why don't you get some REAL facts before making yourself look like an idiot, dumb ass.
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