Fear fuels legislation to ban pit bulls

Mike Tomblinson of Muskogee has been breeding pit bulls for nearly five years. He marvels at the breed's stature, its characteristics and the history of the pedigree.

[Allen]

People that fail to realize specific breeds have certain traits are ignorant about dogs for sure. Years of designed breeding have produced traits that are practically shown by the dog whether or not they are being raised a certain way. For instance I am a Breeder of retreivers. The pups we have will naturally sniff and retreive at 8 weeks of age. Sure this characteristic will improve with training also but that is a natural trait. There are very few exceptions where our retreivers will not perform the way that they have been breed. I know that dogs can also be trained to do specific duties whether bad or good but the bottom line is that the breeding that has taken place over several generations has more of an effect that the overall raising. The pit bull breed was not developed to point, swim, flush, herd cattle or the various other characteristics of other breeds. I think that there does need to be more controlled breeding in the pit bull breed. There are too many stories of people having accidents with that breed. I think that there are many people who do not raise there dogs mean and yet they end up that way. The background ancestry of how the breed came about is most concerning. Crossing a terrier that is meant to chase after varments and then a bulldog which at one time was used to attack bulls. That to me sounds like a recipe for disaster. It is by no means Lassie!

[Joe]

I think that the breed should be done away with. The Brits were the first to come up with the breed. Now they have had legislation put in place that will not allow people to breed these terrible dogs. Come on people. Is it worth an innocent life. If you want a pet dog why that breed?

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Although I'm not all that fond of Pit Bulls, we need to keep some perspective here.

Banning the breed will NOT stop the mauling of people by ill-trained dogs. It's silly to think that it would.

A properly trained dog of ANY breed can be made to behave well.

Just as an IM-properly trained dog of ANY breed can do some damage. Although, the larger breeds will likely do MORE damage than the tiny ones ...

If this goes on, we may as well ban ANY dog over 40lbs, as someone "may" be hurt or killed. Silly, and won't solve the issue.

Rather than banning a specific breed, why not increase the fines / penality to the owner for his/her dog's behavior? Up to and including involuntary manslaughter, if needed.

Put the responsibility ON THE OWNERS where it belongs.

Finally, if they DO ban this breed, then those who want ferice dogs will no doubt turn to dobermans, or german shepards or the like ....

[Richard]

Does anyone have a homeowners policy that will cover these four dogs? Pit Bull, German Shepards, Rotts and Dobermans. Mine certainly will not. I understand that training plays a major part in a dogs behavior but lets face it. These dogs were not bred to be lap dogs or fluffy pets. These dogs can serve several roles but the number one thing that they were bred for is guarding. People will always want guard dogs and that is fine. Strict registration of these animals is needed. That will probably make the average family sit back and realized the danger that can be associated with these breeds. I do agree that banning this breed will make people move to another. I also realize that these breeds have a natural tendency to be aggressive. Even the AKC recognizes that. In order to change that they would have to breed that out. That means that the breeds will no longer be the same. I think a little of both is needed to hold back the danger of attacks

[Jen76]

The average family that has a pet dog does not train their dog to attack. So why then do we seem to hear of so many attacks on little kids. Sure the larger the dog the more damage that they can do. But a St. Bernard far outweighs the pit bull. How many stories have we heard about those. If you will notice on the dog shows it is the norm to have two terriers face off nose to nose. The do not fight they just have a stance that shows off their personality trait. There are however certain ones that they will not do this with. Such as the pit bull. The dog shows will clearly explain why and that is because they will fight. I'm quite sure that the people showing their dogs do not train them to fight and that they are highly responsible owners. Why would they want to damage their property, investment and dog. Some sort of registration and requirements should be met in order to own one of these pit bulls.

[lunchlady]

Jen76 wrote:

The average family that has a pet dog does not train their dog to attack. So why then do we seem to hear of so many attacks on little kids. Sure the larger the dog the more damage that they can do. But a St. Bernard far outweighs the pit bull. How many stories have we heard about those. If you will notice on the dog shows it is the norm to have two terriers face off nose to nose. The do not fight they just have a stance that shows off their personality trait. There are however certain ones that they will not do this with. Such as the pit bull. The dog shows will clearly explain why and that is because they will fight. I'm quite sure that the people showing their dogs do not train them to fight and that they are highly responsible owners. Why would they want to damage their property, investment and dog. Some sort of registration and requirements should be met in order to own one of these pit bulls.

ok here is the deal I had a friend with a st benard and one with a pit guess witch dog tried to come over the fence and eat me. if you are thinking pit you are wrong. I guess any breed can be mean out of all the people I know with pits witch is about 7 there is one that I would not go near and as far as im concerned that person is NOT a responabl dog owner as he keeps the dog chained up in the back yard and never goes out and workes with the dog except to feed and water guess i be mean to.

[OkIe 4 OU]

I am Animal lover i was at my local Pet Store In Mcalester ,Ok I seen a Pit Bull Puppy he ran to me i picked him up and pet him is not mean Dog it is Owner of the Dog whom treat them mean cause them to be in that kind of way. OK4OU

[msattitude]

I agree that banning a whole breed or several breeds is not even realistic. People will continue to get them if they want them bad enough. When I was a teenager it was popular for folks to catch a coyote and breed it with their house pet which also made for a dangerous outcome. Any breed can turn on you and even poodles can bite. I agree with putting more responsability and stiffer penalties on the owners. I compare it to any other thing you own for instance, my niece owns a car...her brother drives it and has an accident, he is not covered on her insurance, the other driver's insurance went after my niece because she owns the car. Point is, you own a dog...any breed...it bites or attacks another person...the injured party goes after you for damages and liability.

[Kristal]

If you ban the breading of pit-bulls you should ban the breading of the human that trains and abuses the dogs. Whats next ban breading of dalmations.

[Lori]

As a pit bull owner myself, and as a person who never thought I'd own a pit bull, I thought I should chip in. Pit bulls are not bred to be human-aggressive, but they are dog-aggressive. If a pit bull shows human aggression, it should be put down because that is not a desirable trait. Pit bulls are not the only aggressive breed of dog out there. The lady who had to have a face transplant? That was a Labrador, her family pet. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds of dogs, and pit bulls ranked 4th. When bred and raised properly, these dogs are the sweetest, most loyal, friendliest dogs on the earth. My dog would never hurt a fly, she would lick someone to death before biting them. Dogs who are viscious are not good dogs, regardless of breed. It is unfair to assume all pit bulls are the same. That's like assuming everyone with brown hair is a jerk.

Punish the deed, not the breed.

[Lori]

I agree with you. People who want to own a dog should go through a program to become licensed, like people who want to hunt or own a gun. People who are really serious about owning good, well behaved dogs probably wouldn't mind this at all.

[okie gal]

The common thread in pit bull attacks is the statement from the owners 90% of the time:
"My dog would never hurt a fly....or my dog has never been aggressive to anyone.....or he/she is a very good family dog or etc etc etc etc!!!!!

Ask the law enforcement officers that investigate the dog bites from Pits, Rotties, or Dobies.

It is usually the Pit owners that deny deny deny....while the victims face is being put back on.

It seems to take a death before anything is really done.

Look at the "national dog bite stats"......SCARY!!!!!

This breed has been bred to bite...check the history. Although humans were not the original target....the jaw strength is devastating.

I am a nurse and I have seen it first hand.

[snow man]

Why not make muzzles mandatory?
Every dog in public should be on a leash and muzzled, and I mean a proper muzzle made of steel wire and properly fitted.

[AprilDawnWilson]

The muzzle idea just doesn't work. Unless the owner plans to leave the muzzle on the dog when outside that is. Dogs have jumped over privacy fences, chased after a child and killed them, so that is not going to happen. Each state needs to make it very expensive for pit owners to have these dogs. They should also have to go to a training class on how to train and treat this breed of dog and have to pay for the class in order to ever own one. That is how I feel about it.

[DOE]

I HAVE HAD PITS ALL MY LIFE GRANTED I PUT ONE DOWN BECAUSE OF ITS CHARACTER (THAT IS THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY SEE THEY ARE GOING TO BE VICIOUS IN ANY BREED)SHE ALL OF A SUDDEN TURNED ON OTHER DOGS MY SON HAS 2 THAT ARE BIG BABIES THAT MY KIDS AND GK RIDE ON AND PULL THEIR EARS ECT... THEY HAVE NEVER BIT THEM OR TRIED 1 IS 5 1 IS 7 I HAD A ROTT I PUT DOWN WHEN SHE ATE THE NEIGHBORS POODLE LITERALLY THE FUNNY PART I HAVE A COLLIE WHO EVERYONE IS AFRAID OF BECAUSE SHE HAS BITTEN. I HAD TO HAVE HER AT THE VET 10 DAYS LAST YR BECAUSE I COULDNT PROVE HER SHOT BECAUSE I GAVE IT MYSELF MY POINT MY PITS HAVE NOT CAUSED ME THE PROB ITS BEEN THE OTHER BREEDS! I BELIEVE SOME ARE JUST MEAN IN ALL BREEDS YOU HAVE TO CAREFULLY WATCH ALL BREEDS MY HUBBY HAD A CHIUAHUAH CRAWL UP AND DOWN HIS LEG TRYING TO BITE HE HAD BOOTS ON.......GET THE PICTURE?

[msattitude]

Basically what I hear you saying , Doe, is the same thing some of us are already agfreeing with! Don't ban the brees...they're not all bad in any breed. Just make the owners responsable for their dogs.

[DogLover]

OK... if parents are responsible for their childrens actions, should not dog owners also be bound by the same rule?... it's not the breed, it's the owner

[JustBill]

DogLover wrote:

OK... if parents are responsible for their childrens actions, should not dog owners also be bound by the same rule?... it's not the breed, it's the owner

You said it!!

[snow man]

AprilDawnWilson wrote:

The muzzle idea just doesn't work. Unless the owner plans to leave the muzzle on the dog when outside that is. Dogs have jumped over privacy fences, chased after a child and killed them, so that is not going to happen. Each state needs to make it very expensive for pit owners to have these dogs. They should also have to go to a training class on how to train and treat this breed of dog and have to pay for the class in order to ever own one. That is how I feel about it.

I support your idea fully, however I'm still for muzzles.
Nothing is 100% foolproof, but it will definitely lower down biting incidents considerably.

[lady607]

okie gal wrote:

The common thread in pit bull attacks is the statement from the owners 90% of the time:
"My dog would never hurt a fly....or my dog has never been aggressive to anyone.....or he/she is a very good family dog or etc etc etc etc!!!!!

Ask the law enforcement officers that investigate the dog bites from Pits, Rotties, or Dobies.

It is usually the Pit owners that deny deny deny....while the victims face is being put back on.

It seems to take a death before anything is really done.

Look at the "national dog bite stats"......SCARY!!!!!

This breed has been bred to bite...check the history. Although humans were not the original target....the jaw strength is devastating.

I am a nurse and I have seen it first hand.

ok how many dog bites have you treated form other dogs that mabey havent been quite so bad and im sure there are many from small dogs that arent reported becouse they are small bite so should we just ban dogs with big mouths its only comon scence that a large mouth can do more dammage than a small one. somtimes the small children couse the bites without even relizing what they did when my son was little he got up in a small dogs face and pulled its ears he came real close to loosing a eye. the dogs wasant a mean dog it just reacted to having its ear pulled.