Argumentative Essay for Pit Bulls

Pit Bulls are the world's new definition of dangerous dogs. People claim that these dogs were bred to be aggressive towards other dogs and humans. This could not be more incorrect. According to Christian Science, invaluable as nanny dogs and companions to people such as Helen Keller. These dogs were owned by many famous people in US history. Pitbulls are being forced to being hated without probable cause.
Pitbull terriers were once America’s Dog. Pit Bulls were the poster dog for the US Army. The Pitbull terrier has its reputation damaged every time there is a dog attack incident. Animal shelters for Pitbulls are frequently a one way stop. Some people believe that the pitbull breed is bred to be aggressive. The breed is classified as a group of dogs and is commonly misidentified. Pitbulls are always under constant scrutiny by the media. Lastly, Pitbulls are always blamed for faulty ownership. The case of Michael Vick lead to the country finding out about the real abuse these dogs went through. Many of these dogs were said to be too dangerous to be rehabilitated. Some beat the odds and are in happy homes. The rest are either in Animal Shelters or have been put down.

The Pitbull Terrier is a very broad category. Christian Science states Basing the category on physical characteristics invariably casts too wide a net, including many mixed-breed dogs that have blocky heads or brindle coats. More than 20 breeds of dogs share some physical traits with pit bulls. Many breeds, like the Dogo Argentino and American Bulldog, are mistaken for pit bulls. Employees at shelters have openly admitted that they would lie about a dog being a pitbull. They could not distinctly tell the difference between a pitbull and a non pitbull.

Discrimination is a major problem for the breed. Many cities have created Breed-Specific Legislation. This legislation bans certain breeds of dogs that are considered to be dangerous. Breeds like the Doberman, Rottweiler and chow chows are prohibited but mainly this ban is for pitbull breeds. This is a very serious issue. The Breed-Specific Legislation does not even use DNA testing to prove the actual genetics of the dog. According to A study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science ($$) found that 87.5% of the dogs identified by an adoption agency as having specific breeds in their ancestry did not have all of those breeds detected by DNA analysis. Pitbulls are the outcasts of all the dog breeds. A journey to the pound.

Pitbull Terriers are claimed to be very dangerous. For most of the 114 years since the American pitbull terrier was first recognized by the United Kennel Club, the breed was rightly seen as the perfect nanny dog for children because of its friendly nature, loyalty and stability . How could a dog that was allowed around children for so many years be suddenly called dangerous? This does not add up. Pit bulls are claimed to be the most vicious dog.

All dog breeds are tested with a temperament test. The ATTS Temperament Test is a simulation that focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog’s instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and self-preservation in the face of a threat. This test shows breeds that have a more likelihood of being aggressive or lash out. 870 pit bulls were tested and 755 of them passed. This is a 87% passing rate. That is higher than the Golden Retriever and the Beagle.

The Media plays a very large role into the hatred of the Pitbull terrier. Dog attacks involving a Pit Bull-type dog or Pit mix have the power to make national news, while attacks by other breeds go largely unnoticed. Animal control officers have been told by media outlets across the country that they only have interest in reporting on Pit Bull attacks. This statement shows that the media does not care about any dog attacks unless it involves a Pit Bull. The media knows that they can play on people’s fear of this dog. By the 1980s, humane societies campaigns against dogfighting had completely altered Americans attitudes. No longer viewed as victims of abusive trainers, Americans now attributed an innate viciousness to the pit bull. Those campaigns showed the aggressive side of the breed. It did not show exactly why the dog acted that way. Pit Bulls are a very strong breed, they are less likely to back down from a confrontation than most other dogs.

These dogs have got into the wrong hands of the community and that severely hurt the dog. There are no positive articles anywhere that shows the sweet and lovable side of this beautiful dog.” There were so many studies out there, in peer-reviewed journals, that were written by people with no professional knowledge of animal behavior or canine biology. The writers of these articles do have the credentials to bash these dogs. They just find biased statistics and base their opinions off of that.

Owners are the reason that pitbulls have developed bad reputations. That’s not to say that all owners are bad but there are some horrible owners. The pitbull did not bring this problem onto itself. Drug dealers and other criminals began to get pitbulls to signify the power, strength, and ferocity of the lifestyle they chose to live. Owners also get pit bulls to start dogfighting rings. If they do not show the willing to be a fighter, they become prey dogs. Pitbulls are extremely loyal and will do anything to get praise from its handler, this is the ultimate downfall. Mutts Matter stated that, “The dogs that are born into and raised in this environment are victims; they are beaten, electrocuted, chained, starved and even fed gunpowder to make them tough and mean.”

Misconceptions of the breed are very common. The breed is thought to have a locking jaw. This locking jaw is why the dog will not let go when its’ mouth clamps on to something. The real reason for this is because of the breeds prey drive and intensity. The will do every task at maximum effort, even if it means not letting go of an object. The jaws of a Pitbull terrier and Chihuahua were examined. The conclusion was the jaw mechanics were the same except for the size. The breed is claimed to born aggressive. “No breed of dog is inherently aggressive or dangerous…Pit bulls are gentle, loving and loyal, and they make great family pets. Pit Bulls are commonly used in police work, rehabilitation therapy, search and rescue and in bomb and narcotic detection. The Pitbull would not be owned by families or used in those types of services, if they posed any threat to human safety.

Pitbulls are said to very prone to turning on their owners. Pitbulls are not the only dog that can turn on their owners. No dog is completely perfect, they all have the chance to turn on their handler. There is almost always a reason for a dog to just snap. “overwhelming majority of human injuries from dog bites involve dogs who have been mistreated, neglected, starved, abused, or provoked. Pit Bulls have more a reputation for biting people because they are put under more stress than other dog breeds. These dogs have to endure tons of abuse and are at risk of being used for fighting.

There are cases where pit bulls have been rescued from horrible environments. pitbulls are the most frequently abused, tortured, abandoned and euthanized breed of dog in the United States. Pit Bulls are one of the most abused dogs in the country. According to Mutts Matter, They are victims of widespread abuse, and their problems are amplified by sensational media.The dog is being forced to deal with horrible owners and are under the constant watch of the media. Pit Bulls are the most frequently abused, tortured, abandoned and euthanized breed of dog in the United State . This dog rarely gets a second chance at life. Once they are not wanted anymore the dog is shipped to a shelter where it may die.

Pitbulls are being forced out of the dog world. The media is constantly trying to find a way to crucify this breed. History has shown this type of bias has happened each decade on a certain type of dog. But studies have shown that the Pitbull Terrier has experienced the worse of it all. This dog should not be treated this was.

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