Pit Bulls – a Misunderstood Breed

Pit bulls are a misunderstood breed because of irresponsible owners and biased news stories, but their history, interactions, and temperament prove otherwise. Breed specific legislation has been introduced in cities across the United States that either restrict or ban pit bulls as pets. One in four animals brought into shelters are pit bulls, and their euthanasia rate averages at 93 percent. My brother has owned a pitbull for the last 12 years. She is the goofiest, sweetest, and most spoiled dog I think I’ve ever met. And trust me, I have a spoiled brat of my own. Although she is a huge part of our family and my mom’s first “grand-dog”, she has suffered through her fair share of discrimination. She has always interacted and played with other dogs, and has never strayed from her gentle nature, but a few years ago, she was on a chain in my brother’s yard, when 2 dogs ran into the yard and attacked her. When she began defending herself, one of the other dogs was minorly injured. The neighbor who owned the dogs took my brother to court, trying to argue that she was aggressive and dangerous and should be euthanized. Again, she was on a chain and his dogs attacked her, and her injuries were much worse than the other dog’s. Luckily, my brother had a security camera that caught the whole incident and proved that she was not at fault, which saved her life. Other dogs like her have not been so lucky.

Pit bulls haven't always been a feared breed. During World War I, pitbulls represented America on army recruitment posters, and many pit bulls became famous in the military. The U.S. admired this breed because they are friendly, brave, hardworking, and respectful. Unfortunately, people have found ways to exploit pit bulls for dog fighting, and their muscular appearance became a symbol of violence. Pitbulls were first recognized by the United Kennel Club as the "nanny dog" for children because of their friendly nature, loyalty, and stability. The ASPCA argues that pitbulls were "once considered especially non-aggressive to people” but since the 1980s, the media has created a false image that shows pitbulls to be more dangerous than other breeds. There is actually no factual information that supports this claim, and according to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, "studies have not proved this breed to be extremely dangerous."

Karen Delise, the research director for the National Canine Research Council and author of The Pit Bull Placebo, has researched hundreds of serious dog bite incidents and states, “My study of dog bite-related deaths that have occurred over the past 50 years have proved that poor ownership practices account for a majority of these incidents, such as negative human interaction; owners failing to humanely contain, control, and maintain their dogs; owners failing to supervise interactions between children and dogs; and owners failing to spay or neuter dogs.” Experts also say that pitbulls are the most often abused, tortured, abandoned, and euthanized breed in the United States.

The American Temperance Testing Society tests thousands of dogs each year. The dogs are tested for skittishness, aggression, and their ability to determine the difference between threatening and non-threatening humans. Of all the breeds that were tested, pit bulls showed an above average temperament, with 86 percent. Pitbulls are the second most tolerant breed tested, behind only golden retrievers.
Aggression is not a breed, it's a state of mind, and a dog’s temperament is a direct result of the care and training that it receives. Pitbulls’ history, interactions, and temperament prove that this breed is no more dangerous or deserving of this unnecessary hatred than any other breed. Today’s society should learn to look past the stereotypes of pit bulls, because every dog deserves love, all shapes, sizes, and breeds.

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