Pitbulls

[kaspurr]

Clue me in, is the embracing of this animal as "misunderstood" a specifically liberal agenda? Because I seem to bump into it there the most often.

Please and thank you in advance.

Comments

[moony_blues]

It's not exclusively liberal. But any dog can be dangerous if its mistreated or raised to be vicious. It's not exclusively a pit bull problem. The breed gets a very bad reputation because they can look mean and are used for illegal dog fighting, but the breed that's on record for the most bites is actually the Labrador retriever, from what I remember. And, if memory serves me well, Cocker Spaniels and rat terriers are high on that list, too.

I really don't see a lot of people pushing the breed as "misunderstood" as much as trying to bring light to the fact that breed-specific legislation doesn't work to prevent trouble with "dangerous" dogs. Responsible pet ownership, however, does. True advocates of the pit bull breed will be honest and admit that pit bulls are high-energy dogs that require a lot of commitment to keep their energy in check. They aren't for everyone. I have three dogs, and I am a huge dog person; I would not personally be interested in owning a pit bull unless I had no other pets and large amounts of free time to keep that energy channeled appropriately.

I understand the reality that some people are phobic of dogs, and pit bulls in particular. Phobias, by definition, are irrational. Allowing people with a phobia of a certain thing to dictate that no one else can have/enjoy/experience that thing is antithetical to the idea of personal responsibility. The same concept can be applied to the Second Amendment and the gun control debate, freedom of the press, or just about any other thing.

[litlover12]

They also have that reputation because they have a tendency not to let go once they bite down. Even many pro-pit bull sites acknowledge this. There aren't many breeds for which experts tell you to buy a special stick designed specifically for breaking up fights and forcing the dog to let go.

http://www.pbrc.net/breakfight.html

[lazypadawan]

Yep. Many pitbulls are gentle but the ones who aren't are lethal. I can't think of the last time a Scottish terrier mauled somebody to death though of course a dog bite is serious regardless of the breed. A cute little dog bit my brother in the nose, giving him a scar for years.

Pitbulls are powerful, fast, and when they bite you, it's not a nip. I think people who suggest things like wiping out the breed are going too far but I don't think it's irrational to be wary around them. I'm wary around Dobermans and other big, powerful dogs too. I have no idea if the dog's vicious or if you have sufficient control over the animal. I'd rather not find out the hard way.

[lawofar18]

moony_blues basically said everything I was thinking (and said it better than I could!). This is definitely not a liberal-specific agenda.

As far as I know, most pit bull defenders are not interested in shoving the dog breed down your throat. I heartily encourage researching ANY breed you would adopt, and avoiding that breed if it doesn't seem right for you. Always know what you're getting into.

My problem lies with breed-specific legislation. Irrational fears breed irrational laws. No, it's not irrational to be afraid of big or vicious-looking dogs. Yes, it IS irrational to think that you will suddenly sleep safely at night because no one can own one specific breed of dog anymore. Yet all too often, I see people advocating an all-out ban. It's that kind of thinking that makes pit bull advocates anxious to educate the public. As stated above, people with specific phobias should never dictate that the rest of us cannot enjoy certain freedoms.

[kaspurr]

Sure, sure, meanwhile Zimmerman got his gun, along with his wife exactly to defend himself against only that breed and on the word of a person who worked with animals as it was the only thing that would take it down fast enough.

Meanwhile, where I live, I cannot carry a loaded gun. Period. I'm defenseless. I'm forced to be gambling with this breed and its irresponsible owners or perhaps just for some reason the dog having a bad day despite being raised with kindness -- hell no I ain't afraid of dogs normally:

Sorry, wrong link.

It actually happens so often that I have to be more careful and not assume the google got the right article. ugh.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Martinez-Boy-Mauled-by-Pit-Bull-in-Antioch-219358581.html

Another in Wales: http://news.sky.com/story/680316/boys-ear-ripped-off-in-pit-bull-attack
Another: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/06/19/uncle-of-union-city-dog-mauling-victim-hires-top-attorney/

Too much. so awful. You should read my links too. And people are now obsessively adopting this dog in protest so no fucking problems there of it going away overnight.

[lawofar18]

No one is denying that there have been pit bull attacks. Any dog can be trained/bred to be vicious; the sad truth is that pit bulls have been the focus of more unsavory individuals, and as a result, they number higher in attack statistics (not to mention, the name "pit bull" encompasses several breeds all lumped under one heading). It's not a coincidence that most canine abuse cases involve pit bulls, and most aggressive pit bulls are not spayed or neutered. Banning the breed doesn't fix the problem; those types of people will still be around, and twenty years from now, we'll be clamoring for a Rottweiler or German Shepherd ban. Laws would be more effective targeting responsible pet ownership and breeding.

You're obviously very afraid of pit bulls, and nothing I say is going to change your mind. I'm sorry you feel that way, but it's understandable, and I would never want you to own one. However, having a problem with other people adopting one is no different from having a problem with gun ownership or any other freedoms.

[kimana83]

This.

My brother has a half pit bull/half lab and she is sweet and calm, extremely gentle with children (and adults), and the most submissive dog I've ever known. Meanwhile a girl I know was bit horribly (she will always have scars from it) by the family golden retriever because he just got scared one night and freaked out.

Any dog can be dangerous. Those trained to be so are obviously more likely to be so, but you can train almost any dog to be vicious and almost any dog to be submissive. It's not the breed, it's the owner. (For the record, I've long favored mutts. :) )

[kaspurr]

Sure, sure, meanwhile Zimmerman got his gun, along with his wife exactly to defend himself against only that breed and on the word of a person who worked with animals as it was the only thing that would take it down fast enough.

Meanwhile, where I live, I cannot carry a loaded gun. Period. I'm defenseless. I'm forced to be gambling with this breed and its irresponsible owners or perhaps just for some reason the dog having a bad day despite being raised with kindness -- hell no I ain't afraid of dogs normally:

Sorry, wrong link.

It actually happens so often that I have to be more careful and not assume the google got the right article. ugh.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Martinez-Boy-Mauled-by-Pit-Bull-in-Antioch-219358581.html

Another in Wales: http://news.sky.com/story/680316/boys-ear-ripped-off-in-pit-bull-attack
Another: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/06/19/uncle-of-union-city-dog-mauling-victim-hires-top-attorney/

Too much. so awful.

[kimana83]

I'm sorry you're scared of pit bulls, and that you can't carry a loaded gun. Both things suck. But in most cases, it is owner issues, not pit bull issues. People get pit bulls because of their reputation, so they want them to be mean, so they make them mean, and pit bulls get the reputation, and on the cycle goes. Like I said above, a girl I know will forever have scarring from being attacked, randomly, by the family golden retriever. Sounds like the same thing as the pit bull links you gave me - but this was a golden retriever. Also, as someone else pointed out in these comments, studies have shown that pit bulls are not the most likely breeds to attack. (Although their attacks do have the most fatalities.)

Does your state allow you to carry a tazer? I bet that'd put a dog down long enough for you to get away.

[lawofar18]

Is that your dog in your icon? So cute!

[kimana83]

That was the dog I had from age 13-26, but sadly she died a few years ago. :/ She was the best dog ever though - and people who had their own dogs concurred on that! We think she was as golden retriever/sheltie. Now I have two mutts, a basenji/shepherd that we got when she was about 3 months old and she is the most beautiful dog I've ever seen, and a lab/pointer we got when she was 2 years old who looks like a miniature cow and adores all humans. :)

I love dogs... can you tell? ;)

[lawofar18]

I'm very sorry to hear about your dog; she was super adorable. We have two mutts as well -- a Staffordshire Terrier/German Shepherd mix and a Finnish Spitz/Chihuahua mix. Mutts really are my favorite! :)