Letters to the Editor
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The Problem with Breed Specific Legislation
Thank you for the thoughtful article on "pit bulls" and breed specific legislation. As you know from your own experience, there are many, many wonderful dogs who might be considered "pit bulls," a classification that can be very slippery, as demonstrated in the following link: http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html
Breed specific legislation focuses solely on a dog's perceived pedigree and the determination that a given dog is a particular breed or a dog that is a mix containing that breed. The breed specific approach is further complicated by what goes into making the determination that a certain breed is so "dangerous" that it should be treated differently from other breeds or even out and out banned. These determinations are affected not only by news reports that often mistakenly identify a particular dog as a "pit bull," but also by idividual experience with an individual dog. Someone who has been bitten by, say, a Cocker Spaniel, is likely to be forever wary of Cockers. This is particularly true of a person who does not have a lot of experience with different dogs.
The problem is with the people, not the dogs. When a person wants to scare/intimidate/threaten others with the dog at the end of the leash, that person will reward the chosen intimidator for agressive behavior that scares people. The intimidating effect will be easier if the dog is large or if it looks like a breed that has a "reputation." Banning specific breeds will do nothing-- NOTHING-- to stop this dynamic.
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Well
Logically and letters would indicate,
sterilizing black (genetically angry) males, dark skinny (genetically manic) overtanned rednecks, and religious adherents (with an IQ below 100 or above 130), all between the ages of 6 and 18 (before they have any rights), or when 'charged' (ie. guilty) with a violent crime - would end all known violence, in America, leaving Mestruation and Menopause as the only remaining threat to Peace and Tranquility...
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a few comments from the author
It is difficult to address all the nuances of this issue in a relatively short essay. This was planned as a 1500 essay; it is running at 2500. I wrote about 5000. What I really want to do is write a whole book on the subject. One of the fascinating elements of the whole pit bull debate is that illustrates the ways in which we live in a society that wants easy answers. Things are good or bad, right or wrong. But reality is always somewhere in between.
Since the tone of the piece was personal, and space was limited, I didn't have time to include all of the research that I've read in the past couple of years. Some people have taken issue with this. But, I did make a point of including a number of sources. For example, it is pretty easy to go to the ASPCA website and download their policy paper on BSL. Or to find Karen Delise's books, which include "Fatal Dog Attacks," a book that covers over thirty years of statistics and concludes that these are the factors that need to be addressed for safety: function of the dog (ie. guard dogs, yard dogs, etc.), socialization, tethering and confinement, reproductive status. These are the factors in over 90% of all dog attacks. Most communities have laws that address these things but the laws are never enforced.
Also, the reason that BSL is wrong is not simply that it is illogical. It is that it doesn't make anyone safer. I'm all for laws addressing responsible dog ownership. I'm all for dog registration and even for standards for breeding--because one of the big problems is that there are too many dogs, period.
And, finally, I should reveal this: I was attacked by a dog several years ago. It was in a public park, charging at my own dog, and when I went to my dog's defense the other dog first grabbed my leg, then my arm. There was blood. Bystanders called the police. The dog's owners did nothing until the attack was over, at which point they said, "It has been a while since he's done this." The dog was a beagle. BSL wouldn't have stopped that attack. Since the dog had a history of this behavior, the owners should have made the decision to not unleash him in public. But like many owners of many different breeds of dog, they decided it couldn't happen again. For a while I was reluctant to go near another beagle--but at the same time, I also knew that this response was illogical.
And, finally, for people who wonder what my position is on gun control: there are some major differences between dogs and guns, particularly in the case of handguns, which are designed for only one function: shooting people.
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The bite is much, much worse than the bark
Even if pit bulls don't bite more often than yellow labs, their bite is much more damaging. It's like getting shot. Do you want to get shot with a .22 or with a .44 Magnum?
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response to ken
Ken,
You say in your answer to the posts, "there are some major differences between dogs and guns, particularly in the case of handguns, which are designed for only one function: shooting people."
But aren't some breeds of dogs - including pit bulls - also "designed for only one function: killing"? It seems to me that you point out a similarity, not a difference.
Beagles, of course, are not designed for killing, that is true - and however scared you may be of beagles, I find it impossible to believe that you fear death from them.
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If pit bulls are banned, dog fighters will just switch to another breed
Spay/neuter laws are not a bad idea in general, though. Shelters are full of unwanted dogs of all breeds, not just pit bulls.
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Tell you what, Mr. Foster
Mr. Foster, you are welcome to live on the same block with Presa Canarios, pit bulls, and other breeds that were bred specifically to fight to the death and are now in the hands of clueless individuals, ninety-nine percent of whom have NO IDEA how to properly socialize their dogs or exert pack leader control over them. Many of us would prefer the assurance that if we are walking in our neighborhoods, we're not putting ourselves at risk of death from animals that have no business living in a crowded urban environment.
Sure, all dogs can be vicious. But ONLY CERTAIN BREEDS ARE BRED TO KILL. Why is this simple fact so hard for some people to accept?
This is one dog owner who thinks that over-romanticizing these breeds, putting people and other pets at risk, is criminally stupid. Several European countries have outlawed the breeding and ownership of fighting dogs, but Americans with their frontier mentality would rather sacrifice innocent victims than bring dogs under reasonable control.