If you believe Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous animals, & you support BSL to ban them [View all]

[baldguy]

Then you don't know anything about Pit Bulls. Or dogs

(Yes, it's time for this again.)

Does Breed Specific Legislation reduce dog aggression on humans and other animals? A review paper

https://stopbsl.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/doesbslreducedogaggression.pdf

Key Points
• Breed specific legislation has not been shown to reduce the incidence of dog bites in any part of the world despite a twenty-year history. By its nature it is unjust.

• Breed specific legislation removes responsibility for dog biting incidents from dog owners and places the blame on dogs. This is a dangerously simplistic solution to a complex problem.

• Breed specific legislation engenders a false and dangerous perception that breeds not included will not show aggression.

• Enforcing and administering any law comes at some monetary cost. This would be better used implementing non-discriminatory laws which have an ability to enhance public safety.

• Aggression is a normal canine behaviour and can be shown by any dog of any breed or type.

• To reduce the incidence of dog aggression, all dogs should be socialised, obedience trained, understood and managed competently by their owners.

• People determine whether dogs will be useful inhabitants of a community or nuisances. It is the people who either intentionally or unintentionally foster viciousness in dogs whom legislators must endeavour to control.

• As the dog bite statistics demonstrate, every breed of dog will bite. The likelihood of an unwarranted bite is determined by the circumstances and level of control/restraint. The dog’s breed is not relevant. It is more about owner competence than anything else.



Pit bulls myths: Fear vs. Fact

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwiNusXt6MfPAhVJFT4KHaIBC_IQFggiMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dogwise.com%2Fdownloader.cfm%3Fitemid%3Dpitbullplacebo%26format%3Dpdf&usg=AFQjCNFGQOvU9agPuYtO8ruf9_A2AHWpIQ&sig2=nPPyrKJ-InkZb-gkGViX3A&bvm=bv.134495766,d.cWw

FEAR:
Pit Bulls have "locking jaws."

FACT:
"We found that the American Pit Bull Terriers did not have any unique mechanism that would allow these dogs to lock their jaws. There were no mechanical or morphological differences..." Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, University of Georgia


FEAR:
Pit Bulls have massive biting power measuring in 1,000s of pounds of pressure per square inch. (PSI)

FACT:
On average, dogs bite with 320 lbs of pressure per square inch. The bite pressure of a German Shepherd, an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Rottweiler were tested. The American Pit Bull Terrier had the least amount of bite pressure of the three dogs tested. Dr. Brady Barr, National Geographic


FEAR:
Pit Bulls attack without warning.

FACT:
"Pit Bulls signal like other dogs." The Institute of Animal Welfare and Behavior of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany temperament tested over 1,000 dogs.


FEAR:
Pit Bulls are "ticking time bombs" that turn on their owners.

FACT:
"Attacks by family dogs of any breed or type are extremely rare, and should not to be confused with incidents involving resident dogs. Resident dogs are maintained outside the home (on chains, in kennels, or in yards) and/or are obtained for negative functions (guarding, fighting, protection, indiscriminate/irresponsible breeding). Resident dogs cannot be expected to exhibit the same behaviors as family dogs which have been afforded the opportunity to interact with humans on a daily basis and in positive and humane ways."

"There is no documented case that a single, spayed/neutered American Pit Bull Terrier, maintained exclusively as a household pet, has been involved in a fatality in the United States." Karen Delise, NCRC Founder and Director of Research, Author.


FEAR:
While there are some pit bulls with good temperaments, they are the exception not the rule.

FACT:
The American Temperament Test shows pit bulls consistently score above the average for all breeds tested, year in and year out! The American Temperament Test Society, www.atts.org