While most breeds of dogs are loved, cherished and accepted by American society, there are a few that have been blacklisted and given a bad name in the eyes of many. These dogs include Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, and pit bulls, just to name a few. Whether or not some large dog breeds are safe to own is a highly contested topic due to the number of canine attacks we have seen in the U.S. over the years. Currently in places such as Miami-Dade County, Florida, it is actually illegal to even own a pit bull (Miami-Dade County Animal Services). Many would simply like to see these breeds annihilated altogether. I want to write about this issue because of the many viewpoints and theories that exist on both sides of the argument, where questions such as, “Is violent behavior innate in large dog breeds?” arise. I believe that this topic is worthy of extensive research and discussion based on the fact that even when Americans and dogs alike are being injured every single day from aggressive canine behavior, where the blame lies is still a heated debate, and an easy solution to this problem still seems far out of reach. I feel that it is safe to assume that most if not all of the people in our class have come in contact with a dog at least once in their lives, some may own one and a few may have even been bitten by one before. I also feel that it is safe to assume that none of us in the classroom wish to see themselves or people they care about harmed by any potentially dangerous animal. In order to keep ourselves safe, we must all take this issue into consideration so that an opportunity for change may occur.
Because dogs have been an important part of my life for so long, there is much that I can already say regarding this issue. When I was younger, I observed how my dad always carried a large stick or a rock in his hand whenever he went for a jog through our neighborhood. I asked him one day, “Why do you always bring those with you when you run?” And his reply was, “So that I can defend myself in case a loose dog tries to attack me. It’s happened before.” When I brought this issue up with my best friend, he told me a story about how when he was a little boy, he was once tackled off of his bicycle by a neighbor’s dog and had his leg bitten into. He then carried a fear of these animals around with him until the age of 20. I myself have had a close call with a neighbor’s canine; once, I accidentally put my head too close to his mouth while leaning down to pet him, and he opened and closed his jaws around my face. And while this did not actually leave any physical marks, it did leave me feeling quite shaken up afterwards. Now, my encounter may have simply been my fault for encroaching on the animal’s personal space, but in the case of my father and my friend, their experiences with dog attacks seemed to have come out of nowhere and to no fault of their own. Despite how it may seem, however, not all of what I have heard/witnessed involving large dogs has been negative. In fact, I have been in the presence of many more gentle dogs than volatile ones. In the past, I have worked with several shelter dogs, mainly pit bulls and pit mixes, and never with any of those dogs did I feel in any way threatened. One big thing I took away from my nine months of animal shelter volunteer work is that some of the meanest looking dogs can really turn out to be the sweetest, if you simply give them the chance to show you. This is why my overall opinion leans more toward the side of the animal in this issue in this early stage of my research.
Despite all that I’ve seen and read in the news concerning dog attacks, there is still much I do not know surrounding my issue. For one thing, as of yet I don’t know such facts as the approximate number of reported attacks that occur each year, nor the number of/names of all the areas of this country (cities, counties, states, etc.) that have made specific laws surrounding the ownership of “dangerous” dogs. If you asked me right now to name a specific incidence where a violent dog attack was reported in the news, I wouldn’t be able to tell you, so familiarizing myself with a number of separate cases will be on my list of top priorities. When I do read about these cases, I will be able to compare and contrast the stories to find similarities/differences worth analyzing and discussing. Another thing I definitely plan on researching is whether or not some large dogs are born with violent tendencies, or if it is something that develops over time. This topic may still be up for debate, however, but even so, I would like to educate myself on what people on both ends are saying and then make my own decision on the matter. Lastly, I would like to make inquiries as to the history of some of these breeds of dogs, largely pit bulls, and learn enough to be able to talk about the history of the “sport” of dog fighting, where dogs are literally trained to be as violent and aggressive as possible. I know that there is more beyond all of this that I will want to look into and write about as I begin to conduct my research, but so far, these are the main topics of discussion that currently come to mind. Most of the information I will be seeking I will find online, through credible online news sources such as the USA Today website, where I can find a variety of news articles concerning dog attacks, government-run pages such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, which can give me information centered around dog bites, and university-run pages such as Michigan State University College of Law’s Animal Legal and Historical Center website, which can spell out for me laws involving dogs in various parts of the country. When researching specific breeds for their history and facts, I will go to places such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) website. The sources I will use will be both biased (i.e. webpages run by animal activists, or webpages run by opponents of the ownership of certain breeds) and unbiased (websites containing facts on dog breeds, dog laws, dog attack statistics, etc.), so that I can clearly capture the issue from all sides.
The audiences I am considering writing for include those who share my standpoint on the issue, those who oppose it and those who are still not sure where they fall. I view my research and my papers as an opportunity to expand not only my audience’s knowledge on this issue, but my own knowledge as well, so that my stance can become multifaceted over time. I don’t want or expect my writing to come across as one-sided; I will do my best to consider all sides of my issue. As I have mentioned before, my current opinion on my issue is that, yes, even dogs labeled as being “violent” breeds should continue to be bred and kept as pets. My supporters would be those who either breed these dogs or own them, and those who volunteer for city shelters or animal rescue groups for these breeds. Since they have in some cases years’ worth of experience with these dogs and have continued to provide care for them for so long, they definitely would take the side of the animal in this case. My opponents would be those who have heard about or witnessed a dog attack on a family member, friend or stranger, or have even experienced an attack themselves. This experience can be quite traumatizing and certainly a cause for anger and rage at the animal, and so this group of people will be difficult to communicate my points to unless I keep an open mind on their side of the argument as well and show an understanding of where they are coming from/why they are upset. Lastly, a third audience I will be directing my writing towards will be those who have not quite decided on where they stand on this issue. One big reason they have not yet made this decision may be due to the fact that they haven’t been supplied with enough sufficient information on the topic to form an opinion. When one typically hears about dog attacks, they are hit with one extreme opinion on one side or the other, when they might not yet feel ready to lean towards either one of the extremes. My hope is to go in-depth in my research on these animals to the extent that I may enlighten these people as well as those who may have already made their decision (my opponents and proponents), because I believe that all Americans should recognize this issue and deem it important. A great number of people are attacked and/or bitten by dogs each and every day; some are even killed, although much less frequently. This includes young children, such as my best friend, who are too small to run away or defend themselves when a dog suddenly charges. I want to supply my whole audience with the knowledge—numbers, statistics, facts, etc.—to allow them to pick a side in this issue, whether it is my own or the opposite.
Too many people are being harmed by instances of dog attacks, and at the same time, too many dogs are being forced to pay the ultimate price in exchange. Why does this keep happening? What can we do to help fix this problem? Who do we start with first: the human, or the animal? Who’s at blame here the most? These questions and more I will address in my future writings on this issue, because without asking the proper questions, we will never arrive at the answers we seek.