Essay Revision

Misconceptions Regarding Pit Bulls

A pit bull is a dog that has been bred through combining a terrier and a bulldog. There are three types of pit bulls consisting of the American Pit Bull terrier, the Staffordshire bull terrier, and the American Staffordshire terrier. The dogs are medium-sized and have athletic builds. There has been a lot of misconception regarding pit bulls and this has been brought about by various myths, the media, and even breed-specific legislations that regulate or completely ban pit bulls. Everyday, families are forced to give up on their dogs just because they are pit bulls, and this it is heartbreaking to see people losing out on dog companionship and dogs without the tender care of their owners. Discrimination against pit bulls is unfair, and they are looked down upon due to misconceptions.

Pit bulls have been surrounded by many myths that mainly come about due to lack of information about them. One of the myths purports that that they have locking jaws and have extreme jaw strength such that they cannot let go once they bite another dog or even a human being. However, a study by the National Geographic dispelled this theory as it carried out an experiment where a Pit bull, a Rottweiler, and a German shepherd were required to bite on an object. It was found out that among the three, the Pit Bull exerted the least amount of pressure. The misconception may have come about due to the fact that the dogs love gripping objects with their mouth (Casey 2010). The theory may have arised due to the dogs’ tendency to grab and hold on to an object, which is as a result of their hunting history as well as their genetic make up.

The other myth regarding pit bulls has to do with the misconception that they become vicious when they taste blood. As a matter of fact, dogs bite due to conditions of pain, defensiveness, or being scared. Biting is a conditioned behavior that is aimed at scaring an adversary away. However, the taste of blood has nothing to do with the dogs’ behavior.

Pit bulls have also been erroneously labeled as being unpredictable. However, all dogs should be predictable not unless they are suffering from a medical or behavioral disorder. Claiming that pit bulls are unpredictable shows a lack of understanding into the behavior of the dogs. To illustrate this, for most of the dog bite cases, the people involved did not detect the dog bite warnings that were displayed by the dogs prior to the attack. Therefore, attacks would have been effectively controlled and managed if the victims could have heeded the warnings (Delise, 2007).

In terms of strength, the myth that claims that pit bulls are extremely powerful as compared to other dogs is actually true. The dogs surpass other dogs in agility, physical fitness, and physical sports. However, their strength correlates to their size, and other dogs which are similar in size have comparable strength. Pit bulls’ genetic make up gives them a fighting capability. They may become aggressive when provoked, though this can be countered through early socialization with other dogs (Casey, 2010).

The media has been at the fore front of misrepresenting stories concerning pit bulls. Other dogs do not receive as much attention and episodes of attack frequently go unreported. However, a pit bull attack becomes a major issue, what with the hype that is created around them. To prove this, Labrador dogs are the most common in the United States, yet their incidents of attack on other dogs or other people do not receive as much attention as attacks by Pit Bulls (Guile, 2012).

A Breed Specific Legislation targeted at certain dog breeds is discriminatory. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (2014), it refers to the total banning or regulation of certain breeds in the hope of reducing attacks. Laws that have banned pit bulls are formulated out of fear and media hype, not proper understanding. To dispel the theory that pit bulls are more likely to attack people, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined twenty years of data and observed that bite rates among varying breeds of dogs did not differ in proportionality. A community-based approach can be adopted instead of banning the lovable dogs. Any dog that has been raised to be aggressive may become vicious if intentionally or unintentionally provoked. Dangerous dogs should be tracked and evaluated individually as opposed to over-generalization of the entire dog breed.

Over 700 U.S. cities have enacted Breed-Specific Laws. New York, for instance, has ordinances that refer to pit bulls as being vicious, and presumed dangerous. As a result, they have been banned from several sections of the city. Research has shown that Breed-Specific Laws are actually ineffective as they are expensive and difficult to implement. Furthermore, the laws are discriminatory as dogs together with their owners are punished for factors that they have no control over. Well-reared dogs that are responsible and friendly are targeted based on their genetic make up. This may lead to hiding of the outlawed dogs by dog owners so as to avoid detection. As a result, socialization and outdoor exercises are kept at a minimum, a factor that may affect the health and development of pit bulls (ASPCA, 2014). The president of the United States, Barack Obama, stated that, “Breed-Specific Legislation is a bad idea” (Greenwood, 2013). This statement, coming from the head of the state, fortifies the assertion that legislations against the dogs are not warranted for and should be done away with.

In conclusion, profiling dogs based on their genetic make up and physical characteristics is not only morally wrong, it infringes on the rights of animals. As outlined in the essay, the misconception regarding pit bulls is due to misunderstanding by the authorities, the media, and the community at large. Pit bulls have been seen as being animals that can be reared by people, without incidents of attack on other dogs or people. The most important factor that has to be considered at all times is the fact that pit bulls’ genetic make up is geared towards aggression and fights, based on their history and breeding. However, early socialization during puppy-hood with other dogs and people will prevent the dogs from attacking people in future. In addition, the dogs should be viewed individually as they have a varying range of characteristics, just like people. Banning them and regulating their movements will not save matters, the most effective solution would be to use understanding and love when dealing with pit bulls.

References

ASPCA. (n.d.). ASPCA. Retrieved May 16, 2014, from http://www.aspca.org/

Casey, C. (2010). Underdogs: valuable information and stories of transformation. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse.

Delise, K. (2007). The pit bull placebo: the media, myths and politics of canine aggression. United States: Anubis Publishing.

Guile, N. (n.d.). Pit Bulls and the Media. Dogs. Retrieved May 17, 2014, from http://blog.timesunion.com/dogs/pit-bulls-and-the-media/3597/