.: What Do The Experts Say?

 

Don't "pit bulls" bite harder and somehow different than other breeds? And don't their jaws lock?
“Statements concerning pit bulls ‘chewing’ with their molars while holding with their canine teeth and other statements which have pit bulls biting differently or more powerfully than other breeds have been made by people very unfamiliar with how a dog’s jaw structure works. After 30 years as a canine aggression expert, schutzhund trial decoy, expert witness on dog bites for the Seattle and Tacoma police departments, I concur with the conclusions reached by Dr. Brady Barr working with the National Geographic Society’s bite study which showed the pit bull’s bite to be unremarkable when compared to other breeds.” Diane Jessup, international speaker on canine aggression
Doesn't the media report that pit bulls bite so much more than any other breed?
"Dog bite statistics are not really statistics, and they do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite.” American Veterinarian Association Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions

What do the experts think about banning pit bulls?

"Scientific evidence more definitive than articles discussing the dogs’ breeding history is necessary before it is established that pit bulls, merely by virtue of their genetic inheritance are inherently vicious or unsuited for domestic living.” Supreme Court of New York

"Breed Specific Legislation is an inappropriate response to inappropriate owner behavior." Dr. Karen Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB

The evidence presented in 2005 fatal attack statistics reinforces a legislative approach requiring owners to be held accountable for the humane treatment, containment and control of their dogs as the only effective method to reduce the incidents of canine aggression and enhance community safety. Karen Delise, Author of Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics

"Concerns about "dangerous" dogs have caused many local governments to consider supplementing existing animal control laws with ordinances directed toward control of specific breeds or types of dogs. Members of the Task Force believe such ordinances are inappropriate and ineffective." American Veterinarian Association Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions

"The AVMA supports dangerous animal legislation by state, county, or municipal government provided that legislation does not refer to specific breeds or classes of animals." American Veterinary Medical Association

"Dangerous and/or vicious animals should be labeled as such as a result of their actions or behavior and not because of their breed." National Animal Control Association

Don't friendly, well trained pit bulls just "snap" and attack sometimes?
"In reviewing and studying over 448 cases of fatal dog attacks in the United States, it is apparent that the three most critical factors that contribute to a fatal dog attack are: function of the dog, owner responsibility and reproductive status of the dog. There is no documented case where a single, neutered, household pit bull was the cause of a human fatality.” Karen Delise, Author of Fatal Dog Attacks and The Pit Bull Placebo

Doesn't Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) make a community safer?

“Singling out one or two breeds for control... ignores the true scope of the problem and will not result in a responsible approach to protecting a community’s citizens.” A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention, Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions; The task force included representatives from the Center for Disease and Control, National Animal Control Association, American Medical Association and others

Read this article on the Home Owner's insurance issues by Larry Cunningham, originally published in the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal

But aren't pit bulls "inherently dangerous"?
If you think so, then consider the facts: In 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 according to the American Temperament Test Society breed statistics, the "pit bull" (American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire and Staffordshire bull) out performed the golden retriever, a breed noted for its gentle temperament. The truth? This is a breed that loves people.
   
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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