A pit bull ban is not the answer
By Denise Flaim
Animal House
January 8, 2007
Writing a column in defense of pit bulls is sort of like writing in favor of suicide bombers, or a plan to build a nuclear reactor down your block. People see the P-word, and assume doggie Armageddon.
I am going to try, anyway.
First, the necessary disclaimers, for those who have been through a pit bull attack or know someone who has or -- the scenario that, rightfully, sends people over the edge -- are the parents of a child whose scars from such a terrifying incident are not physical as well as emotional. I am in no way trying to diminish what happened to them in that instance. And I hope justice was served, not just to the dog that inflicted the injuries, but more so to the human whose lack of responsibility was their root cause.
The impetus for this column, of course, is the pit-bull ban proposed by New York City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., who called the breed "a danger to public safety." This kind of rhetoric isn't surprising in a municipality that bans ferrets, chinchillas and hedgehogs. But it's illogical at its core.
Simply put, dangerous dogs are not a canine problem. They are a human problem. Some dogs are born with the propensity for aggression to humans, but it takes an owner to nurture such a tendency, either through outright encouragement or benign neglect.
Dog fighting, for which pit bulls were developed, requires dog aggression, and many pit bulls are indeed hostile toward their own kind. But the great irony is that this breed was bred not to attack humans. To fulfill their raison d'etre, pit bulls needed to be especially people-friendly: A dog that mauled a human in the pit - even in the heat of battle with his canine foe - was worthless, and was dispatched from the gene pool on the spot with a bullet to the head.
Pit bulls that attack people are an aberration, not an eventuality. Indeed, considering the sheer number of pit bulls that are permitted to stray in city streets, or spend eternities tied outside, the frequency of attacks is miraculously low.
But breedism is a fact of life for the pit bull, whose reputation is tinged with racial and socioeconomic associations that no one is comfortable talking about, but invariably react to. My peers in the media -- most of whom can't tell a Chihuahua from a Catahoula -- take every opportunity to demonize them. Pit bull maulings always get ink.
This soon becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: Every dog attack becomes the fault of a pit bull, even though the breed itself is a very diffuse one, with many different looks and styles. Sharpeis, bull mastiffs, even pugs or Jack Russells could conceivably be labeled pit bulls by disoriented victims who use reverse logic: "If it bit me, it must be a pit bull."
Are pit bulls ideal for everyone? Certainly not. They need strong, stable owners who can socialize them well to people and children, monitor their interactions with other dogs, and keep them exercised mentally and physically. But the same can be said to a greater or lesser degree for Rottweilers, German shepherds, Dobermans, Akitas, and Labrador and golden retrievers - virtually any dog of any breed.
The biggest problem with a pit-bull ban is that if those who want to mold aggressive dogs are deprived of one breed, they just move on to another. There are far more ferocious breeds that could take the pit's place. Then again, with enough careless breeding and focused mistreatment, your average spaniel could be transformed into, if not a killing machine, a very adept maiming one.
A pit-bull ban would create more problems than it solves:
What about pit bull mixes?
What about American Staffordshire terriers, which derive from the pit bull gene pool, but sequestered themselves long ago, and have lost the "gameness" required of a fighting dog?
Are legislators savvy enough to tell the difference between an American bulldog (really a Southern-style pit) and an English one (a breed that is about as aggressive as your average petit four)? If you toss everything with "bullie" in its name or background, kiss goodbye to such good-natured clowns as the French bulldog, the bull terrier, the Boston terrier and the boxer.
People are individuals, and so are animals. Fair laws treat them as such. Instead of addressing the symptom of a problem by banning dogs made vicious and dangerous by irresponsible owners, how about dealing with the problem by making those owners truly liable in the first place?
Nothing sums it up better than that popular cliche: Punish the deed, not the breed.
WRITE TO Denise Flaim, c/o Newsday, 235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747-4250, or e-mail denise.flaim@newsday.com.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
Comments (19)
**************STOP THE PRESSES*****************
TICKET IS CAUGHT!!!!!!! He decided the trap smelled pretty darn good when some urine from my whippet girls who are in season was placed there!!!
More soon....VIVI IS NEXT!!!
Jackie, Marty, Teresa and Mila
THIS IS THE BEST NEWS! WAY TO GO VOLUNTEERS!
GREAT JOB GUYS!!! VIVI, YOU ARE NEXT!!!
WHOOO HOOOO!! Congratulations Team Ticket. Good thing Ticket's still a dirty old man that was more enticing to him than the stinky bait, lol.
You guys rocked the world tonight by getting the "horny" ole man. I am so excited you would think he was mine. My hubby even got excited.
Keeping the faith in Texas for VIVI and all.
Paula here...I just heard from Mila tonight!
That's fantastic news of Ticket being rescued!!
I hope they will do the same tricks with Vivi next as it had on Ticket!! I meant the male dog's urines placed into the traps so Vivi can go in!...do you think it will works this time??? :-D
Psalm 8
O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! You have set your majesty above the heavens!
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place--
What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them rule over the works of your hands, put all things at their feet:
All sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!
Father Creator, Let us never forget the scope of Your power, and that You blessed us with the fullness of Your love, and called us Your children !YOU HAVE RETURNED TO TICKET TO HIS MOTHER--HOLY IS YOUR NAME!!!!
You love all that You create, and we try and work as Your agents for our brothers and sisters in creation the animals. Find Vivi a safe warm place to sleep, and watch over her, until a good person or Team Vivi can return them to Your family. Send Your angels and Saints to the aid of Vivi, and all our lost and homeless ones, and to those NYC angels who are serving as Your hands and feet in this case. Heal all of the many sick ones both human, and animal. Tonight we especially lift to You- Sedona's dobie Mercy, and Cubby. We lift to you also Ann, and "J",
and Madison who are undergoing tests and treatments for their illness. We lift all of these prayers and petitions in confidence to You, and in Jesus' name...
Father,continue Your watch over Vivi,Hopey,Axel,Bowdee,Ticket,Saffie,Zoey,Vern, PA bullie girl, the show babies, Butttons,Biggie,Sniffles,Holly, African Grey, Faithful (the little girl's seizure dog),Shimi, Yorkie, Black Afghan, Buddy, Rags, Precious, Whippet Annie, so that not even "one paw slips". Show them to the volunteer of Your choice so that they may return to their earthly families. Surprise us by sending Vivi home to a volunteer (Kathy from Bayside,Rosa,Tina,Gail T,Bonnie,Diane T.,Diane K-M,Darlene,Debbie,Monica,Lois T.,Nancy M,Barbara Jean,Linda S. and her husband Mike, or Renee? Margot or Irene?)
Many of us also have animals which need Your healing touch. Great Physician we lift to you for your healing Homer, Mercy, Dante, Terrie's dog Cubby, G's kitty,Debbie's Fluffy, Ruby's Mr. Peabody, Briar and Sabrina Skittles, Barney, Tara, Joey,Meeko,Skeeter,Andi,Sparky,Scout,Dodge, Auggie,Billy,Ezme,Clarus,Star,Doogie, CJ,Felice, Max, Little McGee, Murphy, Mylie, Barbaro, Gunner, Linus, Kiva, Ellie,(restore all that had to be taken), Morgan, Little Andi, Nicki, Dude, Tucker, Brandy, Lexie, Isabella, Twin Kittens, Bowen, and Heather.Enfold all of us in Your healing embrace.
We thank you for healing Maureen, and Zipper!! Thank Your for the improvement in Gail's Dude.Thank You for Isabella's improving health!Thank You for McGee's weight gain.
We are frail Father and many of us need Your healing so that we can serve the purpose for which You have created us.
We lift up the following people in need of Your healing:Madison,"J".,Joe V.,Terrie,Amanda, Rosa C. Kathleen's Mom Mary, Renee, Pam,Millicent, Jacque, JL, Lance, Chris,and Abby.
God of Power, stand behind Tammie and Doogie, Duke and Denise, and Otis' followers, as they have stood behind these animals, until justice is done.Thank you for Ruby, and all the bloggers who bring these animals to our attention.Thank you so much for helping us find a good home for Homer (with Nancy) Kristy,Tashia,and Pablo,all 11 doxies and the Halloween bunch !Thank You, Ginger the Persian found a home!!!Thanks for Duke's and Bobbie's new homes. Take gentle care with Anne who has Alzheimers, and was the doxie's former mom.
Be with all who mourn tonight. Give blessings to all who have done Your work. Reward our faithful animal companions who have gone ahead. Let all who are homeless know Your love, and ours, too.
Send your angels and saints to work with Vivi's angels. These NYC volunteers, and their leaders;Tina,Rosa,and Bonnie, serve as Your compassionate presence on earth. Don't let them become discouraged. Let them know that prayer wise "we've got their back"!Bless Jil and Rick's marriage.
Let our faith grow as a result of this experience! Restore as we sleep, Heavenly Father, as we turn over the night watch to you! YOU ARE IN CHARGE! AMEN!
Candles? http://www.gratefulness.org
HELLO??? pAULA HERE TRYING TO GET ON HERE!!
OK! Now it's working again on this blog!! Thank you!! :-)
Happy Ticket is safe once again!!
Great news about Ticket! I wonder if it's a first, catching a male that way? lol
Paula, I don't think females are interested in males urine smell..It would be great it if did!
WOW!! When I posted in and typed it all I see was 3 V's!! Could it be Vivi"s turns next!??
Please good Lord bring Vivi home!!
Father Creator, Some griefs are beyond words, be with Sue G's friends(the Hayes family) in the tragic death of his mother, and greet his mom at the gates of Paradise, and allow her to watch over her son. Amen
I couldn't have said it better myself. Humans are frowned upon when we label races... what's the difference if we label certain breeds?
I have two beagles, and I can assure you, they are COMPLETE opposite. One is calm, sweet, loyal and the other, well, we call her Crack Dog (extremely free spirited).
It saddens me that pit bulls are getting such a bad rap...
Missing Greyhound in Ga.
Does anyone remember this or have information about him? Do you know if he's been caught? I'm looking for contact information if he's still on the loose.
Thanks
I have two Border Collies, same way- complete opposites. They are concentrating on the wrong laws, not unusual for lawmakers to chose a solution to a problem that sounds simple and neat when it is in fact useless. Put that energy in banning and enforcing existing laws on cruel and irresponsible ownership and the bad dogs will by and large disappear. That takes attention and footwork and funding for the right departments. They could do it.
a agree, Karen!!!! jail the abusers and the puppy mill/overbreeders!!!! and get help for those who collect too many babies. it's not done to be hurtful - they just need someone to help them, that's all. there are organizations and depts. that are concerned with those issues.
Mr. Vallone stated that pit bulls are, "often a weapon of choice of drug dealers and gangs seeking to intimidate and terrorize neighborhoods." Are all Italian Americans members of the mafia? I resent the negative stereotyping and discriminatory images of pit bull owners. There are NYC residents that do not use our pit bull pets as a weapons.
I agree, DL. Targeting certain breeds is outrageous. I had a cocker spaniel who didn't like men and was very protective of his territory. You wouldn't have wanted to meet up with him. So should all cocker spaniels be outlawed. Piper, who I have now is the complete opposited of him. Every breed has the range of temperment not to mention if the wrong people get hold of a dog. Ban the people not the animals.
"Some dogs are born with the propensity for aggression to humans, but it takes an owner to nurture such a tendency, either through outright encouragement or benign neglect."
Okay, if we buy into your statement above, why own a dog that even has this propensity when there are so many other breeds that don't?
See the logic?
Your argument is flawed.