Pit Bulls Research Paper
Zuri Robinson
Mr. Paczkowski
English 1101
7 November 2012
How would you feel if a pet you had since you were a child could no longer be by your side because the county you live in does not allow them anymore? This scenario is very possible due to the Breed Specific Legislation law (BSL). This law regulates which animals are not allowed in a certain area. BSL began in the 1980’s when the number of dog bites went up significantly in the U.S. As people noticed this trend, states began becoming stricter with their breed regulatory laws. The laws were really aimed at pit bull terriers and their mixes even though the law was supposed to be aimed at “dangerous dogs to society.” BSL is not limited to just dogs. Other animals are included in this …show more content…
law also. Although BSL may help in some ways with other animal species, it is ineffective for dog breeds. If society wants dog bites to go down then regulators should crack down on specific things such as whether or a not a dog is properly trained and/or try to set up programs that inform the public about how to avoid those situations that can be avoided. Banning a breed is not going to necessarily prevent dog bites because all dogs bite. They are dogs! A dog’s behavior also has a lot to do with how their owners raise the dogs. BSL also will only keep adding dogs to their list because once a breed becomes illegal to own, breeders will just breed another type of “dangerous” dog. On the other hand BSL for other species of animals may be a good thing, especially if the animal is a danger to a native species. BSL creates other problems too like uprooting homes, having to put animals to sleep, and burdening owners with unnecessary fees. When it comes to dogs, BSL should not be breed specific, but behavior specific. I would argue to legislators to alter the law, not necessarily ban it. There are 75 breeds that are banned or restricted around the United States.
Some of these breeds, shockingly, include Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, American Bulldogs, German Shepherds, and some cattle herding dogs. Of these 75 dog breeds, 4 are banned or restricted in a few counties in Georgia. In College Park Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds are banned. In Dawson Pit Bulls are banned. Pit bulls are also banned in Floyd County as well as La Grange, Lawrenceville, and Terrell County. Notice how most counties have banned Pitt Bulls. They are banned because of what they are and not how they behave. This is unfair to the dog and the responsible dog owners. BSL becomes a major hiccup when it comes to guide dogs, therapy dogs, rescue dogs, and drug dogs. Pit bulls, Retrievers, and German Shepherds make excellent dogs for these titles, but they are all on the “dangerous” dog list for BSL. For instance, take this case in Northern Ireland where a bulldog Labrador mixed dog named Lennox had to be put down because he was on the “dangerous” list. He was this little girl’s therapy dog for 5 amazing years and had not bothered anyone. The court had the control to put down any dog that merely looked dangerous and so they did to Lennox, even with 200,000 signatures to petition not to kill him. The family did not even get to say goodbye to Lennox, rather they were sent his ashes in the mail. Despite this fact, organizations still use these dogs because of their …show more content…
amazing receptiveness to training and loyalty. These terrier mixed dogs have no natural instinct to attack people. They, along with a few other dogs deemed dangerous to society, are actually some of the most loyal and friendly breeds. These laws are way too harsh on the innocent dogs. Between the 1930’s and 1971, the American Pit bull was one of the most loved breeds, appearing in movies such as Our Gang.
Pit Bulls, alongside Terriers, were also very famous in the American military in World War I. Their first unattractive appearance in the news was in 1947 when a dog owner unleashed 27 dogs to attack a woman (Jon Bastian). Again, it began as the dog’s owner’s fault, but the BSL law does not even recognize this fact. Change the law so that it is aimed toward behavior and not breed specificity. Some suggestions I would give to the regulators is to focus more on who they are letting own these animals. Some of these owners are hosting dog fights, which are illegal, and uneducated breeders are breeding aggressive dogs with aggressive dogs. It should be made harder for these people to get these so called “dangerous” breeds of dogs. One way it would be made harder is to present them with more paper work that is detailed and tedious when they come to apply for a dog. Part of the process should include an initial house check before the dog is adopted to make sure there are no home grown puppy mills and/or dog fighting arenas in the home, which some adoption agencies practice currently. Another part of the process should be an educational video that is mandatory to watch at the facility of purchase with a test at the end. To pass the test the potential dog owner has to make a 95% or above to be considered a potential adopter. Another very useful suggestion would
be to require training for dog breeds under the “dangerous” title, which would create numerous jobs. If proper training is required then the number of attacks from owned dogs should go way down. This is not going to eliminate the dog attacks, but it will certainly help the problem. Proper training could decrease the number of euthanized dogs and decrease the number of dogs in pounds and no-kill shelters. Furthermore, a price incentive or money back incentive should be put in place. For example, if the persons who bought the “dangerous” dog breed can come back to the store and show the breeders that the dog has went through extensive training, then the dog seller should give a certain percent of money back to the buyer for properly training their dog. As I have mentioned before, BSL does not only apply to dogs, but to other animal species too. This is the part of the BSL law I believe should be left alone, which is why I am pro-revision and not pro-change. Again, in a nutshell, the law says that certain breeds of animals are prohibited in certain areas, state and global. For example, ferrets are prohibited in California and for a good reason. California has its own native ferret species that if multiple non-native ferrets were released into California’s wild, then the non-native ferrets have the potential to wipe out the native ferret species. Another example of non-native species would be the yellow anaconda and the Python in Florida’s Everglades National Park. These huge snakes, which are originally from the Eastern hemisphere, are sitting at the top of the food pyramid above the alligator in Florida’s ecosystem. Not only are pets under this law, but also exotic non-native circus animals. There is a separate Act that protects those animals called the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act. This act was put into effect because some of the circus animals would get loose or be let loose in pairs and procreate in the wild, decreasing the native game numbers in the U.S. BSL has its pros and its cons, but more cons then pros. This is law is ineffective when it comes to dog breeds and should not be breed specific. Changing or altering the BSL law with the suggestions I have given could lead to a lower dog bite/attack rate and advance the welfare of many dogs saving them from dog fights, neglect, and abuse. It will also make people realize that taking on a pet is a huge responsibility and commitment.
Works Cited
Bastian, John. "DOG BEHAVIOR." CesarsWay.com. Ceasars Way, 24 July 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
"Breed Specific Legislation." ASPCA. Ed. ASPCA. ASPCA, 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Dan. "BSL Shocker â A List of 75 Dogs That Are Banned Or Restricted | Dog Reflections." BSL Shocker â A List of 75 Dogs. Dog Reflections, 24 July 2008. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
"Georgia Breed-specific Laws." Georgia. DogsBite.org, 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Mclaughlin, Erin. "Dog Deemed ‘Dangerous,’ Killed In Northern Ireland For Being Bulldog." ABC News. ABC News Network, 12 July 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Moran, James J., Jr. "H.R. 3359: Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act." Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359). Govtrack, 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Org, Stop BSL. "Category Archives: Georgia." Georgia. StopBslOrg, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Mr. Paczkowski
English 1101
7 November 2012
How would you feel if a pet you had since you were a child could no longer be by your side because the county you live in does not allow them anymore? This scenario is very possible due to the Breed Specific Legislation law (BSL). This law regulates which animals are not allowed in a certain area. BSL began in the 1980’s when the number of dog bites went up significantly in the U.S. As people noticed this trend, states began becoming stricter with their breed regulatory laws. The laws were really aimed at pit bull terriers and their mixes even though the law was supposed to be aimed at “dangerous dogs to society.” BSL is not limited to just dogs. Other animals are included in this …show more content…
law also. Although BSL may help in some ways with other animal species, it is ineffective for dog breeds. If society wants dog bites to go down then regulators should crack down on specific things such as whether or a not a dog is properly trained and/or try to set up programs that inform the public about how to avoid those situations that can be avoided. Banning a breed is not going to necessarily prevent dog bites because all dogs bite. They are dogs! A dog’s behavior also has a lot to do with how their owners raise the dogs. BSL also will only keep adding dogs to their list because once a breed becomes illegal to own, breeders will just breed another type of “dangerous” dog. On the other hand BSL for other species of animals may be a good thing, especially if the animal is a danger to a native species. BSL creates other problems too like uprooting homes, having to put animals to sleep, and burdening owners with unnecessary fees. When it comes to dogs, BSL should not be breed specific, but behavior specific. I would argue to legislators to alter the law, not necessarily ban it. There are 75 breeds that are banned or restricted around the United States.
Some of these breeds, shockingly, include Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, American Bulldogs, German Shepherds, and some cattle herding dogs. Of these 75 dog breeds, 4 are banned or restricted in a few counties in Georgia. In College Park Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds are banned. In Dawson Pit Bulls are banned. Pit bulls are also banned in Floyd County as well as La Grange, Lawrenceville, and Terrell County. Notice how most counties have banned Pitt Bulls. They are banned because of what they are and not how they behave. This is unfair to the dog and the responsible dog owners. BSL becomes a major hiccup when it comes to guide dogs, therapy dogs, rescue dogs, and drug dogs. Pit bulls, Retrievers, and German Shepherds make excellent dogs for these titles, but they are all on the “dangerous” dog list for BSL. For instance, take this case in Northern Ireland where a bulldog Labrador mixed dog named Lennox had to be put down because he was on the “dangerous” list. He was this little girl’s therapy dog for 5 amazing years and had not bothered anyone. The court had the control to put down any dog that merely looked dangerous and so they did to Lennox, even with 200,000 signatures to petition not to kill him. The family did not even get to say goodbye to Lennox, rather they were sent his ashes in the mail. Despite this fact, organizations still use these dogs because of their …show more content…
amazing receptiveness to training and loyalty. These terrier mixed dogs have no natural instinct to attack people. They, along with a few other dogs deemed dangerous to society, are actually some of the most loyal and friendly breeds. These laws are way too harsh on the innocent dogs. Between the 1930’s and 1971, the American Pit bull was one of the most loved breeds, appearing in movies such as Our Gang.
Pit Bulls, alongside Terriers, were also very famous in the American military in World War I. Their first unattractive appearance in the news was in 1947 when a dog owner unleashed 27 dogs to attack a woman (Jon Bastian). Again, it began as the dog’s owner’s fault, but the BSL law does not even recognize this fact. Change the law so that it is aimed toward behavior and not breed specificity. Some suggestions I would give to the regulators is to focus more on who they are letting own these animals. Some of these owners are hosting dog fights, which are illegal, and uneducated breeders are breeding aggressive dogs with aggressive dogs. It should be made harder for these people to get these so called “dangerous” breeds of dogs. One way it would be made harder is to present them with more paper work that is detailed and tedious when they come to apply for a dog. Part of the process should include an initial house check before the dog is adopted to make sure there are no home grown puppy mills and/or dog fighting arenas in the home, which some adoption agencies practice currently. Another part of the process should be an educational video that is mandatory to watch at the facility of purchase with a test at the end. To pass the test the potential dog owner has to make a 95% or above to be considered a potential adopter. Another very useful suggestion would
be to require training for dog breeds under the “dangerous” title, which would create numerous jobs. If proper training is required then the number of attacks from owned dogs should go way down. This is not going to eliminate the dog attacks, but it will certainly help the problem. Proper training could decrease the number of euthanized dogs and decrease the number of dogs in pounds and no-kill shelters. Furthermore, a price incentive or money back incentive should be put in place. For example, if the persons who bought the “dangerous” dog breed can come back to the store and show the breeders that the dog has went through extensive training, then the dog seller should give a certain percent of money back to the buyer for properly training their dog. As I have mentioned before, BSL does not only apply to dogs, but to other animal species too. This is the part of the BSL law I believe should be left alone, which is why I am pro-revision and not pro-change. Again, in a nutshell, the law says that certain breeds of animals are prohibited in certain areas, state and global. For example, ferrets are prohibited in California and for a good reason. California has its own native ferret species that if multiple non-native ferrets were released into California’s wild, then the non-native ferrets have the potential to wipe out the native ferret species. Another example of non-native species would be the yellow anaconda and the Python in Florida’s Everglades National Park. These huge snakes, which are originally from the Eastern hemisphere, are sitting at the top of the food pyramid above the alligator in Florida’s ecosystem. Not only are pets under this law, but also exotic non-native circus animals. There is a separate Act that protects those animals called the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act. This act was put into effect because some of the circus animals would get loose or be let loose in pairs and procreate in the wild, decreasing the native game numbers in the U.S. BSL has its pros and its cons, but more cons then pros. This is law is ineffective when it comes to dog breeds and should not be breed specific. Changing or altering the BSL law with the suggestions I have given could lead to a lower dog bite/attack rate and advance the welfare of many dogs saving them from dog fights, neglect, and abuse. It will also make people realize that taking on a pet is a huge responsibility and commitment.
Works Cited
Bastian, John. "DOG BEHAVIOR." CesarsWay.com. Ceasars Way, 24 July 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
"Breed Specific Legislation." ASPCA. Ed. ASPCA. ASPCA, 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Dan. "BSL Shocker â A List of 75 Dogs That Are Banned Or Restricted | Dog Reflections." BSL Shocker â A List of 75 Dogs. Dog Reflections, 24 July 2008. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
"Georgia Breed-specific Laws." Georgia. DogsBite.org, 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Mclaughlin, Erin. "Dog Deemed ‘Dangerous,’ Killed In Northern Ireland For Being Bulldog." ABC News. ABC News Network, 12 July 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Moran, James J., Jr. "H.R. 3359: Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act." Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359). Govtrack, 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .
Org, Stop BSL. "Category Archives: Georgia." Georgia. StopBslOrg, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. .