The Right to Own Pitt Bulls
Right to Own Pit Bulls The American Pit Bull Terrier has fallen under harsh criticism in recent years. Several attacks have led to Breed-Specific Legislation or BSL. Breed-Specific Legislation has led to the downright banning of pit bulls in several cities in the United States (“Breed Specific Legislation”). These legislations are unfair and ineffective. The pit bull is only a product of its owner and its surroundings. The pit bull is the most misunderstood and persecuted breed of dogs. If properly raised, a pit bull can become the most fun, loving, helpful, and faithful dog a person could wish for. Eliminating pit bulls is not the solution to stopping attacks.
Imagine that a responsible citizen picked up a pit bull from the pet store, breeder, or pound. He or she raised the dog as a pet, and it lives in a happy, loving home. It is harmless. Another owner is a drug dealer who bought a pit bull to protect his contraband. He has trained the dog to attack. The dog, obviously, is vicious and dangerous. Now imagine that the city these two individuals live in has just passed a law banning pit bulls. The responsible citizen is likely to honor this law; therefore, his or her dog is likely to be picked up and killed. The drug dealer, on the other hand, has no regard for the law so he keeps his dog. The dangerous dog gets off its chain and mauls an eight year old. Of course, this will only reinforce the notion that all dogs that look like pit bulls are inherently violent and aggressive, which is completely untrue. This is the situation that has occurred in twenty-three cities in the United States (LaBella B2). The situation shows one aspect of why BSLs are completely ineffective.
Breed-Specific Legislations are considered by animal welfare groups and pit bull guardians to be discriminatory quick fixes that punish responsible guardians by banishing all pit bulls, regardless of history or temperament, while doing nothing to address the real problem of irresponsible
Imagine that a responsible citizen picked up a pit bull from the pet store, breeder, or pound. He or she raised the dog as a pet, and it lives in a happy, loving home. It is harmless. Another owner is a drug dealer who bought a pit bull to protect his contraband. He has trained the dog to attack. The dog, obviously, is vicious and dangerous. Now imagine that the city these two individuals live in has just passed a law banning pit bulls. The responsible citizen is likely to honor this law; therefore, his or her dog is likely to be picked up and killed. The drug dealer, on the other hand, has no regard for the law so he keeps his dog. The dangerous dog gets off its chain and mauls an eight year old. Of course, this will only reinforce the notion that all dogs that look like pit bulls are inherently violent and aggressive, which is completely untrue. This is the situation that has occurred in twenty-three cities in the United States (LaBella B2). The situation shows one aspect of why BSLs are completely ineffective.
Breed-Specific Legislations are considered by animal welfare groups and pit bull guardians to be discriminatory quick fixes that punish responsible guardians by banishing all pit bulls, regardless of history or temperament, while doing nothing to address the real problem of irresponsible