pitbull ban (Maynard: car insurance, home, neighborhood)

[MovingForward]

DreamworksSKG: the media has really done a number on you. The reason it is the only breed of dog you hear about attacking people is because it makes for good copy. Contact any humane society in the U.S. and they will tell you that labs and cockers are the worst biters, not pits. Your response to and feelings about pit bulls are entirely bizarre. They do not have "an inner nature to kill." It is not a "crock" about bad owners. Good people can be bad dog owners: not enough training of dog, no supervision of children with dog, etc. The only difference is that a pit bull is a much stronger and bigger dog than a cocker spaniel or a lab, so is potentially more dangerous in terms of the damage done than smaller breeds. And, sorry, but it is the owner. 40 years ago, dog fighters and macho morons ruined the doberman pinscher breed, turned them into fighting dogs and everybody was afraid of dobermans and called them a "horrible" and "aggressive" breed. The dog fighters got tired of the doberman and moved on to rottweilers. It took awhile for the doberman breeders to weed out the badly bred dobermans, but now nobody thinks twice about owning or being around a doberman. Similarly, the rottweiler breed lines got ruined by the dog fighters. And everybody became afraid of rottweilers. Now that the dog fighters have moved on to pit bulls as their next victim, the rottweiler breeders are trying to fix the breed lines. A big part of the problem is bad breeding. Backyard breeders and puppy millers who couldn't care less about breed lines, breed not for health or temperament, but for profit. ALL pet shop puppies come from puppy mills, so now we have a country full of dogs--of all breeds--whose temperament is unpredictable due to the bybs and millers. Purebred rottweilers and pit bulls, from reputable breeders, are as gentle as can be. A dog is not dangerous just because he's "ugly" or powerful. A dog is dangerous because of poor breeding and/or abuse by horrible people. Let's try to think about the complexities of the situation, rather than react in a knee-jerk discriminatory way based simply on hearsay and skewed reporting.

[saintarno]

Originally Posted by DreamworksSKG

I am an animal lover, but pitbulls just make me sick. its the only breed of dog you consistantly hear about attacking people and kids

If an animal 'makes you sick' I would say you aren't an animal lover.

Honestly, people who are full of hate or fear for something are usually that way because they don't take the time to understand the thing they hate. Instead of posting completely negative posts about a breed you only read about, I would suggest meeting a pitbull. I've been a volunteer with a local animal shelter for over 5 yrs and I can honestly say my favorite dog to work with in all my years was a pitbull named Pete. My mother was fearful of pitbulls as well but this was because she only knew of all the negative press they receive. She had never met one. I took Pete to meet my mother and after an hour or so she realized how great of a dog he was (regardless of breed). Hate and/or fear is a product of not knowing. Educate yourself and if you feel the same way that is fine. I don't think anyone's post here is going to change your mind but don't only go by what you read.

[LS.KABOOM]

Did you know ... the guy just needs to search to get the truth

[Floridagirl08]

I think pit bulls do have a tendency to be vicious but I think it also depends on how they were trained/raised. My sister has a pit bull, had him since he was a pup and he is very gentle believe it or not.

[beachlady58]

Originally Posted by saintarno

If an animal 'makes you sick' I would say you aren't an animal lover.

Honestly, people who are full of hate or fear for something are usually that way because they don't take the time to understand the thing they hate. Instead of posting completely negative posts about a breed you only read about, I would suggest meeting a pitbull. I've been a volunteer with a local animal shelter for over 5 yrs and I can honestly say my favorite dog to work with in all my years was a pitbull named Pete. My mother was fearful of pitbulls as well but this was because she only knew of all the negative press they receive. She had never met one. I took Pete to meet my mother and after an hour or so she realized how great of a dog he was (regardless of breed). Hate and/or fear is a product of not knowing. Educate yourself and if you feel the same way that is fine. I don't think anyone's post here is going to change your mind but don't only go by what you read.

I am not an dog lover - really don't like any types of dogs - but really don't like Pitbulls. I don't need to understand other than they are high strung and usually agressive. I don't really want to find out that they are kind and gentle as I really don't care - they are just worse then most.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by jyoung666

I resently heard about the pitbull ban that they are trying to pass in mass, this news kinda upsets me and i believe that people should call their government officials and let them know that this isnt right, animals are not born to be mean or aggresive they are trained that way and unforunatly the poor animals are paying for the mistakes of their owners. To ban a breed of dog is rediculous. I think that people just want to place the blame of attacks on pitbulls because it is the easy way out, once you ban 1 breed of dog then whats next of course some other breed is going to take it place and soon no one will be able to own any kind of dog, what a shame this is. Did you know that the breed of dog that most commonly turns on their owners and bites them, is a poodle, but of couse we dont look upon those dogs as a threat because of it size, maybe we should start banning poodles as well.

i have been down on poodles for years but no one has supported me.
weekends of standing in front of city hall with my sign. what did it get me
they laughed at me but no more.
i got a very good attorney and i am suing the city for requiring a dog license for my newly aquired fee fee. my baby.
laugh at me will they?
stephen s
san diego ca

[capecodcathy]

The problem with a ban (and why it will never happen) is that it is unenforceable. When any city or town encounters a financial crisis who's the first to go? The Animal Officer. Municipalities everywhere are in a budget crunch and can't even enforce existing leash and licensing laws. Regardless of breed.

[APBT lover]

Originally Posted by Massquatch

The thing is, whenever you hear about a dog attack, it seems its either a pitbull or a rottweiler, so apparently there is a problem with those breeds. Each one was bred to be aggressive. In my opinion, if someone wants to own one, they can sign a release where they will agree to not challenge any lawsuits arising from an attack.

You never hear about a retriever attack or a lab attack, because pitbulls and rottweilers make better headlines, and that is what sells news. If you did some research you would know that it is a proven fact that the beloved golden retriever has a far worse temperment towards humans than the American pitbull terrier.

[APBT lover]

Originally Posted by NY'er lost in MA

Their aggressive tendencies can turn towards humans. I don't see how anyone could prove otherwise. I said earlier in the thread that I love animals and dogs especially. The breed has aggressive tendencies- PERIOD. The second part of the issue comes down to owners. There is not currently a process to screen owners to ensure they raise the breed properly. And then the issue comes down to if we can really monitor that- probably not. The breed has instincts that can come out. The part where you are wrong is about the breed being bred for families- that is not true.

I however am not for banning the breed, but do feel that there should be some restrictions or action taken towards the breeders initially. Selling the breed to unfit people is the cause of many of the attacks and bites.

Your missing the bigger picture. It's all about what bloodline the dog is from. You can have the greatest owner in the world but if the dog came from an aggressive bloodline it will be aggresive. People just need to do more research before buying from a breeder.

[APBT lover]

Originally Posted by DreamworksSKG

I am an animal lover, but pitbulls just make me sick. its the only breed of dog you consistantly hear about attacking people and kids

I just feel bad for you. You will never be able to enjoy the loyalty,intelligence,non stop entertainment, sweetest, and loving dog you could ever hope to own. Your loss!!!!!