Why The Pit Bulls Should Be Banned

The term “Pit Bull” is used to describe a certain group of dogs with similar traits and characteristics, but it is not its own breed of dog. The breeds that this term refers to include the American Pit Bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier, and Pit mixes (Villalobos Rescue Center). Every day, Pit Bulls are being labeled as vicious, killers, beasts, and monsters. Any horrible name that you can think of, they have been called it. All of the breeds that make up this term are considered the most controversial breeds and it is a constant battle between both parties as to whether breed specific bans on the Pit Bull type of dogs should be enacted. Each side has their arguments, which will be outlined below, as to why the breeds should or

The supporting arguments for breed legislation include bite history, their use in illegal activities, the dog’s behavior and attack style, and the fact that breed specific bans are already in place in multiple U.S cities. Those who take the opposing side argue that the dog does not in fact have a locking jaw, they were once referred to as “nanny dogs” because of their gentle nature, all breeds of dog can bite, the owner is responsible for how the dog is raised and therefore influences its behavior, poor breeding and genetics are an important factor, and many rescue organizations adopt out many Pit Bulls who have no current issues or aggression that arises in the

Take note, that BSL does not necessarily mean a ban on the breed, but may include restrictions and laws that owners must abide by. This may include: muzzling the animal in public, spaying or neutering the dog, purchasing liability insurance on the animal of a specific amount, and placing vicious dog signs outside of your residence (BSL Census). All military bases currently have a ban on owning Pit Bulls and other dog breeds that they deem as dangerous. Also, there are currently 860 cities in the United States that regulate dog breeds and all of them target Pit Bulls. Studies have shown that the bans on Pit Bulls have proven to be effective, in at least some areas, when it comes to lowering dog attack statistics. For example, in 2005 Aurora, CO adopted a ban on Pit Bulls and following this ordinance attacks by Pit Bulls decreased by 73% (Dog Bites). Although some attacks still occurred, the amount of attacks decreased significantly. Breed specific legislation already in place, the breeds involvement in illegal activities, and the statistics on the amount of attacks that they are responsible for are all arguments presented by those who support BSL on Pit