DoggieNews: Seattle to Ban Pit Bulls?

Seattle to Ban Pit Bulls?

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

The Seattle Times ran an article about a local woman who started an organization called, "Families and Dogs Against Fighting Breeds". She wants the city to either ban pit bulls or at least a mandatory sterilization of them.

Colleen Lynn, who was attacked by a pit bull, said the following...

"I have to prepare myself to be massively intimidated. But we need to recognize the problem. Our community is suffering."

Are we looking at another Denver, another Windsor, another fascist state where hundreds of well-tempered dogs are ripped from their homes and put down like Jews in a concentration camp, just because a few dog owners weren't acting responsibly?

Like I've said countless times here, we already have laws and remedies against irresponsible dog owners, the problem is that local governments don't want to go after the bad apples. It costs money. They'd rather take the easy road by burdening everyone.

The irony of that approach is that only the law-abiding citizen abide by laws. The irresponsible citizens, who don't abide by laws, are the problem.

How will another law address the people who don't abide by laws?

You've heard the old saying, "If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns". It's the same principle.

Read the full article...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/..../2004112928_brodeur08m.html

Labels: Pit Bull Bans

90 Comments:

thats not fair dogs shouldnt be treated like that that is the owners fault..save all dogs!!!especially pit bulls

By Anonymous, at 4:15 PM, January 08, 2008
Pit Bulls are innocent unless the OWNER trains them to be bad!!! I know a pit bull that is soooo sweet!--- No bad dogs, only BAD owners!

By captainjackfan96, at 5:55 PM, January 08, 2008
pit bulls are very loving, beautifal dogs but it is the owners fault that make them into fighting , vicious dogs like stupid a** michael vick they need love and care, but are portrayed in a bad way because of the owners..you cant be stereotyping just like that its like if we said that whoever that womans nationality is sucks ass and are all bad poeple,we cant say that we dont know them all...same with dogs>>

By Anonymous, at 6:03 PM, January 08, 2008
No place should ban any breed of dog. It's not the dogs fault they lash out, it's the owner's fault. Banning a dog breed won't solve the problem because any dog can attack someone, it all just depends on how they are raised.

By Anonymous, at 7:25 PM, January 08, 2008
I do not think it is right to ban any breed. It is up to the owner to be responsible for their dogs actions. If needed enforce the laws to make the owners responsible. I am tired of hearing how Pit Bulls, Rotties and other large breeds attack people.How about the Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and other little dogs that bite people? Does not seem fair that the big dogs bet a bad wrap but not the little dogs. I have a tooth and a scar from a little dog bite. So little dogs can do damage too....

By Anonymous, at 9:00 PM, January 08, 2008
thats not something right to do to dogs, you cant do that it depends on the enviorment they are around and raised, like if a kid is not discipled and can go out doing voilence its the parents fault, not the kid because hes naive.dogs especially pit bulls are loving beautifal dogs its the owners fault..

By Anonymous, at 10:28 PM, January 08, 2008
I volunteer at a shelter with a lot of pits. I've never been a real big fan of the breed, but some of the politest dogs have been pits. It is not the dogs fault some owners are so stupid and neglectful. Its not fair to put a dog down because of breed. How irresponsible can we as humans get?

By Nancy, San Gabriel, at 10:42 AM, January 09, 2008
I own a Pit Bull and it is by far the most loyal and Affectionate dog I have ever owned. We got him from a shelter and he originally came from a abusive situation. Never once has he ever growled, or barked at a person but instead runs to greet them! I think it is terrible what is happening to these dogs and not the iresponsible owners!

By Anonymous, at 11:32 AM, January 09, 2008
These dog-banning zealots are very dangerous. I own the most wonderful and sweet rotweiler in the world. This rabid woman and her ilk would have him destroyed if they had their ways. The dog banners are using the same tactics as those fascists who try to ban firearms all day long. They don't understand freedom nor respect individual rights. They knee-jerk react to banning objects and animals hysterically. Let's all get together and fight these people and not let them take our babies away! Freedomfighter

By Anonymous, at 5:46 PM, January 09, 2008
I kinda agree, pit bulls arent inhernetly mean, nor or other dogs such as dobermans, rotwiellers, etc. Though, mankind has tended to breed them for agressivness, and that is our fault not the dogs. Nevertheless, I've met dogs from all these breeds that were super sweet and wouldnt hurt a fly. Maybe its the owners that should be qualified before being permitted to own one of them. If the owner dosent or is unwilling to spend the time to socialize these dogs then they should not be permitted to own. Fine and punish the owner not the dog. Very infrequently is the dog the fault.

By Anonymous, at 11:49 PM, January 09, 2008
I wish we could ban stupid people from owning dogs instead of banning dog breeds. Every dog will bite if provoked or frightened enough - guaranteed. TRAIN your dog, SOCIALIZE your dog, and SUPERVISE your dog - everywhere - always - especially around small children. And parents - TRAIN your kids, and SOCIALIZE your kids, and SUPERVISE your kids around dogs. Kids do stupid things without knowing it.

As to a** who abuse their animals - don't even get me started. Speaking of which, this poor puppy never had a chance. He was bluggened to death with a HAMMER by his owner yesterday. No doubt this guy will serve NO TIME, NO FINE and will go get himself a new puppy as soon as he's out. We need more effective laws for punishing abusers and keeping them from ever owning an animal - not banning animals. For the news story, see www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/01/09/bc-puppybeaten.html

By Anonymous, at 12:32 AM, January 10, 2008
I own pitbulls and they are far from vicious ,If people would only educate themselves on the breed !!!they are the most loyal.eager to please ,sweetest dogs ever .My dogs are great ,its bad owners that make any dog bad

By laurie, at 3:54 AM, January 10, 2008
Wait a second.
Did you just equate the banning of dogs to the holocost?
Give me a break, dude they are dogs and yes this is unfair but the comparision of the mass slaughtering of people to dogs who are inherently dangerous is out of line. Get a grip.

By Larkspur, at 12:03 PM, January 11, 2008
I am so sick of people accusing pit bulls of being aggressive and vicious. People need to understand that most dogs are that way due to bad owners. Every pit bull I have ever met has been sweet, and affectionate and its simply because the owners treat them properly. More often then not, its the small dogs that tend to be more aggressive in nature due to inbreeding so breeders can charge more for the accessory..which is what small breeds have become unfortunately there isn't much anyone can do with an inbred dog. For example, my apt complex forbids German Shepards due to their "aggressive nature" and tried to force me to get rid of my dog (in 7 days btw), while I have a neighbor downstairs with a mini pinscher that tries to attack my dog every time we are outside. The funny part is that my dog isn't a German Shepard at all, but rather a Dutch Shepard, and has NEVER been aggressive toward the mini pinscher even when it tries to attack.

Don't these people watch the Dog Whisperer?

By Anonymous, at 12:25 PM, January 11, 2008
They don't need another law! They need to use the laws they have and hold bad owners responsible. People like Michael Vick and the others that are making money off these dogs blood, should be going to jail for longer than two years.

By Anonymous, at 5:00 PM, January 11, 2008
Seattle is stupid to try and ban pit bulls.. I own two myself and they are the sweetist most loving and attentive dogs I know. People need to train their pit bulls to not be the vicious dogs everyone thinks they are. Its not fair to try and make us move because of our dogs breed.. People should be more scared of me than my dogs because I'm not submissive like my dogs I'll kick your ass. They are my kids and I will always have pit bulls in my family. THEY ARE GRAET DOGS!!!

By angry pit bull owner, at 5:33 PM, January 12, 2008
STAND UP, AMERICANS!! OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE REAL PROBLEM!!THIS IS A WONDERFUL COUNTRY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO ADULTS TALK ABOUT PIT BULL BANS WHEN THE OWNERS ARE AT FAULT. THE LAWS NEED TO BE ENFORCED MORE OR CHANGED SO THAT WE SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO DOG OWNERS THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THESE "CRIMES AGAINST DOGS AND PEOPLE". PLEASE AMERICA STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

By Anonymous, at 8:58 PM, January 17, 2008
What difference does it make if it is owners fault or not??!!
I do not want to take that risk and be attacked by these animals. I dont want my small dog to be attacked either.
Every civilized country (especially in Europe) banned pitbulls and other breeds like this. At least keep them on leash while in public!!! Is it so much to ask for?! It seems like none of you`ve heard stories when pitbulls attacked and killed.... wake up!

By Anonymous, at 9:37 PM, January 17, 2008
This is very interesting story, please read.

I'm a veterinarian and I fully support breed-specific legislation against pit bulls and other "bull" breeds, as well as all dogs bred for fighting or with innate aggressive tendencies towards humans (ie the Dogo, the Fila, and others). People who support these breeds do not understand them or have a stake in maintaining (trainers, veterinarians) them in almost all cases. These dogs were bred to have a heightened predatory response and a prolonged aggressive response (term "gameness"). In practice this means a pit bull will respond to a certain level of arousal (ie excitement) with an aggressive response which is very drawn out, whereas a collie would respond to arousing stimuli with herding behaviour, or a lab with retrieving behaviour. The lab was bred to retrieve, the collie was bred to herd, and the pit bull was bred to kill. Does this make pit bulls "evil"? No, definitely not, but it does make them significantly more dangerous in a society which includes children and elderly individuals that might be perceived by the dogs as prey and are very likely to create the kind of arousal in the dogs - via screaming, running, high-pitched voices, or walking bent-over - that tends to trigger an aggressive response. Your dog may well go her entire life without being aroused past her threshold into a predatory state - most pits do - but if she *is* ever triggered you will be nearly powerless to prevent an attack, the strength of these dogs is almost unimaginable.

When I was in general practice I had a client who had 2 *sweet and
submissive* pits. At the time *I* would have extolled the
virtues of these dogs - they were awesome and the absolute easiest to
work with of any breed brought in. And these 2 were absolutely my
favorite - hilarious, well-behaved, taken care of, spayed, and loved.
They'd lived peacefully with her, her husband, her 14 year-old cat, and
her *3 year-old* daughter for the last 8 and 12 years respectively. One day the cat saw a bird through the window and jumped on the sill and started
*chattering* at her (have you ever heard a cat do that? They sound
almost like a squirrel) and one dog (the older) went for her and pulled
her down off the window sill. My guess is that the dog may have been having a predatory dream at that time which had her in a state of arousal and the noise the cat made simply pushed her over the edge. The other joined in and the two dogs pulled the cat apart (there were literally only pieces of her left) while the owner and her daughter watched stunned from across the room. The little girl started crying hysterically and the dogs turned toward *her* growling because they were so aroused from their attack on the cat. The cat gave one final twitch and the dogs went after it again which allowed the mother to get herself and her daughter to the bathroom. Within seconds the cat was dead and the dogs came after the child again and prowled outside the bathroom and scratched at the base of the door for over an hour trying to get in to kill the child. By the time the husband got home the dogs had calmed and were their typical, friendly, goofy selves. Save the blood all over them and the living room and the pieces of dead cat + his wife and child locked in the bathroom and hysterical, he'd never have guessed what had happened. *I* went to
that home to euthanize the dogs that afternoon because she wouldn't
bring her daughter out of the bathroom until both dogs were dead and I
had said so, *I* saw the carnage first-hand. Have you ever seen what
is left of an animal after two pit-bulls rip into it? If it had been
the child that had made an unusual noise that had just happened to
spark the predatory drive that has been bred into those dogs it would
have been the child in pieces on the living room floor. This is what I believe most people do NOT understand or deny. How many innocent children have to die before these dogs are removed from our society?

The other issue to consider is whether it is fair to these dogs themselves to keep the breed around. Probably 70% are owned by individuals who use them for fighting or for guarding drugs/stolen property, another 15-20% are owned by individuals who don't out-and-out abuse them, but keep them chained in the yard to ward off invaders or just to look "tough", which leaves only 10-15% of pit bulls in decent, loving homes. Is your desire to own this specific breed really worth the horrors the vast majority of them must live through? Have you ever seen the injuries inflicted on a dog in a dog fight? I have and I wouldn't wish it on any animal. I think the kindest thing for these dogs and the safest thing for society is to enact breed-specific legislation that grandfathers existing dogs but makes neutering them mandatory - that way the breed dies out over 1-2 generations and existing pets aren't harmed. Yes, people will still breed them during the ban, but those are the same people that use them for fighting and for guarding drugs now, so even though there will have to be euthanasia of some litters bred after a ban is in effect, it isn't a choice between a nice life or euthanasia, it is a choice between a life of dog-fighting or a peaceful death.

By Anonymous, at 6:25 PM, January 18, 2008
Along with most of you, I think that this is ridiculous, and makes me livid. My husband and I have two pit bull mixes and they are amazing dogs. Eventually when we have more land, we will get more, mixes and purebreads. As with anytthing, if you don't know what you're talking about you should keep your mouth shut. I wish that the ignorant people in this world would actually do a little research before trying to act like they are informed on the subject they are talking about!

By Anonymous, at 6:30 AM, January 20, 2008
I`ve tried to post the story but I think it was too long so it didnt work. If you want it, e-mail me to "thasia_2000@hotmail.com and I will send it to you.
Vet is telling the story about two pits which were very polite and well behaved in a great home, they were 8 and 12. Family had a little 3 year old girl and 14 year old cat. To make the story short and to get to the point - one day this two pits attacked the cat and killed her. Supposedly cat has made a weird noises while watching the bird on the tree and that drove them crazy. When this happend, child started histerically cry and they went after them! Mother locked herself and kid in the bathroom. They were growling and scratching the door for an hour. Mother refused to come out before these two pits were dead!! And this is a woman who had her dogs for such a long time. These dogs are very dangerous. Keep them on leash!

By Anonymous, at 6:30 PM, January 20, 2008
I don't think its right to pick one breed of dog and then ban them. pit bull are very kind animals. I know I own one, and she is the best dog i have ever owned. her loyalty is completly overwhelming. She loves me like a child would love their parents and never once has she been aggressive. i think the problem is the owners, it really is like a child if you don't raise them correctly your going to have problems. dog qwners need to be a lot more responsible. My Goodness if you were left on a chain day and night, sun or rain wouldn't you be ready to attack something. I mean keep it real people. its not the animals or this breed imperticular's fault. It is our own fault.

By gypsyrayne, at 1:05 PM, January 23, 2008
True, but do you think if owner of lab wouldn`t take care of his dog very well, that lab would be capable of killing other dogs or humans?! No, because they weren`t bred to kill as pitbulls.
So eventually it is not such a danger to other dogs/people. BUT if pitbull`s owner doesn`t take care of his dog properly - then they become very dangerous.
And I think in the story above - the family was very loving and took care of their pits very well.... I am sure they were shocked, too - but that is reality!

By Anonymous, at 7:17 PM, January 25, 2008
People need to wake up and realize that they are the problem. Pit bulls were not bred to be killers. They were bred to pull carts in mine shafts. Pitt bulls are wonderful, gentle, loyal dogs. If you put a loaded gun into the wrongs persons hands someone is going to get shot. Well it's the same theory with pit bulls. Do you know that the worlds most "family loved" dog the golden retriever is more aggresive than the pit bull? Open your eyes people and use your head.

By kmclaren2308, at 12:22 PM, January 26, 2008
Personally, I think these dog bans don't solve anything.

First, your average police officer and animal control officer cannot tell the difference between the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and a long list of other breeds that are similar in appearance, size, and statue. Are they going to get on the case everyone who owns a dog that the officer *thinks* might be a "Pit Bull"? Makes no sense.

Heck, most normal people cannot even recognize a normal German Shepherd, let alone tell the difference between one of the 20 or so breeds commonly referred to as "pit bulls".

The other problem is that there is no such thing as "bad dogs", there are only bad owners and bad breeders.

I know everyone before me has said that dogs can only be vicious if they are trained to be or they are neglected. That is partially right but not entirely. A dog can be BRED to be vicious as well.

Take two weak-nerved dogs and put them together, and you're nearly always going to produce a litter of weak-nerved puppies who are going to display a high level of fear aggression. The thug down the road who wants to fight his dogs doesn't know the difference between actual aggression and fear aggression (ie, a dog that bites when it feels threatened) and keeps breeding these awful examples of the breed to make more "aggressive" dogs for the fighting ring.

It's these idiot breeders and idiot owners that are the problem, not the breed itself. It's the same with every other breed of dog.

Just an FYI, in the United States, more people are bitten by Labrador Retrievers each year than ANY OTHER breed out there.

The difference is that we don't hear as much about it in the media because it doesn't sell papers or get viewers. People tune in when they hear about a "vicious pit bull attack". They don't tune in when Billy Bob's Lab took the face off his child.

And when the stories are about Pitts, they can quickly segment into bans and vicious dog laws. If it's little Jane's Dachshund who just chewed the toes off her disabled child, there's amazingly no call to ban Dachshunds for being vicious.

The media bias is a huge contributor in how John Q. Public views pit bulls and breed bans, and how legislators respond. Remember, most of these legislators passing dog laws don't own dogs. They don't know more about Pitts and responsible breeding and responsible ownership than most people.

The biggest problem is the fact that people view different kinds of dogs as needing to have different owners. Well, they're all dogs and they all need responsible owners. It makes no difference if you have a 10lbs Yorkiepoo, a 50lbs Malinois, or a 100lbs Great Dane. ALL of these dogs need to be TRAINED, they need to be leashed in public unless an area is an off-leash area, they need to be under their owner's control (whether leashed or unleashed), they need to be supervised around children at all times, and they need to be treated like dogs not little humans.

I can tell you that every time I walk into Petsmart or Petco, I almost always find myself facing owners of SMALL dogs like Beagles and assorted -poo dogs who have NO clue about dog behavior and have NO control of their dogs. Their dogs are running around at the end of their Flexi leads while the owners are looking at toys, completely unaware of what their dogs are doing.

Then the SAME people usually think it's "cute" when their 4lbs Chihuahua barks, snarls, and bites at my German Shepherd who is by my side, in a "sit", minding her own business.

By Abby K9, at 9:50 PM, January 26, 2008
More people are bitten by labs than pitbulls in the U.S. and you think you don't hear about it in the news because pitbulls are being unfairly targeted by the media? Give me a break..it is because mean labs bite, but mean pitbulls kill....check your stats to see how many children were mauled or killed by pitbulls, usually their own 'loving family pet'. It is common knowledge that pitbulls were bred for fighting in the pit..hence the nickname...(maybe originally for pulling carts in mines?). It is a misconception to think that pitbulls become mean and then attack people and other animals, it is actually in their nature to be aggresive and dominant. Take a look at many of the owners, they match their pets. This natural tendancy is what makes these dogs so unpredictable and dangerous. I am very pleased to live in a province where pitsbulls are sterilized and must wear a muzzle in public. In a civiled society with an endless variety of wonderful dog breeds to choose from, pitbulls have no place or purpose. Do you really think a pitbull sitting in your backyard on a heavy chain has a great life anyway?

By Anonymous, at 6:02 PM, January 28, 2008
I live in Seattle, and thoroughly support a ban of pit bulls. These animals were bread for fighting bulls for entertainment. When that practice was banned in the mid 1800s, they were bread to fight other dogs, again for entertainment. "Pulling carts in mines?" I'd like to hear where that came from. Pit bulls' facial musculature allows them to apply twice the biting force than any other dog. This is what makes this breed different from other dogs. I completely agree that there are no bad dogs, only bad owners. However, these dogs are dangerous, more dangerous than a misbehaving beagle. There is simply no reason for pit bulls to exist on this planet. And to all the bleeding hearts out there, when one of these dogs turns on your child or your dog, don't come crying to me because you felt sorry for this "cause." Wipe them off the planet, don't ban them.

By Anonymous, at 12:04 AM, January 29, 2008
I just LOVE how the "anonymous" AssHats spout off about a breed they know NOTHING about. Yeah, "wipe pit bulls off the planet". Um, Not until EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU IDIOTIC, SELF-RIGHTEOUS MORONS ARE BLASTED OFF OF IT FIRST! Get a life, go pick on something or someONE who can actually speak up for themselves. You are a waste of life with your bullshit "convictions". I say we should BAN PEOPLE LIKE YOU! No ifs, ands or buts! Just take you out and euthanise you because your OPINIONS and BELIEFS are so POISONOUS to the PUBLIC!!! Makes "PERFECT SENSE" Right?!?!?!?

By shadyvendetta, at 10:22 PM, February 02, 2008
When you criminalize pit bulls, only criminals will own pit bulls.

STOP the stereotyping and become educated.

READ THIS:

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/02/06/060206fa_fact?currentPage=1

By Anonymous, at 9:26 AM, February 04, 2008
THEY SHOULD BAN PIT BULLS,THE REASON BEING IS THAT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT GET PIT BULLS ARE FOR THE WRONG REASONS....I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE SUFFERING AND ABUSE ALOT OF THESE DOGS HAVE TO GO THROUGH,DONT GET ME WRONG,I LOVE ALL DOGS,BIG ANIMAL LOVER,BUT I THINK BANNING THAT BREED WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA...I HATE TO SAY THAT,BUT THERE ARE JUST SOOOO MANY IDIOTS THAT GET THESE DOGS FOR THE WRONG REASONS...
WE DONT END UP WITH RESPOSIBLE PEOPLE ADOPTING /BREEDING THEM ,WE END UP WITH MORONS TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK OFF THEM..ITS SAD AND I FEEL REALLY SORRY FOR THE DOGS.
BUT NOW SEATTLE WOULD HAVE TO OBVIOUSLY LEAVE THE PIT BULLS THAT ALREADY THERE ALONE.ALMOST LIKE GRANDFATHER THEM IN,BUT JUST NO MORE BREEDING THEM....

By Anonymous, at 2:33 PM, February 08, 2008
I live in the seattle area and this ban is ridicilious. Any breed can be dangerous if not raised in a good environment.
I was a proud owner of 2 unneutered male rottweilers and i have a rottie mix now and my husband has experience with raising wolf hybrids and all of these breeds were awesome . My rotties were some of the most awesome dogs ever.
Its an individual case and should be judged that way.
These groups are radical and are alike the anti-gun folks.
They go to the extremes. More education is needed. NO BAD DOGS JUST BAD PEOPLE!!!!

By Anonymous, at 5:59 PM, February 11, 2008
Its the breed and its the owners.Pitbulls have a trait bred for called gameness it is what makes attacks by this breed so relentless.This trait was bred for fighting shall I say it louder FIGHTING its not the dogs fault but the breed should be discontinued and they should be euthanised on sight.Humans first dog penis replacements second.

By Anonymous, at 7:14 PM, February 15, 2008
Punish the deed not the Breed. I think all you people that want to rid the world of Pit Bulls should be took out and shot. I have raised Pit Bulls for 20 years and with the correct disiplin they WILL be the most loving and loyal pet you will ever find. You never hear about a smaller breed of dog biting a child, it's always the Pit Bull. Do you ever wonder why that is. It don't make a good news story. I have seen Dalmations, Beagles, Curs, Chihuahuas, Poodles and various other breed of dogs that would love nothing better than sinking a mouthfull of teeth into someone. I guess when you idiots rid the world of Pit Bulls you will go after one of the other breeds next. Instead Pit Bull lovers should go after you. Morons. As I said before PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED

By slik67, at 8:12 PM, February 24, 2008
I think its absolutly ridiculous to ban the breed just because the owners of the dog made them the way they are. i know alot of pit bulls that have a better disposition then some golden retreivers. Start punishing the owners of the dog. Not the Dog.

By Anonymous, at 1:35 PM, February 26, 2008
You know what all of you who think pitbulls should ban if I ever met you or saw you I would personally tell you face to face TO FUCK OFF. seriously its not the dogs it is the owners who raise them the stupid ass low lifes and the people who want them to be tough.

By Anonymous, at 10:10 PM, February 28, 2008
Let's ban the owners not the dogs.

By Anonymous, at 1:26 PM, February 29, 2008
Just check out the updates on this review, to see why Ms. Lynn does what she does? Not surprising. But she has not a clue what she is up against....being led by messenger boy is not the way to go.

http://reviews.ebay.com/TRUTH-ABOUT-PITBULLS-and-AB1634-MANDATORY-ALTERING_W0QQugidZ10000000001703056

By Anonymous, at 1:34 PM, March 06, 2008
This is absolutely outrageous and idiotic. Less than a quarter of the dog bite cases result from pit bulls. You don't see these people having a fit about the other breeds. Yeah Pit Bulls can do some serious damage to someone, but so can any other dog or animal for that matter. Pit Bulls are not naturally mean, they are made that way by terrible people. These poor dogs are often times abused and used for fighting. So how can you blame the dogs for it. I personally have a female pit bull. She is about as ferocious as a bowl of pudding. She is a big baby ( and thats cause I baby her). The worst thing she's done to anyone is jump all over tham and lick their face with her stinky kisses. My boyfriend was even attacted by a pit bull a couple of years ago, but he loves our dog. He didn't automatically reject her because of one of the mistreated and bad ones. Neither should anyone else. This is America for crying out loud. We should be able to own any kind of dog we want as long as you take care of it properly and make sure it doesn't hurt anyone or get loose. What if things went to the next level and these people tried to start banning certain people or races because a few bad apples. That would be totally unacceptable and would enrage many people. So what makes it different to do it to animals. Why destroy perfectly good dogs because they just happened to be born that breed. I know this is about pit bulls, but this following statement has a point. My mother was horribly attacked by a cat, thats right a cat. This cat had attacked three other people. It was an unprovoked attack. The cat had to be destroyed. So tell me, are these " anti-pit" folks going to start banning furry little kitties too. I doubt it...

By Anonymous, at 2:13 AM, March 07, 2008
Ok I'll be honest. I'm on both sides of the fence with this subject. Here are the cons ( in my opinion) of Pit Bulls...
1. It is known that yes these dogs are bred to be tough and to fight. These dogs also seem to have a problem with aggression.
2. Some of the breed's of Pit Bulls are large and very strong, therefore can be hard to control.

Here are some Pro's of Pit Bulls...
1. They can be very loyal and loving dogs if trained, handled, and raised properly.
2. Though I do not believe they should be used solely for this purpose, they do make good deterrents to potentially dangerous people. They make excellent alarms, barking to alert you to weird noises or something fishy.
Now I realize that there will be some people reading this that will have a sh*t fit abuot my opinions, but thats ok. You can't make everyone happy. Nor do I want to. If I were to try to please everyone, all the time, I'd be severely exhausted.
Now every aspect of these statements has its stipulations.
I do believe that Pit Bulls, or any other dog for that matter, should be leashed when outdoors. Or at least in a yard where it can not escape from. I do not believe these dogs(Pit Bulls) should be used only as gaurds( especially in cases of drug houses and other ill intentioned places). Dogs that tend to be used solely for this purpose usually become very depressed due to lack of contact and TLC, in which case makes them more likely to strike out ( again this is with any breed of dog). I think its horrible when people keep their dogs chained up outside all the time, especially in bad weather. It's not like these people would like it if they were stuck outside for hours on end in 10-20 degree weather. ( I reported on people for this where I used to live. It was in the middle of winter and there was this tiny little dog outside. It had no shelter, no food, and no water. I was told by the guy that it was his girlfriends dog and that they no longer wanted it. I asked if I could have the dog ( which I later planned to find it a home by any means necessary) The guy told me yes. However when I went to retrieve the dog later, his girlfriend answered the door and said that it was her son's dog and that wanted to keep it. Less than 4 days later the dog was stuck outside again in a winter storm with the same neglectful conditions. So I proceeded to call on them. Unfortunately I never knew what happened to the dog)
I also believe that people should have their animals spayed/nuetered, cats and dogs. Simply because there is an over abundance of unwanted animals. People should not have animals that they can not control, whether it be on a leash or in the home. Your dog should have constant supervision, just like a child. Especially around other people and animals. Children should also be taught to respect and care for animals properly. I have a female Pit myself. She is great in my opinion. I am aware that she can turn on me or anyone else in the matter of a heartbeat, but its really like that with any animal. I have her mainly as a companion animal. However I also use her for protection, For I am severely disabled and live alone in a not so great neighborhood. I do not have a yard so I have to put her on a chain when I take her outside. However I monitor her the whole time she's out there. Nor do I leave her on the chain for long periods of time. I myself do not walk my dog, my boyfriend does. She is to strong for me and I know that I can't handle her if she gets too excited or goes to go after someone/something. I don't want to take the chance of trying to walk her and having her get away and hurt someone/something or run away ( mainly into traffic as I live not to far from a busy street). I do believe that if you don't know how you're dog will react to strange people or other animals, that they should indeed wear a muzzle when out in public or pet stores. Its not worth taking the risk. I am aware of all the media attention on Pit bulls. However as a former postee wrote, thats because no one would tune in, or buy a paper, with a headline of a poodle mauling someone. Personally the most aggressive dog I ever met was a Chihuahua. It would follow you around and try to bite your ankles. It would also growl and bare its teeth at you when you were doing nothing more than sitting or standing there. Another instance is when I took my dog over to my boyfriends mothers house. She has two dogs, a male medium sized beagle mix ( 9 years old) and a small female Pappilion(3 years old). I had my dog's muzzle on just in case. She was fine and happy to see the two dogs. The male dog was fine with her. Not really interested in her really, mainly just layed down and looked at her. However the little dog became aggressive and began to growl and even made several attempts to bite my dog's face. My dog just wagged her tail and walked away. So to all these tiny toting dog people that think they're adorable and that they're harmless, think again. They tend to be more agggressive because of severe inbreeding and being locked in cages most of their lives. Sure you don't hear of people being severly mauled or killed by small dogs, but they can still do some serious damage. Especially if an infection sets in. Sure these small dogs may not do much harm to an adult, but throw a 3 or 4 year old into the equation and its a whole different story. I can understand these people wanting to get rid of these dogs, but its a lot of hooblah. Especially the people making remarks that these dogs should be destroyed and wiped off the face of the planet. Thats just sheer ignorance and intolerance. If you wanted to wipe out every animal that has ever shown signs of aggression and/or attacked/killed someone, there would be like no animals in the world. Like people that have been mauled or killed by bears. You don't see these people going into the woods and such to hunt down Yogi. Every animal in the world, big or small is aggressive to a certain extent. Any animal will bite/attack if it feels threated/scared. People are the worst species on the planet in my opinion. We are the only species that hurt/kill our own kind for stupid reasons ( money, property, anger, jealousy, sex partners,etc). Sure other species kill their own kind out of hunger or dominance, but they're animals, they don't have the brain power to reason such as we do. There will always be more infinitely dead people as a result of other people, than there ever will be from the results of any animal. Its not like we can ban people though, now is it. I am also strongly against dog fighting and breeding simply to make a quick buck. So in all, whereas I agree to some extent with both sides, I believe it would be idiotic and ignorant to ban this breed.

By Anonymous, at 5:06 AM, March 09, 2008
LOL I'm sitting here reading about vicious Pit Bulls, and my own Pit Bull is laying in the floor sucking on his blankie! Iroinc, don't ya think??

By Anonymous, at 8:13 PM, March 17, 2008
I have had a pitbull and a stafforshire terrior for over 10 years. I acquired them quite by accident and was never a dog lover until they came into my life. These are amazing animals. Their wonderful personalities and loving character made my family more openly loving toward one another, and we are all animal lovers now. Those who hate a dog based on breed alone are no better than the racist who hates based on color alone. Makes no difference whether you are talking dogs or people. The mentality is the same...ignorance!!!!

By MasqueET, at 12:52 PM, March 21, 2008
Seattlelites, a group of owners has formed Families Against Breed Bans. I am one of the organizers and our goal is to stop BSL from happening in Seattle and Washington. Please join us at our first meeting. You can email me at heraj23@gmail.com for information.

By Hera, at 3:51 PM, March 21, 2008
By the way...I had a neighbor who was almost killed by her Siamese cat. How about you media influenced fanatics try to ban them, too!!!

By MasqueET, at 8:15 PM, March 22, 2008
I am disgusted by this website. Why do people think that you can ban a breed!! If you were to extinguish one breed there is always another!! Pit Bulls can be rough around the edges from the many years of bad breeding and horrible treatment that they have endured, but in general, they are the most loyal, intelligent and loving breeds. The have a higher temperament score than a golden retriever!! Hey FDAFB.org, why dont you educate yourself on this breed before boo hooing about yourself and selfishly boycotting? I had half my face torn off by a German Shepard when i was younger, boycott the breed???? No! I am not an inconsiderate, selfish idiot. Each individual animal deserves respect and consideration as each individual human does. There are plenty of dangerous people, are we to ban and sterilize the human race??!! Sometimes that seems like the better option. Ban and sterilize ignorant owners!

By Lauren Lyons, at 6:18 AM, March 26, 2008
I am a new owner of a female pitbull who is of the most pure of bloodlines. My husband has raised them for 25 years,he knows what he's doing. I had a Jack Russell for 8 years previously. My Jack was more dangerous to people and other dogs than the pitt. He was a good dog,but very unpredictable. Our Pit is very gentle and loyal and I wouldn't have another small breed. Agreed that inbredding and how a dog is raised has alot to do w/this problem. Our dog is in the house and a part of the family,and when outside is on a chain and behind a fence. The only animal or person that comes around gets a bark or two and that's it. She's a great dog and she is loved and respected in our home.

By Anonymous, at 11:21 AM, March 26, 2008
Why should humans play God with the lives of animals? Im all for the "punish the deed not the breed" saying, Pit bulls are naturally very loving dogs. Why should the people who take good care of their dogs be forced to give them up. Punish the owners who neglect and raise their dogs badly. Pick up a book and really read about these wonderful animals!They are not all bad! Resist Ignorance - Educate, Inspire! Stop the hate. What if it was your dog being banned next?

By LoveMyPit, at 6:59 PM, March 26, 2008
well.....let's seee.....let's just kill all the pit bulls in this country and all the problems will be gone...NOT. ALL dogss can bite ALL DOGS CAN KILL... THEY ARE ANIMALS.... WE AS HUMAN BEINGS HAVE the RESPONSIBILIATY to train,feed, and nurture our dogs. ALL dogs can be provocted to bite. I have a pure bred choc. lab, when he was just under a year old, a neighbor of mine, whom I am afraid of and who had teased my dog and thrown things at him, was sneaking around the corner while my dog was tied to my porch. he knew my dog didnt like or trust him, but he snuck to the front of the porch, I was right there but did not have enough time. My dog bit him, in the leg. Where I live there is a 2 bite rule, if my dog ever bites again, he will have to be euthenised. So...I got enrolled in puppy training classes, and started socializing him with people and other dogs. He's almost 2 now and has never bitten again... He is very "protective" of me, so I always keep him on a leash and have controll. He's a lab for goodness sake and he bit....should he be put down NO, people need to know how to react to dogs, and need to not approach strange dogs. Also, the dog owner needs to be responsible...there can always be a situation were your dog can bite, big or small, pit bull or lab...My girlfriends had dashhounds, and they used to gang up on my 125# lab., and go for his throat, and bite his face and neck till he bled....As far as the fighting of pit bulls...yes it is a HORRIABLE life for these dogs, and as far as I know it is illegal to fight dogs... so why not get tough on these people, get THEM off the streats... they are breaking the law, the dogs are doing what they were trained to do by PEOPLE. People need to start putting the blame were it belongs, if you want a dog get one that suites your family...maybe a pitbull is not the best pet if you have children, but then again maybe neither is a dashhound, they go after and bite and kill small fast moving rodents maybe a child would be like a rodent to the...Come on people lets be responsible and quit blaming the dogs......

By Anonymous, at 3:58 PM, March 28, 2008
It is truly unfortunate, that this women has decided to single out pit bulls as the "worst dog ever". I look at it like this: sure there are bad dogs (mistreated and scared), but that doesn't make every dog in a particular breed bad. Do we classify people this way? of course not. we don't decide that all humans are bad just because a few bad ones exist. why someone would feel so much animosity towards one breed is baffling.I have several pit bulls and they are wonderful creatures - they are loving and intelligent. We socialize them with all kinds of other breeds. I have even taught one of my older males sign language (he knows simple signs like food, outside, and let's go). I am glad to see so many other supporters, those that understand and love their dogs.

By Anonymous, at 6:00 PM, April 02, 2008
Animal's often times are a product of their owners. I think it should be recognized that the breed in question is not the problem, but the owner's treatment of this breed that is the problem.

By Anonymous, at 5:06 PM, April 04, 2008
Any one who try'e to take my family's dog away (in this case she's a loving 13 year old Pit) will have to deal with something a lot more troubleing then a angery pit bull.

By Anonymous, at 6:16 PM, April 04, 2008
Bannimg any specific beed of dog is an IDIOTIC concept. Within all breeds of dogs there are good and bad...as there are good and bad within all races of people.

IMAGINE for a moment if we were speaking of banning a particular RACE of people???? Hmmm...Hasn't this been attemptemped a few times in history?

When put in these terms it is clear how RACIST and FOOLISH the ideas are. I was once told...There are Lies...There are Damn Lies and there are Statistics.

People (Like FDAFB) use Stats about Pitbulls without presenting the entire story to instill fear in the public and scare people into believing pit bulls are vicious beasts. This is UNTRUE. ALL dogs are capable of violence in certain situations, but in good hands ALL dogs can be Loving pets.Seattle Supports Its Pit Bulls!!!!!

By julie4pits, at 4:48 PM, April 16, 2008
I would much rather ban humans from breeding than dogs. If you choose to own an animal as a pet you choose to live with a pet whose normal instincts are to eat and survive at all costs. It doesnt matter if it is a rat, a cat, a dog, a hamster, a bird, a snake, a frog or even a fish. They all bite if they feel threatened. I have trained dogs since I was 10 years old. I began training Chows, then Rotweilers then Pitbulls. I can tell you Chows are the most aggressive of the three breeds. How often do you hear about a Chow attacking a person or pet? Not very. I bet Michael Moore could do a movie about societys spin on blaming pitbulls for everything. My great aunt was attacked by a pitbull in her front yard while watering the lawn by a neighbors pitbull which for some reason decided to leave his yard and run down the block and latch on to my aunts thigh. She eventually died several months later due to a blood clot in her leg. My family still chooses to own rots and pitbulls. Why? Because any animal can attack any person at any time. Just as any jackass that has had one too many beers can suddenly run head on into a car full of children. The actual number of people killed by a dog attack in a year is 3. Go look on the National Statistics website if you dont believe me. It doesnt say Pitbull it says dogs. I am a hell of a lot more scared of getting bit when I walk by some little ankle biter dog then I am of a large breed. I own an American Staffordshire Terrier myself. I am his 3rd owner because the 2 before me where semi abusive. He is the greatest dog ever. I would like to take him to schools and have assemblies just to show children that not all dogs are bad because society says they are. He worships me and my family. He loves my 11 month old son and every other child he's been in contact with. He lives with one cat now but has lived with as many as 6 at one time. Most of the cats beat him up while he laid on the ground trying to mind his own business. He has been bitten by other dogs and has never shown any aggressive behavior once. Most people are scared when they see him because he is 85 lbs of solid muscle but after 3 minutes in his presence they want to take him home. As I stated earlier, humans should have a limit to breeding, or at least have an IQ test before being allowed to be off birth control. How many gang banger punks roam the streets where you live? Make you cross the street when you see them walking towards you? Make you lock your car doors while stopped at a stoplight in a bad part of town? How many people with prior DUI convictions get into leathal cat accidents? 57%, thats how many. We as people can limit the actions of other human beings because we know the consequences of our actions. Animals dont know what consequences are, they are just trying their best to be forced to live in our world by our rules. Get off your holyer than thou pedestal and try banning something that really hurts us, instead of something that just wants to be loved.

By korell, at 9:22 PM, April 23, 2008
i own a red nosed american pit bull terrier who i and my wife trust with ours and our childrens lives.our neighbors let their 3 year old daughter play with him almost everyday.when my 2 year old neice spends the night he sleeps in the bed with her.now if anyone thinks that is the actions of a vicious attack dog that should be banned from the communnity then they need to reexamine the breed then reinvestigate the owners.i'm very sorry this woman was attacked but she should not take it out on the breed she should go after the idiot owners.DOGS RULE and PITBULLS ARE KING.

By troy, at 11:03 AM, April 27, 2008
It's so nice to see so many people who still have common sense and are against these absolutely absurd and useless breed bans. I love you all kisses!
For starters the pit-bulls who attack people are usually owned by criminals who are using them for purposes which are already illegal, and I doubt banning the breed is
going to stop them, especially since these dogs often live out their lives in cages and basements to begin with. I'm appalled that anyone would think it's okay to punish a dog who has essentially been tortured to the brink of insanity, because it turns around and attacks anything that touches him... much less that they would ban the breed because of this. Battered woman syndrome is recognized and treated with sympathy, but battered dog syndrome is completely unrecognized.

And the tale of the cat mauled by to pitts proves nothing more than that this country is degenerating into a hysteria not seen since the salem witch trials. There is not a single hound or terrier (and precious few herding breeds) that can ever be considered completely trustworthy with household cats and any honest dog breeder will inform you of this fact. Cats are small squaky and easily invoked to chase which can bring out the worst in any canine. The difference between pit buls and other medium sized dogs is that the dear bullys have the equipment to do more damage. Note that neither the mother nor daughter was ever threatened, and if the dogs barked at the door it was probably because they were wondering where the people went.
If you think there isn't a blantent media bias against Bully breeds you need to try visiting these websites>>
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/rustart.html
http://www.thetruthaboutpitbulls.com/

And what is this obssession with gameness, most bully breed have terrier blood and all terriers are game, from the tiniest Yorkie right up to the Airdale. if dogs are to be banned because of gameness than we are going to lose an entire class of dogs.
Where is the cretin who first put across the idea that labs and other working dogs can't kill? Just last year a child was killed in New England by a St. Bernard, one bite was all it took because of the huge size.
Tell me do any of you breed ban supporters own a Dalmatian? did you know they were bred as personal protection dogs? They would run beside the carriage or hide underneath and when the highwayman was least expecting it jump out and rip out his throat, the instinct is still there. It is why even the best Dalis are often mouthy at least, and it's why they love to run. How about English Mastiff? Or perhaps and English Bulldog? Both were used for the same purposes that Bullys are being used for right now,and indeed the bloodlines run parrallel. Yet no one would dream their great mushy walking slobber buckets would attack the kids, how absurd. Bulldogs were banned in England at one time, but a small ring of people continued to breed them illegally for temprament and by the turn of the century we had the wonderful dogs we know and love. Also around the turn of the century Pit-bulls were considered well loved and trusted family members, they called them nanny dogs because of a kind and patient nature, Petey from the little rascals was a Pit Bull, he never bit his handler once... unlike "Lassie" who was quite the snapper. Did you know the most decorated war dog in US histoy was a stray pit bull who was smuggled aboard a transport ship bound for France? He saved the lives of his squadron on too many occasions to count, alerting them to air raids and eminent gas before anyone else, and retired an honerary Sergent.

A well bred and socialized and trained pit-bull is one of the most trustworthy dogs on the planet, and many of the abused ones even recover to lead happy lives as family pets. But you would eliminate the breed because unscrupulous breeders have tainted the bloodlines? To do so would fly in the face of common sense, as well as historical fact. Dogs were bred to please people and if the only people breeding pitbull become the ones who are doing it illegally for fighting, then that is who the dogs will please. But there are still responsible Bully-breeders out there, and rescues as well, and as long as they exist they should be given a chance to improve the noble pitbull, one of the traditional symbols of all that was is and ever will be good about America. The first dog-type ever recognized by the original AKC. Ane emblem of family values, "Strength without agression" as the WWI & WWII propaganda stated.

Ban supporters should wake up and smell the doggie doo.

By AlphaBitch101, at 11:00 PM, April 29, 2008
Thanks for posting an intelligent post about breed bans! You are right in that breed bans will only punish the responsible owners, while the irresponsible will just rush out and get another breed to destroy.
Any dog that has teeth has the potential to bite, but people fail to recognize this. All dogs need training, socializing, exercised and to be treated with kindness. It is time for ignorant members of our society need to open their minds to the fact that pitbulls are just like any other dog and in the wrong hands any dog is dangerous. Not every pitbull owner is a thug drug dealer, with most being upstanding community activists who are doing more for the betterment of this country. Pitbulls are acting as therapy dogs, in bomb detection, working search and rescue, and numerous dog sports.

When will people stop reading news reports as if they contain truth. The media wants to make money and will use sensationalism to do so. Throwing the term pitbull into any article is going to get ratings. Wake up people and punish the real offenders - irresponsible owners of any breed!

By Faith, at 12:51 PM, May 01, 2008
i persomally own a pit bull black lab mix and a pure pit bull and both are big babies who play with children and visit the elderly please people punish the real problem the owners who beat their dogs and fight them thats what makes them mean not their blood. i should not lose my babies bacause some people are too blind to see the reality of these wonderful dogs. i bet you didnt know that some police are starting to use them for police dogs because of how smart they are. open your eyes and!! anyone can say pits are mean. but i can personally show you at least one chiwawa and one poodle who are a billion times meaner then my two pits!!! its time for people to stop making false accusations!!!! leave my babies alone!!!

By Alisha, at 3:29 PM, May 01, 2008
i agree with MAD PITT BULL OWNER i have 2 pitts one of them is a colby he is about130 lbs my femail is about 55 pounds they both are like little kids just happy to living life to ban this breed is F------G DUMB if a ban was to happen in my state it would be like taking my guns away from me you will pry my DEAD COLD FINGERS FROM THEM

By Anonymous, at 11:24 AM, May 10, 2008
I would just like to say that if we are going to ban breeds that are aggressive, let's ban them all! I have a pit and a boston terrier and both have been bit without starting or retaliating against dogs at Seattle off leash parks. My pitbull has been bitten by a mini schnauzer which drew blood, an akita that drew blood, and a collie that drew blood without retaliating. My boston terrier was attacked by 2 full grown boxers when she was 6 months old and they drew blood on her little baby face. I could have reported any one of these non-pitbull dogs to animal control as "vicious". I did not and that is because I believe that all dogs are struggling for their place in the pack and at times get aggressive to assert themselves. I also believe that there are a lot of bad owners in seattle. I moved here from CA and I have experienced a disproportionate amount of ill-behaved dogs here. Many of these owners do NOT own pitbulls--check yourself if your dog bites other dogs.
My dogs have not acted in this agressive manner, but I'm sure if my pitbull ever does, the first golden retriever/lab/cocker spaniel/"family" dog owner to witness it will be happy to run off to dog control and the news to have it plastered all over your television. Get a grip people--dogs are dogs are dogs. You are acting like racists. Think about your logic and ask yourself if these are arguments that people have used to oppress people in the past?

Statistics are misleading sometimes. Of course pitbulls represent a larger percentage of bites, they are 30-40% of the entire dog population. Of course they are reported more frequently, the news loves to talk about vicious pitbulls. Of course their bites are the worst--all bad bites by any med-large dog are now reported as pitbulls to catch your attention. Many of these dogs are other breeds that sometimes don't even look like pits, but the media has to get your attention. It's their JOB!

Be careful that you don't bite yourself in the ass--your innocent little baby could bite my baby and you could be the next one fighting for your right to keep your family member.

We need to arrest people who harbor aggressive animals of any kind and put animals down who have bitten people--no second chance. This is true pitbull breed standard and should be all breed standard. NO aggression towards people should be tolerated regardless if it's a miniature poodle or a great dane. Dogs should not bite people! Dogs that show aggression towards other dogs should be reported and you better believe now that this legislation is being pushed by you bigots I will be sure to report you BOXERS, Mini Schnauzers, Collies, and Akitas when I see them acting aggressive and we'll just see how statistics can be used to criminalize the innocent!

By Derek, at 2:59 PM, May 17, 2008
I would just like to say that if we are going to ban breeds that are aggressive, let's ban them all! I have a pit and a boston terrier and both have been bit without starting or retaliating against dogs at Seattle off leash parks. My pitbull has been bitten by a mini schnauzer which drew blood, an akita that drew blood, and a collie that drew blood without retaliating. My boston terrier was attacked by 2 full grown boxers when she was 6 months old and they drew blood on her little baby face. I could have reported any one of these non-pitbull dogs to animal control as "vicious". I did not and that is because I believe that all dogs are struggling for their place in the pack and at times get aggressive to assert themselves. I also believe that there are a lot of bad owners in seattle. I moved here from CA and I have experienced a disproportionate amount of ill-behaved dogs here. Many of these owners do NOT own pitbulls--check yourself if your dog bites other dogs.
My dogs have not acted in this agressive manner, but I'm sure if my pitbull ever does, the first golden retriever/lab/cocker spaniel/"family" dog owner to witness it will be happy to run off to dog control and the news to have it plastered all over your television. Get a grip people--dogs are dogs are dogs. You are acting like racists. Think about your logic and ask yourself if these are arguments that people have used to oppress people in the past?

Statistics are misleading sometimes. Of course pitbulls represent a larger percentage of bites, they are 30-40% of the entire dog population. Of course they are reported more frequently, the news loves to talk about vicious pitbulls. Of course their bites are the worst--all bad bites by any med-large dog are now reported as pitbulls to catch your attention. Many of these dogs are other breeds that sometimes don't even look like pits, but the media has to get your attention. It's their JOB!

Be careful that you don't bite yourself in the ass--your innocent little baby could bite my baby and you could be the next one fighting for your right to keep your family member.

We need to arrest people who harbor aggressive animals of any kind and put animals down who have bitten people--no second chance. This is true pitbull breed standard and should be all breed standard. NO aggression towards people should be tolerated regardless if it's a miniature poodle or a great dane. Dogs should not bite people! Dogs that show aggression towards other dogs should be reported and you better believe now that this legislation is being pushed by you bigots I will be sure to report you BOXERS, Mini Schnauzers, Collies, and Akitas when I see them acting aggressive and we'll just see how statistics can be used to criminalize the innocent!

By Derek, at 3:00 PM, May 17, 2008
I have had my doggie for 7yrs. now. i got him when he was only 5 weeks old. My pitbull/Rottwiler dog is thee most sweetest and docile dogs I have ever seen. Everyone that has ever met my dog has always told me what a great, smart, loving, and sweet dog he is. I wouldn't trade his breed for any ther dog in this whole world. Before I got him, I was scared of all dogs, I'm soo glad I reconsidered.

By Angella, at 4:38 PM, May 19, 2008
I almost fed into all the media bullshit about 7 yrs. ago when I began my hunt for a good family dog to get. I had a friend that had gotton 2 baby pittbull/rottweiler puppies and I had agreed to watch his dog for him while he had went out of town. At first, I have to admitt- I was thinking he must be crazy to have gotton that breed of dog. I did a bunch of research on the net and found nothing but BAD press about this type of dog. i looked at this little puppy and thought "he's gonna grow up to be a monster" I hurridely gave him back to his owner and was glad i was getting a different dog. Weeks went by and I spent more and more time with this dog, I fell in love with this dog, Hard to believe since i was terrified my whole life of any dog especially one that was called "a pittbull". I ended up bringing him home with me. my whole family was mad at me and refused to talk to me or come over to my house because of the breed of dog I had. (even thoe he was only 5 weeks old). They told me he would grow up to want blood and he'd bite me, others that came by to visit and that I was irresponciable to even think of getting that type of dog, I a soooo glad I went with my instincts instead of listening to all the bullshit "HYPE". I woullda missed out on raising the smartest most loyal and loving dog I have ever even heard of!! Because of U PEOPLE and all the bullshit u all talk about these horribly mean PITTBULLS, it makes the normal person afraid to get one. U people don't realize that u make it worst instead of better! Because most people are afraid to own these dogs, the people that end up gettig these dogs are abusive, serial killer like wackos that don't even deserve to have a pet. U mislead people and therefore these dogs never get the love and attention they soo badley need and DESERVE!! Again, No thanks to the media, I would've missed out on the great experience I have had for for the past 7 yrs. of raising my Rocky! I will never own any other type of dog but a pittbull mix! I have also heard the bullshit about a so called "pitt" that was a family pet and then just for one day snapped and bit someone they loved in the family... ... the problem with alot of this media is that 80% of the time they are saying it was a pittbull, it was someother type of breed entirely, not to mention, u are only getting 35% of the true story! All I'm trying to say here is, If you are thinking about getting a dog, please don't read into the PITTBULL hype and automatically cancel this GREAT and LOVING breed of dogs out, u could be missing the oppertunity of finding the most loyal, trusting and loving members of your family!!!

By Angella, at 5:23 PM, May 19, 2008
They can have my dog when they pry her from my cold dead hand! It will take more than a new law for me to turn over my best friend and dearest companion, my pit bull.

By Rubbersidown, at 7:11 AM, May 23, 2008
I have had my son, a beautiful american pit bull, for 8 years now. He is the best thing I ever did in my life. He came into my life during a very difficult time and saved my life. He is a spoiled snuggler and loves his brother, a 2 yo border collie mix. I lived in my car for 3 months until I found a rental that would accept my boy. I will never, ever give him up. He is with me for life. He has been attacked numerous times by other dogs and protected himself, but he ended up the one being hurt. He protected my sister from a fighting pit bull that tried to attack her when she was 3 months pregnant. I fear my friends chiuhauha more than I fear my baby.

I think it is funny how we as people continue to try to segregate things we are uncomfortable with. I thought we were living in a free society. Now we have smoking bans to protect the non smokers. That is what the non smoking sections were for. Now you want to try to tell people where they can and can't live because of a breed of dog they have. I'll tell you what, if you start paying my bills, I will let you make those decisions for me. It is something when people decide that their opinions and concerns are the only ones that matter.

I think it is very close minded and ignorant to suggest we wipe out a breed of animal. What about all the endangered animals within the nation. You go to jail for killing a bald eagle! And I am sorry, but an animal is an animal. So why should one be more protected than another. Get over yourself and worry about yourself and your own life. If you do not like certain dogs, then don't live by them. How about YOU move. I was born into a free country and I expect it to stay that way. I will fight a breed ban in Seattle all the way.

Here is a little something I read, I think you should read it...
After you start looking a little deeper, the numbers tell a different tale. According to "Fatal Dog Attacks, the Stories Behind the Statistics," by Karen Delise there were 431 deaths because of dog attacks in the years from 1965 to 2001. Children 12 younger were the victims in 79 percent of the fatal attacks.

In 37 years, 342 children were killed by dogs, an average of about nine children a year. Shockingly, approximately three children are killed each day, or 1,100 per year, by their parents. Delise notes that "A child in the United States is over 100 times more likely to be killed by his or her parent or caretaker than by a dog."

Even more surprising is that approximately 50 infants die each year from broken baby cribs, and 250 newborns die at the hands of their parents or guardians. In comparison, two infants, on average, die a year from dog attacks.

Pit bull and pit mixes account for 21 percent of all human fatalities, while mixed breed dogs account for 16 percent and other nonspecified breeds, 15 percent. Delise's study demonstrates that the breed of dog should not be the sole factor by which an attack is judged. Other factors include inherited and learned behaviors, genetics, breeding, temperament, surgical sterilization, environmental stresses, owner responsibility, victim behavior, size and age, timing, and the physical condition and the size of dog.

Of the 28 dogs responsible for a fatal attack between 2000 and 2001, 26 were males and two were females. Of the 26 males, 21 were sexually intact; the reproductive status of the remaining five male dogs could not be determined. The male dog that killed the 12-year-old boy in San Francisco on June 3 was protecting his female dog in heat.

An owner's understanding of dogs, supervision of dogs and children, sterilization and chaining as a primary means of confinement all can play roles in attacks. Whether dogs were obtained for protection, guarding, fighting, are newly acquired or not properly introduced to newborns are among other issues.

In the end, many factors contribute to dog attacks. A popular slogan seems to capture the sentiment perfectly, "Judge the Deed Not the Breed."

By Andi King, at 1:21 AM, June 02, 2008
Let's talk responsibility. Let's get some effective laws out there. Let's punish the dog owners that started this mess! Why do dogs need a license? Wouldn’t it make more sense to require pet owners to obtain a pet license for themselves? Give the applicant a test to see if they're qualified to be a responsible pet owner. I'm really tired of paying for someone else's mistake.

Maybe if irresponsible dog owners were convicted and had consequences to pay, like a lengthy jail time and community service, and a long stay at the "home" meeting with a therapist to see why they think dog fighting is cool, it may change the numbers a bit.

Let’s vote in some responsible politicians. We need representatives for all of the people. Vote out the control-freak self-serving ones. Ask yourself, “Does my representative demonstrate fairness in his or her official business? Does my representative get all of the facts and ensures that they are accurate and complete and not biased? Do I know who my representative is?”

Why not let the public vote on laws that affect residents? Put it on a ballot. When you’re affecting the potential of every household in a jurisdiction, I think they should have something to say in the matter.

Let’s not forget the media. They want to sell newspapers and get high television ratings and will stop at next to nothing to do it. The tabloids prove that sensationalism works. The by-product is a public whose opinion has been formed in the media’s image. You could liken it to mind control or behavior modification.

I don’t know who came first the politician or the media, uh, er, I mean the chicken or the egg. Between the two of them, they have fed the American public a false line of pit bull and the public has swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.

Quit being the silent majority! Don't let the media and control-freak politicians mold your free-given American opinion! Vote the politicians out of office! Attend your city council and state legislative meetings. Go to your town meetings to meet your representatives.

We must change public opinion! Do what you can do to popularize pit bulls. Send your loving Pit Bull story to the media. Pit Bulls are just the latest pet to suffer from scare tactics. German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Chows, etc. have all had bad reps.

I heard a story of a new mommy Pit Bull with puppies. She protected her master when he was being threatened. The assailant called the police and they came and got her and she was put down. The puppies are orphans. The trouble-makers got off scott free and they got their revenge. Would any other dog be put down for defending its pet person? What's wrong with this picture?

There are too many innocent animals being put down just because they were born. I can't get the picture out of my mind of a dog walking down a hallway with its tail wagging on the last walk of its life. Killing all the dogs won't solve the problem! You're putting the wrong animal down.

By Colorado semi-native, at 3:57 PM, June 08, 2008
I'm sick and tired of these annoying, judgmental people who think that pit bulls are the most evil breed in the world, and their poor judgment is loosely mooched off of possibly [always one] experience or the media! I HAVE MET OVER 20 PIT BULLS and ALL OF THEM WANTED TO PLAY.
BITE THAT.

Why don't they just pass out licenses if you want to own a pit bull? I would barely tolerate that instead of wiping out the breed for owners.

By Xan, at 7:47 PM, June 17, 2008
If you want to ban dog breeds for possibly being aggressive than research the studies done on dog aggression and just start at the top of the list.You'll wipe out fourteen other breeds before getting to pit bulls,including border collies and chihuahuas.Ignorant people cause more damage than good.I'm also a vet and I know a little something about this breed.In europe they're called the nanny dog.

By Dr.Rich DVM, at 10:42 AM, August 02, 2008
Hey this might be a good thing,I'm a paper boy and I hate those little bastards chasing me on my bike.Last year I suffered a vicious attack from a shitzoo,he tore clear thruogh my sock and broke skin right above my shoe.Those bastards are next!!!!My Grandma got knocked over by her poodle, looks like they just made the ban list.I think I'm probly the smartest guy in support of this,can I be in charge?We don't have to pay dues do we?Who can we go after next?How about circus elefants?Just a thought.

By mcstoner, at 10:41 PM, August 02, 2008
My pitbull is a loving creature!Not a time bomb waiting to explode! When we got him we had sure that at a very young age he was socialized and trained! I take my Dog to the Bite of Seattle every year and i've never had any trouble at all! You should be banning the owners who are stupid enough to drag such a loving breed through the mud!

By TT1409, at 3:22 PM, August 06, 2008
all of you pit bull haters are a bunch of faggots.

You're probably the same with your religion. Kill em' all if they don't fall in line with my views.

Let's just get rid of black people too. They are a majority of the prison system. How about we wipe the males of all species off the planet since they're the ones naturally bred with the dominance and agression. Nah, let's just wipe humans off the map. We've killed how many of our fellow humans?

We need to start banning Labs too, becuase once pitbulls are gone, labs will be the #1 biting dog.

FYI, me any my 3 pits are lovers, not fighters, but sometimes i wish they would sense you morons on the street and rip your throats out.

By Anonymous, at 1:49 PM, August 12, 2008
Oh, my babies! My poor little babies! They can't ban pit bulls! My pit bull is the sweetest thing ever, sleeps with infants, snuggles with the elderly! Waah!

Or better still, oh, people who don't want to live in terror of a stranger's unleashed and viscious dog are a buncha limp-wristed faggots.

I remember a news story when I was in Omaha one time about a crackhead who was sentenced to prison when she passed out one morning and her pit, who liked to snack on the baby's dirty diapers, decided to eat one with the child still inside. Somewhere, there's a little boy who will grow up without cock or balls because evolutionary throwbacks like all you idiots defending your "baby" pits are unable to comprehend the concept of living peacefully in a civilized society. There are good reasons why you can't order a thompson submachine gun through the sears catalog any more, and pit bulls have no place in our society, either.

By Anonymous, at 2:35 PM, August 22, 2008
Hey Everyone,

My dog was attacked by a Pit Bull today. She is okay, thanks, but now that I think about it [b]every ugly incident[/b] that I've seen at Seattle's Belltown Dog Park has involved a Pit Bull.

So.. What's the deal? I'm sure [i]your[/i] dog is good, but
does everyone here [i]really think[/i] that we should just let this situation continue without addressing it? People and dogs are being severely harmed and even killed by dangerous breeds.

Here's are some ideas:
• Increased penalties for incidents involving dangerous breeds.
• Mandatory dog training / education for those wishing to adopt dangerous breeds.
• Dangerous breed sections of dog parks.

I'm trying to be constructive here, and frankly, yes, I'm am upset after watching a dog that has been optimized for fighting lock its jaws around my little best friend.

By petenice666, at 10:00 PM, September 02, 2008
Hey Everyone,

My dog was attacked by a Pit Bull today. She is okay, thanks, but now that I think about it [b]every ugly incident[/b] that I've seen at Seattle's Belltown Dog Park has involved a Pit Bull.

So.. What's the deal? I'm sure [i]your[/i] dog is good, but
does everyone here [i]really think[/i] that we should just let this situation continue without addressing it? People and dogs are being severely harmed and even killed by dangerous breeds.

Here's are some ideas:
• Increased penalties for incidents involving dangerous breeds.
• Mandatory dog training / education for those wishing to adopt dangerous breeds.
• Dangerous breed sections of dog parks.

I'm trying to be constructive here, and frankly, yes, I'm am upset after watching a dog that has been optimized for fighting lock its jaws around my little best friend.

By Anonymous, at 10:01 PM, September 02, 2008
In a recent study performed by the American Temperament Test Society, a non-profit organization, Pit Bulls tested higher in temperament than the Golden Retriever, Beagle, and German Shepherd check the results for yourself: WWW.ATTS.ORG. Banning Pit Bulls is as rediculous as banning Golden Retrievers, instead they should ban irresponsible people from owning dogs. The owners of dogs that attack people should be held accountable just the same as the parents of a child who gets ahold of their gun and kills another person. The media and impressionable people are consumed by the stereotype that these dogs have been given. I have owned a pit bull for 4 years and he the nicest dog towards all people, children, and most dogs that he has met. Everyone I know loves this dog because he was raised the right way, always loved and never allowed to fight. Damn the people who want to ban or euthanize these wonderful dogs.

By Anonymous, at 12:51 PM, September 08, 2008
The bottom line for me (eight years veterinary assistant experience, dog ownership, etc.) is that pit bulls--if they do decide to attack--are much more likely to do severe damage or kill--than other breeds of dogs.

Having said this, how will we be able to prove that a particular dog is a pitbull or a pitbull mix?

Maybe one way of preventing these tragedies is to charge owners of dogs who attack with whatever crime their dog committed, such as assault or murder. That way people might think twice before risking owning one of these dogs!

I think that pitbulls are one of the most intelligent, expressive, cute, playful and fun dogs I've seen at the local dog parks, but also know that their genes reflect what they've been trained for, just like all other dog breeds. The pitbull next door to us killed a black lab it had been living with for over a decade, many years ago. The owner rightly had it put down on the same day the incident occurred. It's almost as if something 'snaps' in their brains and there's no turning back. I don't think you can trust them--it's just a matter of time, or luck.

By the way, I've heard similar stories about English bull terriers--turning on their owners without warning, after being perfect pets for years.

By Anonymous, at 1:07 PM, September 10, 2008
They are dog Nazi's!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love my baby, and I will bite you before he will. All dogs should be on a leash unless in designated off leash areas. Did no one hear about the lady in Everett who's dogs were hit by a bus and died? If you let your dog off leash you are an idiot....period. I am a responsible pit bull owner, and I am going to fight against breed bans.

By Berit, at 10:49 AM, September 11, 2008
Pit bulls do not have lock jaw! It's a myth.
If there are big dogs in a dog park, regardless of breed, keep your little friend out, he will get trampled.

By Anonymous, at 10:56 AM, September 11, 2008
A pitbull came into my home and killed my cat. In MY HOME!

By Anonymous, at 9:11 AM, September 16, 2008
"There are no bad pit bulls only bad owners". I am so sick of hearing this load of crap. How many owners have bitten someone's face off? How many times do we hear of German Shepards, Dobermans or even other terrier breeds attacking at random and with such a kill menatlity. These dogs are walking weapons and any fool can see that. They're owned by scared people trying to intimidate those around them to hide their own cowardice.

By Anonymous, at 11:36 AM, September 20, 2008
Any one who says that a pittbull is a santanic animal who yearns for the taste of blood should be banned from the U.S. for being a moron. I own 2 pittbulls and I've had to go through hell to keep them.
The people who try to ban this breed of dog only make things worse because the facts are most people truley can not tell the diffrence between diffrent mixes I alos owned an argentinan dogo who died of old age 8 years ago but we had to move because the city couldn't tell the difference.
my pitt bull is 21 years old in human years he's fat and spotted like a cow the only thing he doesn't do is moo he has never hurt a single thing except a couple of incects and a opossum that was under our sink. thorn has saved my life three from drowning when I was a little girl because the People who were at the lake were not watching me. Does that sound like a killer to anyone? Dogs are the victims here not the people owners who can't take care of their pets shouldn't have pets people who like to have mean dogs should get the chair for cruelty to animals I have no simpathy for ignorance. see if you can spot the pittbull. spot the pittbull

By Anonymous, at 10:22 AM, September 24, 2008
I can't believe we have come down to this!! Banning pitbulls? In that case, can I start banning ignorant people so the rest of us don't have to deal with them either?

May I got back and remind you all that Micheal Vick's dogs are being adopted out? Out of all those dogs that he had abused and hurt and were meant to be "killers" , only ONE was put down because he was beyond help?

It's a vicious circle. Good owners and good people who will treat these dogs right and give them a chance are too afriad of them and the people who will use these dogs for their own gain continue to buy them and or steal them.

I own two beautiful pit bulls and I couldn't see my life without them. I have had people try and steal them from me to, I can only assume, to use them in a ring.

I cannot allow anyone to ban them. These dogs will cease to exist if we keep doing this to them.

By Anonymous, at 11:48 AM, October 04, 2008
Last week, my sister and her little dachshund were attacked and mauled by a neighborhood pit bull. It was relentless, breaking through a fence and going after them and biting again and again. It's a miracle they weren't killed. If it weren't for the many passerbys that stopped to help, I feel that they would have been. It took 6 adults to contain the dog until the police got there. It may not be the dog's fault however it seems that certain types of people are drawn to these dogs and they unfortunately are not the type of people who are responsible pet owners. This was the case with my sister. The owners had no insurance, the dog was not up to date on his shots, and they were unable to cover the medical costs and vet bills. (Yes,there are responsible owners of pit bulls out there, I have a friend who has one.Unfortunately I believe that they are the exception, not the rule.) Something has to be done. I'm not sure a ban would work because criminals and irresponsible people will still own them. I think that requiring a special license and proof of insurance, as well as having to register the dog with the police department would be a good idea. Also, this was this dog's third offense. It had attacked 2 other dogs with their families prior to it attacking my sister. Both times it was returned to the owner. THAT is the fault of the police and animal control. If you are going to own a dog like that it needs to be registered like a hangun because it is just as lethal. All pit bulls found to not have the necessary paperwork should be euthanized. I would be in favor of a law to that effect. Just my opinion.

By Anonymous, at 12:15 AM, November 02, 2008
Ban stupid people, not the breed.....

By Anonymous, at 5:35 AM, November 02, 2008
Why is it tha dogs falt.I have owned pits all my life,had them as a child.NEVER,had any problems.Pits are just like any other dogs if you raise them to be aggressive thats what they will be!People talk about pits this, pits that, I have seen many other breeds that are aggressive what about them?I guess if YOU see things that we might as well kill them all.And then move on to tha aggressive people in tha world !!!Have you ever ben aggressive?I am sorry for what happend to ya,but what you are doing is dumm.dont think all pits are bad,,because their not!!!!!

By P.Sutton, at 6:41 PM, November 08, 2008
As a dog trainer I get many calls to rehabilitate "bad Pitt Bulls." I have never seen a single one of the dogs that were the problem. One woman said her dog was aggressive and challenged her. The moment I saw the dog he walked up to me all confident then rolled over on his back. I figured out that the owner was actually so afraid of this dogs sterotype she was causing the dog to think she was bad beacuse she always acted strange around him. One hour of teaching her to meet the dog and not the breed and they were totally fine.
Pitt Bulls make great search dogs because of their intensity and unwillingness to give up but single minded people who don't want to see these dogs around keep them from getting a great career.
If President-Elect Obama would like to help the breed maybe he could insist the team that sweeps for explosives where he will be is a team of Pitt Bulls and then publicize them. Who better to protect the President than the most protective breed?

By Jillian Blesser, at 8:42 AM, November 12, 2008
no dog should be banned because thier owner is an idiot! i have a pitpull and ive had her for 9 years and in those 9 years she HAS NEVER PIT ANYONE altho she may run out people bring her back simply because they know she wont bite them so reytarted people that think that banning a dog is right is sooooo wrong pit bull are not the only dogs that "attack" people why is it that people single them out? i seen more cases of golden retrievers biteing someone then a pitbull go figure!!!! people need to grow up and learn things before they open thier trap!

By Anonymous, at 8:02 AM, November 13, 2008
After many years of daily visits to a busy dog park, I've seen aggressive tendencies in just about every breed of dog and a puppy was recently killed by a lab there. Any dog can be dangerous and large dogs in particular, need to be under their owners control. I'm not a believer in bans but I do believe that people need to be smart about the situation they put their dogs in. If you have a large, powerful dog, you may want to reconsider keeping them around small children or animals but a ban on an entire breed seems a little over-the-top and pit bulls are just the dog-de-jour. Before that it was rotties and dobermans and shepherds. In regards to the article by the veterinarian, he lost any credibility with me when he stated that we should ban all dogs which show aggressive tendencies to humans, including the dogo. The dogo is a pack hunting dog and rated one of the best dogs to have with children given it's extremely high tolerance for pestering and love of people. Dogos have very high prey drive and should not be kept with animals other than dogs but they have absolutely no aggression to humans and were strictly bred to be human-friendly. It's this sort of blanket-statement thinking that creates so much controversy in the first place.

By MagnusenFrequentor, at 10:21 PM, November 24, 2008
people who want to bann certain breeds are idiots.
deed not breed!

i bet any money the majority of people who want pitt bulls banned have never even seen one

By Anonymous, at 11:16 AM, November 28, 2008
Pitbulls and Rottweilers account for over 70% of dog bit incidents that end in serious injury or death. When is the last time anyone here heard of a retriever or pointer mauling someone on the street?

Yeah, blame it on the owners. You don't think there are thousands of irresponsible lab owners out there? Ever heard of a rogue yellow lab roaming the streets ripping childrens' faces off? You people are ignorant. Too bad we can't ban you too.

By Anonymous, at 12:31 PM, January 09, 2009
I agree with a pit bull ban, it's an obvious solution to a growing problem. Please post ways for us to help.

By Anonymous, at 7:48 AM, February 17, 2009
This is ridiculous. It is Man's fault in the first place that there have been bred vicious dogs (pits AND other kinds)...
To outlaw all pit bulls from a city or state leaves so many sweet amazing creatures without homes or for dead.. Not only would it cause there to be many abandoned dogs (which often turn into unfriendly dogs because of not being around human contact, and suceptable to rabies and such)...But it would be like if we decided that all of the offspring of the original abusers of pitbulls should be outlawed or dead. Yes, there are bad people who treat dogs bad. No, that person's children or family are not necessarily bad! ITS THE SAME WITH PITS! YES, there are mean ones. They were trained to be mean. Are they all mean? NO!

I'm sorry, the whole thing just makes me upset. i could go on forever... I just dont wanna lose my sweet Ginger. I know so many Pit bulls that if you were around them for any length of time you would see they are some of the most affectionate loving cuddly dogs ever.

Idiots.

By Anonymous, at 6:00 PM, February 17, 2009

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