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by Patrick Bohler

We do not have a Pit Bull problem, we have a human problem.

With the media reporting a rash of Pit Bull attacks this past summer, and again just as thsi issue of FETCH goes to press, we find ourselves looking for a solution, and some politicians hastily trying to pass Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). To some of you my outlook on this may come across as being more optimistic than realistic, but please bear with me.

Breed confusion

Most of those calling for BSL don’t even know what a Pit Bull is. For those of you who don’t know, the name Pit Bull is used to describe three distinct breeds of dog: the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There are also those who would add the English Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Boxer and even the Rottweiler to this list.

If an all out ban were to take place in California as it has in Denver, CO, hundreds, if not thousands of innocent dogs will die if they are deemed to be a Pit Bull due to certain characteristics, such as the pronounced head and jaw structure and muscular build so often associated with Pits. If you think your Pit/Lab mix is safe, think again!

Add it up

Then there is the cost. The City of Los Angeles alone euthanizes on average 51,000 dogs every year, costing $4,998,000. That’s $98 for each dog. Politicians in favor of BSL won’t tell you how much it’s going to cost you. Denver’s animal control director Doug Kelley reports that since the ban was reinstated on May 9, 2005, the city has impounded 481 Pit Bulls. 111 of those were returned to their owners upon certification that they’d be taken out of the city. 341 have been euthanized.

Imagine how much money could be saved if owners were responsible enough to contain and properly train and control their dogs. Above all, imagine how many dogs and humans (especially children) could be alive and without scars if Pit Bull owners were truly responsible and did not allow their dogs to roam or behave in ways that are dangerous. Then maybe local and state politicians wouldn’t feel the need to pass laws restricting or banning any kind of dog.

Right dog, wrong reasons?

It’s nothing new, but more and more I am seeing the Pit Bull being misrepresented in everything from advertising to music videos to video games. This misrepresentation plays a huge part in why the Pit Bull is feared and in some cases, hated. If you depict a particular breed or type of dog to be a vicious killer or in some cases, a weapon, soon enough people are going to believe it to be the true nature of an entire breed or type of dog.

The same can be said of some of those who desire such a dog. There will be, and there are, people who take to heart the myths and reports and do their best (or worst) to buy, breed and raise that dog to be overly aggressive, vicious and sometimes use it in any number of illegal activities ranging from fighting to guarding a home used to manufacture or sell drugs. This does not mean that anyone who owns a Pit Bull is a criminal or raises a vicious or uncontrollable dog, but those who do are making life difficult for those of us who take pride in a well behaved, good tempered dog, and who take the time to properly train and socialize our dogs. It’s the same for licensed breeders who have dedicated their lives to breeding for good temperament over size and color.

I’ve been asked by a few people why I choose to keep a Pit Bull. To keep it short, she’s a rescue. She came from a neglected home and there was no way I was going to let her be raised in that kind of environment. Even before I owned a Pit Bull I was against BSL. I’ve seen the same prejudice happen with Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Once a ban on Pit Bulls is in place the door is open to ban the next breed society deems vicious or aggressive. Your Husky, Malamute, or beloved Lab are not immune to BSL. And you can bet that if they come for your dog, I’m going to fight for him as I am now for mine. How long must responsible owners and their dogs pay for what others allow their dogs to do? It seems so easy to blame "the lesser animal" than to recognize that it is the owner who is the real problem.

A solution

According to Dr. Karen Overall, Director of the Behavioral Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 12 million dogs are destroyed every year due to behavioral problems. "95% of these dogs could have been saved if there was a solution," she notes.

I have what I consider to be a step toward the solution.

1. We begin by banning backyard breeding of all dogs. Unless someone has both a license to breed and expertise in the breed and its health and nutritional needs, temperament, and genetic history, they should not be breeding any dogs.
2. Mandatory spay/neuter for all dogs who are not part of a licensed breeder’s stock (or being raised for show). Require all pet dog owners to provide upon request written proof that their dog(s) have been spayed or neutered.
3. Mandatory home checks for all dogs adopted out of a shelter or rescue organization. (Pit Bull rescue groups like BAD RAP already do this.) Inspections of fences, gates, and yards will help owners prevent escapes and keep dogs safely contained in their home environment. If the home and yard do not meet the requirements, the owner must make needed changes or repairs before taking the dog home. Home checks help make sure the dog is properly placed in an environment that is happy and healthy for everyone involved, including the neighbors.
4. Proper training is a must. Find a method that works for the owner and the dog. What works with one dog does not necessarily work with all.
5. Enforce existing laws and raise the penalties for repeat offenders. If an unaltered dog is picked up and the owner cannot prove that it’s licensed breeding stock, that dog must be spayed or neutered at the owner’s expense before it is returned. A home check is also useful in this situation to determine why, where and how the dog is escaping so the owner can do what is necessary to protect the dog and keep everyone safe.

Being a responsible dog owner means taking the time to socialize, train and control your dog, whatever its breed.