Why Pit Bulls?

By Ben Wright  Aug. 27, 2014 4:10p

Recently a Pit Bull named Mickey made the headlines for mauling 4-year-old Kevin Vicente. The case inspired numerous protests as well as further investigation into the rise of dog bite cases in Arizona. If you follow the dog bite cases you’ll start to see one type of dog pop up more frequently than any other – pit bulls. But why is this, and how can you better inform yourself about pit bulls and dogs in general?

Things You Should Know About Pit Bulls and Dogs in General

• The name “Pit Bull” can actually refer to several dog breeds including American Pit Bulls, Bull Terriers, and American Staffordshire Terriers.
• Dogs that bite are often classified as being “Pit Bulls” when they are not.
• A study done in the 80’s that reportedly proved pit bulls were responsible for 40 percent of fatal dog attacks openly admits, “It has…been suggested that any short-haired, stocky dog is likely to be called a pit bill.” This study was also heavily reliant on media reports to identify the breeds. And as we learned from above – people are quick to immediately identify some non-pit bulls as pit bulls.
• According to the United Kennel Club, “The [American Pit Bull Terrier] APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers.”

The Debate on Killing Aggressive Dogs Such as Pit Bulls

The debate on the death penalty for dogs is a heated topic – but it’s important to realize that a dog that bites doesn’t have the knowledge that they could be killed for doing so. There is always an option for rehabilitation without killing.

People are a Factor

Research has been shown that there are a number of striking re-occurrences of human-caused factors seen in these dog bite incidents: no able-bodied person was available to intervene, the victim was not familiar with the dog, the owner did not spay/neuter the dog, the victim was not able to manage the interaction with the dog because of their age or physical condition, the owner has mismanaged the dog or neglected or abused it.

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