-It's actually both the owners and the dogs to blame. I believe dogs are able to make choices, whether it's dictated by training socialization, genetics or free will. Because of the severity of injuries/death when Pitbulls attack, public fear is justified. There are many choices of dogs for people to pick from and people need to pick the type of dog right for their family and their abilities as a dog owner....not because they feel sorry for a dog.
This person is relating a dog with people, ignoring the owners, and blaming the dog. I don't think Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Hellen Keller, or General Patton would appreciate it, as they were all pit bull owners when pits had a good rap as the family dog.
-And Nixon owned a Irish Setter, so what?
Many dogs, if not all have the potential to kill. Are pit bulls the only breeds that kill? Besides, death by dog is extremely rare, and many more people die by stray bullets from hunters while out on a walk. Falling coconuts kill more people per year than dogs. Horses kill more people, and so do cattle.
-Actually death by dog is very common...many pets that have been killed by Pitbulls go unreported.
rarely ever do you hear about these other breeds in the media. They aren't the media's bad dog. Dachshunds are used in Japan as fighting dogs, and yes, a few of them have even killed humans in the recent past. Realize, most severe attack victims are kids or the elderly. The ex-president of France was hospitalized by his poodle in 2010, and that is the only reason it made the news. media sells far, and no interest in these other dogs. Pit bull is just the bad dog of today, as rottweiler, dobermans, and german shepherds were the bad bad boys of yesterday. Vilification made those other breeds popular and well known, as we can see the same trend with pits.
-Attacks by other dogs are reported..you just need to goggle something other than Pitbull.
So, public fear, over reporting, and relating dogs to people are all some reasons why they get a bad rap. Actually, pit bulls were specifically bred to be extremely human friendly, and under proper ownership, they make some of the best family dogs. They have an unmatched love for children. We need to stop marketing these dogs to bad people, and we will see a big turn around. Notice, most pit bulls under responsible owners are very friendly and never cause an incident.
-I guess you could say not relating dogs to people puts them in an insignificant level. So why then are Pit people opposed to putting the offending dog down? Again using the "good with children" makes the average JPQ feel they can leave their child unattended with the dog(http://www.wgal.com/news/susquehanna-valley/lancaster/Boy-7-seriously-injured-in-dog-attack/-/9704306/10267202/-/21fx3b/-/index.html). As far as marketing, there is no other breed I think that is marketed more than the pitbull. As long as that continues, irresponsible owners will continue to get these dogs and the problem will continue. If you quit marketing them, allow supply to dictate demand(there are more pitbulls than potential owners who want them), I would think the attacks would lessen.
I think this is an example of why many of us consider dogs like people.
