Ban the Deed, Not the Breed!

Are all blondes dumb? No, but stereotypes like this dictate that they are. So are all pit bulls vicious? Of course not, but many people base their opinions and beliefs on this very stereotype. This is why I’ve been watching the BSL controversy, or Breed Specific Legislation. BSL is a law that singles out a certain breed of dog as “dangerous” or which has “dangerous qualities.” (1) This law restricts or bans those breeds based solely on identity. As the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) states, “BSL is tantamount to racial profiling. To pit bull guardians and animal advocated, the ban is not only canine discrimination, it’s ineffective.” (2) And there are many others who agree.

Officials in Prince George County may be overturning the decision to enact BSL, saying “The legislation has simply encouraged owners of vicious dogs to either go underground or get fighting dogs not yet covered by the ban.” (1) The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association states “From a scientific point of view, we are unaware of any formal evaluation of the effectiveness of breed specific legislation in preventing fatal or non-fatal dog bites.” (3) There are also several problems with BSL including; identifying the correct breed, (pit bulls are most often confused with boxers), keeping potentially vicious dogs from irresponsible owners, finding funding to enforce the law, stopping dog bites from breeds not covered, confusion of mixed breed owners, and vague descriptions of covered breeds. (4)

Now that you know what BSL is and isn’t, we’ll see what it covers. American Pit Bull Terriers, (more commonly called pit bulls), are the most frequently banned breed, but Rottweilers, American Bulldogs and Doberman Pinschers are also often outlawed. (5) Locally, Prince George County and Naval Base City have banned Rottweilers and pit bulls. Hagerstown has also banned Rottweilers and is currently considering a ban on pit bulls. (6) And lastly, “The state of Maryland was considering instituting a statewide ban [of pit bulls], with a hearing scheduled on Friday, March 16.” (4) I am currently awaiting a response from the governor’s office on the outcome of that hearing. After all of this, one would assume that pit bulls or Rottweilers would have the highest rate of bite victims. They would be wrong, that distinction belongs to the German Sheppard and the Chow. HSUS had this to say, “Communities that banned specific breeds have discovered that it has not been the easy answer they thought it would be. Any dog can bite a person. It’s much more effective to look at each dog, not each breed.” (2)

So, what should communities do since BSL obviously doesn’t work? Several cities have started requiring pet owners to spay and neuter their animals as pets that have been “fixed” are less aggressive. (7) Some city councils have also enacted “dog bit” legislation. There are also many other options like low-cost obedience classes and strengthening penalties for dangerous dogs and their owners alike. It will take time and the dedication of responsible pet owners and lawmakers to assure that the few who are liable for dog fights get punished accordingly, but it will eventually happen.

Finally, let’s look at the reasons why so many people are afraid of pit bulls in the first place. The two most common reasons are their dangerous locking jaws and bite pressure. According to Dr. I. Lerh Brishin of the University of Georgia, the jaws of the pit bull are exactly like all other breeds. “It is physically impossible for the dog’s jaw to lock without breaking that dog’s jaw bone to be released. This simply is not an evolutionary advancement, and thus not true.” He also states that there have been no conclusive tests to prove that pit bulls have any more bite pressure per total jaw area than even a pug. And such test would be indecisive due to variables such as dog size, situation, and individual dog temperament. (8)

Now just the facts. Every year in America there four hundred forty-four thousand people who die due to smoking. 42, 366 more die in car accidents, followed closely by the 38,000 deaths of children due to gun related injuries. Two thousand more children are murdered by their own parents. But the horrific fact is that three people a year are killed by pit bulls. (9) What would you ban, given the choice of course?

If that didn’t worry you, this might. The astronauts from the 2003 space shuttle were rescued by three pit bulls. Popsicle, USA’s best Custom Agent Drug dog is a pit bull. SSgt. Stubby was the US’ first official War Dog and also a pit bull. Not to mention that Jack Dempsy, Fred Astaire, Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, Teddy Roosevelt, and Micheal J. Fox were all proud owners of, you guessed it, pit bulls. (9) They would have been terrified to know that if you pass through a state with BSL enacted, that state has the right to confiscate and kill your dog in accordance with the law. What if your poor pooch is a boxer, but you have no papers saying so? Then your dog can be taken into the pound and put down also, all in the concern of public safety of course.

Many other responsible pet owners are struggling with this reality every day that BSL is not stopped. When will they come after your pet? Whether you agree or disagree, remember what Chief Dan George said, “If you talk with the animals, they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.” (10)

To sign the online petition and help stop BSL in your town or state, go to www.PetitionOnline.com/Paws/Petition

(1) Animal League and Historical Center, Personal interview (Interviewer: Kayla Fine) with Mayor Mark Jonpus, June 2006
(2) Humane Society of the United States – Breed Specific Legislation: How the Law Will Affect You and Your Pet
(3) Sacks, Jeffery J., MD, JAVMA, Vol. 217, No. 6: 836-840 Sept. 2000
(4) National Animal Interest Alliance – BSL and What it Means to You
(5) The Wonderful World of Sidy Boy www.sidyboysfoolin.com/BSLattacks.html
(6) Rott – N – Chatter http://www.rott-n-chatter.com/
(7) Stop BSL www.stopbsl.com/nowwhat.htm
(8) The Real Pit Bull American Newsletter Vol. 25: 10-13 Mar. 2004
(9) PutFile.com – The Truth About Pit Bulls
(10) The Pit Stop Weekly, Vol 346, No. 4: 34-42 Aug. 2003