Paper #3 Draft #2

Holly Snider

Position Paper

November 21^st 2015

Sonia Begert English 101

            Year after year, misunderstood animals are killed in attacks towards humans. The leading number of animals are Pit Bulls. So, people begin to wonder, “Should Pit Bulls be banned?” Pit Bulls, are “bully breed” dogs. Claiming that in particular these animals regularly attack people, are not family safe, and have a high temper. Many people believe these animals are viscous, aggressive, and scary dogs. But, these accusations are wrong. Pit Bulls are not any more aggressive or viscous than any other dog. Any dog can be trained or become aggressive. It simply depends on the dog and the owner, not the breed. How can it be fair to ban these dogs?

            Many places in America have chosen to ban these animals. For example, in Aurora Colorado, they claim to have originally banned these dogs after a series of attacks. But they now are questioning to allow them. Many people in that area have spoken up and presented their opinions and ideas. Innocent Pit Bulls in this area were taken from homes and families by law enforcement without warrant. (2)

I have had four dogs that fall into the Pit Bull category. They have been the best pets and friends anyone could ever ask for. I would never question my trust or love invested in these beautiful dogs. They have all played well with other dogs, greeted humans with joy, and snuggled to their hearts content. My current dog, Kona, completes my family. These dogs make fantastic pets and friends, taking them from a family would be destroying the family altogether. Why would that be acceptable? Why should the wholeness of my family depend on someone else’s opinion? It shouldn’t.

            According to, HidingTheTruth.com, one of the biggest fears that come from people towards Pit Bulls is that they so frequently attack people. “Sadly, pit bulls are often blamed for attacks that were actually committed by other breeds, furthering the unwarranted fear of these dogs.”  The media does more coverage about Pit Bull attacks than it does other breeds. So when there is an attack it is made to seem like a more important situation than one with a different type of dog. (3) Society does not see the severity of other dog bites or aggression because it is often taken with a grain of salt. Whereas, Pit Bulls are automatically to blame. These media stories surrounding Pit Bull attacks sell well, which encourages the media to keep writing them and exaggerating them. (3) Without the media these dogs could possibly not be blamed for so many inaccurate attack accusations.

            Another highly common assumption is that Pit Bulls are not family safe pets. People seem to believe that these dogs cannot do well with young kids. “In truth, pit bulls are innately wonderful family pets, as capable of love and good deeds as any other type of dog.” (4) Any dog can be a good family dog, it just depends on the specific dog and owner. “A century ago, the pit bull was considered a family dog, featured in family photos and trusted as loving companions for children.”(4) Ken Foster explains through the book how the Pit Bulls family image has changed, but attitude has remained. They are still just as capable of being compassionate, loving family members. In most ways, it really is the owner not the dog.

            A lot of people claim that it is indeed the dog not the owner. It is simply ignorance to believe humans are not the problem. Believing that it is a certain group of dogs that are 100% the problem and humans have nothing to do with it. Some people would compare that to categorizing one group (or race) of people to be the problem. Sound familiar? Society considers that to be unacceptable, so why is it acceptable to blame one group of dogs? Clearly discrimination is part of the problem. If people treated the animals right, and the dogs were raised with love and greeted with joy, don’t you believe they would be caring and greet humans with joy? I do, and I have living proof from four amazing creatures that I have grown up with through my entire life.

            Another argument that society discusses is that Pit Bulls have a higher and less predictable temper than other breeds of dogs. This is not true. This is just another myth. (3) According to a study by Dr. Joel C. B, on average Pit Bulls do better in a temper test than the whole dog population. If these animals could not pass the test they would not be put up for adoption, which is not the case because many of these dogs are adopted each year. If Pit Bulls had an unpredictable temper they would not serve as therapy dogs, search and rescue help, educators, and pets in many homes. (4)

            Many people still believe that Pit Bulls are fighting dogs. But, what they forget to realize is that people are the ones who taught them and most of the time forced them to be fighting animals. When it comes to banning these creatures or worse, it is wrong. Repeatedly blaming this breed, is making no progress. It so clearly goes far beyond that. The owners and abusers are the ones to blame. Any animal or human can be taught and display aggression. Most of the time out of fear. Therefore the dogs are fearing the humans. So shouldn’t the humans be considered the “scary” ones?

            Are the fears directed at Pit Bulls irrational? I certainly believe so. Are these animals scary and aggressive? Absolutely. But so can another breed of dogs along with people. Blaming these dogs in only exhibiting cruelty. If it Pit Bulls are banned, or worse, they will be taken from their loving families, destroying the family. It is never a good thing when families are torn apart. It is false that Pit Bulls are not family safe pets. Claiming that have a high temper is inaccurate, proved by Dr. Joel C. B. All in all, the most appropriate thing to do is treat these creatures with respect and love. “Blame the deed, not the breed.”(3)

Works Cited

“Pit bull myths.” DogsBite.org. DogsBite.org, 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

“Pit bulls dangerous or just misunderstood?” 9news.com. Tegna, 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Dr. Joel C. B “Should Pit Bulls be Banned?” HidingTheTruth.com. TheBlog, 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2105.

Ken Foster. I’m A Good Dog: Pit Bulls, America’s Most Beautiful (and Misunderstood) Pet. New York: Penguin, 2012. Print.