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Okay, this is something that I am really passionate about. Really, really passionate.
If someone mentions an "agressive dog" what's the first breed that comes to mind? For most Americans it is the "Pit Bull." I put that term in quotes because there is not technically a breed called that. There is the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, according to international Breed Clubs.
The fact that people automatically go to the Pit Bull as an agressive breed really saddens me. There have been many breeds that have suffered from an "agressive stigma" but none that has been as affected as much as the Pit Bull. Think back to the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and you'll think back to a time when the German Shephard Dog, Rottweiler, and Doberman Pinscher were considered "bad dogs."
Think back a little further... back to World War I. APBTs were the mascot of the 102nd infantry. There was a dog named Stubby, he was a member of that infantry. He was a decorated war hero. The MOST decorated war dog of that time. He was a Pit Bull.
Remember Helen Keller? Maybe Theodore Roosevelt? Their dogs were Pit Bulls. Maybe you remember a gang of kids known as The Little Rascals. Petey? He was a Pit Bull too.
The Pit Bull used to be known as "The American Breed." They were known as the baby sitter dog because of their love, devotion, and loyalty for their family.
Now? The Pit Bull is the first dog people think of when they hear of a dog attack, the first dog that pops in your mind when someone mentions a mean dog.
Cities, counties, states all across the country are starting to restrict these loving dogs. They are starting to confinscate and destroy these loyal family members. That's not even the start of it though. Most cities with breed bans are listing "Pit Bulls or Pit Bull types/mixes or any dog resembling a Pit Bull" as a dangerous dog. Where does that stop? If my dog even RESEMBLES a Pit Bull, they are going to take it away and kill it??? How is that fair!?! If my neighbor has a grudge against me, they can call and report my dog, even if it has ZERO Pit Bull blood in it! Rarely is there an investigation done to determine what breed a dog is. And if it's not a purebred, with papers, how am I to PROVE that there is no Pit Bull in it?
Now, this descrimination is leaking into our Military. They are starting to ban certain breeds, including the Pit Bull, from living in base housing. See the link to read the actual memorandum. Tell me, if you have a dog, has it ever barked at an approaching stranger? Has it ever stood at your fence and barked at someone walking by? Has it ever scratched someone by playfully jumping up? If so, no go.
Where does this end, people? Are we going to destroy centuries of loyal friends and cause dozens of breeds to become extinct just because people can't get over their racism of a certain look?
I have no idea if I covered everything I wanted to here, my blood is boiling, and I know that the more I think about this the longer and meaning this rant is going to get :P So, I'll stop here, with this:
Please, do NOT descriminate against a certain breed. The DOGS are not the problem. It's the horrible owners that don't know how to raise them that is the problem. We aren't going to fix anything by treating the symptom. We need to treat the cause.