Pit Bull Ban and the Stereotypes About the Breed

Families all across the world house and spoil their dogs as a family pet and consider them to be a part of their family. For many families and people who are in the market for buying a dog, the breed is a very important characteristic of their new family member. A breed can determine how the dog will act with their children, how much they shed, how much they need to exercise, how long they live, and much more. Many people have a favorite breed, and often prefer the breed of dog that is the same or similar to the dog with whom they grew up. The breed of the dog also determines a lot about the dog’s health: how long it can live, whether or not it will contract genetic diseases or issues and much more. However, not all breeds are created equal in this world. There are certain pet regulations and laws for certain breeds who have been deemed dangerous; Pit Bulls are a prominent example of one of these breeds. Pet regulations for Pit Bull dogs differ between state to state and country to country. Pit bulls are not an inherently violent breed--instead, animals are taught to be violent.

Pit bulls are more likely to be neglected and are often left untrained--meaning they have less capability to be social like other breeds of dogs (Herzog, 2011, p. 114-115). Breed specific legislation (BSL) is the term coined to define the laws and or bans that mandate particular breeds of dogs. These types of regulations are applied in hopes to prevent potential dog bites and attacks, however these laws have a tremendous impact on both the owner and the breed of the dog (ASPCA, n.d.). Although Pit Bulls have a history of aggression due to their past usage in dog fighting and baiting and there are strong stereotypes that depict them as an aggressive breed, Pit Bulls have the same capacity of aggression as any other dog, and therefore should not be tied down by laws, restrictions, and regulations.

Prior to World War I, Pit Bulls were a breed that held standards of bravery and obedience (Herzog, 2011, p. 114). They were thought to be wonderful pets; however, after six fatal attacks on military bases that were resulting because of the Pit Bulls, the breed was banned on base and the public opinion of the breed started to shift (Herzog, 2011, p. 114). The idea that Pit Bulls were brave and obedient began to decline in the 1980s when dogfighting regained popularity in America (Pisani, 2016). Their reputation of maintaining obedience through companionship and their “muscular physique” (Pisani, 2016) made them the poster dog for these dog fights. In turn, the breed started to symbolize hostility and masculinity--the dog became an indication of status for drug dealers and gangsters (Pisani, 2016). The breed became very popular in areas where people had a lower socioeconomic status which results in many unneutered and unspayed Pit Bulls living within proximal distance of one another (Pisani, 2016).

In the 1950s there was a larger consumer boom during World War II which led to a huge rise in purchasing dogs from the American Kennel Club--meaning the ownership of Pit Bulls declined in American households (Worrall, 2016). In the 1970s there was a push to end dog fighting (Worrall, 2016). Dog fighting was plastered all over the media which created false assumptions about the dogs on the covers--Pit Bulls (Worrall, 2016). This media coverage also encouraged people who should not have the dogs to want them (Worrall, 2016). People who were searching for violent dogs were then in search for Pit Bulls because of what they saw in the media (Worrall, 2016).

There is a popular stereotype surrounding Pit Bulls that they are normally an aggressive breed of dog. Dogs are extremely important to humans and families--it's hard to understand the true dangers behind dogs and the harm they can give. Herzog states b“…four and a half million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and over 800,000 of these bites require medical attention” (Herzog, 2011, p. 113). Many breeds contribute to the statistics regarding dog bites; however, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are actually “about as aggressive as poodles” (Herzog, 2011, p. 113) and have a mild level of aggression. These stereotypes that are placed on certain breeds have gone so far as to create laws, and regulations against specific breeds themselves.

States and cities like Denver and Cincinnati have completely banned the Pit Bull breed entirely from their areas (Pisani, 2016). These types of bans, regulations, and laws centered around Pit Bulls are extremely sensitive topics in the United States that relate to pet regulation. Pit Bull lovers believe that the breed should be freed from its negative standing, and more specifically they argue that “breed-specific legislation is a canine version of racial profiling” (Herzog, 2011, p. 115). Different organizations also have a hard time figuring out which side of the argument they wish to follow. They have a hard time reaching a conclusion when deciding if breed regulation is ethical or not. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, and the American Humane Association are against any particular breed regulation; however, PETA has an opposite opinion (Herzog, 2011, p. 114-115). PETA believes that without Pit Bulls around, it will induce less pain for all. They believe this is because Pit Bulls are more likely to be mistreated and neglected by their owners (Herzog, 2011, p. 114-115).