For Pit Bull Bans

By: Jayza Mendez

Breed-Specific Legislation (aka Pit Bull Bans) should be enacted for the better of both the public and the dog breed. B.S.L. is the blanket term for laws that either regulate or ban certain dog breeds in an effort to decrease dog attacks on humans and other animals, specifically through legal demands that require Pit bulls be spayed or neutered. There are already more than 900 cities in the United States that currently have some form of breed-specific legislation. The enforcement of Pit Bull Bans would lead to safer communities, the discouragement of inhumane dog-breeding, and fewer Pit bulls born into relentlessly abusive and neglectful homes.

With the simple google search of “Pit bulls,” you are met with recommended options like “Are Pit bulls naturally aggressive?” and “Why do Pit bulls turn on their owners?” The public has adopted this belief that Pit bulls are just bad dogs, and they have every right to. In 2020, Pit Bulls contributed 72% to dog bite-related fatalities, while only making up about 6.2% of the total U.S. dog population (2020 dog bite fatalities, 2020). In 2021 alone, there were over 3,000 dog attacks where Pit bulls were responsible (Cody Griffin, 2021).

Although there seem to be a countless amount of sources contributing to this widely accepted idea that Pit bulls are a violent dog breed, I disagree and believe the dogs themselves are not responsible. Yet regardless of the cause for the dog's actions, we must acknowledge the statistics and actively work against the current norm. The lives of people and other animals are at risk, and Pit Bulls Bans are the answer. If emplaced, Pit Bull Bans would lead to more comfortable and safe environments across the country.

There is also the issue of dog-breeding, the practice of mating selected dogs to produce specific qualities and characteristics, often in hopes of selling them and making a profit. Millions of dogs die every year because no one will adopt them (PETA’s Position on Pit Bulls, 2019), every time a dog is bred, more dogs lose the opportunity to have a good life. No dog should be born into the world as long as millions are dying from lack of homes in animal shelters annually. When shelters are destroying dogs by the tens of thousands, why breed more Pit bulls or more of any kind of dog? If Pit Bull Bans are legislated, the heartless business surrounding breeding will hinder, falling in favor of not only Pit bulls, but all dogs.

Additionally, Pit bulls are the most abused and neglected breed of dog in the world (Why PETA Supports Pit Bull–Specific Protection Efforts, 2022). Today, they are the number one breed admitted to and euthanized in animal shelters. They are bred repeatedly, for their puppies to be sold off and chained in some dirt patch, deprived of everything that a dog needs. Pit bulls have an ongoing history of being used to disturbing extremes, filled with mistreatment and exploitation. They are cheap burglar alarms, punching bags, or boxers in corrupt deathmatches. Pit bulls are facing systemic, constant abuse and neglect because of their breed. That's why breed-specific measures need to be taken, to protect and help them.

Some people might disagree, and believe that Pit Bull Bans should not be implemented. This is usually because they have come to the conclusion that being pro-BSL’s means being anti-Pitbull, although it is quite literally the opposite. There is a lot of misinformation spreading when it comes to the opinions of those in support of breed-specific legislation, when in reality we all probably share the same goal, wanting the best for people and pit bulls.

Writing to your legislators and sharing your opinion is one of the most effective ways of supporting Pit Bull Bans. Authorities take action and pass BSL’s as they become aware of infractions, or as complaints are received. It is our responsibility to help Pit Bulls and those hurt by them, and we have the power to change the world for the better by supporting Pit Bull Bans.

Against Pit Bull Bans

By: Franck Saintilma

When discussing breed-specific legislation (BSL), a term used to define laws that regulate/ban specific dog breeds in an attempt to reduce dog attacks on humans, pit bulls is known to frequent the conversation. Yet, this issue stems not from the dogs themselves but the humans and history attached to them. Pit bulls are not inherently dangerous, no breed is. However, because Pit Bulls are often bred for fighting and other aggressive behaviors, some have learned and have been conditioned to a certain behavior. This idea is why I believe that BSL is not the best option to promote public safety.

Pit bulls are targeted due to their history involving dogfighting, with this being where the name “pit bull” originates. Although dogfighting has since been banned, its effects still remain. Looking past the strands of illegal activity that still manage to persist. Pit bulls continue to be used for aggressive behaviors that have been influenced by their past. Being used as guard dogs and the like. Though there is has also led to a long history of abuse beyond dogfighting for pit bulls, as stated by Vessy Genova in their “34 Eye-Opening Pit Bull Statistics in 2022”, Although pit bulls are part of most dog attacks across the country, they are also the most abused dogs. It is easy to say that pit bulls are aggressive and violent, but really many pit bulls suffered abuse, neglect, and were forced to fight other canines all their lives. The root of the issue is not the pit bulls but rather their treatment by their owners, which is supported by Vessy Genova, who states that "84% of dogs involved in fatal attacks were abused or neglected".

Pit bulls simply don’t deserve the treatment they are given. If given the chance they can be loving pets. The aggressive behavior that has been taught through human influence should not be a punishment for them. And Humans have only continued to mistreat them. Whether it is dogfighting or abuse, these dogs have had enough. Still, people continue to push for breed-specific legislation. Though if they don’t care for pit bulls maybe they will care about the potential cost of BSL.

As disclosed on stopbsl.org, just in 2003, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, a task force was authorized to examine the results of a 1996 pit bull ban in the county. They estimated that the cost to confiscate and euthanize a single pit bull would be around $68,000 for the county. Not only that but expenditures from pit bull confiscations totaled $560,000. Income from pit bull registrations during that very same period totaled only $35,000. Spending over half a million dollars enforcing their ban.

Considering the pit bull population within the United States, the costs seen in Prince George’s County were the basis for the confiscation and euthanization of pit bulls. On a nationwide scale, the costs for BSL would be massive. If the U.S. attempted to confiscate and euthanize even one-fourth of the pit bull population, it would cost sixty-eight billion dollars.

To spend this amount of money in return for the minimal benefits that BSL can bring is a waste. Just in The UK It can be seen with their Dangerous Dog Act, that BSL does not solve the issue. This can be seen when the dog bites rates (by non-targeted dogs) had risen in the UK despite the ban. Which was estimated to cost over $14 million to enforce between the years 1991-1996. Looking at a study on fatal dog bites between 1979 and 1996, Although fatal attacks on humans seem to be a breed-specific problem (pit bull-type dogs), many other breeds potentially bite and cause fatalities at higher rates. This stems from the difficulties in determining a dog’s breed with certainty. Not only that, but fatal attacks represent a small number of dog bite injuries to humans, which is why it should not be the primary factor driving public policy toward dangerous dogs.

Instead, we should look toward practical alternatives to breed-specific ordinances and look to the prevention of dog bites. The Best Friends Animal Society stated that three mitigating factors in dog attacks are sterilization of dogs, abuse, and lastly the keeping of dogs for other uses. They state that “97% of the owners had not sterilized the dogs; 84% of the owners had abused or neglected their dogs; 78% were using the dogs as guard dogs or breeding dogs instead of keeping the dogs as pets.” The ASPCA also notes that chaining and tethering dogs outside, lack of obedience training, and selective breeding for protection or fighting are risk factors for dog attacks. So rather than invoking BSL, we should try to discourage behavior like this, which would in return lead us to safer communities long term.