Bite Statistics: Inaccurate Data Used to Further Stupid Dog Laws
September 20th, 2006
If I sat down and counted how many times someone has used bite statistics to show the American Pit Bull Terrier, pit bull type dogs, and other breeds are dangerous I would be living in Anguilla in a beautiful beach house right now.
The most commonly used statistics are those gathered by the Center for Diesease Control. Recently the CDC went on record saying these stats are being misused and they will not offer help to anyone using them to help establish breed specific laws. If the very people who collected the data say’s the data can not be used to accurately determine if one breed is more dangerous than another breed how can anyone put stock into their use as a tool to “prove” certain dog breeds are more dangerous than others.
More to the point. If you look over those statistics you will find another little piece of data that pops out at you like a jack in the box. During the times were Pit Bull type dogs and other breeds reported statistics are higher you will see they correspond to a time when that particular breed or breeds was increasing in popularity.
What happens when a breed starts to become popular?
More dogs start to show up within that breed and more breeders start
producing more puppies at a rapid rate to keep up with the demand
for the dogs.
In short, a lot of crappy puppies are produced to make a bunch of money for the fad breeder looking to cash in on the popularity of the breed.
In the case of the American Pit Bull Terrier and Rottweiler this is happening right now. The Rottweiler has surpassed the American Pit Bull Terrier as the most popular breed and they did so in the mid to late 1990′s. However both breeds are still quite popular.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see Labradoodles and Goldendoodles on breed ban lists here soon as they are starting to gain massive popularity with the designer dog crowd.
Statistics show us a glimpse of the problem with dog bites (notice I said DOG bites and not a specific breed) and while they offer use that little peek they are by no means a way to accurately tell if there is a breed specific bite problem.
Not to mention these are reported bites. What about the millions of bites that are not reported by other breeds that may do less damage? Minature Poodle bites a kids finger is not going to draw the readers as “Pit Bull Mauls Toddlers Hand.”
I mean when you really think about it in the grand scheme of things don’t we have enough to worry about other than someone saying, “You have that breed, you can’t have it anymore because Bill over in Indiana was bitten and received 14 stitches from a dog that LOOKS like that breed.”
If you worry that your kids are going to be bitten by a dog. Try watching them. You never know that might actually help stop a few bites.
Instead of telling me and other American Pit Bull Terrier fanciers that our dogs are the problem why don’t you put some work into establishing a dog bite prevention seminar at your local elementary school. Why not report the irresponsible owner letting their dogs run loose in your neighborhood when there is a leash law.
I mean sit down and think about it. A law banning the dogs sounds great. After all you would never have to worry again right? Wrong.
Miami-Dade County Florida has had a Pit Bull ban for well over 10 years now. Flip on Miami Animal Cops on Animal Planet one night and guess what you will see. Yes, Pit Bulls.
Bans do not work, it’s proven over and over again, they create more problems than they solve and for reponsible law abiding owners like myself and millions of others they cause us nothing but grief. To be honest, we are mad. Mad at YOU for not seeing the big picture. For not getting all the facts and then drawing your conclusion. For listening to the media drivel that is not based on facts but fanatasy and fear.
Wake up and open your eyes. If you are a dog owner and you support a ban on Pit Bulls or any breed for that matter you should really start to pay attention because it’s only a matter of time before they start including all dogs in these stupid laws. In some countries they have already started doing that. In some states here in America they are starting to target all dogs with spay and neuter requirements.
I will leave you with this. The problem is not a dog problem. It’s a people problem that involves dogs. Until we address the people end of this problem we will never get anywhere. We will continue to isolate people and restrict people to the point where we have no freedom left at all.
Think that’s insane or out there? Why don’t you ask the hundreds of innoncent responsible dog owners in Denver who had their dogs taken out of their homes and killed because they were Pit Bulls or Pit Bull type dogs.
Wake up and stop blaming the dogs.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
I’ve been recently looking in to more statistical data involving the plight of the pit bull for an undergraduate thesis project in graphic design. I am a proud owner of a male APBT, named Bishop and have a vested interest in making a difference. Really just saying hello but I may try and pick your brain as how best to make a difference with my project. Keep up the good work!
I just wanted to say that I truly support your stance on this issue. I am an ecstatically happy pit owner, who currently lives under the dark, unjustified umbrella of a full ban in a certain northern city. I do not live in fear, as the bylaw allows me several days to evacuate my best friend if “the heat gets to close”. Because of this, I am forced to give my buddy copious amounts of exercise indoors, as well as in my yard (which is surrounded by a 7-foot wooden fence), as well as putting him in my car and driving him out of the city for a good run very frequently. Thankfully, my neighbour has a pit-cross, and is sympathetic to my cause. Another has a retriever, as well as small children, but is also understanding, as they could understand the pain which they would be subject to if they were forced to give up their beloved pet. I am not a drug dealer, or involved in any other illicit activities. Rather to the contrary, I am an honours university student, and a member of several service clubs and organizations in my community. I pride myself on my ability to do my part in making my community a better place to live. I do my part, and then people tell me that I can’t keep my dog, who has been so loving and given me companionship whenever I was willing to receive it. I think not. My dog is frequently around people and is something of a celebrity animal in my circles, because everyone that meets him instantly loves him (it’s the pit charm, I tell ya). Even if they are edgy around him at first, within a very short time, he’ll always get them to come around. I love introducing him to people, because it always astonishes people how gentle, loving and well-mannered he is, and how inaccurate the stereotypes really are. In my region, however, I feel quite alone in my battle, and would readily give/do anything I had to in order to help rectify the terrible injustice done to these wonderful dogs. Owning a pit, or any breed of dog for that matter, is like owning a Ferrari; it has the potential to break the law, but the onus is on the owner to bridle the power, and therefore, control this potential. Show me the light, and I’ll gladly follow. Also, as I write this, my pit is laying at my feet, and by the look on his face, I’d say he’s in, too. If you don’t think he should be at my feet, then you are a terrible person and may the deity of your chosen faith have mercy on you for your asinine ignorance, because I am sure as hell am not going to.
Hi
Over here in the UK, 2 Rottweillers tore and critically injured a 5 month old baby and many of us owners of other types of breeds are waiting for the backlash.
I am an owner of a stud Staffordshire Bull Terrier with more than 20 champions in his ancestry and yet today, people were giving us the wide berth and furtive looks.
This happenned as well when a badly treated and socially isolated American Pit killed a 6 year old girl who climbed into his garden, lots of backlash then as well.
My case against such dogs like Rottweilers and Dobermanns is that they were dogs bred as weapons against humans, to hunt humans in some cases as we have seen in the WWII era media.
However, in the UK and I would like to find elsewhere as well, is there seems to be no case whatsoever of any type of well treated and homed Pitbull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or Bulldog ever harming or savaging a child, cats maybe but SBT especially in the UK have a huge following in that they are renowned to lay their lives down in defence of children one notable case where a Staffy saw a child about to hit a car and attempted to attack the car.
I know many breeders here in the UK of both Staffy and Pit, Old Tyme and Dorset Bulldogs, never once have any of their dogs attacked or harmed a chil or adult, cats can be a problem for some dogs but these breeds are much much more stable than any other when it comes to integrating as a family member and the worst thing to do with any Pit or Staffy is to pen it up, chain it and isolate it, my dog sits in the back with the kids, with his seatbelt on, how many breeds can do that?
Bull terrier’s are nippy when young, unaware of their strength, can have razor sharp claws and use their teeth and mouths in all manners of play, this gives them a bad press to the uninitiated, who are frightened by the hulking dog jumping up, maybe tearing clothes, or the playful nip that may hurt but was never intended to.
And I think that some US state law is ridiculous when it comes to these dogs, it shows they go on looks alone and have not taken the time to actually research the amount of true attacks by dogs within the family, if its a pedigree or good stock, well brought up, it will never attack.
Ancient One UK
You childish assholes think its so important to look ‘cool’ next to a ‘bad-ass’ dog that you don’t give a fuck about innocent human bystanders. Is this your subconscious revenge upon the world for not getting the attention you feel you’ve always deserved? Haven’t you people begun to figure out by now that others immediately assume pit bull owners are dopes with inferiority complexes. You would think that stigma alone would dissuade some of you, but I guess you’re too dense to ‘get’ it.
I am a very happy owner of a 2 year old spayed female pit bull named Bella. She is a loving and intelligent dog who is fond of children and is very good with my 2 housecats. I am 8 and a half months pregnant with a baby boy and have encountered a lot of negativity from family and friends about my decision to keep Bella now that there’s a baby on the way. People are afraid that my dog is going to “snap” and eat the baby. I am tired of defending my dog against all the prejudice against her breed. Up until recently I was working full time in a kennel. I spent my days taking care of boarding dogs and I also spent quite a bit of time grooming dogs. I have to say that I have encountered many ill-tempered animals during the course of my employment at the kennel. Pit bulls, however, when they came to stay with us, rarely showed any human aggression as compared to other breeds. I was nipped at more than once by a miniature pinscher. This was an animal who lived with small children and had bitten the children on more than one occasion. I recieved a nip from a basset hound who got overly exited by a pigs ear. I had a miniature dachsund who regularly latched onto my ankles with as much ferocity as a 12 lb dog can muster. I will say that I was never threatened by any of the pit bulls that came to stay with us. It always seemed to me that the smaller breeds showed, in general, much more aggression than any pit bull I’d ever met. This isn’t to say the pit bulls were good with other dogs, however, they very rarely acted aggressively towards any of the employees of the kennel.
I know that if my dog were to nip someone the way any of these dogs had nipped me, she would instantly be labelled as vicious and I would probably have a major battle on my hands. Not that she ever would, of course. Once time a strange man came up to us and grabbed my dog by the muzzle. My dog looked surprised and frightened, but she just scooted closer to me for protection. I don’t understand why that moron grabbed her face like that. If I were a dog I would’ve taken his hand off.
To Joe Public: They are a breed of dogs. We share our lives with them. Grow up. Your use of profanity shows your lack of intelligence and how “dopey” you can be when trying to get your point across. Would you say the same thing to someone who had a Golden Retriever? No. Some people (retards) do have the breed to show off their image etc… Most don’t. Get educated.
Jason Mann
My best friend, and my daughter work for a reputable Kennel/Training facility in the Dallas area. When my daughter approached my with an offer to adopt a fully trained pitbull that was “abandoned” at the kennel, I too, was super apprehensive, and ignorant. I have to say my two pomeranians have a new fabulous friend , and I have a fantastic, well behaved American Pitbull Terrior…BY FAR the best dog I have EVER owned
That Is wrong and cruel how someone can and will assume thats all Pitbulls, Rottweillers, French bulldogs, Boxers and many more “agressive breeds” are all Monsters and visous because of one dog that wasn’t raised with care and love attacked a poor “innocent” child. My Dads Girlfriends Pitbull Tuxy (short for Tuxcido =]) Is sweet, cute, loving and is amazingly patient, he tends to dig and jump but will never harm anyone. The catch is he has to stay with me because she can’t have such an “aggresive breed” in her new appartment! Yet while taking him on one simple walk around the complex I saw a Rottweillwer walking next to me! Let me tell you that Rottwieller was as sweet as Tuxy. He was well behaved and I could tell the owner would hate to have their Bond Ripped apart. Its a suprise how he didnt attack me, huh? Since he is so SCARY! Well let me tell you! Tuxy may not be well mannered like lil shih zus or as cute as yorkshire terriors but deep down you know that each and every dog is just as speacil as any other breed. Its not fair to judge certain breeds because of a few dogs! And its certainly not fair to take away peoples dogs and compianions just like Its not fair to take away bits and peices if your faimly! So next time your taking your dos for a walk think about all the people that can,t take thier dogs for a walk beacause of a stupid law that says that all pitbulls or all Rottwiellers are dangerous!
Tuxy Is in it with me! HE too thinks that the retards that want ban him are such immature brats that need to grow up! He is at my feet sleeping and snoars! =] How could you say no to such a HARMLESS animal?
I too own pits. I live with my mom tremerarily. She has poms and though we are always careful in there play time, they get along great. Brandy my 1st, came to us free to good home. She is loving and very greatful to have a great home. Also she loves my kids. I also was almost fearful to take her due to the propaganda out there about her breed. However I chose to educate myself with her help. I will never own another type of dog.
I agree whole heartly with every single thing that you said. All I have to say is “God Bless Alabama” since so far it is still an open minded state. Me & my husband are the very proud owners of 2 pit bulls and wouldn’t give anything for them. My 5 year old hanldes our dogs almost better then we can,but with a very close watchful eye on her at all times. It’s nice to finally meet someone who thinks the same way we do. I try telling people the say thing, it’s not the dog that’s the problem, it’s the irresponsible owner that gives them a bad name. Another thing I can say I can go to bed at night and rest peacefully knowing that I’m safe with both of my dogs are at my bedside. It’s the best security system money could buy. I also don’t fear about my child playing outside with Dizel (our pit bull) by her side. You should the looks we get when cars drive by our house.
My mother and I do a ptibull rescue. We don’t just take in ptibulls though. Sometimes we will take in Small dogs ( poodles, Shi Tzu, Chihuahuas, beagles, etc.). Most of the small dogs I have seen are more likely to bite/snap without warning and sometimes just because you look at them the wrong way! I personally own a 7 year old Rednose BABY and I have never loved a dog more in my whole life! He is so wonderful! He has never tried to harm me or anybody else. Yes he has disagreed with some dogs, but that is completely normal for some dogs to have “issues” with each other. My dog can be eating and I can sit down beside him and pet him, get in his beautiful red face, play around with him while he eats, and anything else that probablly annoys him. I have never once heard him growl at me and I believe that he never will. He loves to cuddle with me and even attempts to push me out of my seat sometimes, but thats ok with me because he deserves it for how wonderful he is. I really wish people would educate themselves on the dog type. I wish they would realize that all terriers are realted… that includes the Yorkies, the Boston, and alot more breeds that are oh so less “harmful”. I am not at all saying that all small dogs are mean and evil because I have met very good small dogs. I am not saying that any certain breed is “evil” and sometimes it makes me want to cry because they are so misunderstood! People need to grow up and pitbull lovers all across the world should try hard to educate people about the breed! I will never personally own another breed!
i think u people r fucking idiots. this is coming from someone who was attacked on their own property by a neighbors pitbull that was mauling my 7 yr old boxer. my arm was broken in this attack when the pitbull let go of my dog and latched on to me. the only good pitbull is a dead one. u make me sick with ur pathetic attempts to make these animals out to be a passive family dog. hv u read the history of the breed?
People who have never owned a pitbull cannot know how amazing they are. We adopted a mix who we found out later was part pit bull. Now we have two and take pride in being responsible pit bull owners. They give us so much joy. We are not thugs and they are not monsters.
my girlfriend now has over 40 stiches in her top lip and her little yorkie was alomost killed as a result of an attack by 2 well cared for pit bulls. they were bred for nothing more than fighting and killing. i will deal with the pit bulls if the county authority will not.
i am a fan of bans and stiff fines for stupid dog owners.
I love my “boy”!! He is the best gog I have evr met. I live on a farm with many animals. Pit bulls are the most loveable dog I have ever encountered.
I have began a blog for irresponsible reporting on behalf of a local MN news channel reporting on the “bad breed” instead of the owners who are not being responsible for their dogs. I own two pits that I love to death. They are great with my Maltese and my children. They are gentle and kind. Most likely to lick you to pieces, not to death.
Thank you for your concern of this subject.
Diane, yes I have read the history of the breed. Bull Baiting and dog fighting was what they were bred for. It doesn’t surprise me a dog attacked your dog. And it doesn’t surprise me you blame the dog instead of the person in charge of the dog.