Ontario Warriors United Against BSL Ontario Warriors
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Ontario Warriors United Against BSL WHAT IS A “PIT BULL”? THE FACTS VS THE MYTHS The following research will examine the most commonly discussed facts vs. myths of dogs known as “pit bulls”. Click on the hyperlinks to read more about the science and facts behind each statement. THE FACTS VS. THE MYTHS ABOUT “PIT BULLS” FACT: THERE IS NO SUCH BREED OF DOG CALLED “PIT BULL” The term “pit bull” describes virtually any dog with short hair, a blocky head, and a muscular build. The term includes 28 breeds of dogs who are often incorrectly labeled “pit bull” and includes countless mixes of those 28 breeds. The pure breeds included in the family of dogs generally referred to as “pit bulls” are: o The American Staffordshire Terrier, o The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and o The American Pit Bull Terrier (which is the only accurate use of the term). MYTH: A “PIT BULL” HAS A JAW PRESSURE EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF A SHARK Measuring by the Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI) jaw strength testing, the following statistics have been identified: o A Bull Shark: 1250 PSI o A Great White Shark: 669 PSI o The Staffordshire Bull Terrier: 328 PSI o The American Staffordshire Terrier: 235 PSI o The American Pit Bull Terrier: 235 PSI MYTH: “PIT BULL” TYPE DOGS HAVE LOCKING JAWS It has been scientifically proven that the jaw of a “pit bull” type dog does not have any locking mechanism in their skulls. This is the case for all dogs, not just “pit bulls”. MYTH: “PIT BULL” TYPE DOGS HAVE AGGRESSIVE GENES; I.E. AGGRESSION IS “BRED INTO THEM” This has been scientifically proven as inaccurate as there is no gene that determines aggression levels. Temperament testing proves that the three pure breeds that make up the “pit bull” family of dogs consistently rank in the top 5 of good temperaments of all dog breeds tested. All breeds of dogs have 98% of the same DNA and genetic make up. FACT: ALL DOGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BITE There is no breed or type of dog more “prone” to biting more than any other breed or type. Dogs behavior is shaped by the owner and their environment. Dog owners should be held accountable for the behavior of their animals and practice responsible pet ownership. Ontario Warriors United Against BSL February 2021 FACT: “PIT BULL” TYPE DOGS ARE OVER-REPRESENTED IN MEDIA REPORTING “Pit Bull” type dogs are reported on by media often without accurate fact finding. Dogs without lineage to an accurate breed in the “pit bull” family of dogs are often typed as such when there is a negative incident involved. Incidents involving alleged “pit bull” type dogs are reported on average 200 times. Incidents involving any other type of dog are reported on once, if at all. MYTH: “PIT BULL” TYPE DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO FIGHT ARE LOST CAUSES Dogs typed as “pit bull” have been rescued from excruciation circumstances, such as dog fighting and extreme neglect/abuse, and have been rehabilitated at a success rate of 95%. Less than 1% of dogs rescued from dog fighting, abuse, or neglectful cases are euthanized due to temperament. That includes all breeds of dogs, not just “pit bull” type, regardless of the amount of time they have been subjected to the abusive behavior. FACT: LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE USA, ARE USING “PIT BULL” TYPE DOGS AS K9’S Many “pit bull” type dogs have been successfully trained as police K9 unit dogs and arson detection dogs. “Pit bull” type dogs are being adopted from shelters and rescue facilities and successfully repurposed for a life of public service in law enforcement. FACT: BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION KILLS INNOCENT DOGS AND TARGETS RESPONSIBLE OWNERS BSL is a law that is both over-inclusive and under-inclusive, and has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent dogs around the world. BSL is costly, difficult to enforce, and unjustly targets dogs of different breeds than the ones specifically mentioned in many types of municipal legislations. BSL targets responsible owners and decreases public safety. Often, well tempered dogs who are “typed” are removed from loving, responsible families, while dogs who are not “typed” continue to pose a threat to public safety. FACT: BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION DRAINS MANY COMMUNITY RESOURCES BSL costs tens of millions of dollars each year to enforce in Ontario. BSL drains community resources, such as animal control and police enforcement, as the focus remains on one type or breed of dog, rather than seeking to assist in situations where public safety is in jeopardy. MYTH: BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY BSL causes a false sense of security to the general public – they are often of the opinion that they are safe from dangerous dogs with BSL in place to protect them. FACT: BSL IS BEING REPEALED AROUND THE WORLD DUE TO INEFFECTIVENESS Since 2016, there have been more than 100 communities across North America who have repealed their breed specific law due to ineffectiveness in enhancing public safety, and extreme cost involved in enforcement. Progressive law makers are starting to realize that owner accountability must be at the forefront in order to maintain safer kinder communities. Ontario Warriors United Against BSL April 2021 AND NOW FOR THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE FACTS… THERE IS NO SUCH BREED OF DOG CALLED “PIT BULL” This is a generic term, used mostly by law enforcement and media, that describes any dog with short fur, a blocky head, and a strong muscular build. 28 different pure breeds of dogs such as Boxers, Mastiffs, Dogo Argentinos, American Bullies, and American Bulldogs (commonly referred to as “bully breeds”) to name but a few are consistently and incorrectly identified as “pit bulls” by untrained officials. Because of this inaccurate visual identification, they are often lumped in with the dogs that are assumed to be a dangerous breed or “type” according to the Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) enforced in certain municipalities1. The generic term “pit bull” normally refers to the following breeds of dogs, as recognized by the Canadian/United Kennel Clubs: American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and American Pit Bull Terrier (which is the only accurate use of the term “pit bull”). Most breed identification issues arise when law enforcement is unsure of the accurate breed of a dog involved in an incident. In these situations, if the dog(s) in question have any similar characteristics of a “pit bull” as described above, they are almost always reported as BEING a “pit bull”. Untrained law enforcement is often quick to assume the lineage of the dog without any further gathering of facts or evidence. This results in augmenting the perception that “pit bulls” are involved in negative incidents more often than other types or breeds of dogs, further damaging their reputation, and creating an unnecessary sense of fear in the unsuspecting, and sometimes misinformed, general public.i Any time the word “pit bull” can be included in a dog related incident, it is reported on multiple times, as there is tendency to capitalize on the catch phrase. However, in cases where the term “pit bull” cannot be used, the incident is rarely reported on, if at all, regardless of the severity of the bite. On the rare occasion that an incident involving a non-bully breed looking dog is reported on, it is reported once, and the breed of the dog is rarely mentioned in the headlines, nor referred to in the report itself. This theory was tested in 2007 by the National Canine Research Council, who performed a quantitative study of dog bite reporting in a four-day period. They proved that the “pit bull” bias is more than just a theory - it’s a fact. Between August 18 and August 21, 2007, there were 4 dog bites reported in Denver: 1. a Labrador mix that attacked a 70 year old man sending him to the hospital in critical condition was reported on once, 2. a mixed breed dog attacked a 16 month old child who received fatal head and neck injuries was reported on twice, 3. a mixed breed dog attacked a six year old boy who was hospitalized after having his ear torn off and receiving a severe bite to the head was reported on once, and 4. a 59 year old woman was attacked in her own home by 2 dogs that had the characteristics of a “pit bull” type with severe, but not fatal, injuries was reported in over 230 articles internationally, as well as major television news networks including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox.ii Breed specific laws are often implemented to target a certain breed or type of dog that has been deemed as “dangerous”. Unfortunately, these laws end up also targeting hundreds of mixed breed dogs that any family can adopt from their local pound who have no lineage to the “pit bull” family of dogs. This results in a large population of dogs who fit these physical characteristics, but not the accurate breed attributes, being a target of BSL, along with their responsible owners. 1 See below for more information on BSL Ontario Warriors United Against BSL April 2021 Back to top THE STRENGTH OF “PIT BULL” JAWS, AND THE MYTH OF THE LOCKING JAW The strength of a “pit bull” type dog’s jaw is grossly exaggerated in many instances of reporting. Some people have gone so far as to state that the jaw pressure of a shark is less than that of a “pit bull” type dog. The average jaw pressure of a bull shark is on average 1250 pounds per square inch (PSI) and a great white shark is on average 669 PSI – clearly making that statement inaccurate.