Misunderstood
Cutting through the (pit) bullsh*t
By Mark J. Lucas |
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It is a propensity of human beings to fear the unknown. That which is shrouded in myth is vilified, through the prejudice of our ignorance, and that which is most proximate generates the most distrust. As such, the pit bull, amorphous in its description, is amongst pets an oddity - and a source of fear.
In the case of Toledo v. Tellings, one Paul Tellings was in possession of three pit bulls (which hadn't shown aggression) when a health inspector, checking for lead paint, noticed the dogs and reported them to the dog warden. According to Lucas County law, no one can be in possession of more than one pit bull per household.
One dog was sent to a friend's house, and the other two dogs remained with Tellings, until one of the remaining dogs was confiscated and destroyed by the City of Toledo. Tellings fought the ruling, but eventually, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld ORC § 955.11, commonly referred to as Ohio's "vicious dog laws," which define pit bulls as a vicious breed of dog, and this law is central to Ohio's judicial understanding of pitbulls, in general.
"Actually, the term 'pit bull' is not the name of a breed," says Lisa Peterson, spokesperson and director of communications for the American Kennel Club. "It's a generic term for a type of dog. The AKC recognizes three of what you would call the 'bully' breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier."
Although not a breed of dog, they are referred to as such in the Ohio Revised Code § 955.11. The law states that any "breed of dog commonly known as a pit bull" is a vicious dog. They are the only dog that is specifically listed within the law. All others are deemed vicious only if they have actually displayed aggressive behavior. According to Peterson, this can make things problematic when it comes to drafting legislation concerning pit bulls, as they are usually identified by physical descriptions, which could be shared amongst non-pit bull breeds.
"Some people could look at a picture of a boxer and they might think it's a pit bull," said Peterson. "That's something you run into with a breed brand. A lot of legislature includes a description of the dog, but some of the descriptions could fit many dogs. Also, when you're outright banning a specific breed, are you banning a mix of breeds?" she asked. "And in that scenario, who are the 'dog police?'"
"Pit bulls are terriers," says Ron Berman, D.A.B.F.E., a dog bite specialist who has nearly 30 years experience as a canine and feline behavior consultant.
Dog Fight Illustration
"[Terriers] are fighting dogs in the sense that they were bred to chase animals out of their dens," he continued. "Their job is to go onto someone else's turf to take them on."
However, very few in the breed were ever trained or used for fighting other dogs.
"It's a very small minority of these [pit bulls] that are trained to fight. Most of them are pets that have no history of fighting, whatsoever," said Berman. "They are, however, a very powerful dog, and if they are aggressive, they can, in theory, do a lot of damage."
"It's human beings that are bringing out this quality in the dog," says Berman. "Any dog that is portrayed to be scary will be appealing to a certain kind of person. If no one wanted an aggressive pit bull, you wouldn't be having so much of this. You don't hear about pit bulls attacking people in Europe, because [there, the owners] aren't trying to fit that image. They just like them for them."
But even with the increase in aggressive individuals, the reality of the situation is that pit bulls are not statistically more likely to bite a person. That title, according to Berman, used to go to the German shepherd. That does not mean that pit bulls have not done their fair share.
"It's true that pit bulls are involved in more deaths by canine," says Berman, "but not bites. They're involved in a lot more high-profile cases."
To own or not to own a pit bull is a personal choice, for now, but it entails much more stringent guidelines than, say, a Chihuahua. Pit bulls, pursuant to § 955.22 of the Ohio Revised Code, can only be stored outside if they are within a locked fence or an enclosure with a top. They must also carry liability insurance to the tune of $100,000, and when the dog is off the owner's premises, they must be on a chain leash, either in a muzzle, in the charge of someone who is of suitable age, or in a cage.
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Originally Published: September 1, 2009
