I'm growing tired of the bullshit I hear about pit bulls. Most people who always talk about how vicious and dangerous they are usually have only seen them from far away or haven't interacted with one personally.

The myths just keep getting taught to us.
They'll kill your children! They'll bite down and lock their jaw and you're done for! They're used as attack dogs for a reason! Therefore we should euthanize them all!
Hm...cue the mindless mob with their torches and pitchforks? I think I see them now...

People have to keep in mind that many of these pit bull attack stories stem from the fact that the owners had abused them, or adopted them when they were an adult, not knowing whether they were abused or neglected earlier in their lives. I've known many people with pit bulls who took them home when they were puppies, and they are some of the sweetest animals I've ever encountered. Oh yeah, and they can't lock their jaws, dumbasses. Their skulls are structured the same way as any other dog breed.

But aren't they bred as attack/fighting dogs? Yes, nowadays, but only by douchebags who should have their balls cut off. Did you know that the breed Shar Pei, you know, the ugly ass wrinkly little fuckers, were bred as fighting dogs thousands of years ago in China? Why don't we bitch about the terrible attack instinct of the Shar Pei?

In Utah, Texas, and California, pit bulls are used as therapy dogs. There's a search and rescue team of pit bulls used in Sacramento. Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing rate. So why don't they tell us this in the news? You know, have one of those special segments or something on 20/20? Instead they waste time talking about things like coverage on the life of a guy who weighs almost 1000 pounds. How did he get this way? they ask. I'll tell you how: he sat on his ass and ate Doritos his whole life without moving. The end. Fucking ay it's not rocket science. You don't need half an hour for that bullshit.

In 1993, a pit bull saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California. A Pit Bull named Bogart saved a four-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida. Dixie, the Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame after she saved some children from a Cottonmouth snake. Why don't we hear about this in the news? Is it less important if there isn't blood or a mauled body to talk about?

-----------------------

SB861. Have you heard of it? It's kind of a big deal. The main idea is to make spaying/neutering mandatory for any dog in California that's considered as "vicious" by the government. That idea doesn't sound too bad when it's put like that, doesn't it? But of course, there is always the fine print when it comes to anything the government tries to pass.
"Canine legislative expert, LeeAnn O'Reilly, and President Of The Dog Legislation Council Of Canada, concludes the following about SB861:

* SB861 empowers local governments to indiscriminately, arbitrarily define any dog breed (or mix thereof) as vicious
* No insurer will cover any homeowner with a dog defined as vicious
* The result of which will be mass loss of insurance coverage for owners of dogs now defined as vicious
* SB861 fails to address the core issue - abusive, irresponsible or criminal ownership
* SB861 fails to address 5 out of 6 factors used by canine experts to determine aggression
* SB861 will virtually eliminate dog breeding by ethical, responsible, hobby breeders of targeted breeds
* SB861 will erode canine biodiversity
* Mandatory spay/neuter may be applied to any breed
* Mandatory spay neuter may possibly be applied to all dogs over 40 lbs"
-------

So what happened with SB861? In October 2005, it was signed into law, making it effective in January of 06. Petitions continue to be made to overturn it. But what happens in the meantime? Breeders with have no business anymore, and dogs like mine could be labeled as "vicious," though she has never attacked a living soul since we've adopted her. Does that mean no home insurance because we have a pit bull mix that's the sweetest dog with absolutely no violent tendencies whatsoever? Well, that kinda blows. I know fucking rat chihuahuas that would make better attack dogs than Dakota...

For the sake dispelling this horrible myth about pit bulls, please just keep an open mind. Take a short trip to the humane society and ask to play with one of the many pit bulls who remain unadopted partially because too many people believe the "pit bullshit." You'll be nicely surprised, I'm sure.

-------------------------------------------