HEIDIOLOGY
BEHAVIOR OF A FEW
BY HEIDI HARRIS

Due to a few high-profile pit bull attacks, some jurisdictions have completely banned the dogs. Champions of personal freedom should never abandon their principles in response to an emotionally charged situation. 

If I’m a caring, responsible owner, I should have the right to choose any breed I like.

It’s important to note that the American Kennel Club does not recognize the pit bull as a breed. There are Bull Terriers, and there are American Staffordshire Terriers, which resemble a pit bull, but they are not. This makes it difficult to define breed. 

Many mixed breed dogs resemble the dreaded pit bull, which begs the question of how far the ban should be extended. Every breed of dog has the potential to be mean if improperly treated. Children are more often bitten by poodles and cocker spaniels than pit bulls, but the majority of those bites are not reported. The fact that a small dog can’t remove someone’s face is no reason to tolerate aggression. Aggressive behavior is aggressive behavior, regardless of size, so why not ban all dogs?

Frankly, when it comes to attacks on children, parents are often to blame. They either choose a breed of dog that has low tolerance for children, or they allow their children to torment the animal. Obviously, children should never be allowed to hit, chase or corner dogs, or climb on as if they’re horses. Even the friendliest dog has a breaking point. 

The most recent pit bull story involved the mother of a 12-year-old boy who was mauled to death by the family dog. The mother had become so concerned with the male dog’s behavior that she locked her son in the basement when she ran errands — not the dog. When the son managed to get out of the basement, he was consequently killed. In this case, the parent had two un-neutered dogs in the house and refused to remove the male when he exhibited signs of aggression. 

The pit bull problem is really a people problem. People have allowed the population of these animals to explode, either directly (breeding) or indirectly (not having them spayed or neutered) and the result is disastrous. Stop by any animal shelter and see for yourself. In some shelters, 85 percent or more of the dogs killed are pits. It’s unnecessary.

Ban all pit bulls, and the underclass will simply choose (or create) another breed to abuse. Those concerned with personal freedom should resist government attempts to ban an entire breed of dog based on the bad behavior of a few. LW