Cause and Effect

My Friend, My Pit

I. Pit bulls are outlawed in Miami-Dade County because of their vicious nature.

A. In 1990, the American Pit Bull Terrier was outlawed in Miami Dade County.

B. There are many reasons why we fear this particular breed and one reason is because we fear what we do not understand.

C. The pit bull dogs are outlawed in Miami Dade County because of the inbred susceptibility to attack other animals, and because of the danger posed to humans.

II. One stereo type of pit bulls is that they are mean and vicious.

A. Pit bulls are no more vicious than golden retrievers, beagles or other popular dogs.

B. In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Association, Pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 81.7%.

C. Like any breed of dog, a healthy pit bull that is properly raised will remain loving and friendly.

III. There are other myths that just horrify people about pit bulls.

A. One myth is about the ability of a pit bull to lock its jaws on something and not let go.

B. Another reputation that makes us fear the pit bull is that they are bred to fight.

C. Lastly is the one we all fear the most, that pit bulls are unpredictable around children.

IV. The fear with this breed gets worse because of the belief that all pit bulls are naturally aggressive

A. All pit bulls descend from lines that are selectively bred to fight.

B. Just because a pit bull is aggressive towards another animal doesn't mean it will be aggressive towards humans.

C. There is a golden rule of pit bull management, "Never trust a pit bull not to fight!"

V. Lots of people are afraid of the pit bull because of the deeds of unscrupulous breeders, owners and the hyped up media coverage that has been plaguing this breed for years.

A. Dog on dog aggression is common among any dog!

B. So many untruths and halve-truths have been repeated so many times that the general public has begun to believe fairy tales instead of fact.

C. Understanding your individual dog's realistic limits with other animals and humans and supervising all interactions will make the difference between success and tragedy and that goes for poodles as well as pit bulls.

Pit bulls are outlawed in Miami-Dade County because of their vicious nature. In 1990, the American Pit Bull Terrier was outlawed in Miami Dade County. There are many reasons why we fear this particular breed and one reason is because we fear what we do not understand. The pit bull dogs are outlawed in Miami Dade County because of the inbred susceptibility to attack other animals, and because of the danger posed to humans. Miami Dade County code states "The unique history, nature and characteristics of pit bull dogs have been determined to require the special regulations and provisions contained within this article which the County Commission hereby finds reasonable and necessary." ( Miami Dade County, 2003)

One stereo type of pit bulls is that they are mean and vicious. Pit bulls are no more vicious than golden retrievers, beagles or other popular dogs. "In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Association, Pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 81.7%. That's good or better than beagles (78.7%), and golden retrievers (81.7%). In these tests dogs are put through a series of confrontational situations." (Coile, 2001) Any sign of panic or aggression leads to failure of the test. The achievement of the pit bull dog in this study disproves once and for all the old tired belief that pit bulls are inherently aggressive to people. Like any breed of dog, a healthy pit bull that is properly raised will remain loving and friendly.

There are other myths that just horrify people about pit bulls. One myth is about the ability of a pit bull to lock its jaws on something and not let go. The jaws of a pit bull are built just as any other dog's jaw. There's no enzyme, no special mechanism that would make a pit bull's jaws lock. They're dogs, not alligators! Another reputation that makes us fear the pit bull is that they are bred to fight. Under certain circumstances, if a pit bull is poorly managed, he can get into a scuffle with another dog and fight like a pro even if he's never done it before. A well socialized, well managed pit bull should never have to get into a dog fight, because he's accustomed to the presence of other dogs. Lastly is the one myth we all fear the most, that pit bulls are unpredictable around children. Pit bulls are drawn to the joyful optimism of children and are the perfect breed to tolerate the rough and tumble play that kids can dish out. Pit bulls have enjoyed a long history as favorite children's companions and family pets. But as with any dog, common sense dictates that children should be taught how to properly interact with