Thursday, July 2, 2015

First X, Then Y, Then Z

        . . . Then Pit Bulls

In the 1980s, Doberman Pinschers were associated with 'tough guy image,' tarnishing that breed's reputation . . . in the 1990s it shifted to Rottweilers, then into the 2000s it became pit bulls.


Leon Davis
BC SPCA Nanaimo & District Branch Manager

* * * * *

At one point it was German Shepherd dogs that were considered to be potentially dangerous or inherently dangerous. Then it was Rottweilers, then it was Doberman Pinschers. For the last 20 years or so it's been pit bulls. . . . 

Nicholas Gilman
Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
* * * * * 

The dogs used as examples vary and the order is random. But according to advocates of fighting breeds, pit bulls are simply the latest in a line of maligned, though innocent, victims of bad press.

The XYZ motif has been so overused south of the 49th parallel that it has, for the most part, fallen out of use. But Canadian advocates of fighting breeds haven't yet realized that this tired cliché has outlived it's usefulness.

Perhaps the reason the XYZ motif has been abandoned, by even the staunchest US advocates, is that it was never true. When the 30-year summary of Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada1 was released it became obvious that Dobermans and German Shepherds were never as dangerous as pit bull advocates make them out to be.

A recent article in the National Post puts the issue to rest:
In my youth, people used to think the Doberman Pinscher was a dangerous dog. But from 1955 to 2015, Dobermans have killed only 11 people. That is about as many as pit bulls kill in any given four-month period. Seventy percent of dog bite-related fatalities and extreme damage to humans are inflicted by pit bull type dogs, who represent four percent of the breed population. Surgeons testify to the especially horrific damage their peculiar biting method – hold and rend – does to human flesh and bone. Pit bulls are also responsible for the deaths of virtually 100% of domestic animals (including cows and horses) killed by canines.

Pit bull bans work
by Barbara Kay
June 19, 2015; The National Post
Advocates of fighting breeds would have us believe that pit bulls are simply the latest in a line of wrongly-maligned dogs. In reality they are unique. Pit bulls are the first, and only, dogs intentionally selected and inter- and cross- and outbred for centuries for their capacity to fight other dogs to the death, while ignoring pain and life-threatening injuries to themselves.

* * * * *
See Also:
Carnival of Madness: Canada
Canada (Index of posts and resources)

Notes:
1   2012. See Statistics, below.

Canada Sources:
Vancouver needs to get a grip on pit bulls
by Mia Johnson (Opinion)
July 10, 2015; Vancouver Sun

We're not the answer to U.S.'s pit bull problem
by Naomi Lakritz
July 3, 2015; Calgary Herald

Adopters of imported rescue dogs must consider liability
by Dr Rebecca Ledger
June 29, 2015; Vancouver Sun

Love your pit bull, but pay the price
June 26, 2015; Calgary Herald

Dogs rescued from the U.S. causing problems in B.C.: animal advocacy group
June 23, 2015; Vancouver Sun

17 bully breed dogs on 'death row' in California sent to Calgary
June 22, 2015; Calgary Herald

Wings of Rescue takes Bakersfield pit bulls to Canada
June 22, 2015; Bakersfield Now

Pit bull accused of biting 5-year-old girl won't be put down
June 19, 2015; CBC News

Pit bull bans work
by Barbara Kay
June 19, 2015; The National Post

Membertou pit bull ban working
June 17, 2015; Cape Breton Post

Pit bull dog breed is a danger to general public
by Mia Johnson
June 16, 2015; The Alberni Times

Enforcement needed for pit bull-type dogs in city
June 16, 2015; Nanaimo Daily News

Pitbull seized after attack
June 15, 2015; Castanet Times
Her insides were all over, my two friends were covered in blood.

Use data, not anecdotes to judge pit bull problem
June 12, 2015; Nanaimo Daily News

St. Michel man and dog attacked by pit bull terrier
June 8, 2015; CRV News Montreal

Pit bulls will always be a bit of an easy target
June 2, 2015; Nanaimo Daily News (Editorial Opinion)

This is not a pit bull issue
by Rosie Mullaley
May 30, 2015; The Telegram (Montreal)

Number of incidents with pit bulls a concern
by Mia Johnson
May 30, 2015; Nanaimo Daily News

Nanaimo woman says pit bull attack caused death of small dog
May 29, 2015; Nanaimo Daily News

Central Alberta judge orders pit bulls destroyed after attack
May 28, 2015; Canadian Press

Newfoundland teen terrified by pit bull attack
by Rosie Mullaley
May 27, 2015; New Glasgow News (Pictou County, NS)
“If this wasn’t a pit bull, it would’ve been put down right away. They’re only concerned about giving (the breed) any more of a bad name than what they have now. If it was a German shepherd, a Shih Tzu or a beagle, do you think people would be coming forward fighting to keep it alive? No, they wouldn’t.
Pit bull owner charged after two attacks on teenagers
May 26, 2015; NTV

Pit bull controversy reignites after boy is mauled by two dogs
May 22, 2015; Global News

Pit bull ban is logical next step
by Naomi Lakritz (of the Calgary Herald)
May 20, 2015; Vancouver Sun

Paul Johnston mourning Copper killed by pit bull cross
May 19, 2015; CBC News



Owner of dog killed in attack weighs in on Calgary breed debate
May 18, 2015; MSN News

Recent dog attacks has bylaw services suggesting policy changes
May 13, 2015; 660 News

Calgary teen taken to hospital after 'pit bull-type' dog bites her legs
May 13, 2015; CBC News

Pit bulls are inherently high-risk dogs
By Barbara Kay
May 13, 2015; Montreal Gazette (Opinion)

Time to debate pit bull ban
May 13, 2015; Calgary Herald (Editorial)

Canada, Get Rid Of Pit Bulls Once And For All
By Jesse Ferreras
May 13, 2015; Huffington Post

Dog attacks in Calgary under investigation
'Aggression from animals will not be tolerated,' says animal services manager after 3 separate attacks
May 11, 2015; CBC News

Questions raised about London, Ont., coyote attack on girl, 14
May 11, 2015; Calgary Sun

Two small dogs are dead following two unrelated, but nearly “identical” attacks by two other dogs over the weekend
May 10, 2015; Calgary Herald

Debert woman mourns pet pit bull that attacked her
April 29, 2015; Chronicle Herald

Small dog fatally attacked while stunned owner holds leash
April 22, 2015; CTV News
“My dog was just laying limp on the ground and I cuddled him. Of course I started crying because I knew he was dead.”

No charges against owner whose pit bull killed therapy dog in Vancouver
April 16, 2015; Vancouver Sun

Pit bull shot by OPP after attack on mother and child in Rockland
April 13, 2015; CBC News

Kelowna judge orders pit bull destroyed after ‘savage attack’ on its owner
April 9, 2015; Edmonton Journal

Pit bull attacks nine-year-old Penticton girl
April 9, 2015; Global News

Pit bull shot after it attacks police service dog
April 8, 2015; Edmonton Journal

A Gruesome Attack by a Pitbull Lands in Kelowna Court
April 1, 2015; Kelowna Now

Statistics:
Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 32+ year, continuously updated Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada.
View or download the current PDF

2014 Year-end report of dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; January 3, 2015
32 years of logging fatal & disfiguring dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; September 27, 2014
How many other animals did pit bulls kill in 2014?
   Animals 24-7; January 27, 2015

This page may also include information from Dogsbite & Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Google News: Today's pit bull attacks

2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities on Daxton's Friends
Index of canine fatalities on Daxton's Friends

Definitions:
SRUV uses the definition of "pit bull" as found in the Omaha Municipal Code Section 6-163. As pit bulls are increasingly crossed with exotic mastiffs, Catahoula Leopard Dogs and other breeds, the vernacular definition of "pit bull" must be made even more inclusive.

Sources cited by news media sometimes refer to "Animal Advocates" or sometimes "Experts." In many cases these words are used to refer to single-purpose pit bull advocates who have never advocated for any other breeds or species of animals. Media would be more accurate to refer to these pit bull advocates as advocates of fighting breeds.

Similarly, in many cases pit bull advocates refer to themselves as "dog lovers" or "canine advocates" and media often accepts this usage. The majority of these pit bull advocates are single-purpose advocates of fighting breeds.





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