It’s not the breed, it’s not some genetic thing from 200 years ago . . . It’s all about the environment the dog is being put in.
-- Steffen Baldwin, ACTF Ohio
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It has now been 40 days since Christmas, and there have been at least four fatal pit bull attacks.
Statistics lack specificity, so to insure that Steffan Baldwin, Councilman Jeff Rath, Councilman Jeremy Blake, and others will remember the real people behind these numbers, the victims are remembered here.
Malaki Mildward, d. January 22, 2015, 7 yo
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Declan Moss; d. January 19, 2015, 18 mo
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Eugene Smith, d. January 7, 2015; 87 yo
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Edward Cahill; d. December 25, 2014, 40 yo
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Since Christmas there has been an average of one fatal pit bull attack every ten days. These four people were murdered by pit bulls that lived with them in loving environments. The families showered their pit bulls with exceptional levels of care and affection, yet the dogs killed their own family members.
But Mr Baldwin (of the Ohio Animal Cruelty Task Force) insists that pit bulls are no different from other breeds if they are treated with love. Mr. Baldwin's assertion that "It's not the breed" is a statement of faith or a statement of opinion; it is clearly not a statement of fact.
Journalists have been too willing to accept such statements from advocates of fighting breeds. Emily Maddern of the Newark Advocate published Mr Baldwin's claim in an extravagant Newark Advocate piece on January 10th. For emphasis, the phrase was repeated in the Advocate three weeks later in a story by Bethany Bruner.
When a Labrador Retriever and his human companion walk along a lake the dog quivers with anticipation, waiting for that stick to go in the water. No one questions that the retriever's desire to jump in the lake and retrieve the stick is a trait that's been selected and inherited over hundreds of years of intentional breeding.
But advocates of fighting breeds are unable to accept that their breed of obsession developed in the same way, with traits being selected and inherited over hundreds of years. When advocates of fighting breeds deny this principle they deny the very concept of breed.
When Mr Baldwin and other advocates of fighting breeds claim that "It's not the breed," they knowingly deceive the public. When journalists print such statements without also offering a more truthful counterpoint, the journalists are complicit in the deception.
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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 and should be referenced accurately.
Statistics:
Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ 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
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 and should be referenced accurately.
Statistics:
Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ 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
Sources:
Pit bull bill on to full council despite delay attempt
February 2, 2014; The Newark Advocate
Mixed breed, pit bulls, labs bit the most in 2014
February 1, 2014; The Newark Advocate
The public needs protection from all pit bulls
Guest column by Carole Miller
January 30, 2015; The Newark Advocate
Newark’s third dog bite in a month attributed to pit bulls
January 30, 2015 (Fri); Newark Advocate
New humane society facility means more adoptions
January 30, 2015 (Fri); Newark Advocate
Pit bull equality bill heading to full council
January 27, 2015 (Tues); Newark Advocate
Newark Considering Vicious Classification for Pit Bulls
January 26, 2015 (Mon); MyFox 28 Columbus
Pit bull supporters push against breed-specific law
January 20, 2015 (Tues); Newark Advocate
Pit bulls deserve another look
January 17, 2015 (Sat); Newark Advocate Editorial
Rath vows to help pit bull owners fight vicious status
January 13, 2015 (Tues); Newark Advocate
Safety panel session invites pit bull owners' comments
January 12, 2015 (Mon); Newark Advocate
Pit bull owners share the 'softer side' of bully breeds
January 11, 2015 (Sun); Newark Advocate
Roscoe; An American red nose pit bull
January 10, 2015 (Sat); Newark Advocate
Pit bull owners complain to council about law, officer
December 16, 2014; Newark Advocate
Official cancels meeting with pit bull owner
December 5, 2014; Newark Advocate
Activist wants county to stop killing pit bulls
August 12, 2014; Newark Advocate
Newark Pit Bulls Must Pass Good Citizenship Test To Get Off Vicious Dog List
December 17, 2013; WBNS 10TV
Newark council passes pit bull ordinance
December 17, 2013; Newark Advocate
Newark Pit Bull Regulations Close To Makeover
December 10, 2013 (March 4, 2014); NBC4i
Newark's current pit bull law should stand
December 7, 2013; Newark Advocate Editorial
Don't change Newark's vicious dog law
October 14, 2012; Newark Advocate Editorial
Pit bulls kills dog
December 1, 2004; Newark Advocate
Other Ohio News:
Dog named "Precious" bites woman
January 18, 2015; WDTN
Pit bull running loose attacks, bites man
January 13, 2015; Newark Advocate
Man chased, bit by dog
January 4, 2015; WDTN
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