Outdoor Outlook: Pitfall of Assumptions, Dog Attacks Part 2 Pit bull issue needs to be looked at from all sides
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Gene Fox
Fox 4 News
Several decades ago, it was the German Sheppard that was the bad boy of the dog world. Then the Doberman, Rottweiler and now the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. But have some communities overreacted by banning the so-called, Pit Bull? In Part Two of their series on dogs, photographer Jim Monteleone and Gene Fox explained in this week's Outdoor Outlook it may be owners, not dogs, that are the problem.
Twenty years ago, my son lay in a hospital bed stunned and scared. He had been severely mauled by a dog. Not a Pit Bull, but a so-called friend breed---one that belonged to an irresponsible owner in a Johnson County community that had allowed the dog to attack two other children before he went after mine son.
"Stay, Stay," a dog trainer called out.
Dog ownership, whatever the breed, requires duty. Like a child, dogs become whatever mom or dad creates.
"Certainly, what this (dog training) helps more than anything is the owner," said Kim Krohn, a dog trainer. "Our motto is we help train you to help train your dog. I think that is very important. Most dogs are fine. Most dogs are good dogs. Most dogs don't bite. If there is a problem dog, most of the time the owner has allowed it to get away with too much."
But by banning specific breeds,such as the Pit Bull, some communities believe they are getting a quick fix. Not so.
"Pit Bulls are not any more inherently dangerous than any other breed of dog," said J.C. Burcham, a vet at the Olathe Animal Hospital. "Its how they're (dogs) are raised, how they're trained, the socialization they get at an early age and what they believe is acceptable."
"They are wonderful dogs," said Ledy Vankavag of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. "They are actually less human aggressive than many other breeds. In temperament testing, they test as well as the Golden Retrievers do."
"We have an estimated 450 Pit Bulls in Lee's Summit right now," said Nick Sweargin, Lee's Summit Councilman, "and we don't have a problem."
For many, it is heartbreaking to see dogs being destroyed just because of their breed. Michelle and Brent are part of a network that rescues Pit Bulls. They have never had any regrets.
"No, none at all…except maybe we wish we could save more than we do," said Brent, a Pit Bull owner. "There are just so many of them out there that need homes. Unfortunately with their reputation most people are not willing to take them in. You can tell my looking at them, they are not (dog licks Brent) what people think they are."
"Almost every thing you think you know," adds Michelle, a Pit Bull owner, "about Pit Bulls is a myth."
Obviously, Brent and Michelle will not be moving to Overland Park, which bans Pitt Bulls, anytime soon.
"I just think they have made a lot of decisions based off of bad information and based off stereotypes of people who own Pit Bulls…and stereotypes of what they see on the news of the .00001 per cent of the dogs that make the news," said Brent. "If they'd just go out and get the expert research and opinions. The expert opinions are very much on our side in terms of these particular dogs. There is nothing wrong with these dogs."
"No city that has passed BSL (Breed Specific Legislation)," added Michelle, "has done so basded on the facts."
With photographer Jim Monteleone, I'm Gene Fox with your Outdoor Outlook.
Gene Fox, a media specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, is a longtime area journalist and an avid outdoorsman. Reach Gene Fox at gene.fox@mdc.mo.gov .
