The mayor of Indianapolis is sick of pit bulls and wants them banned:
The city’s mayor on Wednesday said he’ll ask the City-County Council to ban pit bulls in Marion County, citing recent dog attacks on residents.
"More kids and more people in our community (are) getting torn up by pit bulls, and I’m just sick to death of it," Mayor Bart Peterson told 6News’ Rick Hightower.
Several pit-bull attacks on people were reported in the city this month. One of the most recent incidents happened last week, when a pit bull injured the 7-year-old daughter of its owner’s girlfriend.
The problem with breed-specific bans is that it punishes the dogs instead of the monsters who misuse them. The pit bull is no more or less aggressive than most dogs, but it is powerful and a favorite of certain lowlife clowns who get off by turning animals into monsters:
Despite the stereotype, the average, sound-minded pit bull is not a threat where children are concerned. Though the AKC and UKC recommend that no child be left alone with any dog, the APBT, like many of its relatives, is a breed more likely not to know its own strength and knock a toddler down totally by accident rather than by force. Pit bulls were bred to have a high tolerance for pain and thus will put up with a child’s tail yanking, horseplay, and tumbling with little complaint and no snapping. Though if the animal has reached a mature age it is not advisable to have a child left unattended. It is also a breed that is very strong for its size and weight, so adults and older children are better recommended to take the dog on its leash.
Fort Wayne has the right approach:
In addition, no dog that has been purchased, bred, sold, trained, or harbored for the purpose of dog fighting can be kept within the City.
It’s not the breed; it’s their masters.
May 31, 2007 at 7:43 am
One word, Leo….
BINGO!
B.G.
December 25, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Perhaps the Mayor should put down the Newspapers and do some real Research
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/IndianaStats.asp
[quote]Indiana
Are Dogs A Real Danger?
A National Canine Research Council Perspective Report
Over the past 43 years (1965 – present) there have been ten (10) fatal dog attacks in Indiana, or approximately one (1) fatality every four (4) years.
At least 12 different breeds/types of dogs have been identified as participating in a fatal attack in Indiana. (Breed number is larger than number of attacks because three fatalities involved multiple different breeds).
The victims were: 4 adults and 6 children.
Only one of the fatalities in Indiana involved dogs that had been spayed or neutered. All other fatal attacks in Indiana were by intact dogs.
A number of cases of fatal dog attacks in Indiana resulted in criminal convictions for the owners, with sentences ranging from 3 months house arrest to 4 years in prison:
In 2000, W. Newton and J. Latvaitis were found guilty of criminal recklessness after their large pack of dogs killed a Census bureau worker.
In 2005, A. Warren and A. Warren both pled guilty to failing to restrain a dog resulting in death after their four dogs escaped their yard and mauled to death their elderly neighbor.
In spite of the reckless and negligent ownership practices of some dog owners, dogs still pose an incredibly low risk for causing a fatality:
Fatal Dog Attacks in Indiana as Compared to Other Selected Risks:
Snapshot of Indiana: Year 2005
Persons killed by dogs: 2
Persons drowned in bathtub or swimming pool: 9
Bicycle-related fatalities: 11
ATV-related fatalities: 14
Farm-work related fatalities: 16
Alcohol related traffic fatalities: 325
Total traffic fatalities (alcohol & non): 938
Tobacco-related deaths: 9,800
Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
In 2005, twenty-nine (29) Indiana children died as the result of maltreatment (abuse or neglect).
In a SINGLE YEAR, more than FOUR TIMES as many Indiana children died from maltreatment (abuse/neglect) than the TOTAL of ALL children killed by dog attacks in Indiana over the past 43 years.
So, are dogs a danger? Fact is, people in Indiana routinely accept far greater risks from ATVs, bicycles, and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.[/quote]
Not a single credible Expert or Organization supports BSL as a means to reduce dog bites
http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/topic.php?id=5&topic=17