Well....the problem with how to handle things going forward clearly lies with the human - not the dog.
In fact, an argument could be made, it's the human's fault in the first place.
Why am I "picking on" the human and not the dog?
It's the same argument as why a gun is not to blame for a homicide. Someone has to pull that trigger.
In the case of a dog - someone has to be stupid enough to not understand the big picture and be responsible in their action(s).
Case in point.....what breed ranks #1 in shelters? You got it:
These Are The 10 Most Common Dog Breeds Found In Shelters
1. American Pit Bull Terrier
Total Number Available for Adoption: 5,435
Quote:
Not surprisingly at all, American Pit Bull Terriers were the number one breed represented in U.S. shelters for 2015 by a landslide. These dogs face overwhelming discrimination and misrepresentation in the media. In recent years, more and more advocacy groups have joined the crusade to clear the Pit Bull name, and push for dogs to be judged by their individual behavior, not just sensationalistic journalism. Hopefully, this unfair number of homeless Pits will diminish as breed specific laws are abolished, and the Pit Bull persona is given a fresh perspective.
We do not know the exact reasons behind these dogs being so highly represented in U.S. shelters. But what all of these breeds have in common is that they are among the most popular in the country. Perhaps they are over-bred, given up for financial reasons, or simply more than the owners could handle.
Before bringing any new pet into your home, please be sure to research the breed characteristics and cost of care you can expect. We can reduce the number of great dogs in shelters through education, and, of course, adoption.
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OK, I'm not so sure the article really hits the nail on the head here (as written above).
But check out this comment someone left on the article:
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"Pit bulls" are the most commonly found breed in shelters due to socio/economic reasons.
1.Why they are bred.
Backyard breeders in low income neighborhoods breed the dogs for money. The dogs typically live outdoors without proper food, water, shelter, vet care or human interaction. The expenses are minimal and a litter of 6+ puppies, born 2-3 times a year can sell for as much as the buyer will pay, anywhere from $50-$1000+ each. The puppies are separated from the mother and litter mates too early, denying them of the mother's milk, which passes on critical antibodies to strengthen their immune system. Separation from their litter mates denies them of proper dog socialization and many grow up to be dog aggressive. Because the mother lives outdoors and is not given adequate vet care, she passes on parasites and other virusus that can be deadly.
2. Why they are purchased
People buy these pups 1) for further breeding/money - and the cycle continues 2) for security. Dogs act as an alarm system to warn of strangers approaching (robbers, drug dealers, police, parole officers etc.) 3) their inherent "macho" status. 4} they are cute
3. Why they end up in shelters
The pups are adorable but they quickly grow into 60+lb adult dogs. If not properly cared for, including training, they can be too difficult to handle. Many owners rent and if they have to move, they cannot take the dog with them.The young men who often purchase these dogs may be incarcerated and now the dog is homeless. But the dogs are expendible. All an owner has to do is "let it go". Animal control will pick it up and it will be taken to a municipal shelter. And that is exactly what happens.
This is why the pit bull is the most common breed found in shelters.
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So what we have here are irresponsible humans. That is squarely where the fault lies and that is where as a society we need to focus our attention, IMHO.
Complaining about how vicious the breed is doesn't do anything except fuel the debate and waste a lot of time.....