The Dogged Dog
On Point with Chris Papst
There is no dog breed in the world that garners as much bad press as the pit bull. Statistics don't lie, the breed causes problems. Yet, sometimes I wonder what is the bigger problem, pit bulls or their owners.
A few months back, an 80-year-old Harrisburg woman was sent to the hospital after a pit bull attacked her. The assault left her with a broken hip, broken leg and large cuts to her arm.
Also earlier this month in Harrisburg, two pit bulls attacked and killed a dachshund named Holly while it played in a fenced-in backyard. Holly's owner, Betsy Davenny, spoke to CBS 21 News. "We try to take care of our own dogs, and yet it's my little dog that's killed.”
In March, two pit bulls killed a house cat and attacked a young boy in the Allison Hill section of the capital city.
Also in March, two pit bulls ran through Millcreek Township in Lebanon County and reportedly attacked a child and a horse.
When I lived in Wisconsin, a pit bull with a violent past escaped from its house and killed a 10-pound puppy that was tied to a post in its owner’s front yard. Witnesses say despite the efforts of both dog owners to separate the animals, the pit bull would not let go of the other dog’s neck until it was dead. The owners, who tried to separate them, also received injuries from the dog.
In many of these instances, the dog's owners are charged. But also in most instances, the dogs are destroyed. I understand that is necessary. But something about it doesn't seem right.
A 1999 City Journal article stated that pit bulls were responsible for a third of the nation's dog-bite fatalities since 1979, and an equal percentage of dog-bite injuries.
The CDC did a two-year study beginning in 1997 saying that over the prior 20 years there have been 238 dog-bite related fatalities in the U.S. And pit bulls and rottweilers were involved in more than half of them.
Countries all across the world have passed legislation banning the dogs or regulating their care. These include Canada, Australia, France, Norway, Iceland, Singapore, Ecuador, the UK, Denmark, New Zealand, Serbia, Italy, and the Netherlands. In America, more than 500 cities have breed-specific pit bull laws (none are in PA). Eleven states have passed similar legislation (PA is not one of them).
There are usually two ways to draw conclusions from any situation: analytically and emotionally. As a reporter, I tend to side with facts. And these facts speak loudly.
Yet, despite the evidence, many still support the breed. This is what one viewer posted on our website after the latest pit bull attack in Harrisburg. “It's better to 'put down' bad owners, dogs can be rehabilitated. Over the years, the American Pit Bull Terrier has been a beloved symbol of Americana. In World War I, a pit bull named Stubby captured the heart of the nation. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades.”
Many pit bulls have been bred specifically for their fighting prowess, which is why the breed is primarily used for dog fighting, which is illegal in this country. They are also the breed of choice to protect illegal drugs and resist police. It's obvious that in many cases, owners are to blame for the dogs' violent behavior and notorious reputation. But, there is a reason why this breed was chosen for such tasks; it's good at it.
Pit bulls definitely have earned a reputation. But I feel society has also placed stereotypes on pit bull owners. And as long as the attacks persist, and as long as cities, states and countries restrict the breed, that will never change. Pit bulls and pit bull owners have a lot of work to do to restore the breed's reputation. But if you watch the news, it doesn't seem like they're trying.
Chris Papst is a two-time Emmy Award winning reporter for CBS-21 news. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @chrispapst.
A few months back, an 80-year-old Harrisburg woman was sent to the hospital after a pit bull attacked her. The assault left her with a broken hip, broken leg and large cuts to her arm.
Also earlier this month in Harrisburg, two pit bulls attacked and killed a dachshund named Holly while it played in a fenced-in backyard. Holly's owner, Betsy Davenny, spoke to CBS 21 News. "We try to take care of our own dogs, and yet it's my little dog that's killed.”
In March, two pit bulls killed a house cat and attacked a young boy in the Allison Hill section of the capital city.
Also in March, two pit bulls ran through Millcreek Township in Lebanon County and reportedly attacked a child and a horse.
When I lived in Wisconsin, a pit bull with a violent past escaped from its house and killed a 10-pound puppy that was tied to a post in its owner’s front yard. Witnesses say despite the efforts of both dog owners to separate the animals, the pit bull would not let go of the other dog’s neck until it was dead. The owners, who tried to separate them, also received injuries from the dog.
In many of these instances, the dog's owners are charged. But also in most instances, the dogs are destroyed. I understand that is necessary. But something about it doesn't seem right.
A 1999 City Journal article stated that pit bulls were responsible for a third of the nation's dog-bite fatalities since 1979, and an equal percentage of dog-bite injuries.
The CDC did a two-year study beginning in 1997 saying that over the prior 20 years there have been 238 dog-bite related fatalities in the U.S. And pit bulls and rottweilers were involved in more than half of them.
Countries all across the world have passed legislation banning the dogs or regulating their care. These include Canada, Australia, France, Norway, Iceland, Singapore, Ecuador, the UK, Denmark, New Zealand, Serbia, Italy, and the Netherlands. In America, more than 500 cities have breed-specific pit bull laws (none are in PA). Eleven states have passed similar legislation (PA is not one of them).
There are usually two ways to draw conclusions from any situation: analytically and emotionally. As a reporter, I tend to side with facts. And these facts speak loudly.
Yet, despite the evidence, many still support the breed. This is what one viewer posted on our website after the latest pit bull attack in Harrisburg. “It's better to 'put down' bad owners, dogs can be rehabilitated. Over the years, the American Pit Bull Terrier has been a beloved symbol of Americana. In World War I, a pit bull named Stubby captured the heart of the nation. Stubby was the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades.”
Many pit bulls have been bred specifically for their fighting prowess, which is why the breed is primarily used for dog fighting, which is illegal in this country. They are also the breed of choice to protect illegal drugs and resist police. It's obvious that in many cases, owners are to blame for the dogs' violent behavior and notorious reputation. But, there is a reason why this breed was chosen for such tasks; it's good at it.
Pit bulls definitely have earned a reputation. But I feel society has also placed stereotypes on pit bull owners. And as long as the attacks persist, and as long as cities, states and countries restrict the breed, that will never change. Pit bulls and pit bull owners have a lot of work to do to restore the breed's reputation. But if you watch the news, it doesn't seem like they're trying.
Chris Papst is a two-time Emmy Award winning reporter for CBS-21 news. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @chrispapst.
