From: trimpe_b@wums.wustl.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: RE: pitbulls
Date: 7 OCT 92 12:41:43 GMT
Organization: MIT PLASMA FUSION CENTER
NNTP-Posting-Host: msnews.wustl.edu

In a previous article, rhh@alice.att.com (r hardin) wrote:
>Sharon Hope writes:
>[about negatives of pit bull]
>	[stuff delected]
>As Sharon notes, it takes several generations for the genes to change,
>so apply that to the abrupt change in pit bull perceptions. 
>Here's a test Vicki Hearne wrote up in a cranky mood.  The object
>is to see how quickly you can believe it.
>  Over a three-year period, 20 out of 28 people killed by dogs in
>  the United States were victims of pit bull attacks.
	ok I'll get my flame suit on but here it goes.  I was a little 
	confused by some of this article but the above fact *REALLY*
	troubles me.  The above indicates that 71.4% of the DEATHS
	from dog attacks(not just INJURIES, mind you] are from pit bulls.
	Considering that pit bulls make up-what? 2%, 5%, 10%tops of
	the pet-dog population I see pit bulls as a problem.  GRANTED
	it's the owners who train them but with all the hassles going
	on and the hysteria about it why would you WANT to have one 
	unless you were interested in utilizing this "rumor" of
	ferociousness. I feel the same about DObes.  I know dobie 
	lovers who'll go on and on about how wonderful their pets are
	and I don't doubt them BUT when someone wants an intimidating
	dog they often want a dobes, GSD,or rottie.  I also know that
	chows and akitas tend to be aggressive.  I never get near or
	approach these types of dogs un-invited cuz they do scare me.
	No matter how wonderful/lovable/friendly etc they REALLY are.
	I will admit however that I own a lab which is somewhat the
	other extreme.
	[stuff deleted] 
>Here's the test:
>  1. How many persons died of dog attacks in the study period?
>  2. How many of these deaths were caused by pit bulls?
>  3. Why is the apparent docility of a family pet misleading?
>  4. What causes the Jekyll-Hyde syndrome?
>  5. What is unusual about a pit bull's jaws?
	Why are INJURIES not addressed here... why not some better
	statistics like I mentioned above?  What about a Canine
	Good Citizen test for all pit bulls (all dogs)or something to 
	protect	the owner from a lawsuit if the dogs attacks WHEN HE IS 
	provoked.  

	[stuff deleted]
>more on the crisis:
>  In the fall of 1987 there was a week-long ABC special on pit bulls.
>  You had your intrepid reporter going into one of Those Neighborhoods,
>  dedicated to truth but all a-tremble because: ``There might be
>  pit bulls anywhere!''  The intrepid reporter is eventually seen
>  interviewing a nin-year-old boy, along these lines
	[interesting story deleted]

	This was an interesting story but I am sorry but I did not
	get the point of it.  Yes it is a difficult situation and
	a solution would probably be unfair to the breed but being
	unfair to humans simply will not fly with most of us.  I 
	guess part of the fighting of dogs is cultural but if it's
	illegal-it's illegal.  I also don't see too many people
	volunteering for a pit bull rescue.  Maybe I'm uninformed
	but I do not want SOMEONE else's attack dog.

Whew-off my soap box.  I hope I addressed some of the thread.  Certainly 
no offense meant to concientious dog owners of any breed-any where.
Bev