B-I-Z
08-30-2004, 05:17 PM
Though pit bulls come with the stereotype that they are vicious, violent dogs, pet owners and animal officials say otherwise.
That is, they say, if based on the assumption that owners are the right people, those that will not fight the dogs and check the dogs' breeding records.
"They can be very good dogs, if responsible people own them," said Georgia Lynn, president of the Humane Society in Vicksburg. "If not, it's bad."
Still, pit bull dogs were responsible for about a third of the approximately 300 dog bite-related fatalities in the U.S. from 1976 to 1996, according to a 2000 study by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Jane McAdory, 60, lives in Clinton with her husband and two dogs, one of which is a 5-year-old pit bull named Jack.
"Mine will knock your leg off wagging its tail," she said. "He's extremely friendly with people."
Then again, Jack is not always so friendly with other dogs, McAdory said.
"I won't take him to a dog-walking park," she said. "Like any terrier dog, they can be temperamental. But he gets along with our other dog wonderfully."
McAdory, who enters Jack in obedience dog shows, said that before she bought Jack, she was sure to check his pedigree, which the breeder provided to her, so she could see Jack's family tree.
"And there was no evidence of any dogfighting there," she said. "If the breeder could not provide a pedigree, I would not want to buy a dog from that person."
Debra Boswell, executive director of the Mississippi Animal Rescue League, said a pit bull that has dog fighters in its pedigree could be more aggressive toward their owners and should be avoided.
"The thinking that pit bulls are born to fight is an ignorant mentality," she said. "But, at the same time, aggression can be bred into a dog, so it is best to be cautious."
Lynn said dogfighters will look for natural aggression in a litter of pups, which could occur in possibly one out of eight, then the owner will kill the others and keep that one aggressive puppy. It will be raised and bred with another aggressive dog in what is known as a breeding box, where the dogs can be restrained from hurting each other.
Lynn said the stereotype needs to be stopped.
"It's not the dogs," Lynn said. "If the people want the dogs to be mean, the dogs don't stand a chance."
That is, they say, if based on the assumption that owners are the right people, those that will not fight the dogs and check the dogs' breeding records.
"They can be very good dogs, if responsible people own them," said Georgia Lynn, president of the Humane Society in Vicksburg. "If not, it's bad."
Still, pit bull dogs were responsible for about a third of the approximately 300 dog bite-related fatalities in the U.S. from 1976 to 1996, according to a 2000 study by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Jane McAdory, 60, lives in Clinton with her husband and two dogs, one of which is a 5-year-old pit bull named Jack.
"Mine will knock your leg off wagging its tail," she said. "He's extremely friendly with people."
Then again, Jack is not always so friendly with other dogs, McAdory said.
"I won't take him to a dog-walking park," she said. "Like any terrier dog, they can be temperamental. But he gets along with our other dog wonderfully."
McAdory, who enters Jack in obedience dog shows, said that before she bought Jack, she was sure to check his pedigree, which the breeder provided to her, so she could see Jack's family tree.
"And there was no evidence of any dogfighting there," she said. "If the breeder could not provide a pedigree, I would not want to buy a dog from that person."
Debra Boswell, executive director of the Mississippi Animal Rescue League, said a pit bull that has dog fighters in its pedigree could be more aggressive toward their owners and should be avoided.
"The thinking that pit bulls are born to fight is an ignorant mentality," she said. "But, at the same time, aggression can be bred into a dog, so it is best to be cautious."
Lynn said dogfighters will look for natural aggression in a litter of pups, which could occur in possibly one out of eight, then the owner will kill the others and keep that one aggressive puppy. It will be raised and bred with another aggressive dog in what is known as a breeding box, where the dogs can be restrained from hurting each other.
Lynn said the stereotype needs to be stopped.
"It's not the dogs," Lynn said. "If the people want the dogs to be mean, the dogs don't stand a chance."