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Pit bull

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A Staffordshire Bull Terrier, one of the three types commonly recognised as a Pit Bull type dog.

Pit Bull is a term commonly used to describe several breeds of dog in the molosser family. Many breed-specific laws use the term "pit bull" to refer to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and dogs with significant mixes of these breeds; however, a few jurisdictions also classify the modern American Bulldog and Bull Terrier as a "pit bull-type dog". All three breeds share similar history, with origins rooted from the bulldog and a variety of terriers. The term can also refer to dogs that were known as "bull terriers" prior to the development of the modern Bull Terrier in the early 20th century.

Research has been conducted into human fatalities related to Pit bull type dogs due to a number of well publized incidents. These incidents have resulted in breed-specific legislation being enacted in several jurisdictions. This in turn has lead to an increase in rates of liability insurance, and in some cases have lead to airlines placing restrictions on air travel for these types of dogs, although in some cases these restrictions are in place for the dogs own well-being.

History

The history of the pit bull-type dog reflects the history of its constituent breeds: the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.[1] There are an estimated 74.8 million owned dogs in the United States;[2] however, the number of pit bull-type dogs has not been reliably determined.[3] Animal shelters in the United States euthanized approximately 1.7 million dogs in 2008; approximately 980,000, or 58 percent of these were assessed to have been pit bull-type dogs.[4]

American Pit Bull Terrier

American Pit Bull Terrier

The American Pit Bull Terrier is the product of interbreeding between terriers and a breed of bulldogs to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog.[5] These dogs were initially bred in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and arrived in the United States with immigrants from these countries. In the United States, these dogs were used as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions;[5] however, some were selectively bred for their fighting prowess,[6] and starting in the early 20th century, they began to replace the bull terrier as the "dog of choice" for dog fighting in the United States.[1][7]

The United Kennel Club (UKC) was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier.[8] UKC founder C. Z. Bennett assigned UKC registration number 1 to his own dog, "Bennett’s Ring", as an American Pit Bull Terrier in 1898.[5]

American pit bull terriers today successfully fill the role of companion dog, police dog,[9][10][11] and therapy dog;[12] however, American pit bull terriers in general have a higher tendency towards dog aggression[13] and constitute the majority of dogs used for illegal dog fighting in the United States.[14] In addition, law enforcement organizations report these dogs are used for other nefarious purposes, such as guarding illegal narcotics operations,[15] personal protection and use against the police,[16] and as weapons.[17]

The fighting reputation of pit bull-type dogs led the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1996 to relabel pit bull terriers as "St. Francis Terriers" (not to be confused with the "Terrier" mascot of St. Francis College in New York) so that they might be more readily adopted;[18] 60 temperament-screened dogs were adopted until the program was halted after several of the newly adopted dogs killed cats.[19] The New York City Center for Animal Care and Control tried a similar approach in 2004 by relabeling their pit bull terriers as "New Yorkies", but dropped the idea in the face of overwhelming public opposition.[20][21]

American Staffordshire Terrier

File:Amstafford.jpg
American Staffordshire Terrier

The history of the American Staffordshire Terrier is rooted in its bulldog and terrier ancestry, for it was the interbreeding of the bulldog's courage and tenacity with the spirit and agility of a terrier that produced the "Bull-and-Terrier Dog", "Half and Half", and at times "Pit Dog" or "Pit Bullterrier" that later assumed the name in England of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.[22]

The original bulldog, also known today as the Old English Bulldog, was bred in England for the sport of bull-baiting. The original bulldog breed is now extinct, but 19th century artwork depicts the bulldog as being agile and standing straight on front and back legs; some have full muzzles and long, tapering tails; and generally appear more like the present day American Staffordshire Terrier than the present-day English Bulldog. Game terrier breed(s) were bred to aggressively hunt down and kill vermin in a fight to the death; the terrier breed or breeds bred with bulldogs to produce the "Bull-and-Terrier" dog are not definitively known, but candidates include the English White Terrier, Black-and-Tan Terrier, and especially the Fox Terrier.[23]

These dogs began to find their way into America as early as 1870, where they became known as "Pit Dog", "Pit Bull Terrier", later "American Bull Terrier", and still later as "Yankee Terrier". In 1936, they were accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as "Staffordshire Terriers". The name of the breed was revised effective January 1, 1972 to American Staffordshire Terrier since breeders in the United States had developed a type which is heavier in weight than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England and the name was changed to distinguish them as separate breeds.[24]

"Sergeant Stubby", a bull terrier

A "bull terrier"[25] named "Sergeant Stubby" was an unofficial member and mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment (Connecticut National Guard), 26th Infantry ("Yankee") Division, during its deployment to Europe as part of the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. He was "promoted" to the honorary rank of Sergeant for biting and holding a German soldier, who was scouting the American trenches, until American troops arrived and completed the capture. Stubby wore the following honorary military decorations: the Purple Heart, World War I Victory Medal (Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne campaign clasps), and the French Médaille commémorative de la bataille de Verdun and Médaille commémorative de la Grande Guerre. After the war, Stubby participated in fundraising activities for the American Red Cross and was the first live mascot of the Georgetown University "Hoyas". Upon his death on April 3, 1926, Stubby's remains were mounted by a taxidermist and donated to the Smithsonian Institution,[26] where he is part of the collection of the National Museum of American History.[27]

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

File:GhostNDarknss.jpg
Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier had its beginnings in England many centuries ago when the bulldog and Mastiff were used for the sports of bull-baiting and bear-baiting; in the Elizabethan era, breeders produced large dogs for these sports but later on the 100-120 pound animal gave way to a small, more agile breed of up to 90 pounds.[28]

The sport of dog fighting gained popularity in England in the early 19th century and a smaller, faster dog was developed. It was called by names such as "Bulldog Terrier" and "Bull and Terrier". The Bulldog at that time was larger than the modern-day English Bulldog we know today, weighing about 60 pounds. This dog was crossed with a small native terrier, related to the present-day Manchester Terrier, to produce the Staffordshire Bull Terrier weighing on average between 30 and 45 pounds.[28]

James Hinks, in about 1860, crossed the Old Pit Bull Terrier, now known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and produced the all-white English Bull Terrier. The Kennel Club in Great Britain recognized the Bull Terrier in the last quarter of the 19th century, but the Staffordshire Bull Terrier's reputation as a fighting dog was such that The Kennel Club did not recognize the breed until 1935, a century after the sport of dog fighting became illegal in Great Britain under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835.[28]

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was admitted to registration in the AKC Stud Book effective October 1, 1974, with regular show classification in the Terrier Group at AKC shows available on and after March 5, 1975.[29]

A limited number of studies have been performed on the number of human deaths due to bite trauma caused by dogs, and have generally surveyed news media stories for reports of dog bite-related fatalities. This methodology is subject to several potential sources of error: some fatal attacks may not have been reported; a study might not find all of the relevant news reports; and the potential for misidentification of dog breeds,[3] although courts in the United States[30][31] and Canada[32][33] have ruled that expert identification, when using published breed standards, is sufficient for the enforcement of breed-specific legislation. It is possible to distinguish dogs by breed using DNA testing,[33] but test results for any one dog can vary widely depending upon the laboratory that performs the test and the number of purebred dog breeds in the laboratory's DNA database.[34]

The number of fatalities attributed to pit bull-type dogs is not affected by a physiological "locking mechanism" since there is no evidence for the existence of such a mechanism in the teeth or jaw structure of normal pit bull-type dogs,[35] although any dog's jaws can be locked in a closed position by surgically-correctable jaw abnormalities.[36] Despite the lack of a physiological "jaw locking" mechanism, pit bull-type dogs often exhibit "bite, hold, and shake" behavior and refuse to release when biting,[15][37] so some pit bull rescue organizations and advocacy groups recommend owners of pit bull-type dogs carry a "break stick" to lever their dog's jaws open if it bites a person or animal.[13][38]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2000)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in 2000 a study on dog bite-related fatalities (DBRF) that covered the years 1979-1998. The study found reports of 238 people killed by dogs over the 24-year period, of which "pit bull terrier" or mixes thereof were reportedly responsible for killing 76, or about 32 percent, of the people killed by dogs in the attacks identified in the study. The breed with the next-highest number of attributed fatalities was the Rottweiler and mixes thereof, with 44 fatalities or about 18 percent of the study-identified fatalities. In aggregate, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and mixes thereof were involved in about 50% of the fatalities identified over the 20-year period covered by the study, and for 67% of the DBRF reported in the final two years studied (1997–1998), concluding

"It is extremely unlikely that they [pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers] accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities."[3]

The report's authors went on to say:

"Although the fatality data are concerning, one must broaden the context to consider both fatal and nonfatal bites when deciding on a course of action. …[A] 36% increase in medically attended bites from 1986 to 1994 draws attention to the need for an effective response, including dog bite prevention programs. Because (1) fatal bites constitute less than 0.00001% of all dog bites annually, (2) fatal bites have remained relatively constant over time, whereas nonfatal bites have been increasing, and (3) fatal bites are rare at the usual political level where bite regulations are promulgated and enforced, we believe that fatal bites should not be the primary factor driving public policy regarding dog bite prevention."

The report's authors suggested that "generic non–breed-specific, dangerous dog laws can be enacted that place primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on the owner, regardless of the dog’s breed. In particular, targeting chronically irresponsible dog owners may be effective."[39]

The latest CDC "Dog Bite: Fact Sheet" includes a disclaimer regarding this study, saying that

"it does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic. Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities; about 0.0002 percent of the total number of people bitten. These relatively few fatalities offer the only available information about breeds involved in dog bites. There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill."[40]

National Canine Research Council

Karen Delise, Founder and Director of Research, has been investigating fatal dog attacks since 1990. She is the author of two books, Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics and The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression.[41][1] Her data set extends back to the 19th century. Delise refuses to rely only on news accounts, as she and other researchers have found them to be untrustworthy, in and of themselves.[42][2] Rather, she has obtained official documents whenever they are available. She has interviewed police investigators, animal control officers and, medical examiners.[43][3] According to her results, the overwhelming majority of dogs involved in human fatalities, irrespective of breed or type, were not dogs which had been afforded the opportunity to interact with humans on a daily basis and in positive and humane ways. They were dogs obtained and kept as other than pets. Most were also poorly managed and controlled.[44][4] Any single-vector study of serious and fatal attacks will overlook the critical circumstances in these incidents that have remained constant over the decades, even as the breeds identified in attacks have changed.

Canadian Veterinary Journal (2008)

An electronic search of newspaper articles by Dr. Malathi Raghavan, DVM, PhD, found that pit bull terriers were responsible for one of 28 dog bite-related fatalities reported in Canada from 1990 through 2007.[45]

Clifton report (2009)

Mr. Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People News,[46] has compiled from press reports a log of dog attack deaths and severe bites in the United States and Canada from September 1982 through December 22, 2009. The study methodology counted attacks "by dogs of clearly identified breed type or ancestry, as designated by animal control officers or others with evident expertise, [that] have been kept as pets." Mr. Clifton acknowledges that the log "is by no means a complete list of fatal or otherwise serious dog attacks" since it excludes "dogs whose breed type may be uncertain, ...attacks by police dogs, guard dogs, and dogs trained specifically to fight...."[47]

The study found reports of 345 people killed by dogs over the 27-year period, of which "pit bull terrier" or mixes thereof were reportedly responsible for killing 159, or about 46 percent, of the people killed by dogs in the attacks identified in the study. The breed with the next-highest number of attributed fatalities was the Rottweiler and mixes thereof, with 70 fatalities or about 20 percent of the study-identified fatalities; in aggregate, pit bulls, rottweilers, and mixes thereof were involved in about 66% of the study-identified fatalities.[47]

Mr. Clifton has concluded that

"Temperament is not the issue, nor is it even relevant. What is relevant is actuarial risk. If almost any other dog has a bad moment, someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a pit bull terrier…has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed--and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price."[47]

Fatalities reported in the United States (2005-2009)

The following table summarizes the number of pit bull-related fatalities in the United States from 2005-2009 as reported by news organizations:

Dog Bite-related Fatalities in the United States.[48]
Year Total Involving pit bull-type dogs
2005 28 16 (57%)
2006 30 16 (53%)
2007 35 20 (57%)
2008 23 15 (65%)
2009 31 14 (45%)

Legislation

A muzzled pit bull-type dog.

A large number of jurisdictions have enacted breed-specific legislation (BSL) in response to a number of well-publicized incidents involving pit bull-type dogs, and some government organizations such as the United States Army[49] and Marine Corps[50] have taken administrative action as well. These actions range from outright bans on the possession of pit bull-type dogs to restrictions and conditions on pit bull ownership, and often establish a legal presumption that a pit bull-type dog is prima facie a legally "dangerous" or "vicious" dog.[1] In response, some state-level governments in the United States have prohibited or restricted the ability of municipal governments within those states to enact breed-specific legislation, though these prohibitions on breed-specific legislation do not affect military installations located within these states.[51]

It is now generally settled in case law that jurisdictions in the United States and Canada have the right to enact breed-specific legislation; however, the appropriateness and effectiveness of breed-specific legislation in preventing dog bite fatalities is disputed.[52] One point of view is that pit bulls are a public safety issue that merits actions such as banning ownership, mandatory spay/neuter for all pit bulls, mandatory microchip implants and liability insurance, or prohibiting people convicted of a felony from owning pit bulls.[53][54] Another point of view is that comprehensive "dog bite" legislation, coupled with better consumer education and legally mandating responsible pet keeping practices, is a better solution to the problem of dangerous dogs than breed-specific legislation.[55][56] A third point of view is that breed-specific legislation should not ban breeds entirely but should strictly regulate the conditions under which specific breeds could be owned, e.g., forbidding certain classes of individuals from owning them, specifying public areas from which they would be prohibited, and establishing conditions, such as requiring a dog to wear a muzzle, for taking dogs from specific breeds into public places.[57] Finally, some governments, such as in Australia, have forbidden the import of specific breeds and are requiring the spay/neuter of all existing dogs of these breeds in an attempt to slowly eliminate the population through natural attrition.[58][59] In Malta it is illegal to own a Pitbull Terrier. If such dogs are introduced into Malta, the person responsible is prosecuted and the dogs are seized and put down. [60]

Commercial restrictions

Liability insurance

Dog owners in the United States can be held legally liable for injuries inflicted or caused by their dogs. In general, owners are considered liable if they were unreasonably careless in handling or restraining the dog, or if they knew beforehand that the dog had a tendency to cause injury (e.g., bite); however, dog owners are automatically considered liable if local laws hold an owner strictly liable for all damage caused by their dog, regardless of carelessness or foreknowledge of a dog's tendencies. Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically provide liability coverage from US$100,000-300,000 for injuries inflicted by dogs;[61] however, some insurance companies limit their exposure to dog bite liability claims by putting restrictions on dog owners that they insure. These restrictions include refusing to cover dog bites under the insurance policy; increasing insurance rates for homeowners with specific breeds; requiring owners of specific breeds to take special training or have their dogs pass the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test;[62] requiring owners to restrict their dogs with muzzles, chains, or enclosures; and refusing to write policies for homeowners or renters who have specific breeds of dogs.[61] In Ohio, which has declared all pit bull-type dogs to be legally "vicious",[63] the cost of special liability insurance that covers only the damage inflicted by a pit bull-type dog can exceed US$575 per year.[64]

Insured loss due to dog bites in the United States[61]
Year Number of Incidents Average Loss (US$) Total Loss (US$)
2007 14,531 24,511 356.2 million
2008 15,823 24,461 387.2 million

Owners of rental properties may also be held liable if they knew an aggressive dog was living on their property and they did nothing to ensure the safety of other tenants at the property; as a result, many rental properties forbid pit bull-type dogs and any other breeds if the rental property's insurance will not cover damage inflicted by that type of dog. The dog breeds most often targeted by insurance companies include pit bull-type dogs, Rottweilers, German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Akitas (Akita Inu and American Akita), and Chows.[65]

Air carrier restrictions

Several air carriers embarg certain dog breeds due to the effect of high temperature and humidity on brachycephalic animals, or concerns for the safety of airline property, personnel, and passengers. The following table has a sampling of air carrier embargoes on pit bull-type dogs.

Airline Reason Details
Air France Safety The Staffordshire Terrier, mastiff (boerbull), tosa, and pit bull may not be transported or shipped by air.[66]
Alaska Airlines / Horizon Air Health American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, et al., fly at their owner's risk, with no additional compensation if the dog suffers injury or dies during transit. The airline may refuse to accept the dog if it feels outside temperatures are too extreme for the animal's safety.[67]
American Airlines Health "Snub-nosed" dogs, including pit bull-type dogs, are embargoed if the forecast temperature at any point on the itinerary is above 75°F (23.8°C)[68]
British Airways Safety American Pit Bull Terriers are prohibited[69]
Continental Airlines Safety American Pit Bull Terriers over six months old or weighing more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) are embargoed[70]
Continental Airlines Health American Bulldogs…or American Staffordshire Terriers over six months old or weighing more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms), or any dog of these breeds when the temperature at the departure point or any stop along the travel route is expected to be at least 85°F/(29.4°C).[70]
Northwest Airlines Health "Snub-nosed dogs", including pit bull type dogs, are embargoed when the temperature at the departure point or any stop along the travel route is expected to exceed 75°F (24°C).[71]

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