Should pit bulls be owned as pets?

Mark (No)

Of the 51 dog attacks that resulted in death in the US in 2021, a staggering 37 of them were attributed to pit bulls. Since February 2013, various animal control agencies and health departments have reported that pit bulls have bitten more people than any other breed. Furthermore, pit bull bites are said to have more serious and fatal ramifications than other dogs. PETA has taken an anti-pit bull stance, citing how pit bulls have targeted small children and smaller animals. It should speak volumes when the organization that exists to protect all animals labels one of them as a violent and unpredictable predator. 

Unfortunately for pit bulls, they are not only their own worst enemy. We all remember the infamous and highly disturbing Michael Vick case. Banning pit bulls would, in essence, protect them from being exploited in fighting rings—a practice that many view as the catalyst for the breed's inherently aggressive tendencies. Genetically speaking, pit bulls are more naturally hostile due to high levels of a neurotransmitter known as L-tyrosine. Whether people want to admit it or not, pit bulls are literally bred to be killing machines. 

If pit bulls aren't targeting people, they are targeting property. One report has cited how pit bulls have cost taxpayers a quarter of a million dollars in places like the Bronx. They've destroyed everything from playground equipment to trees. Many pit bull owners don't have insurance, and certain cities have begun to impose a mandate that the animal at least be labeled a liability. As a result, many previous victims have gone uncompensated for their injuries and, in some extreme fatal cases, the death of family members. 

Bethany (Yes)

Pit bulls are a breed of dog that has unfortunately been stigmatized by many misconceptions and myths that have established a sense of fear of pits in many people. With this in mind, there are many things that many people don't understand about them. 

Pit bulls used to be 'nanny dogs' in the early 1900s due to their protective relationship with humans. Some would leave them unattended with their small children to ensure their safety. When raised correctly, they are very eager to please, making them suitable for any kind of job or family dynamic. Some have even found them useful as herding dogs and law enforcement canines.

With the ownership and domestication of any animal comes risk. The risk of owning pit bulls falls back to training and socialization. Some owners raise pit bulls as guard dogs, but most will typically only be alert (by barking, whining, etc.) instead of attacking. As long as the animal is adequately socialized with people and other animals, pit bulls have been known to have an incredibly sweet demeanor.

Much of the stigma comes from those who have raised these dogs to fight, making them aggressive in nature, but only because they still want to please their people and are taught that this is correct. This misconception is only built upon when it is realized that pit bulls only make up 5.8% of the country's dog population and are, sadly, the most abused canine breed.