Article: Pit Bull advocates balk at targeting breeds

Author: David Kibbe

Date: May 14, 2007

Our Response:   When tested by Dr. Barr of the National Geographic research team,  3 breeds or types of dogs were tested for bite pressure.  Of the 3 domestic dogs, the pit bull tested as the weakest jaw pressure.  Interestingly enough according to the State Insurer German Shepards are the top biter in MA,  according to DSS in 3 of the regions in MA,  GSDs are the top offenders, in 1 district no incidents and the other 2 were not mentioned. 

Our Response:  Without question?  They are bigger, stronger and faster than say a horse?  This is just an absurd comment.  Pit bulls range in size from 28 lbs to 90+ lbs,  so a 28lb pit bull is stronger, faster and bigger than a 180 Bull Mastiff?

Article: Pit Bulls Battle a Bad Reputation

Author: Jason Tait, Staff writer

Date: May 20, 2007

Our Response:  The statement that pit bulls were responsible for killing 60 more people etc. more than any other breed.    Pit bull isn't a breed of dog but a slang term used to represent 3 breeds of dog so of course the numbers would be higher.  In fact in the CDC report under "pure bred" section where this number appears it states "Pit Bull Type" dog.  Hmm, how is a "type dog" = a "pure bred dog"?    As for the CDC report,  its beyond inaccurate by their own admission and both the CDC and the Doctors involved in the study stand against any form of BSL.  The whole point of the study was to say you can NOT legislate by breed because its owners that are the issue and all dogs can attack.  For more information about the CDC report: http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/CDCReport/CDCReport.htm

Statement: “When these dogs do attack, it is violent and vicious and dangerous,” Pedone said. “With a smaller dog you can defend yourself. You cannot do that with a pit bull.”
 

Our Response:  "These dogs" ?  There are many breeds of dog equally as strong as many "pit bulls".   Pit bulls range in size from 28lbs to 90+ lbs.  Rep. Pedone, there are many fatalities in the US caused by small dogs, where apparently citizens couldn't defend themselves.  In fact since 1922 there have been 8 canine fatalities in MA and NONE were pit bull type dogs.   And more interesting in Rep. Pedone's district of Worcester an elderly woman was killed by West Highland Terriers which are very small dogs. 

So all of the other attacks in the US are not "violent and vicious and dangerous"?  The 8 people killed by canines in MA were not victims of a violent attack because it wasn't a "pit bull type dog"?

Article: We need tough laws on pit bulls

Author: C.W. Lewis

Date: June 11, 2005

Our Response:  Denver did in fact win a case allowing them to maintain their ban on pit bulls, however it was based on a Colorado State Law allowing communities with a population greater than 2000 to claim "home rule" where they don't need to adhere to State law.  Since California State doesn't have any sort of "home rule" law, that makes the laws and the situation completely different.

Statement: Denver City Attorney Kory Nelson  -  "Look,'' Nelson says, "nobody can prove one dog is more likely than another to go off. The difference is, should a pit bull attack a person, they are much more likely to inflict serious injuries.''

Our Response:  There is no  statistical research to support this statement.  We can provide several victim photos that are a result of other breeds,  there have been more than 400 human deaths caused by breeds other than Pit Bulls or pit-bull-type dogs since 1965. How does BSL address this?

Statement:  Dr. James Betts, chief of trauma surgery at Children's Hospital Oakland,  Betts says a pit bull can exert as much as 1,200 pounds per square inch of pressure with its jaws, while that of a German shepherd is more like 200.  "That kind of grip,'' Betts says, "is enough to fracture your femur, the largest bone in your body.''

Our Response:  Currently there is no proven method or device to accurately measure the bite pressure of any breed of dog.   In the past year there have been strides in this area conducted by Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic.  He added sensors to a canine bite sleeve and tested several animals.   Domestic dogs averaged in the 320lb psi.  The pit bull was tested as well and had less of a bite pressure than 2 other breeds that were tested.  (Dangerous
Encounters: Bite Force, 8pm est 8/18/2005)

Article: Bill to Allow Regulation of Dog Breed Advances

Author: Jordan Rau

Date: August 23, 2005

Our Response:  According to research from "Fatal Dog Attacks" and author Karen Delise, there have been 54 fatal attacks from 1965 - 2005 (excluding Nicolas Fabish).   Only 6 of those were officially identified as "pit bulls",  there were 13 that were identified as "pit bull TYPE" dogs which means it could have been a number of breeds, or mixed breeds.  In the Mixed Breed column we have 27 dogs,  pit bulls do not top the charts in California.  Some of the fatalities were caused by multiple dogs so the numbers are increased.

Article: Dog gone goal of lawmaker

Author: Robert Barron

Date: July 28, 2005

Our Response:  This is a ridiculous statement with absolutely no statistical foundation to support such a statement.

Statement:  “They are a land shark. They are a walking time bomb,” he said, “and any number of things can set them off: another dog, a territorial issue with another dog or a person, a loud noise.”  and   “Pit bulls are prisoners of their own genetic code. If something sets it off, it can kill. It wants to kill,” he said. 

Our Response:  No breed of dog has been proven to be any more dangerous than another.  In fact the Alabama Supreme Court in Huntsville v. Tack ruled pit bulls were no more inherently vicious than any other breed.   As for dogs being set off by noises, another dog, territory,  that something that occurs with all dogs.  The Representative should do a little research on canine behavior before speaking publicly.

Statement: He also said pit bulls have a history of attacking their owners and members of their own families.

Our Response:  Again there is absolutely NO statistical foundation to support this statement. This statement is as most others the Representative is making publicly both ridiculous and unfounded.

Statement: “Each year we lose 10 children and two elderly people because of pit bull attacks
nationally,” he said.

Our Response:  Another Inaccurate quote by the Representative!  Over the past 5 years the US has averaged around 3 fatal attacks by alleged Pit Bull dogs.  Elderly we have had 2 fatalities in the past 5 years for an average of 0.4 not 2.   Please visit NCRF for more details on this research: http://ncrf2004.tripod.com/id12.html

Personal Rant:  Representative Wessleholft obviously has absolutely no clue as to what he is talking about.  It's upsetting when a Legislator is talking with the press and making these off the wall comments when it's obvious no research has been conducted.  This should be criminal.  There should be a law that legislators must understand the facts before attempting to change laws.