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". 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.
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.
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is the product of interbreeding between terriers and a now-extinct breed of bulldogs to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. 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;[1] however, some were selectively bred for their fighting prowess,[2] 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.[3]
The United Kennel Club (UKC) was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. 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.[1]
American pit bull terriers today successfully fill the role of companion dog, police dog,[4][5][6] and therapy dog;[7] however, American pit bull terriers in general have a higher tendency towards dog aggression[8] and constitute the majority of dogs used for illegal dog fighting in the United States.[9] 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;[10] 60 temperament-screened dogs were adopted until the program was halted after several of the newly adopted dogs killed cats.[11] 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.[12][13]
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.
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.
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 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.[14]
A mixed-breed "bull terrier"[15] 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,[16] where he remains as part of the collection of the National Museum of American History.[17]
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.
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.
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.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was admitted to registration in the American Kennel Club Stud Book effective October 1, 1974, with regular show classification in the Terrier Group at AKC shows available on and after March 5, 1975.[18]
Population
There are an estimated 74.8 million owned dogs in the United States;[19] however, the number of pit bull-type dogs has not been reliably determined.[20] Animal shelters in the United States euthanized approximately 1.7 million dogs in 2008; approximately 980,000, or 58 percent of these were pit bull-type dogs.[21]
Related human fatalities
There are a limited number of studies concerning the number of human deaths caused by pit bull-type dogs. The number of bites, serious injuries, and fatalities attributed to these dogs are difficult to validate or cross-compare with other study results because:
- studies dependent on surveying news reports may not find all the relevant news items
- different studies use different data collection methodologies and evaluation criteria
- breed identification requires a subjective evaluation based on observation of outward physical attributes against imprecise breed standards.[22]
- It is impossible to say with mathematical certainty if the number of pit bull-type dog attacks is out of proportion to the number of pit bull-type dogs in the population since the total number of pit bulls in any geographic area cannot be reliably determined.[20] The recent decoding of the canine genome has allowed DNA testing to distinguish dogs by breed, but this method is not yet in widespread use[23] and DNA test results for an individual 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.[24]
Any dog's jaws can be locked in a closed position by surgically-correctable jaw abnormalities,[25] but there is no evidence for the existence of a physiological "locking mechanism" in the teeth or jaw structure of normal pit bull-type dogs[26] so this is not a factor in the number of fatalities attributed to them; however, pit bull-type dogs often exhibit "bite, hold, and shake" behavior and refuse to release when biting,[27] 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.[8][28]
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 report found that
"the data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1979 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they 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."
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."[29]
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."[30]
Clifton report (2008)
Mr. Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People News,[31] has compiled from press reports a log of dog attack deaths and severe bites in the United States and Canada from September 1982 through January 1, 2008. 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...."
The study found reports of 264 people killed by dogs over the 24-year period, of which "pit bull terrier" or mixes thereof were reportedly responsible for killing 137, or about 43 percent, of the 314 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 67 fatalities or about 21 percent of the study-identified fatalities; in aggregate, pit bulls, rottweilers, and mixes thereof were involved in about 64% of the study-identified fatalities.[32]
In the 2006 edition of his report, Mr. Clifton's 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."[33]
Fatalities reported in the United States (2005-2008)
The following table summarizes the number of pit bull-related fatalities in the United States from 2006-2008 as reported by news organizations.
| Year | Total | Involving pit bull-type dogs |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 28 | 16 (57%) |
| 2006 | 30 | 16 (53%) |
| 2007 | 35 | 20 (57%) |
| 2008 | 23 | 15 (65%) |
Legislation
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[34] and Marine Corps[35] 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. 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.[36]
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.[37] 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.[38][39] 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.[40][41] 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.[42] 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.
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 $100,000 USD to $300,000 USD for injuries inflicted by dogs;[43] 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;[44] 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.[43] In Ohio, which has declared all pit bull-type dogs to be legally "vicious",[45] the cost of special liability insurance that covers only the damage inflicted by a pit bull-type dog can exceed $575 USD per year.[46]
| Year | Number of Incidents | Average Loss (USD) | Total Loss (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.[47]
Air carrier restrictions
Several air carriers embargo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.[48] |
| 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)[49] |
| Continental Airlines | Safety | American Pit Bull Terriers over six months old or weighing more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) are embargoed[50] |
| 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).[50] |
| 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).[51] |
Pet-care services
A "dog day care" or "dog day camp" is a specialized pet care facility where owners leave their dogs for the day so the dogs can mingle and socially interact with each other, similar to the way in which human day care facilities provide services for small children. This differs from boarding kennels, where dogs are housed in separate runs with minimal contact with each other.[52][53] One large provider of day care services, PetSmart, banned pit bull-type dogs from participating in day care with other dogs, although they will house pit bull-type dogs as part of their boarding kennel operations,[54] after a pit bull killed a Golden Retriever puppy at one of its stores in Omaha, Nebraska.[55] At least one large day care provider precludes pit bull-type dogs due to insurance restrictions.[56]
Famous owners
- Jessica Biel[57]
- Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody "share custody" of a pit bull named "Penny Lane".[58]
- Gerard Cavlan, a Gaelic football player, owned "Cannonball" and 12-15 other pit bull-type dogs that were seized by the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from his illegal "Bulldog Sanctuary Kennels" dog fighting operation and euthanized.[59]
- Steve Foley, a former professional American football player, owned two pit bulls until they were seized and euthanized after attacking and seriously injuring a woman, and killing and partially eating the puppy she was holding. Foley was indicted on felony charges of failing to secure the dogs and faces two to ten years in prison if convicted.[60]
- Michael J. Fox.[61]
- Ira Glass, a radio host, owns a pit bull.[62]
- James Harrison, a professional American football player, owned a pit bull named "Patrón" until it attacked Harrison's two-year-old son, who was hospitalized for a week as a result. The dog was subsequently put up for adoption under a fake name.[63]
- Jesse G. James, owner of West Coast Choppers, named his restaurant after his pit bull, "Cisco".[64]
- Helen Keller owned several "bull terriers".[65]
- Cesar Millan, otherwise known as The Dog Whisperer owns several pit bulls and uses them as model dogs with which to aid in rehabilitating misbehaved dogs in some circumstances. His most famous and commonly used pit bull, "Daddy", once belonged to rapper Reginald Noble (stage name: Redman).
- Mary Tyler Moore, an actress, uses a pit bull trained as a diabetic hypoglycemic alert dog[66]
- Judd Nelson, an actor, owned a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named "Tallulah Bighead".[67]
- Antwan Patton (stage name: Big Boi) from the hip-hop duo OutKast is a registered pit bull breeder and operates Pitfall Kennels.[68]
- Antonio Pierce, a professional American football player, owned three pit bulls until he pleaded guilty to neglecting them, paid a $1,300 USD fine, and gave the dogs away as part of a plea bargain agreement.[69]
- Joey Porter, a professional American football player, owns pit bulls named "Tina" and "Nemo". The two dogs killed a neighbor's miniature horse; Mr. Porter was charged with harboring dangerous animals and failing to confine them, and was fined $600 because the dogs were not licensed.[70]
- Rachael Ray, a television personality and chef, has a pit bull, "Isaboo", which has appeared in cooking episodes and on her talk show. Rachel had another pit bull, "Boo", before she became famous.[71]
- Theodore Roosevelt owned a bull terrier, "Pete", which was banished from the White House after a long history of attacking people, including the French ambassador and a Navy clerk who required medical treatment for his injuries.[72]
- Darnell Sanders, a former professional American football player, owns a pit bull named "Man" whose mauling of 82-year-old Ernie Assad on April 13, 2005 led to Mr. Assad's death 11 days later. The dog was returned to Mr. Sanders after lengthy court proceedings; Mr. Sanders settled a lawsuit by the victim's family for an undisclosed sum.[73]
- Andrew Vachss, an author, has two pit bulls named "Honey" and "Pokey".[74]
- Michael Vick, a professional American football player, owned 53 pit bull-type dogs that were seized by the U.S. government when it shut down the operation of Vick's illegal Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting operation;[75] 49 of these dogs were evaluated for disposition, and of these,
- one was euthanized for aggressiveness towards humans
- one was euthanized due to illness (cancer)
- 22 were too dog-aggressive to be adopted, but will be maintained for the rest of their lives in an animal sanctuary at Mr. Vick's expense
- 25 passed temperament testing and were deemed adoptable.[76]
See also
References
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{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Gliotto, Tom; Yoo, Linda (1999-10-18). "Juddernaut" (PDF). People. Vol. 52, no. 15. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
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{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sangiacomo, Michael (2008-11-17). "What happened in the case of two dogs that mauled an 82-year-old man outside his Parma home on April 13, 2005?". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
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{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - ^ Schulte, Brigid (2008-07-08). "Saving Michael Vick's dogs". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. Retrieved 2009-09-24.