Here’s an interesting little thing that caught my attention. Apparently Hawaiian legislature has just introduced a bill that would ban all pit bulls from the state of Hawaii. If passed, anyone owning or in possession of a pit bull would be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Now personally, I don’t like pit bulls at all. It has nothing to do with their supposed disposition, I just think they’re ugly. But all that aside, I have some real problems with this kind of law. “Breed-specific” laws are completely unfounded in my opinion. You can’t single out one breed for it’s temperament (I can understand “wild” breeds, but not domesticated). But this bill isn’t necessarily breed-specific. Apparently the great representatives of the people of Hawaii have failed to realize there are more than 20 breeds of dog that are classified as “Pit Bull”. Not only that, but what about pit mixes? At what percentage of “Pit Bull” is a dog considered to be illegal to own? It’s a very broad and poorly-written bill.
My other issue is this: what makes a pit bull more dangerous than any other breed of dog? People have this misconception that Pit Bulls are mean, aggressive dogs. The truth is that these breeds are more reliable and friendly than most breeds out there today. In fact, in temperament tests conducted by the ATTS, pit bulls pass at a rate of about 86%. For comparison, a standard collie tests in at just over 79% out of over 800 dogs tested and only 81% of all dogs ever tested pass the temperament test. A pit bull that is well socialized and taken proper care of is just as safe and reliable as a golden retriever, and this is based on statistical data.
Anyway, I just wanted to cast my opinion that this kind of legislature is stupid. What do you think? For some more information:
Update: You can track the progress of the Bill by clicking here.
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That some sort of thing was up for being passed in Atlanta, GA when I lived there. I remember people that had pitt bulls where really concerned as that meant they had to get rid of their dog or move to another area.
That brings up another issue, what are all the owners of pit bulls going to do if this bill passes? Shipping overseas would be way to expensive for a pit. No one in Hawaii would be able to “rescue” them, so I’d assume you’d have a mass of people who will either euthenize them or take them to the local shelter where they will euthanize them.
That sounds familiar….what’s it called when you have the deliberate and systemic euthenasia of a group based on breed?
This kind of legislature is stupid. And yes, people do misunderstand pitbuls. But I think pitbuls look cool !
me personally i think pit bulls is really nice dogs and thank you for trying to make sure that pit bulls stay alive
It’s just that there has been some bad news around pitt bulls… I think it’s always the owner that screws up the dog.
It will only become more confusing for the inhabitants who have a pet dog. As what you’ve stated, there are so many issues that will only serve as holes to this type of bill, if ever it becomes valid. Having to ban pitbulls in a wide area will trigger more laws banning other breeds of dogs or animals.
The problem with Pit Bulls is that if they get pissed, they can kill you. Collie’s aren’t likely to kill most people. I have a lot of experience with these dogs. It’s like owning a chimp or a tiger. If they get pissed off once, people can die. A collie or other breeds can snap back or even attack and be easy to restrain.
What kind of drug addict chains up a pit bull and forces it to fight?
My personally opinion pit bulls is very nice dog.
This is quite an usual law, but if the main thing will be protection of the people, i can live with it
Is this not discrimination? Animal or not that is simply unacceptable. I have a 3 year old pitty named GOLIATH and he is the best thing ive ever spent money on. He is my son and means everything 2 me. I believe that a dog much like a child is what you make it. If you teach ur child or dog 2 fight and be mean or aggresive that is what they will be. I live in Canada but would love 2 help any way i can. good luck 2 all who have these beautiful dogs.
this is completely bogus pit bulls can be some of the nicest dogs in the world and all people who say its the the breed its self are feakin liars its the owner not the breed i know this for a fact but also the breed just has a bad name cause of the asshole known as michael vick but if you got to know just one you’ld say they were the bomb cause they are so cool
i got a one year old pit bull my neighboors had an older american bull dog about3 years old my dog was chained up in his kennel there dog came in the yard got in to the kennel and started bitting him he’s never been dog aggressive to any other dog of any breed ,never been food or people aggresive ever, that dog bite him about five times i got a water hose and sprayed it to stop him dose not work at all, about the 8th time he got bit i seen a 50 pound pit bite thru a 100 pound full grone american bull dogs leg then he grabed him by the throut and was going to kill him i had to put my hand in his mouth and pry him off /then my neighboors had to carry off there dog wraped in a sheet ,if u think ur pit is not naturally agressive ur a fool, im 6 foot 220 lbs if they get a hold of u ur done
We have a Lab-Pitbull mix. We love him….he’s fun loving and great with our kids. He is in no way aggressive towards people, dogs, or when he’s near his food. We can take his food or bones away…heck he’ll give them to us! We have another dog, cats, and rabbits and he doesn’t hurt them….in fact he gets out of their way when they bully him.
Passing a law like this is just stupid. How about passing laws against cruelty to these animals and those that train them to behave in an aggressive way? How about people being brought to justice?
I always say be careful around any dog…especially one you don’t know. When I was young a collie attacked several people in my neighborhood including my brother…who required stitches in his head after the attack. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pit bull or a collie or a german shepard! Be smart people….love your dogs, train them correctly and they will love you back.
I love pit-bulls…wish they didn’t have such a bad reputation. They are so cool!
LONG LIVE THE PIT BULL!
Banning Pit Bulls is insane. Why not ban the ghetto-trash, crack dealers and gang-bangers that use them as props in the street show they live in? That is where the problem lies, in the treatment of the animal and not their demeanor. I have had Pits, Danes, Huskys and Shepards. I also had one Timber Wolf. All had their own temperment and personality. Each had to be handled and socialized in different ways and all had to be understood very well and read very well. None were ever out of control or attacked anything unprovoked because they were handled correctly. I am not a genius or a \
This is outrageous. I understand that pit bulls have a nasty bite, but it all depends on how you socialize them. The dog park near my home bans any and all pit bull breeds. How can you socialize a dog when it’s not allowed to run with other animals? I own an Australian Shepard who has become extremely traumatized and, due to extenuating circumstances, is not socialized at all when it comes to other dogs. The only thing he really knows is to dominate and attack others. My brother asked me to dog-sit a pit bull mix and she is the sweetest puppy. She’s been here for one day and, after many excruciating tries, she has finally gotten him to open up and play with her. We’ve been trying to get him to play with other dogs for months! We tried everything: dog parks, extended family’s dogs, ect. Nothing worked. And yet this little puppy comes out of nowhere and she’s able to do something we only dreamed.
And she’s not in heat. Both he and she are fixed, so mating has nothing to do with it.
Alright…you guys are retarded….pittbulls are some of the nicest dogs ever…. i love em.. ive been around them since ive been in dipers..now is there such thing as food agression..heeelll yeah.. i mean isnt that with all dogs you dumb pricks… Now pitts can be killer dogs due to the owners..how they raised em..love and attention they have put into them… and yes they do have some natural agression, but i mean why are you gna want to fuck with a dog in the first place… u play it plays you hit em or show them agression..thats your asssss mister mail mannn!!!!!!!…..
D.Green,
I think your comment at the end of your post is irresponisble and unfounded. You had your neighbours dog in his kennel biting him and it took to the eighth bite before he bit back? I would say that is not an aggressive dog, if it were me getting bitten I would have ripped the other dogs throat out after the first bite and showing intention of biting again. I own a 2 year old Pit Bull and he is the softest most loving animal I have ever known. (My parents have owned, GSD’s Rottwielers, Ridgbacks, Skipperche’s. My Fiance’s family has owned, Jack Russells, Labs and garden variety mutts) My Pit Bull is NOT dog aggressive, in fact the owner of the dog school I train at has pictures of him with her 10 week Shiloh Shepperd puppy. (See http://www.pawsforpeople.co.za for article, should be posted soon. You are welcome to use that site to email Lesley De Klerk and ask her about Me and my Pit Bull).
Yes I love the breed and to everyone else who has posted in support of the Pit Bull, I salute you and may this bill not be passed. I live in South Africa so it wouldn’t affect me other than to know that there really are people out there so narrow minded and uneducated as to approve such an idiotic idea.
pit bulls are one of the best breed of dogs
a dog nows what the ownee teach
in my openion there is nothing wrong with pitbulls its not the dog its the owner so the ones voteing against them need to look harder.at what the dog can do i have a 9 mounth old american blue pit he is nicest dog i have had. he lets my one year old nephew do what ever he wants. my dog has never bitten anyone. pitbulls just protect their owners. so on that note i am votein that we pass the pit law . u dont like it fuck you
Pit Bulls are great dogs 9.9 out of 10 times
but, for the other .1 times – it is scary…
so, this is a tough issue – but both sides have points – but how do you ban an entire breed from a State???
I have owned numerous pit bulls, and without a doubt these are the most loving and devoted pets anyone can have. They are nothing like many articles may lead you to believe. I and my family absolutely love ours, and would be totally heartbroken without him. He is both beautifull, and loving and totally devoted to us.
HI, MY NAME IS JOHN & I’M FROM BOSTON,MA.
I’M GOING THRU. SAME THING HERE IN MA.
THEY ARE TRING TO PASS A LAW BANNING ALL PIT BULL BREEDS.
I HAVE HAD PIT BULLS FOR LAST 20 YEARS & MY DOGS NEVER BIT OR ATTACK ANOTHER DOG OR PERSON.
I HAVE NEW PITTY & HE IS 1YR. OLD & HE’S LOVES EVERY BODY.
HE’S A BLUE PIT & HIS DAD IS FROM RAZORS EDGE KENNELS.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO TOUCH BASE WITH BEST FRIENDS IN UTAH.
THEY CAN HELP, THEY ARE SANTURY FOR DOGS, THEY TOOK IN ALL OF MIKE VICKS DOG, MYSELF & MY WIFE WENT OUT THERE FOR 2 WEEKS TO VOLUNTEER. IT’S A GREAT PLACE & DO A LOT OF WORK TO HELP ALL ANIMALS. THANKS J.L.
There should be limitations. For one i propose instead of a ban make restrictions like you have to be of a certain age to own a pitbull or any large dog. 2 instead of being allowed to leave a dog on a chain they must be contained atleast in a 6 by 10 kennel with a concrete pad floor to stop them from escaping through the bottom if necessary a uv resisitant tarp can go over the top to stop them from jumping out. I run a dog obedience school and i know what a dog can be capable of good or bad. The owners are always at fault if the dog attacks, unless it is defending itself from another dog. And the reason i say no chains is because no matter if it is a vinyl tie out the stess of caring something around their neck is extremely detrimental to a dogs mental health which can result in fear biting. This should apply to all large breed not just pitbulls. I own a Male labrador that at 10 months old already weighs 85lbs i know that putting him in a situation like that could result in him injurying someone in the future despite labs being known as the most freindly breed. Restrictions not bans is what is needed.
No doubt Pitt bull is worth its respect but the sad thing its being domesticated making it a slave, it is worth of an honor if we leave it to its habitual environment as the King Cobra has its name titled as King of the Snakes. Yes is an obedient good dog but only to its master, coming to dog fights it hardly fights and only for its territory in its natural environment and unlike those humans that make dogs fight dogs have their strict self discipline and they never go out of way, I heard studies say its a cross breed nevertheless as humans do it deserves to live its life in its environment, if u are a true animal lover leave it to its natural environment have self respect try not to get the honor of the dog to your self.
Thank you
.
Dinesh Caesar.
This is ridiculous. If there were a public safety problem, it would be much more reasonable to place strong punishments and legal liability on the owner of the dog. If you wanted to legislate behavior, which seems pretty unnecessary, it would be more reasonable to require muzzles when the dog was in certain public places than to ban the dog outright. Fatal bites are also exceedingly rare, there are like 4.7 million Americans bitten by dogs per year, but only around 16 die (CDC “Dog Bite: Fact Sheet”).
i don’t agree w/ this legislation..I would say that it’s just a matter of responsibility for the owner…