Common Ground
A homeowner in Waukesha for 20 years, Steve is president of the Waukesha Dog Parks Organization and enjoys motorcycling, fishing and staying on top of politics.
Pit Bulls Again
Every time a dog attack makes the news and the Pit Bull breed is involved, the columns and blogs come out calling for a band on the breed. Calls for banning Pit Bulls are not necessarily out of line. Certainly there are some Pit Bulls that are "pussy cats" so to speak. These and other even tempered Pit Bulls do make good pets. However there is something to be said about the stereotype that Pit Bulls are dangerous.
Dogs have been bred for specific purposes. Unless you own a wolf, which I believe is illegal, your dog has been bred for a specific purpose. Pit Bulls were bred for their viscousness. While the meeker pups in a pack were selected for family pets and usually spayed or neutered so they can't reproduce, the aggressive pups all too often make their way to the dog fight arena and are not neutered, which allows the line to stay aggressive. Someone answering an ad for Pit Bull pups often is buying a ticking time bomb.
The opposite was done with bulldogs. Their looks can kill but as a breed, The "pussy cats" were selected so that we now have a dog that could kill with it's looks but is as good natured as dogs come. Let the dogs mate out of their breed and they become a mutt, or in current cases a "something doodle" and are often better for it, both in temperament and health.
Contrary to what an alderman has said, Pit Bulls are not good guard dogs. The reason that they have not been used for that is that once they bite, they usually can't be convinced to let go. Thus the reason security dogs are often German Shepards and to a lesser extent Rottweilers and Doberman Pincers.
What is the solution? Oh dear, oh dear. My solution is let the breed go extinct. That means spay and neutering Pit Bulls that have not been and not allowing Pit Bull puppies to be sold. Those turned in to a humane society should only be given to Pit Bull rescues where they can live with people who can handle them. Is a ban on them in the city in order? Unfortunately I can't say that it isn't.
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