by Savanah Dale

Created on: August 31, 2010

It always comes down to the same dispute: Nature vs. Nurture. Well, to me the winner is clear in this case: Nurture. You cannot blame a dog for doing what he was raised to do, forced into against his will. And even if that dog is taken out of the situation where he was forced to fight, he will not forget the training that has been drilled into his mind through severe punishment and excruciating torture. That particular dog has been conditioned to fight. That does not mean that he is a lost cause, it just means that it will take a lot of work to make that dog realize that fighting is no longer his purpose. He will need patience, understanding, and love. In time this dog may become a loving, sweet- tempered household companion and beloved family pet.

The classification of Pit Bull-type dog generally refers to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. In 2009 there were 30 reported dog-bite related fatalities in the U.S. 14 of those involved Pit Bull-type dogs.

With those statistics it is easy to condemn all Pit Bulls and call the breed a threat to society, unfit to live. But consider the following information, acquired from http://dontbullymybreed.org. Results from the American Temperament Testing Association say that American Pit Bulls have an 85.3% passing rate, compared to a passing rate of 81.9% for all breeds on average. In the test administered, the dog is faced with several confrontational situations. The first sign of aggression is a failure.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that there is no genetic evidence that one breed of dog is more dangerous than another.

Every year more than 2,000 children in the U.S. are killed by their caretakers through abuse or neglect. A child is 800 times more likely to be killed by their parents or guardians than by a Pit Bull. You are 60 times more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than a Pit Bull. A person is 16 times more likely to drown in a 5-gallon water pail than be killed by a Pit Bull. It can be reasonably estimated that for very Pit Bull that kills, there are 10.5 million that don't. A dog may be physically built for a task, but that is no guarantee that the dog's temperament will correspond to that task.

Here is an example of one Pit Bull who put her own life in peril to save the lives of others:

A rattlesnake bit Weela, an American Pit Bull Terrier, when she rushed to push her eleven-year-old master out of the snake's path. Luckily, she recovered. A few years later Weela saved the lives of 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses, and 1 cat during a flood. During the flood Weela periodically crossed the rushing river, carrying between 30 and 50 pounds of food for a group of dogs, puppies, and a cat who were stranded on an island. During one of these trips Weela came across a band of people who were trying to cross the river at a dangerous point. She prevented them from crossing there and led them to a part of the river where they could safely get to the other side. Not only did Weela save the lives of dogs, cats, and people, she led a group of rescuers to 13 horses who were stranded on a manure pile surrounded by floodwaters. This dog was a true hero.

So for those of you who say Pit Bulls deserve to die, think of how many people and animals would have it were not for that one noble Pit Bull.

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