By: Zachary Lancaster
Pit bulls originated in both America and the United Kingdom. There are more than 77 million owned dogs in the United States. Animal shelters have euthanized over 1.7 million dogs in the year 2009. 58 percent of those dogs being pit bulls, or 986,000 animals.
Started in 2009, all vet clinics are required by Missouri State Law to keep tags on pit bulls and keep them away from other animals in the clinic.
“Well here at Eagle we are required to put a use caution sticker on their ID cards, all pit bulls must be sedated for all types of and surgeries and cosmetics needs like nail trims. When they are leaving, we are required to meet them outside away from the public. I hate it because it’s not the breeds fault; it’s the owners that abuse for their animal that makes them aggressive. Half the pit bulls who come in are friendly as can be,” said receptionist Christy Johnson at Eagle Animal Hospital.
The way you can tell if a dog has been abused, ranges from physical scars, malnourishment, and most importantly a sign of fear.
“If I see a pitbull that is aggressive , I know it has been neglected because if it had all the love in the world at it’s home, it would be friendly. A dog’s behavior is shaped by it’s owners. Many pit bulls I’ve seen come in are from shelters and didn’t have the proper attentin it should be given. That’s why we push people to adopt from sheltersor they’ll just keep euthanizing,” said veternarian Kara Ballenger.
There are a few cities in Missouri that have outlawed pit bulls that the cities have banned themselves.
“I know Gladstone has banned them. That pisses me off because I had planned to own one when I’m on my own. I know Grandview are really strict on it,Independence, Liberty and Springfield are all the ones in Missouri I’m aware of. I know they’re banned in every city in Kansas too,” said veternarian assistant Shelby Montgomery.
There are seven breeds that have been deemed dangerous because of the breed.
“I believe the breeds that are dangerous are American Pitbull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terrior, Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, and I forgot the other breed,” said veternarian assistant Rachel Beason.
The remaining breed is a standard Staffordshire Terrier. Five of these seven breeds are now in consideration of being a banned breed in Gladstone, Independence, Liberty and Springfield.
The pit bull’s ancestor, the Staffordshire terrier, is a human concoction, bred in England. These dogs were designed specially to fight other animals and kill them for human sport. Hence the barrel chest, the thick hammer-like head, strong jaws, their perserverence and stamina. Pit bulls can take down a bull weighing in over a thousand pounds, so a human being a tenth of that weight is tiny to them.
Infact, there have been some pit bulls that have become heroes themselves. During World War I, pit bulls represented the American military, while the German Mastiff represented the German armed forces. One of the biggest pit bull heroes was named Weela and was crowned Hero of the Year. Weela saved 30 people, 29 dogs and 13 horses from a flood in South California in 1993.
