Pit Bull Stereotypes - 1143 Words | Bartleby

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Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that all people would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Well, I have a dream that all dogs will be judged by their integrity and not by their outward appearance. Unfortunately, pit bulls have suffered for many years because people continue to believe the faulty stereotype that all pit bulls are aggressive. The truth is many individuals aren't informed about pit bulls. Many people believe the pit bull is a specific dog, but the pit bull describes different dogs including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bully as stated by the Villalobos Rescue Center. A typical pit bull is strong, athletic, …show more content…

Not only are the dogs’ notoriety hurt, but their physical and emotional well-being is harmed too. While walking my sister’s pitbulls at a dog park, I saw many people walk away from us or watch the dogs carefully in fear. Also, a few of our guests have expressed their fear of the dogs simply because they were pit bulls. Unfortunately, dogs can sense anxiety and tension; emotional trauma can result from the neglect and lack of attention. According to Judy Cohen and John Richardson, the pit bull has been portrayed as ‘‘the archetype of canine evil, predators of the defenseless. Unpredictable companions that kill and maim without discretion. Walking horror shows bred with an appetite for violence” (285). Also, 65% of people surveyed by Cohen and Richardson also say even pit bulls who seem good-natured can suddenly turn vicious (285). Because of this negative perspective about pit bulls, the dogs’ lives are endangered. Dr. Emily Weiss collected data from a variety of dog shelters and found that pitbulls are the most euthanized breed in shelters. Over 25,000 pitbulls were put to death in 45 shelters in 2014; the next highest euthanized breed was the labrador retriever at only 7,000 dogs. Many people have wrongfully given pit bulls a false reputation because they believe these dogs are naturally cold-hearted, and these poor dogs continue to suffer as a …show more content…

Pit bulls are amazing family additions, and they are truly loving and protective. According to researchers at the Institute for Animal Welfare and Behavior pit bulls are harmless. The test results of 415 dogs were analyzed. The test consisted of a veterinary examination; a learning test; situations of dog-human, dog-environment, and dog-dog contact; and obedience. Escalation in aggressive behavior was scored using a scale of 1-7. The results show no indication of dangerousness in specific breeds, so pit bulls are just as innocent as the common golden retriever (Schalke et al. 97-103). Another study by a Georgia-based group called the American Temperament Test Society has put twenty-five thousand dogs through a ten-part standardized drill designed to assess a dog’s stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness in the company of people. A handler takes a dog on a six-foot lead and judges its reaction to stimuli such as gunshots, an umbrella opening, and a weirdly dressed stranger approaching in a threatening way. Eighty-four per cent of the pit bulls that have been given the test have passed, which ranks pit bulls ahead of beagles, Airedales, bearded collies, and all but one variety of dachshund (Gladwell 26-28). Studies have proven that pit bulls are loving, friendly pets if they are treated right. My sister’s two pit bulls live in her household as well her toddler, Camden. Her son

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