Kevyn Ortega
Writing 10
Yu Han Chao
February 15, 2015
Stereotypes Towards Pit Bulls
When a pit bull is brought to a conversation, people’s immediate reaction is that
they are not a domestic animal and should not be kept as a pet because they are a danger
to the community especially to their kids. They are also viewed as nothing but fighting
dogs and it is the reason why they are put down. Some people judge dogs just like they
judge strangers in the street. Some judge pit bull by appearance, some by size, and other
by assuming they do not eat or are too well fed other might also say that they should not
be fed and let them be. These are stereotypes mainly for pit bulls and although pits might
not fully understand us it is our actions that get to them. I know this because I am just like
everybody else out there and I have made some of the same assumptions. I now know
better since I have seen how these dogs are. I have friends with pit bulls and I have
interacted with them and although I was scared of getting hurt because when I was little I
was followed for several blocks by a pit that jumped her fence. In the end I was just
happy that I could erase all those bad memories of pits and began to appreciate them.
Sometimes we do not stop to think who these dogs truly are. Pit bulls are a breed of dogs
whose actual name an American Bull Terrier. Pit bulls are known for their
aggressiveness, which makes them dangerous according to people. Dangerous means that
they are able to cause a physical injury (Dictionary.com). It is no lie when people say that
pit bulls cause physical damage because since 1982 pit bulls have caused at least 207
fatalities on humans in the United States and Canada (Lenihann). Pit bulls are not viewed
as pets but as fighting dogs because they are aggressive and attack people. The definition
of a pet is “any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion.”
(dictionary.com). To me pit bulls are pet material and it is why pit bulls should not be
seen as aggressive and used as fighting dogs but instead people should be more open
minded towards pit bulls and look beyond the aggressive stereotuype.
Pit bulls are discriminated against like they are now is because people with bad
intensions use them for their entertainment and exploit them. Dogs are domesticated
canids and are usually kept as pets. There are certain types of dogs that are used as
fighting dogs such as the Fila Drasileiro, the Dogo Argentino, the Tosa Inul the Presa
Canario bur the favorite for Americans is the American Pit Bull (Aspca.com). Yes there
are a lot of breeds of dogs but the reason why the pit bull is targeted the most is because
that is the breed that appears the most in America and the ones used by Americans in the
dog fights. Dogfighting is a sadistic “contest” in which two dogs trained to fight are
placed in a pit to fight for the joy of gamblers until the other dog is unable to continue
(Sisneros). In other words dogs fighting until one dies. The results of these events are the
death of dogs due to blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion, and infections. Other
dogs are sacrificed just because they are born cold or would not fight for the amusement
of others (Sisneros). Even though dogfights are a felony in all 50 states in America
people still do it because the punishment is not as bad as it should be. Those who
organize these fights do not care because they are charged with a misdemeanor and a fine
that they can pay off with the profits of the fights that they had organized (Sisneros). Just
like many others out there I believe that the punishment to this crime should be higher
than just a payable fine and a misdemeanor. Dogs should not be treated the way there are
just because they are not capable speaking up for themselves or even defend themselves.
In addition just because human beings are on top of the food chain does not give them the
right to treat dogs like they do or force them to do something that is wrong. Pit bulls are
not aware of it because that is how they were though to behave. It is just not fair that pit
bulls are treated this way just because the abuse of others.
It is not their fault they are forced to fight since those who make them fight have
power over them. People should try to be more open minded give this mistreated breed a
second chance at a home. Since pit bulls are discriminated against by others and are not
given a second chance most of the time they are put to sleep since many people do not
want to adopt them when they are recued. More than 200 pit bulls are put to sleep in
shelters in Los Angeles California because they do not have a home and the shelters
cannot keep them because they cannot feed them. It is irresponsible to malnourish an
animal so it makes it “right” (pbrc.net). Using saying that because they cant feed the pits
in the shelters it is right to put them to sleep. This number only comes from Los Angeles
California, there are 50 states in America just imagine how big that number gets if you
put all states together. This is only the United States; we are not counting the rest of the
world, just imagining that number gives me the chills. Thankfully there has been an
increase of adoptions of pit bulls from rescue centers but does not mean that the
remaining dogs are not being killed. In reality what is left of the pit bulls are just being
put down (Lenihann). In the past a dog had a chance of 10% to be adopted but now a
days the chances of a dog to be adopted is of a 60%. Those numbers seem to be really
high but that is only the number of dog that happen to not be a pit bull. The chances of a
pit bull to be rescued today are of only 25%. From personal experiences with pit bulls I
believe that pits are just a misunderstood breed of dogs. Yes they are rough with you but
they are just playing with you. I became friends with one of my friends’ pit bulls and
every time I would go over he would tackle me and make me pet him. Her other pits
would get jealous and would come to me and lick me just to get my attention. I know that
they are loyal, friendly and should be treated just like any other dog out there because
they are not the killing machines that people out there think they are they can be kid’s
best friend and protector for life, it just takes cooperation and heart to train them and be
just like any other dog.
Work Cited page
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.
Lenihann, Seann. "Editorial: The Shelter Killing of Pit Bulls." Animal People. N.p., n.d.
Web. 05 Feb. 2015.
"Pit Bull Rescue Central." Pit Bull Rescue Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2015.
Sisneros, Chad. "Dogfighting Fact Sheet : The Humane Society of the United
States." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.
"What Dogs Are Used In Dog Fighting?" ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2015.