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... in an article by Clifton Merritt -
http://www.animals24-7.org/2015/12/04/did-aspca-discover-certifying-safer-dog-screening-might-be-dangerous/
Mr Merritt is a well-known provocateur in the U-S on the topic of "pitbulls", which label seems to include any dog in his or his wife's or anyone else's opinion that LOOKS LIKE a 'pitbull', 'pit bull', or 'pit type'.
APBTs, American Pit Bull Terriers, are the breed as recognized by the UKC registry; AmStaffs, American Staffordshire [Bull AND] Terriers, are the breed as recognized by the AKC registry. Unregistered dogs who "look like" purebreds of either of those breeds, or mixes who resemble those breeds, are 'pitbulls' with a small-p: most folks can generally agree that they fall into a category of grade-type, just as horse lovers can recognize an unregistered horse as being a grade-type Quarter Horse, Appy, Arab, or what-have-U.
Mr Merritt alleges that all "pitbulls" - the grade-type lookalikes or mixes who have one or more pit-type traits - are inherently "vicious", his term, & "dangerous".
That both type & registered pitties continue to be highly-popular dogs as family pets seems to have escaped his notice; yes, young men who wear leather biking gear or tattoos or tongue-studs or gang colors MAY OWN pit-types or even purebred APBTs / AmStaffs, but so do plenty of other ppl, including suburban Ideal Families With Kids - mom, dad, a coupla kids, a pittie, & a comfy modest house within commuting distance of work. So what?
It's not the fault of pitties or their purebred kin that actual convicted criminals also own their type or breed, any more than it's the fault of GSDs or Rotts or Corsos that ppl who've done bad things & been arrested for them, owned dogs of those breeds. Association with human criminals does not make the breeds they choose "dangerous" breeds. Some criminals with long rap sheets owned Poodles, Chis, or Beagles - did that make those breeds "dangerous"?
this is one of the photos used to illustrate his rant -
Pit mixes loose in pickup truck.(Beth Clifton photo)
Note the CAPTION & the sole dog behind the pittie - which is clearly a Coonhound or Coonhound-mix... so where are all those other 'pit mixes' mentioned in the caption? // Hiding below the level of the truck bed, invisible? :huh:
Mr Merritt has been writing this [IMO] misleading & inaccurate stuff for years, now - he's a strong advocate for BSL & other draconian measures to ban or simply "wipe out" pit-types. // I wish he'd use one-tenth of his energy on promoting good puppy-rearing practices for every pet dog, or advocating for broad socialization & reward-based training from an early age - that might actually help dogs & their families, & reduce the burden on shelters.
JMO - YMMV,
- terry
http://www.animals24-7.org/2015/12/04/did-aspca-discover-certifying-safer-dog-screening-might-be-dangerous/
Mr Merritt is a well-known provocateur in the U-S on the topic of "pitbulls", which label seems to include any dog in his or his wife's or anyone else's opinion that LOOKS LIKE a 'pitbull', 'pit bull', or 'pit type'.
APBTs, American Pit Bull Terriers, are the breed as recognized by the UKC registry; AmStaffs, American Staffordshire [Bull AND] Terriers, are the breed as recognized by the AKC registry. Unregistered dogs who "look like" purebreds of either of those breeds, or mixes who resemble those breeds, are 'pitbulls' with a small-p: most folks can generally agree that they fall into a category of grade-type, just as horse lovers can recognize an unregistered horse as being a grade-type Quarter Horse, Appy, Arab, or what-have-U.
Mr Merritt alleges that all "pitbulls" - the grade-type lookalikes or mixes who have one or more pit-type traits - are inherently "vicious", his term, & "dangerous".
That both type & registered pitties continue to be highly-popular dogs as family pets seems to have escaped his notice; yes, young men who wear leather biking gear or tattoos or tongue-studs or gang colors MAY OWN pit-types or even purebred APBTs / AmStaffs, but so do plenty of other ppl, including suburban Ideal Families With Kids - mom, dad, a coupla kids, a pittie, & a comfy modest house within commuting distance of work. So what?
It's not the fault of pitties or their purebred kin that actual convicted criminals also own their type or breed, any more than it's the fault of GSDs or Rotts or Corsos that ppl who've done bad things & been arrested for them, owned dogs of those breeds. Association with human criminals does not make the breeds they choose "dangerous" breeds. Some criminals with long rap sheets owned Poodles, Chis, or Beagles - did that make those breeds "dangerous"?
this is one of the photos used to illustrate his rant -
Pit mixes loose in pickup truck.(Beth Clifton photo)
Note the CAPTION & the sole dog behind the pittie - which is clearly a Coonhound or Coonhound-mix... so where are all those other 'pit mixes' mentioned in the caption? // Hiding below the level of the truck bed, invisible? :huh:
Mr Merritt has been writing this [IMO] misleading & inaccurate stuff for years, now - he's a strong advocate for BSL & other draconian measures to ban or simply "wipe out" pit-types. // I wish he'd use one-tenth of his energy on promoting good puppy-rearing practices for every pet dog, or advocating for broad socialization & reward-based training from an early age - that might actually help dogs & their families, & reduce the burden on shelters.
JMO - YMMV,
- terry
