Pit bulls have been proven dangerous

Re: “Local woman continues fight to muzzle pit bulls,” Jan. 11

Dear Editor,

The fight to muzzle pit bulls in Airdrie is a stepping stone to a more controversial matter in the specific legislation or banning of the animal that has touched cities, provinces and countries globally.

In the continuing account from the article “Local woman continues fight to muzzle pit bulls” in the City View dated Jan. 11, another article appeared the following day Jan. 12 in the Calgary Sun. Dog owners charged in attacks in which two separate pit bull attacks on people lead to multiple charges against four people. Medical attention was required for one victim in the Whitehorne area of Calgary after two pit bulls attacked the one victim. Each animal had a different owner.

Still another recent attack in the Calgary Ogden area on Dec. 31 involving the death of a Pomeranian dog by a pit bull, and charges including three unlicensed dogs laid against the owner of three pit bulls. The pit bulls were under the care and control of the owner at the time of the attack stated the animal and bylaw services.

Adding further to the controversy is the article appearing in the Calgary Sun Jan. 16, “Vicious Attack” where an unprovoked pit bull ripped a portion off the face of a seven-year-old boy, obviously leaving a scar for life. The boy, attacked in his own home needed two blood transfusions and four hours of surgery.

There is much support regarding the animal and without a doubt “emotional support” as noted in the article “Local woman continues fight to muzzle pit bulls,” which states: “..since launching the petition she has received several angry phone calls and emails from people opposed to her idea.” This woman’s idea is mild and should not stir such a response.

It has been noted that animal aggression, especially dog aggression is common with the pit bull breed and should be considered normal. It is also said that proper training will prevent the aggressive behaviour. Is this so and is there evidence, and can the owners control the dog? The evidence indicates this is not so. To appropriately train any dog takes a dog training expert and most persons are not equipped in this area, as can be seen in the pit bulls that attack even when under the care and control of their owner. A teenage boy biking a pathway in east Airdrie last summer was bitten on the leg by a dog and needed stitches, while the two owners did nothing but watch.

Children are the most vulnerable in pit bull attacks. The difference with pit bulls, as compared to other sometimes aggressive breeds as the rottweiler, shepherd, doberman and husky is the manner of attack, which is vicious, which is why pit bulls were bred for dog fighting. They fight with little or no provocation and have a high tolerance for pain. Unlike guard dogs like German shepherds they don’t attempt to simply restrain their opponents by biting and holding, they try to inflict maximum damage by biting, holding, shaking and tearing.

There are many more attacks by this breed than other breeds. In a widely-reported case, Toronto police fired more than a dozen bullets into two pit bulls that had turned on a man who was walking them as a favour for a friend. In another attack in London, Ontario, a woman and her seven-year-old son watched in horror as a pit bull latched onto her husband’s arm as he tried to keep the family puppy out of the reach of the dog. The matter involving pit bulls are global and encompasses many other countries. Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals promised a banning of the pit bulls after a series of high-profile Ontario attacks. “Mark my words, Ontario will be safer,” Attorney General Michael Bryant, who introduced the bill, said after it passed.

The United States federal government has not enacted breed-specific legislation, but one state government and several hundred municipal governments in the United States have enacted breed-specific legislation banning or restricting pit-bull-type dogs and a few other breeds.

The Canadian federal government does not regulate pit-bull-type dogs, but one provincial government and some municipal governments in Canada have enacted breed-specific legislation banning or restricting pit-bull-type dogs. The issue regarding the pit bull is supported by global facts and are supported because of a predisposition toward aggressive and dangerous behaviour. Muzzling and or banning the dog falls under breed-specific legislation and should be considered. Canada’s Constitution as contained in the Charter guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of the person. The issue is the freedom to move about without fear. Reflecting on Constitutional principles of law suggest that cities should not have unleashed areas and to enact legislation through government to protect society.

Lorne Peterson, Airdrie