| statistic. So I looked into it a little. That report was "published" by Merritt Clifton, editor of "Animal People" ([ http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/current.html ] <- looks pretty professional, eh?). It was not commissioned or certified by any organization. It was not peer-reviewed. This "study" is cited in the Wikipedia entry on "pit bulls." On Wikipedia's associated "talk" page, that entry is called "one of the most laughably biased articles I've seen on Wikipedi" ([ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pit_bull ]) The study is not cited in the Wikipedia entry for "American Pit Bull Terriers." All google results for the phrase "clifton study" dog bites or for the title of the report were ..... internet message boards! Surprisingly, most of car boards! (http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=340334&f=141&h=0&p=32 and http://www.ls2gto.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1977320) It uses such "academic, impartial" language as "hell of a problem." The report consists of a table of bite information followed by an editorial on breed specific laws and pit bulls. It cites no sources. It says only that statistics were compiled from media reports. Fear of pit bulls is undeniably a major media topic. Reporters report what gets read. Richard F. Stratton, who has been writing about America Pit Bull Terriers since 1976, asserts that "I have known many cases where reporters were there to cover a 'Pit Bull attack' and left when they discovered it was some other breed. Even worse, some reporters have been known to cover any dog bite as a 'Pit Bull attack.'"
I think the validity of this report's information is definitely open to question!
American Pit Bull Terriers are a breed designed originally for life as a dog fighter and family pet. Thus, they do have a bred-in tendency to aggression towards dogs. However, aggression towards humans cannot be tolerated in pit fighting, which involved a referee and both dog owners in the pit with the dogs. Dogs showing human aggression have been killed throughout the development of the breed. They were, after all, family dogs as well as participants in dog fighting. Unless specifically trained, they do NOT make good watch dogs.
They are strong, tough, and their muscles showing through their thin coat is intimidating. And of course, anyone who wants to raise a dog to be vicious gets a pit bull. We all know this. It is not a defect of the breed. "After the United Kingdom banned pit bulls in the 1990s, a study showed that the number of dog bites remained the same even though the number of pit bulls had steeply declined. (Study cited in B. Heady and P. Krause, "Health Benefits and Potential Public Savings Due to Pets: Australian and German Survey Results," Australian Social Monitor, Vol.2, No.2, May 1999.)"
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html#homicide More info: http://www.richardfstratton.com/main.htm Hmm, it's been two years since I graduated so I guess it was time to write an essay :)
--TomHey you! Nice car. "I know; I keep telling myself... I shouldn't boost her all of the time. So I'll just drive normally . . . but then slowly slide my foot down, and instantly feel better about everything in the world. Boost is more addicting than I thought it would be. " - AbsoluteZ (OH)
* Cape does not enable user to fly *
ergo
* Supercar does not enable driver to be superhuman *
Careful out there, guys"Twin Turbocharger, Twin Intercooler" |
