Should Pit Bulls Be Banned in Columbia? Readers Respond

COLUMBIA, MD–A recent attack by a pit bull of its owner in Anne Arundel County has again ignited a debate in Maryland about whether the breed is inherently dangerous.

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On April 4, a dog was euthanized by police after it attacked a Churchton woman and would not let go. The incident prompted comment from Tony Solesky, a Towson man whose son was mauled by a pit bull in 2007.

After Solesky’s child was attacked, a Maryland court ruled pit bulls are “inherently dangerous.” The ruling held dog owners and landlords liable for any attacks by pit bulls, prompting landlords statewide to ban the dogs from rental housing.

A 2014 Maryland law supported by the Humane Society overturned the breed-specific ruling, reports The Huffington Post.

We asked Patch Readers in Columbia if pit bulls deserved the title of “Most Dangerous Dog in America” and the ban that sometimes comes along with it. Here’s what they had to say:

• "Absolutely NOT. Perhaps human specific bans such as banning those whom breed & intentionally raise dogs to be mean by treating them badly. But never the dogs - they're just innocent victims of circumstance."
• "Nope. Bad owners make troubled dogs, which would cover all breeds."
• "Some dogs are bred for killing. It's just their nature. You would feel uncomfortable with a neighbor having a lion as a pet, right? I don't care how much you trust the lion, I don't want the lion mistaking my child for a rabbit when you aren't paying attention. It's the same with dogs."
• "No, there should be owner education, breeders should be fined or shutdown for dumping dogs, training and community education."
• "I would have answered a resounding "no" to this until I owned a pit bull myself. Born in a shelter, adopted by my husband and I at 12 weeks old, brought to obedience classes and even (swear to god) a dog psychologist. We were experienced dog owners who were consistent with training. That dog was just aggressive. After our experience with her I swore I would never let my kids around a pit bull. It's sad, but I firmly believe it is true that that certain breed has it in them to be highly aggressive, and when aggressive has the strength to do serious damage."
• "Proud owner of a pit bull... No there shouldn't. The only thing dangerous about my pit is her inability to control her kissing"
• "NO NO NO! I have a pit and a 18 month old and they are the best of friends. It all depends on the owner. One bad dog does not mean all of them are bad. The only time I've ever been bitten was by a shitz zu all because when I sat on the couch I scared him."
• "No. Period. It's discrimination unsupported by any facts."
• "No. Ban dangerous "dogs", not a whole breed. It's unfair to the dog and the owner to have specific breeds discriminated against. Dogs are individual regardless of breed, just like humans are individual regardless of race."
• "Dogs are only as dangerous as the humans who raise them. The bite of a chihuahua on a child hurts, but people do not see that dog as 'dangerous.' We have to follow the laws and use common sense. If you see someone pulling their dog and moving to the side, that is not the time to walk a little slower with your dog. If a person tells you their dog does not like to be touched by strangers, that is not when you should attempt such. If your child is bothering someone's dog, get control of your child. Just because your dog is small, does not mean when on walks by the lake they should be off lead. So my final answer would be 'NO.'"

The ASPCA released a statement stating that they “oppose any state or local law to regulate or ban dogs based on breed.”

They explain that the data collection methods that go into forming dog bite statistics are often unreliable. Specifically, breed identification can be difficult, especially with mixed-breed dogs, which can lead to an inaccurate calculation of a breed’s bite rate. Further complicating matters is the fact that "pit bull" is not a breed.

The National Canine Research Council says that responsible pet ownership is the key to aggression prevention, and that it’s the duty of the owner to not allow “a pet to become a threat or a nuisance.”

While the question of “bad breeds” is still up in the air, for every bad pit bull story, there’s a good one to match.

Do you have an opinion on pitties? Share it with us in the comments below or on our Columbia Patch Facebook page.

Make sure to check out our national Patch Pets Facebook page for the latest news from the animal kingdom.

>>Photo by Getty Images via Flickr