ICYMI: Should Pit Bulls Be Banned in Perry Hall? Readers Respond

PERRY HALL, 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 pit bull was euthanized by police after it attacked a Churchton woman and would not let go. But the dog’s owner told Patch that he was ill and never aggressive.

“My dog was not an aggressive animal, he had a medical condition that caused what happened,” Mary Patton said.

She is unequivocally opposed to total bans on dog breeds.

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 Perry Hall 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! Dogs aren't the problem. Irresponsible owners are. Dangerous minds using dogs to vent their aggression. I advocate for all breeds."
• "It's not about how a dog is raised. My puppy was attacked by a "gentle" pit bull about a month ago. They cannot be trusted."
• "No. The dogs aren't the problem. It's the irresponsible owners. Any dog can be dangerous if a pinhead is raising it. My one son has a pit and my other has three with a one year old child. Most amazing breed around."
• "All these people on here love them until they maul someone then they say but he was so sweet and loving!!"
• "No. You can't judge a dog by the breed; I've met friendly dogs of every type and mean dogs of every type. Besides, "pit bull" isn't technically a breed and people quite often misidentify "pit bull type" dogs.No. You can't judge a dog by the breed; I've met friendly dogs of every type and mean dogs of every type. Besides, "pit bull" isn't technically a breed and people quite often misidentify "pit bull type" dogs."
• "Small dogs are more aggressive and more likely to bite than large breeds. Just because a dogs teeth are bigger doesn't make it meaner."
• "I use to think that way until my daughter got a pit bull rothie mix. He was the biggest baby I have ever seen. I agree, it is the owners not the dog."
• "Pit bulls aren't the problem, humans are. My brother was attacked by a golden retriever as a child. Any dog can be labeled dangerous!"
• "NO."
• "Yes!!!!"

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. And "pit bull" is not technically 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 Perry Hall Patch Facebook page.

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>>Photo by Getty Images via Flickr