If you know what the acronym BSL stands for, you have probably chosen your side in the debate as to whether or not “pit bull” ownership should be illegal in the United States. Breed specific legislation is the term used to describe ordinances which affect certain types of domestic animals, typically dogs that are perceived to be more of a bite-risk than others.
But in reality, there is no such breed of dog as the “pit bull”. The term came from the lingo used to describe a behavior that unscrupulous idiots trained into muscular breeds like theCane Corso, the Staffordshire Terrier, the Bully Kutta and others. I use the term “trained into”, but I really mean “forced to succeed in or die”; you remember the treatment ofMichael Vick’s terriers who either lost fights or, heaven forbid, refused to fight.
Dog owners have long used the physical attributes of various breeds for their benefit. Border collies, a breed that I’m pretty sure is more intelligent than many humans, herd like nobody’s business. Shar Peis and Chows were bred and trained to be massive, intimidating guardians of homes and temples. Unscrupulous dog owners abuse and neglect their dogs, teaching them to “be bad”, just as unscrupulous parents abuse and neglect their children, who often grow up and hurt others. We send the wayward people– they of the free will and working IQ’s–to prison for rehabilitation after they hurt someone. We kill the dogs.
Some dogs, like the American Staffordshire terrier, just can’t shake their press. The United States has a history of a love-hate relationship with whatever the bad-ass dog du jour is. In my lifetime, I can trace the title passing from the German Shepherd, to the Doberman Pinscher, to theRottweiler, and now, to the “Pit Bull”. Why, Cuban-American pop singer Armando Perez took the moniker as his stage name, and has sold countless records as Pitbull. It’s an image thing, I suppose, street credibility and all that—wouldn’t do to be known as Saluki (although that’s a very cool breed, and I bet some entertainer will steal that idea).
Residents of the New York City Housing Authority are prohibited from owning the following dog breeds: Akita Inu, Alangu Mastiff, Alano Español, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Bedlington Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bull and Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bully Kutta, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Dogo Sardesco, English Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro, Gull Dong, Gull Terr, Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Korean Jindo Dog, Lottatore Brindisino, Neapolitan Mastiff, Perro de Presa Canario, Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Shar Pei, Staffordshire Bull Terrier…
I’m sorry, but what the heck? The Neapolitan Mastiff? Why, because of the copious amounts of drool? The Bedlington Terrier—because it looks like a little lambkin? The Boston Terrier?! That’s just wrong.
Boston Terrier
Earlier this year, actor Nick Santino committed suicide just after his 47th birthday. Why? Because he felt pressured into euthanizing his happy, healthy Staffordshire terrier mix. His neighbors reported that some dog hating residents fabricated tales of Rocco “barking”, and that even when he and Rocco took the stairs (Rocco wasn’t allowed on the main elevator) and Rocco was all wags and wiggles, his mere presence would elicit nasty reactions.
On the day that he had Rocco euthanized, he wrote in a suicide note “Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend…Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn’t deserve this.”
This tragic example illustrates two facts to bear in mind. First, BSL kills good dogs. Secondly, just as a child can have irresponsible parents, dogs can have irresponsible owners. Should all dog owners be responsible for keeping their dogs leashed and behaved? Certainly. But don’t blame all the four legged animals for the actions of some ill-raised creatures. Blame the two legged ones.
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