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Are Pit Bulls Dangerous?

When someone asks "Are pit bulls dangerous?", my first inclination is to say something like "Define dangerous". I know it sounds kind of evasive. But seriously, look up the word dangerous in the dictionary. What you'll find is: ". . able or likely to cause physical injury . .". And in this context, "able" and "likely" are worlds apart.

There is no doubt that pit bulls are "able" to cause physical injury. Indeed, any dog with teeth and claws is capable of inflicting injury.

According to the CDC, about 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year. And 20% of those have an injury serious enough to prompt them to seek medical attention. And yet, nearly 40% of American households own at least one dog. So, how scared are we, really?

Do you think pit bulls are dangerous or not? Join the discussion.

Apparently, we're not very scared at all when it comes to dogs in general. But what about pit bulls? Are pit bulls dangerous--or likely to be? Back in 2000, the CDC released a report that cast a negative light on pit bulls and rottweilers involving fatal dog bites. They later added a disclaimer to their conclusions acknowledging that the sample was very small (.00001 percent of all dog bites) and that some of their presumptions weren't based on actual data, but on assumptions that couldn't be verified.

Unfortunately, like the newspaper retraction that gets buried on page 34 when the original inaccuracy was a front page headline, more people read and cite the report than the disclaimer. And I think it is this along with some very biased and flawed reporting by the media in general that has led some otherwise reasonable, intelligent people to conclude that pit bulls aren't like regular dogs. They are some kind of monstrous aberration.

Chris Rock even made a joke on Jay Leno to this effect saying that Michael Vick's punishment was too harsh. To quote: "What the hell did Michael Vick do, man? A dog, a pit bull ain’t even a real dog. A pit bull, that’s the white stuff. Dogs are white mans best friend – dogs have never been good to black people." And the audience laughed. They thought it was funny.

SidebarA lot of people mistakenly think that NFL quarterback Michael Vick spent nearly 2 years in prison for animal cruelty. That's not quite true. In 2007, Vick was convicted on a federal conspiracy charge related to his dogfighting operation. During the course of the trial, it came to light that Vick and others executed "underperforming" dogs by drowning, electrocution, hanging, shooting and in one instance, slamming a dog to the ground breaking its bones. While there was certainly public outcry when this was uncovered, it was not what sent him to prison. His prison term was in connection with the conspiracy charge.

Are pit bulls dangerous? There's no undisputed evidence that pit bulls are more dangerous than other dogs. Even the CDC now says they have never compiled a list of dog breeds that are considered the most dangerous or most likely to bite.

But, there is a profile of characteristics of dogs that are most frequently involved in bite incidents. And, it's a profile that it seems everyone who has seriously studied dog bites agrees with. Top of list? Guess what--it has nothing to do with breed. It's an unneutered male that is left chained in its yard.

Now It's Your Turn to Speak Out

Are pit bulls dangerous? Why or why not? What, if anything, do you think should be done? Your thoughts and feelings are important. Ultimately, public opinion will shape the fate of these dogs.

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What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to read contributions from other visitors to this page...

Any breed can be aggressive
Any breed can be aggressive. I could go on about this forever, but I will try not to. I have to say first off, that in my experience, you are more likely ...

Wishes
I am an ex-animal control officer. in the 4 years i worked in this field, i wish i would have had the privilege of working with this breed more.

I ...

not the dog
It doesn't matter what type of dog u have.any dog can bite.I think its how you train a dog and how much you do with them--have them around kids and other ...

Are Pit Bulls Dangerous--Maybe To Themselves...lol
I have a rescued fighter, his name is Beacephus - but everybody calls him Beau. I found Beau one day on the side of the road in front of my house, half ...

Anectodal Evidence Means Nothing
So, some people have a story about a pit bull that caused harm? I nearly had my armed ripped off by a yellow lab. I'm sure I could find other people who ...

Nope, only dogs with bad owners are dangerous.
I can only speak from my own experience in life. First of all I have known many people that have been bitten by dogs, and other animals. Not one of them ...

Pit Bulls Are Just Like Any Dog
Pit bulls are like any dog. I have 5 pit bulls and the oldest is 5 and they are big lap dogs. They sleep with me and my boyfriend and my daughter loves ...

Who are the "Dangerous Dogs"
I am a pet care professional. I have dealt with many an aggressive dog. I have experienced injuries from aggressive behaviors in dogs that have occurred ...

Pit Bulls are Viciously Loving dogs
Pit bulls are sooo dangerous that they give my pitbull/german shepherd MIX a "bad dog" reputation because he LOVES to give kisses and wiggle dance his ...

My pitbull horror story
I was about 14 years old, at my home talking on the phone to one of my friends.. being a teen.

Suddenly, I heard dogs barking, and people screaming ...

Pit bulls "can be" dangerous just like any human can
Thanks for the interesting article about the same question that has been in the back of my mind...are pit bulls dangerous? and up until now I really didn'...

Helpful, Not Harmful
My neighbour was mauled by a chow when she was two. Over 50 years later, she had never pet a dog and was terrified of all canines. She decided to try to ...

pit bulls may be dangerous--but what about people?
pit bulls may be dangerous, but so are cocker spaniels which is the breed that inflicts the most bites.

it is the owner and the breeder (inbreeding)...

Punish the DEED..Not the BREED....!!!!
People need to start realizing, if it has teeth, it can bite. And if it does, the fault is on the other end of the leash 99% of the time.
My Pit is one ...

WHEN bulldogs lose control
YES- Pitbulls and some other bulldogs ARE dangerous. I JUST experienced it. It has NOTHING to do with how well they are bred OR raised. The whole point ...

Alexis – the Sweetest Pit Bull in Texas
I’ve always been a bit hesitant around pit bulls. Not that I thought they were inherently bad. But, I was always somewhat guarded upon encountering one....

Sammy - A Beautiful Pit Bull Not rated yet
I met a beautiful pit bull in Oregon about 10 years ago. We were neighbors, and this dog had a boy and a girl. She loved her boy and girl and she feel ...

Dogs Aren't Dangerous... People Are Not rated yet
Dogs have been bred for centuries to work and live alongside men. No dog is, by its very nature, a violent dangerous animal (except the rare exceptions,...

Are pit bulls dangerous....
They're not if they're treated properly Not rated yet
Pit Bulls are extremely loyal dogs and so smart! If they are told to do something, they will do it to prove to their owners that they respect them. It'...

Diesel, Our road dog. Not rated yet
Diesel has been with us since he was 6 weeks old. He is now almost 4 years old. He has been going over the road in a 18 wheeler since he was about 3 months ...

our pit is a big baby Not rated yet
I have a 2 1/2 yr old staffordshire terrier/mastiff mix. She is the most loving animal I have ever had. We had a border collie that died of old age at ...

No bad dogs, just bad owners. Not rated yet
I was a Letter Carrier for 23 years and I know that given the right situation any dog can bite. Whether it's protecting a bone or it's territory, a dog ...

My dog is the neighborhood's favorite dog unanimously Not rated yet
It's all about how you treat your dog. My girlfriend and I socialize Trigger (our dog) with every dog and willing individual wherever we go and everybody ...

No such thing as... Not rated yet
...a DANGEROUS PIT BULL. Just owners who are irresponsible a**holes. I'm not a pit owner, but I do own a LAB, but PIT BULLS pretty much catch the blame ...

For Pitties sake, it's not the dog. It's the OWNER. Not rated yet
Am I in denial that Pit Bulls have killed? No. I am quite aware that it has happened and will continue to happen although it CAN be prevented.

Pit ...

pitbulls are dangerous if you make them dangerous just like any other dog. Not rated yet
Pitbulls are one of the smartest most loveable dogs out there. I have yet to come across a mean one and i have met and been around tons of them.

I ...

im a big pit lover Not rated yet
I have 2 pit bulls and they r trained to the t. If u treat them rt then u will not have any problems.

My dogs have never bit anybody and when my son ...

my experiences Not rated yet
I've done dog rescue for 25 years. I'm careful whenever I bring new dogs in, making sure they meet the others in a safe manner. I have had dog fights I ...

Yes Pitbulls are VERY dangerous Not rated yet
Our pit puts everyone at extreme risk of being kissed to death!

We have to put her in her crate whenever company arrives because she just can't keep ...

Has Society Really Gone to The Dogs Not rated yet
I believe that we all, humans and animals have an innate sense of survival. We all react to the way we have been taught to react. If you were to visit ...

Pit bulls dangerous--I think not. Not rated yet
Any dog can injury anyone, but I believe that the human behind the dog is the problem. Dogs love their owners and would do anything to make their humans ...

Stop The Bull Not rated yet
The first time I had close contact with a pitbull I was volunteering at my local animal shelter. Although, Rocky, as they called him was a Pitbull/Boxer ...

Pitbulls have feelings too Not rated yet
No I don't think pitbulls are dangerous! I think it's the way they're treated the way they're raised. If you're treated with love you treat others with ...

Bullies are the Mutts Nutz Not rated yet
Pitbulls are not even close to dangerous. In the UK they are banned, although they seem to be everywhere now which is mostly due to the authorities not ...

Are pit bulls dangerous--I thought so once too Not rated yet
All the articles here that I read have good points. I agree that its an owners job/duty to be a good owner. All dogs have the ability/potential to go bad....

Humans are More Dangerous and Vicious than any Breed of Dog ! Not rated yet
Dog are the product of their environment, regardless of breed. Just like children are a product of their environment regardless of nationality, race, ethnic ...

Dogs are only as dangerous as the people who raise them Not rated yet
We have a one year pit and he is the biggest baby I have ever seen. If licking you to death when he sees you and cuddling up to you is dangerous - then ...

My Pitbulls Not rated yet
Pitbulls are not dangerous. Its all about how they are raised. I own two purebred pitbulls and I have had one for 5 years since a pup and the other for ...

Really...saying that ALL Pit Bulls are bad? Not rated yet
Apparently they have never gotten close to one.

How can someone say that a dog is "born" mean? No animal is born mean...it is the environment in which ...

MY Little Pitbull--Hemi. Not rated yet
I've had a pitbull named Hemi, and yes he did have a TEMPERAMENT as a puppy, he snapped a couple times, but never got ahold of me. The temperament went ...

Wake Up! There Are No Dangerous Breeds Not rated yet
There are no dangerous breeds of dogs out there. They are what we make them. I could make a toy poodle the meanest dog you've ever seen and at the same ...

I love pits. am staffs. apbt. what ever you want to call them i love them Not rated yet
I am a vet tech in louisiana.. I deal with dogs of every breed,color,size, and weight... One of the most loving and high spirited dogs i have come across ...

Lovely pit bulls Not rated yet
I own a pit bull and it is the best dog i ever had. Noble, smart and always learning new tricks, friendly to everybody even the mail man. So, I don't ...

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"Breed specific laws are not based in science. [Laws] banning breeds will not make you safer, and the illusion that they will do so is dangerous to humans and unfair to dogs."
~Dr. Karen Overall~