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Breed Ban is Bull
Recently, the Toronto Sun reported that over 500 pit bulls have been killed since the breed was banned sixteen months ago. With temperatures in Toronto well below freezing, those still lucky enough to be alive are suffering due to their salt-ridden and frozen paws, unable to lick them because of the muzzles on their faces.
The pit bull police were back in court in December, presenting new evidence that all pit bulls are “inherently aggressive ticking time bombs,” as Attorney General Michael Bryant has labeled them. On August 29, 2005, the provincial government amended the Dog Owners Liability Act with Bill 132 to include a ban on all pit bulls.
A legal challenge to oppose the bill was filed by the patron saint of advocacy, Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby on behalf of a young, female pit bull owner called Catherine Cochrane and a coalition of five organizations, including The Dog Legislation Council of Canada and Advocates for the Underdog.
The manoeuvre is widely seen as a delaying tactic aimed at increasing the challenger’s legal fees to the point where they will have to admit (financial) defeat. An interesting move on behalf of Mr. Bryant who was also, ironically, the Minister in charge of Democratic Renewal.
Despite overwhelming evidence given by the more than 80 of the 103 presenters at four public committee hearings, the Liberal government, spearheaded by Mr. Bryant, went ahead with its ban. During one press conference, the Attorney General described a 150-pound pit bull that had attacked a helpless victim. That’s terrible except for one thing: 150-pound pit bulls do not exist. A true pit bull is an American Staffordshire Terrier or American Pitt Bull Terrier, which weighs no more than 80 pounds. The 150-pound dog in question could have been any number of large breeds, such as the Perro de Presa Canario, which is now being labeled as a pit bull.
Interestingly, statistics show, year after year, that it is actually German Shepherds who cause most dog bites per year. The media simply don’t report them because they don’t hold the same cache and possibility for terrifying headlines as the much-maligned pit bull, made infamous by rappers like Snoop Dog and DMX.
PETA names pit bulls as the “most abused in dogdom.” As such, perhaps Mr. Bryant should look into banning irresponsible owners who beat their pit bulls to make them aggressive.
Pit bulls actually score 82% on the American Temperament Test Society’s evaluation, higher than Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels and many other breeds. Historically, they were referred to as “nanny dogs” because of how even-tempered, loving and loyal they were towards children.
In the end, how does one defend banning an entire breed, or breed specific legislation? In Toronto and the world over, men cause most violent attacks and sexual assaults. Does that mean they should be banned too?
Header photo by rubbergorilla from the Torontoist Flickr pool; pit bull photo by eatingsnowflakes from Flickr.