National Pit Bull Awareness Day
Ask any person involved in animal welfare and you are sure to hear more than one story about how a Pit Bull-type dog affected their life positively. It’s a cliché for a reason. Pit Bull-type dogs are one of the most loved amongst those working in the veterinary industry. The adoration comes with a lot of responsibility. Mainly, advocating on behalf of these misrepresented dogs and dispelling some of the blatantly untrue rhetoric. October 27th is National Pit Bull Awareness Day. It’s another opportunity to shine a light on these seriously misunderstood pooches and I’m fully jumping on board! Let’s bust these popular and dangerous myths about the incredibly loyal and loving Pit Bull.
MYTH: Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous.
Nope. No. Not true. No. I could go on and on about this specific myth. It’s patently false. There are even accredited studies done by independent groups that disprove the notion that Pit Bulls are the most violent type of dog. The American Temperament Testing Society, a standard used to test the behaviors of dog breeds, ranks the American Pit Bull Terrier and its various mixes as passing at 83.9%-87%. To give you some perspective, the Poodle came in at 76.6% and the Border Collie at 79.4%.
MYTH: Pit Bulls can ‘lock their jaws’ and have a bite pressure akin to Alligators
This is another unfortunate rumor perpetuated by the same people who try to tell you these loyal pets are born bad. And another myth that has been debunked with hard science. Dr. Howard Evans, a professor emeritus at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, is a co-author of one of the field’s definitive studies on canine anatomy. Along with Dr. Sandy deLahunta, a canine neurologist, and Dr. Katherine Houpt, a canine behaviorist, they’ve conducted independent studies that verified a singular outcome: there is no anatomical structure in any canine that can be locking mechanism in the jaw. Another slanderous claim against Pit Bulls debunked again!
Now that I’ve gotten through the nastier rumors about these dogs I want to fill everyone in on some truisms about the Pit Bull. They are highly trainable, loyal and energetic canine companions. They are best fits for owners that have active lifestyles. They do well in urban or suburban settings. They have great affection for people especially their owner. Pit Bulls do well in homes with or without children. It’s also true that they are one of the most relinquished dog types and are the most popular found in city shelter’s and rescues. More Pit Bull type dogs are euthanized each year than any other. There’s good reason that so many animal activists focus their energies on advocating on their behalf: they’re at higher risk of being euthanized due to slanderous myths and poor education. This National Pit Bull Awareness Day take some time to pay it forward by spreading some positivity about Pit Bulls. It saves lives.