NATIONAL PIT BULL AWARENESS DAY—OCTOBER 27, 2019
The pit bull type dog has its fans and its critics. The website, Pitbullinfo.org., is very supportive of the breed. The website, Dogsbite.org., is very critical of the breed.
The pit bull includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Bully. Some also include the American Bulldog in this category. It may also include any mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs.
The November 2015 edition of The Veterinary Journal casts doubt on the ability to identify the breed of dogs based on appearance alone. Animal shelter personnel missed one in five dogs genetically confirmed as pit bull type dogs. They identified one in three dogs without pit bull DNA as pit bulls. The article states that nearly one-half of the 70 million dogs in the United States are mixed breed dogs.
The Dogsbite.org website states that the pit bull can inflict acute damage because of its “hold and shake” bite style, attack of the deep muscles and reluctance to stop the attack. This website contains numerous reports of deadly pit bull attacks.
The October 2017 edition of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open Journal article, by Kaveh, M.D., et.al., contained a retrospective of pediatric patient dog bites. The article concluded that, among the breeds that could be identified, pit bulls accounted for significant injuries and their bites were five times more likely to require operative repair than other breeds. The pit bull bites caused more facial injuries requiring plastic surgeon reconstructive repairs.
The Pitbullinfo.org website has a different view of the pit bull breed. The website states that pit bull-type dogs “…make outstanding canine citizens and are loving companions in millions of U.S. households.” The website estimates that pit bull-type dogs now comprise approximately 20% of the U.S. dog population or fourteen million. The website states that there are over twenty different breeds and mixes that can be misidentified as a pit bull, some of which are the Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog and Cane Corso.
The point of this Blog is to be aware of the pit bull type breed and its possibilities. Many people love the breed and most of them are probably loveable pets. One thing The Plastic Surgery Journal article noted was that approximately half of the dog bite cases result from household pet dogs with children, ages 9 to 12 years, being the most common victim.
Be aware. Be careful. Avoid trouble. Any dog can bite.