For Pit Bulls:
After a 13 year ban in Ontario, the question still remains if the pit bull breed is still as malicious as many people think they are. It’s the hard toss up between nature and nurture. Are pit bulls born with hatefulness in their blood, or do trainers take advantage of their so called “evilness” to train breed to attack, or even fight.
“It’s the same as when you’re dealing with some Chihuahuas, or some Shih Tzu’s, it doesn’t matter their breed it’s all on the owner and how the owner raises and trains their pets,” says Vet Tech, Carly Greenlee.
Greenlee explained that many of the technicians and even the veterinarians themselves are more afraid of small dogs over the big dogs, including pit bulls.
“I’ve actually never had where a pit bull has come in and been aggressive, that’s never happened. It comes with any breed,” she adds.
Against Pit Bulls:
But there is unfortunately the “evil” side of pit bulls that individuals do see. Nigel Gilby is the Senior Partner at a law firm called Lerner’s, and has seen first hand many cases where people have been bitten by dogs and the owners have law suits filed.
“Most cases where people have been bitten by a dog, it seems to be more significant when a pit bull is involved, it’s like once they start the attack they are relentless. Certainly the worst injury cases that I’ve seen involving dog attacks -and I think it’s different than a dog bite it’s a dog attack- have been predominantly pit bulls.”
There are many rules, especially with the ban, that owners need to follow when it comes to owning a pit bull. These rules include:
- only one pit bull breed is allowed in the household
- no transferring of the breed whether by sale, gift or other
- no importation of a pit bull into Ontario
- and no training a pit bull for fighting
Even after the 13 years of the ban being put into place, many people – especially owners of the breed – want the Ontario ban lifted. Will this ever happen?
“I don’t see that happening,” Gilby says, “I think that the dogs have had such a bad reputation, valid or not, the reality is they do attack whether it’s because of the owner or not. When you look at not just the number of attacks, but the viciousness of the attacks, they rank number one, and when they clamp on they do not let go.”
The Future of the Breed
It’s hard to say whether the ban will be lifted. Many organizations, primarily pit bull ones, are working hard to rid the ban as they say that pit bulls are beautiful, loving, family dogs, but the reality behind them being vicious in attacks and still being used to fight other dogs or hurt people, will make it a toss up on lifting the ban in Ontario.
