Pit bull paper

Pit bull Speech

By: Cecelia Hartigan

        “Oh, I would never adopt a Pit bull”.

I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of my own Nana’s mouth.  I had always known my Nana to be an easy going dog lover, who would love any dog that came her way.  Anytime my family was on vacation she would watch my dog along with her two dogs and cats.  How could my Nana not know the truth about Pitbulls?  After both Brophy and Molly (her two big weimaraners) passed away my Nana was left with a dogless household and was looking in all the local shelters on the Cape for a dog. As my Nana found in the year 2000 in every one out of four shelters Pit bulls and Pit mixes make up more than 20% of the shelter dog population(http://www.aspcapro.org/resource/disaster-cruelty-animal-cruelty-animal-fighting/facts-about-pit-bull-cruelty). I thought my Nana would get any dog that she fell in love with at a shelter and not worry about the breed.  I quickly explained to her how Pit bulls are naturally bad and most of the animals in a shelter are probably abused.  

I grew up with a 120 pound Weimaraner named Otto and always watched in shock as neighborhood kids would scream and grab their parents to pick them up.  I never understood why people were afraid of my dog because he was harmless and I didn’t think he was big at all because I had grown up with him.  I never knew that Pit bulls had a bad rap and I never looked at Pit bulls as different from any other dog.  A local store owns a Pit bull named Tulip who I would always visit because their store was next to my Dad’s office.  I loved visiting Tulip because she was always so sweet and calm.

As I got older I became more aware of the news articles and all the media coverage there was of Pit bulls.

Article URLs

not used:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/02/nyregion/two-arrested-in-dogfighting-case.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arin-greenwood/pit-bulls-time-magazine_b_5521281.html
http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/basics/How-Did-Pit-Bulls-Get-a-Bad-Rap

Used:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/17/pit-bulls-breed-specific-legislation-bans/19048719/
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/pit-bull-viciously-slashed-la-street-1-000-stitches-article-1.1972248

Article Summary

The general argument made by Ellen M. Banner in her work, “When pit bulls attack…,”  is that the control of pit bulls is a question that should be answered in favor of public safety.  More specifically,  Banner argues that the person being attacked by a dog doesn’t care about it’s usual behavior it cares about it’s breed.  She writes, “Current restrictions tend to focus on behavior only”.  In this passage, Banner is suggesting that just focusing on a single dog’s behavior isn’t sufficient.  In conclusion, Banner’s belief is that the breed of pit bulls is dangerous in general.  

Found on the Seattle Times

Theory about my abstraction: Dog and human relationships

Theory #1:
In the U.S. "over 62% of people have a household pet and 37% of those pets are dogs."

The idea of dogs and humans having a relationship first appeared in "Boris Levinson's books Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy (1969) and Pets and Human Development (1979)".  These books influenced people to do field studies on the dog and human relationship. Levinson accidentally discovered the benefits of assisted-pet therapy by noticing that when he brought his dog to see withdrawn and uncommunicative children they would interact positively. "His discovery was further reinforced by Sam and Elizabeth Corson at Ohio State University, who were among the first to research and evaluate pet-facilitated therapy."

"Only in the early 1980s was the term 'human–animal bond' officially invented by Leo K. Bustad, who delivered a summary lecture on the Human-Pet Relationship on October 28, 1983 at the International Symposium in Vienna. This symposium was held in honor of Konrad Lorenz, and during his lecture Bustad praised him for his work on the human–animal bond and encouraged others to build on Lorenz's work on the subject. Lorenz later adopted it in his research on imprinting in geese."

"Bustad and other pet therapy advocates formed the Delta Society, which was built on the earlier work of Levinson and Croson.  In the 1970s and 1980s, national and international conferences led to greater recognition of the human–animal bond. Since then, there has been widespread media coverage of animal-assisted activity and therapy programs and service dog training."

Three major theories about the human-dog bond: 

1.  "In the biophilia hypothesis, our relationships with non-human animals are driven by survival needs: assistance in acquiring food and safety." This theory says that there is an instinctive bond with humans and living things.  The theory explains why people will risk their own lives to save another living thing's life.  "The domestic animal demonstrates how humans love life and want to support and sustain life."

2.  According to the social support theory, animals are a source of social support and companionship, which are necessary for well-being.This says that humans need others to survive.  The dogs provide social support for an empty-nester family. "In this view the animal is part of our community, and is important for psychological well-being."

3.  "According to self psychology, an animal can be a "self object" that gives a sense of cohesion, support, or sustenance to a person's sense of self. Self psychology explains why some animals are so crucial to a person's sense of self and well-being. In some cases, individuals have been known to feel stronger, more protected, and more powerful in the company of their companion animal. The animal itself creates a human's personality."

"According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the human–canine bond is influenced by emotional, psychological, and physical interactions that are essential to the health and well-being of both people and dogs.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), service dogs, and animal-assisted activities demonstrate this human–canine bond and this interaction with an animal; in most cases a dog helps improve the quality of life.

The AVMA officially recognizes that the human-animal bond exists, that it has existed for thousands of years, and that it has had a major impact on veterinary medicine.

The human–canine bond also pertains to working dogs, such as modern police dogs and search and rescue dogs."

I found these theories to be really interesting because some of them I knew of, but never thought of when researching.  I knew that therapy dogs do help people heal and help them cope; but I forgot to research about them for this paper.  Overall I think together all of these theories add up to one, I think dog owners can relate to.

I think they would apply to Pit Bulls misconceptions because it shows that any animal no matter the breed is important to the human well being.  It is also very possible that Pit Bulls are therapy dogs too, like Teddy Bear dogs.

Introductory

As an eight year old girl I wasn't able to sympathize with our newly adopted dog Molly who was abused and therefore lashing out on us.  I had grown up with a dog (Otto) all my life and at the time Molly entered our house too I wasn't able to understand the kind of issues Molly was going through.  I didn't understand that the reason Molly growled at me was because she felt threatened and that it wasn't because she was a bad dog.  After a couple of months of being growled at, I was terrified of Molly and so was my brother.  My family ended up giving Molly to my Nana; where she lived to the age of 11.  Molly actually rehabilitated a bit by being with a loving family.  Molly still had trust issues and winced when you would pet her head (she thought you were trying to hit her head).  Although, with all of her issues she still managed to wag her tail and love the people in her family.

Many years later, now 18 years old, I realize that 4 to 6  million dogs are held in U.S. shelters each year and I am thankful that my Nana could take care of Molly.  If Molly had been in another home; she could have been one of the 6 million animals, left to live in a shelter.  Growing up with dogs my perspectives have changed and matured as I have learned the facts of animal abuse.

3 anecdotes, 3 interesting facts and 3 questions

My anecdotes:
1.  I grew up with dogs all my life and I have always be surrounded by dogs.
2.  When my dog passed away in fourth grade, the loss I felt was horrible.
3.  We adopted two dogs who had been abused.
Facts:
1.  one million Pit Bulls are put down each year.
2.  Pit Bulls make up 30-40% of the dog population, but they are considered the most desirable.
3.  There are 6-8 million cats and dogs in shelters each year in the U.S.
questions:
1.  Are the dogs that attack the dogs that have been abused?
2.  Do the majority of people in the U.S. fear Pit Bulls; or do we just think people fear Pit Bulls?
3.  Why are so many Pit Bulls put down each year?  Is it because of a lack of money in shelters, lack of space or is it because of unfair reasons?

15 Possible titles

1.

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love  (available)

In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old.

2. 

I'm a Good Dog: Pit Bulls, America’s Most Beautiful (and Misunderstood) Pet  (not available)

Perhaps more than any other breed, the pit bull has been dogged by negative stereotypes

3.  

The Truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier

This is without doubt the largest and most photo comprehensive Pit Bull book I have ever laid eyes on. Definitely not your standard 3/4 inch thick series guide book churned out by some publishing company that only seems to include one or two chapters specific to your dog.

4.  

Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance  (available)

When Michael Vick's dog fighting ring was discovered, more than forty dogs were rescued. But their struggle was far from over.

5.  

Lost Souls: Found! Inspiring Stories About Pit Bulls    (NO)

Are Pit Bulls the vicious people-eaters the media portrays them to be? The stories submitted by loving families who have adopted and rehabilitated Pit Bulls in Lost Souls: FOUND! Inspiring Stories about Pit Bulls will tell you they are a product of their environment

6.  

The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption   (available)

Animal lovers and sports fans were shocked when the story broke about NFL player Michael Vick's brutal dog-fighting operation

7.  

The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression    (available)

First it was the Bloodhound, sensationalized in the dramatizations of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Then it was the Doberman, symbol of the Nazi menace. Today, it is the Pit bull that is vilified for the depravity of his masters. 

8.

Then Along Came Barney: The Story Of A Dog Who Changed My Mind About Pitbulls    (NO)

Imagine what it's like when the pet you know as sweet is reviled and greatly feared by some.

9. 

One Good Dog    (available)

Acclaimed author Susan Wilson brings us a touching yet unblinkingly authentic tale of loss and rediscovery, of true friendship and learning what’s truly important in life.

10.  

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know   (available)

“The author is a psychology professor who has studied animal behavior. Here, her examination of the dog/human relationship reveals that our dog’s knowledge of us is much greater than ours of them. This exploration of our dogs’ minds and senses is detailed and fascinating.”

11. How Dogs Think: What the World Looks Like to Them and Why They Act the Way They Do   (NO)

“The author, a psychologist and expert on dog behavior and training, obviously, from his title, believes that dogs do think. In this book he brings the reader into a dog’s brain, eyes and nose with specificity and wit.”

12.  

Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men: Searching Through Scotland for a Border Collie    (NO)

“McCaig traveled through Scotland to find the “perfect” border collie for his Virginia sheep farm. But this is as much about the relationship between people and their dogs as about how to rate a herding dog. By the author of the delightful novels Nop’s Trials and Nop’s Hope.”

13.  Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond between People and Dogs  (available)

Knapp explores the close relationships that develop between people and their dogs, with her own situation as an example. During an emotionally and psychologically difficult time in her life, she adopted a German shepherd/mixed breed dog, Lucille, who helped her redirect her life and filled it with unconditional love.

14.  A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me  (available)

:….in which Katz relates the year in which his two beloved Labrador retrievers died and he acquired two border collies, vastly different in personality and demands.”

15.  Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog  (available)

“Merle, an independent Lab mix, adopted Kerasote, an award-winning nature writer. This beautifully written book movingly describes the relationship between owner and pet – although sometimes it’s hard to determine who is who – and examines the science and research on the human/canine bond.”

16.  The New Work of Dogs: Tending to Life, Love, and Family   (available)

“Katz’s investigates what he considers a change in the human/dog relationship. His interviews with owners, veterinarians, psychologists and animal behaviorists show that dogs are becoming less pets and more family members and, especially, human surrogates.”