The Misunderstood Pit-Bull
Todd Overstreet
April 28, 2013
English 112
Leonard
The Misunderstood Pit-bull
The misconception of the pit-bull has always been controversial to most people. Most of the public refers to the breed as mean and vicious. It is unfair that they judge the breed based on rumors and hearsay rather than base it on hard facts. These rumors make it hard for current owners and potential owners to adopt or own this breed. The pit-bull has the same right to become a loving pet as any other animal does.
The reason the breed is so disliked today is because of bad owners, bad experiences, or just rumors people have spewed out among the public. Most of the time, these breeds are linked to drug dealers or dog fighters. They use the breed to make them money by fighting, or for general protection. These bad owners are the ones that are responsible for the way people look at them today. Most of society’s bad experiences come from these types of pit-bulls. You can see it on the news most of the time. A child or a person in a bad neighborhood just happens to be walking through when a pit-bull attacks them. When this happens it is most likely a bad owner to be at fault, not the pit-bull.” Bad owners make bad pets,” (PBRC) and these specific situations are no different. “Identity, which is shaped by our own culture” (Latterell 9) is what has made the pit-bull into how people see the breed today.
I can see why most people misunderstand the pit-bull and will not consider the breed to be a family pet. It is the same reason everyone else misunderstands them and does not own them. A person or family has had a bad experience with the breed. A Pit-bull has either attacked them or tried to attack them. Their judgment on the breed is then based on their personal experience, not knowing that a bad owner was to blame and not the dog. These rumors and the media blurting out myths to use against the breed are what most people hear. After most people hear
April 28, 2013
English 112
Leonard
The Misunderstood Pit-bull
The misconception of the pit-bull has always been controversial to most people. Most of the public refers to the breed as mean and vicious. It is unfair that they judge the breed based on rumors and hearsay rather than base it on hard facts. These rumors make it hard for current owners and potential owners to adopt or own this breed. The pit-bull has the same right to become a loving pet as any other animal does.
The reason the breed is so disliked today is because of bad owners, bad experiences, or just rumors people have spewed out among the public. Most of the time, these breeds are linked to drug dealers or dog fighters. They use the breed to make them money by fighting, or for general protection. These bad owners are the ones that are responsible for the way people look at them today. Most of society’s bad experiences come from these types of pit-bulls. You can see it on the news most of the time. A child or a person in a bad neighborhood just happens to be walking through when a pit-bull attacks them. When this happens it is most likely a bad owner to be at fault, not the pit-bull.” Bad owners make bad pets,” (PBRC) and these specific situations are no different. “Identity, which is shaped by our own culture” (Latterell 9) is what has made the pit-bull into how people see the breed today.
I can see why most people misunderstand the pit-bull and will not consider the breed to be a family pet. It is the same reason everyone else misunderstands them and does not own them. A person or family has had a bad experience with the breed. A Pit-bull has either attacked them or tried to attack them. Their judgment on the breed is then based on their personal experience, not knowing that a bad owner was to blame and not the dog. These rumors and the media blurting out myths to use against the breed are what most people hear. After most people hear
Cited: “American Temperament Testing Society” ATTS, Inc. 2013. Web. 21 March 2013. . Latterell, Catherine G.. "Identity." ReMix: reading + composing culture. 2nd ed. Boston, Mass.: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2010.9. Print. “Pit-bull myths and facts” Happy Pitbull Web. 21 March 2013. . “Pit-Bull Rescue Central” Pit-bull Rescue Central, Inc. Web. 29 March. 2013. .