Dear Editor,
Regarding the story headlined “Cute Killers?” Let me enlighten you with some FACTS about the breed:
1. Search the American Temperament Test Society. pit bulls have an average score that beats even the “ultimate family dog”, the golden retriever.
2. Pit bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence. The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and pit bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95 percent passing rate!
3. While many pit bulls do tend to be aggressive towards other DOGS (as are most terriers), the normal, well raised pit bull has NO human-aggressive tendencies! In fact, human-aggression was actually bred out of the breed. The majority of pit bulls are affectionate, intelligent, trainable dogs. In fact, the highest obedience trial record of all time is held by an American pit bull terrier named Maddy!
4. Pit bulls are heroes! America’s first war dog was a pit bull named Stubby. He earned several medals during World War I and was honored at the White House. The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a pit bull named Weela. She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in southern California. A pit bull named Bogart saved a 4-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida. Dixie, the pit bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame after she saved some children from a cottonmouth snake.
5. There are quite a few celebrities who have owned pit bulls: Ray Romano, Don Cherry, Fred Astaire, President Roosevelt, Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison, Madonna, Michael J Fox and Brad Pitt.
A 6-year study in Palm Beach County of “most severe dog bite by breed” yields the top 10 breeds list. The pit bull was never ranked higher than fifth. Some of the breeds which placed higher were Dalmatians, chows, labs, golden retrievers, dobermans and cocker spaniel.
So do you think aggression is in Hispanic people because I’ve heard about several murders involving Hispanic people? Of COURSE NOT!
Cristina Brandolino, Phoenix, AZ
