Why Advocate for Pit Bulls?

[catstina]

If you don't think there is anything special or distinct about Pit Bulls, why advocate for Pit Bulls? If you don't think anyone can visually identify Pit Bulls, why do you advocate for Pit Bulls? If you don't believe the Pit Bull is a breed, why advocate for Pit Bulls? What the hell are you advocating for and why?

[RealPitBull]

I'm confused by this as well, but I've heard advocates say, paraphrasing of course, "I don't care about the breed, I just don't like that any dog gets targeted by BSL based on how it looks."

[ames]

I care about dogs. People label me as a pit bull advocate because they feel I have a pit bull i only advocate for the pit bull. Sadly most dogs targeted look like my mutt. My dog is special because he is my dog not because of what might or might not be his breed.

[catstina]

So, if you aren't a Pit Bull advocate, explain to me why your organization has Pit Bull in the name?

[jbone]

Apr 29, 2013 10:38:50 GMT -5 ames said:

I care about dogs. People label me as a pit bull advocate because they feel I have a pit bull i only advocate for the pit bull. Sadly most dogs targeted look like my mutt. My dog is special because he is my dog not because of what might or might not be his breed.

Word.

Personally I consider myself anti-BDL not pro-pit bull.  I don't care what the targeted dog is, it's wrong and a foolish move public safety wise to ban or restrict certain dogs.

I kind of happened to end up with one dog that has APBT in her and one that looks like what people consider a pit bull, though we have no idea what she is.  (You can check out my welcome thread and feel free to guess which one is which ) Well, we assume she may have some Shar Pei in her based on a person I know that is not allergic to any dogs except Shar Peis, but is allergic to my one girl.  Scientific right?

Several of the organizations I work for happen to have pit bull in their names.  I didn't pick the name, I didn't start the organization, but I sure as hell am fighting the same fight, so why not work with them? I don't care what the name of the organization is, I care about if they are on the ground doing something to help those who are being targeted by BDL. THAT is my criteria for joining, real on the ground action, city council, meeting with legislators etc.

[RealPitBull]

So, is it safe to say Jbone and Ames, that my statement above is about right for you two?

I am also 100% opposed to BSL, period. Doesn't matter the targeted breed. But I originally learned about BSL because my BREED was targeted.

You both seem to flock towards Pit Bull-related orgs/forums/etc. If you are saying breed doesn't matter to you, and you don't care about breed per se, do you consider youselves "pit bull advocates"? If yes, why? Why not just "dog advocates who have dogs that could be mistaken for Pit Bulls"?

Thanks, just trying to figure out exactly where we are all coming from because I think it would make disucssion a lot easier.

[jbone]

Apr 29, 2013 14:33:10 GMT -5 RealPitBull said:

So, is it safe to say Jbone and Ames, that my statement above is about right for you two?

I am also 100% opposed to BSL, period. Doesn't matter the targeted breed. But I originally learned about BSL because my BREED was targeted.

You both seem to flock towards Pit Bull-related orgs/forums/etc. If you are saying breed doesn't matter to you, and you don't care about breed per se, do you consider youselves "pit bull advocates"? If yes, why? Why not just "dog advocates who have dogs that could be mistaken for Pit Bulls"?

Thanks, just trying to figure out exactly where we are all coming from because I think it would make disucssion a lot easier.

Pretty much, yes, when it comes to BDL I don't like that dogs are targeted based on looks instead of actions and as a parent I feel less safe for myself and my child that there are these laws out there.

I think there are a few reasons I ended up associated with Pit Bull related organizations.  One would be because of my dogs, though I started in against BDL before I even had a dog. The other is because Pit Bull organizations seem to do more action against BDL.  Very rarely do I see a representative from other breed organizations at events.  Not to say they aren't out there, but at least where I am there is not a lot of action from them in real life and general dog organizations are the same way. Very few and far between when it comes to helping fight legislation.

No, I do not consider myself a "pit bull advocate" though others in some of the organizations I work with would disagree perhaps because pit bulls are generally the most targeted dogs so they end up being the focus.  It's not that breed doesn't matter to me personally but at the same time I would not chose a dog based only on it's breed. It is more about the personality of the dog than anything else but I think everyone forms biases both good and bad based on breed no matter how much we claim to avoid it and I will probably always either consciously or subconsciously go for dogs that are pit bulls, or could be mistaken for one. Honestly I like short haired dogs, I like active dogs, I like dogs with big personalities that have a certain amount of drive so we can do things like agility and all the dogs I have met that line up with what I personally desire out of a dog have been in those categories.

Sorry that was a little muddled. I tried to be linear in addressing each question but kept thinking of things I wanted to say and it got a little swirly in my thought processes.

[emilys]

I guess I don't understand.. but to each his own.
I hang on pit bull forums because I love the APBT/AST and SBT
We discuss BSL as it affects those breeds.

I DONT hang on Rottweiler forums, even though Rotts are the most other-targetted breed. I don't hang on Presa or Cane Corso boards. I don't hang on wolfdog boards. When Malinois start to be targetted, I won't hang on those boards.

[perseus]

I admit it - I am totally biased towards the Pit Bull. We have 4 other non PBs and I totally show favoritism.

[catstina]

I don't get it. I just don't.

[ames]

Apr 29, 2013 10:46:29 GMT -5 catstina said:

So, if you aren't a Pit Bull advocate, explain to me why your organization has Pit Bull in the name?

I'm on all kinds of forums, I didn't name or start PBLNN I just work there Shoot my "real" job changed their name to Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr a few years ago, talk about a mouthful lol. Its a wonderful firm but the name change wouldn't be a deciding factor in employment.

I also never said there isn't anything special about the pit bull. I am sorry that you took what I said. My dog could walk miles and bike ride miles with me, he could cuddle on the couch with me for however long I was on the couch. He will tug with my 6 year old god son and let him win, or my 16 year old god daughter and KNOW how hard he could tug. He helped my 90 year old grandmother up the stairs when she was coming over my house and let her lean into him to help her up. he lets me know when someone is out my window, even if its is the same stupid squirrel he sure lets me know when its out there. He knows when I am sad and happy. This is what is great about my dog, but would I say that ALL dogs have this quality? I would not. I don't know ALL dogs. I don't know ALL pit bulls. I know my boy is special, but is he special because I love and train him or because he looks like a pit bull?

[ames]

Apr 29, 2013 10:32:36 GMT -5 RealPitBull said:

I'm confused by this as well, but I've heard advocates say, paraphrasing of course, "I don't care about the breed, I just don't like that any dog gets targeted by BSL based on how it looks."

I don't say I don't care about the breed.  I think they are one of the most misunderstood breeds there are.  I feel bad how many people try and claim they own a pit bull when it in no way compares to properly bred dog.  But yes, I don;t think any domesticated dog or cat should have to face challenges bases of appearance alone.  It should be by behavior and how they are being managed.