I can literally feel my heart breaking

It all depends on the owner with ANY breed! the reason pits are getting such a bad rep is all the (stupid.... how i can put this lightly0 dog fighting going on! pit bulls being a musular dog... becoming the victum! it's very sad and i hate to hear it continue!

I own a husky/chow/German shepherd mix, so I know all about being restricted by the type of dog I own. I can't rent certain apartments, I can't visit some pet friendly hotels, I can't even get some groomers to agree to groom Bingo. But there is a reason why people want legislations like this passed. If only responsible, caring people bought pit bulls everything would be fine. The people who own calm, friendly pit bulls responsibly are never going to be mentioned in the news because those people's dogs aren't killing people, but just because some people are managing their dogs responsibly doesn't mean there isn't a problem. I live in a neighborhood in Houston, Texas where pretty much everyone except me owns a pit bull with a bunch of spikes and chains around their necks and not one of these dogs is even remotely friendly. They make me very nervous because when in the wrong hands these dogs become exceptionally volatile. Frankly I want as few pit bulls near me as possible and it has nothing to do with the dogs, but with some of the people who decide to own them. The unfortunate part is that it's the people who abuse and neglect these dogs and try to turn them into fighters who end up letting them roam free to attack people and other dogs. All I can hope for is that they go out of fashion soon with certain groups. Until then something has to be done to protect people and their pets. Personally I think there should be restrictions on the ownership of all animals as half the people who buy a dog, cat, bird or horse or any other animal has no idea how to care for it. Good luck to all of you who have well-behaved pits. You should be allowed to keep your dogs and I can understand your frustration, but I can also understand the frustraion of people who want rid of these dogs.

hey i have a pitt that i adopted and if there is anything me and my baby boy ( the dog) scotty can do tell us

Please tell me what BSL stands for?  I feel foolish asking, I gather it's some sort of legislature to ban specific breeds.
 
 

I described it a few posts up:
 
 

ORIGINAL: alieliza

BSL is "Breed Specific Legislation"... and it is sweeping the nation.  As a matter of fact, it is popping up in other countries as well.  Many cities and provinces have already adopted the practice of BSL, although some places have rejected it, but its spreading.

BSL can range from mandatory spay/neuter for specific breeds of dogs, mandatory muzzling, to a flat out ban of the breed.  When breed bans happen, thousands of dogs are taken from their home, shipped out of the area with the ban, or worse, put to sleep.

BSL generally targets what politicians and the media categorize as "dangerous dogs" (usually it type dogs, including American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, and can include many other dogs -- many breeds have gotten the brunt of this in the past, such as Dobermans, German Shephard Dogs, etc.)  Any dog, however, if left in the wrong hands, and not properly trained and socialized, and/or badly bred, can become "dangerous."

Aside from ignorance and thousands of animals being put to sleep, one of the worst things, in my opinion, about BSL is that this means that the law could state that "race determines behavior" and racial profiling is wrong. 

To defend my breed, American Pit Bull Terriers are not human aggressive dogs, as a matter of fact, they treasure the attention of humans, and are some of the most affectionate dogs I've ever met.  There is also plenty of research to back up their solid temperaments.

Sometimes, however, an insert breed name here falls into the hands of someone who will encourage aggressive behavior, and bingo, bad reputation.

Sorry to go on and on, but this should give you an idea of what BSL is.

ORIGINAL: turtle2898

hey i have a pitt that i adopted and if there is anything me and my baby boy ( the dog) scotty can do tell us

 
Well,
There are a number of things you can do:
 
You can educate the general public.  I wouldn't doubt that you have encountered many people who have something negative to say about your choice of breed.  You have probably come across people who are terrified of pit bulls.  You most likely have met people who dislike the breed very much.  YOU, however, know the joys of owning one of these great dogs, and it is your responsibility to educate the public. 
 
Please see to it that you do everything in your power to house and "ambassador of the breed."  A lot of people believe in obedience training for bully breeds, so as to ensure that your dog is extremely well behaved, thus passing on a positive image, in turn helping the reputation of all pit bulls.
 
If you ever hear of breed specific legislation, please send a well thought out letter to your local congressmen.  This letter should be respectful, and informative, and let them know that you cannot support someone who supports breed specific legislation.  What needs to be targeted is bad owners, not innocent dogs.
 
To give you an idea, these are some of the things you can do to fight breed specific legislation!
 
Thanks for asking!!!!

Thanks.  Sorry I missed it, had a long day.

Yeah, this BSL, I heard of these "bans" previously for the GSD, Dobe, Rottie.  Most of the HOA (homeowner's associations) in S Florida have restrictions on types of dogs allowed.  Unfortunately, this includes many of the large breeds & bullies.  An aquaintance at the dog park had to find a home for her rottie pup, she didn't read the fine print, or face a lawsuit.  10 years ago, when I had my great dane, people would freak at his sight/size, never having seen one.  They knew nothing about the breed, what a gentle giant he was.  IMO, this BSL simply perpetuates people's fears.  Ignorance breeds fear!   

However, if a person has never owned anything larger than a toy poodle and they constantly hear these stories of horrific attacks on the news, how are they to think any different?  I don't agree with them, but do understand b/c the media NEVER goes to the dog park, or any dog event to do a story on how well behaved the dogs are.  They focus on the negative minority vs. the positive majority!

A few of our shelter's and the ACC have a night drop off area.  D/O an unwanted dog, no questions asked, they figure it's better than throwing them out on the street.  Well, we've seen stories where punks will go to this d/o area in the middle of the night & steal the dogs.  You know these poor dogs are for fighting!  [:@]

I want to see more "aggressive"[]  breeds appearing on family TV!  As a child I used to watch The Little Rascals & can remember wanting a dog like Pete, a pit bull, I believe.  I ended up with 2 rescues, GSD/Rott & a GSD, both viscious lovers!

That video just about killed me. I really shouldn't watch these things at work. I have been following this issue here in Canada where the province of Ontario has enacted a pit bull ban. I figure it is probably going to be really expensive and difficult, not to mention cruel and heartbreaking to enforce this law. I have an alternative that for some reason has never been discussed (as far as I know, its a pretty simple idea I can't believe no one else has thought of it). I believe the problem is with the people who own these breeds of dogs, not with the dogs themselves. If I were to get another dog I would not consider getting one of these so called vicious dogs. Not because I think they are not worthwhile, but rather because I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO LOOK AFTER ONE. Any dog requires training, and different breeds require different training and care, and levels of socialization in order to make them happy members of society. A pit bull, or any other big strong protective dog requires special attention, and even more importantly, they need to have educated owners who will ensure that whatever aggressive tendencies the dog has are actively discouraged. Why not instead of requiring that the dogs be eliminated, don't we require that to own such a dog the owner must go to "pit bull school" where they are educated on what kind of dog they are getting, and how to best care for that type of dog. As part of this process, require that they must attend obedience school with their dog (It did me and my dog a world of good, I am very well trained . This may accomplish two things: First of all it may discourage people who just want a tough dog but not the responsibility that goes with it from getting the dog, and it will ensure that people who own these dogs are educated in how to best look after them.
Dumb idea, or am I brilliant.

That idea is not dumb at all, in fact, its great.
The problem, however, is that whoever is getting these dogs, encouraging aggressive tendencies, fighting dogs, etc. will still go against the "pit bull school" law, and get a dog illegally, without going to school.
 
This is not to say that I think that BSL is the answer, as I obviously do not, but... I think that better enforcing, and creating new laws that target bad owners is the way to go.

I tried to watch that video.. I am so soft I just could'nt get thru it....it's so heart breaking

The video is very powerful. I don't cry much especially watching video, but this made me cry.
 
I know the next county from us has a pitbull ban and have heard of people having them taken away. This just breaks my heart and what is worst is if they win the ban over the bullies is what is the next breed to be banned next.

yea i  tell people all the time that he is the best dog out of my four and that he should not be feared. I have seen kids go up  to evry dog but him. At the dog park scotty will sit there and see if they will pet him. Out of ten people he goes to one will pet him but then another dog will come and they will go crazy with praise for the dog.
 
What really do bullies good is for like a parade  or giant gathering of these breeds and their owners and just have a day to support the breeds and speak out on BSL. that might change a couple of mines. Good publicity is needed
 
The movie is still upseting after three times.

A few tears ran down my cheek, and I am a very compsed person most of the time.
We went rafting saterday and the person we got the raft from had a very young pit and an older bulldog. The puppy was so cute! I lkove bully smiles. 
The thing is, if they get rid of one breed, then another will take its place. I mean, I could have an attack Lhasa apso if I wanted to.(which would be disgusting ) And if having a certain type of dog is illagal, than only people who break the law will have them.  It's like with guns. If you make having a gun crimanal, then only crimanals are going to have guns.