An official statement released from the White House says President Obama is not in favor of breed specific legislation. The statement called banning certain types of dogs a waste of resources. Pit bulls are often times the breed most associated with violent and even fatal attacks on humans. The dog was originally bred as a working dog. That makes the breed smart, strong and eager to please. These characteristics were especially attractive to dog fighting rings. Dog fighters changed the pit's public image from that of a loyal and lovable companion to a terrifying monster.
The statement from the White House emphasizes a particular phrase that many dog lovers and experts agree with. Any dog can be made aggressive and violent if they are bred and trained for that specific purpose. The White House agrees with the Center for Disease Control that banning certain breeds will not improve public safety. There is already a stigma attached to the pit bull and when people hear about an attack by this breed they assume it the fault of the dog and not the humans that failed to properly care for their animal.
Over 30,000 people signed a petition asking that Breed Specific Legislation be banned by the Federal Government. The White House Statement went on to say that the CDC could not come up with a calculated statistic that would inform people which dog breed fit specific bite risks. "In 2000, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention looked at twenty years of data about dog bites and human fatalities in the United States. They found that fatal attacks represent a very small proportion of dog bite injuries and that it's virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds."
The White House Statement went on to say, "The CDC noted that the types of people who look to exploit dogs aren't deterred by breed regulations - when their communities establish a ban, these people just seek out new, unregulated breeds. And the simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they're intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive. As an alternative to breed specific policies, the CDC recommends a community based approach to prevent dog bites. Ultimately we think that's a much more promising way to build stronger communities of pets and owners."
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