It all depends on how they are raised and how they are bred. A friend has a pit bull that received certification to visit nursing homes. He is very gentle. On the flip side, another friend had give up her Yorkshire terrier because it has severe behavior issues that seemingly are a result of the breeding.

It's like Judy said: it's how the dog is raised and disciplined that makes a difference. The breed needs a strong, firm but kind hand to raise a good dog. I have known many pits that were wonderful dogs, because they were socialized well and the owner taught them well. I believe it is wrong to single out Pit Bulls as a dangerous breed. The only bite I ever got was from a Boxer. The main thing is, people need to have control over their pets. Period.

There are no bad dogs.....only bad owners!!!

It is not good or bad it is nature and science

When most dogs get into a fight they stop as soon as the other submits , rolls over and surrenders or runs away....

When a pit "snaps" there is no bringing it back until it exhausts itself or kills its enemy. When they are attacked they have endorphins released that block pain.

tigers are nice until they snap too... as are rattlesnakes and asps. So are tarantulas.

I agree that a bad owner is more often than not to destroy a good dog but pits have soem DNA that is scary

All dogs are nasty beasts. The only difference is by degrees.

My youngest grown daughter (in LA) fosters mostly pit bulls. All are playful and affectionate and without a problem of aggression.

My take: It's generally not the dog but the human who is the problem.

Any animal can be dangerous and can snap! A responsible pet owner knows this and is always paying attention to their pets when they are put in new situations.To say any one breed is more dangerous then all the others is just plain ridiculous and unfair! This poor breed is convicted before the crime!! A very dear friend of mine has a beautiful blue pit girl. She is very powerful looking and yet one of the sweetest dogs I have ever been around!! First it's the pit bulls if this is allowed before we know it most dogs will be on this list!

Pit bulls are a dangerous breed. Of course raising a dog to be aggressive makes it much worse but these dogs can easily kill even a grown and strong man. They should be banned from residential areas.

The American Humane Society website has a summary of statistics that put things in an interesting perspective: http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/dog-bites.html
They note "Approximately 92% of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs, 94% of which were not neutered" should the courts rule that all male dogs are dangerous animals? The Humane society offers some common sense recommendations as well, and it does not include Breed-specific legislation (BSL).
" Any breed of dog can bite, and research suggests BSL does little to protect the community from dog-bite incidents.
In fact, BSL can often have unintended consequences -- such as black-market interest and indiscriminant breeding practices -- resulting in subsequent breed overpopulation that leads to increases in the number of homeless, stray and euthanized dogs.
Enforcement of BSL has been shown to be very costly and extremely difficult to enforce. One county in Maryland spent more than $560,000 maintaining pit bulls (not including payroll, cross-agency costs and utilities), while fees generated only $35,000.5
Responsible breeding and ownership, public education and enforcement of existing laws are the most effective ways of reducing dog bites.
American Humane supports local legislation to protect communities from dangerous animals, but does not advocate laws that target specific breeds."

It is perfectly reasonable to control owners when you can't control their possessions. A dog can't watch itself, register itself or take itself to school, just as a child, so the parent is regulated (school attendance, etc). Maybe a polluter is a better analogy: When owners destroy their environment with noxious chemicals, even if the chemical is safe in some circumstances, the chemical gets banned or strinctly controlled. It's a shame but the owners and breeders made this dog dangerous in too many circumstances. FWIW, my family has a pit bull rescued as a puppy and obedience trained and she's lovely. Funny, the little yappy dog next door had to be put down this month for attacking 3 people and knocking them headfirst into the street.

I've grown up with pit bulls my entire life. My parents had a six month old pit bull terrier named Princess when they brought me home from the hospital. That dog was convinced that I was her child and was by my side for ten years before she passed away. Every pit bull that I've owned since has been an amazing, loving, and gentle. To the person who said that all pit bulls kill when they attack, that is simply not true. My male pit had several bouts with neighborhood dogs that wandered onto our property, and never once did he go further than to submit the other dog. Any dog is capable of causing severe damage to a human being. A pit bull is no exception. However, they should not be singled out solely because of their history or they're physical attributes. In all the years of my life, the only times I've been chased or attacked have always been by breeds other than pits. I'm more fearful of crossing the path of a loose chow, than I am of a pit.

The comparison I like to use is a pit bull vs an oak tree. Both start out as inert "property" (as our culture has so eloquently dubbed them).
On one side of you, you have a neighbor who has an oak tree that they do not cut back every year. In a wind storm, a dead branch breaks off and comes down on YOUR roof and does damage to your home or maybe even smashes through your child's bedroom, killing them. After the incident, would YOU want to see all Oak trees in the community chopped down or would you hold this owner of this particlar oak tree liable for damages?
On the other side of you, your neighbor has a Pit Bull that they neglect, leave on a chain tethered to a tree, they do not take out for exercise or socialization, they forget to feed for days or weeks on end, they over breed to make a quick buck until the point the dog's health fails and the dog becomes highly defensive, and they exclude from being part of the family... all which lead to a time bomb (of ANY BREED) waiting to go off. This dog gets loose one day and bites or kills your kid.
Why would the dogs entire breed (like ALL the oak tree's) be held liable for the actions of the one? Why is the dog being held liable for the irresponsible actions of the owner?

Ive been around the pit bulls breed for over two decades now... currently I sleep with four of them... and a great dane and an aussie border collie mix. This is our pack. Our dogs are responsibly owned. We have no issues. (cont)

Banning or restricting a single, particular breed of dog in the pursuit of public safety makes about as much sense or chopping down all the Oak trees hoping that a Pine tree doesnt lose one of its limbs. More so, in my years of actively combating Breed Specific Legislation and watching it rear its ugly head in other communities... there appears to be a common thread behind it: Political Agenda. Belfast Ireland and the Lennox case: this is CLEARLY a case of egotistical legislation. A governing body ignoring the entire global professional animal welfare community and the opinion that BSL will not genuinely enforce public safety? A corrupt Animal Control Dept and Director? The inhumane conditions this dog has been kept in for far too long?
Im sorry Mr. Politician Man... that is not sound public policy or public safety... in any language. That is back-room bargaining politics at its finest. That is "Our government is not asleep at the wheel when it comes to public safety... Keep us in mind come next election!!!"

Breed Specific legislation has no place on the new world stage. It misses the mark in every heat and division: cost, effectiveness, stepping on constitutional rights of citizens, and good old fashion profiling and discrimination.

Some new and effective people in government? Thats a campaign I would vote for.

Lastly... The Media. Their hands are just as dirty in all this. Sell a few more newspapers or hoard a few more tv ratings... on my dog's back?

There are several pit bulls in my apartment community. They are all owned by the same man, who I've been told raises them in his apartment. The younger dogs are generally well-behaved. The larger stud dog barks ferociously all through the night and has lunged at me on several occasions. God forbid that the owner ever drops that leash.

I know others with pits and have never felt unsafe around their dogs.

People love their pets, understood. And neighbors deserve to be and to feel safe. How can these needs co-exist responsibly?

PS... If I was you, I would railroad this neighbor of yours into oblivion. Report the excessive barking, and keep on reporting it, Get neighbors to do the same. Find out your city's ordinance for max number of dogs per house hold and report him for violation. Get others to call also. BUT... dont allow the dogs to get caught in the middle. Their existence is not of their own design. So get ahold of a local pit bull or all breed rescue who will be ready to step up and take the dogs in.

I have a Pit Bull that would not hurt a fly - unless she thought me or a member of my family was in danger. I have had labs before and I felt the same way. Both my son and I have been bitten by dogs and both times they were small "non-aggressive" breeds. We should not punish any animal because of the stupidity and abuse of a human!!!!!

I would be curious about what % of all dog attacks are carried out by Pit Bulls . I would suspect it is very high.

BSL simply does not work. It targets responsible owners, family pets. There is nothing about it that makes sense. Please, do research about the breeds. Visit, or volunteer, at a shelter/rescue and get to know a pit bull. They're goofballs, lovers, and incredible dogs. Don't rely on fear, myths, and the media to create your opinion.

- Pit Bull owner and activist

It's the OWNER! (not the pit bull!) (that IS the problem!)
My son has several pit bulls! and they are the most loving! adorable animals I've ever known! One, during time my son was away, for an extended period of time,
crawled into my lap, each night, at TV time!
PLEASE! Stop! Discriminating pit-bulls!
They can be the most loving, adorable dogs imaginable! (just like all other dog breeds!)
It's HOW THEY ARE TRAINED ! (by irresponsible dog owners!) that IS the problem!

I agree that most of the problems with Pit Bulls are a result of abuse by owners. Sadly, many of the people that get these dogs are aggressive and they want a dog that fits their psychological profile. This is unfortunate, but we cannot monitor who gets these dogs anymore than we can monitor who has children. The legislation should be aimed at making people more accountable if something happens because of their abuse. They should not be putting down the dogs, but locking up their owners.

100 people have been SHOT and KILLED in Baltimore as of today and NOT bitten by a Pit Bull! A 15 year old teen was shot in the head in Ellicot City and is fighting for his life! Who's inherently dangerous?! This is ridiculous! The state needs to focus on the real inherenlty dangerous issue, HUMANS! I am a proud mom of a wonderful Pit Bull and I'm NOT a gangsta or in any gang.

Can someone clarify for me what people are complaining about...I hear over and over that it's the crappy owners, not an issue with the dog's breed. The entire point of the ruling is that legal action can more easily be taken against the owners when their aggressive pit kills/injures/destroys. So if someone raises a pit monster then the owner will be held liable for that. How could someone take issue with that?? Everyone on here seems to agree with the spirit of the ruling, but is still complaining. Is it that you wish the ruling applied equally to all dogs and not just pits?

"ruling applied equally to all dogs and not just pits". BINGO!!!!

So to answer the question posted "What experiences have you had with the breed?", I will say I have had one of the most pleasant and overwhelmingly best experience of a life time. Diamond (whom is believed to be a pit bull because of her box head and muscles) has been with us for 11 years. Diamond has touched the hearts of so many individuals who never knew a pit bull other than what the media portrays them as. She is the most behaved, and lovable dog ever imaginable, and no dog can top her. Believe it or not, she was BORN THIS WAY! She was born with a smile, big ears, and a long tongue. A tongue she licks your face off anytime she gets a chance! She steals your seat, and wags her tail in approval. You see, she is just a dog! A dog who loves her owners, and the kids in the neighborhood. She has also enjoyed meeting her new pit bull friends as of the recent ruling!

I dare all those that have never met a pit bull type dog to join a group of pit bull lovers, or to even come on down to a pit bull on parades event and meet them! I guarantee what the media portrays them as is no where near the truth!

Blame the deed not the breed!

Shannon, well made point! I too own a big baby that wants his belly rubbed and wants you to "do pretty" when brushing his head, his eyes close and he just loves it. The media likes to make these dog out to be savage killers waiting for the moment to eat the neighborhood children, If anyone was to actually spend some time with them and get to know one their opinions would change. I challenge anyone that has never been up close and personal to make an effort just once to meet one and i bet their opinion will change!

Oh - and as to my own opinion on "pit bull type" dogs:

I love them, and have had nothing but positive experiences with all that I have ever encountered. One of my dogs is classified as a pit mix. We adopted him from BHS at the age of 4, and he had come to them from another shelter. We hose him not because of his looks, but rather because of the impression he made on us when we went to the shelter looking to adopt a dog. Despite his history of mistreatment and neglect, he was the most eager-to-please, affectionate and laid-back dog we met there. He immediately got along with our other dog (a ridgeback mix) and 14 y/o cat, and has never shown an ounce of unprovoked aggression towards another living creature.

He is now ten, and is the long-suffering playmate of my 3 y/o daughter. He has tolerated having his nails painted pink, will wear fairy wings and princess crowns, and is especially talented at chasing the monsters out of her closet or from underneath her bed. In fact, he has been her constant loving companion since birth; her first word at 8 months was not, to my dismay, "mommy", but "puppy"!

Despite his advanced years, graying face and arthritic joints, he is most happy when surrounded by little people loving on him and playing with him. I am so fortunate to own my home; not only would it break my heart if I had to rehome him, it would absolutely devastate my daughter.

I'll share my own anecdotal pit bull opinion, which must be short because of the space limitation for posting comments. I had a Border Collie who got pregnant by a pit bull, and I kept one of the pups, who was definitely not raised by me to be aggressive in any way. However, by the time she was ten weeks old she was already dominating her mother, and by the time she was six months old she had turned on me several times when I disciplined her verbally and she challenged me. Her sire was a pit bull who was owned by a man that fought cocks (which was legal at the time) as well as his dogs (which was not legal). It became apparent that she had inherited her demeanor from a line of dogs that was deliberately raised to be aggressive, and that she was potentially a danger to myself and to others. The fact that she also had the genetic inclination to herd anything in multiples, whether it was chickens or children or other dogs, didn't help.

Bottom line, I believe that the breed is more dangerous than others because most people don't know the bloodline of their dogs, and the potential for having an aggressive ancestor is very high with pit bulls. My own dog was a sweetie 99% if the time, but I was extremely concerned 1% of the time.

I would like you to note that in the 33 cases of Dog related fatalities the study shows
21 dogs to be of unknown origin or indeterminable.
2 verified Pit Bulls
3 verified Rottweilers
2 verified German Shepards
1 verified Husky
1 verified American Bulldog
1 verified Wolf Mix
1 verified Boxer
The study also makes note that several of the cases were reported to be "pit bulls" by the media, but there was no evidence to support those claims, and photos of the dogs were found to be an unknown mixed breed as well. Most of the unknowns were also strays, feral or junkyard pack dogs that were never located after the incidents.
So if you'd like to claim that all of the unknown breeds were "pit bulls" help yourself. But under review by scientific, medical, and veterinary professionals that would be a very incorrect statement.

do the deed, ban the breed! pit bulls killed 22 out of 31 people killed in dog attacks in the usa last year! rottweilers were next on 4 deaths!

I was like everyone here who knew someone who had a Pitbull and heard all the stories of what a great dog they are for children. Our neighbor behind us owns 3 and when we moved in we put up an 8 foot wooden fence because they would come out every time my young kids went out to play and all he had was a 5 foot chain link fence. 2 months ago I let my chihuahua/Pomeranian out who weighs 7lbs like I do every morning. I heard him yelping do I ran out back and here is my neighbors pitbull who has broken through our fence with his jaws chomped on my dogs throat. I grabbed a stick and beat this pitbull at least 20 times before I stunned him in the eye and he dropped him. Thank god my dog had the sense to run into the house. The dog turns on me and I am swinging until I can close the door. I call the police and they come with animal control. I rush my dog to the vet with 3 puncture wounds on his neck and several scratches. Thank god!!!! So the owner comes over and tells me what a loving dog his dog is and he loves children but he is dog aggressive. He reluctantly agrees to pay for the vet bill. So today he comes over and asks me if I signed an avidavit and I said yes. He tells me he has put up a new fence and the dog is now living out of state with his girlfriend. I now feel a little safe about letting my dog and kids in the back yard.