In one of these clusterfuck threads, somebody pointed out that a recurring pattern for dogs "snapping" and attacking people wasn't breed, it was that they were all male dogs that weren't neutered. I desperately wish I remember all of the info they posted or even who it was, maybe they'll pop back up here.
Good morning. That was me.
The major problem with these stories is that breed identification based on sight is really difficult even for people who work with animals, much less the layman. It's something like a 30% accuracy rate in visual identification tests on animal control workers, which is abysmal. Dog genetics are as complicated as they are fascinating, and a dog that is a true terrier/lab/feist/spaniel mix can still come out looking like an American Pit Bull Terrier. "Pit bull," at this point in general nomenclature, is the term for a dog with a square head, which could genetically be anything. Could be a Boxer in some cases. You won't know unless you do true DNA testing, and no one is spending that money on dogs destined for euthanasia for extreme behavioral problems.
So, do we know for certain whether or not dog attack reports accurately report the breed? Of course not, and you'd be mistaken to take stock in them (which is one of the reasons why DogsBite.org is a shit source and the "progressive haven" that is ResetEra should really stop sourcing it.) So then, it makes sense to actually focus on the more easily identifiable and consistent factors of reported dog attacks. Actual animal organizations like the ASPCA and even medical organizations like the CDC do not advocate for breed-banning legislation for the reasons above. Instead, they know the overwhelming majority of attacks are from male dogs that are unneutered.
Dogs are man's best friend, and part of that deal includes being specialized for many different jobs. Hunting, game retrieval, and guardianship have been staples of that relationship, and many breeds- not just the ABPT- were bred with the strength and tenacity to go after another wild animal that could in turn kill it if willing and able, or to post up on strangers approaching their pack leader (seriously, Dobermen were bred to attack criminals- you know, humans). Give something with those instincts continuous testosterone and no socialization, and attacks on unsuspecting humans are simply inevitable.
If it were certain beyond a reasonable doubt that pitbulls genetically have a higher than average chance of killing people than the Rottweilers, Shepherds, and Dobermans of the world, they wouldn't have blossomed in the 40s and 50s. Little Rascal's Petey would be a Lassie instead ("how dare those irresponsible filmmakers let a killing machine around children?!"). White people would've stamped that out immediately had the Little Rascals gone down with an incident. Speaking of which, I will tell you what did change in the pit bull's reception after Rotties, Sheps, and Dobies had their time in the spotlight.
The perception of who owns them. Because yes, literally everything in America can trace its roots back to racism.
Everything was fine when the pit bull was a staple in the white American home. Come the late 80s and 90s where these breeds and mutt look-a-likes start becoming of interest to black and Hispanic Americans, being easily accessible for folks in poor environments due to overbreeding and high placement in shelters where pets can be acquired for far more cheaply, and subsequent staples in hip-hop culture, and now you have even liberal white folks turning their back on the breed. "The Nanny Dog" has
magically become a terror that has to be banned after only 20 or so years of this distinct reputation,
which by the way is not enough time to develop a line of dogs into a distinct, organization-recognized breed with discernible physical and behavioral characteristics. Hmm.
So yeah, that's my spiel. I don't take seriously the claims of people who think these dogs are a social health issue. And I really don't take seriously white people's claims that they're scary looking, since I have an idea of who they're imagining on the end of the leash.
I want dog attacks to diminish just as much as anyone else. No one deserves to go through that experience, and we have a moral responsibility to do better by our dogs. This is why I advocate, among other things, for efforts to just neuter your fucking dogs. Less testosterone, less puppies to be born in a world already full of dogs that are bound to the socialization hellhole that is our shelter system and the street, less chances for people to become victims of these boiling kettle situations.