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Any large dog can be potentially dangerous if not properly trained and handled by somebody who knows what he or she is doing.

Unfortunately, it seems there is an unhealthy attraction for pit bulls by individuals of low responsibility and even lower intellect.

Pit Bulls were bred to fight other dogs in a brutal "sport" called dog-fighting, and have an abormally high tolerance to pain and extremely strong jaws, which makes them potentially far more dangerous than even larger dogs.

However, Teddy Roosevelt had a pit bull, and so did "Buster Brown" And pit bulls - actually Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and Bull Terriers can be trustworthy, gentle and make fine pets in the hands of individuals with common sense and a basic knowledge of dog behavior and training.

But too many of these dogs wind up being bred from poor stock and handled by even poorer human stock - drug pushers, and guys who think owning a big uncontrollable animal somehow is a positive reflection on their masculinity.

The owner of this dog should do time.

"Unfortunately, it seems there is an unhealthy attraction for pit bulls by individuals of low responsibility and even lower intellect."

This is the real problem. People who own pit bulls like them because of their reputation as fighters. People who own them enjoy being thought of as fighters as well. What it really says about them, is that they are stupid and mean.

Why do pit bull fanciers insist that these dogs are not more vicious by nature (since they are bred to be) than other known-to-be-docile breeds? I need not name these docile breeds. And, if not abused, most of them remain docile without special training.

Unfortunately, it seems there is an unhealthy attraction for pit bulls by individuals of low responsibility and even lower intellect.

Exactly. In my life, I have seen dozens of these dogs owned by, erm, ah...folks with something to prove. Seems like every ignorant, cruel, mentally ill waste of skin in my neck of the woods thinks owning a 'pit' makes him more of a man. Sorta like the redneck version of a sports car. ;)

And they go out of the way to make these dogs mean. I have heard them bragging about beating them daily to 'toughin' them up. Or starving them and making them fight each other for food. Or keeping them on chains in the yard and never showing them one ounce of affection or kindness.

Don't get me started.....It ain't the dog, it is the creep that owns it...shoot them first.

Unfortunately, it seems there is an unhealthy attraction for pit bulls by individuals of low responsibility and even lower intellect.

I would also add that the sensational reporting of this by the press a) overestimates the problem and b) plays a part in feuling the problem.

A pit bull raised well by good people is no more dangerous than a .38 in the hands of a well trained, law abiding citizen.

Not to sound racist (though I doubt anyone would care here, just from what I read on occasion here) but ever notice in 98% of these stories, the owner's name is something like Julio or Hector or Antoine or Tyrell? All the cholos and homeboys love these dogs, and love to treat them like shit. Then they wonder why they snap.

Also, the other side of the story you never seem to hear in a lot of dog-on-dog cases are the douchebag owners of other dogs that like to let their dogs roam free, and then cry to the authorities when another dog tears them to shreds. Many dogs are dog aggressive by nature, especially males.