Hawaii Legislature Considers Making Pit Bull Ownership a Crime
Update: The legislative session has adjourned for this year, but this bill, S.B. 79 has been held over and will be taken up next year.
For more on this, read Animal Law Coalition's report below.
The Hawaii legislature is considering a bill, S.B. 79 that would make owning, possessing, transporting, or selling a pit bull a crime, a misdemeanor. There are no exceptions. None. All pit bulls are to be seized and impounded and presumably killed.
A "'pit bull' means any dog that is an American pit bull terrier, American staffordshire terrier, a staffordshire bull terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of those breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards" of those breeds.
When she heard about this bill, one rescuer asked, "What happened to this country's love of dogs?" This year alone, there have been efforts to implement BSL in Montana , Florida, Texas and now this.
Listen to ALC on The Nature Connection on The Big Blend radio!
In The Moment
The issue is not his temperament, nor is it even relevant. What is relevant is actuarial risk. If almost any other dog has a bad moment (which they all do), someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a pit bull type dog…has a bad moment, often someone (often children who are defenseless) is maimed or killed--and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price.
The argument often used by the owners "they are very loyal and smart dogs" drives me nuts. Great these dogs are loyal to owners your families..what about mine.
Courts across the country have declared pit bulls as "lethal weapons." Why do we as a community/nation allow dogs that have proven unstoppable aggression when triggered (which no one can predict)? Did you know that those “Pit Bull Type Breeds” have been known to jump up to 8ft fences when they really want to get something? Their strength is unsurpassed in the dog world.
It is note worthy that Pits or Staffy’s are notorious for they have a stone-face or poker face, meaning the victim doesn’t even know the dog is upset and ready to attack therefore the victim is taken off guard. When a dog bites it is horrible when a pit bull breed bites it can be like a chainsaw has attacked your body.
I feel as a mother of two small children living next door to a HUGE AGGRESSIVE Staffordshire Pit Bull that I am stuck by indifferent laws that would rather react when a Pit Bull Type Dog bites than be proactive and ensure these attacks NEVER happen. The owners of the dog are EXTREMELY IRRRESPONSIBLE, the dog is copped up all day indoors and they they have no control over him when he is out. No leash could stop this dog if it decided to attack, the owners have NO fences around the home. It is a ticking time bomb.
Please do not punish the
Please do not punish the dogs for it is the owner who should be punished...Have the owner put there dogs on leashes while walking their dogs and while dogs are left unattended... If by any means owners who can afford to build a kennel should most definetly do so... Owners should also train their dogs for good behavior, you can teach an old dog new tricks...If owners should break this law give them no second chances...Make the fines really high and give them a jail sentence without bail... PLEASE DO NOT PUNISH THE INNOCENT ANIMALS FOR THEIR OWNERS WRONG DOING...
Have the owner put there
Have the owner put there dogs on leashes while walking their dogs and while dogs are left unattended...
Tell that to the lady who's 32 yr old horse got ripped to shreds in her own barn while their owner's were to busy smoking meth to care if they even had a dog!!
We've obviously tried that, been there, done that, for the last 50 years? How many more innocent people & animals have to loose their lives before you realize this?
Dr. Phil "How's it working for ya?" IT's NOT!
Hundreds of comments?
I don`t think so
Not quite as exciting as a pit bull attack don`t expect the National and International Media to pick it up.
http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2009/jun/01/pack-dogs-attack-horse/
[quote]Boulder County horse dies after dog attack
Two labs and a boxer being held at Humane Society
By Amy Bounds (Contact), Laura Snider (Contact)
Monday, June 1, 2009
BOULDER, Colo. — A 32-year-old horse attacked by a pack of dogs Sunday in Boulder County died Monday, her owner said.
Richard Beardsley said veterinarians were able to stabilize “Prissy” after the attack, but on Monday afternoon “it all went downhill real fast and she passed away.”
“We lost a family member,” he said. “She met an unhappy fate. It was a horse’s worst nightmare.”
He said the neighbors also will miss seeing the elderly horse.
“The neighbors would bring their kids up,” he said. “They always wanted to see the horsey and feed the horsey.”
Boulder police, open space rangers, sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers responded to Beardsley’s home in the 4300 block of 26th Street on a report that a boxer and two Labrador retrievers were attacking the horse. The attack left Prissy with injuries to her head, throat and body, according to the sheriff’s office.
Joshua Mantooth and Nelson Alvarez, who live at 2568 Vine Place, were ticketed for unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog, a misdemeanor.
Mantooth owns the two labs and Alvarez owns the boxer, said Cmdr. Rick Brough. The dogs are being held at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley while the case against the owners moves forward, he said.
Beardsley said the three dogs had harassed his horse once before, but he was able to chase them away.
“Their dogs were very vicious in a pack,” he said. “The legal system will do what it does with them.”[/quote]
Maui_Girl_09
I think the whole law about owning & possessing pitbulls and baning them is a stright up CROCK BULLSHIT... excuse my language but im just hurt. I mean like what are they going to do, go to every home bang on their doors and take their pitbulls away even if they have a papers of ownership and adoption. Im just flat out offened. My friend he owns a PURE BREED BLUE NOSE PITBULL and that dog is so sweet, kind and playfull he wouldnt bite or attack any body not even a child. He was raised in their house around kids & another dog. I STRONGLY DISAGREE about BANING PITBULLS in HAWAII, but i do AGREE about pushing the law of leashing dogs.
In other states there are lost of people who do dog fighting for a living and yes i agree its very cruel, but its the OWNERS they should PUNISH NOT the DOGS, but for some dogs its too late and thats really sad, becuase the dogs are not able to experience a natural-non-cruel life. Yes, pitbulls are known to be fighters at heart becuase it runs through their blood & its part of their breed, but my opinion about that fact is that pitbulls dont need to be raised in a cruel enviorment to be visious blood fighters. I believe its just the actions and the decisions that the owners make. Now, to sell or transport pitbulls illegally i think they should make a law for that.
This comment is being typed with strong thoughts and words by an 18 year old high school student of Maui, Hawaii and who was raised around many dogs including a huge variety of PITBULLS and not ONE has every tried to attack me or my brothers. These pitbulls were rasied by responsible owners who truely dont show any violence toward their dogs, but they do take per-cautions when raising pitbulls together and around their family.
TO who ever reads my comment if you understand or dont I truely believe that this LAW of BANING PITBULLS should not be passed.
Thank You
- Maui_Girl_09
Classy response, just the
Classy response, just the kind I would expect from an advocate of Pit Bull Types.
How about we Ban the
How about we Ban the breeding of IDIOT owners!
Bans
Hurray for Hawaii! Now that's where I wanna live, a state who cares more about human life than a vicious dog.
Sorry your offended about this but I was truly offended when a neighbors dog that "wouldn't hurt a baby" did when he came onto my property and ripped apart my very rare curly filly in her very own pen all snuggled up for the night.
Dear you don't make a good advocate when you say "that dog is so sweet, kind and playfull he wouldnt bite or attack any body not even a child. He was raised in their house around kids & another dog." Then you say... "but my opinion about that fact is that pitbulls dont need to be raised in a cruel enviorment to be visious blood fighters."
You said it yourself! Sorry but there is no amount of good upbringing or training that will teach an animal not to attack when it feels the need and snaps. It's obvious your responsible friends recognize that fact since they "take per-cautions when raising pitbulls together and around their family." Why would they since he's "so sweet, kind and playfull he wouldnt bite or attack any body"
Hon, go back to school and study your spelling & vicious dogs that attack so you can form a more intelligent decision. I hope you make the right one before you end up the next guy who owes over $10,000 for their neighbors foal.
Some Facts
CDC Statement
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/avma-cd...
AVMA Statement
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/avma-le...
CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/dogbite-factsheet.ht...
[quote]A CDC study on fatal dog bites lists the breeds involved in fatal attacks over 20 years (Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998). It does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic. Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities; about 0.0002 percent of the total number of people bitten. These relatively few fatalities offer the only available information about breeds involved in dog bites.
***There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.[/quote]
Owners of ALL dogs should be held accountable and responsible for their dogs,not just some dogs.
In Your State
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/in-your-state/
# Pitbull Attacks, Maulings,
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Pitbull Attacks, Maulings, and Killings
Pitbull attacks are on the rise in the United States. An astonishing list of attacks, maulings and killings of children, animals, and people.
pit-bulls.christianfunfair.org/attacks.htm - 83k - Cached - Similar pages
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Pitbull Attacks: Deadly Pit Bull Attacks and why they happen
Pitbull attacks are on the rise in the United States. Following is an examination of why these attacks happen and some ideas on preventing them.
www.pitbulllovers.com/pitbull-attacks-deadly.html - 18k - Cached - Similar pages
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Pit Bull - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The court adopted the trial court findings that, "Pit Bull attacks, unlike attacks by other dogs, occur more often, are more severe, and are more likely to ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_bull - 182k - Cached - Similar pages
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Video results for pitbull attacks
"PIT BULL VICIOUSLY ATTACKS BABY"
5 min
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violent out of control pitbull attacks
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pitbull attacks cat
53 sec
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pit bull attack
Good way to avoid a pit bull attackThere are many arguments that suggest pit bulls were bred to specifically not attack humans. While this is true, ...
hubpages.com/hub/pit-bull-attack - 66k - Cached - Similar pages
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James Harrison-owned pit bull attacks his son - ESPN
A pit bull owned by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison bit his 2-year-old son in the thigh, but the boy is expected to recover though he remained ...
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NFL - Harrison's pit bull attacks young son - FOX Sports on MSN
May 22, 2009 ... PITTSBURGH (AP) - A pit bull owned by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison bit his 2-year-old son in the thigh, but the boy is ...
msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9601876/Harrison's-pit-bull-attacks-young-son - 125k - Cached - Similar pages
Dog Bites and the
Dog Bites and the Media
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-media/
Audience Interest
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-media/...
In Your State: # Pitbull
In Your State:
#
Pitbull Attacks, Maulings, and Killings
Pit Bull Attacks Horse In Santa Fe Oct 19, 2007 · Pit Bull Attacks 77-Year-Old On Street .... Pit bull attacks police horse in Golden Gate Park; two injured ...
pit-bulls.christianfunfair.org/attacks.htm - 83k - Cached - Similar pages
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Dogs Bite Blog: Pit Bull Attacks Horse in Classic Bull Baiting ...
An Auburn feed store put up reward money to help locate a pit bull and owner involved in a bloody attack on a horse. Echo Valley Ranch owner Greg Kimler ...
www.dogsbite.org/blog/2008/04/pit-bull-attacks-horse-in-classic-bull.html - 61k - Cached - Similar pages
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Dogs Bite Blog: Pit Bull Attacks Three Horses Killing One ...
Of the various breeds that attack large livestock, DogsBite.org has only come across one that will attack a group of horses by itself: a pit bull. ...
www.dogsbite.org/blog/2008/05/pit-bull-attacks-three-horses-killing.html - 60k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from www.dogsbite.org »
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Video results for pit bull attacks horse
Horse Attacked By Pit Bull
2 min
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Pit bull attacks horse in Maryland TERRIER DOG ...
1 min 50 sec
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Pit bull attacks police horse in Golden Gate Park; two injured
Nov 23, 2003 ... Article:Pit bull attacks police horse in Golden Gate Park; two :/g/a/2003/11/23/horse23.DTL. Article:Pit bull attacks police horse in Golden ...
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Race horse euthanized after pit bulls attack - USATODAY.com
Feb 28, 2007 ... A race horse attacked by two pit bull terriers was so badly injured it had to be euthanized, its owners said.
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Pit Bull Attacks Horse in Lavalle, "Responsible" Pit Bull Owners ...
After a pit bull attacked a horse in Lavalle, WI, (a responding deputy found the dog "hanging from the horse's face), the horse kicked its owner in the face ...
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Pit bulls attack horse - Topix
17 posts - 15 authors - Last post: Jan 12
I am so sick and tired of hearing about pitbull attacks.The person who owns these dogs should be charged and pays the consequences. ...
www.topix.com/forum/city/oscoda-mi/TLTJ98TJG3T37RL1E - 97k - Cached - Similar pages
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Pit Bull Attacks Horse On Walking Trail - KOVR Sacramento - Truveo ...
Terror on a popular Foothills walking trail. A pit bull attacks a horse and then the pit bull's owner takes off. An attack unlike any you've ever heard ...
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Horse put down after pit-bull attack - Latest from the Ann Arbor ...
A horse had to be euthanized after being attacked by two pit bulls in Livingston County's Handy Township Monday morning. ...
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I did identify both dogs
I did identify both dogs which happen to be "Pit Bulls" before & after they were shot dead in my pen for attacking my horse. Your going off the subject here stating facts from some survey about generalized breeds, were talking about "Pit bulls" in case you didn't pick that out of the paragraph above.
Are you sure?
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/find-a-...
You keep googling those Media Stories for "research" while other people work on getting owners of ALL Breeds/types of dogs to keep them properly contained.
Quit making yourself out to be more of a victim than other people who have been bitten or who have had animals hurt by loose dogs.
You won`t find most of their stories when you google your "research" because the Media doesn`t care about most of their stories!
NO Ban On Bull Dogs
Aloha Honey Pit Bulls are not the problem. The humans are. Please do not make the same mistake others are doing. I livre in a community where uncontrolled owned dogs runs free. Enforce the leash laws and make the streets safe for all. Do not single out PIt Bulls. Ciao T.McNut
Aloha "Honey"? Please baby
Aloha "Honey"? Please baby please I'm not your "Honey". You may properly refer to me as Mam or Gina.
I agree on your statement to the fullest however until Breeders & owners of Pit Bulls & other vicious dogs START being responsible for their dogs then they need to be banned, or strict regulations be put on them until theses people start to take this seriously. I think the authorities have enough to deal with in society than have to worry about if Brutus is off his leash again!
I know there are some responsible breeders out there who take their dogs seriously & they should be pushing for these restrictions, which in the end make owning & breeding Pit bulls a more lucrative investment.
This is like a smoking ban & the Majority will rule. What is not good for the health & well being of general society will be banned or regulated. It's more than obvious a 125 lb Pit Bull running loose does NOT fall into that category.
These laws are already in place & they obviously don't work in your community or mine where these dogs run free because of irresponsible people to begin with. These type of people don't care about Laws, other people, who or what their dogs kill while running free, what on earth makes you think their going to buy it a leash? ROLMAO mmmmk. When your child comes home ripped to shreds by this vicious animal I'm sure you'll think quite differently. I haven't met a parent or victim yet to say "Oh that's ok, it's not the dog's fault!" Why? because their probably missing half their FACE!
I'm not willing to risk my child or Pet's sitting on my ass hoping they enforce the leash law & give them a slap on the hand & a $25.00 ticket when they don't, & I end up getting a $5k Dr. bill, who do you think is going to pay that bill? The people who cant afford the damn leash to begin with? To me this shouldn't include just pit bulls, this is ANY large dog who can do enough damage to kill any size human including a child.
So Don't Patronize me "Honey" until you walk a mile in my shoes!
When you have something intelligent to say then speak to me.
So after my pitbull is taken
So after my pitbull is taken and euthinized, the next guy who gets bitten by a lab (the only dog that's ever bitten me to require stitches by the way) so that's ok because it's not a pitbull? I don't think so. Only way to fix a problem is the owners. This is not a breed specific problem.all my pits are sweet dogs,and rescues! so before you purposefully murder members of my family by trying to pass this law based on breed alone,not dogs with a violent history, remember that's the logic hitler used to murder the jews. Breed is only race for dogs. Please act reasonably.
The point is he would be
The point is he would be able to WALK away, unlike a victim of Pit Bull Type Dog. A child is a family member you should remember that fact. We all love our dogs, but never should you consider them on the same level as children or humans.
I had a long term boyfriend that had "a sweet natured" Pit Bull that attacked and mauled an innocent person that walked by his yard. Seriously you can't predict what sets these dogs off. Look in the history books, they were breed for war not peace.
Do some real Research
You`ve bought into the Media hype
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-media/
"Do Certain Breeds of Dogs Inflict Injuries Different from Other Breeds?"
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/types-of-dog-bites/dog-b...
CDC
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/avma-cd...
AVMA
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/avma-le...
Pit Bull Placebo:The Media,Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/ncrc-publications/
Your Argument is weak
These all came from one source. Wonder who funds the research? The sites are all National Canine Research. Do some research of your own and look up the various city ordinances for Pit Bull Breed Bans. Talk to family members that have had a pit bull breed attack one of their family members or worse one that has lost a family member because of a Pit Bull. Ignorance and denial of what "pit bulls" are capable of is going to perpetuate further mauling and deaths. I live next door to a large INTACT Staffordshire Pit Bull with aggressive tendencies. He is cooped up inside their home all day. Exercised infrequently and he is young. They don't have proper confinement for the dog and they lack any control over him when he is out. I have two small children; it may be ok for "Pit Bull" owners to put my family at risk, BUT IT IS NOT OK FOR ME. We have to spend the money to build a fence around the perimeter of our home to keep our children as safe as possible, So much for responsible pit bull ownership? We have to take on the responsibility that should be the "Pit Bulls" owner....
Your only concern is people
Your only concern is people bitten by 'pit' type dogs?
Why would that be?
That`s rather odd isn`t it.
"Wonder who funds the research?"
Why don`t you fill us in?
Make sure it`s not libelous.
You give yourself away by attempting to attack the credibility of NCRC
If folks haven`t read Pit Bull Placebo,check it out here
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/ncrc-publications/
and follow NCRC on Twitter
http://twitter.com/KDelise
Oh & btw, If all dog owners
Oh & btw, If all dog owners were responsible we wouldn't even need the damn leash law now would we.
dont people get it, pitbulls
dont people get it, pitbulls arnt just the problem any dog that the capacity to bite or kill, look at small dogs like yorkies and jack russels small dogs bite more ppl a year then any other breed but they dont get put down or put all over national media because there small. pits get a bad rap because they were bred to take down very large viloent prey they were bred to hunt wild boar . these dogs jut like great danes and mastiffs and almost every other large breed was bred to hunt large prey. my family has had american pitbulls since i was born and pits as with any other dogs behavior is all in how you raise them
I LOVE MY PITS!!!!
My Pit bulls (YES I have 2) are the sweetest, most loving dogs I've ever owned in my entire life. I have had dogs of many breeds and I trust my pit bulls with my life - I had a chow / lab mix that attacked my son when left in a room watching tv. I personally have been attacked by yorkshire terriers', pekingese and more - NOT one was a pitbull. My two girls SMILE - they don't have blank expressions like someone previously wrote - they actually show you when they're happy & when they're sad. My dogs don't even get angry!!!! My older pit - now about 6 - was attacked by a small dog at a dog park - that dog attacked & bit my dog about 5 times before my dog did anything; when she did, she didn't hurt it - she just shook it and let go. So everyone that wants to bash pitbulls needs to take a long hard look at themselves & our nation: We as humans are deadly creatures - there are countless killers behind bars, rapist, serial killers and the like are all walking our streets everyday - do we ban owning and breeding of humans?
My dogs and I are relocating to Maui - and I plan on helping the people, not hurting them - why would you want to hurt my dogs that have NEVER harmed a hair on anyone's head? Why would you hurt something that hasn't done anything wrong? Should we lock up teens because they have the potential of becoming murderers???? Should we kill cats too because they might scratch you? Get a grip and get real - it's ALL in how someone or something is raised - not the fear that YOU feel because it's happened in the past - should we kill all lions, coyotes and mountain sheep too because they've killed in the past???? what about sharks? I think sharks are far more deadly and the chances of getting bitten by a shark are probably higher in Hawaii than getting bit by a pit. Tougher laws would help - dog training / obiedence school sound far more logical and realistic than that of killing off an entire breed of animals just because people are cruel and some raise theirs to fight - if all DOGS had training, licensing and the like, I think that would improve the economy and decrease the odds of someone getting hurt. ALL dogs should have training - I've lived it - dogs bite, just like cats scratch.
I LOVE MY PITS!!!!
My Pit bulls (YES I have 2) are the sweetest, most loving dogs I've ever owned in my entire life. I have had dogs of many breeds and I trust my pit bulls with my life - I had a chow / lab mix that attacked my son when left in a room watching tv. I personally have been attacked by yorkshire terriers', pekingese and more - NOT one was a pitbull. My two girls SMILE - they don't have blank expressions like someone previously wrote - they actually show you when they're happy & when they're sad. My dogs don't even get angry!!!! My older pit - now about 6 - was attacked by a small dog at a dog park - that dog attacked & bit my dog about 5 times before my dog did anything; when she did, she didn't hurt it - she just shook it and let go. So everyone that wants to bash pitbulls needs to take a long hard look at themselves & our nation: We as humans are deadly creatures - there are countless killers behind bars, rapist, serial killers and the like are all walking our streets everyday - do we ban owning and breeding of humans?
My dogs and I are relocating to Maui - and I plan on helping the people, not hurting them - why would you want to hurt my dogs that have NEVER harmed a hair on anyone's head? Why would you hurt something that hasn't done anything wrong? Should we lock up teens because they have the potential of becoming murderers???? Should we kill cats too because they might scratch you? Get a grip and get real - it's ALL in how someone or something is raised - not the fear that YOU feel because it's happened in the past - should we kill all lions, coyotes and mountain sheep too because they've killed in the past???? what about sharks? I think sharks are far more deadly and the chances of getting bitten by a shark are probably higher in Hawaii than getting bit by a pit. Tougher laws would help - dog training / obiedence school sound far more logical and realistic than that of killing off an entire breed of animals just because people are cruel and some raise theirs to fight - if all DOGS had training, licensing and the like, I think that would improve the economy and decrease the odds of someone getting hurt. ALL dogs should have training - I've lived it - dogs bite, just like cats scratch.