A few days ago I heard yet another story of a “killer pit bull” on the attack.

Apparently, the pit bull managed to jump a neighbor’s six-foot fence, mauling an unsuspecting dog in its own yard. The neighbor (and owner of the dog who was attacked) said he had no choice but to shoot the pit bull after a failed attempt to separate them.

So one dog got hurt, and another one died.

Unfortunately, we’ve all heard stories like this before—a pit bull on the loose attacking another animal or person for no apparent reason. It seems like some of the worst “attack stories” I’ve heard involve pit bulls—and to be honest, I’ve heard more negative things about them than positive. (I don’t have anything against this breed, but I’ve noticed this.)

Currently they are banned in Denver and Aurora, unless of course you have a pit bull as a service dog, which is totally legal now.

Some people are wholeheartedly against the breed—seeing these dogs as untrustworthy and violent by nature. As a matter of fact, I’ve heard some people say they would be happy to see these dogs go extinct.

And of course, there are those who say their pit bull(s) are completely trustworthy, loyal and kind. Now, I personally know a few of these people and there isn’t a question in their mind regarding their safety or the safety of others. I even asked one them if they trusted their dog around their 3-year-old daughter, and she replied, “Oh, yea. I leave her sleeping on the couch sometimes with the dog in the same room—that’s like the only time I can
get a shower in.”

Some owners blame the media for ruining the breed’s reputation—while others say it’s in the dog’s nature to act violently, loving home or not.

What do you think? Did the media create the negative pit bull stereotype by only reporting incidents related to the breed?

Or…

Do violent dog attacks happen more often than we know, and we just don’t hear about them?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Please don’t hesitate to tell me what’s OnUrMind.