2012/07/25 Council Agenda Packet

http://www.badrap.orgibreed-history Reflecting on Pit Bulls - Whatever they are! For the purpose of thisw�F� =.U� �� w. 1, . �A. ... , website, we've used the , z j generic term 'pit bull'to 1 , r ,1 describe our dogs, even though there is no proper definition for pit bull. Recent research A Ang7iJa hotet Mit including DNA analysis t ih� r by Dr. Victoria Voithtme, and others has proven that dogs commonly identified as pit bulls are quite often a mix of multiple breeds, so breed identification by appearance alone is now considered to be inaccurate and misleading. The conundrum is a good one though, because it frees us up to look at these incredibly popular dogs as a fascinating American phenomena rather than an identifiable item with fixed genetics, behaviors and definable features. Welcome to our exploration of the enigmatic pit bull! Above: Two different centuries, two celebrated it bulls.'On the left, Serjieant Stubby is celebrated for saving human lives in WWI. In 2010, Jonny Justice is celebrated for surviving the cruelties of NFL Player Michael Vick and going on to help children learn to read. The 'pit bulls' you meet may be shelter dogs of indeterminate origin or they may have pedigree as American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers (APBT) or more recently, American Bullies. Whichever definition or registry you prefer, fanciers and animal lovers alike can agree that the dogs that fall under this label are as well-loved as they are maligned in this society, with a history that's as blended as their genetics. While we puzzle over what a pit bull is, we should all take note that the dogs have been dutifully helping us learn what it means to be human. With unfailing optimism, the dogs that fill our shelters and homes seem to want to remind us that they are what we've made them to be, either victims of human cruelty, neglected sentries in lonely yards, or cherished family companions in our homes. Slowly, society is starting to recognize these lessons and accept responsibility for their station in life. Created in the UK A dog (Olde English Bulldog)that looked much like today's pit bull was originally used in the 1800's in the British Isles to 'bait' bulls. These matches were held for the entertainment of the struggling classes; a source of relief from the tedium of hardship. In 1835 bull baiting was deemed inhumane and became illegal, and dog fighting became a popular replacement. Soon, a new bulldog was created by crossing the Olde English Bulldog with terriers to create smaller,