True or false: Pit Bull terriers have an inherent desire to bite, maim or kill and become violent no matter what a trainer does.
Answer: A great big false. According to the American Temperament Testing Society, the American Pit Bull terrier has a slightly higher passing grade than many “family dogs,” including the golden retriever.
It’s myths like this that gave birth to B-More Dog, a new Baltimore-based organization that advocates for responsible dog ownership.
B-More Dog was founded in October 2007, when Baltimore County Councilman Vince Gardina proposed legislation that would require all Pit Bull owners to muzzle their dogs in public and keep them contained in kennels whenever outside.
“The legislation was prompted by a pit bull attack on a young boy in the county. While we had sympathy and wanted to see the owner of that dog handled by the law, we didn’t think it was fair that they would put huge restrictions on responsible dog owners,” said Erin Sullivan, president of B-More Dog. “We decided it was time to make our voices heard.”
The 16-member organization is applying for 501C nonprofit status. Its mission is to improve the image of the Pit Bull owner, as well as reach out to those who mean well but who still can’t control their dogs.
On Saturday, B-More Dog will be celebrating National Pit Bull Awareness Day, an event that focuses on devoted owners who care for their dogs responsibly. Sullivan encourages every Pit Bull owner to celebrate by taking their dogs out and promoting safe and responsible pet ownership.
“There really is a huge amount of alleged Pit Bull deaths being blown out of control,” she said. “I don’t mean to downplay the severity of the bites and attacks, and I have sympathy for anyone who’s bitten by a dog of any breed. But almost every single incident could have been prevented using common sense. People need to remember that dogs are still dogs; they are still animals. It’s our job to set dogs up for success rather than failure.”
PIT BULL AWARENESS DAY
Visit www.bmoredog.org for more information about the activities for Pit Bull Awareness Day. To register, email [email protected].
The Humane Society of Baltimore County will be hosting a Pit Bull Education and Adoption event on Saturday. For more information, contact [email protected]
