GEORGE NEWS - A recent call to ban the keeping of pit bull terriers as pets in South Africa, has ignited various emotions and opinions from those who agree with the idea, and those opposed to it.
For some, especially those who have been attacked, or know someone who has been attacked by the breed, the idea of a ban is music to their ears, but some disagree and say there are other ways to deal with the issue.
The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation in the Eastern Cape has called for the immediate ban of pit bulls as pets in South Africa following several reports of pit bull attacks in the country in 2022.
The final impetus for the call was the recent attack in which a 10-year-old was killed by his family's two pit bulls in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The foundation also started an online petition to ban the breed, which has accumulated more than 20 000 signatures so far.
However, they are not suggesting that existing pit bulls be euthanised, but recommend that all male and female pit bulls be castrated/sterilised and that there should be restrictions for general breeding of dogs, licences for certain breeds and that pit bulls be used as part of the police's K9 unit.
You can't fight genetics
Colleen Smith of the local animal welfare organisation Odin is adamant that there should be better management of the breed.
"These dogs can be brought up with love and care, but genetically they are driven by the reward in the kill. Responsible and strict management of ownership is sought immediately. The first step is to apply the current by-laws and eradicate backyard breeding," she says.
She feels that municipalities can start with an immediate by-law that pit bulls, except those registered and with exemption from the local municipality in collaboration with local animal welfare organisations, be sterilised.
"Urgent control must be implemented. We love the breed and we understand their genetics count against them. Irresponsible backyard breeding is a huge problem in our area and in the areas we work there is more money in breeding than dog fighting. Pups are sold for anything between R500 and R1 000 a pup and most of them die of Parvo in the first four months," says Smith.
Banning is a blanket approach
Local animal behaviourist George van Huyssteen is of the opinion that a ban on the breed will be a blanket approach and not a solution to the problem.
"We need to remember, keeping dogs as pets is a relatively new concept. Years ago dogs were selectively bred to help people in one way or another. Pit bull terriers were bred to fight other animals. When we selectively breed for function, a cascade of things happen to ensure the dogs become the best they can be for that function.
"The pit bull terrier became extremely strong because of this. This is something we need to remember.
"Many say that Jack Russels are responsible for more bites - and that might be true - the problem is, they cannot possibly inflict the same damage as a pit bull," he says.
He says this does not make pit bull terriers monsters and they are supposed to be highly human-tolerant. "We need to remember, because of their function as fighting dogs, genetics are at play here and this cannot be trained out of them. It is not one single thing that is causing all the maulings and attacks, there are many factors that might come together that can cause it, but one thing we all agree on is that it must end.
"Us behaviourists have tried to educate people for years to prevent what is happening now.
"Banning the dog should not be considered, but very strict rules around the dogs and owners need to be put in place. A pit bull terrier that has seriously injured a human will never be safe to rehome.
"A human-aggressive dog is dangerous, a dog that can inflict fatal injuries in a short time is even more dangerous. Let us save the breed by getting educated and by being responsible."
What exactly is a pit bull terrier? What are the facts - not opinions - behind the breed. They are not for everybody and children should never be left alone with any dog, but especially a dog that can cause fatal damage in a very short time. If you are thinking of getting a pit bull, please read this article by local animal behaviourist George van Huyssteen.
NSPCA
The NSPCA agrees with the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation. "Although the NSPCA's mandate is the prevention of cruelty to animals and promoting good animal care, the NSPCA also values human lives," says a statement on their Facebook page.
According to the statement, not only people suffer from dog attacks, other animals have also been victim to attacks and been mauled to death. The aggressive animals themselves have also been found subjected to extreme abuse and cruelty in the manner in which they are kept, trained, and even killed.
This is an issue where both human and animal life have been placed in danger by irresponsible people who lack the skills and knowledge required to handle power breeds.
"At first glance, the petition may appear to be outrageous, especially to pit bull owners, however, upon careful reflection, the petition advocates for the protection of people and responsible pet ownership. It calls for all pit bulls to be castrated/sterilised, which would prevent the current rate of uncontrolled breeding. It also calls for stronger regulations for the keeping of pit bulls and other power breeds, requiring owners to have permits to keep such animals."
Stricter regulations needed
Local veterinarian Dr Christiaan Blignaut agrees with stricter management of not only pit bull terriers, but other power breed dogs as well. "Just as there are strict regulations and permits for keeping and breeding wild or dangerous animals, or even a firearm for that matter, there should be stricter regulations for keeping and breeding pit bulls.
"Permits should be enforced and owners need to motivate their reasons for wanting to keep a pit bull. All pit bulls that are not registered or used for responsible breeding must be sterilised and fines should be given to people who breed without permits.
"There is definitely room for attention. It's all about responsible ownership and ownership for the right reasons. The wrong bloodlines are being bred for the wrong reasons in the wrong hands. In some social circles these dogs are only seen as fighting dogs.
"I believe that if other big or dangerous breeds enjoyed the same amount of attention in these circles as the pit bull does, we would've had the same scenario. However, aggression is in their blood. I would agree to stricter management to keep them as pets."
Backyard breeders
The Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA) also warned people against buying a pit bull without any knowledge of its lineage and temperament.
According to a spokesperson for PBFSA, Lins Rautenbach, backyard breeding of these dogs is a problem. "Pit bulls are powerful dogs that can inflict massive damage. We expect dog-on-dog aggression, but dog-on-human aggression can never be tolerated, as when they attack, they kill. There is no place in society for a human-aggressive dog. A dog with a poor temperament is a dog with a poor temperament and there is no way it can be rehabilitated," she said.
Rautenbach added that to get the right kind of pit bull through the right channels may "take years".
"We've been warning people about these kinds of dogs for over 20 years. It's very easy for us as an organisation with a registered data base to say it's only backyard breeders who are causing these problems, but it's not."
Rautenbach said some registered pit bull breeders were aware that they're selling 'man-biter' dogs.
"The mauling of people and children by these dogs is of major concern. We cannot keep allowing this to become normal. Pit bulls kill, and if nothing gets done to prevent this we'll be sitting with a major crisis on our hands."
Resolution relies on law enforcement
Former manager of the NSPCA special investigations unit Wendy Wilson said the move to ban the breed cannot succeed.
"We can barely enforce the laws that we have. How are we going to enforce the ban on pit bulls? Right now we do not have the resources to enforce a breed ban, and even in countries that have resources and fantastic laws and have banned the breed, they have very limited success," she said.
Wilson said resolving the issue comes down to law enforcement.
"It comes down to enforcing the laws that we have on dangerous dogs and dog attacks and enforcing them and holding people accountable for what their dog does, and this doesn't apply to just pit bulls. If a dog causes damage to property or other people or other animals, it needs to be taken through and prosecuted," she said.
Wilson said the situation was worsened by ignorance of animal laws.
She said if animals attack people, owners can be prosecuted in terms of multiple sections of laws, not only the Animals Protection Act but also the Animal Matters Amendment Act, trespassing laws, and those governing damage to property.
"There are a lot of laws and charges that can be brought against the responsible owners," she said.
A status symbol
PDSA's veterinarian, Dr Shirley Smith says 80% of the dogs she treats at their clinic are pit bulls. “It’s a status thing for these young guys. Most of them look after their dogs well, but the reality is that if a dog gets into a fight with a pit bull or any other bull breed, the other dog will come second. I’m not sure banning the breed would have the desired result. I think we should start by enforcing the bylaws that are already there regarding sterilisations and the stricter regulations should apply when owning a pit bull or any other bull breed.
"People who keep pit bulls as a domestic house pet and are not using them for responsible breeding to improve the blood lines, should be liable to pay a fine of R1 000 if their animals are not sterilised,” she said.
Many pit bulls are kept in horrible, inhumane conditions.
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