Pit bull issue a bone of contention

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The pit bull issue in South Africa has been a bone of contention for the last couple of weeks.

Many say the breed should be banned completely and others are of the opinion that it's not the breed's fault, it's not necessary to ban them, but they have to be better managed i.e. sterilisation, permits, breeding restrictions etc.

George Herald readers gave their opinions.

Siyabulela Sonto: This is my boy. His name is Razor and he is two years old. He is my best friend and I love him so much it broke my heart to hear this breed could be banned from SA. He has never gone out of the yard and he sleeps indoors - but if the breed is a problem to the community, then I would let him go to save lives.

Samantha Swanepoel: Pit bulls just need love and to be taught correctly.

Rene Pistor: And this is why I always ask about your pets' original parents. Especially in cases where there are deep emotional issues leading to aggression, fear and anxieties. Genetics matter. It's not all about how you raise them. Nature is just as important as nurture. - Koven Moodley

Chiné Geldenhuis: I personally don't think this breed should be banned. These are the most kind and loving dogs. I feel like people always hear the bad news about them and never the good. I honestly think it comes down to how these dogs get raised and it is definitely not just anyone that should have a breed like this. Yes, each and every dog will have a different personality but this all goes with how you treat them, raise them as well as the time you invest in them from a very young age.

Jenny Wickham: My pit bull is called Nina. They are amazing dogs. She grew up with us in the house. She is lovable and loyal. She loves giving kisses and her best friend is my cat called Nemo. I can most surely say that people need to be better educated about this breed and they need to stop looking at them as killers. The stigma around this dog breed is unreal - you tell someone you have a bully breed and they already look scared. Yes, there are attacks on people, but what escalated those attacks?

If an animal needs to be trained in order to tolerate human beings, it belongs in the wild.

Opinion - why not just make laws that hold owners responsible for the things that they do to animals? Hold bad owners responsible and accountable for the way they raise puppies and throw in a lovely fine or two and maybe things will change, the dog breed itself though should not be to blame, proposing genocide on a specific breed of dog kind of sounds like something people in the 1600s would do.

Best dogs ever! Those owners should be banned not the dogs!

For these reasons many people are using these dogs for criminal activities, therefore I agree with the banning of these breeds for our safety. If you as George municipality managed to ban fireworks then same needs to be applied. Thank you.

Let's also ban cars, motorcycles and guns; they kill several people on a daily basis.

D'Nika Theron: Ban bad owners not good dogs. Pit bulls are incredible animals with the most gentle nature. Raised in the right home, they are just like children. Ban bad people. Not good dogs

Ndumiso Goodman Ngwane KaZikhali: For these reasons many people are using these dogs for criminal activities, therefore I agree with the banning of these breeds for our safety. If you as George municipality managed to ban fireworks then same needs to be applied. Thank you.

Donalda Nadia Bantom: Die mense moet 'n lisensie hê vir hulle en ook vir Rottweilers ens.... En as die hond iemand sou byt moet die eienaar volle verantwoordelikheid neem. Klein hondjies byt tog net so seer.

Lizelle Bezuidenhout: All breeds should be monitored by government officials. Permits and breeding restrictions should be implemented. All breeds should be sterilised if you are not a registered breeder. Also breeders need to be restricted to a specific amount of breeding per year. You get breeders that over breed just for the money. The boerboel case is a perfect example. Give the SPCA proper funding and more legal power! I had two pit bull girls, they passed of old age. They were brilliant dogs.

Anita Zeelie Terblanche: Dis nie 'n hond se skuld dat hulle so is nie. Dis die eienaars wat hulle so grootmaak. Gewoonlik is daar iets wat die hond "trigger" om so op te tree. Ek stem nie dat hulle verban moet word nie, dan moet al die moordenaars en diewe ook verban word. 'n Dier bly 'n dier mense moet verantwoordelik gehou word vir hulle diere. Hondegevegte moet heeltemal verban word en mense wat dit doen moet toegesluit word. Strenger beheer moet toegepas word dis hoe ek daaroor voel.