Cities primarily in the south have struggled with the issue since as early as 1989. Some bans, like one in Florida, even spurred the state legislature to forbid the institution of bans based specifically on dog breed.
The problem isn't only an American one either, cities as large as Toronto, Canada and as far away as the island of Barbados have struggled with the need for and the repercussions of banning the dogs.
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There are several types of bans instituted by cities around North America.
Some, like the Middlesboro ordinance ban the dogs based on their breeding. Once the ban goes into effect, owners would have a grace period in which to dispose of the animals or face sanction by the city and/or confiscation of the animal.
A similar ban was instituted in Aurora, Colo., in February.
While pit bull owners in that city who owned a dog before the ban was enacted were allowed to keep the animals, after paying a registration free and met several other requirements, new dogs were not so protected.
A report in the Aurora Sentinel stated, “Aurora has euthanized an average of more than three pit bulls dogs a day, or 166 from Feb. 1 until March 20.”
According to a report by KMGH, Channel 7 News in Denver, the number is twice the city average for euthanizations in that time period.
While animal rights activists have fiercely opposed the Aurora ban, in nearby Denver, a similar ban was the subject of a city verses state court battle in 2004, which ended with Denver's 1989 law banning pit bulls being reinstated.
According to a KMGH report, Denver's pit bull law prohibits any person from owning, possessing, keeping, exercising control over, maintaining, harboring, or selling a pit bull in the City and County of Denver.
A pit bull is further defined in the ordinance as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds.
Since the ban was reinstituted in May, 2005, animal control officers have confiscated and/or euthanized nearly 900 pit bull or related pit bull dogs.
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While some cities ban the animals completely, others focus on reducing the threat of existing dogs.
In Toronto, Ontario Canada, pit bull dog owners must leash and muzzle their pit bulls and have them sterilized. The measure, which was proposed by the city's mayor, was passed into law in March.
A similar ban has been in place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, has led to the complete extinction of the dog breed from that city. According to a Canadian Broadcast Report, the last pit bull in Manitoba died in 2004.
Similar laws governing pit bull ownership are on the books in Germany, France and Britain.
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Another type of ban currently being considered in Bolivar County, Miss., would require existing owners of pit bulls to carry as much as $100,000 in liability insurance while banning future ownership of the animals.
According to an Associated Press report, failure to have the insurance could result in a fine.
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The primary justification for the institution of bans on pit bulls is usually justified as a public safety move.
In the case of the Bolivar ban, the Associated Press reported,
“The Bolivar board agreed that the pit bull breed was developed for the purpose of fighting, and to increase its effectiveness as a fighter, certain traits have been selected and maximized by controlled breeding.
“Those traits include a set of powerful jaws with an exceptional ability to grip, lock and tear when the dog bites and a unique insensitivity to pain that causes pit bulls to be exceedingly tenacious in an attack.
“That's why the board said pit bull dogs present a danger to the health and welfare of the citizens and animals in the county.
In the Bolivar ordinance, "pit bull" refers to any dog which exhibits the characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club for the American Staffordshire Terriers of Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or which substantially conform to the standards established by the United Kennel Club for American Pit Bull Terriers.
The ordinance also levies strict regulations on those who own pit bulls at the time of the ban. One of the regulations includes forcing the dogs to live on a 4-inch concrete slab to prevent it from escaping confinement.
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The arguments against a ban on pit bulls are as passionate as they are varied.
Animal rights advocates contend the bans require too many animals to be euthanized without being able to accretion if they pose a threat to humans on an individual basis.
As some have already stated in the Letters section of the Daily News Opinion page, banning dog breeds isn't fair when, they contend, the primary problem is the humans who own the animals.
Law-abiding owners shouldn't suffer for the misdeeds of others is the contention of most.
“The reason I say irresponsible owners is because the vast majority of people who own pit bulls are very responsible owners and we should not get punished, whatsoever, for owning our dog, and being a responsible dog owner,” said Middlesboro resident Robert Wright, who spoke during the meeting of the Middlesboro City Council in which the first ordinance as read.
“We shouldn't have to suffer,” he said.
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