Discrimination Against Pit Bulls

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The overall prejudice that the Pit Bull breed receives not only affects the dogs themselves but the owners as well. Certain insurance companies refuse to insure homeowners who own certain breeds of dog, claiming that some breeds are inherently more dangerous than others (Cunningham). Pit Bulls are one of the numerous dogs on the “blacklist” of dog breeds that homeowners’ insurance companies look for when denying insurance to people (Cunningham). The reason for this is due to the fact that the companies believe Pit Bulls are more likely to bite humans and, in turn, cause liability claims to be brought against their owners (Cunningham). Insurance companies do not want to have the responsibility of paying for injuries caused by dog bites by so …show more content…
The companies assume that certain behavior is linked to certain breeds,which is based on mere opinion rather than facts. Authors of scientific studies on dog bites have even argued against the use of their data to support breed-based decision-making by insurers and legislatures (Cunningham). Even after proving that the dog-bite statistics are unreliable, this discrimination still exists and probably always will until the stigma against Pit Bulls and other “dangerous” dog breeds is done away with. A number of the bull breeds are categorized as Pit Bull Terriers in some places, while in others, the Pit Bull Terrier is considered distinct from the other bull breeds (Hoffman et al). This leaves owners confused on whether or not their dog is considered one of the “dangerous dogs” that are targeted by insurance companies. The breed discrimination done by homeowners insurance companies not only contributes to the stigma that Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous, but also puts the owners of these dogs in an in uncomfortable …show more content…
Society has implanted this idea in the minds of many that all Pit Bulls are aggressive, human-biting creatures. This assumption is simply not true. Pit Bulls are no different than any other friendly pet. One example of this would be the story of the man David Sharpe and his Pit Bull, Cheyenne (Foster). Sharpe had served in the Air Force and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Hendrix). He found himself at rock bottom and found no other choice but to put the pistol in his mouth and pull the trigger (Foster). As he was sitting in that position, his 6-month-year-old Pit Bull, Cheyenne, had walked up to him and licked his ear and looked at him puzzled (Foster). This attention from his Pit Bull and the concerned look she gave him as if she was thinking “who will take care of me if you’re gone?” snapped Sharpe out of his state of despair (Foster). He states that she saved his life. This story is a perfect example of how Pit Bulls can love just as much as other dog breeds. Of course one story of a loving Pit Bull would not change a multitude of opinions towards their bad reputation, but this is not the only story that exemplifies how Pit Bulls are devoted, staunch dogs. There are multiple books and articles on how Pit Bulls are just misunderstood and judged by the actions of some dogs of their breed with irresponsible owners. The book I’m A Good Dog: Pit Bulls, America's Most Beautiful (and
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