# Pit Bull Attack (again) How Do We Deal With These? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 7, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972 "2005-11-07T22:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![eviladam\_part\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@eviladam\_part\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eviladam_part_2)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972/121 "2005-11-11T14:35:09Z")
> [@slaphead](#): > > I haven’t seen anything that I would class as a ‘pit bull’ in the UK for ages either - Staffies and English Bull Terriers, but no pit bulls. Mind you, I live in central london, which isn’t really dog territory. staffordshire bull terriers ARE “pit bulls” in the general definition of the breed-virtually every pit bull ban here in the US includes staffordshire bull terriers in the definition. i can’t find the link right now, but i recall a site dedicated to an athletic version of the SBT in the UK that is full of dogs that are identical to the performance-bred (old-standard fighting) American Pit Bull Terriers here in america. from what i understand, staffordshire bull terriers are beloved pets in the UK, which goes to show what effect selective breeding for GOOD temperament produces. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972/122 "2005-11-11T17:37:35Z")
> [@TwoTrouts](#): > > I was an office manager for a trucking firm. One of the drivers brought in a pitbull puppy and left him in the office while he met with the dispatcher. The puppy was wonderful, friendly, tail-wagging, etc, a pure delight. He came in and saw his dog being friendly and got pissed. He beat the puppy in front of us, proclaiming that his dog would be “macho”, not friendly. That is how “his people” raise them, he said. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > I hope someone reported him for animal cruelty. Animal abuse, neglect, and cruelty are very specific terms with specific meaning in a legal setting. IME what you might consider “cruelty” (such as TwoTrouts case) can be argued to be proper training by the dog’s owner. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > I would have taken the poor puppy off of him on the spot and given it to a rescue. However, the owner could then have you charged/investigated for theft or similar. Here is some information on abuse/cruelty/neglect: [http://www.animalforum.com/gabusemain.htm](http://www.animalforum.com/gabusemain.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972/123 "2005-11-12T03:34:42Z")
I guess…but it just makes me sick that people like this exist. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972/124 "2005-11-12T16:31:00Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I guess…but it just makes me sick that people like this exist. To put it in perspective, far worse exists. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972/125 "2005-11-12T17:33:26Z")
> [@eviladam](#): > > staffordshire bull terriers ARE “pit bulls” in the general definition of the breed-virtually every pit bull ban here in the US includes staffordshire bull terriers in the definition. i can’t find the link right now, but i recall a site dedicated to an athletic version of the SBT in the UK that is full of dogs that are identical to the performance-bred (old-standard fighting) American Pit Bull Terriers here in america. > > from what i understand, staffordshire bull terriers are beloved pets in the UK, which goes to show what effect selective breeding for GOOD temperament produces. In the UK ‘pit bull’ refers to American Pit Bull Terriers or similar. Staffies are great dogs, big friendly softies, but they do have mouths like alligators. Interestingly, American Staffordshire Terriers (Am Staffs) seem to be regarded as pit bull ‘like’, hence this line: > [@Department of Environment](#): > > . Our advice is not to bring an Am Staff into this country as we cannot guarantee that it will not be seized and its fate decided by a Court. So I guess the dogs are slightly more pit-bull like in the US. From the same source: > [@](#): > > Description of the main characteristics of the Pit Bull Terrier type > General Description > Muscular smooth-haired dog. > Has a square profile (ie as tall from the ground to the top of the shoulder and > as long from point of shoulder to point of hip). > Height (average for both male and female) (shoulder): 45–55 cm. > > Head > Should be wedge-shaped when viewed from the top or side and round when > viewed from the front. > Broad jawbones. > Broad skull. > Strongly developed nostrils. > Strongly developed cheek and jaw muscles. > > Muzzle > Not pointed. > > Ears > Located high on skull. > Tips of ears fold forward or sideways or have been cropped. > No wrinkles. > > Eyes > Elliptical when viewed from front. > Triangular when viewed from side. > Small and deep set. > > Neck > Muscular all the way up to base of skull. > > Chest > Broad. > Deep ribcage. > Ribs strongly curved tapering towards bottom. > > Back > Muscular. > Broad sloping hips. > Broad loin. > > Legs > Front legs are straight and give a massive, solid impression. > Hips are long and broad and continue on to become relatively long hind legs with > a well-muscled thigh. > > Coat > Single coat. > Short smooth haired but bristled to touch. > Can be any colour. > > Tail > Located low down in hindquarters. > Thick at base tapering to point at end. > Narrows to a slender tip or has been docked. > Should hang like a pump handle when relaxed. If your dog matches that description, a court can decide it’s a Pit Bull and destroy it. ---
**Author:** ![eviladam\_part\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@eviladam\_part\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eviladam_part_2)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972/126 "2005-11-15T15:23:16Z")
> [@slaphead](#): > > \*… > > Muzzle > Not pointed. **my dog’s muzzle is fairly pointed** > > … > > Ears > Tips of ears fold forward or sideways or have been cropped. **my dog’s ears often stand up straight** > > … > > Chest > Broad. > Ribs strongly curved tapering towards bottom. **many people ask if my dog is a whippet mix, because her chest is deep, but not wide. in fact, the ADBA standard calls for a chest that is not too wide, (similar to a greyhound) because it’s less efficient for breathing-think a bellows that can easily expand and contract rather than a “tank” to store oxygen.** > > … > > Coat > > …bristled to touch. **my dog’s hair is extremely soft and smooth** \* > If your dog matches that description, a court can decide it’s a Pit Bull and destroy it. i wonder how they would treat a Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972.md?page=6)