Pitbull origin and definition
The Pit Bull’s origins can be traced to the United Kingdom in the early 1800s. Old English Bulldogs, which resemble modern American Bulldogs in appearance, gained popularity in the British Isles through the horrific blood sport known as “bull baiting,” from which pit bulls were originally descended. A bull was assigned to be harassed by one to two bulldogs for hours until it passed out from exhaustion, wounds, or both. These games were held as amusement for the lower classes, providing them with a break from the monotony of adversity.
In the early 1800s, when these games were made illegal, people started dog fighting instead, which was simpler to keep a secret from the state. Since then, Pit Bulls have unjustly gained a negative reputation that has been greatly exaggerated by the media, making them the focus of unjustified discrimination and breed-specific laws (breed banning).
The truth is that this extremely bright, vivacious, and the kind group loves people, even strangers, and thrives on adoration. In the past, pit bulls were admired as fantastic family pets. They were originally known as “nanny dogs” due to their excellent behavior with children. Terriers were typically bred with a strong hunting drive to hunt down small rodents. Due to their propensity for animal intolerance, early exposure to other animals, including dogs, is crucial for them.
A group of breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, among others, are referred to as “Pit Bulls” rather than a single breed. The majority descended from crosses between what is now known as the Olde English Bulldogge and Terriers. Their breeders aimed to combine the terriers’ agility and “gameness” with the bulldogs’ powerful build and aggressiveness. These dogs were selected for their huge, powerful jaws and muscular necks and shoulders since they were originally bred for blood sports like bull and bear-baiting in Europe and North America. These dogs were trained to attack and immobilize the excited animal.
Following many allegations of attacks by pit bulls in South Africa in 2022, the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation has demanded an immediate ban on pit bulls as domestic pets in that country.“These attacks continue unabated, and we cannot continue losing young people like Storm Nuku and innocent civilians to these vicious dogs that have repeatedly shown that they should not be kept as pets,” said the foundation
A number of nations, including Finland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and others, have outlawed ownership of the breed and placed limitations on its importation. Sizwe Kupelo, the founder and patron of the charity, has urged the South African government to take similar action. Lehanda Rheeder, the spokesperson for the Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA), asserted that while all dogs can be aggressive toward people, this hostility is not a breed issue but rather a human issue.
“Dogs have been bred historically for certain functions, and while the pit bull is one of many dog breeds that have been bred to have an aggressive temperament, it was intended to be towards other animals, not humans,” said Rheeder in an interview with SAfm.“Dogs such as the American pit bull terrier among others are more likely than not to be loving and loyal pets if it’s bred and kept in a sound and stable environment,” said Rheeder.
The truth is that this extremely bright, vivacious, and the kind group loves people, even strangers, and thrives on adoration. In the past, pit bulls were admired as fantastic family pets. They were originally known as “nanny dogs” due to their excellent behavior with children. Terriers were typically bred with a strong hunting drive to hunt down small rodents. Due to their propensity for animal intolerance, early exposure to other animals, including dogs, is crucial for them.
Pit bulls are powerful and active animals. They excel in a range of sports, including agility, disc dog events, flyball, freestyle, competitive obedience, and weight-pulling competitions, thanks to their remarkable endurance and tenacious work ethic. These dogs, particularly when they are young, have the propensity to become overexcited easily, therefore they require a lot of mental and physical stimulation.
Despite the fact that the majority of specialists concur that the modern Pit Bull is a short-coated dog with a large cranium, strong jaws, and a muscular, stocky physique, there is significant variation in this group’s look. Some weigh as little as 25 pounds, while others top the scales at 80 pounds or more. Most range between 35 and 65 pounds. Others have slimmer, more muscular forms, while some have larger frames and enormous skulls.
Pitbull prohibition petition receives 50k signatures
Storm Nuku was allegedly mauled by one of the dogs while he and two other kids were playing with them inside the house. Police put down the two dogs after he passed away there. An investigation docket has been opened. An eight-year-old boy was killed over the weekend by a neighbor’s pit bull. The dog broke free from its pen and entered the yard where the boy was, according to police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Covane. The kid had been outdoors playing by himself, according to Covane. He said the dog bit the youngster on the chest and neck. “Police and paramedics were summoned to the scene, and the boy was declared dead on the scene,” Covane said.
The petition, according to the organization, will be delivered to Minister Thoko Didiza of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development in the hopes that the national government will heed the request to safeguard and preserve lives by outlawing the breed.” Such unnecessary deaths can be prevented by banning the breed, which does not deserve to be classified as a domestic pet based on statistics of how it attacks and kills people without provocation,” the foundation said.
The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation is fighting for the safety of people, especially the weak, who are the most frequent targets of dog attacks. The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) advocates this cause. The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation applauded South Africans this week for supporting a petition that asked for the outlawing of Pitbulls as family pets. The charity has demanded that Pitbulls be outlawed right away as a result of years of vicious assaults on unwary residents, particularly young children. The attacks, which seem to go on incessantly, have forced the call, with a recent incident in Gelvandale, Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay, tragically and untimely killing a 10-year-old.
In response to the petition, NSPCA – National Council of SPCAs released a statement that reads“Recently, there has been widespread media coverage on dog attacks against humans- with pitbull terriers becoming the notorious representative of the attacks, although other breeds of dog have also been responsible for attacks. Not only do people suffer from dog attacks, but other animals have also been victims of dog attacks and have 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.
Bloemfontein dog owners have surrendered 49 PITBULLS to SPCA.
This follows the death of an 8-year-old child in Vista Park, Bloemfontein, who was mauled to death by the vicious animal at the weekend.
A public interest lawyer has since warned that owners of vicious #MDNnews pic.twitter.com/tnQ66kIgNV
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) November 16, 2022
This is an issue where both human and animal life has 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 pitbull owners, however, upon careful reflection, the petition advocates for the protection of people and responsible pet ownership. The petition calls for all Pitbulls to be castrated/sterilized which would prevent the current rate of uncontrolled breeding. The petition also calls for stronger regulations for the keeping of Pitbulls (and other power-breed animals) requiring owners to have permits to keep such animals. Dog breeds with the potential to be aggressive and cause harm to other animals and people are easily obtained. In the hands of uniformed or irresponsible people, dogs can become a risk to the people in their communities. Too often, Pitbulls are acquired by irresponsible people to portray an image of ‘power’, for dog fighting, breeding and/ or for security purposes.”
SA PIT BULL FEDERATION
The Pitbull Federation of South Africa expressed shock at the frightening rise in pitbull attacks on kids earlier this year. This was in response to renewed requests for stricter control over the breed and ownership licences following the horrific attack on a five-year-old by the breed in Pretoria. According to the Pit Bull Federation of South Africa, if the police and agriculture ministers had properly administered the law, the deaths brought on by pit bull attacks might have been avoided. The Animal Protection Act of 1993, according to the federation, has not been recognized or implemented by law enforcement. After a recent incident that killed a youngster
However, the federation’s Lins Rautenbach said although they were in favour of a breeding regulation, a ban doesn’t tackle the core matter of who needs to take accountability.“So we will never break the cycle. We will end pit bulls mauling children but we could see a rise in bull terriers mauling children. For almost 30 years, we have had the legislature whose job has it been to enforce this legislature but it has never happened.”
By-laws on domestic pets
The Mangaung Metro in Bloemfontein says it would now make sure that its pet-related bylaws are followed. Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane, the deputy mayor of the metro, visited the family of the youngster who was mauled by a Pitbull in Vista Park. Additionally, Mothibi-Nkoane has urged locals to give up their pit bulls since they are a threat to the neighborhood.“As the municipality, we are very upset. We are highly concerned about what is happening in our community, especially these vicious dogs which people are keeping. When they know that they are not supposed to be among our people. And as from now, we are going to enforce our by-laws,” adds Mothibi-Nkoane.
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