Chew on this: No pit bull ban likely

T he argument over the dangers of pit bulls has raged in Hudson County for decades. Many people are afraid of them, but others swear they are cuddly family pets and that those pits that maul people and other living things are misunderstood, improperly trained, or illegally bred.

The argument by defenders of the breed who oppose tougher regulations is familiar - pit bulls don’t assault people, irresponsible owners do.

A recent Jersey Journal/New Jersey City University poll in Hudson County found that nearly a third - 31 percent - of county residents who responded think pit bulls should be outlawed, while 50 percent disagree. In addition, 50 percent of those polled said they believe pit bulls are more dangerous than other dog breeds, compared to 35 percent who said they are not.

Those who work with animals, including in shelters, say that Hudson County seems to be home to a good number of the feared dogs.

Of the survey respondents, 34 percent said they own a pit bull or know someone who does. Aurora Piacentino, of the Liberty Humane Society, wrote in an e-mail that she was “very surprised” more people did not know a pit bull owner, saying that “the sheer number of pit bulls in this area is astounding.”

Yet, Piacentino also says the dogs get a bad rap and banning the breed would not solve anything. She says that a ban would see pit bull owners just move on to another breed.

One example could be the rise in popularity of the Presa Canario after a pair of the mastiffs killed a woman in California.

Pit bulls are popular and not just because they are “cute” - just ask Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, one of those irresponsible people animal lovers talk about. He was sentenced to 23 months in jail for promoting dogfighting, mostly between pit bulls.

If anything, legislation may favor dogs. In this state, the attack on a landscaper by a German shepherd named Congo has prompted an attempt in the Legislature to change laws to make it harder to put a dog to death.

Because of the large number of animal lovers that can make lawmakers cower, and the inability of courts to address the “bad owner” issue, there will never be an effective legal deterrent to dog attacks. For many, the pit bull will always be dangerous, hardly more than sharks with legs. Presently, the answer is only large civil lawsuit settlements.

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