Northpinellas: Today's Letters: Time to phase out volatile dog breed

The recent fatal attack by a pit bull on a beloved family pet reinforces the fact that a percentage of this breed seems to be a danger to public safety. The Michael Vick dogfighting case also highlights that a great number of pit bulls are being trained to be very aggressive.

Of course, the majority of these dogs are nonthreatening and have very responsible owners, but there seem to be too many "bad seeds" and too many irresponsible pit bull owners that make possession of this animal a growing and dangerous public nuisance.

After years of horrific pit bull attacks, the breed was wisely banned in Miami-Dade County. There is no reason that our county government shouldn't ban ownership of these dogs as well.

To be fair, a special license should be issued for pit bulls currently owned in Pinellas county. After a set date in the near future, ownership of new pit bulls would then become illegal. This would "grandfather" out the breed by attrition, rather than having them all immediately seized and destroyed.

My opinion, after reading this story and others that have appeared in the paper lately, is that parents who object to the proposed school closings are not looking at the big picture. The School Board must make some difficult but vital decisions in the near future.

I disagree with Ron Lindell, a Largo Central Elementary parent, who stated he thought schools were being considered for closure without regard for the children. From what I have read, it seems some schools need to be closed.

Change is always difficult. If the board votes to close some schools it will be because they are thinking of the future of all our children - the collective rather that the individual. Sometimes this is the best path to take.

The wonderful staff at Largo Central sounds as though it would be an asset at any of our schools. I also believe South Ward Elementary School can and should be preserved, but not necessarily as a school. It has been an underachieving and underenrolled school for some time.

I think Clearwater city leaders should ponder how to include this gem in the downtown redevelopment plan. Clearwater needs a senior citizen center (the last one was closed and torn down). Perhaps South Ward could be better used.

In the coming weeks and months, I hope we all keep an open mind and focus on what is best for the future of all our children.

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

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Comments on this article

by 727guy	01/30/08 10:53 AM
@Luis - I don't have to 'think' people are stupid. They prove it for me all the time.

by Luis	09/02/07 06:14 PM
by 727guy 08/13/07 09:40 PM Sam - you need to read up on dog history. Pits were not bred to fight. Your statement is completely ignorant. You need to stop thinking people are stupid and distorting reality. Pits were created,bred ONLY to fight

by Luis	09/02/07 06:06 PM
727guy 08/12/07 02:06 PM by the way, Miami-dade now has a problem with fighting dobermans and Rottweilers - should they 'wisely' ban those breeds too? You often lie to make a point? No problems anywhere with these dogs they wont fight like pitt

by Luis	09/02/07 06:04 PM
Pitbulls were created bred for the ONLY purpose of fighting ,killing . Attacks from these dogs happen all the time and UNLIKE other dogs the bite from this breed is brutal. They should be eliminated completely just like they are in Europe.

by 727guy	08/13/07 09:40 PM
Sam - you need to read up on dog history. Pits were not bred to fight. Your statement is completely ignorant.

by Harry	08/13/07 11:19 AM
As a Pit Bull owner for the past 6 years, I can tell you that each dog (like each person) has it's own character- they should not be judged as a whole. Some are very sweet and great with kids- why ban such an animal that is no threat?

by PTA Member	08/13/07 09:16 AM
Ms Keif's opinion caught my attn early Sunday morning. Like many others, she seems only to be reading the newspaper and not attending meetings on real issues & options. And - senior center? Has she ever counted the steps at South Ward?

by 727guy	08/12/07 02:06 PM
by the way, Miami-dade now has a problem with fighting dobermans and Rottweilers - should they 'wisely' ban those breeds too? How about just banning dogs entirely? Would that be 'wise'? Get a grip.

by 727guy	08/12/07 02:02 PM
Banning any breed of dog because of despicable HUMAN behavior is both short sighted and stupid. Any dog can be trained to be vicious. The solution is to increase penalties for the abuse of animals, as applies to dogfighting.

by Robert	08/12/07 01:15 PM
I disagree that pit bulls should be phased out. I do not own one but I know people that do. Those dogs are very good , make great pets if treated right. Any dog will become aggresive if abused. People are the cause of how those animals respond.

by Dave	08/12/07 12:52 PM
There are so many dog breeds available that only an idiot or a person trying to prove their masculinity would buy a pit bull!

by Ryan	08/12/07 11:45 AM
Mr. Rosen, have you ever owned a pit bull. I would think not. A well trained and obedient pit bull can be as sweet as any other dog, don't ban the breed, ban the act.

by Sam	08/12/07 11:40 AM
Mr. Rosen..that is the best idea as yet regarding pit bulls. I also feel they need to have 100,000.00 insurance liability like I do for having a pool. There is no call for that breed of dog today. They were breed only to fight.

by JT	08/12/07 11:17 AM
Kudos to the anti-pit bull plan. Perhaps the "grandfathered" pit bull owners need to be required to post a bond or insurance policy that would pay for the damages to victims. Also, perhaps it is time to consider owners for attack with deadly weapon

by Dan	08/12/07 10:21 AM
The argument to decimate the pit bull breed is not only tactless,but it is unconstitutional and hopeless. These are strong beautiful animals, once loved by Theodore Roosevelt. Perhaps requiring a permit to own one is more rational.

by Boo Boo	08/12/07 07:32 AM
RE:Pit Bulls. The dogs are not at fault here it's the idiots that own and do not control them. The media coverage and hype contributes to the fears. I bet there are thousands of other dog on dog, dog on people attacks that go unreported.