Clarification. My research Published books on dog breeds and histories from the local library and research studies from professors from several major universities. Orem City? Started bonding dogs of the breed, I either paid an out of pocket huge costing bond or lost my dog. My father fought it as long as he could, I still lost my dog. The other underlying aspect none of us are looking at or has been mentioned is our freedom to choose. For every freedom you lose and dont fight to keep your are not doing your civic duty as an AMERICAN. Today the pits tomorrow your guns next week what color your shirt can be. I dont believe as a DESERT STORM vet, and an american anyone has the right to single out one breed, creed, color, or nationality, for any reason at all. Thats discrimination. Every one bleeds red even the pit bull.

Exitium - good point regarding how lack of information can lead to false assumptions. Unfortunately my column is limited in size and scope and therefore the entire history of the pups was not included. I mentioned them to help illustrate two points: First, to balance the preceding statement that said fighting dogs can get along with other dogs. Without a qualifier it may have been assumed that all pitbulls can be made to get along with other animals and that would be a false assumption. The second point was to illustrate how ingrained the fighting tendency can be bred into the breed when in the wrong hands.

My goal with this series of articles is to provide true information about a much misunderstood breed to further promote responsible ownership. Before you make an assumption about what is to be written regarding how owning a pitbull is like owning a gun I encourage you to read next Sunday’s article. I believe you will better see the reason to make such a comparison.

Again thank you for your comments – I welcome them and encourage people to speak out about what they believe in. Enjoy this great day!

Good point! I too believe in our freedom to choose and support that statement! Orem does not currently have a ban on owning pitbulls so I am still unclear - did you have a legal dispute with Orem City regarding the ownership of your dog or was your dog in violation of a different city ordinance? Also I would be very interested in getting ahold of your research, could you tell me what books you consulted and especially what research studies you are referring to? I am a big student of animal history and science. Thanks and have a great spring day!

I need clarification of your intentions for this poll? You claim to not be anti PIT BULL but believe the are a valuable part of the canine community. WHY was the poll specifically against PIT BULLS and not all of the BULLY breeds and including any large dog considered to be a guard dog. You of all should know that you cant be on both sides of the fence. You are probably the most qualified individual for your position, or else it would belong to someone else. This is not a dig at your qualifications. But clearly the ramifications of such a poll are detrimental to US the PIT BULL owners and our loyal canine friends. If its in the media a bad publicity for the pit and the media should be the ones under the micro scope for inaccurate reports. Just becuase it looks like a pit doesnt make it a pit. If its not purebreed its not a pit its a mut, mongrel, or crossbreed.

In the late 80s Orem City was bonding dogs(medical bonds), in case someone was attacked the individual would have the medical coverage. I was told by my father(at which time I was about 13) that the bond was too expensive and the only way to have him was to keep him in a professional kennel(business or breeder) and I would have to pay for upkeep. I know at this time Orem city has no such bonding or ordnances against the breed other than the normal restrictions of any dog. At that time I could only believe my fathers words because that is who he is, and I was a young teenager and not into polotics yet. If I am wrong, then my dad owes me an explanation. But in his defense he was only doing what he thought was best for the family.

Tug, you claim to be simply providing "facts" to help clear up misunderstandings about pit bulls, but much of what I see here is stereotypical and sensational, not factual.

Addressing some of your material:

“undying loyalty, unmatched tenacity, incredible strength, an extremely high pain threshold” and here’s the one that particularly bothers me: “unreal biting power.” If we are talking about facts, what is the purpose of the word "unreal"? Where is the scientific evidence to support any of this? The only remotely scientific study I am aware of regarding the biting power of pit bulls indicates that all dogs, pit bulls included, bite with approximately the same amount of pressure. In the particular study I have heard about, the pit bull actually bit with less pressure than the other two breeds involved. All this sensational stuff sounds like typical dog fighter/anti-pit bull drivel, not factual information.

“bite down very hard and hang on like grim death.” Again, no science—just stereotype.

Claim that pit bulls are responsible for the most fatalities because “when they do bite they do a tremendous amount of damage.” Is that why? Interesting… Having done a significant amount of reading about fatal dog attacks, I thought pit bulls' prevalance in the data was primarily because of the high ratio of pit bulls being misused for inappropriate functions (per Karen Delise’s theory) compared to other types of dogs, combined with the popularity of the breed-type (making them more likely to be involved in fatalities), combined with a variety of other factors such as breed misidentification and shoddy fatality data. I have yet to see a scientific study that supports the idea that pit bulls are more likely to cause more bite damage than another type of dog, all other factors being equal.

“huge potential for human damage” Again, where are the scientific studies to back this up? And how does this make pit bulls unique from other large dogs that have similar potential?

I am further concerned with your enthusiastic promotion of the next article to come in the series. You say you are going to compare pit bull ownership with gun ownership. Surely you are aware that this is, hands down, one of the worst possible pro-pit bull arguments you can make? Guns are weapons, designed to kill, and there are a lot of people who would happily wipe all guns off the face of the earth if they could. Separating pit bulls from other types of dogs and comparing pit bulls to guns (while not comparing other types of dogs to guns) is completely non-productive at best, and a furthering of the "killer pit bull" stereotype at worst.

If you wish to make a responsible ownership comparison and/or a property rights comparison between pit bull ownership and some other type of ownership, gun ownership is absolutely not the way to go.

I hope you will carefully consider the rhetoric (word choice) you have used and will use, and proceed with the next article with a great deal of caution and consideration for how your readers will interpret your words. Facts and honesty are absolutely vital when dispelling myths about pit bulls... but much of what you have written thus far is stereotypical and sensational, not factual.

I understand and appreciate what you are trying to accomplish, but I don't think you are clearing up many misconceptions. I do think you are giving plenty of ammo to pit bull haters, driving away loving families and individuals who might otherwise be great owners but are now frightened of these mythical beasts' (in your words) "incredible strength" and "huge potential for human damage," and further encouraging dog fighters, drug dealers, and "macho" guys to seek out these dogs with "unreal biting power" and the ability to do a "tremendous amount of damage."