GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route SPCA has expressed concern about pitbulls.
Senior SPCA inspector, based in George, Salomé Bruyns: "The increasing number of pitbulls attacking people is very alarming to us. The public needs to be educated about this power breed."
"Most pitbulls in the townships are kept illegally chained or caged which makes even a docile dog aggressive and territorial. Dogs are naturally territorial animals and when they are confined to a small space this instinct is enhanced and they become neurotic, anxious and aggressive," she added.
"We are forced to humanely euthanase any pitbull that wounds a person seriously for everyone's safety," she added.
Bruyns said: "The original American pitbull terrier was selectively bred to fight dogs but also be compatible with people."
She said: "Irresponsible breeding has led to some pitbulls being dangerous to humans.
"Selective breeding involves choosing some of the animal's natural attributes. These innate behaviours give the animal satisfaction and pleasure through the release of 'feel-good' hormones and endorphins which trigger euphoric feelings.
"For instance the Border collie loves stalking and herding other animals and the collies with these attributes are used for breeding. Collies that tend to bite are not used for breeding as these qualities are not acceptable in herd dogs. Thus a breed becomes 'genetically modified' through selective breeding.
"When people started 'developing' the American pitbull breed, they wanted a dog that was very strong, with great stamina and that wanted to fight with other animals but be submissive towards humans.
"As these dogs were originally used in pits to fight each other, humans had to be able to get into the pit safely to separate these dogs without being bitten. Any pitbull that showed any signs of low tolerance towards people was never allowed to breed and in many cases culled immediately.
"The breed became popular in the 1980s because of its high tolerance towards people. They were left alone with children and the 'nanny dog' myth was born. More people wanted them and started breeding them all over the world without taking selective breeding into account. Dogs with lower tolerance towards people were allowed to breed and slowly pitbulls that were both low in tolerance towards animals and humans were created.
"The problem with such an animal is that it gets pleasure from fighting dogs and attacking people and the more it repeats these behaviours the more addicted it becomes to the euphoric 'high' it gets," said Bruyns. "It has been proved worldwide that rehabilitation or re-homing such a dog is impossible and compassionate euthanasia is needed.
"Owners of even mildly aggressive dogs are required by law to display a sign warning passersby of a possibly dangerous dog. The walls and fences at these homes have to be high enough to keep the dog safely enclosed," says Bruyns. "Owners face a R1 000 fine for contravening these municipal by-laws.
Article: Wendy Jones SPCA volunteer
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