County Commissioner Withdraws Proposed Ban
Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief agreed today to back down in
her attempt to implement a ban on pit bulls in the local community. Pit
bulls, a category of dogs which includes American Staffordshire Terriers,
Staffordshire Bull Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers, are legally
prohibited in many communities throughout the country, as they are recognized
to be among the most liable to attack humans. Many of their victims are
small children, and the attacks are often unprovoked. Despite the ban
on ownership being tabled, a new law was passed which imposes a $500 fine
for teaching a dog to fight.
The Commissioner's decision to withdraw the ban proposal is regarded
as being a result of the outpouring of opposition from many people in
the community, including picketers assembled outside of the Governmental
Center, hundreds of people who sent emails and even some who hired an
airplane to fly over the area while towing a banner opposing the ban.
Some pit bull owners attended a public meeting inside the Governmental
Center, making impassioned speeches about how much they loved their dogs
and why they believed the ban to be unjust.
Are Pit Bulls Really More Dangerous Than Other Breeds?
Any dog can bite and may cause serious injury or death in an attack, but
certain breeds are statistically far more likely to do so than others.
According to an extensive study which was published in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, pit bulls account for nearly half of all fatal dog attacks. A later study
which was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that whereas
43 percent of dog attacks on children which are perpetrated by other breeds
are unprovoked, pit bulls attack children without provocation 94 percent
of the time. Under normal circumstances, pit bulls can be friendly and
loving companions, but the moment they flip into attack mode the victim
will only know about their enormous strength and aggression. Given the
statistics cited above and the fact that pit bulls were specifically bred
to fight, one has to wonder whether allowing them to remain in the community
is a good idea.
Holding Dog Owners Accountable for Attacks
Fortunately, if you or a loved one has been injured in an attack by a pit
bull or any other dog, Florida state law allows you to hold the dog's
owner strictly liable for monetary damages. This means that a Fort Lauderdale
personal injury lawyer can help you pursue legal action to recover financial compensation
for medical bills, lost income and even pain and suffering.
Contact Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. now to learn more.