This story came on my radar last week, about a feisty Jack Russel Terrier who protected some kids from larger pit bulls, and died for his bravery:

New Zealand media report that George, a 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier, suffered fatal wounds while protecting five young children from two vicious pit bulls.

Richard Rosewarne, 11, tells his local paper that the pit bulls came up behind them and were going for his 4-year-old brother, Darryl Wilson, when tiny George jumped between them.

"These two pit bulls rushed up and were going for the little boy. George went for them, it's what he would do. He didn't stand a chance, but I reckon he saved that boy from being chewed up," owner Alan Gay, 69, tells the Taranaki Daily News. "These pitbulls should be banned. They're killers and it comes from them being bred for fighting."

The story is incredibly sad, but also shows exactly why I love dogs so much.  The loyalty and bravery that this dog showed in protecting those children is extraordinary.  Dogs are the ultimate loyal companion.  They are working animals, who love and protect their owners, and hopefully get that same love and protection in return.

The article of course contains the obligatory reference to the renewed need for a breed specific ban.  People who call for them don't know the first thing about dogs.  Breed specific bans are no different than calls to ban all hand guns.  They demonize the tool, and not the person.  Breed specific bans are nothing new.  Various communities in the United States have enacted them to the horror of many loving dog owners.  Families have literally been torn apart as enforcement agencies have collected these mostly loving dogs to be destroyed, or sent to shelters outside the city.

The problem is that there is no such breed as a "pit bull".  It's a generic name given to an entire class of breeds, many of which aren't even popular as a "dangerous dog".  Most people who refer to pit bulls generally are talking about the American Pitbull Terrier*.  Do you know what that dog looks like?  Go to this page and see if you can find the pit bull.  But these vague laws get passed, often times with language stating that any dog that "resembles" a pit bull (a non-existent breed) are illegal.

The reality is that the "pit bull" is really just the newest "in vogue" breed for dangerous people to own and train.  Years ago the dangerous dog of choice was either the Doberman or Rottweiler.  Before that it was the German Shepherd.  But those dogs aren't dangerous at birth.  My sister Sarah owns two Rottweilers (Tango and Kai), and used to have a Rott/Doberman mix (Draven).  Those dogs are anything but vicious.  In fact, they're just like their owner.  They're princesses.

And that's the key phrase.  They're just like their owners.  Dangerous people own dangerous dogs, no matter what the breed.  Kind and warm people own kind and warm dogs, no matter what the breed.  Just like criminals commit crimes with guns, and law abiding citizens use guns to protect themselves from criminals.  And when hand guns are banned, who turns them in?  Law abiding citizens, not criminals.  And true to form, some cities have allowed an amnesty period for people to turn in their now banned dogs to be destroyed.  So law abiding citizens can voluntarily euthanize their dogs, while criminals... well what do you think criminals will do?  Criminals will be the only people with those dangerous breeds, which will only serve to reinforce the myth that all pit bulls are dangerous.  How convenient.

*Update:  Thanks to Cherie of the Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States for correcting me on the differences between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier.  I've correct the post to reflect that.  Please check out their website for more information regarding Breed Specific Laws.  It's good stuff.