"Who Wants A Pit Bull for a Neighbor--or Vice President?" by Kansas Watch @ LJWorld / LJWorld.com

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Who Wants A Pit Bull for a Neighbor—or Vice President?

We've all heard Gov. Sarah Palin's joke at the RNC about the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull being lip stick.Do we really want a woman who claims to be a pit bull as President?The statistics about pit bulls say no. * The dog most responsible for killing humans in the United States is the pit bull. Sources: Dog Bite Law and CDC * Pit bulls attack adults nearly as often as they attack children, a characteristic not found in any other breed. Source: Dogsbite.org * The American Kennel Association, the largest purebred dog registry in the world, does not recognize the pit bull as a breed though it does recognize the American Staffardshire Terrier. There is a dispute whether a "Staffy" is also a pit bull as some say the breeds diverged. Source: Pit Bull Rescue Center and Bulldogbreeds.com * Because of their dangerous propensities, in England, one of the first nations to breed the dogs, pit bulls are regulated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. They can only be owned if the owner gets a specific exemption and must be muzzled. Source: Wikipedia * A number of American communities ban or restrict pit bull ownership, including in such red states as Utah, Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Source: Wikipedia * Pit Bulls are one of several breed of dogs that if a homeowner owns one, it will deny homeowner's insurance. Source: Insurance JournalIf Sarah Palin were truly trying to persuade moderate to conservative men and women who, as Gov. Palin, enjoy the outdoors, she would have been better served to compare herself to a hunting dog.Most hunters I know who have hunting dogs are crazy about their dogs. And, their dogs-often labradors, golden retrievers, spaniels, and the like-are typically well trained, intelligent, loyal, hard working, friendly, and useful.I think I'd rather be like a chocolate lab than a pit bull any day. And so would most of the people I know who care for and train their dogs, hunting and otherwise.Palin's joke makes for a good laughline but a brutish society. Todd EppKansas Watchhttp://kswatch.squarespace.com