According to the American Temperament Test Society, Pit Bulls have a more stable temperament than many dogs of other breeds, with a passing rate of 86.4%. That's better than Chihuahuas (71.1%), Beagles (80.6%), Border Collies (81.2%), Cocker Spaniels (81.9%) and Golden Retrievers (84.9%). The average passing rate for all dogs is 83%.
Approximately 40 children die every year by drowning in 5-gallon water pails. You are 16 times more likely to drown in a 5-gallon water pail than to be killed by a Pit Bull.
Approximately 50 children in the US are killed every year by their cribs - 25 times the number of children and adults killed by Pit Bulls.
Approximately 150 people are killed every year by falling coconuts. You are more than 60 times more likely to be killed by a palm tree than a Pit Bull.
Each year, approximately 350 people drown in their bathtubs. You are 151 times more likely to be killed by your bathtub than a Pit Bull.
Every year, more than 2,000 children in the U.S. are killed by their parents or guardians due to abuse or neglect. A child is more than 800 times more likely to be killed by their caretaker than by a Pit Bull.
There is currently a law in Florida prohibiting any municipality from passing any legislation that regulates or bans a dog based on breed or looks alone. However, when the law was passed, any municipality with legislation or bans in place prior to October 1st 1990 was grandfathered in and allowed to keep their breed specific legislation or ban.
Two new bills, House Bill 997 and Senate Bill 1322, if passed would repeal the breed ban in Miami-Dade county.
HB 997 has been assigned to the Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee. No hearing has been scheduled yet.
Please contact the following members and urge them to pass HB 997:
Steve.Crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov; Rachel.Burgin@myfloridahouse.gov; Michelle.Rehwinkel@myfloridahouse.gov; jim.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov; jason.brodeur@myfloridahouse.gov; dwight.bullard@myfloridahouse.gov; matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov; luis.garcia@myfloridahouse.gov; richard.glorioso@myfloridahouse.gov; tom.goodson@myfloridahouse.gov; steve.perman@myfloridahouse.gov; ray.pilon@myfloridahouse.gov; elizabeth.porter@myfloridahouse.gov; franklin.sands@myfloridahouse.gov; jimmie.smith@myfloridahouse.gov
You can also contact your Florida legislators and ask them to support this bill.
You can also write to the bill sponsors and thank them for filing this important bill.
HB 997 filed by Rep Carlos Trujillo, carlos.trujillo@myfloridahouse.gov
SB 1322 filed by Senator Jim Norman, norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov
Status page for HB 997: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=48233
Read the text of the proposed bill: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0997__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0997&Session=2012
