Families Against Breed Bans (aka FABB) came about through the concerted efforts of three devoted (& responsible) pitbull owners who decided that it was time for the voices of responsible pitbull owners to be heard. To do so our voices will need to be loud and clear to be heard over the belligerant ramblings of those who fear pitbulls AND who often make the decisions to impose breed specific legislation. This site will be just one of the mediums where our voice will be heard and will be heard loud and clear.

We were tired of hearing biased reports by the media and politicians categorizing pitbulls as “killing machines” or a breed that just “snaps” without provocation. Both of these statements are false, but we quickly learned that journalism is not about the facts – just as many legislators are not about public safety – but about offering a sensational story to the public. More often than not using some form of fear campaign to make it stick.

As professional women who happen to be extremely community minded, we were also tired of the level of stereotyping that is often associated with those individuals and/or families (people like us) who decide to welcome a pitbull/s into their homes. I have found that pitbull owners are not judged by who they are as individuals, but according to false presumptions of race, class and/or criminality. The truth is that the majority of pitbull owners are just ordinary people like you and me; people who just happen to love these muscular dogs who are active, extremely happy, and have the ability to forgive humans for all the hateful things they are able to do to them, Including the proposals people seek to rid society of them.

The intention of forming this group was to encourage responsible dog owners including, but not limited to pitbull owners, to come together as a united front in our fight against Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) and to dispel stereotypes associated with the breed of dog commonly referred to as the ‘pitbull’. It is our aim to ensure that we have a safe community by legislating for tougher penalties for those individuals who harbor aggressive dogs, which should not be breed specific, but judged by the dogs individual temperament and history on a case by case basis.

Fact: American Pit bull terriers scored an 84.3% passing rate with the American Temperament Test Society compatible to that of ‘family’ dogs like the Golden Retriever who scored 84.2%.

Fact: The problem with ‘pit bull’ attacks is an ownership problem that will not go away if we ban ‘pit bulls’ as these same irresponsible owners will just get a different breed of dog to abuse.

What breed bans will do, is cost taxpayers a great deal of money to enforce, as well as requiring increased man power to search out numerous pitbulls who have lived peacefully in loving homes, but are euthanized for no other reason than being known as ‘pitbulls’. These kinds of legislation further seek to punish responsible dog owners, while the irresponsible continue to live underneath the radar. In the end, punishing responsible pitbull owners will not solve the problem of dog bites, but placing the focus on the actions of irresponsible owners will.

Fact: The ‘pit bull’ does not have a ‘locking jaw’. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of “locking mechanism” unique to the structure of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

“The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of Pit Bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any (other) breed of dog. There is absolutely not evidence for the existence of any kind of ‘locking mechanism’ unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier”, says Dr. I. Lerh Brisbin of the University of Georgia (from the ADBA booklet, “Discover the American Pit Bull Terrier)

For more info visit http://apbt.meetup.com/253/