Right: cartoon reflecting what many commentators say; that owners of "savage" pit bulls are themselves more responsible for attacks than are their dogs.
Background information
'Pit bull' is a term used to describe several breeds of dog in the Molosser family. Many breed-specific laws use the term "pit bull" to refer to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and dogs with significant mixes of these breeds; however, a few jurisdictions also classify the modern American Bulldog and Bull Terrier as a "pit bull-type dog". The term can also refer to dogs that were known as "bull terriers" prior to the development of the modern Bull Terrier in the early 20th century.The American Pit Bull Terrier is the product of interbreeding between terriers and a now-extinct breed of bulldogs to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. These dogs were initially bred in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and arrived in the United States with immigrants from these countries. In the United States these dogs were used as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions; however, some were selectively bred for their fighting prowess, and starting in the early 20th century they began to replace the bull terrier as the "dog of choice" for dog fighting in the United States.
There is no evidence for the existence of a physiological "locking mechanism" in the teeth or jaw structure of normal pit bull-type dogs so this is not a factor in the number of fatalities attributed to them; however, pit bull-type dogs often exhibit "bite, hold, and shake" behavior and refuse to release when biting, so some pit bull rescue organizations and advocacy groups recommend owners of pit bull-type dogs carry a "break stick" to lever their dog's jaws open if it bites a person or animal.
Current Australian legislation
1. The Queensland Government passed legislation on 11 December 2001 introducing a statewide framework for four breeds of dog that they deemed dangerous - dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro.
Japanese tosa and American pit bull terrier. The legislation also covers any crossbreed or offspring of those breeds.
The restricted dogs legislation provides for a minimum standard for the restricted breeds across Queensland but enables local governments, through the implementation of their own local laws, to implement or maintain higher standards of regulation including a total ban of any or all the breeds. Councils can add any breed of dog, which includes dogs that fit the description of the breed, to this list at their discretion.
2. In May 2005 the New South Wales Government announced new laws prohibiting the sale, acquisition, breeding or giving away of pit bull terriers, American pit bulls, Japanese tosas, Argentinian fighting dogs and Brazilian fighting dogs.
3. On September 4, 2005 the Victorian Government announced that it too would introduce new laws to have American pit bull terriers bred out of existence. Under these laws owners were required to neuter breeds restricted by Commonwealth law, as well as individual dogs declared dangerous by a local council. This included American pit bull terriers.