LETTER – Attack by a pit bull is traumatic, can take years to recover

Re: ‘Ban the deed, not the breed’ approach isn’t good enough

On behalf of National Pit Bull Victim Awareness, I would like to thank Mel Rothenburger for his opinion piece. I am one of the founders of this victim support group which was started in 2015.

NPBVA tracks media reports of pit bull attacks in Canada and the USA each year and puts them on a map. https://www.nationalpitbullvictimawareness.org/attacks/map-of-attacks-2020/

We also have a searchable database of attacks. https://www.nationalpitbullvictimawareness.org/attacks/pit-bull-attack-database-keywords

There are approximately 1000 media reports of pit bull attacks in the news each year. However, by comparing them to numbers kept by various Canadian cities, obtained through FOI reports, we estimate there are as many as 45 times the number of attacks not reported in the media.

We have worked hard to support and network victims. An attack by a pit bull is a traumatic event from which it can take years to recover. It is appalling that self-interest groups persuade people they are “family pets”.

We are currently supporting family members and communities affected by 7 deaths in the last two weeks alone, including a 22-month old child and a 17-month old child. During the same two weeks, two dogs were attacked in the Kamloops area, with an extensive list of attacks on children, adults, and pets elsewhere. The majority of these deaths and attacks were by “family pets”.

Thank you again for your kindness and courage in speaking out.

MIA JOHNSON
National Pit Bull Victim Awareness

Editor’s Note: Another pit bull attack has been reported, this time in Kelowna.