Dog Air Travel:
Make Sure Your Canine is Safe
in the Friendly Skies

For this Q&A on dog air travel, I had the pleasure to speak with Melanie Monteiro, dog safety expert and author of The Safe Dog Handbook: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Pooch, Indoors and Out.
However, before we get into the Q&A, I want to say upfront that the best advice about dog air travel is -- don't ship your pet in cargo unless it is absolutely unavoidable.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association all advise against shipping your pet in cargo -- and with good reason. As Melanie will discuss below, there are many factors during dog air travel that can lead to loss, injury -- and even death -- of your precious pooch if he is shipped in the belly of a plane.
If you have absolutely no alternative form of getting your dog where you need to go, follow the dog air travel advice below by Melanie Monteiro. A lifelong dog lover, Melanie has been a puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence, the national organization that provides assistance dogs to people with disabilities. In her continued quest to help dogs lead safe, healthy lives, Melanie went on to earn certificates in canine nutrition and pet first aid. She currently teaches pet first aid and disaster response courses for the Emergency Care and Safety Institute to pet owners throughout Southern California. Melanie lives in Topanga, California with her husband, Mark, and Taiga, their six-year-old Lab.

Dog Air Travel Q&A

You state in your book, “The Safe Dog Handbook,” that a pet-friendly flight begins at the time of booking. Can you elaborate on this aspect of dog air travel?

Booking a pet-friendly flight begins with a good deal of research if the dog must fly “below cabin.” Careful consideration must be given to the dog’s breed, health, age and disposition to determine whether flying is in their best interest.
Begin by checking the airline’s pet travel policies on their website. Many carriers have breed and weather restrictions designed for your dog’s own safety, which may force you to reconsider your travel plans. If you make it past this hurdle, the airline must also assure you that their below-cabin area for dogs will be climate-controlled and pressurized. If not—find another airline.
Look for a direct flight whenever possible, and choose a time that will help ensure your dog’s comfort and safety – for example, book an early morning or evening flight during warm summer months, and a mid-day flight during colder months.
Finally, review the airline’s policies (such as health certificate requirements, pre-flight feeding restrictions, check-in procedures etc.) to make sure you are willing and able to comply with all rules and regulations to prevent problems at the airport.
If, however, you have a small dog that passes muster to fly in the main cabin with you, congratulations! Your only real concern is to make sure he has a reservation.

I understand that the preparation of the dog’s crate is crucial to his traveling comfort and safety. What do you tell people on how to successfully prepare the crate for dog air travel?
You need to start with an airline-approved crate— which can vary with each airline — then its time to “Pimp Your Crate” to help draw special attention to the precious cargo inside! Use brightly colored paint pens or markers and write your dog’s name in big letters across the top. Write something like “I’m Lucy and I’m very friendly!” to help put the baggage handlers at ease. Next, type up instructions on a sheet of paper listing your name, flight number(s), cell phone, emergency contact numbers and final destination. Tape this to the top of the crate. If it will be a long flight, securely attach a small pack containing a baggie of kibble, small bottle of water, poop bags and leash to the back of the crate with duct tape in case of delay.
Prepare the inside of the crate by making sure there are sturdy water and (for longer flights) food dishes attached. Line the crate with a kennel pad or other soft bedding, and place an old shirt with your scent on it inside to help comfort your dog.
The day before the flight, fill the water dish 2/3 full and freeze it, then take it with you to the airport to place in the crate right before you check the dog in. Also prepare a couple of treat-stuffed Kongs or other durable treat-dispensing toys.

No matter how well prepared the crate is, the dog must still feel safe and secure in it. What should pet parents do to acclimate their dogs to their crate prior to the day of flight in order to cut down on the anxiety level associated with dog air travel?
If the dog is already comfortable being crated at home, practice lifting the crate with him in it (you’ll need someone to help you) and gently jostling it around, placing it in the car, and driving around. This will help prepare him for being lifted, loaded, and transported on the plane.
For puppies/dogs that have never been crated and you’re starting from scratch, there is one cardinal rule you must always follow: Never use the crate as punishment! A dog’s crate should always be a safe, happy haven.
To get started, be sure the crate is appropriately sized, which is large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down in. Position it in an area of the house with a lot of activity, such as the kitchen, so that he still feels like part of the family, and place him favorite toy and an old shirt with your scent inside. Begin feeding all the dog’s meals inside the crate (leaving the door open). Sit on the floor next to the open crate and play with him, tossing his toys inside. Praise him whenever he enters the crate on his own. Allow him to sleep in the crate in your room at night (leaving the door open) if he chooses. Continue these exercises for several days or even longer until you feel he’s comfortable, then begin doing them with the crate door closed for short periods, building time as you progress.
When introduced properly, most dogs love their crate and think of it as a safe, cozy den. If you’re having trouble, consult a professional trainer, and do not travel with your dog until he’s comfortable.

What is your opinion on sedating dogs for dog air travel? This is quite a controversial topic! The short answer, in my opinion, is that this decision should be made by a dogs’ own veterinarian on a case-by-case basis. Most agree that sedating a dog can jeopardize their safety by affecting their respiratory and/or cardiovascular function below cabin, as well as their ability to balance and maintain equilibrium when being jostled around. Others believe it’s not realistic to expect a dog to endure the stress of a flight without light sedation. A trusted vet can help determine what’s right for your dog based on his health, breed, age and circumstances of travel. Also keep in mind that some airlines will not accept sedated pets.

What, if any, health and medical certificates will the dog require during dog air travel?
Each airline has different requirements, which may vary based on your final destination. If a health certificate is not required, you should still bring copies of your dog’s rabies and other vaccines/titer records in case you’re asked. Being prepared will help prevent any unnecessary delays.

The safety of our canine companion is the primary concern of any caring pet parent. Can you share some specific safety tips for dog air travel?
Purchase a nylon snap-buckle or “breakaway” collar (I like the KeepSafe collar by Premier) and write your dog’s information and contact number right on the collar. Do not attach any tags or plan to use a chain or prong collar the day of the flight – these can get snagged on the wire door of the kennel, causing severe injury and even strangulation.
Trim your dog’s nails the day before you leave, to help prevent snags and give him better footing in his crate.
Bring a photo of you with your dog and keep it with you on the off chance the dog becomes lost, or you need to prove ownership.
Bring an extra leash and keep it in your purse or carry-on.
Have a back-up plan in place if, for any reason, your dog is refused at the airport due to a reservation snafu, extreme weather, etc.
Be sure your dog is well exercised the day of the flight to help release pent up energy and anxiety. Allow extra time in your schedule for him to hydrate and eliminate before entering the airport.
Be confident, calm and happy when you bid your crated dog farewell, and double-check the airline tags on his crate to make sure they’re accurate.
Before boarding your flight, inquire at the gate that the dog has been loaded safely onto the aircraft, and confirm where you’ll be picking him up at your final destination.

Airport personal are key in ensuring a safe, comfortable flight for our beloved dogs. Do you have any “insider” tricks for interacting with airline personnel and flight crews in order to make the dog traveler’s flight as pleasant as possible?
Suck up to everyone! Seriously, a smile, friendly attitude and good eye contact can go a long way towards making your concerns heard and motivating others to go out of their way for your dog. Of course, tipping goes a long way too – so be sure to tip the baggage handler who takes your dog (about $20 if you can afford it).
Now I’ll share a trick from a seasoned pilot for a major carrier: Bring two packets of goodies (such as a sealed box of chocolates wrapped in cellophane) on board, a few photos of your dog, and a note that says:
“Dear Captain: Please know that on this flight you are carrying the most precious cargo in the world—my beloved dog (insert name). Please confirm that he is on board and that his area is safely pressurized and climate controlled. He means the world to our family and we appreciate your kindness.”
Give one package of goodies to the flight crew to keep and ask your flight attendant to deliver the other package with the note and photo of your dog to the cockpit.
If you have time to chat with your flight attendant without disrupting her duties, ask her about any pets she has, and whether she has photos to share. Make yourself stand out in a positive way. That way if there are any delays or complications with the flight, your concerns for the well being of your dog may be addressed more quickly.

Small dogs, of course, can fly in the cabin. What special considerations should be given when carrying a dog on board an airplane?

As you would with a larger dog flying below cabin, arrive at the airport early and give him a long walk to stretch his legs and relieve himself before heading inside. Adjust his feeding/watering schedule before the flight so that you do not anticipate him needing to eliminate for the duration of his journey, which may mean skipping a meal altogether. Do not feed him within two hours of departure.
If your little pooch is prone to anxiousness, consider a natural calming remedy such as Ultra-Calm Valerian cookies (available at Drs. Foster and Smith) or Rescue Remedy for pets (alcohol-free formula).

Are there particular breeds that require extra caution when flying, or that perhaps should not fly at all?
Yes! Any breed prone to breathing difficulties such as brachycephalic (short head, snub nose) breeds or those prone to stenotic nares (pinched nostrils) should not fly below cabin, as they are at risk for life-threatening heatstroke, respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies. These include the Pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Boxer and Chow Chow. Luckily, some of these dogs are small enough to fly in the main cabin.
A major concern would also be with elderly dogs, dogs with heart or lung conditions, and dogs with extreme anxiety.
Understand that there may be instances (e.g., mechanical problems) when the air below cabin becomes compromised. This could potentially harm any dog, regardless or breed, age or state of health.

What final advice would you like to leave people with when it comes to dog air travel?
Don’t! Unless, of course, you really have to.

Fantastic Dog Air Travel Alternative: Pet Airways Pet-Only Airline

Pet Airways offers a great dog air travel alternative to getting your precious canine where he or she needs to go -- without the risks of flying them in cargo. Pet Airways is a "pet-only airline" (no people allowed except the staff!) that will fly your precious pooch in the cabin of a specially outfitted passenger plane complete with trained attendants to supervise his or her safety.
For more information on Pet Airways' dog air travel services, including pricing and a complete list of locations serviced, visit the Pet Airways Web site.

Your furry friend is relying on you, so when it comes to dog air travel, please remember that the safest alternative is always to keep your pet off of a commercial airline carrier and out of cargo completely. There are far too many tragic losses that occur. Be sure that your pet is not one of them.
http://www.the-happy-dog-spot.com/dog-air-travel.html

https://www.airfrance.com/common/image/pdf/en/AVIH_checklist_111212_V2_WA_EN.pdf

Nie możemy podjąć się takiej weryfikacji na podstawie obejrzenia zdjęć, chociażby dlatego, że nie wiemy, czy wszystko działa- zgodnie z wymaganiami, trzeba by było sprawdzić organoleptycznie, co jednak możesz uczynić sama. Prosimy sobie odpowiedzieć na pytania: - czy jeśli klatka ma koła, da się je zdjąć? jeśli tak - to ok, należy je zdjąć - czy drzwi mają centralny mechanizm zamykający w dwóch miejscach: na górze i na dole drzwi? jeśli tak, jest ok - czy drzwi otwierają się horyzontalnie, czy zawiasy drzwi wykraczają poza profil ich powyżej i poniżej drzwi o 1,6cm? - czy obie połówki klatki są ze sobą połączone za pomocą śrub? (inne mechanizmy są zabronione) - czy pies może wklatce stać wyprostowany, z głowo w pozycji prostej, nie pochylonej, bez dotykania dachu kontenera? - czy pies w klatce może wygodnie obrócić się i położyć? Krótko mówiąc: musisz sobie sprawdzić samodzielnie to z wymaganiami opisanymi w linku, który już podawaliśmy: https://www.airfrance.com/common/image/pdf/en/AVIH_checklist_111212_V2_WA_EN.pdf Pozdrawiamy, KLM

 w sprawie przewozu zwierząt w ramach Unii Europejskiej: w skrócie: Przewożone zwierzę musi posiadać paszport zgodny ze standardami UE (Decision 2003/803/EC), posiadać ważne szczepienie przeciwko wściekliźnie oraz musi być identyfikowalne: powinno mieć wszczepiony mikrochip lub czytelny tatuaż. Pies musi być zaszczepiony przeciwko wściekliźnie. W przypadku m.in. Wielkiej Brytanii, u psów dodatkowo obowiązuje profilaktyka przeciwko tasiemcom Echinococcus multilocularis preparatem zawierającym praziquantel lub inną substancję farmakologicznie czynną, która sama lub w połączeniu posiada udowodnione właściwości ograniczania obciążania dojrzałymi i niedojrzałymi postaciami pasożyta Echinococcus multilocularis u odpowiednich gatunków żywicieli. Profilaktyka przeciwko tasiemcom winna zostać przeprowadzona w okresie nie dłuższym niż 120 godzin, ale nie krótszym niż 24 godziny przed datą ich planowanego wprowadzenia do tych państw członkowskich. (Rozporządzenie Delegowane Komisji (UE) nr 1152/2011 z dnia 14 lipca 2011 r. uzupełniające rozporządzenie (WE) nr 998/2003 Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady w odniesieniu do zdrowotnych środków zapobiegawczych w celu kontroli zarażenia Echinococcus multilocularis u psów). Bardziej szczegółowe informacje znajdziesz tutaj: http://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/index.php?action=szczegoly&m_id=28&kat_id=3863 Pozdrawiamy, KLM

Klatka już jest mam nadzieje, że spodoba się na lotnisku bo Ptyś ją uwielbia :) już sam do niej wchodzi i lubi w niej spać. Widzę po jego zachowaniu, że coś się dzieje ... Mam nadzieje, że wszystko dobrze się skończy ...
wrzucam jeszcze taką ciekawostkę na temat transporterów, która na bank wszystkim podróżującym się przyda...
https://www.airfrance.com/common/image/pdf/en/AVIH_checklist_111212_V2_WA_EN.pdf

Zaczynamy załatwiać bilet dla mnie i dla Ptysia do Montrealu :D
Klatka już zakupiona chociaż w KLM powiedziano że to nie taka jak trzeba :/
Kolejny problem to nie wiem, czy są tylko takie dokumenty wymagane jak przy wieździe do Kanady, czy jak jest z przesiadką w UE to musze mieć jeszcze jakieś badania kliniczne krwi ????
tyle pytań, a nie ma kto na nie odpowiedzieć :(

County

By Dr. Ian Kupkee

|  Monday, Jun 23, 2014  |  Updated 1:56 PM EDT

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2012 was a tough year.

It started on May 1st,  when it was decided that Miami Dade voters would have the chance to overturn our city’s 23-year-old breed ban that targets the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and all mixes of these breeds.  Sabal Chase Animal Clinic sprang into action. 

We booked a session on WLRN’s Topical Currents with Joseph Cooper to discuss the issue.  We passed out literature about pit bulls and breed bans to everyone that visited our clinic.  We added pages to our website devoted to facts about pit bulls, and the unintended, often cruel consequences of banning certain breeds.  We turned the mandatory, government-issued, “dangerous dog” warning poster that all Miami veterinary clinics  are required to post into a shameless propaganda tool.  We talked to a LOT of people, some of whom, to put it mildly, did not share our enthusiasm for this cause.

One day, a colleague pulled me aside and asked if she could have a quiet word with me. 

“Listen Doc,” she said.  “Everybody in our field hates this ban.   It’s nice to see you all fired up, but I’m worried you may be committing professional suicide.  I mean, we all know pit bulls aren’t dangerous, but seriously - why are you doing this?”

Professional suicide….ouch...why was I doing this?

Let me bgin to answer that question by stating why I’m not doing this.  I do not own pit bulls.  I am not secretly dreaming of a day when I can walk my illegally owned pit bull on Lincoln Road with impunity.  I am not what some anti-pit bull websites refer to as a “pit bull nutter” or a member of the so-called “pit bull mafia”.  I own two dachshunds and a geriatric lovebird.  I have no hidden agenda. 

As a veterinarian, it is my responsibility to make sound judgements on the basis of  peer reviewed scientific data derived from lifetimes of slavish devotion to the scientific method.  There’s what we know, and there’s what we think we know.  This is what I know.

PIt bulls do not have locking jaws.  As public awareness of dog fighting grew, so also did a series of myths and urban legends associated with pit bulls.  Many people mistakenly believe that when a pit bull bites, it cannot let go due to a unique, breed-specific physical anomaly. 

Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia has stated  under the oath “There is absolutely no 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”. 

An additional study out of Presbyterian College by Jesse M. Bridgers III titled “Mechanical Advantage in the Pit Bull Jaw” reached a similar conclusion: “After graphing and analyzing the derived ratios, I have found no evidence of mechanical advantage in the pit bull compared to other domestic breeds of dogs.”

Pit bulls are not inherently more dangerous than other dogs.  

The American Temperament Test Society, as of February 14, 2013 found the American Pit Bull Terrier to have a passing rate of 86.8 percent out 870 dogs tested. They are the organization’s sixth most tested breed. By comparison, Golden Retrievers had a passing rate of 85.2 percent.  Shih-tzus scored 77.8 percent. 

Many factors lead to aggression including, but not limited to, being sexually intact, being tethered or chained, breeding situations, poor nutrition, veterinary health problems, lack of proper socialization, and abuse.  That being said, consider for a moment that of the 51 pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation, only one was euthanized after being deemed too dangerous to return to society.  The rest were placed in loving homes, and several even work as therapy dogs.  All of these dogs were subjected to unthinkable cruelty, in addition to the factors mentioned above.

“But don’t pit bulls, like, attack without warning?” a client once asked me. 

In a word, no.  All dogs give a warning before they attack or bite.  The signs can be subtle, and can even be mistaken for playfulness, but they are always there, and they often go unrecognized.  It is especially difficult to see these signs in dogs who spend little or no time interacting with the humans in their world.  Known in my profession as resident dogs, these animals spend much of their lives living outdoors in pens or on chains, without proper exercise, nutrition, socialization, or veterinary care.  They are rarely spayed or neutered,  have little to occupy their minds, and are often protecting litters of puppies. These residents dogs are ticking time bombs, and are often mislabelled as “family pets” simply because they live on a property owned by a family. While it may seem like an exercise in quibbling over semantics, resident dogs of all breeds are responsible for nearly all severe bites and attacks to humans and other dogs.  It is impossible to have an intelligent discussion of dog bites and attacks that excludes the distinction between family pets and resident dogs.

So why is this breed so feared by so many?

Pit bull advocates have long complained of a perceived breed bias in media coverage of dog bites and attacks.  Pit bull bites and attacks, they claim, are sensationalized and over-reported, while stories of attacks carried out by other breeds are doomed to die in the slush pile.  This new brand of yellow journalism leads to misconceptions about their beloved breed that has destroyed its reputation in the collective consciousness of mainstream America.  In fact, in a recent survey of people who admitted to having negative opinions of pit bulls, 60 percen of the participants cited media reports as the basis of their negative opinions.  Are pit bull attacks really reported differently?

A 2008 report by the National Canine Research Council compared media coverage for dog attacks that occurred during a four day period in 2007.  The results are as follows:

Day 1:  A Labrador Retriever mix attacked an elderly man, sending him to the hospital.  One article appeared in the local paper.

Day 2:  A mixed breed dog fatally attacked a child.  The local paper ran two stories.

Day 3:  A mixed breed dog attacked a child, sending the child to the hospital.  One article ran in the local paper

Day 4:  Two tethered pit bulls broke from their chains and attacked a woman walking her small dog.  The woman was hospitalized.  Her dog was uninjured.  The attack was reported in 232 articles in national and international newspapers, as well as on the major cable news networks.

Still not wanting to be accused of joining the “pit bull mafia," I decided to try an experiment of my own.  I scanned a list of children killed by dogs, looking for uncommon names that would be easy for Google to find.  I wanted to see for myself if pit bull attacks were truly reported more often. 

On July 25, 2008, 14-month-old Addison Sonney was killed by an English Sheepdog mix.  A Google search of her name produced 28,900 hits.  Several weeks prior, 7-year-old Tanner Monk was killed by two off-leash pit bulls.  A Google search of his name produced an astounding 1,960,000 hits. One MILLION, nine hundred and sixty thousand.

Are we to infer that the loss of one child is greater than the loss of another?  Was Tanner’s life somehow more valuable, or his death more tragic than baby Addison’s?  Was it somehow less agonizing for Addison’s parents to bury their child?  Why do we as a species, as a breed, if you will, have such a lust for gorey pit bull stories that we beg our media outlets to feed us more?

It’s a rhetorical question that some have been gracious enough to answer anyway.  “The public has a right to know,” I’ve been told. “We have a right to know if a breed is dangerous.”  This just might be the most dangerous statement of them all. 

When certain breeds are labelled as “dangerous," the public assumes that, by default, all other breeds are “safe."  One only needs to scan the list where I read about Addison and Tanner to see the flaws in this thinking.  The list serves as a chilling testimony to the dangers of complacency, and the folly of a false sense of security. 

Aiden McGrew, 8 weeks old, killed by a Golden Retriever.  Trey Paeth, 11 months old, killed by a Siberian Husky.  Justin Mozer, six weeks old, killed by a Jack Russell Terrier.  Zane Earles, two months old, killed by a Labrador Retriever.  Liam Perk, two years old, killed by a Weimaraner.  None of these children were killed by “dangerous breeds”.   This is likely to offer little consolation to the parents who must now endure a  life without them.  A favorite rallying cry of pit bull advocates is “Punish the deed, not the breed.”  I prefer this one: Any dog, of any breed, can, and occasionally will, bite.

Any dog.  Any breed.  It’s not as catchy, but this is what I know.

So back to the original question.  Why am I doing this?  Because I’ve studied the evidence, and I’ve reached a verdict.  Because I know the facts, and therefore the truth.  Because pit bulls are just dogs.  Because in fifteen years of poking them, palpating them, and sticking my fingers in their mouths, I’ve never met a pit that didn’t lick my face or plonk its goofy head in my lap.  Most importantly, because it’s the right thing to do. Professional suicide?  Like Miami’s pit bull ban,  I’m still here. 

As for those who have accused me of joining the so-called “pit bull mafia”, I’ll leave these folks with one final question:

You got a problem with that?

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It's Time to End the Prejudice Against Pit Bulls

Posted: 06/23/2014 12:21 pm EDT Updated: 06/23/2014 12:59 pm EDT

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My dog Murray and I were taking our usual amble through town the other day, when we came upon a puppy we hadn't seen before. I don't know a lot of my human neighbors, but I've got a pretty comprehensive roster of all the dogs around town. We stopped to get to know this little golden bundle of wiggles, but her owner snatched her off.
"I don't want her playing with pit bulls," he said to me, dragging the puppy away.
The thoughts that went through my head directly after this encounter are not printable in a family publication. Here are the thoughts that are:
1. It is truly astonishing how many otherwise progressive people consider their prejudice against pit bulls to be perfectly reasonable, when the data shows it isn't; and
2. Given that Murray isn't even actually a pit bull, this encounter highlights one of the major reasons that prejudice against pit bulls is extremely problematic: it's really hard to tell which mixed-breed dogs are even actually pits.
Pit bulls are subjected to an almost unimaginably cruel world, in which they are subjected to every kind of violence -- and then, at the end of it, are euthanized in shelters at shockingly high rates, because families are afraid to bring them home, landlords won't rent to the families who do bring them home and localities impose restrictions on their ownership, despite ample evidence that these restrictions do nothing to improve public safety.
The newest comprehensive examination of dog bite statistics, put out in December by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, looked at what factors tended to lead to fatal dog bites. These include a dog not being spayed or neutered, dogs being "kept isolated from regular positive human interactions," away from the rest of the family, and dog owners having histories of abusing their pets.
Some pit bulls bite, of course, just like some of any breed of dog will bite. And the media may be more likely to report a pit bull's bite, or the person bitten may be more likely to think the dog that bit them is a pit. What the JAVMA study shows, though, is that breed is specifically found not to be a factor in the likelihood of a fatal dog bite.
Yes, some old studies show that pit bulls are more likely to bite than other dogs. But those studies have been debunked on a number of grounds -- a big one being that, without genetic testing, which is almost never done, it's very nearly impossible to pick out which dogs are actually pit bulls. Here, try for yourself.
I still understand why you might be scared of pit bulls and pit bull type dogs. These are the vast majority of dogs identified by the media, shelters and nearly everyone as pit bulls: they're dogs that look like pits -- they've got the blocky heads, for example -- but we don't actually know their actual genetic makeup.
Maybe you haven't been reading the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Or maybe you have been reading the near-constant stream of scary newspaper stories ginning up your fear.

A recent article in Time magazine called "The Problem With Pit Bulls" is among the worst of them. Charlotte Alter, the author of the Time piece, goes so far as to say that pit bull attacks are on the rise because of Hurricane Katrina, which is both a silly claim and a preposterous one: there's no evidence that pit bull attacks are on the rise at all.
Even Alter notes that the CDC, which conducted the most-cited older study, no longer collects statistics about which breeds are involved with dog bites. What she doesn't note is that the lead author of the CDC study is one of the researchers responsible for the more recent JAVMA report, which more or less does in the earlier report.
In the Time piece -- which was prompted by what can only be described as a horrific attack on a little girl, by three of her grandfather's dogs; the girl was then kicked out of a KFC because her damaged face was disturbing the other customers -- Alter acknowledges that she hasn't included any information from pit bull advocates, writing that "many pit-bull advocacy organizations, including BAD RAP, did not want to comment for this story."
Some of them were eager to tell me their thoughts.
Here's Scotland Haisley, founder of the Animal Rescue Corps, who has worked in animal welfare for 25 years, is responsible for rehabilitating 11 of the worst-off dogs rescued from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels, and actually rescued dogs from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina:

The prevalence of incomplete information, inaccurate statistics and unsubstantiated theories has created a widespread prejudice against the pit bull type dog and only perpetuates the stereotype that aggressive behavior in dogs is a breed-specific problem.
Public wellbeing is compromised and innocent lives pay the price when legislation wrongly incriminates a majority due to the actions of unaccountable and thoughtless individuals. Breed specific legislation is reactive, ineffective, and fails to make accountable those truly responsible. Solutions must be proactive and strike at the root of the problem, preventing the potential for dangerous situations to occur by promoting responsible pet guardianship, providing mandates and resources for spay/neuter of all companion animals, and properly staffing and funding those agencies charged with keeping our communities safe and managing homeless animal issues.

Here's the more-colorful comedian Rebecca Corry, whose own dog, Angel, was abused by previous owners, and who organized the recent pit bull march on Washington -- called the One Million Pibble March, pibbles being the affectionate term for pits:

Next they'll say pibbles are responsible for world hunger and global warming. I would like the "reporter" to look [at] Angel (a rescued pit bull who was horribly disfigured and abused for many years) or any of the millions of abused and/or euthanized pibbles killed daily, in the eye and tell them "they are the problem." If the breed is the problem then perhaps this "reporter" and [anti-pit bull activist Colleen] Lynn, can snuggle all night long with the human monsters that abused these dogs, the inherently dangerous and sociopathic killers. Sound like fun ladies? Errrrr....

And Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society, a group that prevailed against PETA and others who argued in 2008 that the Michael Vick couldn't be rehabilitated:

Best Friends Animal Society supports safe and humane communities for people and pets.
Some of the statistics cited in the Time article have been disproved by more recent research done by Dr. Gary Patronek, and a team of researchers who analyzed fatal dog-related incidents from 2000-2009 and found that breed was not a factor. Indeed breed could only be identified in 18% of the cases and a variety of breeds of dogs were involved. The focus should be on the behavior of the dog and the behavior of the owner. Period. Reckless owners should be prohibited from owning any breed of dog. Innocent dogs shouldn't be penalized for being born into a certain breed. All dogs are individuals.

Amiee Stubbs, a Nashville photographer and animal advocate, said she'd been "so worried" ever since she "saw that a pit bull attack was the reason the girl in KFC had been injured":

In my work as the photojournalist for Animal Rescue Corps, I have been on the scene as we rescued over 60 pit bulls from two dog fighting operations. Every single one of those emaciated and abused dogs greeted rescuers with affection, tails wagging. Additionally, as a pet photographer, I have photographed hundreds of pit bulls. In all of my experience, none of these pit bulls showed any aggression toward people. If the Time magazine article was accurate, this would not be the case. The problem is not the pit bulls, nor is it specific to any one breed.
The problem is that there is little consequence for being an irresponsible dog owner. Journalists giving credence to questionable statistics and sources just exacerbates the problem.

Retired MMA fighter-cum-pit bull advocate Gordon Shell -- who stars in a documentary about his work for Detroit's abused pits -- asked why the Time story didn't mention the Vick dogs who "were rehabbed and rehomed to become loving family pets?"

While the media continues to dig for blood filled stories, myself and thousands of other advocates will keep doing what we do to protect this misrepresented breed, we will eventually win this fight and the Mike Vick legacy will eventually fade just like his mediocre football career.

Spencer Lund, who runs an Oregon insurance agency that is specifically aimed at pit bull owners, and is a pit bull owner himself, told he me has "a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all dogs are created equal.'"
And Leah Brewer, owner of the Elle the pit bull -- a formerly abused, now-therapy dog who was named the 2013 American Hero Dog by the American Humane Society, sent me this photo of her beloved Elle. I think it pretty clearly shows that pits can be as loving, and goofy, as any other kind of dog. Or maybe even a little bit more, given their propensity for playing dress-up:


We all want there to be fewer dog bites. The evidence shows that blaming pits isn't the way to get that.
Let's stop barking up the wrong tree, and look instead at the factors that actually matter here -- like spaying and neutering, and treating animals like they're part of the family instead of keeping them isolated outside. We should also make more effort to teach kids about dogs, and use more visual cues, like yellow leashes, that'll let people identify dogs who don't like being petted.
This seems more productive than working people into a lather over a group of dogs who can't help what they look like or what's been done to them, and who aren't in the end any inherently different from their sleeker-headed fellow canines.
By the way: Murray, my sweet baby, is a rescue, so -- as my husband puts it, possibly plagiarizing Dave Barry -- he's the result of many generations of unregulated dog sex. The group we got him from listed Murray as a border collie, which -- given that he's never, ever, herded anything -- is the only kind of dog we're sure he's not.
We've never had him genetic tested, and we don't know for sure what kind of dog he affirmatively is. Part pointer, maybe. Or possibly part Lab.
Or maybe he is part pit bull, even. Our neighbor hates him based on nothing more than the shape of his face, after all. And he does look so very good in hats.

More:

Pit Bulls Time Magazine Breed Specific Legislation Bsl Pit Bulls Dogs Odin the Pit Bull The Problem With Pit Bulls Abused Pit Bulls Best Friends Animal Society

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