Are Pit Bulls a Predatory Threat or the Most Misunderstood Dog Breed? Pit Bulls Unleashed explores this divisive subject with passionate personalities from both sides of the debate.
The film’s narrative is saddled with an unspeakable tragedy. A young woman adopted two bulldogs and kept them as pets without incident. Then, without warning, the dogs began attacking her while she was holding a 14-month-old baby. They snatched the child from their arms, then devoured and killed him.
Is there something bred into pit bulls that makes them prone to violence? When horrific abuse or death occurs, racial advocates are quick to unleash their powerful lobbying power. They argue that the outbreaks of violence were isolated incidents, many of which were hyped up by the media to stoke false hysteria. In their view, every breed has unstable dogs, just like humans. To further their cause, these advocacy groups run engaging and attention-grabbing advertising campaigns that promote pit bulls as ideal family-friendly pets. They successfully blocked the government’s ban on the breed.
Statistics can tell a different story. Pit bulls are responsible for most dog attacks on children and other pets, according to a researcher interviewed for the film. Illustrative photos taken after the attack and testimonies from parents provide further evidence.
An animal shelter whistleblower spoke out about the industry’s unfair tactics. In some cases, aggressive pit bulls may be shipped across states, and any documented crimes against humans will be expunged from their paper records.
Some sort of compromise was also advocated in the debate. They argue that many of these abuses stem from irresponsible ownership and propose a licensing system similar to the process consumers must go through when buying a firearm.
Is the Proposed Pit Bull Ban a Form of Dog Racism or a Logical Step to Keeping Humans Safe? This controversial issue dominates the film.
Produced by The Fifth Estate, Pit Bulls Unleashed challenges the viewer by admirably zig-zagging between opposing viewpoints.
