We the undersigned urge the Oregonian/OregonLive attempt to repair the damages done through a recent article published in their paper to thousands of perfectly balanced, safe and loving local pit bull type dogs that have done no wrong and pose no threat to the public.   

In the March 15th edition of The Oregonian the front page headline read 'Dog Attacks: One Breed Stands Out' and also on OregonLive a main story with a headline of 'Pit bulls are No. 1 in Portland-area bite investigations, data show' was posted.  The story was intended to be, according to the journalist who penned the story, a fair and balanced story that would provide information to the readers so they could make up their own minds about how safe or dangerous pit bulls are and whether or not they as a group of breeds (there is NO pit bull breed) should be banned and/or eliminated.  The story was incomplete, told only one side of the 'pit bull' story for the most part, and didn't make any mention of what we humans do to these dogs on a daily basis.   There were no statistics included that reflected how many alleged pit bulls die on a daily basis in this country at the hands of humans.

The story lacked balance and fairness in that it reported mostly data collected, some from questionable sources as well as statistics that lacked validity due to the issue of breed identification, that supported the idea that pit bull type dogs are inherently dangerous and that most, if not all, people who have these dogs are irresponsible dog owners who own them for nefarious reasons.  There was no mention made in the article, or the follow-up article released in an attempt to 'balance' out the information provided, about what humans do to these dogs both intentionally and unintentionally on a daily basis.  No mention was made of how many dogs that merely look like they could be a pit bull are euthanized in shelters due to prejudice and bans, fought to the death by people who only seek profit, neglected and abused by irresponsible owners and who end up euthanized for behavioral issues due to being owned by people who cannot adequately handle these dogs (or any dogs) so that they are calm and safe pets.  

Ridiculously few in the news media ever reports on what we humans do to pit bull type dogs by the millions annually in this country.  There hardly is ever any mention made about how these abused, neglected, abandoned and mistreated dogs after being rescued from horrific abuse and neglect in the thousands are successfully rehabilitated and end up a loving, safe and happy dog who lives with a responsible family.  Very few in the news media ever reports on how in spite of the abuse that these dogs suffer at the hands of humans they show nothing but affection and love for humans because these dogs have such an inherent resilient nature and loving spirit. And last but not least the news media very rarely talks about the millions of family dogs that had never exhibited any aggression and never harmed anyone that have been killed by authorities through a ban based solely on the dog's appearance and possible genetic make-up as opposed to its behavior.

Here are just a few examples of how humans are so much more dangerous to pit bulls than pit bulls have ever been or will ever be dangerous to humans.  We the undersigned recognize and agree that the statistics on how many pit bulls are killed annually in this country are far higher in than those of humans being harmed by dogs alleged to be pit bulls and that the public needs to be informed about it.

An attempt to brutally kill a pit bull purchased to train to fight other dogs but who refused to fight:  http://www.fugitive.com/2015/03/15/4-arrested-in-case-of-dog-cabela-shot-and-tied-to-railroad-tracks-in-florida/

Four-month-old pit bull puppies rescued from being used as bait dogs by dog fighters:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/04/odin-and-rorschach-pit-bulls_n_5755660.html

Oogy the pit bull that survived horrific abuse at the hands of dog fighters as a bait dog:  http://www.animals-abused.org/oogy-story.htm

Pit bull rescued from severe abuse by owner:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-west-palm-pitbull-abuse-20150224-story.html

Injured, abused and abandoned pit bull puppy:  http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2015/02/25/pit-bull-puppy-rescued/24023963/

Dogs killed by pit bull bans: http://www.westword.com/news/leaked-photos-of-pit-bulls-killed-due-to-denver-ban-5877914

Pit bulls euthanized by shelters due to systemic fear and prejudice about pit bulls: http://www.examiner.com/article/pit-bulls-and-euthanasia-rates