Speech Outline:

I. Introduction
A. 1 million per year. 2,800 per day.
1. An estimate of how many pitbulls are euthanized annually/ daily
(Save-a-Bull Rescue, Pitbull Euthanasia Rates, 2015).
2. About 75% of municipal shelters euthanize pit bulls immediately
upon intake (Save-a-Bull Rescue, Pitbull Euthanasia Rates, 2015).
B. Pitbulls have a bad rap as the “bully” of the dog breeds, when in all
actuality abusive breeders and false stereotypes are the ones to blame.
1. According to Eric Stirgus from the Poynter Institute in 2011,
studies show that pitbulls are not significantly more aggressive
than other breeds to strangers and their owners.
2. Despite a surmount of prejudiced laws and ordinances preventing
pitbulls from living or being adopted in certain areas all over the
US, they are still the #1 dog being bred in America.
C. The main thing that must be done in order to help pitbulls find forever
homes is to first cease the excessive breeding, and paint them in their true
light instead of what has been portrayed by the media for years.
1. If the public can accept pitbulls in a better light, then so will
legislation and politicians in a position to do something about the
unfair laws and practices that still exist against pitbulls today.

Transition: Let’s first look at the statistics. (1st slide)

II. Body
A. How many pitbulls are likely to survive euthanasia and survive a forever
home?
1. The numbers are extremely high for euthanasia. (2nd slide)
a. The euthanasia rate for pitbulls is a whopping 93%
according to a study by the organization Animal People.
b. In addition, only 1 in 600 pitbulls will find a forever home
(Animal People).
c. A possible reason for such high euthanasia rates is that
there are 3 to 5 million pits in the United States, a large
portion being thrown in shelters due to their false
reputation and unwarranted fear by uneducated people
(Stefanie Menjivar, Kennel to Couch, 2019).

Transition: The way pitbulls are treated and have been is largely
in part to the media and isolated incidents that have been falsely
reported. (3rd slide)

B. The way the media portrays pitbulls is almost a death sentence for every
pitbull that is barely getting by in shelters across America today.
 1. Almost every representation of this dog breed in the media is a
negative one.
a. According to Amelia Glynn from SFGATE in 2010, the
ASPCA issued a statement before that the media has
repeatedly told them that they have no interest in reporting
attacks that were instigated by breeds other than the pitbull.
b. Eleven years ago, a popular dog blog posted about a TV
station in Mobile Alabama that mentioned the breed in
every single dog bite story. Only 20% of the attacks
involved pits in all actuality, which was behind labs, a
popular breed among American families.
2. Legislation has also played a part in contributing to the negative
portrayal of pitbulls. (4th slide)
a. Every time a pitbull-attack story finds its way in the news,
it stirs up major controversy and a call for legislative
action.
b. However, mass banning for specific breeds has had little to
no effect in preventing dog bites, is costly to implement,
and is problematic to enforce.
c. These laws also often ignore the responsibility of the
owner, placing all blame upon the dog breed.

Transition: Although pitbulls have been killed and abused in a response

to the falsely aggressive incidents fed by irresponsible breeders and an
uneducated media, there are measures that can be taken to save them and
their reputation.

C. There is still hope for this breed.

1. Excessive breeding has to stop.
a. Most pitbulls are bred to fight, and when the mother cannot
provide healthy enough puppies, she is abandoned or used
as dogfight bait.
b. Pitbulls can have two litters of 14 puppies each year if they
are not spayed or neutered (Breaking News Staff,
whio.com, 2018). (5th slide)
c. Spaying/neutering these dogs is the most effective way to
prevent overpopulation of pitbulls and any of their inbred
aggressive tendencies.
2. We have to educate ourselves about how pitbulls truly behave and
how they have been the victim for so long.
a. Pitbulls are no more if not less aggressive than other breeds
out there, and several studies have been done to prove it.
b. By showcasing their strengths and employing them as
therapy, service, police, etc. dogs we can paint them in a
better light.
 c. Another action includes efforts to ban BSL (breed-specific
legislation), which is discriminatory and very ineffective
with little reason to back it up.

Transition: We are the only voice pitbulls have, and the only ones that can stop
their abuse. They are helpless without us.

III. Conclusion
A. There are too many pitbulls that are killed each year.
B. Their bad raps are due large in part to the media.
C. The legislation against them/overbreeding must stop, we are the only ones
that can do anything.
 Works Cited

Menjivar, Stefanie. “Pit Bull Euthanasia (And How to Put An End to It).” Kennel to Couch, 31
July 2019, kenneltocouch.org/2019/08/pit-bull-euthanasia-and-how-to-put-an-end-to-it/.

Stirgus, Eric. “PolitiFact - Are Pit Bulls More Aggressive than Other Dogs?” @Politifact, 3 Aug.
2011, www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/aug/03/elaine-boyer/are-pit-bulls-more-
aggressive-other-dogs/.

Amelia Glynn on September 9, 2010 at 12:50 PM. “Pit Bulls' Bad Rap: How Much Is the Media
to Blame?” Tails Of The City, 9 Sept. 2010, blog.sfgate.com/pets/2010/09/09/pit-bulls-bad-
rap-how-much-is-the-media-to-blame/.

Staff, Breaking News. “Pit Bull Population on the Rise Due to over-Breeding Issues, More Get
Euthanized.” WHIO, 20 Aug. 2018, www.whio.com/news/local/pit-bull-population-the-
rise-due-over-breeding-issues-more-get-euthanized/rNMqL4kFMnSe4leG4OBy9N/.

“10 Tips for Being a Powerful Advocate for Pit Bulls.” ASPCApro, 30 Aug. 2019,
www.aspcapro.org/resource/10-tips-being-powerful-advocate-pit-bulls.