Online
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
PIT bulls have hit the headlines in recent days after a deadly attack on a Harare man by the dogs. It’s not the first deadly attack in Zimbabwe.
The pit bull attack that left 39-year-old Samuel Machara dead has drawn outrage from many people in the country and cautious outrage from the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) and other dog lovers.
Most people called for revenge attacks on the dogs and for their ban to stop the unnecessary loss of lives. Cross-breed pit bull owner Mike Mupinga (40) has since been arrested and now faces culpable homicide charges. In this report, we shed some light on the issues surrounding pit bull dogs, the overreaction and under-reaction — by dog lovers who do not want to deal with the bigger problem of the vicious pit bull attacks.
What is a pit bull?
Animal lovers say the term “Pit Bull” refers not to a single breed but a group of breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, the Stafford-shire Bull Terrier, among others.
How did pit bulls originate?
There is no single answer to this. Some dog researchers say pit bulls were bred, originally in England, for bull-baiting, a blood sport where bulls tied to an iron stake were savaged by dogs before they spread to different parts of the world.
They also contend that they were imported to Zimbabwe and most other African countries from the 60s and 70s, where they were further bred — some as guard dogs, some as pets, some for illegal dog fighting rings.
According to the Pit Bull advocacy group Love-A-Bull, the origins of the Pit Bull can be traced back to the early 19th century in the United Kingdom, where Old English Bulldogs were cross-bred with Rat Terriers to create “Bull Terriers.” Nowadays, most people just shorten the name down to “Pit Bull.”
Why do people breed pit bulls?
Several factors for breeding have been cited by different people.
Key reasons that emerge show that breeders wanted to merge the muscular body and tenacity of the bulldog with the agility and “gameness” of terriers.
Throughout history, the dogs were trained to attack and immobilise the agitated animal and so were favoured for their large, strong jaws and muscular necks and shoulders. One researcher says “They have also been bred to have high pain thresholds.”
Are pit bulls the only vicious dog breed?
Apart from pit bulls, there are other vicious dogs that, without provocation, have killed or caused serious injury to people, and killed other dogs.
Pit bulls are not a single distinct breed but an umbrella term for several closely related breeds.
Other vicious breeds include boerboels, rottweilers, dobermans, bull terriers and mastiffs. Other dog breeders also argue that Labradors and Pekinese are also responsible for most bites though.
They say that any power breed with a strong, muscular frame, broad head, bite-and-hold fighting tactic can also inflict harm or death to a human.
Aggressive breeds identified by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals include pit bulls, rottweilers, akitas and chows. Low-risk breeds seen in the study included terriers, beagles, collies and poodles.
What sparked outrage recently?
The death of Harare man Samuel Machera who was mauled to death by vicious dogs owned by Mike Mupinga.
This latest attack horrified relatives and people from various parts of the country. Images of Machera’s lifeless body angered people and led to wider calls for the ban of pit bulls.
What did the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) do?
The ZNSPCA removed and euthanised the pit bull citing public safety concerns and clear signs of neglect and poor socialisation.
“Initial assessment indicates clear evidence of neglect, confinement, and poor socialisation of the animals involved. Such conditions are known to severely affect canine behaviour and are especially dangerous when present in certain breeds, particularly those already classified as high risk or dangerous.”
The animal welfare society further warned the public against crossbreeding dangerous dog breeds, explaining that such animals require specialised handling skills that many owners may lack, potentially leading to tragic outcomes.
“We strongly caution the public against the ownership, breeding, and cross-breeding of dangerous dog breeds. These animals require specialised handling, socialisation and containment responsibilities that, if neglected, can result in tragic consequences such as these.”
The organisation urged the public to approach its offices for assistance with appropriate animal care, advice, or if they wish to surrender their animals.
Fear of pit bull
The latest incident sparked fear and community animosity towards pit bulls. In the past, there have been incidents in which people used rocks, sticks and other weapons to kill the raging pit bulls.
Residents and other people on social media came out to speak of their shock and anger about the pit bull attack.
Many said the dogs should be shot, stoned and set alight. Many also called for a total ban of the pit bulls in the country.
What do critics of the ban say?
Critics are against an outright ban on pit bulls. They say the ban will not solve the problem of irresponsible ownership. Even the ZNSPCA gave a toned down statement, putting the blame squarely with the dogs’ owners.
They further argue that banning the breed will push the people to move from pit bulls to another breed.
This can push up maulings by other vicious dog breeds such as the Rottweiler and others.
Critics also argue that genetics can influence behavioural traits, but that this is a poor predictor of how a dog will actually act.
They say environmental factors (including whether or not a dog has been properly trained and socialised) have a far greater impact on a dog’s aggression levels.
“So are Pit Bulls dangerous? Well, yes and no. Any dog, regardless of breed, has the potential to become aggressive if mistreated or improperly socialised, and the dangers of aggression are far more serious from a Pit Bull as opposed to others,” said Kathleen Joyce in a 2024 online article.
“When raised with love and care and properly socialised from an early age, Pit Bulls have proven themselves as very gentle, affectionate, and loving family dogs. If anything, Pit Bulls that are raised in healthy environments are actually predisposed to have sweet, loyal temperaments.”
What do experts say?
Says an applied canine behavioural scientist Dr Munashe Nzvembe: “There is a clear pattern of irresponsible ownership and inadequate community resources contributing to these attacks. The pit bull attack in New Bluffhill, Harare, is a tragic reminder of the dangers of irresponsible dog ownership. To prevent similar incidents in the future, it is essential to implement stricter dog control laws, provide education on dog behaviour and responsible ownership practices, and increase enforcement of dog control laws and regulations.”
What can be done to avert pit bull attacks on humans?
There are no easy answers to this. Some experts say the country must tighten laws and ensure responsibility over the dog squarely lies with the owner.
“It is like owning a gun — if you are negligent with that firearm, and someone gets hurt, you are criminally liable and face serious consequences including prison,” said Sandra Swart in an article on pit bulls.
Pit bull ownership should come with special permits, special liability insurance and mandatory sterilisation to mitigate the problem.
Micro-chipping, keeping a database of previous offences, strengthening community — public partnerships and upholding anti-roaming laws could help.
Experts say this might not stop all dog bites, but could greatly reduce fatalities.
Verdict surrounding pit bulls
Reports on pit bull attacks are real. The death of Machera shows that pit bulls are violent and dangerous dogs. Lives of people matter most and Zimbabwe, just like other countries, needs to tighten regulations or effect outright bans to minimise attacks on people.
Attacks by pit bulls are a global problem and the country must adopt best practices developed elsewhere and adapted to local situations. The crisis is real and a solution has to be found.
Sources
15 Surprising Facts About Pit Bulls That Prove How Misunderstood They Are — Kathleen Joyce
Pit bull attacks in South Africa — a historian sheds light on the issues — Sandra Swart
Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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