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Common Council Memo <br /> August 24, 1987 <br /> Page 7 <br /> - "Most breeds do not multiple-bite. A pit bull attack is <br /> like a shark attack; he keeps coming back." (Emphasis added , <br /> Kurt Lapham, field investigator , West Coast Regional Humane <br /> Society Office) <br /> - "The pit bull 's the hardest pulling dog in the world." <br /> (Ralph Greenwood of the American Dog Breeders Association) <br /> - "These animals [pit bulls] can be canine crocodiles. They <br /> have a dark and bloody history." (Randall Lockwood, U.S. Humane <br /> Society expert on the behavior of vicious dogs) <br /> - "There is a new type of pit bull coming about - wild , <br /> savage, ugly , uncontrollable. You can tell by the names - <br /> Homicide, Switchblade , Crazy Pete." (Samuel McClain, former <br /> investigator for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to <br /> Animals , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) <br /> - "Pit bulls have a tendency to be aggressive and <br /> territorial . When they defend , they don't bark - they bite. <br /> This is not the breed for average people. They are the Rambo of <br /> the dog world and have an unparalleled reputation as a canine <br /> warrior." (Dr. Patricia O'Handley, Associate Professor of <br /> Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University) <br /> - "The pit bull 's jaws - which can exert as much force as <br /> 1800 lbs. per sq.in. - are strengthened by swinging the dog on a <br /> rope, its teeth clamped to a tire ... They hang on until their <br /> prey is dead. Such techniques turn the dogs into 'time bombs' on <br /> legs." (Franklin Loew, Dean, Tufts University Veterinary School) <br /> - Councilman Ann Puzzello has provided copies of letters <br /> dated November 20, 1986 and December 2 , 1986 from the American <br /> Family Insurance Group (copies attached). This company has <br /> adopted the following underwriting guideline in all property <br /> policies in all states : <br /> Insurance cannot be provided for any risk where there <br /> is a trained guard dog , an attack dog, a pet which has <br /> bitten or attached someone, or a pet which is known to <br /> be dangerous or vicious or exhibits any of those <br /> tendencies. A risk with certain breeds of dogs , <br /> specified an American Pit Bull Terrier cannot be <br /> insured . . . (page 2 of 11-20-86 letter) . <br />