I thank Spotsylvania Animal Control for protecting pit bulls by not releasing them to the public, even though this is surely the hardest thing for shelter staffers ["Ban pits? No, ban irresponsible owners," July 5].

"Nice" families rarely visit shelters in search of pit bulls, and pit bulls from unknown backgrounds don't always make good family additions. Pit bulls are the breed of choice for dog fighters and thugs who beat, starve, chain, and otherwise abuse them to make them "mean." These people can and do acquire their victims from animal shelters.

Every day, PETA staffers meet pit bulls who have been trapped for years at the ends of heavy chains or in filthy pens with nothing but bare patches of dirt and plastic barrels for shelter. The dogs are often shaking in fear, full of heartworms, emaciated, and scarred all over from fights. They are often aggressive toward other animals and lash out unpredictably because of how badly frustrated they have become.

Bans on breeding or acquiring new pit bulls (provided that such laws grandfather-in registered, well-cared for, spayed and neutered dogs) protect pit bulls from horrendous suffering by helping to prevent them from ending up in the hands of cruel people.

With so many animals being euthanized for lack of good homes, we shouldn't be breeding more dogs of any kind. Pit bulls are bred for profit, neglected, fought, and abused based exclusively on their breed. People who have pit bulls' best interests at heart can agree that providing protections to and regulating these dogs based on their breed is not only fair, but essential.

Teresa Chagrin

Norfolk

Teresa Chagrin is with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.