Banning Pit Bulls

Mini-Debates

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

Banning Pit bulls
1. Do you have a dog? If so, what kind of dog is it?
1. In October, 2004, the province of Ontario, Canada announced that it
would ban pit bull dogs. When the law passed it became illegal to 2. Are you afraid of any kind of dog? If so, what
own, buy, sell, breed, or import this kind of dog. kind of dog scares you?

2. The law allowed people who currently owned pit bulls to keep 3. Have you ever been bitten by a dog?
their dogs, but only under very strict rules. These dogs had to be
muzzled and on leashes. New ownership was completely banned 4. Have you ever seen anyone attacked by a dog?
throughout the province. The law will also placed severe
5. Do you think that different breeds of dogs have
restrictions and penalties on irresponsible owners of all breeds.
different temperaments? Are some more gentle
Dog owners who break the new law may have to pay fines of and some more vicious?
$10,000 or spend up to six months in jail.

3. A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the

government to take this action. In one situation a man was attacked
by two pit bulls and it was necessary for the police to fire over a
dozen bullets before the attack stopped. According to Michael
Bryant, the Attorney General of Ontario, the man was “practically
eaten alive from the ankles up”. In another recent case, a three year
old child needed over 200 stitches to close the wounds he suffered
in a pit bull attack.

4. Before reaching its decision to ban pit bulls, the Ontario

government spent several months meeting with different groups on
opposite sides of the debate. Since the government made its
announcement, there has been mixed reaction among the people of
Ontario. Many people were delighted with the law. However, pit
bull owners as well as many other dog owners were not happy. They COMPREHENSION ✍
believed that the problem was not the breed of dog. They say that
dogs only become vicious when they have irresponsible owners. 1. Why did the Ontario government decide to
ban pit bulls?
5. While Ontario was the first province in Canada to ban pit bulls,
some cities had already done so. In 1990, Winnipeg, Manitoba 2. What did current pit bull owners have to do?
became the first Canadian city to ban pit bulls. According to a
Winnipeg city official, the number of pit bull attacks decreased from 3. What will the punishment be for irresponsible
29 in 1989 to zero the following year. There are similar bans in dog owners?
France, Britain, and Germany.
4. What was the reaction to the law?
6. According to some studies that were done in the United States, pit
bulls make up only one to three percent of the overall dog population, 5. What other places have banned pit bulls?
but they cause more than fifty percent of all serious dog attacks.

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 Banning Pit Bulls
Mini-Debates

VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.

_____ 1. ban a. very happy

_____ 2. illegal b. now
_____ 3. import c. money paid as a penalty or punishment
_____ 4. currently d. very cruel, savage, wild
_____ 5. strict e. against the law
_____ 6. muzzle f. injury to the body, cut
_____ 7. leash g. not allow, forbid, prohibit
_____ 8. restrictions h. bring into the country
_____ 9. fine i. including everything, total
_____ 10. breed (noun) j. mouth cover to stop an animal from biting
_____ 11. stitches k. harsh, severe, hard DISCUSS IT
_____ 12. wound l. medical sewing to close a cut
Work with a partner or in small groups.
_____ 13. delighted m. limitations
Discuss the following questions.
_____ 14. vicious n. a leather strap for leading a dog
_____ 15. overall o. a kind of animal 1. Should dogs be allowed to run freely
(without a leash) in public parks?
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the
2. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the
following sentences.
dog owner should be punished?

1. He drove through a red light and had to pay a $100 ___________________ . 3. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the
2. When I cut my hand, I had to go to the hospital to get _________________ . dog should be destroyed?
3. I want to take the dog for a walk but first I must find the _______________ .
4. Do you think that any breed of dog can
4. Do you think the government should _______________________ smoking
become vicious if it is not properly cared
in all public places? for?
5. He was _______________________ when he learned that he had won the
lottery. 5. Do you think that it should be against the
law to own any kind of dangerous pet? (ex.
snakes, spiders, etc.)
DEBATE IT
6. Do you think that letter carriers should have
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will
to deliver the mail to a home if there is a
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten
minutes to prepare your arguments. dangerous dog present?

Topic #1: WRITE IT ✍

All dogs must be kept on a leash in all public places within the city.
Choose one of the questions above and write
Topic #2: a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Pit bulls are a vicious breed and should be banned from our city.

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 Teachers’ Notes
Banning Pit Bulls

ANSWER KEY

Please note:
The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4).

Comprehension:

1. A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the government to take this action.
2. Owners have to keep their dogs muzzled and on leashes.
3. Pitt bull owners who do not abide by the new laws may have to pay fines of $10,000 or spend up to six
months in jail.
4. There was mixed reaction among the people of Ontario. Many people were delighted with the new law. How-
ever, pit bull owners as well as many other dog owners were not happy.
5. There are similar bans in France, Britain, and Germany, as well as Winnipeg, Canada.

Vocabulary:

A. Match the words

1. g 2. e 3. h 4. b 5. k 6. j 7. n 8. m 9. c 10. o 11. l
12. f 13. a 14. d 15. i

B. Choose the correct word

1. fine 2. stitches 3. leash 4. ban 5. delighted

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 Teachers’ Notes
Banning Pit Bulls

Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating

Agreeing and Disagreeing Expressing an Opinion

•That doesn’t take away from the fact that... •In my honest opinion...
•That’s beside the point. •It is my belief that...
•With all due respect... •From my experience...
•I agree with you there. •From where I look at it...
•I agree with ---- (name). •From my point of view...
•I see your point, but...
•That may be true, but...
•We’re going to have to agree to disagree. Clarifying/Rephrasing
•I get/see where you’re coming from, but... •Let’s be clear here...
•I’m afraid I disagree entirely. •I think you misunderstood what I said.
•I’m afraid I’d have to disagree. What I said was... (repeat a point that
•I agree to some extent, but... was misunderstood or confused)
•I disagree with you there. •What I meant to say was... (rephrase
•Pardon me for disagreeing, but ... something in a way that is clearer)
•In other words...
•What I was trying to say before I was
Interrupting/Asking to Contribute interrupted is that...
•I hate to interrupt, but...
•If I may come in here...
•I’d like to add something. Summarizing/Concluding
•Would you like to contribute something? •So let me get this straight, you think...
•I’d like to raise a point. •To conclude...
•If I could speak for a moment... •I’d just like to summarize by saying...
•I’d like to cut in here. •Finally, I’d like to reiterate that...
•You haven’t answered my question. •It’s time to take stock of what we’ve heard today.
•Both sides have some valid points.
•The stronger argument/team today is...
Persuading
•Can you see where I’m coming from?
•I challenge you to give this a try/chance.
•I want you to see it my way.
•Put yourself in my shoes.
•Am I getting through to you?

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 Banning Pit Bulls
Mini-Debates

Banning Pitbulls

1.In October, 2004, the province of Ontario, Canada announced that it plans to ban pit bull dogs. According to the
new law, it will be illegal to own, buy, sell, breed, or import this kind of dog.

2.The new law will allow people who currently own pit bulls to keep their dogs, but only under very strict rules.
These dogs will have to be muzzled and on leashes. New ownership will be completely banned throughout the
province. The law will also place severe restrictions and penalties on irresponsible owners of all breeds. Dog
owners who break the new law may have to pay fines of $10,000 or spend up to six months in jail.

3.A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the government to take this action. In one situation a
man was attacked by two pit bulls and it was necessary for the police to fire over a dozen bullets before the at-
tack stopped. According to Michael Bryant, the Attorney General of Ontario, the man was “practically eaten
alive from the ankles up”. In another recent case, a three year old child needed over 200 stitches to close the
wounds he suffered in a pit bull attack.

4.Before reaching its decision to ban pit bulls, the Ontario government spent several months meeting with different
groups on opposite sides of the debate. Since the government made its announcement, there has been mixed re-
action among the people of Ontario. Many people are delighted with the new law. However, pit bull owners as
well as many other dog owners are not happy. They believe that the problem is not the breed of dog. They think
that dogs only become vicious when they have irresponsible owners.

5.While Ontario will be the first province in Canada to ban pit bulls, some cities have already done so. In 1990,
Winnipeg, Manitoba became the first Canadian city to ban pit bulls. According to a Winnipeg city official, the
number of pit bull attacks has decreased from 29 in 1989 to zero this year. There are similar bans in France,
Britain, and Germany.

6.According to some studies that were done in the United States, pit bulls make up only one to three percent of the
overall dog population, but they cause more than fifty percent of all serious dog attacks.

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms. 5