banning-pitbulls.pdf

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Banning Pitbulls


BANNING PITBULLS

PRE-READING QUESTIONS

1. Do you have a dog? If so, what kind of dog is it?

2. Are you afraid of any kind of dog? If so, what kind of dog scares you?

3. Have you ever been bitten by a dog?

4. Have you ever seen anyone attacked by a dog?

5. Do you think that different breeds of dogs have different temperaments? Are some more gentle and some

more vicious?

Banning Pitbulls

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.

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.

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.

Before reaching its decision to ban pit bulls, the Ontario government spent several months meeting with differ-ent 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 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.

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.

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.


ESL Lesson Plans - Mini-Debates - Banning Pit Bulls


COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Why did the Ontario government decide to ban pit bulls? 2. What will current pit bull owners have to do? 3. What will the punishment be for irresponsible dog owners?4. What has the reaction been to the governments plan?5. What other places have banned pit bulls?

VOCABULARY REVIEWA. 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 _____ 12. wound l. medical sewing to close a cut_____ 13. delighted m. limitations_____ 14. vicious n. a leather strap for leading a dog_____ 15. overall o. a kind of animal

B. Choose the correct word from the left column above to complete the following sentences.1. He drove through a red light and had to pay a $100 _______________________ .2. When I cut my hand, I had to go to the hospital to get _______________________ .3. I want to take the dog for a walk but first I must find the _______________________ .4. Do you think the government should _______________________ smoking in all public places?5. He was _______________________ when he learned that he had won the lottery.



DISCUSS IT

Work with a partner or in small groups. Discuss the following questions.

1. Should dogs be allowed to run freely (without a leash) in public parks?

2. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the dog owner should be punished?

3. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the dog should be destroyed?

4. Do you think that any breed of dog can become vicious if it is not properly cared for?

5. Do you think that it should be against the law to own any kind of dangerous pet? (ex. snakes, spiders, etc.)

6. Do you think that letter carriers should have to deliver the mail to a home if there is a dangerous dog

present?

WRITE IT

Choose one of the questions above and write a paragraph stating your own opinion.

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DEBATE IT

Below are three topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will tell you if you will be debating

for or against the idea. You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments. (Your teacher will explain

the rules of debate before you begin.)

Topic #1:

All dogs must be kept on a leash in all public places within the city.

Topic #2:

Pit bulls are a vicious breed and should be banned from our city.

Notes:

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Answers:

Comprehension:

1. A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the government to take this action.2. Owners will 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 has been mixed reaction 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.5. There are similar bans in France, Britain, and Germany, as well as Winnipeg Canada.

Vocabulary:A.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. 1. fine 2. stitches 3. leash 4. ban 5. delighted


CoverPre-ReadingReadingComprehension & VocabDiscussion & WritingDebates

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banning-pitbulls.pdf