“National Kill a Pit Bull Day” is a Hoax

A warning claims that some people are trying to turn October 31 into “National Kill a Pit Bull” Day.

It’s a hoax.

Let’s first take a look at the warning, which first circulated in 2012, reappeared in 2013, and is currently going around in 2014:

Warning!!

Don’t plan on your four legged friends walking around with you on Halloween this year.

KEEP ALL DOGS IN A LOCKED HOUSE

October 31 (Halloween Night) is trying to become National “Kill a Pit Bull Day”

Not only are Pit Bills part of this “Holiday”. Any breed is fair game. Especially, any look alike breeds

Terry Jordan, Yesterday

I’m here by announcing October 31 National kill a pitbull day. After you take the kids trick or treating keep your costume on and round up some friends and kill as many pitbulls as you can before midnight. Baseball bats, knives, bricks and poisons (a hotdog soaked in radiator fluid works well) are all suitable tools. Their owners like brag about there high threshold pain. So don’t worry them suffering they can take it. So remember to spread the word!
OCTOBER 31, 2013 NATIONAL KILL A PITBULL NIGHT

Examination of Facts

The name “Terry Jordan” appears to be used in reference to a city councilman in Missouri who earned the ire of local residents after he proposed a vicious animal ordinance. The message appears to have been created either out of sarcasm or revenge at Jordan regarding his involvement with the ordinance.

On September 17, 2012, Jordan’s office began lighting up with phone calls relating to the hoax. He told the Marshall Democrat-News, “We don’t know who posted it, and I don’t know how to stop it.” Two days later, Mayor Stephen Allegri spoke out regarding the internet rumor:

“Our Terry has been inundated and the city has been inundated with threats and calls. Well, Terry didn’t do this. Do your research people, this is not the man. We don’t know who he is, but it is an insult to us and it’s an insult to Terry, and I think the people that wrote these letters need to write letters of apology. Just because you read it on the Internet doesn’t make it true. There are over 4,000 Terry Jordans in this country.”

The city of Slater developed a pet ordinance which did not specify any dog breed, but during their research, pit bulls were researched, much to the chagrin of local pit bull owners.

Trend over Time

As you can see in the Google Trends report below, this story surged in September in both 2012 and 2013. We are receiving indications that it is picking up steam again in late September 2014.

Bottom Line

“National Pit Bull Day” is an urban legend. The hoax was likely created in response to a pet ordinance passed in Slater, Missouri in 2012. Some have expressed concern that the hoax may spur copycat behavior, but to date such behavior has been reported.

Sources

• Slater councilman feels wrath of false Internet post (Maggie Menderski, The Marshall Democrat-News: September 17, 2012)
• Slater mayor urges social media users to stop targeting councilman (Marcia Gorrell, The Marshall Democrat-News: September 19, 2012)

Updated September 28, 2014
Originally published September 2013