Posted on 06/01/2009 12:36:43 AM PDT by JoeProBono
I’m sick of it. I’m sick of all the negative pit bull press. And I’m sick of the irresponsible owners who are causing it.
There is so much information that is never brought to light — were the dogs that recently attacked a Culpeper woman and her grandson purebred American Pit Bull Terriers? Were they mistreated? What were the other circumstances that surrounded the attack?
A gentleman by the name of Michael O’Reilly wrote a letter to the editor in Sunday’s Star-Exponent in regard to breed-specific discrimination. Part of his letter read, “While I don’t own a gun, I agree with the phrase ‘Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.’ This applies equally to dogs, horses, automobiles, motorcycles and hamburgers of any variety.”
Our daughter’s godfather, Bob, worked as an animal control officer before opening a business. There were many calls he answered stating there was a “pit bull” loose on someone’s property.
In answering the call, most times the dog was a not a pit bull. Other times, however, when it was a pit bull running around, it usually had been mistreated.
Our own pit bull, Kendra, was a rescue that Bob picked up; she was malnourished and full of ticks. Kendra has been a wonderful companion for us and our daughter over the past six years. She is “Mama’s Baby Girl.”
Last Wednesday, as I was coming out of the gym, I spotted a pit bull in the bed of a truck with landscaping materials. I am respectful of anyone’s dog, so I won’t pet it until I ask the owner.
But until the owner came out, I talked with the dog (yes, I’m that crazy lady), and she wagged her tail, all the time staying in the bed of the truck. I was joined by an employee of one of the other businesses, and we were both singing the praises of pit bulls while commiserating about irresponsible owners.
When the owner came out, we asked him if we could pet her. “Oh, yeah, she’s a sweet old lady; her name is Cinnamon.”
Cinnamon is 13 years old and just as precious as she can be. Of course, as a good owner should, he placed Cinnamon in the front of the truck so she could ride shotgun.
What I’m most disappointed in is the lack of positive press that these dogs receive.
Last year, I was at Richmond International Airport waiting for a flight when I spotted him — a gorgeous brown and white pit bull, working as a service dog. Respectfully, I asked his owner if I could pet him (as anyone should when approaching a service dog).
She told me it was no problem, and I sat on the floor and played with “Bicker Boy” until it was time for my flight. His owner volunteered the information that he was a “Seizure Alert/Response” dog, meaning that he responds when the handler has a seizure.
More positive press: A pit bull named “Popsicle” helped the Feds seize 3,075 pounds of cocaine at the Mexican border; it was the biggest drug bust ever at the Hidalgo, Texas, port of entry.
“Weela,” a pit bull, was Ken-L-Ration’s Dog Hero of the Year in 1993 for continuously crossing the flooded Tijuana River to bring food to 17 dogs and puppies and one cat, all stranded on an island. Each trip she pulled 30 to 50 pounds of dog food that had been loaded into a harnessed backpack.
If you have the chance, I would urge you to watch the show on National Geographic Channel called “Dogtown” featuring some of the rescued pit bulls from Michael Vick’s compound of terror. These dogs have gone through hell and back, and watching the rehabilitation has been fascinating. They have grown to trust again, against all odds.
To quote from an open letter to PETA from Sonnet Dashevskaya, an American Pit Bull Terrier supporter, “Please do not support the punishment of pit bulls for the sins of some of the unscrupulous people who own them.”
“A stray pit bull wandered into a northwest Las Vegas Valley convenience store and gas station this morning, attacking three people before Metro Police shot and killed the dog.
Two men and an 8-year-old girl were taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries after the attack that started shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, said Metro Officer Barbara Morgan. One of the men drove himself to the hospital, she said.
A clerk inside the Short Line Express in the 6600 block of Sky Pointe Drive, west of North Buffalo Drive, saw a man and his daughter on top of their vehicle trying to avoid the dog, then called 911, Morgan said.
The clerk told police that the man was bleeding from one of his legs, Morgan said.
When police arrived the pit bull had entered the convenience store, where three men were holding it down. The dog was biting one of the men’s forearms, so police shot the pit bull, Morgan said.
The pit bull had no tags or collar and the owner is unknown. Police plan to search for a microchip in the animal.”
“One Victim: 2,500 Stitches
UPDATE 05/05/09: The owner of the pit bull, Jason Benton, was not home when his dog attacked his whole family. He arrived about 20 minutes into the attack. Jason told the 911 dispatcher, “They have to hurry. One person is trapped inside, two others, my mom’s thumb was bitten off...and it bit my brother in the face and arm...his arm is almost gone.” Jason’s brother Derrick received 2,500 stitches and will continue to undergo reconstructive surgery for his injuries.
“PITTSBURGH - A pit bull owned by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has reportedly attacked the player’s young son, but police, hospital and team officials are releasing little information.
“We’re aware of the situation, but it’s a personal matter for James,” Burt Lauten, spokesman for the Super Bowl champions told The Associated Press. “We won’t be commenting further.”
An unidentified neighbor told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette one of the star player’s three dogs got loose Thursday and attacked the boy, James III. His age was not immediately available.”
“Pit bulls attack woman, kill dog
Two pit bulls attacked and injured a 79-year-old woman and killed her 7-pound Yorkshire Terrier on Saturday morning in the area of 4800 Bahama Shores Drive Southeast in St. Petersburg, police reported.
Elizabeth Nebbia told officers she attempted to protect her dog and was bitten on her hands and arms, a St. Petersburg Police Department report stated.
Animal Control officials found both pit bulls and placed them in quarantine. Police said they have not identified the owner.
~~~
Chet went to sleep...;0)
I don't blame him ;-}
I’m sure he needs his rest,,,
I’ll watch while he sleeps,,,
Got his own probs at his house I guess,,,
Somebody’s gotta watch the thugs next door around here,,,
Guard Duty for me,,,
Sit-Rep~~~ Dope dealin’ gone away since call #6 to cops,,,
Only got 1 litter in the house,2 adults,4 on chains in back.
16 total ? ,,,12? in the house?,,,
The rest are at their “other” house,,,
All on the taxpayers $$$...:0/
LOL,,,Dat Be Me I guess,,,
My yorkie don’t sleep much either,,,at night,,,
Watch Dawg ya’ know...;0)
I have always maintained that a person who takes responsibility for the training and socialization of any breed should be aware of the tendencies of that breed, and treat them accordingly. I happen to have a Welsh Corgi. He’s a herding dog, and always will be. I knew, from the git-go, that the dog would be a nipper, because that is how he herds, by nipping heels. He would not be aggressive, but the nipping heels would be a problem, especially around children. So Job #1 with that pup was training that nipping out of him. He doesn’t nip now, but if I have a bunch of kids running around in the back yard, looking like they need herding, the dog is on a leash at his master’s feet, just to be on the safe side.
The owner of a Pit Bull should also be aware of the breed’s tendency to aggression and should train and socialize the dog accordingly. I am sure it is possible to do this successfully. But, even so, a prudent owner will keep his dog out of situations that might trigger his negative behavior, such as wrestling around with other dogs. If there are a bunch of dogs running around the back yard, the Pit Bull’s place might best be on a leash, just to be on the safe side.
The problem, of course, is that many owners do not want to train or socialize the aggressive tendencies out of their Pit Bulls. Just the opposite, in fact. They want to build on the dog’s natural aggressiveness to make the dog violent and ready to attack on a moment’s notice. While this can be done with any breed, a Pit Bull will respond particularly “well” to this sort of training, and will become a very dangerous animal. It is the natural tendency of the breed, and many owners exploit this tendency for their own stupid reasons, often with tragic results.
We'll ask her “Mama”,,,Freeper Yorkie,,,
That's Harley's cyber-girl-friend FWIW,,,
They got chased in the house by 2 pit-mix? IIRC...
Morning Legs! I see Swiper is having a good time with GD#1.
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