I don’t have much when it comes to arrogance and ignorance.
A comment left anonymously on my blog yesterday was put there by someone who believes all pit bulls are BAD DOGS, maimers and killers and they were bred for nothing else. This person would like me to please stop condoning their rescue… and judging by the tone, perhaps their right to live.
Anonymous, you were referring to Millie, who is an American Bull Dog mix. Here is the description for that breed. – American Bulldogs are typically confident, social and active dogs that are at ease with their families. They bond strongly with their owners. Young American Bulldogs may be slightly aloof with strangers but as they mature the breed’s normal confidence should assert itself. This breed tolerates children and can do very well with them, provided they are socialized early and understand their limits. The more exposure to good training practices, other dogs and people, the more likely the success at being controlled both inside and outside of their environment.
I am going to assume, however, that you considered Millie to be a Pit Bull, judging by your nasty prejudice, of which this particular breed has unfairly suffered enough. The description for that breed is as follows:
The APBT is a breed that is loyal to friends and family, and is generally friendly towards strangers. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures, including deer and livestock ( natural prey drive). As with any dog breed, proper training and socialization at an early age is a must. According to the UKC, “aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed” The American Temperament Testing Society shows a pass percentage of 86% for American Pit Bull Terriers as opposed to the Golden Retriever with a temperament of 84.9% American Pit Bull Terriers generally have a lot of energy and benefit from exercise and stimulation to channel their energy properly and avoid becoming frustrated, bored, or destructive.
When choosing any breed for your home or family, it’s wise to heed good advice and find a breed of dog that fits your own situation.
As is the case with any dog, proper raising, handling, and training in most cases make for a very loyal and reliable companion. When cruel people enter the picture and torture these dogs to become something other than what they actually are, ( and certainly they PICK these breeds because of their strength) this is where the problems arise and a dog can snap. That doesn’t mean that dogs who have NOT been tortured aren’t capable of snapping, and that includes chihuahuas, cocker spaniels, poodles, schnauzers, golden retrievers, etc. etc. etc.
The funny thing about pit bulls, Anonymous?….. even when they HAVE been abused… so many of them are STILL the loyal family oriented dog that you see described above. Below you will see the proof, and these are just among a handful of wonderful people I’ve come to know.
A note from Hilary: Many years ago, I rescued a pit, her name was Chicki. We ended up calling her Chickiwu, and most often….Wu. She was my first pit bull. She showed me that in spite of the first horrible year of her life, that she spent in a crate, 24/7……that she still believed that there was love in the world. I think she set out to prove it. The only problem we ever had with her, was that with babies and all children, she wanted to lick them. I have fond memories of trying to do the NY Times Sunday crossword with her on my lap.
She ran across the road one day, a road that had about 10 cars a day, and was killed.
I cried for a year.
Her partner, another save, Eddie, was hit by the same vehicle……they were running side by side. He survived, but was so heartbroken, that he ate his tennis ball, had a bowel obstruction, and almost died.
Until his death two months ago, at the age of 14 and 1/2, he was loyal, loving, faithful, and true. He was a joy in our lives, that we will never forget. He never bit anyone in his whole life. When other dogs charged him, he wagged his tail until it was unavoidable that he had to defend himself.
Then there’s Roy. A big bundle of love. Who loves to ride in truck, go for walks, snuggle on the couch, sleep at your feet in the bed. He almost never barks, doesn’t destroy anything ever, doesn’t beg for food, smiles continuously, and loves hugs and kisses without end.
He is happy in the moment. He forgives, or forgets, that he was abandoned, and spent a year in a kennel. Today is his day. I will never have any other dog, but a pit. Their hearts are huge, their affection is unequaled.
Someone told me once, that a pit will be whatever you want him to be.
Enough said.
PS. I highly recommend this book……..Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know by Alexandra Horowitz
And Deborah’s story…
I own an American Staffordshire Terrier, one of the bully-breeds targeted by media and ignorant people. I purposely adopted a dog like this. I went purposely to a rescue and picked my adorable George.
I purposely adopted a dog like this. He is by far, the sweetest dog I’ve ever owned. Loyal beyond belief, loving, smart, his only want in his day is to please us.
Yet, I cannot believe, even from our own family, the ignorance and idiocy we’ve had to deal with.
I’ve heard that he’ll attack us in our sleep, he’ll turn on us when we least expect it. I can stick my hand in his food dish while he’s eating for crying out loud.
Let’s face it, this type of thinking is pervasive – towards some pets and certainly towards people.
We can help by living by example and putting the ignorance in a trash bag and tossing it in the garbage can outside where it belongs.
and…
My neighbors of many years have a granddaughter who is being raised on her parents horse farm with two pit bulls. They granted permission to use these pictures, because they, too, are disgusted with the prejudice. No more words needed here.. the pictures speak for themselves.
