| Rissa Writes: IN BLUE (My responses in Red)
You hate pit bulls? Yes, is there some unwritten rule that I have to love all dogs? I was bitten by a St. Bernard as a child, still bear the scars from that bite on my forearm too. DO I hate St. Bernards? No, why not? Because they aren't a breed bred to be vicious, and generally are huge friendly fluff balls.
I knew that dog, had even played with him several times. I found out after the bite that the neighborhood kids had been tormenting him recently. The owners were wrong for placing a sign "All deliveries to the side door please" with an arrow pointing to the garage door. I was delivering papers. Walking to the garage door the St. Bernard came flying out at me, unannounced, unprovoked and completely horrifying - a scene straight out of "Cujo" if ever there was one! All I had time to do was throw my arm up in front of my face. The dog clamped its teeth around my forearm and we both fell to the ground! I hit him on the head once and yelled and he let go. A pitbull would NOT have let go - no matter how much it was hit or yelled at. Why? Because someone doesn’t know how to socialize and train their dog? Yes, exactly, as I noted previously, in my second post. I think I recognized in my second post that animals can be a product of their environment and training, but they are also a product of their genetic makeup. Pitbulls are geneticly designed to fight other animals, hunt other animals and hang on until their opponent is dead or else they themselves die trying. I’m sorry that happen to you, but it could of just as easily been a Black Labrador or a Golden Retriever. Labradors are bred to retreive and hold onto dead animals but not puncture the carcass, poodles are bred for retreiving, rescue, pointing and show - no killing, or vice like jaws involved there. Surely you are not going to compare the bite of say a toy poodle or even a standard poodle to the bite of a pitbull? ANY dog can be a bad dog. It depends on who owns them. I’ve met my share of nasty, foul tempered dog aggressive Labs.I've met my share of nasty, foul tempered aggressive people and more of those types own pitbulls than they do Labradors! Those same people are the ones that are proud of the fact that they own a dog with a reputation for killing and they relish any chance they can get to prove how nasty or tough their dog is. Tires and big ropes hanging from trees aren't always for the kid's entertainment! The only dog bites I’ve ever GOTTEN are from a Black Lab. Too bad for you, its a shame, but again I say the Lab isn't a breed bred for "locking Jaws"; whereas the pitbull is not only bred for locking jaws, but tenacity, stubborness, high tolerance for pain and jaw muscles twice as massive as any other breed. I spent a good three years of my life working for a Pit Bull rescue. I get the impression you don't work there still. If pits were such wonderful dogs then why do they get such a bad rap? The breed originated in the past when bull fights and dog fights were legal, accepted entertainment, when boar fighting and bull baiting was a sport. Their time is passed. More enlightened people recognize that such sport is barbaric. Any pitbulls used in such sport are NOT suitable for rehabbing into a social situation and are routinely euthanatized. Dogs will do what is natural to them unless they are taught otherwise - hounds run, bassets snoop, terriers frantically search for small critters, pomeranians yap and seek approval, Rotts are protective. All the various breeds were designed and genetically mapped for specific traights and purposes. Specialized training brings out the breed's best. Lack of training allows the breed's genetics to rule the dog's actions. Blame the deed, not the breed. I don't HAVE to like any particular breed, and yes, I CAN blame the breed. You cannot lay blame upon a deed because the deed was the action of the animal of a specific breed itself - a DEED can carry no blame. Of all the dogs at that store durimg that visit, the only dog that got loose from its handler and attacked, yes attacked, not just Josie the ferret, but also the elderly lady kneeling down visiting with Josie ( remember the dog knocked her over to get to Josie)was a PITBULL! Sure other dogs tugged at their leashes and several times I scooped Josie up off the floor to take temptation out of the way - but the ONLY dog that asserted its breed's characteristics to ignore confinement and attempt to make a kill (and I have no doubt in my mind that had that dog been successful in latching its jaws onto Josie that a kill would have been the outcome) WAS A PITBULL! It has nothing to do with them, and everything on how they are raised and trained. So you think that I as a responsible animal owner should be accepting of the fact that a pitbull could get loose from its owner and wreak havoc with my pet(s) and not be upset with the animal itself? Or the breed as a whole? And that I should undertake it upon myself to forgive such unacceptable behavior because the animal belongs to ignorant people? NOT on your life! I know of several Pitbulls that WERE raised and trained and socialized by responsible people, but when they matured the pitbulls mauled young family members and sometimes killed family pets and even one that turned on its owner! They are a breed that cannot be trusted. PERIOD! You think JUST because it was a Pit Bull it was dangerous and did what it did? It couldn't be a mutt or a "friendly" breed? YES! As I mentioned before, there were many other dogs there at that store during that visit. The PITBULL was the only one that broke away from its handler and attacked. Sure several of the other dogs showed extreme curiosity. The Dachsund obviously would have given a good chase. The pug wanted a friendly romp. The Yellow lab thought what a cool squeak toy, as did the black lab. The Yorkie spun circles with excitement. The Chihuahua just froze and shivered. But ONLY the PITBULL attacked! I guess you hate me, since I'm "pit bull people". That sentence is typical of a pitbull owner trying to bait an argument. Please, strive for a higher existence. You can chose to adore whatever breed of dog you like. I choose to abhor the pitbull. I refuse to get dragged into an argument about which breed of dog bites more often. There are so many more NICE breeds of dogs out there that haven't been bred to kill. Lets face it Ferrets were bred to kill when first domesticated. They were bred to kill rodents, rabbits and vermin. But now that we have other means of controling those populations the domestic ferret is being bred as a companion animal. DO they still retain their innate hunt and capture abilities? Certainly! That can be seen in their antics when playing and ambushing their friends. How many people have you run into as a ferret owner where the person has said they "heard" that ferrets were vicious and stank and bit all the time? I'd be willing to bet that your pat answer, like mine is, well the ferret's behavior depends on the handling the owner gives it. I am NOT an ignorant person. ANY animal will be a reflection of its upbringing. But ALL animals also reflect their genetic makeup! I'd rather be bitten by a ferret than a Pitbull ANY day! I don't have to worry about taking my ferret out in public that she'll get loose and attack another animal or person. Breeders of pitbulls haven't changed their breeding tactics- they are still breeding for fighting dogs - not companion dogs. I have a friend who's dog is a cross of Wemeraner, Boxer, pitbull and german shorthaired pointer. The dog has the white markings of the boxer, the liver color of the German Shorthair, the long body and legs of the Weimeraner, but that unmistakable head of the pitbull. She recently moved into a small retirement community that has rules against pitbulls. So she listed the dog as a Weimeraner cross. Many of the residents there think he is a chocolate lab cross. IF the pit bull was such a wonderful breed then owners wouldn't go to great lengths to hide the fact their dog is a cross of such a breed! I know of another lady with a rescued lost dog that is obviously a pitbull/black lab cross. She passes him off as a rott/lab cross. But he has already shown his disdain for children and strangers to the point where her grandchildren won't get out of their parent's car when visiting if that dog is out! And this lady has a range of dogs including Corgis, Giant Schnauzers, hounds, and terriers! The ONLY dog that even remotely shows aggression is the pitbull cross! So you go right ahead and stand up for a breed that serves NO true purpose except to intimidate, brutalize, maime and kill; I on the other hand will continue to speak against them! That is what is known as FREEDOM of SPEECH! Cweb and Slappy, Interesting that you feel I was wrong for admonishing the badly behaving child and that it was somehow my responsibility to then teach that child the proper way to interact with a ferret. Its all well and good to sit at a desk and direct from an easy chair. I wonder were you in the same situation, would you have "taught" that child. Let's see: The child was definitely old enough to know better than to wave her hands and flash her fingers in the face of ANY animal - I'd say her age was around 10 to 12 years old. SHe had a younger friend or sibling with her that was nice enough to keep HER hands to her sides! The children had left their parent's side and chose to follow me and Josie up and down a couple aisles as we shopped. Now I realize that when Josie is out and about with me and dressed in her outfits she is absolutely adorable and irresistable to many people. Kids especially. But most have a parent in tow and the parent usually has the child ask if they can pet Josie, or they have the child hust look and not touch. IF it is o.k. wiht the parent and the child has asked, I ask then if the child can sit still so Josie goes up to them. Josie has met many cjildren in this fashion. If the child is very young ( less than 5) I will hold Josie and let them stroke her back. This prevents Josie from getting squashed and eases the parent's worries that Josie may nibble, while still allowing the child to explore the Ferret a little. Now this older child came directly up to Josie and started flashing her hands in front of her. Josie ignored her and kept exdploring the store shelves of pet toys. The girl continued and then grabbed a hold of Josie's leash. At which point I told her not to do that, Let go and scooped Josie into my arms away from her. This did not deterr the brat and she kept flashing her fingers in Josie's face! That's when I'd had enough and admonished her. And sent her packing. I WILL and HAVE spent time with children who are obviously willing to learn how to interact with a ferret properly, but I am NOT and will NOT be responsible to teach each and every child! I have already raised my own child I don't need to parent every child I encounter. Some kids will never learn how to behave towards an animal - those are the kinds of kids that need to leave animals alone. I did the responsible thing - kept my pet safe, prevented my pet from feeling the need to protect or defend itself, which may have resulted in a well deserved bite, against that bratty child AND I sent the brat away with a scolding. Maybe the next time that kid encounters someone else's pet she will think twice about how to approach the animal as well as the handler! She certainly left us alone while we finished our shopping! The underlying theme I see in these remarks is that for some reason I shouldn't let the poor actions and reactions of other people and their animals bother me. I should somehow make up for their irresponsible behavior and take it upon myself to educate them. Good grief! Just when will people take responsibility for their OWN actions and the actions of their OWN children and pets? I'll tell you when: When people like me speak up! When people like me with well mannered children and pets go out in public and PROVE that children and pets CAN be well mannered! When people like me INSIST that other pets and children behave themselves too!
Josie made me do it! I had to build this just for her! www.vanityferret.com [ ]
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