It seems like about every other month, we see a report of an attack on someone by a “pit bull.” I use the term “pit bull” with the understanding that it is a generic term under which several breeds, including Staffordshire Terrier and American Bulldog, are lumped. The owners of the pit bull usually have the same thing to say — basically, something along the lines of, “I don’t know how it happened. Until Sparky mauled the neighbor’s kid, he was such a sweet dog.”
My question to the owners of the dog — and to our lawmakers — is, “Where’s the mystery?”
The neighbor’s kid got mauled because the pit bull’s owners chose a dog for a pet that was originally bred for fighting — for strength, courage and, yes, aggression.
I empathize with people who are responsible, well-informed pet owners. I would like to think they are in the majority, but observation indicates that is not the case. The sad truth is that most people who adopt a dog of any kind have little or no idea how to properly train and care for it. And it’s sadder still because it’s always the animal that suffers.
It takes an intelligent, well-informed pet owner to recognize the types and early signs of aggression and take the necessary steps to counteract them. High energy and potentially aggressive dogs require early and ongoing training to become and remain well-socialized.
The truth is that the general populace can’t be counted on for responsible behavior. If that were the case, we wouldn’t need police departments and jails.
But when someone chooses a pit bull for a pet, there is an unspoken underlying motivation.
The actress Tippi Hedren maintains a wildlife sanctuary in California because people buy and attempt to keep lions, tigers and a host of other dangerous animals, only to find later that, mysteriously, they don’t make good pets. The state of Florida recently had a python roundup because people attempt to keep large constrictors for pets and later find that they’re difficult to handle and set them free.
As I write this, my neighborhood is blissfully quiet. Sadly, this is not always the case. Apparently, if you live out in the country, you must own the largest, loudest and most aggressive dog available. Most of my neighbors have more than one. I’m not sure why. As far as I know, there aren’t a lot of break-ins out here.
The conclusion I’ve come to is that some people want to own monsters. I’ll bet that if a dog breeder could offer a dog that featured the full-time lycanthrope transmutation feature, the line for getting one would be a long one. And my neighbors would be in front.
I don’t think outlawing pit bulls is the way to go. As an example, I drive a pickup truck. To properly use the truck, I know I have to keep tie straps and other devices to make sure my load is secure. If something I’m carrying falls out of the bed of my truck, I know I’m liable for it. There are fines and jail time if I don’t take responsibility for my actions.
There should be stronger laws on the books governing attacks by aggressive dogs, and stiff penalties to go with them for the owners of the dogs. And they should be strictly enforced. When people start seeing dog owners go to jail for irresponsible behavior, they’ll start thinking twice about keeping a potentially dangerous animal for a pet.
Steve Anderson, a carpenter, lives in Dallas, Ga.