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2007 was a tough year to be
a pit bull. Not that any other year isn't tough enough.
Did you know that the average pit bull doesn't not make
it to its second birthday? I say average because I
hate to use the word "typical". Most pit bulls don't get
the luxury of living in a home with caring owners that
provide regular vet care. Many pit bulls are
purchased on a whim (like many purebreds) but are
quickly discarded as their owners find life with a pit
can be difficult and they can be discriminated against.
It's hard to find housing that allows the breed,
homeowner's insurance companies discriminate against the
breed and municipalities are trying to ban the breed
altogether. There are so few dogs on these adoption
pages because people just don't want to adopt pit bulls
nor do they want to foster pit bulls.
Even in this year of Michael
Vick, when people started realizing that the dogs are
the victims, it's still hard. It's not the
dog but the monster on the other end of the leash
that's the problem. Maybe people are starting to get
that picture. Sure there are bad dogs, there are bad
dogs in every breed but these bad dogs are a product of
abuse or bad breeding in the self fulfilling prophecy
that comes with hatred and discrimination. The
more people persecute the breed, the more undesirable
people will be drawn to the breed and the more un
desirable candidates within the breed will be bred for
even more undesirable outcomes.
In the right hands,
responsibly owned and responsibly bred (though I take
issue with breeding while the breed is in crisis) and
responsibly rescued this breed compares to no other in
its loving nature and loyalty to family. The
American Pit Bull Terrier and its close cousins (The
American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull
Terrier) are the ultimate family dog. They want
nothing more than to be in close companionship with
their families and thrive on love and affection.
Here's hoping for a
better 2008 for the "pit bulls" |
