There’s been so much said, reported and written about ferocious, vicious, blood-hungry pit bulls lately that I feel it my civic duty to weigh in on such an important issue. Pit Bulls are just that - ferocious, vicious and blood-hungry – if raised to be such. But guess what, so are Rotties, German Shepherds, Dobermans, and yes, even Cocker Spaniels. I was chased up a pine tree – with a trunk thinner than my thigh - once by a St. Bernard with the biggest damn teeth I have ever seen in my life. (can you say Cujo?)
Children can and should be raised with love, understanding, patience and attention and they grow to reflect those traits - more often than not. Same thing works with dogs. Raise them with love, understanding, patience and attention and more often than not they grow to reflect those traits.
But as there are children raised in loving environments who later in life do not reflect their upbringing, so are there with dogs. Ever see or read Lord of the Flies? Hello??!!
I am NOT a pit bull expert by any stretch of the imagination. Not by a long shot. And I am not waving a flag that this breed is for everyone. But if you are going to have an opinion about anything people – have an informed one. Don’t believe everything you read and hear in the news. Anyone with half a brain knows how the truth can be distorted in our “non-biased” US media circus.
I am sharing the following with you from my gut, my personal experience and from my heart.
I am told there are two classes or types of breeds of pit bulls. Those with ‘game’ and those without ‘game.’ My limited understanding is that game pits are more aggressive and are more inclined to engage aggressively with other animals (specifically dogs) than non-game pits. My husband always - ALWAYS - told me that we would never own a pit bull that was game. That he would “put it down” because that is not a trait he wants to perpetuate in the breed. Again – this is his/our personal opinion. Not one shared by all pit bull owners.
We’ve had three pit bulls in our marriage. In fact my husband had a house, a truck and a pit bull named Vice Grip when I married him. It was a package deal. And when we married I had the same misconceptions and biases against pit bulls that most people do. Until I lived with one, then two and now three.
And do NOT misunderstand me. Pits are a breed unto themselves. They were bred for fighting. This is their nature – this cannot be disputed. But they were originally bred for fighting other dogs. Not people. These dogs are ONLY for informed, educated, and loving owners – people such as my hubby.
But really folks - shouldn’t all pet owners make the effort to clearly understand the nature of their pets???
Once, our Vice Grip escaped through the open garage door, ran across the street, and engaged (in what Vice Grip considered play) another dog being walked by its mortified owner.
My hubby had ALWAYS told me that when the dog was “in the pit” fighting, that the referee (or whatever they call them) could put his hands/body between the fighting dogs – to disengage them and the dogs would not hurt the person. I had never tested this assertion before. Nor did I ever plan to. But in this instance I had no choice.
I told the other dog owner – as I ran up – “I am going to grab my dog (by the collar). When I do, pull yours away (by the leash).” And by faith alone, I grabbed Vice Grip, pulled – not even so hard, and he was immediately docile at my side. Never saw the neighbor again, but this is how I was told it should be – and this is how it was.
Years later I held Vice Grip in my arms as the vet put him down. He got off his chain and lost a battle with either a car or a neighbor’s cow. I wept as if I would never stop. Even bloody, injured and dying, that dog would not/did not in any way show aggression towards me. Only love and loyalty.
And I don’t know if our pits were unique or anything – but they really had no concept they were dogs. They sincerely believed they were people and when we actually treated them like dogs – it was a serious affront to their canine dignity.
Pits also have no concept of their size or weight or strength. Which unfortunately leads to many of today’s common misconceptions. Dixie Cup Cole climbed into my lap to watch TV when she was 65 pounds as she did when she was 6.5 pounds. Made her no nevermind. My lap was where she should be – therefore that’s where she went. She did the same to our kids – much to their chagrin and mashed little bodies. They quickly learned how to share the recliner with her and not be her pillow.
We don’t have any pit bulls now.
we had Dixie Cup Cole since she was a baby. This past January 1, she turned one. she was beautiful. gorgeous. green eyes, red nose. awesome combination. and as docile with the kids as you could ever ask for from any dog. Played rough with them when they initiated the activity. but never EVER showed any aggression toward them. Just active rough and tumble play.
Dixie and Savvy when Dix was about 10 weeks old
If you read this blog you already know - I can hardly take care of myself most days lately. I struggle to handle the kids. the house is a wreck. Taking care of the dog was just over the top. Neither David nor I could spend enough time with her to justify having such a physically STRONG dog around our kids. She could really hurt them just playing with them. Not with her BIG teeth or razor-sharp claws. But I’d be willing to bet she could’ve literally pulled all three of them – at the same time - by her leash the length of our seven acres and back without breaking a sweat.
So about the time we decided to move back to the city, we decided to move Dixie out too. Hubby was reminded that his nephew in Mississippi LOVED and respected pits and had a few. So he called and his Nephew was THRILLED to have our baby girl - especially with her papers and excellent blood line. Not to brag, but Dixie was a $1K puppy that was given to us from a dear friend when our last pit puppy BB was accidentally run over.
Nephew got her on Monday. took her straight to the vet. played with her all day - took her to work with him each day. Loved on her - reassured her that all was well in her new home and that she would be just fine. He said she was skittish at first in her new home but he was willing to do whatever was necessary to help her make the adjustment. Only yesterday afternoon, my daughter Savvy went over and played with her. A friendly, familiar face for our Dixie must have been a welcome relief.
but last night - while she was outside on her chain – hubby’s uncles dog's (not nephews other pits) attacked and killed Dixie. Nephew heard the commotion. ran out. Dixie was already down, but still alive. he wrapped her up. rushed her to the vet but he could not save her.
The dogs that killed her – pit bulls. Pure bred. With game. “Outside dogs” that rarely, if ever, were given the dedicated love and attention they required.
I would be willing to bet – and it tears my heart to pieces – that Dixie didn’t even put up much of a fight. She was always submissive to other dogs here. Always. I can just imagine her not understanding why these dogs were hurting her.
Sam is devastated it. it hurt her heart bad enough just to send Dixie to Miss. Hubby worked out this great story about how she (Dixie) wanted to be a Mommy dog and that Nephew had the Daddy dog and they would be Husband and Wife dogs and have Baby dogs. Sam still did not like it, but the thought of the happy dog family placated her well.
now there will be no happy dog family. There is no happy family at my house either.
i know it's just a damn dog.
but it's not either.
the night before she left us, hubby bathed her and that 65 lb 'puppy' slept in bed with us just like one of the kids. under the covers, head on the pillow. we never let her do this - was just hubby’s way of saying good bye. neither of us realized it would be so permanent.
I may never change anyone’s opinions about pit bulls.
And that’s not really my intent.
My opinion was changed. our baby is gone. that’s really all that matters in my house.
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