“There are no bad dogs, only bad owners.”
- Unknown
Keep an eye on the blog this week! On Friday, I’m posting a complete update on the Campaign to End BSL: number of postcards, updated link library, donations, how many are printed (and how many are left to print), next action items! Whew! There’s a ton, but I couldn’t do it without your help!
Haven’t made your postcard yet? It’s not too late! Check out the campaign page for full information!
Adorable image: Hotash
But what about the pitbulls that really do attack dogs? Here’s some pics from a pitbull attack at a nice friendly park http://www.chubbystud.com/ Chubbas been going there for years,… And no, the dog didn’t deserve it. Nor was this the 1st time we’ve seen a pit bull make another dog a victim. Horrible thing about it, the owner said it happened because he had his balls. I love pits, but there has to be something to prevent the psycho ones from reproducing.
I’m sorry that happened to Chubbas. That’s a horrible experience that no dog owner should have to go through, and I’m relieved to find on your site that he’s doing well.
Where the problem comes in, though, is when we blame dogs instead of owners. All dogs can bite; socialized, well-adjusted dogs choose not to bite. It’s up to dog owners to be responsible enough to spay and neuter our pets, train them, socialize them, teach them what the rules of our oh-so-human society are. Dogs aren’t born knowing that “sit” means plant your butt, right? We have to teach them that. Dog owners have to step up and be responsible for their dog’s behavior. Blaming the dog lets the irresponsible owners off the hook. Instead of focusing on preventing the bad apples from reproducing, something totally out of the dog’s control, we need to focus on holding people responsible.
Hi Chubs!
Also remember that dogs are individuals. And that pit bulls are not the only dogs that can attack. My 20 pound rat terrier was attacked by a 110 pound Shepherd mix. It was a horrifying experience but I didn’t blame the breed. I blamed the irresponsible owner who allowed his 9 year old son to hold the leash of a 110 pound dog.
I personally wish all pit bull owners would keep their dogs out of dog parks. Not because they’re vicious. (Many are VERY dog friendly.) But because if something happens, the pit bull will ALWAYS be blamed and it’s just another black mark against them. Bully owners have an uphill battle as it is. We don’t need others making it worse.
I agree it’s the owner, not the dog. My neighborhood unfortunately has an abundance of pit bulls that get out and run loose and can be aggressive. I do blame the owners, not the breed. There are also other breeds of dogs in my neighborhood that run loose, and can be aggressive too.