This past weekend, Emmett and I had two therapy dog events: his regular visit with the children residents of a mental health facility and a booth at our county’s annual fair. It was a weekend of reminders – reminders of why I write this blog, why I work with Emmett as a therapy dog, and why it’s so critically important for animals to have advocates.
Where do I even begin?
***
We arrived to the hospital early on Friday and hung out with some little girls in the waiting room. They patted Emmett, rubbed his belly, got high-fives, and squished him with big bear hugs.
Little girl: He’s so sweet! (pause) Until he turns on you.
She gave me this knowing look, a look that told me she knew dogs and knew that dogs would turn. That look broke my heart.
Me: Oh no! Emmett would never turn on you. He’s very well trained, he’s a therapy dog, he loves people, he’s well socialized. You can feel safe patting him!
Little girl: Well, my dog was really good, but one day she bit my fingers so my dad hit her head with a hammer so she died.
I wish with my whole entire being that I knew the right response. But I didn’t. My jaw dropped, my stomach sank, and I mumbled something about training, socialization, and exercise. Then we got called back for our pet therapy session, and I staggered away, gripping Emmett’s leash, saying a silent prayer for that little girl and that poor dog.
***
On Saturday, we went to the county fair. Emmett and I staffed a booth for our local humane association that was filled with educational materials, adoption promotion, and a lucky duck game for kids. The game was a big hit, and we were kept pretty busy doling out prizes. Most of the people who stopped to chat were polite and friendly and kindly asked if they could pat Emmett. A few people, though, proved why we were there…
One woman came over and said she never had her outdoor cat spayed because she thought it was unlikely she’d get pregnant. But just last night the cat came to the door with a kitten in her mouth. Then she went and got a second kitten. She birthed a litter of kittens, but those two were the only survivors. The woman wanted to know what she should do with the kittens and whether or not she should spay her cat.
Another woman reported that she knew that a man on her street hosted dog fights in his basement. She called the police – along with several other neighbors – but the police didn’t go into the house, just questioned the guy at his front door and left. She was afraid for her children’s safety – one of the guy’s dogs had gotten out one day and ripped around the neighborhood – and wanted to know if there was anyone to call other than the police.
Later, a man walked up to us and asked, “Is your dog a pit bull?” I gave him my spiel about “pit bull” being a generic term, Emmett was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, therapy dog, and all-around cuddle bug. The guy proceeds to tell me that he knows pit bulls have an unfair reputation because he has a pit bull, and she’s just the best dog he’s ever had. She’s great with his kids, and she loves to go for walks or nap on the couch.
I was smiling at this point. Finally! A happy story!
Then he says, “She’s so well trained I can sic her on anything, but now she’s killing all my neighborhood’s cats. How can I get her to stop killing cats?”
***
For every 10 people who stopped by the booth, we got at least one of those types of stores. It was aggravating and disheartening. The whole way home, I fumed. I was all ready to write this big huge blog post about how overwhelmed I was and how I didn’t know what the hell else to do.
And then somewhere along the way I remembered… duh… that that was exactly why Emmett and I were at that booth. To talk to those people. To help educate them and advocate for the animals who don’t have a voice. It’s why we visit those kids, to help instill compassion and understanding, and to help them understand just how much love can pour out of an animal you’re taking good care of.
So even though it was rough in the moment, we basically achieved the goals we set for participating in those types of events. And if I focus on that, then I can sleep so much better at night.
I’d love to hear from you. What messages of education or compassion or advocacy do you try to pass along to these types of folks? Any tips or words of wisdom for those of us who are passionate about animal welfare?
What a memory for that little girl to carry into here older years. Thanks dad 🙁
Good for you and Emmett to help change a few minds. That’s all you can do. Emmett sounds like a softie!
A pit bull owner in my neighborhood was obviously defensive about the breed’s reputation. I was walking my dog down the street when she chained her dog to the front steps, the dog easily reaching the sidewalk. I crossed the street with my dog because my dog doesn’t always respond friendly when she encounters another dog–no matter the breed. But this woman was offended and started yelling at me, that her dog was friendly and I had no reason to cross the street. It didn’t matter that I had a valid reason of my own.
Wow…that’s rough. My heart just breaks for that little girl. What a horrible thing to have in her heart and mind.
All you can do is touch one person at a time and try to change one mind at a time. You’re doing a good thing and hopefully something you said on Saturday to someone will stay with them. And that little something will make the world a better place for them and/or their pet.
My hope is that through my blog, I’ll slowly be able to change some minds. And by being the kind of dog Mayzie is, she’ll change some minds as well. It’s frustrating that we can’t change everyone and everything overnight, but all we can do is keep wading through it and hope that there are hearts and minds who get caught in our wake.
By the way, I thought I would share this blog with you from a Denver Post writer about pit bull bias in the media. I hope he continues to talk to others in his profession and helps turn the tide as well – one reporter at a time. http://blogs.denverpost.com/fetch/2010/07/18/the-media-takes-its-lumps-over-reporting-about-pit-bulls/
Amber
Peggy, That’s really frustrating!! I’m sure she’s gotten a lot of flak from other neighbors, but that’s no way to respond. Imagine if you had been scared of her dog. She missed a perfect educational opportunity!
Amber, I admire everything you’re doing with Mayzie, and she’s definitely the perfect ambassadog! Thanks for passing along that link – I’m going to email that reporter!!
Great post. I’ll hit you with a happy story, though. I recently drove up from NYC to help my mother coach a lacrosse clinic for young girls in Clayton, NY. I brought my puppy, who is 1/4 AmStaff, along, but I was worried for several reasons:
1) Clayton is very rural and consequently, many of the local dogs are unleashed, unsocialized “guard dogs.” If I was an eight-year-old girl in Clayton, I might be terrified of dogs in general.
2) Clayton is not NYC (where pitties are widely owned and accepted). In fact, it borders Ontario, Canada, where there is a pit bull ban and the accompanying anti-pittie hype.
3) My dog Holly has had some unpleasant interactions with the young girls in my neighborhood, who run, jump, flail, scream and scooter (yes, SCOOTER) through the dog park and then burst into flamboyant tears when my thus-excited puppy jumps on them.
When I brought Holly to the field, I had my cousin on hand, ready to take her away if things went badly. Right away, a parent asked if Holly was a pit bull. I babbled nervously through the whole “she’s a terrier/shepherd mix, part amstaff…blah, blah” speech. A young girl ran up to Holly. Holly jumped. “Oh, dear,” I thought.
But the girl laughed, backed calmly away, and asked Holly to sit. “Your dog is fun,” she said. “She’s beautiful,” the parent added. Amazingly, the Clayton girls, ages 8-14, would all have aced “Approaching Doggies 101.” They adored Holly and smothered her with affection all week. The parents remarked on how well-behaved she was (for a puppy). They suggested she should be the team mascot. One parent went even further. “We haven’t named the team yet,” he said. “We should be the Clayton Pit Bulls!”
We talk about dogs being breed ambassadors, but the kind, considerate people of Clayton, NY were human ambassadors. I came to town expecting the worst-case scenario and instead they showed me the best that we humans can offer our canine companions.
Thanks for sharing such a sweet story, Skye! You did such a huge service teaching those girls and their parents. And way to go, Holly!