I sent out THREE Letters to the Editor to The Monitor, The Brownsville Herald and the Valley Morning Star. The following is what I sent them:
Letter To The Editor:
The recent stories appearing in the newspaper and the news media about pit bull attacks has compelled me to write this letter in an effort to inform the general public about the complexities of this often misunderstood breed. I write this letter not only as a dog lover, and dog owner, but also as a dedicated and knowledgeable dog professional. I have met, trained, and interacted with hundreds of pit bulls and pit bull mixes both in New York where I graduated from college and here in Texas.
Many people are intent to persuade the public that pit bulls are not only innately aggressive but almost solely owned by people wanting an aggressive breed of dog who are more willing to encourage this negative behavior. The original pit fighting dogs were known for their aggressiveness towards other dogs but never toward their human masters. In the days of dog-fighting any dog who tried to attack a human handler was immediately “culled” or put to death because they would be of no use if they were aggressive toward their human trainers and handlers. Pit bulls were never bred to be aggressive towards humans but because they were bred to be aggressive and willing fighters (as far back as the time when they were used for bull-baiting), in the wrong hands certain traits may be magnified.
The idea of nature versus nurture is a very common one in this debate and pit bull fanciers will argue that it is not the four-legged beast but rather the two-legged one that is to blame for the breed’s negative image. In the wrong hands almost any breed could be deemed dangerous if handled poorly over a significant amount of time. Many believe the solution to the “pit bull problem” is to simply ban the pit bull breed(s) altogether. The most blatant problem with “Breed Specific Legislation”, which means legislative restrictions placed on the right to own specific breeds, is that it does not take into account the owner’s responsibility for the dog or the individual temperament of each dog. Nearly every city in the United States has some sort of legislation in effect that holds the owner responsible if their dog attacks or bites someone. Therefore, the solution is to enforce the laws that are already in place. Other proposed solutions are requiring new dog owners to complete introductory classes or attend seminars that promote proper canine care and more specifically, classes that outline responsible dog ownership.
Is owning and raising a pit bull a bigger responsibility than owning a different breed of dog? Absolutely. Not only do you have a large, muscular, powerful, high energy dog to train and socialize, but you also have to be very aware that your dog is not going to be liked by everyone, and even hated by some. If you own a pit bull (or any powerful breed) it is up to you to take proper precautions to ensure your dog is a well-behaved member of our community. Sign you and your dog up for a positive-reinforcement based training class, take him out on daily walks not only to exercise him, but to socialize him to various sights, sounds, dogs, and people. Raise your dog with the idea that he is a valued and cherished member of your family and he will behave like one.
Respectfully Submitted
Did I mention they don’t publish/accept anything longer than 300 words? Yea, it’s 561.
