I find it amazing that after so many years of the media cultivating a negative image for "Pit Bulls" that its amazing they are not banned everywhere. Since they tend to first splash the headlines of death and destruction. Only later following up with the true facts of the story. Long after it is on the front page for people to read and hear about. So what sticks in people's mind is the first thing. Since people rarely get past the headlines to the "back pages".
Such is the case in the sad story of the 12 year old boy killed in San Francisco June 3rd. Only now is it coming to the surface that earlier the male dog of the two had attacked the 12 year old and bitten him. Instead of the mother taking action then to remove the dog from her home. She instead evidently told her son to stay in the basement for fear of the dog attacking him again. While she went to run errands!?
Only to return home to find her son dead. Now no one can argue that this is a very tragic loss. But what sort of mother leaves her son home with a dog she knows from prior occurrence is dangerous. It does not matter the breed of the dog. If a Golden Retriever were to bite your son would you then leave him home with the dog alone?
Most sane people would be taking the dog with them to either have it put down or some other corrective action. But the other sad thing is that most people will never hear this news since it is not as catchy as the original story. Which makes me wonder about all the poor dogs mentioned in the original stories that weary owners dropped off at shelters the days following the tragedy. Would their owners have not done it if they had known these important details? I suppose many of those dogs have already been put down since most shelters do not even try to put pit bulls up for adoption. Especially in the wake of an event like this involving a pit bull in the same city.
I often think of bigotry and how it is perpetuated. Ignorance begets ignorance. There are so many myths about the dogs considered by most to be "pit bulls" it is hard to keep track of them all.
A few of my favorites:
- Their jaws "lock"
- Their brains get too big for their skulls and the pressure drives them crazy
- They are vicious or born mean
- They can hold with their front teeth and chew with the back
- They attack more people than any other breed
There are many others as well. So with some being so obviously crazy it is no wonder people are blissful in their ignorance of the truth.
It is very sad that a dog that once represented this country. As pit bulls did in WWI posters. Is now demonized as a blood thirsty killer in the media. I suppose every community needs something that might live next door to be afraid of.
At least it gives them something to do. Which is sad since you have a better chance of dying or getting hurt tripping over a dog toy than you do from the dog itself.
