The Misunderstood Pit Bull

So many times people fear what they do not understand. The Pit Bull is one of the most misunderstood animals of all time. Even other dog lovers have misunderstood this dog.

While I agree that this is an animal who deserves great respect, and that this animal is not right for everyone, it also saddens me that so many won't even give this type of dog a chance. My family has owned two Pit Bulls, neither were related, neither came from breeders, neither have been registered. The first dog we owned for 12 years, until she died from cancer. She came from an unwanted birth and was given to us as a barely-weaned pup. The second dog adopted us. Someone had dumped her out near our home when she was 6 months old (age determined by our local vet). She's still with us 4 years later and thriving under our attention.

Our first Pit Bull looked fierce. She would indeed growl at people. She didn't like when we wrestled each other. If pushed into a corner, she would fight back. But she was more apt to lick a stranger to death than to bite them. We preferred that people not know this as we lived in several bad neighborhoods along the years, and just her presence being known kept us safe. She saw us through many life changes, gave us unconditional love; and except for her tendency to lick us too much, she was a fine animal on all other counts. She was not a threat to other animals except cats. We gained a cat for a pet. She learned to adjust to that cat and only that cat.

Our second Pit Bull is a little different. She does not like strangers, is very territorial, and does not adjust as well to other pets. While she does put up with our cat, I wouldn't want to leave her for an extended period of time without supervision around the cat. When people visit, we put her away. We don't ask others to feed her for us when we are gone. She does, however, take amazingly well to being boarded at the vet's office when we have extended stays away from home. I have entertained the idea of giving her to another family when we have at times had our fill of putting up with pets. However, I finally decided that it is best if we keep her so that we know she won't be a danger to anyone else or their children or visiting company. Plus, after having her for 4 years, she's finally earned her place in all our hearts. Some of us were harder to convince than others, myself being the worst. But, alas, those deep brown expressive eyes and her growing personality have finally won out over any doubts that keeping her is the right thing to do.

I must admit that she could be a dangerous animal. I also know of a true story where a Weiner dog bit off part of the ear of a friend's daughter. The teenager had been around the family and the dog for many years. Any dog can be a danger, indeed, any animal can turn on someone. Some are stronger and more stubborn than others, which is what makes the Pit Bull a formidable opponent in any fight. But it is also a breed that deserves to be admired and loved. Finding the right owners for the right dog is the issue. Some Pit Bulls do have flaws in their personalities. Not all are predictable or safe. Neither is any other entire breed of animal or human, for that matter.