I love your story Mary. Unfortunately some minds are closed on the subject.
From: Mary Nellum Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 5:59 PM To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls This makes me so sad. I don’t want to fight with anyone over this because I understand. Before I adopted Sox, I felt the exact same way. I believed every bad thing that ever was said about pitbulls and nothing would change my mind. See, I had never met her. I found her on a yahoo group where her rescuer had posted her and she was posted as a boxer (which was one of the breeds I was looking for). I didn’t find out that she was a pit until after I had agreed to adopt her. I was honest with her rescuer and told her that I wasn’t sure I could give that kind of dog a good home or be a good owner to her. So I took a month and I researched pitbulls. I talked with people who were knowledgeable about dogs in general and pitbulls in particular. I joined pitbull forums and yahoo groups and searched the internet extensively. Not everything I heard was positive (similar to this conversation, really) but I learned about the true nature of the breed as a whole and during this time I never met one in person. Living with, and learning from Sox has only intensified my beliefs about them. Now, years down the road, I help owners train their pits, and I work with local shelters and rescues who deal with pits. I’ve taken pitbulls from a cage filled with their own sewage, bathed them and then brought them to my house where they were grateful for a kind hand and soft bed, just like Sox was when she first came to live with us. There are thousands and thousands of good pitbulls – family dogs, therapy dogs, service dogs, working dogs – who do countless good things every day and never hurt or kill anyone. This is just one of the numerous pitbull therapy dogs in America. She was a bait dog (one of those pitbulls who refuse to fight and are instead used to egg the dogs that will on) - https://www.facebook.com/GremlinTheTherapyDog Don’t be like I was and let fear control you. I beg you, research them for yourself. Find out the truth. Mary From: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Pam Dean Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 4:04 PM To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls Those of us who have had pets killed and been attacked ourselves by Pitts know there does not need to be any justification for the attack. Pitts attack at will and kill at will..anyone who thinks there has to be an underlying force is mislead. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sheila <dash...@hughes.net> To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls Excellent points!! From: Mary Nellum Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 4:32 PM To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls Yes, those things are absolutely awful! But how is the life of another pet worth more than the life of the dog who attacked? Dogs, by nature, chase small furry creatures. That’s why those of us with small dogs have to be very careful with them at dog parks or in groups of dogs. I think we (as a society) put high expectations on dogs (not just pitbulls). We take them into our homes and then expect them to not act like dogs. I don’t believe that every dog who attacks needs to be killed. Some do. Some don’t. I think each situation and dog needs to be evaluated. Mary From: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Pam Dean Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 3:02 PM To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls Actually innocent people, children, and beloved pets are going to be ones to pay the price. Any dog who attacks humans or kills another dog or cat, should be put down. For me there is no gray area there, no justification. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Mary Nellum <maryk...@gmail.com> To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 3:20 PM Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls Oh how awful L I would be scared too. I completely agree with the other poster who said to secure your side of the fence and contact Animal Control. Call AC as many times as you need to if your neighbors will not listen to your concerns. You’re right – the safety of your family and the entire neighborhood is at risk. The ones you should be most afraid of are the humans – they’re either ignoring the needs of their high energy dogs or encouraging their bad behavior – and unfortunately the dogs are going to be the ones to pay the price L Mary From: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Yorkiluvr Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 12:11 AM To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Chihuahuas] pit bulls My brother had a pit that he raised from a puppy & Petey listened & was well mannered & so I let my guard down around them. I blame their bad behavior on the owner. A few years ago I was visiting a friend & she had a shar/pit mix & a pit in her home. She said she fed them table food so when I finished eating I divided my food in half & gave it to them. The pit was on the sofa beside me & she looked up at me & bit me in the nose & I drove myself to the ER & got stitches on both sides of my nose outside, inside & on the inner septum. The police came & took a report. After that I would tell my boys that no matter what pets we had that they should never put their face in harms way. Now my next door neighbors have a fenced yard that divides my property from them & their 2 pits & poodle & occasionally the pits escape under the fence. Yesterday I was gardening & one of them charged at me barking ferociously & was ready to attack me. The fence was the only thing keeping me safe & I was on my knees pulling weeds & it scared the crap out of me & made me mad as well!! I would never harm any animal but I'm so fearful of these 2 pits that I am ready to contact animal control to see if any action can be taken to protect me & my pets. A few years ago they lived in a different home & had one pit & he killed a rott & they bragged about how they could hear the bones crunching as their dog refused to release his grip on the other dog which had to be put down at the vets office due to the severity of his injuries. I am pretty passive & try to let things slide, but I'm at the point now that I'm really, really, scared & something has to be done to protect my neighborhood, my pets & my family. I'd probably do something awful if their pits ever got one of my babies!! Lisa To know me is to LOVE me...:-)
