AN APOLOGY TO BREED BAN ENTHUSIASTS
I'm sorry you are frightened of my dogs and are trying to have them killed
because they are pitbulls.
I'm sorry you lack the understanding of this breed's true history, gentleness
with people, wonderful temperament, intelligence and behavioral conformation. I'm sorry
you won't read the ATTS stats regarding our breed's true temperament, putting it in the top
four for temperament, scoring better than breeds like Golden Retrievers, and
cocker spaniels.
I'm sorry that you side with and protect animal abusers by marking the breed
of dog, and not the irresponsibility of the owner.
I'm sorry that by your logic I could steal a car, run some people over with
it, and then you can blame the make of car for the accident, as I walk free.
I'm sorry you generalize one breed of dog with one group of people.
I'm sorry you can't see the love and determination that many often highly
educated, non-criminal and "normal" types of people show towards this breed and
the great personal sacrifices that they make to take care of their dog
responsibly.
I'm sorry you cannot go into the shelters and see the hundreds of abandoned
and abused pitbulls, dying only for the inane "crime" of being born the breed
they are. I'm sorry you cannot see the look of disappointment in their eyes as someone walks by their
kennel, and refuses to consider adopting them based on an ill-educated, fear-mongering
reporter. I'm sorry that you cannot be there when the animal looks at a human for the
last time, and in spite of betrayed by all humans they have met, their tail still wags as
someone approaches with the syringe of Euthinol.
I'm sorry cannot be there when law enforcement shoots one of your dogs dead
inside it's own home in front of the children it mutually loves for simply
getting off the dog bed and walking over to say hello with it's tail wagging.
I'm sorry you cannot be there to rescue pitbull puppies from a plastic bag in
a dumpster, dumped there by someone switching their illegal and inhumane activities to
another, more lucrative breed.
I'm sorry you cannot understand the difference between canine and human
aggression, in the way that this breed can.
Yes, I'm saying my pitbull is smarter then you.
I'm sorry that the medieval witchhunting genetics of intolerance,
generalization, and racism make you feel the need to vilify a breed of dog. I'm sorry
that justice, equality, tolerance, common sense are all things you hold dear as a fellow Canadian,
and expect from others, but do not yourself offer them towards a pitbull or its caregiver.
I'm sorry that you don't take the constructive time to petition changes in
the Canadian animal cruelty act, and in the criminal code that would deal out
serious punishment to the real animal abusers.
I'm sorry you cannot see the disappointed look on a puppy's face when the
people petting it quickly frown and walk away when you tell them it is a pitbull.
I'm sorry you feel the need to terrorize my family and my dogs for crimes we
never have and never will commit. I'm sorry you don't have to live in fear of your dog's safety from
hysterical and mentally unstable people trying to inflict all manner of evil upon your
dogs.
I'm sorry that you cannot see my breed working in some of the best Search and
Rescue groups in the world, saving countless lives each year.
I'm sorry our media censors and refuses to print the breed name "pitbull'
when in connection with a positive act such as saving a person or child from a
burning house, drowning, wild attacking animals, etc.
I'm sorry you cannot see the many pitbulls registered as therapy dogs and
bringing so much joy to another misunderstood, neglected demographic in our
society, the senior citizen.
I am sorry you can't see a pitbull kiss a child, step carefully over a
kitten, or play in a sunbeam. I'm sorry you cannot wake in the morning to feel a warm pitbull cuddled next
to you in bed, and know that you are their total world, and even if the house
caught fire and trapped you, they would stay with you to the end.
But, now that I really think about it, I'm not at all sorry you don't own a
pitbull--you do not deserve one.
Rob MacBean
The Mongrel Hordes
Lake Cowichan BC
(Permission granted by me the author to crosspost
as long as it stays
intact, and with my name on it.)
_________________
To err is human; to forgive, canine.
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