We may have a new addition to the household....

[CountryWolf07]

I feel I need to make a final post on this issue.

First, I want to say, I'm not against the breed at all, but I do not like HOW they were trained for a lot of bad reasons, but okay YES, I was nervous and wary of the puppy, it did not matter how old to me. Why? It was more of HOW Anna and Rosie would react to this "new addition" to the household. My brother did not think this through. I am sorry to say this, but I knew all along, this would not work out for the puppy and he would have to return her to the owner. Was I scared to pet her? Was I scared to approach the puppy? No. I was excited, but I just had a gut feeling it wasn't going to work out. I did go out and buy her a collar, I offered. My brother did not know what to expect, he just FIGURED that Anna and Rosie would be just fine and dandy and just go along with their business, but that didn't happen. In fact, he never did any researching on the breed. HIS reason of why he rescued, RESCUED the puppy, was to KEEP HER SAFE and offer her a good home! He did not want her to fall into the hands of a wrongful individual who would raise her to fight. My brother has a huge heart for dogs, he would do anything. So I am just surprised, you would view me as someone that hates pit bulls, that's fine, because you thought wrong. I do not. I do, in fact, think they are WONDERFUL dogs, ONLY based on how their owners RAISE them. It's such a shame how their reputation is a bad one to the public. So WE DID TRY, we gave it a shot, and it did not work out. I'm not going to apologize for that, because I did nothing wrong. It didn't matter what breed we brought home, like someone said on this board, HUSKIES are very, very pack-orientated. That's what happened. So if you want to stay upset over this issue, why don't you go and scold my girls for it? C'mon, let's think about it. This is such a silly arguement that only has been caused over one or two sentences. If I don't make sense over what I'm saying, then it just means I am just not exactly what to say but say what I can say. That's all I wanted to say. Hopefully, you do know that I love dogs, but I do dislike some breeds for my own reasons, but hey, that's what having an opinion is all about.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Well said, Rachel.

Donna, I have to say that I hope nothing I said has offended you. I love your dogs. What the heck....I love dogs period. Sadly, some dogs(any breed)can be trained to be mean by their ignorant owners. This is certainly not the case with your gorgeous girls. It makes me crazy, every day, to know that entire breeds can be labeled by a few examples. Examples that were born innocent and corrupted by evil people.

I honestly don't think anyone on this board is grouping dogs together by breed alone. I would also love to see pictures of Ebony, Jada, and Diamond.

[K9soul]

I definitely think there is a difference between being anti-pit (or anti- any breed) and feeling more wary around them. Anti-pit people want them banned or extinct. I doubt anyone here, at least I would hope, wants that. It is another thing to be nervous or uneasy around a dog, or any creature, because of what it is capable of.

For example, plenty of people prefer small dogs because if something goes wrong, a small dog can do far less damage than a large dog. There are people afraid of a mastiff or great dane because if it nips, the potential for damage is MUCH greater than a smaller dog (As PT's Anna knows!). Now, if I were walking my dogs and saw a bully breed running up, I WOULD be on guard more than if it were a cocker spaniel or chihuahua. Why? Because if a fight breaks out, EVEN if it is MY dogs who start it, it is mostly likely going to be a very serious and possibly deadly fight, because bully breeds withstand pain well and do not tend to back down once a fight breaks out.

Bully breeds in general tend to have a much more physical type of play, I know even my friend Vela talks about how her boxers play very physically. I had a boxer at the dog park really overwhelm Raven with his play when she was younger and she was really panicked, but this boxer was just doing his normal bully type of play.

It's very possible in this situation that Rosie was overwhelmed by this pup and that at some point, Anna was likely to really lay into the new pup. I would have been nervous too in that situation. If at some point Anna had had enough and attacked the pup and she fought back, who knows what the outcome might have been.

That said, I feel that pits are not in the news because they are more unstable and have more baggage, but because when things do go wrong, due to their power and gameness, the outcomes are much more grim and thus make the news. I type ER reports for hours on end with my job and get many, many dog bite reports of all breeds, large and small and mixed. Some breeds of dogs require more caution and knowledge and crucial socialization and training, and it's best an owner be fully prepared and committed to do this.

[Ginger's Mom]

Well said, as always, Jessica.
Donna, I am sorry that you were hurt or angered by this thread.
Did everyone see the Petwarmers story this week? http://archive.mail-list.com/petwarmers/msg00647.html Talk about timing.

[luvofallhorses]

Pam,

with all due respect..
pit bulls DO NOT come with "baggage" - you have to be responsible and do right by them, that doesn't mean they come with "baggage" - EVERY dog deserves a second chance especially the pit bulls. they are very wonderful dogs and I am sorry some of you don't see that... we have had the best adoption rate with pit bulls where I work and make sure they fall into the right hands.

we screen people throughoughly for all the dogs especially the bully breeds. we make very sure they aren't failed again. I wish other shelters/rescues had that much luck placing pit bulls/bully breeds into the right homes like we do. Just because if they were treated badly doesn't mean you shouldn't adopt the dog, give the dog a real chance at a good life. and I am truly sorry it didn't work out for you Rachel.

any dog can bite and all the pit bulls I have known where I work wouldn't hurt a fly. of course you have some that aren't good with other dogs but that doesn't come with "baggage".. it can be worked with. I wouldn't call it "baggage" - this breed is very special and doesn't come with "baggage" - responsibility YES but "baggage" NO

Donna,

I am sorry this thread upset you. I too was hoping you wouldn't see it. I LOVE your dogs and also would LOVE to see new pictures of your beautiful girls. ((((HUGS))))