3 posts tagged “pitbulls”

Can't be quiet anymore.

I promised myself I was going to sit tight on this one. Let the media madness die down and let this thing run it's course. I spoke earlier in the week with a friend of mine who writes for ESPN. He let me know before I even began my rant that he was done discussing it. That took some of the wind out of my sails, but considering he's been talking about it in all the sports circles he moves in, I could appreciate his fatigue.

This story dregs up so much that annoys the shit out of me. I found an opinion piece by Bryan Burwell on MSNBC that really seemed to address all of the things bugging me about it. I won't try and recreate the wheel, especially when it has been assembled so well the first time around.

So now all that's left to determine is Michael Vick's guilt or innocence. I say that like it will be quick and easy. When has a salacious indictment even been quick or easy? I struggle not to go apeshit when I hear people even hinting at innocent til proven guilty on this one. There's been a lot of talk about people "throwing Vick under the bus." But I'm sorry. You own a property. That property is used to run very a lucrative dog fighting business. So lucrative in fact you bunch of assholes actually gave it a name, Bad Newz Kennels. I'm willing to bet you had t-shirts and  the logos blaring ready to be used as bumper stickers while dreaming of a clothing line to boot. Based on allegations, the best you can come up with is, yes the property is yours...but you had no idea dogfights were happening? Dog fights as lucrative as $26,000 for a single "bout?" And you knew absolutely nothing about it?

Can he be indicted for bullshit?

If he isn't indicted for animal cruelty and illegal gambling, he should be indicted for being a buffoon and unscrupulous about the company he keeps regarding his business ventures.  I'm angry to tears about the senseless, heartbreaking cruelty that is dogfighting. I am disgusted by people that try to dismiss it as if it wasn't a vile and horrific example of the dark side of human kind. I am tired of African American professional athletes that make poor choices and the people who rush in to protect them as if they "didn't know any better." That excuse is no longer permissible in my court. BUCK UP homeboys. You're making serious money which means you better pay serious attention to every move, every person comprising the company you keep. If you don't know how to make wise business and personal decisions, then you certainly make enough money to hire someone to help you out in that regard. Perhaps then you could keep those ridiculous sums of money you're making and find some way to do something productive with it.  Something other than funding the mauling, dismembering and torture of animals who never even get to see the "purse" for these events...if they are even lucky enough to survive.

And then of course, this heightens my anger about the perception of pit bulls in general. I want to see/hear as much detail about the cruelty of these fights...the drowning, electrocution, shooting and abuse of the dogs that lose, the promise of another grueling fight for the winner. It's dizzying to watch the same people who have recoiled and trashed the breed for its "monstrous" traits now sit with weepy eyes and heavy hearts. Isn't this the same animal you wanted banned from the earth? Now suddenly you're ready to consider mankind's role in the cultivation of violence?

But then I sigh. Because that's not really me, to hold onto such venom. That's not in my nature to assume guilt first and not even search for every granule of truth. It's not like me to hate. And after all that fury and ranting I do...

I feel sadness. For the dogs...for the fools and everything in between. Just...sad.

If you are concerned about dogfights and want to learn more about pit bull rescue, please visit the Pit Bull Rescue Central . You can donate, learn more about adopting a pit and more. Here's the donation page. Tell'em Mecca sent you!

I was working in my office when I heard it.

Mecca's distinct snarl indicating someone unfamiliar has entered our private space.

I jumped out of my chair, and ran to my patio glass in search of her. My yard is gated, so hence the snarl. Someone had to be in the yard. And there was. The utilty man.

I keep the yard unlocked with a "Beware of Dog" sign on the door. Not because she's anything to be wary of, but because that gate is unlocked and I want anyone feeling brazen enough to just come on in, to know there is a dog onsite. This however, does not seem to deter the utility man from just walking in each month to "read the meter."

I look and see Mecca offering a warning bark. She's crouched low, and she's barking very loudly as if to say, "Not supposed to be in here." I look and see Mr. Utility man yielding a long, metal baton, which he is using to jab Mecca under her arm, in the soft fold seperating her joint from tissue. She is angry and she snarls, he pokes again...with a grin on his face.

Mecca is a pitbull.

I open the patio glass, jump into the yard and call Mecca's name while he continues to jab at her and she gets increasingly upset. She does not respond to me, and her growl takes an ugly turn I am not used to. I call out to the Utility man to stop it, and to stand still. He looks up at me, amusement dying slowly from his eyes, and he lets down the metal baton. Mecca continues to bark, but she does not move toward him as I've told her to "wait." Which for Mecca means, "freeze." This man sees the anxiety in my face and offers his feeble hello and explanation for being in my yard.

"Is there something wrong with you?" I exclaim wildly, having collared Mecca and ushered her into my house.

"I was just keeping her away from me." He offers with a shrug.

"Wrong. You were antagonizing her. Big fucking difference. Why would you stand there grinning and jabbing her that way? You see my truck in the yard, you KNOW I work virtually and you KNOW I am home. So why would you walk in the yard, and initate something that foolish when I've asked your company repeatedly to KNOCK to let me know you need access to the YARD?"

He apologies and casts his eyes away, immediately uncomfortable with my anger. He knows better. We both are painfully aware of this.

"This is a pitbull. Okay? And yes, she's been raised with love and she's mostly harmless, but that does not mean it is in anyway logical for you to walk into this yard, jab her with an object, toy with her anger and expect that to be acceptable knowing full well if she were to bite you, I'd have a thousand reporters in my backyard reporting on another savage attack by a wild and unmanageable breed. I would have to destroy her, because you have no common sense. From now on, there will be a lock on that gate to remind you to do what I asked your company to do - each month for an ENTIRE year."

In between his apologies, I took his name, and reported the incident to the Utility company. And then, I put a lock on that gate. Not because my dog is vicious. Not because she's bitten any one ever in her eight years of living. Not because she has an aggressive bone in her body. I did it because pitbulls have a reputation. I did it because it's the smart thing to do (even if my lease says I cannot prohibit access to the yard). I did it because I understand the NATURE of the breed, and I respect the job I signed on for when my Dad purchased her for me when she was six weeks aold.  I did it because I love my dog and I will do anything to protect her. I did it, because I don't want my lack of vigilance to incite a pitbull ban in yet another city. I did it because I am a RESPONSIBLE PITBULL OWNER.

I am tired of the stories. Children, innocent people injured because of the lack of responsibilty demonstrated by ignorant pet owners. Media: stop fanning the fires with stories designed to encourage fear and loathing.  Everyone that owns a pit, is not a drug dealing, rebel rousing troublemaker. For every story you burn the wires with about a child, an elderly senior citizen or random person on the street that is the victim of a terrifying attack, there is another pitbull that is afraid of cats, napping somewhere in a ray of sunshine on the carpet who's bark is far more meaty than their bite - because they've NEVER BITTEN ANYTHING BUT KIBBLE. There is another pit that gets jabbed, poked, tortured and overbred to help foster a sterotype, there is another irresponsible idiot watching the news, getting excited about the notion of a "killer beast" who is neglecting a puppy, feeding it meat tinged with battery acid and letting it dangle from a chew toy thrown over a laundry line with a 20 pound chain around it's neck.

DIG. DEEPER.

Another story here. Another story there. Everytime there is an attack, someone calls me to inform me of it. The answer is not banning. The answer is not lazy reporting. The answer is education and different initiatives, different laws that punish the OWNER and not the dog. Put some laws in place. Stop running innocent pitbull owners out of town like they're fucking Frankenstein. Make me pay for a yearly license to carry her, since you want to make her a loaded gun. Threaten me with jailtime if she's caught in an attack that appears unprovoked. You'll get no complaint from me, because I KNOW the love, time, energy and commitment that was put into my pitbull. I know I am responsible. And I know to take the ownership of my animal EXTREMELY seriously. Many of us with pitbulls, do.

Do something OTHER than tell me I have to leave your town because my dog is a threat to society. She is not.

Ignorant, sonsofbitch lazy OWNERS are.

Let's do something else besides chase monsters with angry sticks and ugly chants.

The American Pit bull Terrier, the pit bull terrier. The dog to hate, and fear. America's favorite canine villain of the last

decade. They are ferocious (not), ruthless (not), monsters (not). My owning one tells you I am an unscrupulous threat to society, wishing mayhem and destruction to my neighbors, children and wandering souls everywhere.

Or, it tells you I am a true sucker for the woefully misunderstood.

My lil Mecca is seven years old, 64 pounds of Am Staff Terrier. She's graying in the face, a lightened muzzle that stares at me from the other end of the hall while she snuggles in

her emerald green dog couch. I've had her since she was 8 weeks old. A chubby lil something with a stubborn defiance and aversion to excess sugary affection, she's always been a bit of a character. Always a sucker for the camera, she learned at a very young age to be fabulous.

Despite the breeds reputation, she is like most other pitbulls I know. A complete, and utter ham. She loves children, (and I don't mean for lunch) and she likes to be in the midst of any social happening. If it seems like a good idea to you, it sounds like a sound plan to

her. This works, except for when people decide to break some of the rules and she gos along for the ride, to be reprimanded later. Yes, I have caught her many times with her head in the trash can, or romping around on my bed as if she's supposed to be there. We even had a spell where if I was gone for too long, she would take it upon herself to snatch my linen from my bed and make herself a nest. Yes. Diva.

For all those who fear the big bad pit bull, I wish I could extend a visit to my crib, or better yet, to the vet. There's nothing like watching her ears peel back and plant firmly on her head when a dangerous, threatening, menacing kitten rolls by. Not to mention the way she trembles with fear at the sight of the vet technician, shedding hair as if she has a disease. I took her for her nail trimming, weigh in and review of allergy inspired hives, and the poor dog believes she's about to sent to the Chamber of Horrors. Sniffering, whining and doing her textbook "monkey chat" at the door of the vet office, she's a wreck until the ordeal. The only blood seen, is the scrape of blood across her muzzle, a self-inflicted wound from being tussled to the ground for a her nail trim. From what I hear, it takes two techs, and a third to lay on her. *RPM shakes head in embarrasment*

I wish the world knew the pitbulls I know. I wish they culd see what comical, gentle and loving (re: chickenshit) spirits they can be when raised with love, social interaction and reponsibility. Perhaps then I wouldn't have to worry about a day when they tell me we have to hit the border because she's being run out of town...again. I know what they can be like when they're not raised properly...but shouldn't the owners be punished for the abuse, and not the abused?

If I had it my way, Am Staff/Pit bull terriers would be the only dog for me. They are compact, but big enough to second think them laying in your lap. They're incredibly 

intelligent, affectionate, mischievous and personable. Not to mention, tres sexy. My Mecca has given me a good run. Sure we've suffered through thousands of dollars in surgeries, various medications and x-rays along the way, but she's been worth every bump, bruise, tear and sneeze. I would do it all again with one difference. I would have had two of her.

Please don't fear them folks. Fear the abusers who neglect, manipulate, terrorize and eventually destroy them. They require time, attention and nurturing and love. Even the sweetest child can turn into Ted Bundy if  the conditions are right.