Letter of Apology

Merry Browne said that “preconceptions are the locks on the door to wisdom”.  The following article, found by Bernice and Brenda in different places during the same week (?!) clearly illustrates the ignorance prevailing in the world of domestic animals. Thanks to Bernice for doing the editing of the original which had some grammatical problems, and for providing the picture… (animalman)

I’m sorry you are frightened of my dogs and are trying to have them killed because they are pit bulls.

I’m sorry you lack the understanding of this breed’s true history, gentleness with people, wonderful temperament, intelligence and behavioural conformation.

I’m sorry you won’t read the *ATTS stats regarding our breed’s true temperament, in which they score over 83%. That’s 6% more than an average breed.

I’m sorry that you think it’s ok to assume an aggressive dog that resembles a pit bull is a pit bull. I’m sorry you won’t take into account the different things that affect bite statistics, such as misidentification, unreported bites, and the population size. I’m sorry you won’t look at the statistics, which say pit bulls involved in serious attacks make up 0.01% of the population, which is the same in every breed. I’m sorry that you won’t look at the study done to see which breeds are more likely to bite, in which pit bulls come 4th ….. from bottom; the American cocker spaniel come first.

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 and then blame the make of car for the accident as I walk free.

I’m sorry that for some reason you think that people who are attacked by “friendly breeds” such as retrievers and poodles (yes, they can attack people – what a shocker!), are somehow insignificant, as opposed to people attacked by “devil breeds”.  The media agrees with you.

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 assume all pit bull owners, such as Buster Brown, the Little Rascals, Theodore Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Thomas Jefferson, are criminals and thugs.

I’m sorry you cannot go into the shelters and see the hundreds of abandoned and abused pit bulls, 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 being betrayed by all people they have met, their tail still wags as someone approaches with the syringe.

I’m sorry you cannot be there to rescue pit bull 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 pit bull is smarter than you.

I’m sorry that the mediaeval witch-hunting genetics of intolerance, generalisation 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 person and expect from others, but do not yourself offer toward a pit bull or its caregiver. I’m sorry that you don’t take the constructive time to petition changes in the 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 pit bull. 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 ‘pit bull’ 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 pit bulls 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 pit bull 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 pit bull 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 pit bull.

You do not deserve one.

~ AUTHOR Unknown at the time of publishing

*AMERICAN TEMPERAMENT TEST SOCIETY