Rebecca Stroud: I’d Love To See A Universal Law Banning Rotten Owners

By  //  April 28, 2015

THE ANIMAL ADVOCATE

I find it utterly amazing that, with millions of dog bites reported every year, it is the pit bull that usually makes the headlines. Their reputation is so tarnished by bad owners creating bad dogs that it should be a no-brainer where the fault lies. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com))
REBECCA STROUD: I find it utterly amazing that, with millions of dog bites reported every year, it is the pit bull that usually makes the headlines. Their reputation is so tarnished by bad owners creating bad dogs that it should be a no-brainer where the fault lies. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

A friend of mine once met a woman walking her young pit bull and stopped to talk. The dog was wearing a prong collar and my friend asked if that wasn’t cruel.

Woman replied it was “normal” for pits…

That, in a nutshell, says volumes about why most pit bulls get a bad rap for being mean, vicious animals.

A pronged collar normal? I suppose she feeds him jalapeno peppers for dinner and a crushed kitten for dessert.

I am so very sick and tired of hearing that pit bulls should be banned, exterminated, wiped off the planet.

I have been around dogs all my life; I worked with them for years at an animal shelter and never once came across a “bad” pit bull.

On the other hand, the nastiest canine I ever met was a tiny Yorkie who bit every ankle he came in contact with.

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I despised that dog and that’s a sad commentary coming from someone like me.

Yet two of the sweetest I’ve ever known were a pit bull pup named Sam and an old lady named Denver; two extremely gentle dogs with different owners.

That ought to tell you something right there.

Look at Michael Vick's rehabilitated fighters that are now loving family pets.
Look at Michael Vick’s rehabilitated fighters that are now loving family pets.

Meaning, it is irresponsible people who take an innocent puppy and turn it into a ferocious and fearful animal. And though it is true that some dogs have aggressive tendencies, these traits are not breed specific.

I find it utterly amazing that, with millions of dog bites reported every year, it is the pit bull that usually makes the headlines.

Their reputation is so tarnished by bad owners creating bad dogs that it should be a no-brainer where the fault lies.

The true culprit in this sorry mess is, was, and always will be, people who – through either incredible ignorance or intentional cruelty – have created a monster out of this much-maligned breed. Witness Michael Vick.

And let’s go one step further and look at Michael Vick’s rehabilitated fighters that are now loving family pets.

Because the fact of the matter is that any dog will bite under certain circumstances so it is narrow-minded prejudice that focuses solely on pit bulls and other large breeds.

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Something I’ll never see, but wish with all my heart, is for the day to come when it will be the owners who require a license instead of the dog.

In addition, rather than breed-specific legislation, I’d love to see a universal law banning rotten owners.

A law that will never allow any dog to be adopted, bought, or bred by anyone who fails to live up to the lifetime responsibility and commitment of providing love, care, shelter and sustenance, training and socialization for one of the most fabulous creatures on this earth…and that includes pit bulls.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Stroud
Rebecca Stroud

Rebbeca Stroud is a former newspaper reporter and columnist. She is now an independent author who has published numerous books and stories, including The Killing Sands, Murder 9.0, Dragon’s Moon, Devil’s Moon, Do Unto Others, The Animal Advocate, A Three-Dog Night, Zellwood: A Dog Story and Jinxed.

In addition to writing, Stroud is an editor and avid animal lover. She lives in Cocoa with her husband and their adored catahoula-boxer mix.

To contact Stroud, e-mail RebeccaStroud@aol.com