Dear Diary........

I sometimes wonder why it is so hard to remember that you cannot always be all things to all people, and one cannot always fix things when they become broken. When my children were small, a boo boo was made better with a kiss, a Barney Band-Aid, and a glass of chocolate milk. As they got older, life’s wounds became more difficult to fix. Now that they are grown, not only can I not fix everything, they don't even want me to try. It’s a hard habit to break, this wanting to make everything better, to check under the bed and in the closets for the boogey man, but I am finally managing. I have my own boogie man to worry about, and usually, it is me.

As a rescuer of unwanted, mistreated animals, I, better than most, know that you can’t always save the ones who need saving, but occasionally, I lose sight of that fact, and find myself knee deep in situations that are of my own making. This week has found me in one of those situations, and I have, with difficulty, extricated myself, but I’m feeling bad. Good intentions were not a good enough reason to find myself in the mess I was in, but it is some comfort to know that I was at least trying to do the right thing. My failure sticks out, to me at least, like a red headed step child. I don’t like to fail, at least when I am attempting to do good, but failure is sometimes inevitable. Maybe failure is my best teacher. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

I brought home a dog that seemed to be in need. She was of a breed that I am not personally familiar with, although much has been written about them in hysterical terms in media, and reported on television. She was of the "pit bull" family. I didn’t know anything about her, but she was stray, and seemed like she needed me, so I welcomed her into my family, with open arms. I named her Angel, and taught her tricks, and loved her as one of my own beloved dog family.


The breed, Pit Bull, isn’t really a breed. It is a group of breeds that also contains a mixture of terrier types, who, for years were bred to fight. There are many other breeds recognized by the AKC who were bred to fight, but the media hype is not about them. I suppose it is because those breeds do not provide the same opportunity for status as so many small minded, ignorant people hope to enjoy. There is not, in my opinion, a bad breed of dog. There are none who, as a whole group of animals, are hell bent on killing people and other animals. Dogs, like people, are individuals, having their own personalities and traits. Not all blacks are stupid, or Hispanics lazy.....these are unfair and incorrect stereotypes. I don’t like stereotypical labels. Not all Pit Bulls are dangerous. Nature makes them who they are; terriers. Terriers have certain traits that make them unique. Terriers typically have little tolerance for other animals, including other dogs. Their ancestors were bred to hunt and kill vermin. Many continue to project the attitude that they're always eager for a spirited argument. What they are not, as a group, is people killers.  Perhaps my error was in not realizing that this is not a breed for me.

I have had in my life, dogs from many of AKC's breed groups. I have had dogs from the Toy Group, the Herding Group, the Sporting Group, and the Hound Group. I call myself a successful dog owner with each of the dogs from each of these groups. I have failed as owner of this representative of the Terrier Group. I think I have to admit that although I admire many breeds from this group, perhaps it is not the group for me. I love all dogs, but perhaps some are better left in someone else's backyard.

The last afternoon with Angel, there was a fight between her and my dog Dixie. Dixie was the only dog in my pack with whom Angel had issues, or perhaps it was Dixie who had issues with Angel. I could not take the time to find out, as I know that these fights would have become more and more vicious, and would, eventually result in serious injury or even death to one of the combatants, and that was not a risk I was willing to take. After I had regained my composure, and was able to drive, I put Angel in my truck and drove back to the area in which I had found her and found her home. I know that she is going back to her life on the end of a chain. I feel terrible about it, but I can't save them all. Sometimes it is enough of a challenge to save the few I have. I hope that God will watch over this creature of his, and I pray that she will forgive me. I can not save her.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 

 



   

What's Wrong With Me?

This is a purely rhetorical question.  I'm essentially happy with myself.  Sure, there are a few "tweaks" I could do here and there, but I'm alright with the current state of imperfection.  There is one small problem that I'm taking myself to task for right now, and I don't know if it needs to be fixed or not.  My mother would definitely say yes!

I have moved from the "city" to this rural environment, which I really do love, although not without a few complaints.  My major detraction's are the lack of good paying jobs in the area, and the treatment of the area's pet population.  I'm pretty sure that given a little more time to obtain my degree, the first issue will take care of itself.  It is the second complaint that I am clueless about how to resolve, and that confusion is getting me into trouble. 

Several days ago, on a trip through the town where I live, I almost hit a dog who had wandered into the street.  My first instinct was to stop and catch this pretty little runaway, and then to find her owner.  She was dragging a heavy chain behind her, indicating that she was definitely on the lam from whatever her living environment had been.  I exited my truck and approached this dog, calling sweetly to her as I walked.  She walked slowly to me.  I'm not sure which one of us was more afraid, but in the end, I guess it was she.  The chain she was dragging weighed more than half her body weight.  It had been my initial intention to capture her, and return her to her owner, but after I lifted the chain, I had a change of heart.  There was no way I would return that sweet young dog to the people who had kept her prisoner at the end of that chain.  I took her to the police station to leave my name and telephone number, but the police officer with whom I spoke, told me that she was most likely being used to produce fighting dogs.  Yes, she’s a Pit Bull.  The breed is one of the most misunderstood breeds in the world.  

From left to right:  Rebel Lee, Sam, Dixie, Angel, Bear, Bama.  

Pit Bull, Bull Dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, whatever you want to call her.  Just the sight of her strikes terror into the soul of the person viewing her, simply because she is who she is.  So far, there have been no glimpses of a blood thirsty, man eating, dog killing machine.  Angel, as she is called, is attention seeking, docile, dog friendly, and cat loving.  I didn't need a 6th dog, but there is no place for her, if not with me.  Shelters in this state are "kill shelters".  What that means is that they kill the majority of the dogs they take in.  Where Pit Bulls are concerned, they kill them all.  This dog wouldn't hurt a fly, yet, "her kind" has the reputation of being killers.  I don't suppose that it ever occurred to anyone to look at the living environment of dogs that are guilty of hurting people to see how they have been raised. I also don't suppose that it has ever occurred to anyone to check the intelligence quotient of the people charged with raising those dogs, or to inquire about the methods used to train them. There are a few hard and fast rules when it comes raising dogs.  The first of these is that a dog’s temperament is 50% from his environment, and the other 50% is genetic.  That having been said, it is important to realize that if two dogs of aggressive dispositions create a litter of puppies, there is a very good chance that most, if not all of them, will have aggressive personalities.  If those puppies are raised by a loving, strong owner, the chances of having an aggressive puppy is lowered.  On the other hand, one of those pups, raised by someone who wants a tough dog to give him status, and has trained it by using harsh methods, tied it outside and otherwise neglected and abused it, will most likely end up being a dog that is aggressive towards people and animals.  Proponents of the breed will frequently point out that even a Chihuahua can be made to be aggressive.

According to research I have done on the internet, this breed has not been bred to be people aggressive.  Even in the fighting ring, dogs that show aggression toward the people “handling” them, are culled (translated as shot).  Their European counterpart, the Staffordshire Terrier, was known as the Nanny Dog because of their devotion to children.  

If you are interested in learning about the Pit Bull Terrier, or are interested in obtaining one as a pet, this web site has some very useful information.  http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/breedinfo.php

In the meanwhile, I am looking for a good "indoor" home for this very sweet girl.  I will keep her safe until I can find a good home, with strong, knowledgeable people, who will love her for the rest of her life.  She wants nothing more than to have her belly rubbed, or to lay with her head on your lap.