Dear Editor,
Please allow me to express my indignation at the incident involving a jogger and two free roaming, ferocious dogs (please note I say “dogs” because any dog regardless of breed can be ferocious and may bite); and to extend my sympathy and wish a speedy and full recovery to the injured jogger.
I would also like to express the deep sadness that I feel toward a beautifully engineered animal that seems doomed to extinction because of misuse, abuse and gross irresponsibility on the part of a few humans.
It is unfortunate that a sub-culture has emerged in our society where people who should not own certain types of dogs have them simply because they are a statement of status and they can afford them. Dog fighting is a spin-off from this sub-culture. The sad results of this are socially unbalanced, abused and often uncontrollable dogs, illegal dog fights and ultimately people being hurt. It is for this reason that I think that it is unfair to blame a particular breed, when the human factor is one of the major determinants in a dog’s behaviour.
It is my opinion, Mr. Editor, that by seeking a ban on pitbulls we are choosing the easy way out and we humans with our restless thirst for “excitement” and “entertainment” will seek some other means, possibly even worse than dog fighting, to satisfy our blood lust. Even more dangerous, is that by being breed specific in seeking a solution, we give ourselves a false sense of security and put ourselves in danger of being attacked by any other dog because if not properly socialized and trained at an early age and if placed in a situation where it feels threatened, defensive or scared any dog will bite, regardless of breed.
A dog’s temperament is largely an individual trait and not necessarily a characteristic of a particular breed. A dog of any size and from any breed could turn out to be ferocious.
The apparent upsurge in attacks on humans by dogs of the so-called “fighting breeds” may be due to the fact that these dogs are constantly agitated, beaten, isolated, starved and otherwise abused by irresponsible, unfit owners, in an attempt to programme them into vicious fighting machines. What they actually succeed in creating is a defensive, scared animal which sees humans as “tormentors”, and naturally will attack if they get the opportunity.
Many of these supposed “fighting dogs” never make the grade in the ring, just because they are simply not inately aggressive.
The ongoing case of a US national footballer who allegedly destroyed several “soft dogs” is an excellent example that not all dogs of a particular breed are ‘vicious’.
It is also my opinion that the true solution lies in reforming the human element through education, enforcement of strict laws and stricter penalties for defaulters.
Anyone who knows dogs and is especially familiar with the pitbull would be able to appreciate and testify to the perfection of its highly developed musculature, its agility, loyalty, strength, bravery and tenacity. Originally the forebears of the pitbull developed these characteristics for useful purposes such as wrangling and restraining wild cattle and protecting their owners’ herds from attacks by wild beasts such as wolves, boars and bears. These very qualities seemed to have sealed its fate; since we humans have channeled this breed’s noble attributes to satisfy our sometimes depraved appetite for entertainment. In this particular case, the deplorable, sadistic blood sport of dog fighting.
Having said all that Mr. Editor, permit me to ask those so called ‘dog lovers’ that fight their dogs; How could you subject the object of your love to the extreme stress and torture that is involved in the training of fighting dogs and the often fatal brutality of the actual fight? What kind of love is that? I myself am a pitbull aficionado but I abhor dogfighting and any other form of animal abuse or cruelty.
I own two of these magnificent animals, both of which I acquired as puppies more by default than by choice, one was going to be put down because it was born the wrong colour and the breeder feared that he might not have gotten her sold and the other was brought to me after the cute, fat puppy became too rambunctious and not so cute anymore and the then owners grew afraid, especially since they and their neighbours had young children.
They are both well adjusted adult dogs now, living harmoniously in a family with a child and other dogs. Living testimony to the fact that just breed alone does not make a dog vicious.
Though it may be too late for the two dogs involved in the recent attack, we can still save the breed and at the same time keep people safe. The time has come in Guyana for a properly organized kennel club which could play an important role in public awareness, the screening of dog owners, as well as promoting events such as breed shows, strength and dexterity competitions (reminiscent of bodybuilding/weightlifting) and similar activities that provide a healthy and safe option to dog owners to exhibit their fine animals, show off their amazing abilities as well as allow them to compete with their rivals in a humane and acceptable way while providing quality entertainment.
Sir, while our emotions run high at this point, let us not shirk our responsibility as human beings and stigmatize a dumb, innocent animal. Let us take this unfortunate eye-opening incident to treat the real core of the problem, i.e. the human beast. Let us become more responsible pet owners, let us become more compassionate human beings and let us all reflect on this sad incident and assimilate the many lessons that it has to teach us.
Yours faithfully,
N. Waldron