I was reminded recently of a story I read years ago about a male pitbull who refused to leave a female pit who had been hit by a car. The female had died in the collision with the car, but the male continued to lick at her face for hours.
I know some human beings who would walk away from something like that, unable to handle the grief and the loss and the emotions, but the male pitbull stayed – I truly think he was mourning in his own way.
It’s utterly amazing what the animal world can show us if we just look.
It’s especially exquisite that it’s a pitbull we’re talking about. They are one of the most misunderstood breeds in the canine world.
We have pitbulls at the shelter who often stay here for months on end waiting for their forever homes. I have been out and about with pitbulls and have actually witnessed people stepping away from me because of the breed of dog I have on a leash.
I even have a volunteer who does not like pitbulls at all, regardless of the temperament of the dog.
A number of insurance companies won’t insure homeowners if they have a pitbull. Some cities have passed ordinances against the breed. Some airlines refuse to transport pitbulls for the safety of their staff.
And yet, I remember the photo of the male pitbull who wouldn’t leave his mate.
I see the pitbulls who have been adopted from the shelter, now in a happy home, with that trademark pitbull smile.
I’ve seen photos shared via email of pitbulls sleeping with small infants. Heck my brother specifically adopts pitbulls to be with his little daughters, my adorable nieces. The love I see between them is just amazing and poignant.
I talk to people who have pitbulls with their children and wouldn’t want another breed to help take care of their kids.
It breaks my heart that so many other people think they’re such an awful breed.
Pitbulls have gotten a bad reputation because of what human beings have done. You can make any dog mean if you try (why you would ever want to do such a thing is beyond my realm of comprehension, but you can).
Pitbulls are incredibly muscular, strong dogs. They have a wide jaw that has the ability to lock down on prey. They were bred to hunt and help with livestock and because of this, they make good fighting dogs, so human beings can make tons of money on their skills (bred into them by humans – you see the horrific cycle here).
Because they were initially bred as a cross between a terrier and a bulldog, they sometimes have the terrier tenacity, only in a much larger breed of dog.
None of which makes them bad dogs. At all.
We currently have a number of pitbulls up for adoption at the shelter who are basically 90-pound lap dogs. All they want to do is smooch and a cuddle.
I’m a firm believer that judgment should be reserved for actions, not speculation and conjecture. Yet, how often do human beings judge based on a blanket statement, lumping all parties of a group into a broad generalization?
That kind of judgment is so sad for pitbulls.
Take a look at some of the babies we have up for adoption and see if you can’t see the good in them. It’s there. I promise you.
And the next time you make a snap judgment about something, think of those all the pitties in the world who show devotion to human and canine alike and take a second to consider if maybe the person or animal you’re judging just might be misunderstood.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the Publications and Promotions Consultant for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at cvascomm@cvas-pets.org. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store
