Doggie debate: Pit Bull owner defends controversial pet

PHOTO BY AMIE MERYDITH

Amie Merydith
Staff writer

I love dogs. I really love most all animals, but more than anything I love my dogs. I love sitting around talking to people and telling stories about my dogs and their silly antics.  Like the time Smokey went to the vet and was scared to death until he saw a pretty blonde girl walk by and he perked up and started whining for her attention.

Or the time Boss was at PetSmart and a little girl was petting her and she licked her in the ear.  People think these stories are cute and funny and then they ask the question.  The question that I dread, “What kind of dog do you have?”  I answer fearfully: a pit bull.

The problem isn’t that I want people to approve of me and my decision to own this type of dog or even that I want them to like my dogs.  I just want my dogs to have a fair shot at being liked or even appreciated for being wonderful pets.

I understand the responsibility of owning a “dangerous breed” of dog.  My dangerous breed of dog has a good life, but they also understand who their boss is.  My boyfriend and I have two pit bulls Boss and Smokey, both blue American Pit Bull Terriers.  The difficulty with owning a pit bull is not in any way difficult because of the dog. It’s difficult with other dog owners and people who misunderstand the breed.

To better explain this, I’m going to give a daily routine of my dogs’ life.  First of all my dogs are kept in a large pen behind my house, which I rent.  The pen is secured by two chains and two padlocks; this is so that no one will steal my dogs and escaping isn’t an option.

They have a large dog house so both of them can snuggle when it is cold or escape from the Panhandle wind.  They also have a nice heat lamp in case the weather isn’t as snuggly as they prefer.

We feed them twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night, and whatever table scraps we have left over.

My dogs weigh a combined 180 pounds, so unlike other dogs we can’t just get them out to run around the yard.  Exercise can be more difficult because we would be irresponsible “dangerous breed” dog owners to just let them out for a while.

We use strong leashes and are very careful to walk in areas where no stray dogs are running around.  This is the problem, we are so careful not to let our dogs roam freely, but other dog owners let their dogs run around and then freak out whenever my dog wants to play and starts leaning toward their dog.

I wish I had a dollar for every time we had to pick up our dogs because someone else’s dogs are trying to attack our dogs.

I think everyone has a dog that doesn’t like someone and they might growl at them, this is no different for my dogs; they can learn to love anyone.

I used to have a rat terrier that bit three people and yet, that aggressive breed isn’t banned anywhere. Slowly but surely my dogs change people opinions of this dangerous breed because of their sweet nature and good behavior.

My favorite example is my mother; she hated Smokey, my male dog who is 3.  She hated him because she never tried to establish a relationship with him and she feared him.

After giving him a roast to eat, Smokey and my mom love each other.

Every time she comes to visit he gets his own special treat.

People who abuse the privilege of having a pit bull make the entire pit bull owning population angry because of the steps we take to be respectable dog owners.

Dog fighting and using them as “guard” dogs is embarrassing to those of us who use them as members of our families.

My dogs eat better than most people and live better than I do most of the time.  Once again, I don’t want to change anyone’s opinion. I just want people to think that maybe, just maybe not all pit bulls are vicious child biting animals.

Oh and I almost forgot, Smokey and Boss have two best friends: Gizmo and Tiki my little Chihuahuas.