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Newark, NJ – The world needs more positive pit bull stories.
That’s the sentiment behind a recent social media post from the Friends of the Associated Humane Society, a volunteer-run group that supports the Newark-based animal shelter.
The much-maligned canine group is “victimized more so than any other breed ever before,” the FAHS states.
And that’s why they shared the story of Lady, a recently adopted pit bull from the Newark AHS.
Lady’s new guardians wrote:
Today when I wasn't home, my husband - who has MS - was going up the ramp to our shed with his motorized wheel chair… Lady kept barking at my husband as he was going up the ramp.
I guess she was trying to warn him not to go, because the wheel chair toppled over the ramp and my husband fell, but thankfully he didn't get hurt. He was on the ground until I returned home and Lady was barking non-stop, probably trying to get help.
Lady’s owners continued:
“Another time, Lady warned me when my husband was losing his balance by barking loudly and running to him… She got my attention and I was able to get to him before he fell.”
PIT BULL STIGMA
Following multiple recent dog attacks in Essex County, several Patch readers reached out to express concern about the safety of owning pit bull breeds in densely populated areas.
- See related article: Pit Bull Mix Attacks Nutley Infant: More Details Released
- See related article: Pit Bull Attacks Newark Woman On Leslie Street: Police
However, just as many readers expressed worry that pit bulls are getting a bad rap due to fear and misunderstanding.
- See related article: N.J. Readers Weigh In: Are Pit Bulls Dangerous?
Comments on previous Patch stories included:
- “People don't understand the breed. They hear stories and gain prejudices against them. A while back rotties where the worst, then it was Doberman pinchers and so on. The problem lies with over breeding, popularity and ignorant people wanting to show their dogs off without socializing them or chaining them up.”
- “The many that I have taken from shelters have never hurt a soul.”
- “I have been handling pit bulls for years, for the most part no they often are not dangerous they are quite lovable, they are loyal to a fault, and often times very playful with kids and other animals. However due to their loyalty flaws it often leaves them manipulated by nasty people into treating them and training them for foul means. Meaning it’s not the breed that’s bad, it’s those people who mistreat them and abuse them for the sake of making them into fighting dogs and inappropriately trained guard dogs… Pit bulls are not dangerous animals you just need to do your homework on how to train them and handle them, love them and treat them right train em right and they make the best to have.”
- “Being an owner/rescuer of pit bulls myself, I can say with certainty that it takes a specific type of person to own these dogs. Yes, they are strong and sometimes stubborn, but they are also intelligent and loving animals. Dogs bite for a reason, and simply put any animal with teeth will bite. I say let's not blame a "breed" of dogs, but rather blame the "owners" that shouldn't really be owners at all.”
- “I've met, worked with, and eventually had to put down a golden retriever that took the face off a 2 year old. Literally. Off. Dogs can be good or bad. Owners can be good or bad. You need a combination of both being good to have a good dog as an end result. How many dogs have you owned in your life? How many were Bully breeds? I have owned over 10 dogs in my life. 6 of them were Pitties or Pittie mixes. ALL of them were good dogs due to diligent training and hard work.”
- “I worked in an all-breed, all-animal shelter and rescue in NJ for over 10 years. I worked directly with animal control for 5 years. I am a certified dog trainer and behavior specialist. I've worked with literally thousands of dogs over my time. I've seen bad dogs and good dogs of all breeds. More often than not, if the dog is bad, it is a direct result of poor pet care and ownership. Irresponsibility. Not breed.”
Pit bull supporters also weighed in heavily on Patch social media posts:
- “Punish the deed, not the breed.”
- “They are as safe to own as any breed. It's all about training, socialization, and environment. It's the ignorance that's dangerous.”
- “The news never reports on how many people get bit by chihuahuas and the like… Personally I find them worse than pitbulls and other strong dogs… Any dog can bite, but as you say, it's down to the owner to provide training and socialization.”
Agree or disagree with these reader statements? Let us know why in the comments section.
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