A Tale of Two Pitbulls

[MeSheLL]

A Tale of Two Pitbulls

Written by: Bill Wise
Athens-Clarke County Animal Control, Georgia

The Pit Bull never ceases to amaze me. I have never seen a breed so mistreated, misused, or misunderstood but still maintain an undying devotion to humans. There is something about a Pitbull that makes them entirely devoted to their masters.
It seems like a breed that has been exploited in blood sports would eventually turn against humans. Pitbulls are put through rigorous training and brutality in the ring, and are abused by wanna-be dog fighters who think a mean dog is a better fighter. But (putting all media myths aside), they remain an extremely loyal dog. Loyal even to those who abuse them.

It is extremely rare that I have had to deal with an aggressive Pitbull on the job. Most are extremely loving and affectionate. We have had a few good examples lately. One dog was a large, white, male Pitbull mix. His owner was escorted to the ACC Jail on drug charges. We ended up with the dog. He was scarred head to toe. Many of his wounds were still fresh. His ears were ripped and bleeding. His back leg was so infected that it swelled and swelled and could not support any weight. Touching it would cause blood and puss to leak from several of the open wounds.
There is little doubt this was caused by a dogfight. Not the kind where two strays get into it, but a fight where drugs and money were bet on the dog that wouldn't turn a shoulder to his opponent and fight to exhaustion or death. There was also a deep gash on his neck. The gaping gash was stitched shut, but not by a vet.
If you were stuck in a ring and forced to fight, suffered deep wounds (that would kill most other types of dogs), and were stitched up with a needle and fishing line, would you be happy to see the person who subjected you to this? Would you not turn and bite any person that approached you?
But, even though his leg was so swollen he could barely stand, this guy would always get up when you approached his pen. His little nub of a tail would flick back and forth like a schoolteacher's finger scolding a child. His entire rear end would often join in rocking him back and forth. Extremely loving. But how?

Another pit that was just at the shelter was a four month old female; a chocolate colored, cute little girl named Leah. She had a brown nose and beautiful yellowish eyes. But she had been horribly maimed. Some thug who decided he wanted a fighting dog tried to crop her ears on his own. Leah's ears were just bloody infected stubs. I can't imagine how he held her down and what he used to just lop off the ears. No regard to even trying to make a good cut or treating for infection. Just cut 'em right off. But did she hate humans after that unpleasant experience? No. She would always wag her tail when we came to get her out of her pen. As I applied peroxide and ointment she just licked and licked my face, hands, or whatever she could get her tongue near. How could she remain so loving and affectionate? Leah
The affectionate, loving nature of Pit Bulls makes them wonderful pets. Of course there are things you must be aware of when owning a dog that has a history of use in bloodsports. But all in all, pitbulls make very loving and loyal companions. Smart ownership can avoid any kind of mishaps or tragedies.