June 10, 2006

 

One Dog's Opinion

Before I embark on what is basically a dog's op-ed piece, I just wanted to say thanks very much for all those birthday and post-attack well wishes. As so many of you know, we dogs love attention. More to the point, though, we're also deeply grateful and loyal beasts. And so I am very grateful to all of you.

As for what I think about the attack, well, I've been chewing it over for a while now. It's tough as rawhide. The trouble, of course, is that dogs just aren't very political. While I've naturally been called a Yellow-Dog Democrat, the truth is that I, like most dogs, have a strong libertarian streak. I jealously guard my own backyard and family but otherwise take a laissez faire attitude to things. If I were the Alpha of whole human world, I'd probably compose a bit of doggerel called "The Tao of Hank" and just try to encourage folks to live by it.

So, it's just not in my nature to propose any grand bans on the pit-bull breeds. Remember that French woman who was mauled so badly that she had to get a face transplant? Well, I'm sorry to say that was a Labrador retriever that hurt her. I don't want to be held responsible for that particular Lab's actions, and I'm sure there are pits who feel the same way when their fellow pits attack.

That’s not to say that I don’t hold individual dogs responsible for their actions. Contrary to what many humans think, we dogs have wills and spirits of our own. The pit that attacked me is a damnably dangerous animal. It should, frankly, be either trained to act differently or destroyed…else it will hurt others in the future.

But I tend to put most of the blame on people. Humans have shaped our natures with their constant interference in our mating habits. And they have bred pits to be quite undoggish in many ways. As Malcolm Gladwell said in a New Yorker piece, “Pit bulls…have been bred for ‘gameness,’ and thus a lowered inhibition to aggression. Most dogs fight as a last resort, when staring and growling fail. A pit bull is willing to fight with little or no provocation.” I will personally attest to this.

Most of the writers about pit bulls – both the defenders and detractors – dwell on pit attacks on humans. Well, humans are my favorite subject, but we dogs should count for something as well, and I wish the writers on both sides would deal a little more with the dog’s perspective. Gladwell almost seems to discount the well-being of other dogs when he notes, “The supposedly troublesome characteristics of the pit-bull type – its gameness, its determination, its insensitivity to pain – are chiefly directed toward other dogs.” Um, could I ask why this is only “supposedly” troublesome?

According to Gladwell, a scientific review notes “that dogs not bred for fighting usually display defeat in combat by rolling over and exposing a light underside” whereas “on several occasions, pit bulls have been reported to disembowel dogs offering this signal of submission.” In other words, pits have literally had part of their dog nature bred out of them. From a human point of view, it’s as if Hitler had succeeded in his eugenics ambitions and was able to create some terrible form of human, mighty warriors without an ounce of natural human compassion. Pit bulls are the super soldiers of the dog world.

This is, of course, not the fault of the dogs. They are what they are – what they’re bred to be and what they’re trained to be. In many ways, they are the victims, especially those raised to engage in the despicable dog-fighting business. Those dog-fighting animals are essentially the blood-thirsty flesh-and-blood avatars of blood-thirsty humans, who don’t have the good excuse of having had their genes manipulated by some purportedly “master species.” In my opinion, humanity should be should be more concerned with this unholy side of itself than with the canine representatives of that unholiness.

We dogs are not angels, but we do tend to be innocents. I’m sure there are many fine pits in the world. Among dogs on the Web, Storm seems like a lovely pit bull. I even, you’ll notice, have a link to Defend-a-Bull on my blog because I think it’s important for pit bull defenders to have a voice. My own view is that unless human society carefully tracks dog attacks and diligently deals with the owners of dangerous dogs of all breeds, these problems won’t go away. And, for the sake of us all, dog and human alike, I think any person who pits dogs against one another – or breeds them for fighting – should be locked away in a human pound. After all, they’re giving the homo sapien breed a very bad reputation.

Comments:
I hope you are feeling better, HAnk, and I hope you are out enjoying nature again. :)
 
Please get better HANK!!!!!!!
 
I wholeheartedly agree that the magnitude of blame should be placed on the owners and trainers of wayward pit bulls. Therefore, I think an outright ban of the breed wouldn't do much good . A permit system of some sorts might help at least in keeping track of pitbull owners and help victims such as you and Molly track down and hold accountable the owner and pet alike. Kudos for the generosity & forgivenesss you have for your fellow canines.
 
Good to see you Hank!

Now you've got me thinking - perhaps there is a huge difference between the pits of today and the pits of the 20s and 30s - because of the breeding. There must be some reputable breeders out there though.

Four-foots need training, but humans need training - perhaps more so than four-foots. I've seen some folks do incredibly mean and stupid things to their four-foots. I don't understand why though. And I wonder sometimes if training would help elimnate that - or are some humans just impossible?

But I'm so glad you're looking well! Hope Molly is fine too.
 
Well said Hank! And, may I say, quite a handsome and charming picture. I'm glad you seem to have recovered so well.
 
Amen to that, Hank. Great post, and I'm glad you're feeling better.
 
Hi Hank,

Its so wonderful to see a new smiley happy picture on your blog. I am so glad you are feeling better, and I look forward to some "Extreme Mischief" from you soon :-)

Charlie

(GO LABS!)
 
Hank, great to see you back smiling again.
 
Mommy feeds me because I can't go shopping at Albertson's. She brings me to the vet because I can't hold on to the bus pass. She holds on to my leash because I like running really fast really far. I don't like little kids nor other dogs near my house. Mommy knows all this and she makes my territory safe, and it's not the other way around. There's a really good reason why humans are the responsible folk and not us dogs.... because we have better things to do: we rather be smelling butts and rolling in the grass. --endo
 
Humans often create problems when messing with nature. Glad you're feeling better!
 
Hank,glad you got through the
storm.Have a great weekend!
 
Hank~
Much thanks for that info,And we are glad that you are feeling better.

Woof!!!
 
Preach it Hank!
 
Hey Hank,

Sorry to read about the attack on you and Molly. I am very glad that Molly was not injured and that your injury is healin'.

As my secretary was readin' your great op-ed piece to me, it got me to thinkin' about my attitude towards LWDs (Little White Dogs). An all white dog (Sorry to all the white dogs out there.) is not a natural color for a dog. A polar bear, yes. A beluga, yes. I am use to seein' the shape of a dog in the colors of browns, blacks, greys, tans, golds, rusts, etc, and white patches with the aforebarked colors. Seein' something all white seems very strange. Something without color is runnin' towards me. It is shaped like a dog but it is not colored like a dog. All I can do is prepare myself for a possible altercation or flee.

Last weekend my secretary was talkin' to another canine guardian and the subject of LWDs came up. It turns out my behavior towards white dogs is not all that abnormal. Apparently, at times, white dogs can seen by other dogs as something strange. They appear as a negative shape which freaks some dogs out. It was mentioned to my typist that a well known dog trainer had stated a similar view. He said the best way to handle such a situation is to avoid white dogs. So that's what I do. I know I may be missin' out on makin' a new friend but white freaks me out.

A few more barks-
My dad does not own me. He is legally my Guardian. So he has responsibilities towards me as I have towards him. As a guardian, he also has responsibilities towards other dogs, their guardians and those humans unfortunate enough not to have a canine friend. I think the man with the pit bulls, in this case, thinks he OWNS those dogs. That kind of attitude and the mixed history of that breed helped create the incident at 'Gator Lake'.

I have seen many dogs leadin' their humans about on those retractable leads. It is impossible to properly control your human with those things. Especially when they are one two one two (30-50) feet behind you. Most laws state a lead of one two one two (5-6) feet is to be used. I use a one two one two (6) foot lead. For the most part it does a good job. I usually play out only one two one two (3-4) feet and that is fine. You notice that they are called LEADS not PULLS.

And a very belated HAPPY B-DAY.

Woof!

Freda
 
Get better hank! I have heard about the pit bull bans etc, some times it's not the dog but the way the dog has been brought up, I know some owners like to train their dogs in certain ways.
I am a dog and cat lover all the way!
 
Hank! I'm sorry to read about the attack! I hope you are feeling better.

My Simon was attacked by a black-lab and that wasn't pleasant either. But I'm terrified of pits. Most often due to the people having them then the dogs itself. And no matter how much people say that it has to do with how they are trained and so forth: they are dogs. And no matter how well trained a dog is: there could be an incident where the instinct takes over. And if the instinct of a pit is what you had quoted on your post: they should not be allowed to be off the leash - ever! I am so tired of people thinking that their dogs are all sweet and well behaved and then when they see Simon (lab mix) they attack him. He’s an old grumpy guy and most often just wants to get his belly scratched, eat, swim, chase rabbits and be left alone by other dogs.

You have a big heart Hank!
 
Poor Hank! A greyhound aggresssively chased me and then a pitbull attacked me the first and last time my human took me to a dog park. I was only 4 months month old at the time. I wasn't hurt bad but it sure scared me. We now keep our distance and avoid any pitbulls we see anywhere.
Big Wags,
Isabella
 
Hi Again Hank,

Thanks for your good wishes and paw-prayers - they must have worked because Gruffpuppy is feeling a lot better now.
I hope you are doing well to buddy!

RETRIEVERS RULE!

Luv Charlie
 
Hank, you speak with a bark of wisdom and forgiveness.
 
/bark bark bark

hank, damn i hate this happened. but as the good dag you are, you see it in the light of fairness and common sense. what is being proposed here is a ban on dangerous breeds and also, if you have one of these so called dangerous breeds you may not be able to get homeowners insurance.

its too bad. in college i had a pit bull mixed dog. an angel and a good and loyal protector, he never hurt anybody, as you said he had the "look" and that was enough.

take care of yourself and molly and know all the dogs over here in this yard are thinking of you.

/grrrrr
 
Hi Hank,

I hope you are feeling better! My human has started a blog anout me aswell! She has added you to her Just lab blog roll if you are feeling better please drop by for a visit.

Oh and happy belated birthday,
Taz (New Zealand)
 
Hank, you are as wise and fair as ever! I hope that others learn from you.

Since you know so many doggies and animal lovers, would you mind linking to the foster dog blog that my mom started?

http://www.fosterdogsblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Indy
 
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