The Emporia Gazette

Posted on August 3 at 7:30 a.m.

I am a fan of pit bulls. I think they are just the sweetest dogs with wonderful and patient personalities. I am convinced that it is truly owners poor decisions and judgement that lead to pit bull attacks. Pit bulls live purely to please their owners unconditionally, even if the task involves hurting another animal. It's easy to pass legislation that bans the breed, but harder to look within ourselves to see how much we are prejudiced against this breed.

A short story about my personal encounter with a pit bull: I was recently walking through a park when I saw a pit bull and his owner. The dog seemed to be relaxed and inviting. I walked over to the two and asked the owner if his dog was indeed a pit bull. As the owner explained that his dog was a pit bull, the dog walked over to me and rubbed against my leg with his head. I let him sniff my hand. I started to scratch his head as I was speaking with the owner about how poorly pit bulls are understood and what great pets they make. As I was letting him sniff me I started to think that there could be people around me in the park that may be thinking "How can she just put her hand out for that pit bull to sniff? Doesn't she know it's going to bit her hand!". He sniffed me hand and lowered his head almost asking to be petted.

This was a completely strange dog and he let me walk right up to him and pat him. As I was scratching his head I started to think of all of the other dog breeds that aren't as relaxed and accepting. Like smaller dogs that will often growl and bark and snap when they are approached or larger dogs that jump on people. This dog did not move an inch as I scratched his head. He permitted me, a complete stranger to not only approach him and his owner, but to touch him.

Do I belive that pit bulls are blood thirsty killers? No. What do I think they are? Oversized teddy bears.

On Pit bulls only as dangerous as their owners, ASPCA tells city