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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2011)
OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE “Dog mauls child,” the newscaster an nounced. “Details at 6.” I turned to my part ner: “Well, we know it wasn’t a pitbull. If it were, they’d be screaming it.” There was a time— as an R.E.I.-style dyke with two Labrador retrievers— that pitbulls struck fear into my heart. One day my partner came across an emaciated female pitbull with five very small mixed-breed puppies; someone had abandoned them in the freezing rain in a North Portland park. Impressed with the mama’s calm demeanor under duress, we ended up keeping one o f the pups and I be came an accidental but devoted owner, friend, and protector o f the bully breeds. Many municipalities have outlawed pitbull and pitbull-type dogs, the current rogues of the canine world. O ur neighbors to the north in the city of Vancouver just considered— and, fortunately, rejected—just such a ban. Here in Oregon, the 6 o’clock news reported the tod dler was killed by the dog attack about which I heard the headline. As I guessed, it was not a pitbull. Though the breed involved is often used as a guard dog, no one decried its vicious nature or suggested it be banned. As a society we seem to need a villain, someone or something to distract us from critical issues we could sink our teeth into and make real headway solving if we could just get over our hysterical finger-pointing. More children die each year from abuse by caregiv ers than die from attacks by all kinds o f dogs voices’ Pitbull Pride JULY 1, 2011 Ü_J ä Consider these statistics. O f the dogs in volved in fatal attacks: • 90-97 percent (depending on the source) m id are not spayed or neutered. • 84 percent have been abused, neglected, BY MARY MANDEVILLE, DC and are not properly contained. combined. More children drown in swimming sive to humans. Many folks nod their heads at • 80 percent are chained dogs. pools or die in car accidents. The chances of this. “It’s all in how you raise em,” they say. • 78 percent are not kept as pets, but as being killed by a lightning strike are higher “It’s not the dogs, it’s the owners.” But ban guards or implements o f protection. than the chances of being killed by a dog. But ning the dogs does nothing to change the be • 3 out o f 4 attacks on children involve the we love drama, and the specter of the monster havior o f people. In the ‘70s, German shep family dog. pitbull and its sometimes real and sometimes herds were the bad dogs o f the day, in the ‘80s, Judging a dog by its build, ears, shape of imagined “gangsta” owner satisfies our need Doberman pinschers. head and slant o f eyes is nonsense. Due sim for sensation. A couple o f years ago, a legislator introduced ply to the skin they were born into, good dogs I have met, worked with and fostered nu a bill to ban bully breed dogs in Montana. My and responsible owners are punished along merous pitbull dogs. These pooches long to sister is active in local politics. She had never with the ill-temperamented and poorly bred, gain the approval— and the laps and pillows— seen more attendees at a committee hearing on the negligent and criminal. Judge the deed, of their human companions. The qualities old- any issue at any time. Passion was high, with not the breed. m time breeders valued for a dog in the pit— te sentiment running about 10 to 1 against the We’d improve safety by addressing social is nacity, fortitude, loyalty, determination— serve ban. Among the comments: sues underpinning cycles of abuse and neglect well in search and rescue, drug and bomb sniff “O ur son was mauled by a black Lab. But across ¿ill classes. Unless we address the reasons ing, therapy and making wonderful family pets. we’re not here to suggest Labs—or pitbulls— people want menacing dogs along with the In a recent study of 122 dog breeds conducted be banned. We re just looking for owner reasons they cruelly mistreat them, there will by the American Temperament Testing Soci responsibility.” be dangerous dogs o f one breed or another. ety, pitbulls achieved a passing rate equal to “My former boyfriend beat me up, broke Histrionic attitudes about pitbulls may sell standard poodles and better than golden re my arm and three ribs, punctured my lung. newspapers and grab viewers for poorly con trievers, beagles, Chihuahuas and a host of Nobody’s suggesting a ban on him, though I ceived evening news clips. But they do little to others. Even dogs rescued from fighting op wish they would.” help us to a saner, safer future. J0] erations (e.g., the infamous Vick dogs) have “We had two dogs when our child was earned Canine Good Citizen status. born, a cocker spaniel and a pitbull. One of M ary M andf . villf . wakes to a snoring pitbull As with any breed o f dog, pitbulls who are them started snapping at the baby and threat pup, head on the pillow, most mornings. Her p it abused, neglected, starved and otherwise mis ening to bite her. We had to get rid o f it. We bull dogs are part of the family. Find her at an- treated can, but don’t always, become aggres still have the pitbull.” imotionchiro.com. petlandia v ■* • • • • • • • • *•••••* * •••••* • • • • • • • • MOREL INK WEB STORE NOW OPEN! Print anything, mail anywhere. Formerly Wltham and Dickey Beth Allen Law 811 S.W. Naito Parkway Suite 420 Portland, OR 97204 www.BethAllenLaw.com Phone: 503.241.3103 Fax: 503.224.1123 Isn’t it time you hired lawyers who actually face the Call Bob Kincaid for Your Marketing Needs! 503-736-0111 * morelink.blz
