The Pit Bull Who Could Only Forgive
It is 1985 and I am in my third year of veterinary school at UC Davis. I find my values and ethics being challenged to the limit. I want to be a good vet. I want to heal animals. And damn it, I want to save their precious lives! We are being taught how to perform medical procedures and surgeries on real live dogs that are to be sacrificed when we are finished. Even more tragic, the gentlest dogs to work with are not killed and instead are rewarded with a promotion to become guinea pigs for the medical research department. This is how I meet Petey, named after the dog in the Little Rascals. Petey was a Pit Bull. Petey won my heart. Petey was liberated the day I graduated. I had told him to hang on and I would get him out and I did.
Denied the protective arms of the respected human-animal bond, Petey’s life had not been cherished and valued. His dog life was stolen and yet Petey only wanted to forgive. So, why does a dog give four years of his life to humans who see him only as a lab animal and not fight back? The answer is simple: this remarkable dog modeled the traits of his true pedigree. Traits that show the American Pit Bull Terrier to be a courageous dog, used in law enforcement activities and search & rescue missions. Traits that show this breed to have a good temperament around people and therefore to be worthy of our trust and admiration. Traits that have famously earned them the title of the “nanny dog” and the right to be cherished family members.
So, what the hell happened? How have Pit Bulls become so feared by society that they have been condemned in cities across the country and are waiting to die in animal shelters? A depressingly sad, disgraceful example of how animals once again suffer at the hands of those who have failed to see the real problem; a society of the mentally blind who find it easier to discriminate than to ask questions.
When you study all the facts leading up to dog attacks on a human or another dog, there is always a sad history of human neglect, sometimes to the point of abuse, such as dog fighting—pointing the finger at humans! In addition to neglect and abuse, many of these dogs are encouraged to be aggressive to protect unlawful activities. Others have just been left tied up in backyards, denied human companionship and socialization—both leading causes of aggression in a dog regardless of breed!
Devoted canine companions or killers? Unquestionably, the fate of every dog is determined by human intent. Dogs that have been touched only by hands of human kindness and understood by an open mind show us the true meaning of that popular phrase: “man’s best friend”. However, in a society that fails to protect the lives and welfare of its companion animal population, human greed and ignorance are becoming the domestic dogs’ worst enemy.
It is time to tell the truth. It is time to admit that breed bans are dangerously discriminatory. Time to admit that ignorance and fear have stolen the rational minds of our lawmakers. Time to question the sanity of killing an animal that means no harm simply because it looks like or is a “Pit Bull”.
We all live with danger every day. Women live with the fear of being beaten by their boyfriends or husbands. Children suffer at the hands of pedophiles. The innocent teenager is killed by a drunk driver. Is it rational to fear all men as a danger to women? Should we suspect all adults of being child molesters? Is every car driver a killer? Of course not. We must seek to educate and practice crime prevention. Crime is a failure of society, not a breed of dog!
Nancy Grace will no doubt continue her rant about these dangerous killer dogs. She like most lazy folks gets her information by watching the six o’clock news. Nancy has not witnessed the stories of bravely optimistic people who saw a dog in trouble, not the shape of its head. People who heard the cries for help, not the voices of fear. People who fed starving dogs. People who took injured dogs to the vet. These people opened their homes and hearts to society’s outcasts. They are my heroes. They give me real hope that one day Breed Specific Legislation will be recognized as a tragic failure, shamefully buried in the history books.
Until then and in honor of my brave-hearted dog, I will continue to battle all forms of breed discrimination. Petey left a big paw print on my soul and a big job for me to finish.
Dr. Paula Terifaj has been an inspiration to the Founders of Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club. She has stood strong against B.S.L. and against those who would like to continue the stereotypes of Pit Bulls as being vicious beasts. We hope and pray that more people will consider her message and realize that we need to "Punish the Deed and Not the Breed" and put an end to BSL. We also need to start looking at the owners/humans and how they have treated the dogs that do bite/attack. Behind every dog bite there is a human who acted inappropriately, either with ignorance or malice.
Dr. Paula Terifaj is also Owner/Operator of DogSpa Resort & Wellness Center in Desert Hot Springs, CA. To find out more about this fabulous resort for you and your Paw, please visit dogsparesort.com
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