My neighborhood is no Madison Park, but we are happy in our colorful little neck of the woods with neighbors from all over the world within earshot. Dogs and children run amok. Little "orange kitty" visits me every day at my back patio looking for some ear scratches. "Black and white" stays clear. "Bobtail" is elusive. Raccoon eat the eggs I set out for them, squirrels wait at the deck for nuts, and our feeders are filled with so many birds that its like a Disney movie in my back yard. I even have a band-tailed pigeon which visits from time to time. We love all the critters that hang out here.
Little Capone is the neighborhood's "always getting loose" dog. He's gorgeous--kind of that velvety blue/gray that some pits exude. And he's the smallest pit I have ever seen, but he's a stocky mass of muscle with short, shiny fur. Fat, thick and heart-shaped head. Rough and tough exterior, but sweet and wags his tail like a well-behaved gentleman. There's just one issue. Not only is his house constantly filled with the unseemly type, but it reverberates a bass that would injure even my ears if I had to listen to it that often. I understand why he always wants to escape. As such, I feel he could have more caring owners. Ones who turn the music to a reasonable level, and ones that socialize him with other dogs. Once, I asked how he was with other dogs, and one person said, "He's fine as long as nothin' happens." What could that mean??
I have taken Capone back to his house a number of times since we have lived here, and I probably will continue to do so. He doesn't seem unhappy or unfed. He doesn't appear beaten or abused. He talks to me when it's dark, because it's scary having a stranger come up to you, but he still wags his tail. He likes me. He loves his ears scratched and body massaged. He's a good boy for the most part. He doesn't even chase cats in the neighborhood, but is definitely curious about them.
So, while out on a walk with the little ones recently, Capone came a-running up, and it scared me. So much so that I wouldn't let him near my puppies. Was this wrong? Did I over-react? He seemed curious and interested, but those words came back to me, "He's fine as long as nuthin' happens." It was 20 minutes before I got the boys back to the yard. And another 20 minutes to get Capone home after my kids were safe and behind a gate. And another 20 minutes for me to realize that I hurt my wrist when I was corralling the boys beneath me. I know I scared the heck out of the puppies, but and yet, I also realized that my protective mother mode kicked in.
Capone, while great with humans, could injure my boys badly...if sumthin' happened. And I know it's cruel to judge an already stereotyped dog like that, but it's not Capone I am judging, I am judging the poor care of his owners. That they don't socialize him. That they don't have control of him. That they can't find him 3 out of 7 days a week. Therein lies potential for harm.
Not only that, Ted and I want to bring Tyson over to meet the boys and get him accustomed to other dogs. What if I had Tyson on a walk, who already has aggression with dogs, and Capone came just trotting along? With Ted, we have the security of two humans, one for each dog, but alone, I am no match for those two. I know I would do something stupid like try to get them apart. What is the best thing to do in this case? The worst part of this could be that my dog may start the problem, but Capone would get the bad rap because of his breed. What a rotten situation for both guys. Ugh how frustrating for really great animals to be mistreated or abused or poorly socialized to the point where our faults get them in trouble. It's not the little, cuddly, furry puppy that hopes to grow up angry, but the fault of the owners who help that aggression right along by not caring for strong and potentially aggressive breeds. Let's face it, neither of those dogs is a happy go lucky golden retriever...
I think it is probably better to anticipate potential, than to arrive at all of this carefree. I'll take my chances that I am wrong, and save everyone heartache in the end. The safety of all critters in question is far more important than proving a point to society. They deserve to be protected even if that protection means avoidance.
The worst part of all of this is I missed my day with Tyson. My adrenaline had kicked in so much I just plopped down on my sofa afterward and passed out. Sorry, Tyson. I miss you, boy.
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