Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger
Just because there are a lot of weird dog people who value animals more than they do humans doesn't make it ok.
|
There are people who are eccentric in all aspects of life.. The truth lies in the meaty part of the bell curve.
My sister has a blue-nose pitbull and while he is a great dog, he is tenacious and I wouldn't trust him around my child unsupervised. She, on the other hand is convinced he would never hurt a child and will let him hang around her infant child unsupervised.
Our family boxer is probably one of the most affectionate dogs I know (I
might be slightly biased). He loves the neighbourhood children and we often let him off leash while we are puttering around the front yard (we live in a cul-de-sac), he is extremely friendly and we had never had a violent incident until last summer.
My wife was suntanning in the back yard and the meter reader came walking around the corner and startled our dog, he proceeded to snarl and charged at the meter reader who bolted back through the gate to the other side of the fence. Had my wife not witnessed it I would never have believed it could happen.
I am not sure he would have attacked the guy, but the fact is, as much as you think you know your dog, when instincts and self preservation kick in, they can be dangerous.
There should be aptitude tests and licenses required for all dog owners. Dog ownership is a privilege, and anyone who cares enough about the animals should have no problem ensuring they are fit to co-habitate.