It's Not About Pit Bulls, It's About Pity On A Family Being Bullied

Excuse me while I get political, I mean pit bull. Having pits as pets divides the nation almost as much as this months presidential election; most people have a strong opinion one way or the other. There's a wealth of knowledge on the Internet yet depending what site you visit, you're not guaranteed accurate information.

I love pits and as most of you know, I'm a self-proclaimed pittie advocate. I've visited sites of those against pits and they make me nervous. They make me very nervous; nervous because of how powerful the written word is and how an article filled with 'facts' can sway a person so quickly.

While my kids are sound asleep and cuddling our dogs, one of which is a pit, I see the news stories about pit bull attacks. While my kids are dressing our pit into a fairy princess in the morning, I read about pit bull attacks in the paper. Pit bull attack stories sell, that's why the media jumps on them. Whether or not you are a pit lover or you are scared of pits, the headline grabs you and stops you in your tracks.

Disturbingly enough, the most recent article I have read is hitting close to home, around 8 miles from home. What's most disturbing is from what I take from the article 'Wilmette residents sue neighbors who own pit bull' is that not much of anything is based on fact, except the actual lawsuit. I'm not a dog behaviorist, however, I'm fairly certain dogs don't go out 'hunting' other dogs. Nor am I a lawyer, however I'm fairly certain much of this lawsuit is based on four families that are trying to sue someone over their own fears. Imagine if we all had lawsuits against our neighbors over things we feared in our minds. Things that haven't happened yet but hypothetically could happen. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

I can't imagine waking up one morning to find out someone was not only against the dogs I chose to keep in my own house but also took the time to recruit neighbors and contact the media with a hot selling pit story.

I'm assuming while those four families listed in the lawsuit have huddled together to make a big deal of something they fear in their own minds; there is a group of pit lovers, advocates, guardians, etc. that will also come together to support this family that is being 'bullied' by their neighbors.

Can't we work things out with our neighbors without getting the court system and the community involved?  Can't we all just get along?