Sixteen month old Destiny Marie Knox is dead after being attacked by a dog. The information coming in about the story is spotty, at best, at this point, but here is what we think we know.
Destiny was supposedly staying at a babysitter's mobile home off County Road 87 just outside of New Ablany, MS. The dog was one of at least 5 'pit bulls' on the property that were always left chained up outside. However, the dog somehow slipped out of its collar as the family was bringing groceries into the house, got through the open door, and attacked the young toddler.
While the story itself is tragic, what may be more tragic is the reaction of the officials that were interviewed that are already taling about "legislation" and "dog laws". But none of that will fix the problem we have here.
New Albany, like much of Missisissippi, has a very high percentage of its population living below poverty level (Mississippi as a whole is nearly 20%, New Albany is just below that). And this isn't the first incident of a significant tragedy along this stretch of County road 87 outside of New Ablany. Eighteen months ago, a child was killed due to child abuse along the same county road. Also on the property, which happened to also be a puppy mill, were over 180 dogs -- many of which were also victims of cruelty.
While it is "easy" for officials to blame a particular breed of dog in this incident, it's much more difficult for them to acknowledge a larger social issue at play here -- one that is at play in many parts of the country. In pockets across the US, we have have groups of people who are low-income and poorly educated....and many of these areas suffer a lot from violence. It appears that this stretch of County Road 87 is no different. And while we can talk things like dog breeds, it is really a distraction from the much larger issue -- which is that as a part of the overall lack of education that comes in these poor areas, so follows the lack of education on how we should properly keep our pets. Chaining continues to show itself as a horrible way to keep a dog as its primary form of containment -- and often leads to other issues -- including, often, aggression -- especially among those it has not been socialized with (in this case, a toddler who was not a member of the home).
Until we start realizing tragedies like this for what they are, a small part of a larger social issue, we will never make any progress in solving the problem. Breed of dog does not matter...but how the dogs are cared for does.
My heart goes out to all of the families involved in this tragedy.
I'll post more updates as they become available. At this point, only the Tupelo Newspaper and two of the local Tupelo TV stations are covering the incident, so information is coming in pretty slowly.
For the life of me, I have no idea why media people can't seem to even get the simplest things right when it comes to discssions on 'pit bulls'. Even those who are not being malicious in their content still don't seem to make even the faintest effort to understand pit bulls, or what is going on with them.
And while at least the recent Newsweek online article isn't malicious, it still has completely missed the point.
One glaring inaccuracy in the article stems around the total number of dogs that exist in the U.S. While the article quotes the number as being 61 million (no source is given), the 2006 AVMA Census gives a number of 72 million -- and growing -- so it is likely even greater than that now.
The article then goes on to say that the biggest "problem with pit bulls" is that people adopt these dogs for all the wrong reasons. Ok, I'm with her so far. But her reasons aren't the biggest problem for pit bulls by any stretch. She says that many people get the dogs for guard dogs -- but notes that they make for lousy guard dogs because they are too people-friendly. In some ways I do agree with this -- as dogs used for guarding tend to be trained to be aggressive toward all new humans without any ability to determine a friend vs a stranger*. I also agree that 'pit bulls' often make bad guard dogs because of their friendliness - and in fact, are such bad guard dogs that they often struggle to keep THEMSELVES from getting stolen.
*I think we often give dogs WAY too much credit in their ability to tell a friend from a stranger. Given that many people can't determine if a new person is of ill-intent or not until it's too late, it is unrealistic to think a dog could make this determination. The result often ends up with a dog that is aggressive toward all new people.
The other "problem" the writer notes is that she thinks people get one just because Rachael Ray has one -- and that the trendiest of owners want a blue pit bull because they are rare.
People who want a dog as a fashion statement ala Racheal Ray are not the pit bull's biggest problem - -not by a long shot. These people are the problem for many breeds like Cavelier King Spaniels, Pugs and English Bulldogs who want dogs with a certain "look" that are encouraging the breeding of dogs for looks at the expense of the overall health of the dogs. They are also the problem for the high-priced "designer mutts" like Puggles and Labadoodles. But if someone wants a 'pit bull' as a fashion statement ala Rachael Ray, this is a far smaller problem than if someone wants one as a fashion statement ala Michael Vick.
But even THAT may not be the biggest problem facing 'pit bulls' right now. It's when writers like this one declare "pit bulls are public enemy #1". They aren't -- or at least certainly shouldn't be. And it is this perception, brought on repeatedly by writers like this one that spur issues like Breed Specific Legislation -- which the writer alludes to in one sentence at the very end of the story. It seems to me that the laws and restrictions that are created specifically against 'pit bulls' is their biggest problem. It is these laws that prevent them from being able to be adopted in many good homes. It is these laws that often prevent shelters from adopting them out at all. It is these laws that force otherwise good dogs in otherwise good homes to meet almost certain death in the shelters.
Go ahead and read the article. It really isn't all bad and is actually a little empathetic toward the plight of pit bulls in this country. But it's just painful when the news media can't do enough research to get basic stats right -- or to understand the topics they're writing about.
When Rachael Ray fans are the biggest problem facing 'pit bulls' in this country, then I will not have much to do here as a blogger...
UPDATE: Newsweek has a SECOND editorial on the topic -- This story is actually by the same author as the first one -- but this one actually makes sense. Here's a quote:
My reporting revealed that my issue isn’t with the dog – it’s with people. We are the ones that are ultimately responsible for the dogs – including the dog’s reputation. Pit bull owners have to be realistic about the potential for their dogs to do damage. It’s a dog. If you can concede that all dogs can potentially cause problems, that means yours can too. And the haters, don’t go into a feeding frenzy of misinformation. It’s ugly.
We’re proud to unofficially unveil the sign that will welcome visitors to “Newt’s Nook — A Home for Pitbulls.”
Now under construction in Celina, Texas, the shelter was made possible by a $5,000-plus donation from a Dallas strip club owner — the amount being a refund of what she paid to attend a dinner to receive an “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from Newt Gingrich’s organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future.
American Solutions, as we told you yesterday, mistakenly bestowed the honor on Dawn Rizos, the owner of The Lodge, a popular Dallas strip club.
When former Speaker of the House Gingrich, a week before the awards ceremony, uninvited Rizos, he agreed to refund the $5,000 that she, as instructed, had submitted in exchange for the privilege of eating dinner with him. He refunded her airfare as well.
“At first our feelings were hurt,” Rizos said. “But then we figured at least we could make something positive out of his bad manners.”
About the same time Rizos got her refund, she heard that Animal Guardians of America had an urgent need for a heated and air-conditioned shelter for rescue dogs, primarily pit bulls, at its sanctuary in Celina.
“We do a lot of charitable work and we love animal rescue groups,” Ms. Rizos said. “The cost was about the same as the amount Newt sent back to us, so we decided to do something good with it.”
The formal dedication for Newt’s Nook is scheduled for early November.
“We’re sorry that Dawn was treated so unfairly,” said Annette Lambert, director of the Animal Guardians chapter in North Texas. “But this will be great for a lot of wonderful dogs. I hope Newt will stop by sometime to see what we’ve built in his name.”
Rizos says Gingrich is invited to the opening, as well as to The Lodge, which describes itself as “the country’s best-known and most-honored gentlemen’s club,” and one that has “set national standards for elegance and integrity, and helps hundreds of people support their families and improve their lives.”
“He’s always welcome at The Lodge,” Ms. Rizos said. “We don’t hold a grudge. And we still have a lot to talk about.”
(Photo: The sign, created by The Lodge bartender Bryan Callaway, that will welcome pit bulls to their new shelter; courtesy of Mike Precker)
Because this breed is so discriminated against, something that has gone through my mind, and I’m sure the minds of many other non-Pit Bull owners, is: Why would anyone get a Pit Bull? There’s so much trouble associated with them!
Well, folks, after editing the latest “Lost Souls: Found!” book about Pit Bulls, I can finally see the light! These dogs apparently make wonderful, loyal, and playful companions when treated with love and respect. I’m very glad that Happy Tails Books decided to publish our final book of the year about Pit Bulls. It’s turning out to be one of our best books yet! The Foreword was written by Linda Blair, famous actress and Pit Bull rights advocate. The book is available for pre-sale at Happy Tails Books.
Here’s a sneak preview of one of our stories by Erin Cahill, titled “Spice of Life.”
Pepper, a Pit Bull featured in "Lost Souls: Found!"
My husband always had dogs as his best friends growing up; I did not. He was always the rescue type, who wanted people to see that the dogs considered “vicious” by many were actually the most loyal and amazing companions. So when he first suggested that we rescue a Pit Bull, I was concerned! I thought of all the horrible news stories I had seen and how I wanted children one day. Could I have a Pit Bull around a young child, I wondered?
I was still a little hesitant when we met the available Pitties at a rescue named “For the Love of Pits.” My husband was instantly great with all of them, and I started to see the many good qualities he saw in Pit Bulls as I watched them interact. We ended up with Pepper, our sweet girl, who was found by two little old ladies in a snowstorm. The instant I saw her, I wanted to take her home.
At first, the people in our neighborhood were skeptical of Pepper and we got a lot of stares and questions. After getting to know her, however, most of the skeptics looked forward to seeing Pepper around town. Our mailman left her a biscuit daily, and our neighbors all came out to pet her when we walked by. People asked if Pepper could come over to play with their dogs. Everyone loved Pepper the Pit Bull!
My dad, who has always had difficulty with dogs due to allergies, even adores Pepper. He takes her on walks and for car rides, and when we go out of town, it’s like a vacation for him to babysit her. For Christmas, Pepper gets more presents than my husband and I do!
Last January, we welcomed a new addition to our family–a baby girl named Gabriella. When she was born, she had some breathing issues and was hospitalized several times. One time when Gabriella started breathing heavier after we gave her some medicine, Pepper ran back and forth between my husband and me as if she was saying, please, help Gabriella! He was obviously concerned for her.
People told us that when our daughter was born we would love Pepper less, but they were so wrong! Pepper is still just as much a part of our family now that she’s a “big sister.” I look back at the question I asked about having a child and a Pit Bull, and I can’t imagine our lives without Pepper. Our daughter adores her; in fact, her very first belly laugh was watching Pepper and her dad play. Like the spice, Pepper gives our life zest, and I wouldn’t give her up for anything!
If you liked that post, then try these...
UP COUNTRY Donates a Collar and Lead Set for Every Dog Adopted Through the RISPCA by feltboots on October 30th, 2009
Conquering the Black Dog Syndrome by HarleysMission on October 25th, 2009
How to Prevent Overcrowding in Animal Shelters by Leslie Brown on October 22nd, 2009
Washington Animal Rescue League and DogCentric Celebrate Partnership by Allison Rivers on October 19th, 2009
Dog Show Reality by Joy Lawson Jones on October 13th, 2009
Once again, the fine folks in Kansas City got together to celebrate National Pit Bull Awareness Day -- and our Roverlution Event. It is a great opportunity for us to get together with others just to share the great story about how great of dogs "pit bulls' are -- once you remove all of the media hysteria from the equation.
This is an event that is held in over 90 cities across the country.
The event drummed up quite a bit of national and local positive press for the bullies -- which is yet another great reason to host the events. And they're fun. Below are some photos from our event as well as some coverage of events from across the country:
Miami-Dade County/Broward County, FL
A note from Bless the Bullys -- who is the starter of the Pit Bull Awareness Day event -- I'm sure Jodi will be posting more pictures as the week progresses, so check back with them.
And here is a video from our Kansas City Event. The following pics are from our event also.
Quite a few dogs were in Costume. Including this "boxer".
Some of you may recognize this dashing-looking pirate -- this is Boomer. Boomer was rescued from a hoarding situation in Northern Oklahoma last December.
