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I'm sorry you were in hospital. I've had similar upper body muscle strain and it's a pain like no other. Glad it's not something more serious... I'm not afraid of any breed of dog in particular, not even what you refer to as "Bully Breeds". Thank goodness I've always been around purebred pits who have very conscientious owners and I have a lot of affection for the breed. There are actually several breeds that are all lumped together by many under the name "pitbull" and knowing the difference is vital in training and determining temperament and a very big reason pits get a bad name. American Pit Bull Terriers do not have a prey drive, they operate with a defense drive. I think when you refer to pitbulls having a high prey drive you're thinking of the American Staffordshire Terrier, which has a very high prey drive. I think the leash law is necessary and helps keep everyone safe, including the animal that is leashed. But I strongly feel the responsibility for a dog's behavior lies with the owner regardless of external stimuli.— January 11, 2011 2:18 p.m.
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Mindy, I'm sorry if I offended you, and even sorrier that you would decide not to read any other blog of mine as a result. It was not my intention. Can you understand that the thought of a dog being out in public where my small child may be perceived as prey is frightening? My husband has had several very well trained pits in his life, all of which would never consider going after anything as "prey" unless directed to do so by him. On a side note, down the street my daughter and I were charged by a group of three or four chihuahuas and it was extremely frightening. Those little dogs can be very vicious and get a pack mentality just like bigger dogs. I don't think any dog should be off leash in public areas and I feel the same about cats in many ways. Although they are not as dangerous as dogs they dig in my garden beds and leave surprises and if not fixed can create a kitten epidemic in no time. Just last week I was walking between two buildings, carrying heavy items and a man was walking his two dogs. I'm not afraid of dogs in general and as they were leashed didn't give them a second thought, just moved over a bit so we had equal parts of sidewalk. As we came abreast of one another the dogs lunged at me and he had to man-handle them, physically restraining them from lunging at my face. It was terrifying. I was so thankful that my daughter had not been standing next to me, because they probably would have been able to reach her and the man obviously was just barely controlling his animals. I strongly feel that dogs who do that sort of thing should not be near other people. I understand some dogs have been abused and do not know better, and that is a tragedy in itself, but they should not be out where they can subject other people, who may have fears of dogs already, to their behavior.— January 10, 2011 7 a.m.
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Hi Mindy, Thanks for your response. I'm not sure how to respond to your assertion that small dogs put your dogs at risk because your dogs have a high prey-drive. It shouldn't matter if the streets are filled with squealing children and yapping chihuahuas. Either your dogs are well trained enough to be let off your property or they aren't. End of story, in my opinion. I understand your concerns about reporting the sewage issue. I'm still on the fence about that one. But then, I came from a land where a person can't peer over a fence to see his neighbors transgressions. Complacency? Maybe. Perhaps it's just a touch of live and let live. But I also may not understand the complexity of the suburban sewage system. My point was that I've had to balance just how close people live here: What is private? What is public? Is this my business? in a way that I've never had to do before. Rather than becoming the neighborhood gestapo I've learned to stand my ground when on "my" ground but wave when I'm on the shared streets. How do you balance this type of environment? Sincerely, Isadora— January 7, 2011 9:32 a.m.