To the person who’s cat was killed by two “at large” Shar Pei dogs, my utmost sympathy.

To the children who witnessed the carnage, my apology. I apologize not for the fact that I was at fault. Indeed, these dogs were not mine. I apologize for the human owner(s) who has/have no conscience to be responsible dog owners.

If I allowed my dog to run free or escape to commit death or harm, that is my fault, not the dog’s.

In the past, I have owned part-breed Shar Pei. One of the most loving and kind dogs I ever owned was half Shar Pei, half Staffordshire Terrier, the latter of which most of civilized society has labled “pit bull.” Butch was loyal and kind, loved my kids, was not aggressive to other animals. She was what I call a “hand-me-down” dog. Her owners no longer could keep her, as they moved to an apartment.

What a loss for them. Kudos to those who had her as a pup. Butch was 4 years old when I took her, and 15 when she died. She lived with kids, was in contact with strangers, lived with adults, both male and female, several cats who slept with her, other dogs, horses, pigs, poultry.

My point is this. Humans can encourage violence in dogs, human children, anything! You can create violence in anything good if it is treated with violence, neglect and ignorance. If these components are in place, you will reap just that.

If humans are ignorant, violent and neglectful, (as are many in this valley) to the ebb and flow of dog nature, just as human nature, then dogs will suffer because their human owners have no sense, empathy or education to correct and control anything.

Not just dogs. I beg you to look at these people who own the problem dogs. What else about them is maladjusted? I assure you, it is not just their dogs.

Indeed, some breeds were bred for violent “sport” in their early years with humanity. Bred to entertain us. And so, let us not condemn a “violent” breed lest you look long and hard upon the way it was obtained. Ignorance breeds ignorance. Let it stop with you.

I now own, because of Butch, a full blood Shar Pei. He is 4 months old now and learning how to be a well-adjusted dog right now. Go figure.

BARBARA EPP-DUNN
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 9:13 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.