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I left Los Angeles and moved back to my hometown of Muncie, Indiana more than 10 years ago. Muncie aka Middletown USA, home of Garfield, Ball Jars and David Letterman’s Alma Matter, Ball State University. To my horror I soon found it was also well known for Dogfighting.
I eventually became an animal control officer for Delaware County. As an animal control officer you have the responsibility of protecting the citizens in the community as well as the animals. Unfortunately I all too often had to protect the animals from citizens, including numerous Pit Bulls. In Muncie, Pit Bulls are not placed up for adoption, they are euthanized if they are not claimed by their owner or placed in rescue. However, it’s not to protect the public, rather it’s to protect pit bulls from what the public does to them.
When I began my active involvement in animal welfare issues I too was fearful of pit bulls. I had watched or read the stories in the media so of course if something is on TV or in print it must be true. The truth is the media has created an appalling image of a dog that was once considered a war hero, childhood icon and a loyal, loving companion.
The truth about breed specific legislation is it is ineffective. The breed of dog is not an issue, behind every animal issue is a people issue. It’s the dogs owners that should be held responsible for their dogs behavior, after all their behavior determines if a dog is dangerous or not. Dogs that are not prone to attack are humanely cared for, spayed or neutered, socialized and treated like a member of the family. Dogs that may pose a threat to the community are chained, abused or neglected, not spayed or neutered, poorly socialized, allowed to roam or are trained to attack. Any dog regardless of breed can fall into any of those categories. You can not look at a single dog, identify its breed, and then decide whether or not it is going to attack. Judging a dog by its breed is like judging a person based on their religion, color of their skin, ethnicity, or even who they love.
I do believe that stronger dangerous dog laws need to be enacted and enforced. Those laws should cover any dog because of its actions, not it’s breed and they need to target those responsible, the dogs irresponsible owner or guardian and the unscrupulous breeders who have no regard for the health or temperment of the dogs they produce.
Because Pit Bulls tend to be the dog of choice for dogfighters, drug dealers, users and others who participate in other illegal activities most people forget there are a lot of responsible owners who have well socialized Pit Bulls. Typically, all these dogs want to do is please you and love you. I have been there when a fighting dog has continued to lick my face and wag its tail.... even while taking its final breath.
Animals cannot help themselves - they have to depend on us to be their voice. I sincerely hope anyone who is in an area where BSL is proposed will oppose any and all attempts to criminalize owning a certain breed of dog that is for the most part misunderstood, and instead, punish the people who commit horrendous acts toward these and all animals.
Jill Dolon
Unconditional Love Foundation President & Founder
Muncie-Delaware County Dogfighting Task Force Chair
Stopdogfighting@aol.com
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