Letter: Minor dog transgressions happen to all

To the Editor:

I read Nora Whitmore’s letter (R-E, Jan. 5). This is my response and account of the facts.

The dog referred to as pit bull is an American bulldog. Whitmore claimed she was charged by this dog. What is true is that when she saw the dog walking toward her she said, “Here, puppy.” The owners initially grabbed the leash as they were fearful she might have a dog with her that would attack their dog. The couple released the leash when they saw that a dog was not present and said to Whitmore, “We wanted to be sure you didn’t have a dog.”

The two other women Whitmore referred to have huskies and one attacked the “pit bull” while this most friendly and kind bulldog — that has never hurt a person and could be trusted with any child — was on a leash. The husky pinned the bulldog’s head to the ground and placed a large hole by her ear.

Whitmore, after petting the bulldog, said, “If that is a pit bull, it should be on a leash.” The couple responded, “She is not a pit bull and not all pit bulls are mean dogs.” The woman said it is “stupidity” to say all pit bulls are mean and that the statement depicts ignorance.

Also, there was no begging of the husky owners not to call the police. Actually, the husky came at the couple’s dog recently. As the husky was off the leash, the ladies apologized as they attempted to get their dog. One had called the police when the dogs quarreled on another occasion, but only after the bulldog was attacked while on a leash by their dog first on a previous occasion.

After the husky owner restrained her dog, the couple told the ladies that people shouldn’t be calling the police when dogs quarrel because soon the police and the city will tire of it and areas will no longer be off-leash and everyone, especially the dogs, will suffer.

Let us realize that when we walk dogs off-leash or bring them to dog parks, we assume a certain level of risk when dogs meet other dogs, for dogs are still dogs. Never will there be 100 percent predictability of any animal. Be forgiving of minor dog transgressions (they happen to every dog owner) for we do not want to lose these off-leash areas.

Famous Staffordshire terrier owners include Theodore Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Woodrow Wilson, General S. Patton, Fred Astaire, Delores del Rio, Humphrey Bogart and Thomas Edison. These dogs are by nature jovial, loving, loyal and good with children. Please remember that it is people who have victimized some of this breed — pit bulls fight in pits — making some aggressive.

Dawn DeHaven-Gilbertson

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters