East Dallas Times

by Bruce Felps

Recent days brought alarming reports of multiple dog attacks on humans and the resulting vitriolic human attacks on humans in the comments sections of a few blog outlets, all in the name of the American Staffordshire Bull terrier, commonly referred to on the street as the pit bull.

Yes, pits, like any other dog, can be dangerous if not properly trained and socialized.

The morning’s e-mail, though, brought a story about another side of pit bull life.  

It’s about a Dallas couple who — after working at it for about a year — adopted a pit that once served as bait at Michael Vick’s dog-fighting operation. From the well-written article:

“For one thing, you see — in his fearful eyes, his tentative stride — the effects of the torture Vick inflicted; for another you see a true innocent; a mild-mannered dog whose lack of killer instinct led him to be designated a bait dog, a living chew toy.

“But you also see a dog who, despite all that humans did to him in his first year of life, seems to hold no grudge against the species.”

This photo alone tells a great deal about the dog’s ordeal. Yet, with the care and attention of the humans and the protection of Pumpkin, the family’s incumbent dog, the pit became a trusted member of the blended family.

I don’t think the dogs to be inherently evil. Humans, on the other hand …