A Day At The Park

A Day At The Park

He is just like other dogs I would always say; He loves to go to the dog park to play every day

Everyone loves him there, so it's ok; My dog won't fight--he wasn't raised that way

But then one day, right before dark, A troubled young man came into the park

He had by his side the biggest dog I'd ever seen, And unfortunately for us, both were quite mean

We asked very nicely if they would just go; The dog answered with a snarl and the man with a harsh "NO!"

Well his dog was a terror, threatening to all; Then he started a fight with a Lab over a ball

They fought pretty hard and the man would not intervene; Then here comes my dog and pushes right in between

He grabbed that big dog and thrashed him around; And with one quick jerk threw him down on the ground

The Lab was able to escape; I heard everyone cheer; But my dog was now in a frenzy and would not let me near

When he finally let go, what I saw stopped my heart; That big mean dog had been torn apart

The authorities were called, the big dog was now dead; But they didn't take the big dog; they took my dog instead

We all tried to explain that my dog saved the day; But because of his breed he was taken away

You see my dog was a Pitbull and they don't get any breaks; One small incident is all that it takes

A dog had died; And though he hadn't started the fight, My dog was held responsible for what happened that night

He was deemed a danger to all and sentenced to death; And I hold him now as he takes his last breath

It's my fault that my dog is being killed today; Please listen for a moment to what I am going to say

Everyone warned me about his potential to fight; I said it won't happen, I am raising him right

And now my dog is paying the ultimate price; Because I was stubborn and wouldn't take the advice

He only did what he was bred to do; Learn from our story; don't let it happen to you.

This poignant poem is reprinted here with the generous permission of its author, Sue Gauthier.
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How utterly sad. Was this long ago?

The only time that I will let him off the leash to play is when I know that there is no chance for another dog that is not part of the party to sneak on into the crowd. I keep my dog on a leash. When people ask why(or don't ask)I tell them that he is an alpha male and although he loves to play, if a strange dog appears and decides that it wants to be the leader of the pack then it is in for the surprise of its life.

I've seen my dog knock a German Shepherd five feet through the air to land on its back. He did this using his neck and head. I was as shocked as the dog that he flung. Much as I love him, and much as I like to say that he has been properly raised, I know that he is powerful.

I am(as I tell people)not worried about my dog getting hurt as much as I am about the other dog getting shredded. I would rather have people guessing about what would happen than watching my dog destroy another canine.

However, to his benefit, he does listen and back off when he is told to do so, as long as the other dog does so too.

Once again, I am deeply sorry to hear this tale. BSL takes its toll. Wish there was a fund somewhere to fight this kind of injustice.

 

Sigh. I've gotta print that out and keep copies to give to people headed to the off-leash area with their Pitbull.

 

Our dog likes to have fun in the park but this stupid Rottweiler keeps barking at him whenever we go. Our dog confronts the rottie behind the steel bars but does not bark. He simply walks away. If that Rottie ever got loose, i think blood will be spilt........

 

That's so sad and so true. A perfect explanation of why you should never take your dog to a dog park. Thanks for sharing Maryellen.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to maryellen1 again.

 

Now that is a good idea.

 

Such a true fact..my friend just learned the hard way between two of her dogs...one got the other...neither were hurt, but she won't let them off the leash again!

 

It was a good but very sad poem. Makes me mad and sad at the same time. No justis any more. No safty or protection from evil if you fight you get in trouble. I will say this I would rather die than not fight. To be walked on would be worse than death to me.

 

Great post Marryellen, thank you. Sometimes we (the normal members) are not the best to convey messages we all feel, so its really pleasant when someone with a way with words comes around and puts our thoughts down in the way we wanted to say it...this is one of those articles. Thank you

 

i leash him only when i take him out of town in a safe place.

when he see from afar other dogs he becomes really mean.

 

never trust your pit bull not to fight.. for those that still take them to the dog parks, dont ruin my choice to own the breed i want. there will come a day when you try to call your dog off another dog at a dog park and the dog wont listen, what will you do then when your dog is hauled away???

thanks everyone, i feel so bad for the woman who wrote this poem,as she lost her dog the hard way.. due to this..

 

I NEVER let my dogs off their leashes unless they are in my fenced in backyard. I don't take them to the park because people run their dogs without leashes. I will walk them on sidewalks where dogs are mainly leashed. They are good with other dogs, but I don't want to take the chance. Twice in the past three weeks, when walking one of my boys (on a sidewalk, by a busy road), dogs off leashes have come after us. A lab and a boxer (two separate times). Both times, the owners were, "Oh I'm sorry. He usually never leaves the yard." Lucky my dogs are friendly and there were no problems. HOWEVER, the possiblity that something COULD have happen pisses me off! These people let their dogs approach a leashed dog like it isn't a problem. The Lab was jumping all over my male and lucky I calmly told him to sit and stay, and he did. It could have been bad. Luckly this time is was ok.....people need to take care of their dogs.

 

What gets me is I have some folks around her that let their dogs just run free, they get into trash my chickens and sheep then they get all pissed off when one comes up missing. Then it is my fault. They come to me because I am known to shoot a predator getting after my livestock and chickens. Hell that is my food. Isn't some play toy for some mutt. I get tempted now and then to turn my dogs loose on the wild wandering dogs but no I have to shoot them instead. What jerks to put me in that position. I love dogs but the strays cost me several thousand dollars a year in losses. Last year loss on my farm totaled $16000. probably 70% of that was from loss of livestock and birds alone. I document every one of them I raise Dominicers and Barbados sheep not exactly the cheapest breeds but the best tasting and the birds taste good and lay great. They tear up my cages for rabbits I only have one lonely rabbit now. Oh it just burns my butt. stirs me up something bad.

 

I have never even seen a dog park in person. Not sure if we have those in the south. Maybe in the cities. I don't know but I don't reckon I would be caught in one any way. I would rather be in the woods hunting than frolicking with a bunch of people and other dogs. It does not even sound fun.

 

That's why, I don't do dog parks at all. Nice read though.

 

GREAT, great post, MaryEllen! EXCELLENT!!!!

A REAL eye opener for those that think pits should be allowed at dog parks.




You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to maryellen1 again.


sorry, I'll hit yah next time!