Published: October 09, 2009 05:11 pm      

Keeping pets, people safe: Good canine citizenship is a shared responsibility

A few days ago it was reported council members in the West Virginia city of Ceredo were considering the repeal of a ban on pit bulls. It seems that not all dogs of this breed are vicious, according to residents who packed a town hall meeting. No big surprise there.

A few weeks ago, while driving through one of our local municipalities, I saw a pit bull — unleashed and walking free — strolling beside a busy thoroughfare. Did the dog look mean? No. Should it have been on a leash? Yes — for its own well-being, and the safety of those around it.

A few years ago I encountered the most diabolical and mean dog to ever wag its tail. It snarled. It growled. It drooled while staring at my jugular vein. The toy-breed dog weighed no more than six pounds. Yet that did not diminish its anger and wrath. It didn’t bite me, but it wanted to.

And so, writing this column with my giant Neapolitan mastiff, Pugsley, once again asleep and snoring while reclined across my lap, I again ponder the perplexities of breed-specific dog ordinances. There is no doubt pit bulls can be dangerous. But so can many other dogs. And I often wonder why municipalities do not work to enforce codes already in place — such as leash laws and vicious dog ordinances — before banning a breed outright.

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Pit bulls are powerful, yet so are Neos (like my mastiff), German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and even collies. But that doesn’t mean they will attack and bite. It means they need responsible owners who will socialize and train them to become good canine citizens.

Breeders, too, are a vital part of the answer to dog-problem dilemmas.

Dogs should never be bred in the backyard for a quick profit. Responsible breeders are in the trade because they have a sincere desire to better the breed, and they strive to improve health and characteristics. And they work hard to place their pups in caring, loving “forever homes.”

When the husband and I made the long trek to Pennsylvania to meet with Pugs’ breeder, we had already done our homework. I had researched the Neo breed, and those who sold them, for months. Integrating myself in the Neapolitan mastiff community, I quickly learned who was respected, and who wasn’t.

Pugsley’s breeder was one of those whose name kept popping up as among the best of the best. Anyone who watches the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, or other national events, has probably seen him. Typically, he’s the one leading the top Neo around the ring.

More impressive than the number of national titles is our breeder’s passion for improving the health and quality of Neos. If a health defect is discovered in a dog, the breeding in that line is stopped immediately — no matter the number of championship wins. And even more important is his commitment to placing his dogs in good homes.

Although we had been in touch with Pugs’ breeder for weeks before we traveled to Pennsylvania, our meeting with him was a day-long event. After arriving at the kennel, we talked for hours about dogs in general, the Neo breed and our experience as owners. Although he never mentioned it, I do believe he had run a background check on us. I wasn’t offended. In fact, it made us respect him even more.

After the in-depth discussion, we met our first Neo. It wasn’t Pugsley, or even a pup, but a full-grown dog. I believe the breeder wanted to see how we would react to the giant size, ugly face and inordinate amount of drool. I was hooked immediately, and so he continued to introduce us to a variety of adult and juvenile Neapolitan mastiffs.

Finally — when I was still smiling after being covered with slob, and the breeder was satisfied with our experience level — he brought Pugsley to me. Cradling the large, wrinkly, snotty pup in my arms, it was love at first sight. We’ve been inseparable since.

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Yes, good canine citizenship is a shared responsibility. It begins with breeders, who should be in the business for all the right reasons. My German shepherds, that I owned and loved until they passed from age-related diseases, were obtained from local breeders who met this standard.

(Those interested in getting a dog should also keep in mind there are a tremendous number of special, loving dogs at our local animal shelters. We’ve adopted numerous strays and mutts through the decades and they’ve been among the best pets ever.)

The good canine citizenship duty continues with owners. A dog is not a toy, nor is it disposable like a paper plate. Owning a canine is a 24-hour-a-day responsibility that lasts each and every minute through a dog’s life. Those who are not in it for the long haul should bow out until they are ready for the commitment.

Finally, there is a community responsibility. We have a duty to ensure the pets in our neighborhoods are healthy, happy and well-cared for. Proper food, exercise, shelter and health care are the basic necessities; but we should strive for more.

And we should never, ever tolerate abuses to animals or the laws that protect them.

For two weeks I have mentally kicked myself for not reacting to the loose pit bull I saw roaming the streets. I still don’t think the dog was vicious, but I do believe there was a danger. He was walking less than three feet from a crowded street. I noted his actions, but I didn’t act. And I was wrong.

If I see him again I will stop. I will make phone calls. I will stay by his side until I am confident he is secure and safe. I will take these actions not because he’s a pit bull. But because he is a member of our community — like me, like you, like Pugsley.

If I don’t take responsibility for canine good citizenship, who will? It’s up to all of us to ensure our community is safe — for people, and pets.

Samantha Perry is managing editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at sperry@bdtonline.com.