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Man is yet to make a pit bull a true pet

Aug 10, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
Firstly let me extend my sincere condolences to the family of the unfortunate woman who met her demise at the hands of the savage canines. Allow me to unhesitatingly ask and with an air of prudence, as to the reasons for the owner having pit bulls. Are these animals registered in Guyana?
In Splendora, Texas a woman was mauled and killed by pit bulls that she had raised from their puppy stage. In Fanning Springs Florida, on August 7, 2014 a six year old boy is dead after two family pit bulls attacked him outside his home. I do not intend to go into a litany of instances where humans have fallen victims to pit bulls and met a ghastly demise., but rather look at the facts as they present themselves.
Like it or leave it, reason it away under whatever canine rationale you may choose to employ but the facts remain the facts. Yes, pit bull terriers were originally bred for dog on dog combat. If I remember correctly when bull baiting became illegal dog men bred those bulldogs with terriers to create strong agile dogs that would be successful in the pit. Dog aggression is a trait in the breed and cannot be trained out nor is it trained in. Never forget that fact. May it sink slowly into the recesses, of each owner’s cranium.
Dog breeds are characterized by certain physical and behavioral traits. Each breed was developed to perform a specific job, whether that job is hunting rabbits, retrieving downed birds, herding livestock or sitting on people’s laps. When developing a breed, breeders selected only those dogs that performed their job best to produce the next generation. Further subjecting myself to a quick flashback, I believe that Guyana had banned the importation of pit bulls sometime in 2008, following the maulings that were so rampant. The Government moved then, so what has happened now? Have they just moved and not moved on? Or did they as usual respond to the mood of the moment, so let it be?
Currently, is there any law in place that covers existing pit bulls? If not, why?  Countries across the globe have recognized the deadly threat pit bull type dogs pose to people since the early 90’s. As a consequence, more and more countries have banned the importation of pit bulls and  are trying  to regulate existing pit bulls through mandatory sterilization and muzzle laws. The common goal throughout is to dramatically reduce the number of these dogs. As  a proud Guyanese and on behalf of my fellow citizens, I am now calling on all the appropriate authorities in Guyana, to carefully review this situation and immediately enforce / enact laws/ rules etc. to ensure that such a situation never re-occurs .  Man is yet to make a pit  bull a true pet.
Yvonne Sam

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