Dear Editor,
Explosion, proliferation, overrun, inundated, these are just a few of the words that could aptly be used to describe the current situation in Jamaica as it relates to pit bulls.
The animals seem to be a status symbol these days and it is not unusual to see people walking around with them on the road. Whenever I find myself faced with such a scenario I make sure to cross the road because, as the Jamaican saying goes, "Coward man keep sound bone". If the dog should suddenly lunge, I doubt the handler will be able to restrain it.
I confess I may be unique in my way of thinking, but I have great difficulty understanding why after hearing about all the ills and seeing the devastating results people still insist on using crack cocaine. In my opinion the owners of pit bull dogs are not much different, and being in possession of these animals is nothing less than a disaster waiting to happen.
I cannot forget a radio interview I heard a few months ago with a lady who may have been associated with an animal shelter or some such organisation here in Jamaica. She was suggesting that a pit bull was really no different from a poodle, save for the way they are socialised. I cannot imagine what data could have informed such a position, but I came away with the impression that she either had not taken her meds that day, or was being more than a little disingenuous. I find it hard to believe this goodly lady does not know the specific purpose for which this type of dog has been bred.
It is often said that any dog that will bite a child is not a good dog. In the United States, in 1991, a study was conducted where it was found that 94 per cent of pit bull attacks on children were unprovoked, compared to 43 per cent for other breeds.
There was a case in the news here just this week where a boy lost his eye after being set upon by a pit bull. The fact of the matter is that he is lucky to be around today. This is only the latest in an increasing number of these incidents. Stay tuned because there are many more to come and competent lawyers can expect to cash in on huge paydays.
Robert Mitchell
Manchester
Mitcib@yahoo.ca
Coward man keep sound bone
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Explosion, proliferation, overrun, inundated, these are just a few of the words that could aptly be used to describe the current situation in Jamaica as it relates to pit bulls.
The animals seem to be a status symbol these days and it is not unusual to see people walking around with them on the road. Whenever I find myself faced with such a scenario I make sure to cross the road because, as the Jamaican saying goes, "Coward man keep sound bone". If the dog should suddenly lunge, I doubt the handler will be able to restrain it.
I confess I may be unique in my way of thinking, but I have great difficulty understanding why after hearing about all the ills and seeing the devastating results people still insist on using crack cocaine. In my opinion the owners of pit bull dogs are not much different, and being in possession of these animals is nothing less than a disaster waiting to happen.
I cannot forget a radio interview I heard a few months ago with a lady who may have been associated with an animal shelter or some such organisation here in Jamaica. She was suggesting that a pit bull was really no different from a poodle, save for the way they are socialised. I cannot imagine what data could have informed such a position, but I came away with the impression that she either had not taken her meds that day, or was being more than a little disingenuous. I find it hard to believe this goodly lady does not know the specific purpose for which this type of dog has been bred.
It is often said that any dog that will bite a child is not a good dog. In the United States, in 1991, a study was conducted where it was found that 94 per cent of pit bull attacks on children were unprovoked, compared to 43 per cent for other breeds.
There was a case in the news here just this week where a boy lost his eye after being set upon by a pit bull. The fact of the matter is that he is lucky to be around today. This is only the latest in an increasing number of these incidents. Stay tuned because there are many more to come and competent lawyers can expect to cash in on huge paydays.
Robert Mitchell
Manchester
Mitcib@yahoo.ca
Coward man keep sound bone
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