another day, another victim

and speaking of sudden, random, unprovoked and violent....

recently someone sent me their pit bull experience. their identity and location have not been disclosed, those details are not relevant. these attacks are happening daily across the nation and the globe. here is one person's pit bull experience.

It was a peculiar day one winter morning. Surprisingly it was warm and inviting, I had thought that that today would be the day to get some sun on my face and enjoy the on goings of my neighborhood.

I have ridden my bike many times, one could say almost thrice weekly. And I've had dogs gently keep pace with me as I peddled around the busy neighborhood, while the pit bulls generally looked on with disinterest. Other days I had little yappies (small dogs) chase me as though they were part pit myself. And even had a lab or two vehemently chase me off their property, but never did they pursue me after I bolted from the front of their house.

Well this one day was the day that I felt would be the fight of my life. i did my usual round about the neighborhood. And was passing a school in my well flourished and hipster neighborhood. As I passed, I had thought I'd glimpsed a sulking pit type dog only to see it was a trash bag floating within the inner gate of the school. But I was fooled.

Two or three cars were blocking a four way and I caught glimpse of an adorable pit bull. It was a puppy, but an older puppy - maybe around 9 or 10 months of age. The obviously confused and frightened pit bull looked at me with a want of security and I put my guard down, despite my wariness of the breed.

I didn't call it, but looked at it with a wanting and helpful demeanor, the dog came to me with a light gate and a wagging tail. I thought I could pat this pit bull upon the head with no problem and possibly direct it to someone who would watch it. No sooner than when I relaxed did the canine suddenly purse its lips like this and then changed its gate to a more menacing pace and posture.

I mounted my bike and then as soon as I moved the pit bull charged me.

Desperately for 4 blocks I weaved around cars and pedestrians. The pit was hot on my heels and on many occasions I was forced to swerve in front of cars (at least 4 times) in order to attempt to block the dog who tried to bite my right heel.

I was tired, exhausted, and feared the worst. I had medical issues so I was beginning to become light headed. I was going faster than the cars which were going about 15 to 20 and down a very steep hill. I could have easily slipped and died from a break or been killed by oncoming traffic. I was too tired to continue and stopped fearing the worse. Before I reached the fifth block looked back and saw the pit bull was being petted by someone who was around the fourth block of our chase.

The dog was kind and licked the person on the mouth. Despite growling and pursuing me for four blocks. I called Animal control as I had the street the person lived (who picked up the dog), license, and car type. They did nothing about it.

The dog was not abused. It was well cared for, had a new expensive collar and a glistening coat. The house it lived in was expensive and well kept. The car the owner drove was nice and well kept.

Out of all the dogs who have chased me I have never encountered such tenacity as that of the pit bull. I have been chased by small yappy dogs that with one kick sent them whimpering back to their house. I have been deterred by big dogs who instantly backed down when I passed their yard. But the one breed who's supposedly like any other breed pursued me relentlessly for four blocks until a good samaritan blocked it with his car. And this dog instantly went from pathetic, to vicious, to docile.

Which is why I ask you. Are pit bulls like any other dog, and should they be treated as such? Thankfully this one did not get me. And even more thankfully was I not pursued by a post pregnant, scarred, black pit bull who glared at me with such intensity from a yard away.

All it takes is meeting one pit bull, isn't that right?