Dogs mustn’t be used as weapons

Lindsay Pollard-Post Norfolk Lindsay Pollard-Post is a staff writer for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Published: June 2, 2008

My sympathy goes out to Beverly Lecuyer, whose be-loved dog, Shelby, was reportedly killed by a pit bull on May 22 (“Senior’s small companion killed in pit bull attack,” The Daily Progress, May 23).

This incident is tragic, but not surprising. Pit bulls can be some of the sweetest dogs I interact with at the animal shelter where I volunteer. But they are also among the most abused.

Many pit bulls are starved, beaten, kept on heavy chains their entire lives, and worse, to turn them into cheap alarm systems or living weapons for cowardly individuals.

Each of us can help prevent tragic dog attacks as well as animal suffering by reporting known or suspected cruelty to animals right away, never chaining our dogs (chained dogs kill more children than falls from trees and playground equipment and fireworks accidents combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion), and having our dogs spayed or neutered (unaltered dogs of any breed are more territorial and more aggressive, making them three times more likely to bite).

To learn more, visit http://www.HelpingAnimals.com