While spending time with Ellie, me and Lori pondered out loud the unfair burdens shouldered by those of her breed, a burden and stigma incident to the culture of abuse that targets her kind. Just this week, a child in our county was bitten by an American Staffordshire Terrier, the larger cousin of Ellie's breed. The paper sensationalized the incident with a looming headline and full and front page spread. The evening news gave the story top billing.I am happy to report the child's injuries were minor, with wounds to her arm and hand. Although she will make a full physical recovery, the lasting emotional impact on this little human being is unclear. Will she grow up to fear and loathe all dogs? Will that little girl be too frightened to allow herself to know the incredible affections of a companion animal?
I am not happy to report, however, the failure of the media to explain why a two year old was wandering alone in a wooded area and why a dog was tied to a tree in that wooded area, nowhere near a home and on city property. It is irresponsible for the media to blare the effect and exclude the cause. People deserve full disclosure, free of the distorting effects of spin and hype.
This child was lucky indeed. But once again, the community has missed an opportunity to explore the root cause of dog bites such as this (and this county is rife with such occurrences). Chaining a dog to a tree in the woods, with no shelter but the pine needle canopy and, likely no food or water, would be damaging to any breed of dog.
The media, it seems, thrives on maligning the "Pit Bull," a loaded descriptor that excitedly pops off their telecasting tongues. I suppose only the irrational "animal people" are able to see all of the factors in play and rationalize the why. The people, in general, certainly do not seem capable or willing to attempt this exercise. I do not doubt 99% of the people place 100% of blame on the dog...nevermind the obvious human violations of Georgia animal cruelty and child endangerment laws.
Back to Ellie....she was also chained in place in a field. she also had no shelter, food or water. but she was saved. and in this community so eager to discriminate against her kind, she is lucky. And she has already made the world better for her bully breed brethren--winning the love and admiration of Officer Petitt, her rescuer who professed to dislike her breed until he met her. Ellie helped him see that human neglect, abuse and cruel obsession with the bully breeds by that criminal subset of the people is ruining the lives of thousands of wonderful dogs. Those unfortunate to fall into the hands of morally bankrupt thugs. And those passed over by true animal lovers for the fear that such a weighty stigma makes.
I have every confidence Ellie will make the perfect companion for someone out there that understands the heightened responsibility of bully breed owners; to protect these dogs from becoming kindling on that raging fire of prejudice against their breed. Ellie has a small but dedicated group of people who will see her to that happily ever after. For some of us down here in Georgia, Ellie is a symbol of hope that people will shed their ignorance of this breed and become enlightened to the cause and effect of animal cruelty.
If only the great-grandmother of that child could begin to understand that to blame a dog is illogical when a human tied that dog to the tree in the woods and a human let that two year old child wander alone in those woods. Dogs do bark, afterall.
If you are interested in fostering or adopting Ellie, or have any questions about her, please email me.
jenkins.kelly@gmail.com
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