January 30, 2014

Dear Sir,

Surely the sad case of the pit bull killing the Yorkshire Terrier is being milked by The Royal Gazette (today’s front page)? We have heard from just about everyone involved – except the pit bull and the Yorkshire Terrier themselves.

While I was mulling this over, a thought came to me; what if the pit bull thought the other dog was a rat with long hair? This does not lessen the tragedy for those involved, but it might be important to try and understand WHY the attack happened.

How many mild mannered, family adored, children loving dogs chase cats, birds, rats and chickens etc? And sometime catch them? We say “Bad boy” and perhaps administer a tap on the nose to the lovable offender – if the victim is another pet – and “good boy” if the target is legitimate; but do we really expect a dog to be able to discriminate between the more blurred lines the chase-able and non chase-able?

It is sad that some people are insensitive enough to suggest it was the Terrier’s fault – for looking at the pit bull or provoking him, for crying out loud! What - are we all, humans, pigeons, cats and especially Yorkshire Terriers – supposed to do? Go around averting our eyes to certain bread of dogs? Should we have signs posted in the post offices and on telephone posts, showing certain dogs in silhouette and announcing in large letters ‘DANGER. Immediately avert your eyes when sighting these dogs’? That still leaves animals – who cannot read – at a disadvantage.

I think the pit bull, in this case, thought he was ridding his world of a ‘pest’ and the tragedy is, he got it wrong. Makes more sense than believing a Yorkshire Terrier with a look or bad attitude, brought it on himself.

More than enough already?

Sincerely,

Mark Emmerson