Pit Bull: two words that strike fear into the hearts of everyone who even remotely cares about or works with dogs. The term “Pit Bull” is an umbrella term for multiple dog breeds, so it’s not an actual breed of dog. The breeds that fall under this term are: the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Bulldog, the Cane Corso, and the American Pit Bull Terrier. Any dog that is the result of one of these dogs breeding with another dog that isn’t a Pit Bull also falls under this category. Many people believe that all Pit Bulls are monsters thanks to the reputation that the media and some of the people that own these powerful dogs have given them. Not every Pit Bull is bad. In fact, many of them are total sweethearts.
Sasha is one of those Pit Bulls. She is one of the sweetest, most laid back dogs ever. Her absolute favorite thing to do is get some cuddles, and her least favorite thing is the rain. She is very smart and can communicate effectively with humans without barking. She walks well on a leash, and even knows how to sit! She knows when her picture is being taken! She’s the best dog.
Sasha may not move like an older dog, but she is one. She’s a 12 year old Pit Bull mix. Her coat is 75% brown and 25% white, and she wears a collar from Harvard college, where her humans went. Besides some allergies and arthritis, Sasha doesn’t really have any health issues.
When Sasha was a puppy, she was rescued by my neighbors, Kate and Harry, who still have her today. At first, they fostered her because they already had two cats and had a previous Pit Bull who wasn’t as nice as her, but after Sasha’s first five minutes with them, they fell in love with and adopted her. Sasha is that one Pit Bull in every 6,000 who has stayed with the same family her entire life. All she has ever known is love and cuddles, and she, unlike other Pit Bulls, knows that she’ll be fed tonight. Many Pit Bulls aren’t so lucky.
Sasha is such a love. She, and other Pit Bulls like her, do not deserve the hands that most of them have been dealt nor do they deserve the horrible reputation that they get. If treated well, properly trained, and socialized, these dogs are great companions. People who think that all Pit Bulls are complete monsters are completely and utterly wrong. What will it take for everyone to see that?
