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Kathryn Finlaw-Heitz of Littleton writes:

This letter is in response to Bill Johnson’s article entitled “Knife that killed pit bull finds way to owners heart.”
I have spent my career working in the fields of human and animal behavior, both as a therapist for violent offenders and as a veterinary technician. I am also an owner of a rescued pit bull.
I will take the risk of being politically incorrect by saying that those who are often attracted to the breed acquire them to receive a “bad ass” status amongst their community. These are the same group of people who participate in back yard breeding, they do not believe in the idea of spaying and neutering , they chain them, they starve them, mistreat them and as if that is not inhumane enough, train them to fight and be aggressive. Pit Bulls are subjected to extreme acts of abuse and neglect to make them fighting dogs Just as it is true in humans, monsters are made, not born.
There is an under represented group of pit bull owners who do not fall into the category of a hyper- violent, irresponsible, stereo type that is fueled by the media. There is a community of pit bull owners that the media doesn’t seem motivated to represent: those who provide our dogs love and attention spay and neuter them, provide them with food and shelter, and keep them in our homes. When I fostered my pit bull, I kept her illegally, and walked her at night. My love for “Bridget” facilitated my move from Denver. It remains evident that there is little tolerance for the pit bull, and less knowledge about their softer side.
This ignorance leads to unspeakable acts of cruelty, which was demonstrated by the man that slit Mac’s throat twice, and stabbed him five times. If this dog were aggressive, he would have attacked this man before he had the opportunity to pull the knife from his pocket.
The killer of “Mac” has demonstrated an extreme act of violence towards an animal. His propensity for future violent behavior is evident, and his next victim may not be a pet, but a person. What an injustice that this dog’s killer is allowed such liberties while our judicial system CONSIDERS prosecution.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

So, should he just have sat by and watch poor defenseless "Mac" just kill his Dobie? "Sure, go ahead, I don't love this dog, please let your much maligned softie kill my dog", is what I'm sure he was saying.

Give me a break, "Mac" and his owner should have left right away and maybe "Mac" would still be alive. Sorry, but it's a cruel world, and if a POS pit bull comes around my dogs, I'll blow "it" away.

Excellent letter, Kathryn. You covered it all in respect to the human-animal behavior patterns. To lay blame with a breed of dog is ridiculous and the result of public induced misunderstanding and hysteria by a few "protectors of human safety", and politicians capitalizing on the limelight.

We had an adult pit bull as a family pet when both of our children where born. He was gentle and tolerant with not only our kids but with the neighborhood children as well as they all played and tussled together with one another. He died of natural old age without ever biting anyone or getting in a fight with another dog.

Some coward posted:

"So, should he just have sat by and watch poor defenseless "Mac" just kill his Dobie? "Sure, go ahead, I don't love this dog, please let your much maligned softie kill my dog", is what I'm sure he was saying. "

Like Dobermans never had a similar reputation for violence. So in your view Mac's owner would have been justified in killing the Dobie for the same reasons you feel it was ok for mak to be murdered.

Anon continued by spewing:

"Give me a break, "Mac" and his owner should have left right away and maybe "Mac" would still be alive. Sorry, but it's a cruel world, and if a POS pit bull comes around my dogs, I'll blow "it" away."

To keep in the spirit of things...keep your dogs away from mine or I'd be happy to do the same. It is a cruel world after all.

For those of you intersted in the truth about pit bulls please follow the link below.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1583891

Its a fact more people are bitten by labs then any other breed per year. That german shepards have the longest canine tooth over 2 inches. Does this not make these breeds a menace as well? When dogs attack dogs it generally can be considered a territorial thing. However a dominance over another dog is a factor.

If you love your pet dont put it in a situation where it can be hurt. If you love your children dont let them run with sharp objects.

Simple and sweet. Use some common sense. If in the park be awear of your surroundings and if you think the upcoming dog is a danger, just because the walker is a hot blond showing clevage . Go the other way. Your little poodle does not stand a chance against her bull mastiff.

I don't think anyone here knows the facts of the case to label anyone a murderer or assert innocence.
Both arguments are built on the ground of preconceived notions and emotional bias

I am confused.... a Guy had his Doberman attacked by another dog.. in this case a pit bull. Although, that does not matter to me as the breed of the dog. And the guy knifes the dog and the OP is whining about that?

I don't care what breed of dog it is. If it attacks my dog, it will be shot dead. It matters not that this was a pit bull. If it had been any other breed, he would have had the same right to kill it to protect his dog.

The solution is to ban owners of pit bulls who don't have a clue how to raise and train them or for that matter the owners of any type of dog who are of the same idiotic ilk. Dangerous dogs are a product of crap headed fools and their, so called, macho image that is a facade they hide behind lest anyone see the cowards they really are.

There are people who just moved in to our neighborhood. They have a pit bull. They are people of a different race.I'll leave it at that.
The pit bull has gotten out numerous times. One time I was talking with my neighbor and the dog was running towards us. I used to be a dog groomer so I did all the" vicious dogs" pit bulls rotweillers,chows,etc...I do not show fear.Most dogs are very nice.This dog ran towards us and my neighbor was afraid . I told her to be still and show no fear. Well this dog sat next to my feet and I reached down to pet him and talk to him. His owner came running over and immediately this dog coward and urinated in fear of the owner. More than likely the owner has hit the dog . I usually can tell by their behavior.

Now that I know this dog could have been hit or abused,I have warned my children about this dog. Even though it was sweet to me,this owner has done something to this dog to make it unpredictable.Since it is not in a loving home who knows when this dog will have enough abuse and go ballistic any dog is capable of this if treated terribly.

I have been bitten 3 times by dogs while I was grooming. All 3 were cocker spaniels.Surprising?

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