FLORIDA -- I would like to share with Jeff Sledd (Jan. 23 letter about loving relationship with a pit bull) my personal experience.
One a sunny Sunday afternoon my husband and I took our two 9-month-old English Springer Spaniels out in the boat and for a swim. We went late in the day to avoid crowds, and anchored at the very far end of the barrier island off Sanscrit Park.
We swam and let the dogs frolic. Later we had them on their leashes sitting waiting at the shore line.
In the blink of an eye this pit bull came running and attacking them, and trying to kill them. Luckily my husband abandoned the boat and came to our rescue. He's 6-feet-5, but almost was unable to control this monster.
A woman and her son came running. As I yelled at her about her lack of control over her killer dog, all she kept repeating was what a good sweet "girl" she was and how she wouldn't hurt anyone. A good, sweet dog does not attack unprovoked.
I called marine patrol, which would not do anything, as it was a dog. I called animal control, which would not do anything because it was on the water.
So, you see even the "sweetest" pit bulls can attack unprovoked, and that, Mr. Sledd, is the problem most of us have with them. Good luck with yours. Hopefully you won't experience the terror that I did.
Jan Belwood, Palm City
(TC Palm - Feb 3, 2012)
