Dog

Have you ever witnessed and experienced the energy that runs through the animated body of a dog?

The pit bull has been treated as the bottom of all dogs for a long time. It's ugly face a symbol for an unrelenting jaw-grip, the pit bull has been abused and neglected. It has been bred to naturally feel aggressive towards other dogs, and combined with a preconceived notion that the dog is no use except to strike fear into people and dogs alike, we have an animal that cannot seem to escape its miserable reputation and its genetic conditioning.

I saw a 60 pound gray pit bull one night running with its owner. The man was stocky and muscular, and his gray tshirt was dark with sweat. The dog's name is Santana. He was excited to meet me and seemed ready to play rough after an invigorating run. The owner handled him for a couple minutes, and had to yell at the dog when it would use its teeth in play--this is a common practice to train dogs not to bite. The man smacked Santana on the side of his stomach and hind legs, and of course, Santana was unfazed accept for feeling slightly ashamed. Santana licked my hand with his thick tongue and I could feel him contemplating a nibble, which would have been fine; he meant no harm at all. The man had found Santana at the pound; the dog had been abandoned by its previous owners and if the man had not taken him home, Santana might have been killed. Santana has beautiful eyes that are alive with excitement and curiosity. The life had not been killed in this one.