Next Door, a neighborhood email network, has several branches in PB here in San Diego. I think it started up in the Bay Area. Anyhow, it serves as a community forum for various issues, such as a lost and found, especially for pets, as a bulletin board ( want ads, garage sales,etc.), and I my case, a source of laughs shared with my wife. Some ar serious topics. Thus, NDPBPP.
As a retiree, I have plenty of free time to read and write, somewhat disdainful of TV programming other than sports and old movies. Those that contribute to NDPB seem to have even more than me, unless they intersperse ND with work, or other pursuits. Certainly when I was working in medicine, I did not have time to sift through the numerous posts and answer them as often as some of my neighbors do. Some issues are important and require serious and thoughtful consideration. All too often, however, the response to an issue is not thoughtful or serious. Knee jerk reactions, personal insults, and bickering often result.
A recent thread involves the “threat ” Pitbull terriers bring to the neighborhood. Some say this breed should always be muzzled when off their home property. One opinion was that this breed should be “illegal”. Some say that if pittbulls are muzzled, then all dogs should be muzzled, just to be fair. But, others say that goes too far, after all, poodles and shih tzus don’t maul children and kill. When I was a kid, dark ages, I know, this same talk took place concerning German shepards, later, the same with Dobermans. Dog bite is a big problem in CA, tops the list of causes of personal injury lawsuits. The breed of dog most often involved? It is the loveable Golden Retriever! Most breeds are territorial, somewhat protective, and need to be “socialized”(the current buzz word). Most are easily trained, most want to please their owners (or should I say, pet parents). I love dogs, lived with various breeds in my home most of my life. I have cuddled with a Pitbull , not my own, been bitten by poodles, miniature Schnauzers, and Daschunds. Some of the most placid, lazy easy going dogs I see in PB are pitbulls.
My wife was attacked by two pitbulls who “lived” next door. Our neighbor spent no time with the dogs, they were not trained or disciplined in any way, did not know any boundaries. He teased them. I am surprised they did not bite him. The animal’s behavior depends in large part upon the owner’s attitude, his or hers willingness to work with the dog, and his or hers willingness to take responsibility for the dog’s potential actions.
Muzzle the dogs or educate the owners/parents? Hopefully a reasonable approach, maybe compromise, will result.