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Canine Advocate
Melanie Coy

How Do We Live...

Posted Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at 6:34 PM

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  • I was devastated to lose my companion too. My cat was my truest friend, until it died on 05-10-09 at the age of 14. A neighbor's pit bull came into my yard and mauled it to death. The dog's owner said it was never before aggressive. My last memory of my cat was the sight of its eye balls hanging out of their sockets. Pit bulls are a menace and I encourage everyone to make sure their city enforces laws against pit bulls and other dangerous dogs.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Fri, Aug 9, 2013, at 10:43 PM
  • How about enforcing laws against irresponsible owners? My dogs are only allowed to do what I permit & they can't read ordinances or laws. That includes ALL companion animal owners, not just a select few.....

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Sat, Aug 10, 2013, at 8:14 AM
  • Courtois your comment has struck a nerve with me and I wish to ask you a question.

    Last Spring I had a foster dog at my home that was known to be cat aggressive. I do not choose to keep cats but I don't actually have anything against them. I do love Pit Bulls but as a responsible owner I do what it takes to keep them out of trouble which includes when we are at home.

    I let all the dogs out one night into my backyard but was not aware that a neighbor's DECLAWED cat was back there.....I also witnessed a horror show when the foster dog got this cat.

    My question to you is; who was at fault in this cat's death? Me for my choice of dog breed or the cat's owner who found it acceptable to allow her declawed cat to come into my fenced backyard?

    Responsiblity is a 2 way street. While you preach about wanting to eradicate a dog breed because of a single incident, should I in turn be allowed to rant about cat owners who feel it acceptable to allow their pets to come into harm's way?

    I am responsible for the behavior of my dogs just as you are responsible for keeping your choice of pet safe.

    In the case of the dog in this post, she was a well trained competition obedience dog who was killed by a Lab mix purely by accident. This owner is just as devasted as you by the loss of her pet. Are we not better served as pet owners to band together to educate than to condemn?

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Sat, Aug 10, 2013, at 11:27 AM
  • Sorry for the loss. My Max is 16. I know the day is comming

    -- Posted by jpb2 on Sat, Aug 10, 2013, at 4:53 PM
  • Courtois- I have seen dogs from almost every breed that will maul a cat. Perhaps you should have kept your kitty indoors instead of allowing it to roam.

    You think that it never left your yard? To dig in the neighbors trash? To scratch the neighbors car? To crap in their flower boxes or on their lawn. Ever ask yourself how many baby rabbits, birds, and squirrels it may have killed?

    Seriously. There should be an ordinance against allowing your cat to roam free.

    Ignorant people are a menace too, and you just proved that with your comment. There should be a statewide ordinance against you, and your kind.

    -- Posted by hmmmm on Sat, Aug 10, 2013, at 9:32 PM
  • I say it again...RESPONSIBILITY IS A 2 WAY STREET!

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Sun, Aug 11, 2013, at 7:50 AM
  • I am sorry for any pet's death, and if my comment suggested otherwise I apologize. I never wanted a pet but grew to love my cat, and it's death was difficult to handle. I blamed the city for lax enforcement and the dog's owner for irresponsibility. And yes, Melanie, I blamed myself for not being able to protect my cat and consequently have had no pets since then. For fourteen years this exclusively outside cat and its brother from the same litter were fine on my property, which mainly a large wooded tract. No one complained about their behavior, and early on I did my best to train them to not cross the road. Postmortem I tried to channel my anger into protecting people and pets from dangerous dogs. Many cities treat certain breeds, mainly pit bulls, as "dangerous dogs," and some even ban them. They constitute a disproportionate number of attacks. If I can be convinced that they are not dangerous, then my views might change. I am sorry to have offended anyone but I will never stop fighting against dangerous dogs. Hmmm. of what fact am I ignorant?

    -- Posted by Courtois on Sun, Aug 11, 2013, at 11:37 PM
  • hmmmm. So would you blame me if my daughter was playing in the front yard and was attacked by a dangerous dog? Nice blame the victim mentality you have.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 12:40 AM
  • You're missing the point.....we also advocate for control of dangerous dogs, we simply cannot allow ourselves or our pets to be targeted simply because of the actions of other irresponsible owners.

    Believe it or not we are on the same side in this issue. Any dog can be dangerous. I myself was put in the hospital because of an 8 lb mini Doxie. I was raised with Doxies. Do I push for a ban of this breed because of 1 bad example or do I increase my efforts to educate and promote responsible ownership?

    This is not and has never been a breed issue. ALL animal issues come down to human responsibility. Ignorance can be educated but stupidity is a national epidemic in this country. It is dangerous and is to be addressed like any other social disease....erradicate the disease, not the victim!

    Welcome to the fight for sanity Courtois....

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 5:37 AM
  • PS Courtois,

    In the matter of "changing your mind" I would invite you to meet anyone of the dogs highlighted during the finale of the Storm series in this blog entry or make a point of meeting me during one of my public appearances.

    My dog Bubba was an intact male and was one of the original Pet Pals in the beginning of the program thru HSSEMO. He was involved in actual working therapy, not just a "visitor".

    My dog Emma played Sandy in the university production of Annie this past winter. After the final matinee on Sunday, she was photographer with a huge number of kids and adults alike in the front hallway.

    I do a fund raiser for the prison program out of SECC in Charleston called Kiss a Bull for a Buck. My dogs tend to give away more merchandise than they sell but it is a huge fund raiser.

    I couldn't have my dogs out in the public as much as they are if they weren't exceptional. I put them in what many dogs would find to be high stress situations. They not only rise to the occassion, they thrive on the exposure.

    I have a quote attached to my email from Albert Einstein; To condemn without investigation is the height of ignorance. I publicly invite you to investigate the truth of this breed as opposed to the misinformation and outright lies surrounding them!

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 5:56 AM
  • I have investigated pit bulls. I know while they are only about 4% of the dog population, they are responsible for the majority of fatal human attacks. I know that courts have held that pit bulls have certain traits that make them inherently dangerous. I am curious--do you muzzle your pits when they are in public? What happened to the dog that put you in the hospital? What exactly have you done to help control dangerous dogs? I am not surprised that your dog is popular at SECC; as a Probation and Parole officer I learned pit bulls are common pets of criminals, and two of my colleagues were attacked by them during a home visit. Yes, I have investigated pit bulls and look forward to your pointing me to objective studies showing their gentleness and timidity.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 12:57 PM
  • You're investigation has led you down a path you wish to follow. All dog has the exact same traits you speak of but as was the case with the Doxie, some find this behavior acceptable. I do not. I find any human aggression without provacation to be unacceptable especially in light of the number of dogs with exceptional temperaments of all breeds that die everyday because of the very human irresponsiblity you are refusing to acknowledge. I am also aware of the "yard dogs" being bred according to a media established standard that has NOTHING to do with what this breed is supposed to be. These criminal you speak of both in and out of the penal institutions are just as much my enemy as they are yours. They are responsible for destroying this breed just as if they too were killing them in our streets & shelters. You might be interested in knowing that those are not the only problems I'm seeing in this breed. We also have an epidemic of so-called rescuers who are loving these dogs to death. They are not equipped to evaluate behavior nor are they suited to placing these dogs in the proper homes. This is a huge problem that goes beyond your controlled statistics showing you only what you want to see. Yes, I can provide those same stats to the contrary but what have we gained other than each of us is well versed in research. I practice what I preach & my dogs are in fact representative of the majority of this breed. Sadly, that's boring in the eyes of the media and it is not in keeping with closed minds such as your own. I don't expect you to find out first hand about my dogs or the dogs that I feature in this blog. You are quite comfortable in the world you have made for yourself. I do feel sorry that a person in your position is uneducated in the power of the Puppies for Parole program. You will find my next blog entry interesting because I will mention the effect my dogs have had on those same criminals you condemn while parading yourself as someone who's very lively hood is supposed to be based on rehabilitation. Read my archives...at no point have I ever said this breed was timid or for everyone. You have the option to learn about what is real and what is hype. Ignorance is the lack of education and can be fixed. Stupidity is the refusal to learn what is beyond one's comfort zone and shamefully, it is epidemic in this society!

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 7:28 PM
  • Please point me to the data, thanks.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 8:00 PM
  • Despite my indicating that I am open to more information you have chosen to impune my character, calling me demeaning names (ignorant, stupid) misinterpreting my statements (implying I oppose rehabilitation for offenders, saying I condemn criminals), while refusing to provide objective facts defending your claims. You allude to other facts but don't produce them. You make accusations without proof. You make sweeping statements with no verification. I am disappointed that the SE Missourian gives a forum to someone with your qualities. I can't see how you will succeed in changing minds when you are so rude in your treatment of people who might disagree with you. I see no point in continuing this conversation with you.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 8:18 PM
  • http://defendpitbulls.com/pit-bull-attack-statistics/

    http://stubbydog.org/2012/05/pit-bulls-by-the-numbers/

    http://www.nopitbullbans.com/pages/about-cdc-bite-stats/

    We can play this game of statistics and words until hell freezes. While I may have losely questioned your character I am safe in assuming your mind is closed to actually meeting a real Pit Bull. Like you, I'm falling on the stereotypical persona you have presented in your commentary. That is of a person whose mind is closed to anything but what you find comfortable in your facts. You are welcome to read through my archives to see if I am in fact also the ciminal element you have decided all Pit Bull owners to be and you can fail to see the pain you have caused to a dear woman engaged in the service of the infirm with your uncaring commentary regarding the loss of her pet you know nothing of nor do you have any desire to see how the poison you spread effects others who are in a real life & death struggle to save the lives of their own pets because sensationalized, yellow journalism promoted by self interest entities motivated by greed have held sway over our society for too long. If you have a problem with actually coming out of your ivory tower and meeting the majority representatives of this breed, you are welcome. But if your preconceived biased position is more important to you than truth, then by all means stay in your safe little box. You have repeatedly made my point about the human responsibility factor. HUMANS ARE THE BOTTOM LINE IN THIS ARGUMENT and until they are held accountable, then stupidity will in fact hold power over sanity.

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 9:09 PM
  • i was recently bitten by a pit mix and have no ill will towards rhem. It bit me because it was abused, sick, and had horrible owners. In my line of work I have been bitten by more small dogs unprovoked, such as chihuahuas, terrier mixes, jack russels. The breed of an animal means nothing, it is how it is raised, how it is cared for, how it is trained. Punish the animal owners for their negligence, their abuse, and their general lack of care. Any dog can bite, or attack a cat, or snap. Don't generalize it on to pit bulls or mixes, that is a wrong and I speak from personal experience and ten years of handling all sorts of animals almost daily.

    -- Posted by Karol wilcox on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 9:09 PM
  • I might add, there are more stats onpit bites because they are reported more. Who reports a chihuahua bite? Very few. Pit bites are sensationalized by the media. You don't see a tv camera coming for a chihuahua bite. A small bite gave me 13 stitches, and I hold no ill will towards that animal.

    -- Posted by Karol wilcox on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 9:11 PM
  • Courtois... I am very sorry for the loss of your cat. However, my baby pit bull did NOT maul your cat, or anything for that matter. Your choosing to bash my dogs breed on a blog written about her death, actually shows your true character. People like you are the reason that responsible pit bull owners have to fear for the safety of their dogs.

    -- Posted by Bella's mom on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 9:41 PM
  • Courtois:

    I think I am just going to puuuuuke. You are one of THOSE people! Even if someone tells you that they agree with you, to a point, or that you are both on the same page, you STILL want to carry on with your dramatically biased opinion.

    Objective studies? On Pit Bulls? Surely you jest? The whole thought seems an oxymoron.

    "I blamed the city for lax enforcement and the dog's owner for irresponsibility." Well good, we all agree on that, in part. Personally I blame the owner, wholly. If the dog were at risk to maul another animal, it should have been restrained. End of story. It doesn't matter if it's a Pit Bull, a Beagle, a Cattle dog, a Labrador, or a Chihuahua. They have all been known to kill small animals, and it has nothing to do with their particular breed. I think the only dog I have never heard of being guilty of a killing is a Yorkie.

    In regards to your cat roaming free: "No one complained about their behavior, and early on I did my best to train them to not cross the road." No one complained to YOU. And you trained a cat to not cross a road, really? A cat? You have no idea how hard I am laughing about that.

    (Pit Bulls) "They constitute a disproportionate number of attacks." That's because dangerous behavior sells news and grandmas owning Pit Bulls do not. Not so long ago the Rottweiler filled the news as a "dangerous breed" but over the past decade you don't hear much about the breed. And guess what? Rottweiler's are still everywhere and they don't do any more or any less "attacking" than they did back then.

    "I will never stop fighting against dangerous dogs." Us too, but it would be really nice if you could come out of your box and see that any breed over the size of about 20 lbs is capable of doing great damage to a human or another animal, or even cause death. There are few dogs alive that aren't capable of being considered a "dangerous breed". News headlines no so long ago, "Pomeranian mauls 6 month old." I'm not joking, do your research; a 10lb Pomeranian. Shall we outlaw them too? Put a muzzle on them? Dachshund: top biter out of all breeds, nationwide. Shall we roast all the weenie dogs as well?

    "So would you blame me if my daughter was playing in the front yard and was attacked by a dangerous dog?" No, I would blame the dog's owner for allowing it to roam free. You accuse me of having a "blame the victim mentality", but isn't that what you do by blaming the entire breed of Pit Bulls for the atrocities for what a small percentage? I know a couple of parole and probation officers who are some of the most suspicious, crooked, lying people I have ever met. Shall I believe that everyone in Parole and Probation is the same? I certainly would not. Just like dogs, there are good ones, and bad ones. Which one are you? You certainly aren't an objective one.

    While you have investigated Pit Bulls, WE LIVE WITH them and WITHOUT OUTRAGEOUS INCIDENT. They are part of our family, hang out with our kids, our grand-kids. We are NOT criminals and neither are our dogs. We are American middle class (if there is such a thing anymore).We go to work, pay our bills, pay too many taxes, and lead common lives. Our dogs play with other animals. Mine love playing with cats and any other animal I've introduced them to. Oh the horror; the monstrous Pit Bull. They sit in our laps, they sleep in our beds, and they do it all without ever harming a fly, much less a humane being.

    Muzzle our dogs in public? Why would we do that? Many Pit Bull dogs lead in search and rescue; they perform as therapy dogs for the sick, the young, and the very old. And they do so lovingly and with more compassion and forgiveness than most human beings. Muzzle them. You are outrageous.

    "What exactly have you done to help control dangerous dogs?" We try to educate people every day. We make complaints and we follow up on them. We advocate for the proper "maintenance", if you will, of this outstanding breed. Have a child and allow it to run wild and you'll likely have a hellion on your hands, and dogs are no different.

    "I learned pit bulls are common pets of criminals, and two of my colleagues were attacked by them during a home visit." Yes, Pit Bulls ARE common amongst criminals. WHO DO YOU THINK first exploited the characteristics of the breed in the first place? Was it was the 80 year old woman in Jackson, who's Pit Bull is her loving and constant companion. Or maybe was the 10 year old down the street who's had a Pit Bull tagging after her/him since he/she was able to walk. Or it was the middle aged woman across town that keeps Pit Bulls as companions. Yes, surely she turned them into ferocious attacks dogs, although you never hear a peep out of them. But these kinds of people, and their dogs, aren't part of the statistics you so readily crave. The media can't sell the passive, average, normal dogs of America.

    Your friends were attacked by Pit Bulls. Well what do you know? How about the cop who shot the Chihuahua in Marble because she "felt threatened"? Good lord, it could have been Barney the Beagle. Surely you cannot seriously think you have a legitimate argument? Any number of dogs may be aggressive when a stranger enters their home.

    Ms. Coy was right, "You're investigation has led you down a path you wish to follow". All you know is someone's cousin's brother's aunt got her leg chewed on by a Pit Bull. You know the Pit Bull that killed your cat. Maybe it is the sensationalism the media feeds you every chance it gets, and worse, the criminal element who has exploited the breed in the first place. Any way you cut it, you have not considered all the facts, only the ones you sought out and found. Look into other avenues and be enlightened, will you?

    I don't have to "point you to the data". I live it every single day.And biases, close minded people like you give me a raging headache and a twisted gut.

    -- Posted by hmmmm on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 10:24 PM
  • Courtois--if you are serious about research, go to this site: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/truth-about-p.... Contrary to hmmmm, there actually is objective information out there.

    -- Posted by CSP on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 10:59 PM
  • I stand corrected! And happily so! Thank you CPS.

    -- Posted by hmmmm on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 11:02 PM
  • I have nothing to add that Melanie and hmmmm haven't already said other than you SHOULD blame yourself for cat's torturous death. Had you kept him inside where he belonged he would have been protected and never encountered the dog in the first place. I'm not saying it was all your fault, but certainly as much your fault as it was the dog owners (and it WAS their fault more than it was the dog's fault).

    Do yourself a favor and watch Beyond The Myth on Netflix. It's a very eye opening and educational documentary to anyone who is open to the possibility that the breed is not to blame.

    -- Posted by kbrothers on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 11:31 PM
  • hmmmm, thank you for your response. I appreciate that this is an important issue to you as well, and respect your thoughtful, fact-based arguments. These and Melanie's previous columns have given me food for thought. I've never actually had a thoughtful interaction with a pit bull owner specifically about the breed and its qualities. Understand my problem is with dangerous dogs. My initial research, which included my own city's regulation of pit bulls as a dangerous dog, and recent fatal dog bite research, helped solidify my opinion against pit bulls. I didn't seek out personal accounts from owners, in fact I had probably as strong visceral reactions to pit bulls and their owners as you have to me. I am not a hateful person, just trying to keep people and pets safe. You may not believe it, but your comments have actually made me challenge myself on my beliefs.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 11:32 PM
  • Courtois...it's time to move on. Get another cat or dog. Maybe they'll help you relax and reduce your fixation on pits.

    -- Posted by CSP on Mon, Aug 12, 2013, at 11:36 PM
  • ...just try to be more responsible this time (keep it inside your home).

    -- Posted by CSP on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 2:55 AM
  • Here is an even more objective, recent, authoratative, concise, and on-point report: https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Backgrounders/Documents/dog_bite_risk_and_prev...

    Recommends AGAINST pit bull bans.

    -- Posted by CSP on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 3:11 AM
  • I am very pleased that this blog and comments have made you do some rethinking and hopefully many people will do the same. Cities and counties can easily pass a generic dangerous animal ordinance that envelops any dangerous animal that attacks unprovoked or is uncontrolled. The animal neglect law in the state also provides for inadequate care and control. If people could see beyond the breed to the actions of humans, the world may become a better place.

    -- Posted by Karol wilcox on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 8:04 AM
  • hmmmm...Why would you muzzle? Because it is the law in some communities.So, no, I don't think it is an outrageous question. Maybe this is a better way to ask it. Do you and other pit bull owners check the local ordinances of communities where your dogs travel and make sure you are in compliance?

    -- Posted by Courtois on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 5:10 PM
  • I don't know what other Pit Bull owners do, but I do not travel or take my dogs to any community where there are such laws. My dogs are not monsters and I refuse to treat them as such.

    -- Posted by hmmmm on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 5:40 PM
  • Point taken.

    -- Posted by Courtois on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 6:59 PM
  • Actually as someone that does in fact travel extensively with her dogs,the answer is yes, I am aware of the local ordiances where I take my dogs. No I do not muzzle them for anyone nor have I ever been asked to.....my dogs speak very well for themselves and the message they send is clear.

    As Karol can attest the first time I brought my Tori out into public to do the Kiss a Bull for a Buck fundraiser for Puppies for Parole, it was in Caruthersville during their annual Chili Cook Off. Caruthersville does have breed specific ordinances in place but because I am known and trusted by the "powers that be" I was allowed to present my dog in public. I think it's safe to say and not a big brag at all, that Tori enchanted the public. In answer to the question "Who would pay you to kiss a Pit Bull?"...it's seems EVERYONE would be a good answer.

    My dogs mirror me is the bottom line in this discussion.

    Courtois I've welcomed you once to the battle for responsible pet ownership and I issue that welcome again. This is not a breed or species issue. It is not about the pet that gives us pleasure and satisfies our souls, this is about human beings stepping up and doing right by their pets and their fellow man. I'm thinking there is a Golden Rule out there that covers this sentiment quite well!

    -- Posted by Melanie Coy on Tue, Aug 13, 2013, at 7:32 PM