Teach people how to behave around dogs

To the editor:

While I have never owned a pit bull nor have had any inclination to, I have had several personal experiences with a neighbor who owned a pit bull, and I have talked with people who were walking their pit bulls. What dogs are like isn't that different from people. For some people, this is not something they want to hear: You mean I am not better than a dog?

How a dog acts depends on how it is treated and how well-trained it is. Is the dog encouraged to fight or to be over-protective? Sometimes little dogs tend to be the most aggressive.

People need to learn how to be around animals. This is not a dog problem. It's a people problem. Teach people common sense and respect for animals.

G.R. HALL

Ste. Genevieve, Mo.