Dawe: Week 6

 The Misunderstanding of Pitbulls and Parolees

    My favorite show when I was about 10 or 11 years old was Pitbulls and Parolees. This is weird considering I did not know what a parolee was and it wasn't a very kid-appropriate show at some points. The show takes place at a pit bull rescue in Louisiana. The workers at this rescue are all parolees or people that have recently been in prison, and it is all about giving the dogs and the people second chances. 

    Pitbulls are a misunderstood breed of dog. They are very strong and are sadly commonly used for dogfighting. Therefore many believe that they are vicious and overall mean dogs that will attack you on a whim. Some say that it is part of their genetic makeup to have these vicious behaviors towards humans. However, I believe that they have just as high of a chance to be sweet and cuddly as many other dogs. Due to these stereotypes many end up at shelters because no one wants them, or they are rescued from terrible dogfighting or hoarding situations. 

    Parolees are also feared and have a hard time finding jobs after leaving prison and being put on parole. This rescue is one of the only places where they can find jobs and work with animals that are also misunderstood. 

    My favorite episode was when they were able to return a pit bull, named Roxy, to her owner after being at the shelter for over 5 years. At the shelter, Roxy would constantly bark and try to bite all of the workers. She just always seemed on edge and never relaxed or let anyone pet her. The original owner of Roxy actually contacted the rescue and told them that she thought they had her dog. The owner of the rescue decided to take a chance and let Roxy's supposed owner come and see her. 

    When Roxi saw her owner her tail immediately started waging and she ran up to her. She let the owner, pet her and gave her lots of kisses. Roxy was like a whole different dog and was just waiting for her owner this entire time. 

    This not only goes to show that dogs have incredible loyalty and the ability to remember things, but also that they are highly misunderstood. How many dogs are sitting at the shelter right now that are aggressive and mean, but are just missing their owners? Or how many are being euthanized every day because they simply miss their owner and are lashing out? 

    There are so many stereotypes that invade our minds daily about different people and animals. This is just one of those examples that prove most generalized stereotypes are untrue. However, people still believe them after being disproved time and time again and it's aggravating, to say the least. 

Here's a link to the episode I mentioned