I was reading the Oregonian today and the sports page (which I NEVER read) had an article which caught my eye. It is about Zach Randolph, a Trail Blazer who is in hot water for some alleged shenanigans. While I agree with almost all of it, one line caught my eye. Below is my letter:
I read with interest your article in the August 27th Oregonian. I personally have NO interest in basketball and agree with ninety nine percent of your opinions. However, I must take exception to one item mentioned: "He had pet pit bulls, which no Blazers player should have".
Whatever else Mr. Randolph has done, there is NO law in Oregon preventing him from owning pit bulls. It is legal to own any breed of dog in Oregon. Should he be involved in dog fighting (if this is indeed the case)? Most emphatically not. However, it is not a crime to simply own these much maligned animals.
I have owned this type of dog for a quarter of a century and will own them until I die. Before you decide I am one of the stereotypical drug dealing, knuckle-dragging meth heads with a fourth grade education, please let me assure you that I am not. My husband and I are college educated professionals who work hard, pay our taxes and send our children to public schools. We simply choose to own a dog which is not politcally correct.
I train dogs as a volunteer at the Newberg Animal Shelter and have trained numerous pit bulls. I have found them, without exception, to be intelligent, eager to please dogs. I have never had one so much as lift a lip at me. Labradors, often considered America's sweetheart breed, have come close to biting me more times than I can count. I have been bitten by other breeds, but NEVER by one of the numerous bull breeds that we have been lucky enough to find homes for.
I personally do not find that many of today's athletes to be role models for our young people. Steroids, illegal drug activity, sex scandals, theft and abuse (domestic and assault) are not things I want my teenage sons to aspire to. I suspect that I would not be the only parent to be happy to see the "Jail Blazers" leave town. I have seen very little in the way of positive press for "our" team in the past few years. My dog, on the other hand, spends her days being a breed ambassador.
Gypsy (Rangler's Burlesque Queen, CGC), my American Stafforshire terrier, has been to numerous classrooms over the years here in Newberg. She teaches dog safety and promotes the idea the "breedism" (the canine version of racsim) is wrong. She helped kick off the summer reading program for children at the Newberg Public Library (where I work). Her most recent venture was to assist me in teaching a class about find the right dog for one's family. If she were dangerous, do you honestly think I would have been allowed to bring her amongst literally HUNDREDS of children? She was, and always is, a perfect lady and the consumate politician. She spent her time kissing babies and running through her repertoire of tricks while her endlessly wagging tail beat a gentle tattoo on my legs. I walk her twice a day (at least) and I am always stopped by children of all ages (1 to 101!) to ask about her, pet her and generally enjoy my "killer" dog. My neighbor only half-jokingly calls her the "the official dog of Newberg".
In the future, please consider this: every statement that is made by a news reporter is often taken as the gospel truth rather than said reporter's OPINION. In this case, please take the time to meet these wonderful animals and their owners before you paint us all with the same brush as the drug-dealing thugs you obviously believe us to be.
I would be more than happy to let you meet Gypsy so that you can see that many bull breed owners are articulate, well-educated law-abiding people. Please feel free to call me (503-XXX-XXXX) or email me (loribl@comcast.net).