I like to think of myself as open minded and see it through another’s eyes! Because my hope is that someone will do the same if it was the other way around. The cold truth is- no matter what that will not always be the case.
I want to share this story because, to this day I have never forgotten this lady’s look or the way she spoke to me regarding Zandra- For those of you reading my blog for the first time, Zandra is my Blue Nose Pitbull, aka momma!
I have had her since she was only 5 weeks old, and she never left my side. I had a plan for her and that was to show the world just exactly how her breed CAN be! She has been going into stores, hotels and everywhere with me, especially when she was very young and until she was 2 years old, I don’t think she was away from me for more than an hour.
Well one Christmas we, Nick, my husband, Zandra, and myself went shopping for gifts. We took her with us to the mall and just shopped. I had a return I needed to and was waiting in line with Zandra. I remember Zandra sitting next to me, as she always did, and this lady looking back at me then slowly looked down at her and slowly making eye contact with me says “I did not think those dogs were aloud to be service dogs”. As I looked up at her with this look of disgust, I said “What” and looked down at Zandra who also looked like she understood what this lady just said and gave the same look I was giving. As I looked back at this lady through the corner of my eye, again I said Yeah!! She’s a dog, right? This lady then says it’s a Pitbull!!
So, I decide it is time to educate this woman who just decided to throw her empty less facts out and stand up for my “Pitbull”. I will say I giggled a little when I looked at Zandra, who loves people, and now wanted to be on the other side of me away from this person. When Zandra did that I thought, wow my dog just put space between herself and this person who was bashing her for being a “Pitbull”. I don’t know about everyone else, but I think this lady needed to look at herself a little.
So back to what I decided to do or really say.
“First off let me share this BIG SECRET!! The American Staffordshire Terrier AKA “Pitbull” is a BREED of the canines, AKA dogs!! So, let’s set that straight! SHE not “it” as you said IS a DOG! So please don’t set HER apart from other DOGS. She looks at me like a high school girl flinging her hair and rolling her eyes! As the customers behind me start to giggle. I then asked her “will you please share with me what you know about my dog! And of course, I get the “they are mean and will kill anyone! I looked down at Zandra who is still just sitting there and looked at the lady with are you stupid?? All over my face!! I shake my head with a sigh. Okay do you know why these dogs do what the things you say? She said it’s how Pitbulls are. Crazy I reply. So, you’re telling me these dogs were born and grew up and attacked everyone? She of course said Well no, I don’t think so! Come on for the love of everything on this earth! I was thinking there is no way she is believing herself right now. Well, no, the reason they are known for what they do is because they were bred to protect their people and the animals owned by the farmers. They are wonderful with kids and in fact called the nanny dogs. The dedication of this breed is what has brought them to this point! They will die to make their people happy, even if that means fighting another dog or person to make their owners happy. See they are only happy when the people they are with are happy. Sad when you think about it, all they want and have always wanted is to make mankind their happy! But then we have folks that just don’t care to know but have all the opinions in the world!
So, to answer your question, yes, THESE DOGS are great at being service dogs. Maybe you will think a little before you throw your uneducated guess at someone!
It sucked the line was so long because I really did not want to stand next to her anymore. Zandra got a ton of attention though from the other customers. That lady did not even look back at us anymore. In fact, she stared at her phone and would not look up. Maybe she was doing some reading on what I just said?? Or she was probably texting her husband about how this mean lady just hurt her feelings!!
All I can hope is that one day people will stop being so critical about stuff they really don’t know anything about. If you are going to have an opinion on something, make sure you understand why you have that mind set.
Otherwise, you will end up just like the Pitbulls and live your life for other people!