Rottielover
February 21st, 2006, 01:34 PM
What a great article......
Rufus: A model citizen
By LARRY A. HICKS The York Dispatch
By now you've probably heard about Rufus, the colored bull terrier that wowed the dog world last week by winning the Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show award at Madison Square Garden.
He is the first colored bull terrier ever to win Best in Show at Westminster. That's "ever" as in 130 years. Remarkable.
Rufus, as you might be aware, has a York County connection because he is handled by Kathy Kirk, a native of this area who now lives in Connecticut.
Anyway, I'm absolutely delighted that Rufus won top honors at what is generally accepted as the most important dog show in the world.
And it's not because he's the prettiest critter in the world, either. That is part of his charm, I think.
Some of you probably think Rufus is cute as all get out, some of you think he's uglier than sin and the rest of us either think he's somewhere in between beautiful and ugly or take no position on his looks at all.
Me? I've seen uglier. I've seen prettier. Rufus falls somewhere in the middle.
So what pleases me most about Rufus' victory isn't what he looks like. I'm tickled he won because of what he is.
I'll explain.
Rufus belongs to one of the three AKC breeds -- bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers -- that some people blend into one all-encompassing category known as "pit bulls."
Goodness knows, no dog is more feared these days than a pit bull, unless it's the Rottweiler, which happens to be my favorite breed.
It also is worthy of note, I think, that a Rottweiler named Shaka was also among the seven finalists for Best of Show at Westminster.
Which more or less gives me a double-barreled shotgun with which to make my point that no dog (or human) is a bad dog (or human) simply because of its breed (or skin color, religion, country of origin or sexual preference). Get my drift?
For evidence, I need look no farther than Rufus and Shaka and my own Bear, at home.
And that's important because as you read this, there are cities in about 20 states that have either approved or are trying to pass breed specific legislation (BSL) designed to control certain dog breeds that are believed to be "dangerous."
Take another look at Rufus and ask yourself if
he's dangerous. Of course, he's not. Rufus wouldn't hurt a fly. Take a look at Shaka and ask yourself if she's dangerous. No, she isn't.
Yet there are cities in this country -- Denver being the most aggressive -- which have passed laws banning pit bulls. There are cities in this country that could seize Rufus, the Best of Show winner at Westminster last week, muzzle him and euthanize him for no better reason than he is a colored bull terrier.
York City and York County aren't among them, though York City officials did consider a ban or special licensing of pit bulls about five years ago. And the state General Assembly did consider legislation in 1996 that would have banned pit bulls and other "dangerous" breeds in this state.
We came this close (fingers held two inches apart) from enacting laws and ordinances locally and in this state that would have prevented Rufus and Shaka from passing through or living in York City, York County and the whole of Pennsylvania.
So it's a good thing Rufus is top dog for at least a year, because it'll shine a positive light on his breed that it might not otherwise receive. And maybe in the process, people will come to realize that there's nothing wrong with Rufus or Shaka or bull terriers or Rottweilers or Doberman pinschers that loving care and a good human connection don't cure.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've owned big-breed dogs my entire life and was never bitten by one. The worst and only dog bite I've ever received was from a Mexican Chihuahua that was so small it could have sat in my cereal bowl.
No one ever talks about banning Chihuahuas, though, and for good reason. It's not necessary.
So if Rufus accomplishes anything in the next year, let him set the record straight on "bully" breeds. There is no such thing.
But "bully" human owners, that's another story altogether.
I say we ban them. Every last one of them.
Columns by Larry A. Hicks, Dispatch columnist, run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. E-mail: lhicks@yorkdispatch.com.
All was right, and this guy deserves honors. But to set the record straight. Shaka is a male, LOL
Rufus: A model citizen
By LARRY A. HICKS The York Dispatch
By now you've probably heard about Rufus, the colored bull terrier that wowed the dog world last week by winning the Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show award at Madison Square Garden.
He is the first colored bull terrier ever to win Best in Show at Westminster. That's "ever" as in 130 years. Remarkable.
Rufus, as you might be aware, has a York County connection because he is handled by Kathy Kirk, a native of this area who now lives in Connecticut.
Anyway, I'm absolutely delighted that Rufus won top honors at what is generally accepted as the most important dog show in the world.
And it's not because he's the prettiest critter in the world, either. That is part of his charm, I think.
Some of you probably think Rufus is cute as all get out, some of you think he's uglier than sin and the rest of us either think he's somewhere in between beautiful and ugly or take no position on his looks at all.
Me? I've seen uglier. I've seen prettier. Rufus falls somewhere in the middle.
So what pleases me most about Rufus' victory isn't what he looks like. I'm tickled he won because of what he is.
I'll explain.
Rufus belongs to one of the three AKC breeds -- bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers -- that some people blend into one all-encompassing category known as "pit bulls."
Goodness knows, no dog is more feared these days than a pit bull, unless it's the Rottweiler, which happens to be my favorite breed.
It also is worthy of note, I think, that a Rottweiler named Shaka was also among the seven finalists for Best of Show at Westminster.
Which more or less gives me a double-barreled shotgun with which to make my point that no dog (or human) is a bad dog (or human) simply because of its breed (or skin color, religion, country of origin or sexual preference). Get my drift?
For evidence, I need look no farther than Rufus and Shaka and my own Bear, at home.
And that's important because as you read this, there are cities in about 20 states that have either approved or are trying to pass breed specific legislation (BSL) designed to control certain dog breeds that are believed to be "dangerous."
Take another look at Rufus and ask yourself if
he's dangerous. Of course, he's not. Rufus wouldn't hurt a fly. Take a look at Shaka and ask yourself if she's dangerous. No, she isn't.
Yet there are cities in this country -- Denver being the most aggressive -- which have passed laws banning pit bulls. There are cities in this country that could seize Rufus, the Best of Show winner at Westminster last week, muzzle him and euthanize him for no better reason than he is a colored bull terrier.
York City and York County aren't among them, though York City officials did consider a ban or special licensing of pit bulls about five years ago. And the state General Assembly did consider legislation in 1996 that would have banned pit bulls and other "dangerous" breeds in this state.
We came this close (fingers held two inches apart) from enacting laws and ordinances locally and in this state that would have prevented Rufus and Shaka from passing through or living in York City, York County and the whole of Pennsylvania.
So it's a good thing Rufus is top dog for at least a year, because it'll shine a positive light on his breed that it might not otherwise receive. And maybe in the process, people will come to realize that there's nothing wrong with Rufus or Shaka or bull terriers or Rottweilers or Doberman pinschers that loving care and a good human connection don't cure.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've owned big-breed dogs my entire life and was never bitten by one. The worst and only dog bite I've ever received was from a Mexican Chihuahua that was so small it could have sat in my cereal bowl.
No one ever talks about banning Chihuahuas, though, and for good reason. It's not necessary.
So if Rufus accomplishes anything in the next year, let him set the record straight on "bully" breeds. There is no such thing.
But "bully" human owners, that's another story altogether.
I say we ban them. Every last one of them.
Columns by Larry A. Hicks, Dispatch columnist, run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. E-mail: lhicks@yorkdispatch.com.
All was right, and this guy deserves honors. But to set the record straight. Shaka is a male, LOL