Is this Confessions of Pitbull Victims anniversary or birthday?
Anyways, semantics I guess, but one year ago today, this blog was born.
And what a year it's been. From all the days that came and went to mark our one year anniversary of the attack on my son. Thank god those days are behind us, for some reason, they were among the hardest. His first birthday with the scar, first Christmas with the scar, first Easter with the scar, first day of school with the scar, all those days, thankfully are behind us.
What's also behind us, is a glorious event, the Walk in Tucson. What a day that was! To be able to put my head on the shoulders of those who understood exactly what we went through, and let it all out, that was truly a wonderful gift. To be able to meet so many likeminded, caring people was indeed rare.
Another change I see, and god I hope it continues, is on the comment threads. Even in the about 16 months since our incident, I have seen more of "us" come out and bravely take the stance. Quite often, we outnumber them, and that is thing of beauty. Now, if we could just get officials to get their politically correct heads out of their asses and join us. But hey, in this case I'm going to be an optimist and simply believe that if we continue to tell our stories to anyone and everyone who will listen, those folks will get it through their noggins that giving in to a minority group simply can't come at the majorities expense.
Something else that has remained the same, my little man. He still has the same keen sense of humour, now perhaps turning into sarcasm now that he has entered double digits, he still has a wicked knack with math, and a mind that dissects everything! He is still the same kid, just now he has a passenger, that scar on his face. But the chicks totally dig him!
And my circle of friends, funny, I saw it dwindle when I first came out publicly with what happened to my little man, and how I saw changes needed to be made. But within a short time, I found (and they found me) a group of devoted, empathetic, intelligent, fact finding types that were with us 100%. They opened their hearts, their files of vast knowledge and arms to my entire family. Craven taught me some stuff about blogging, Harve picked me up off the floor, and I've cried (literally) on Colleen's shoulder, Mel with her wonderful way of listening, Jake with his wit, Alexandra with so much knowledge and a beach ball, Carol with a horseshoe, Russ with a "room", and way too many others to name (but consider yourself all awarded) and considered a friend by the entire King clan.
In those initial days, I had many people tell me it would be ok, he would be ok, we would be ok, and we are. That's what I tell parents now...the ones of course whose children weren't among the ones that died in 2011, one of the worst years yet for fatal dog attacks. And I believe it's only going to get worse, because of the way society has humanized dogs and because of those who allow their own shortcomings to show through in the dog they choose to put on a leash, and for those who accept that all dogs are created equal.
But some things sadly, have remained the same. The myths are all still there, with newbie and veteran nutters spewing them up like a constant barrage of verbal diarrhea, and it still smells really bad. The ridiculous fundraisers for pits still pop up like the wack a mole game, and are supported by great gregarious masses, while families of our victims are forced to sad means to try and pay the medical (or vet bills) someone else's dangerous choice leaves them with. I wonder if Axel's angels could fluff up their wings enough to find a nickel or two for our victims? Likely not, easier to turn that blind eye.
There is no reason with good conscience, to support pit ownership in today's world. All the excuses or "reasons" fall short of facts. All the cute cartoons and lovely photos you post of your pits with your children, to someone like me, looks like a potential death scene. Your pit, whether dolled up with a tutu or bandana, is still a pit, all the denial and fancy dressing won't ever take that away.
Society demands justice when a madman kills our children, I am one who also demands justice when a pit kills our children.
Happy Day Confessions, you have helped save me from myself!!!
happy birthday
ReplyDeleteI too have found out that wanting pit bulls banned is a great way to filter so you end up with not narcissistic, not sociopathic, not banal and cowardly people in your circle of friends. You end up with people who are real and true, have intelligence and empathy, courage, all the things that make a friend really a friend worth having.
ReplyDeleteGrateful we met, and thank you too for who your are.