My Mom told me it's OK to lie today... interesting observation

[DemWitch]

From some of the animal posts here at DU, most folks know I have a PitMix dog that I absolutley adore and spoil rotten. She's gentle and affectionate, non agressive, and just brings so much joy to my life I can't say. But I'm always very aware of how people negativly perceive her because of her breed, and yes I do get very protective of her becasue of it.

Anyway, in October I'm going to Vegas for a week and I visited a kennel today. I moved to a new area recently and my new vet recommended them. They're excellent. Took Kyra with me, and the people just loved her. The lady asked me what kind of dog she was and I said "I dunno... she a 5 dollar pound puppy mix"

I told my Mom about this and she asked how they wouldn't find out when they got the records from my new vet. I told her because I said the same thing to my new vet and that I didn't turn over the old paperwork from the old vet, just started all over with all new shots, etc., which she was due for anyway.

I thought she would be ticked, but she said she understood. She said she knew how much I loved her and she knew how I wouldn't want anyone judging her or worse because of something she was born as. She then said, "that's why your Dad and I didn't tell anyone you were gay for so long. You we're hurt that you thought we didn't accept it, but it wasn't that, we we're afraid of what people would think of you, and treat you because of it."

So in essence, my Mom after all these years said it's OK to tell a lie, if you feel it protects someone... I have always thought the truth is the best policy, and felt bad about lying to the vet and kennel, but now I don't.

Is that wrong?

[Mick Knox]

1. bad lie

you could be liable big time if something happened.

Those breeds are known to snap.

[chimpy the poopthrower]

5. I agree.

The kennel might want to do things differently knowing it was a pit mix. Someone posted on here just the other week about how they kenneled their pit bull in the same cage as their other two dogs and it killed one of the dogs. I wouldn't own a pit bull or even a pit bull mix any more than I would own a tiger. It has nothing to do with the breed being bad or evil. I just don't think they are trustworthy pets. And remember that all domesticated dogs are technically not "natural". Which doesn't mean that they shouldn't exist, but you can't expect them to set aside their breeding for your sake.

A dog meant to herd sheep out in wide open spaces is not going to be happy on a small suburban lot without enough mental stimulation. If you own a sporting dog, you need to keep it challenged even if you don't hunt. If it's a retriever you might need to play fetch a lot, for example. If you have a terrier, you have to watch it against going after small animals including cats. If you have a hound, you can't expect it not to howl some time. I just don't know what you do with a dog bred mainly to kill other dogs in the most ferocious way possible. It may seem like a sweet dog and have a kind owner, but I don't think that ensures that those killing instincts won't ever surface.

I would be pretty upset if my pet was killed in a kennel by a pit bull who got out of control, especially if that information was hidden by the dog's owner.

[rucky]

2. pitbulls have a bad rap

it's all about the owner.

[Dookus]

4. Why is it ALL about the owner?

Isn't it possible that there are many bad owners, COMBINED with a breed that has been bred to fight aggressively for centuries?

Pure breeds have a lot of personality traits related to what to they were bred to do. Aggression is one of them, and those lines bred for aggression ARE really more aggressive than other dogs.

There's also a difference in what happens when different breeds attack. All dogs can bite under the right circumstances - but some breeds nip and stop and others go on full-blown attack. That's why certain breeds - probably the ones you'd think of first - are responsible for the most fatalities and severe injuries.

[Kenneth ken]

3. everyone lies

some time for some reason or other. Truth is the best policy, but sometimes a lie is kinder.

If your dog looks like a pit bull, whether purebred or not, people will recognize it in her. If she doesn't look pit, why potentially alienate or provoke a subliminal fear in those who have met her, and responded favorably to her?