Tough Times With Our American Staffordshire Terrier

by Jenny
(Canada)

My husband and I had just bought our new home in a new city and were excited to move in with our 8 year old American Staffordshire Terrier. We had lived in the country with him before, but commuting 45 minutes to work everyday was getting ridiculous, so we decided to move into town.

It never occurred to me to check the dog laws before moving, but I should have. The fourth day after getting settled in I received a letter in the mail from an enraged person in the neighborhood stating that if I didn't get rid of my vicious pitbull that he was turning me into the police. I honestly had to idea what he was talking about so I went over to have a chat.

He coldy explained to me that in order to house vicious pitbulls there are laws in place that would require me to install a 8 foot fence, install a kennel with a padlock, and purchase quite expensive insurance. I tried calmly explaining to him that Rocky, my family's American Staffordshire Terrier, is not a vicious pitbull but a sweet retired show dog, but he wanted no part of it.

Over the next week I looked further into the laws and discovered it was going to be a long process before my pooch was welcome in our new neighborhood. My husband put up an enormous fence and ridiculous kennel, and I added the necessary insurance to our current plan. I was still bummed about the whole situation months later.

It saddened me when I would take Rocky for walks because people would cross the street to get away from us. I wasn't used to being treated that way because for as long as I have had him, everyone has always loved him. They don't see the way he snuggles under the covers at night, they just see a vicious dog because of what they have heard from the media.

It wasn't until almost a year later when I was talking to someone at the pet store that I was informed that the fence, kennel, and insurance weren't needed as long as my dog could pass a canine good citizen test. Of course he could! Rocky is one of the most well behaved dogs I have ever had. I scheduled the test and he passed with flying colors. The dog trainer who performed the test was very impressed.

I had my husband take down the gigantic fence and replace it with a short white picket fence and we destroyed the kennel. People still cross the street when they see Rocky and me out, but I don't feel so bad about it anymore. Rocky makes me happy and that is all that matters.