TheBanyanTree: Killer Dogs, another tale

[NancyIee at aol.com]

My neighbor has three Pit Bulls.  They live on several acres, and  raise 
Miniature horses, a hog every now and then (when the man of the house  catches 
one of the feral wild hoglets) and a beef every other year, or when the  
freezer is empty.  This Spring, they were blessed with three tiny Miniature  
horse foals, which are no bigger than a fox terrier when newborn. The adults 
are  about three feet tall, or less, usually less. I have one that is 28 
inches.  Their Pit Bulls are big, heavy-set, menacing to look at. They are also 
porch  ornaments, coming out to greet you when you arrive, following you as 
you go  about their territory, nudging you to pet them, lest you forget 
their presence.  Lazy, sleep-in-the-sun dogs, jokes to the reputation of the 
breed.
 
There are also other creatures sharing our landscape, besides the wild  
hogs. There are eagles, hawks, foxes and coyotes, armadillos and possums,  
bunnies, an occasional bobcat, and rarely, because they are on the verge of  
extinction, a Florida Panther, rarest of the rare.
 
My neighbor was in a panic one mid-evening. "Something is at the horses!!"  
went out her cry. They had been out for a short time, and some carnivore 
had  decided little horses might be dinner. We dashed over. One of her foals 
and been  mauled, but would survive. The stallion, gallant little king, had a 
nasty neck  slash that needed many stitches.
 
The Three Pit Bulls are also injured, two so badly they had to be put down. 
 BUT, at the core of it all, we pieced together that the "creature" had 
stalked  the horses. The Pit Bulls had defended them. The vet who came out and 
tended all  checked the remaining mayhem, fur, blood, etc, and determined 
the invading  creature had been a panther. The dogs had fought to their death 
to repel the  enemy, had driven it off without a fatality to the horses, had 
given their all  in defense of "their" territory.
 
Now we have a Pit-Bull-mauled panther out there, probably mad as heck,  
sore, and still hungry.  I am seriously thinking of getting a Pit puppy of  
that particular bloodline for my own place. Just in case one day I need such a  
defender. There are several out there, as other neighbors all have one or 
two  from that extended Pit Bull family.
 
It's all in the raising.  You want a tough dog, you will get a tough  dog. 
You want a family pet who will adore all yet defend you to the death,  you 
will get one.