Walgreens is selling a product known as "Pitbull Defense Maximum Strength Pepper Spray." This is a terrible idea.

Allow me to share a little story:

Back when I was working at the Humane Society in LaGrange, GA, I was quite nervous to have to work with the pit bulls, which I knew would happen eventually. I had heard the stories, and so was of course convinced they'd rip my throat out. Imagine my consternation when I was told to go into a cage with not one, but TWO pit bulls. I opened the cage door, and they both came charging at me and knocked me to the floor. I closed my eyes, convinced I was about to die.

...and opened them when I felt both dogs LICKING me happily.

I have never met such friendly, loving dogs before. I worked with many pit bulls in my time there, and what amazed me most was that even those who came in covered with scars because they had been fought--trained to bite each other to death for the amusement of human beings--were the most gentle, friendly dogs imaginable.

You want to know some really mean dogs? Almost all the small breeds. The difference is, if a chiwawa bites you, you go to the doctor. If a pit bull does happen to bite you, you're screwed.

But they are not likely to bite you! The biggest issue is that people TRAIN them to. People buy a pit bull as a "guard dog" because they have a reputation for being tough, mean dogs, then proceed to TEACH the dog to be tough and mean. The dog only wants to please its owner (pit bulls are an incredibly loyal breed) so it obeys. Then, this idiot wonders why the dog it trained to kill anyone that enters their yard has bitten their neighbor's two-year-old.

Now, I love Walgreens; there's one that is easy access from my home (which is a big plus for someone with limited transportation), and the prices and selection are great. However, I know that with this product, they are perpetuating the stereotype that these dogs are dangerous. This is not simply a question of besmirching the breed's honor; the more people believe this myth, the more of these dogs end up in shelters, and the more of them STAY in these shelters until they are put down. Furthermore, the more people believe that pitts are attack dogs, the more they will be BOUGHT for the purpose of being fought against each other, or trained to kill as guard dogs. And the less the government, or anyone else, will care about these atrocities.

Big-name stores like Wal-Mart are selling assault rifles to the general public; a gentle, loyal, loving breed of dogs is the LEAST of anyone's worries.