all the pit bull terriers that have died in pounds and shelters,
put to sleep for no other reason than being born the wrong breed;
that spent their lives chained outside with only a barrel for shelter;
that have been bred repeatedly only to be tied and left
in vacant buildings when no longer useful;
that have been fed ground glass, gunpowder and
hot pepper to make them mean;
that have died fighting, ripped apart, suffering in agonizing pain;
that have been thrown, mortally injured, on dead piles to die;
that have been used as bait because they couldn't or wouldn't fight;
that were shot, stabbed, thrown out windows,
and hung because they weren't tough enough;
that have been shot in the spine and abandoned to die
of thirst, starvation, and terror;
and that have been - forgive us all - set on fire.