Shock and Awe

When pit bulls attack the responses expressed by owners fall into one of two categories. Many owners defend their dogs with explanations that, in essence, ignore the reality that has just transpired. Often the owners' explanations deflect the responsibility onto the victim of the attack, suggesting the victim is responsible. This bizarre response is thoroughly documented here.

The excerpts below, collected from recent news stories, are representative of a second kind of response. the stunned acknowledgement of a painful truth.

* * * * *

"It's crazy! He's never been like this before," she said. Her young granddaughter could be heard screaming in the background. "I don't know why he attacked him. He's never given him a problem. I don't know."
     from Father dies after attack by son's pit bull (now archived by Google News)

* * * * *

"I feel really weird, upset, complicated, confused. My hands are tied."

     from Pit bull kills boy's pet dog

* * * * *

“Makes you wonder how you can raise a dog all the way from a puppy and love it and be in the house every day and what would make it turn on its owner.”

    from Pit bull attacks owner

* * * * *

"He hasn't done this before."

    from Escape Artists

* * * * *

"I have an emergency. My dog has gone crazy. He's attacked both of us. I need an ambulance. Please, somebody come shoot this dog. . . . "

     from Family Pets

* * * * * 

These raw expressions suggest that the speakers have experienced a transformative experience. The speakers have experienced an unwelcome revelation that has destroyed an underpinning of their faith.

This phenomenon is repeated so often that SRUV is suggesting a term to define the experience: Sudden Acknowledgement Syndrome.

* * * * * * * * * *

Related post: Discredited sources