You never know when life is going to throw you a curveball. That was the case when I was forced to violently fight three pit bulls that scaled a fence and attacked my family ( "Pittsburgh police officer details pit bull attack to Pittsburgh Council," April 28 and TribLIVE.com).

Two of my dogs and I sustained multiple injuries. These dogs were both human- and animal-aggressive. I believe my police training helped us survive the attack.

After all that my family and I endured, I do not blame the dogs for the attack. I blame the irresponsible owner.

I am blessed to work at a job that I love. I am a Pittsburgh police officer. I have worked in this capacity for 17 years.

I love animals and have made it my mission in life to protect them. I specialize in cruelty-to-animal cases. I work extremely hard to prosecute anyone who neglects or abuses animals and I will continue to do so.

I want to make it clear that I do not want to ban pit bulls. I am asking for stronger city ordinances to make dog owners more accountable.

Many pit bulls end up in the wrong hands. These animals are viewed as status symbols rather than pets. Once acquired, many of them are tethered outside without shelter, locked in basements, neglected, used to fight or abused.

I have removed many dead pit bulls, starved to death, from homes that were abandoned. Too many pit bulls are exploited and it breaks my heart.

Christine Luffey

The writer works out of Pittsburgh's Zone 3 police station.

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