For the past several months we’ve been covering a special girl, an American Pit Bull Terrier named Elle.

Regardless of breed, Elle would be special if she were a mutt because she’s done something few dogs have, become a Canine Good Citizen and a therapy dog.

That she is a pit bull makes her even more special because few people understand it’s not the breed but the deed.

On October 25 at 2:30 p.m. Elle makes her debut as a therapy dog at The Bayberry in Roanoke Rapids.

We think that’s a mighty fine accomplishment for any dog, but for Elle the impact is doubled because she happened to be born a pit bull.

This is why we are glad Roanoke Rapids has not succumbed to pressures some municipalities across the country have and adopted breed specific legislation, that is barring certain dogs because they are a certain breed.

Owning one of these dogs is not for everyone and we’re sure animal shelters here and across the region, state and country can verify this because all you have to do is go to Pet Finder and see how many of these dogs are available for adoption.

Breed specific legislation could loosely be viewed as doggy apartheid and we encourage any municipality thinking of doing this to think again and not do it.

To do so would deprive someone of the Elles of the world or other famous pit bulls in history: Petey from Our Gang, the pit bull who was featured in World War I American propaganda posters or even Nipper, the His Masters Voice dog from what was RCA. There are others. Bud rode cross country with his master and had specially made goggles to keep the dust and wind from getting in his eyes. Helen Keller owned them and so did Humphrey Bogart.

That’s why rrspin.com’s logo is an American Pit Bull Terrier because before they were maligned they were the All American dog, the only breed to have graced the cover of Time three times, not in a bad way but a good way.

Owning any dog is a responsibility and that’s why we were so saddened to have to report a case recently were nine puppies died after their owner allegedly threw them in a creek because he couldn’t take care of them, afford to feed them.

There were shelters that would have gladly taken them and there is an organization in Rocky Mount which runs a pet food bank. There are many alternatives than just having no heart and killing them.

We have an excellent relationship with John Goodwin, the leading expert on animal fighting issues in the country.

We share him with our stories. The bad ones like the nine dead puppies and the good ones like Elle. Like us, he enjoyed the Elle stories and disliked the one about the puppies.

People with pets need to be responsible, in many ways like a parent should be responsible and that’s why we appreciate people like Leah Brewer, Elle’s owner, and her husband, Eric, who show there is nothing wrong with pit bulls, who know what these animals can do and the joy they can bring.

We plan to keep up with Elle’s progress and will attend one of her therapy dog sessions and we believe Elle has already shown what a dog can do with responsible ownership and that goes not only for pit bulls, but any dog. Good luck Elle on your new career. Bud, Petey and Nipper would be proud — Editor.