tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post5732755124968463065..comments2024-03-26T22:16:26.572-04:00Comments on Terrierman's Daily Dose: How Did Dog Shelters Become Slaughter Houses?PBurnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-18454345381560966362014-06-11T13:35:59.197-04:002014-06-11T13:35:59.197-04:00Your POV on pit bulls is so deeply, sadly true! My...Your POV on pit bulls is so deeply, sadly true! My family has a bullterrier bitch with excellent temperament, a cute, biddable, game little working dog of unknown parentage adopted from a BT rescue, and it's unbelievable how many people want to breed her. We spayed her early and I've never regretted that. Not after volunteering at a shelter and seeing how many amazing pits and bullies can't find a good home. <br /><br />Re: euthanasia in shelters: there has to be some reasonable point between euthanizing all stray dogs and a ban on euthanasia. In my country [Poland] it's illegal to put down a healthy animal unless it has a proven history of aggression towards humans [or, to a lesser extent, dogs, but it would have to be really egregious with multiple fatalities]. Of course it's possible to find a vet who'll put down your healthy pet, just as you could find one to dock tails and crop ears [also illegal], but it'll take some time. As a result our shelters are BURSTING. <br />I'm somewhat unpopular in my volunteer group because they want to save every single doggy life, no matter how old or cancer-ridden; I see there aren't enough resources to go around, we're stretched thin, there are lots of dogs in subpar conditions while this same amount of resources could keep a smaller amount of dogs in a better state. But there's the issue of who's going to select which ones should die. Hell, I'd be willing to make these choices, even if it would mean putting down several shelter dogs I really love [can't hardly keep a territorial, xenophobic, 75kg Caucasian Ovcharka in my 11th floor downtown apartment, he needs a high fence, tons of room and a very firm, responsible, childfree household - yeah right, they're a dime a dozen!] but it's not up to me.<br />Pardon my ranting, it's a sore subject for me.Krigsrottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16661537952677313763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-3125981829414537782014-04-30T20:46:20.494-04:002014-04-30T20:46:20.494-04:00I started writing a long comment with examples, bu...I started writing a long comment with examples, but gave that up. What I want to point out is that aggressive dogs are called pit bulls in the media even if they are not. I have even seen this locally in my small city. <br />Other than that I have nothing to add, I agree with what you have written.<br />Kathy concretenprimroseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12615278788874155439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-37157923907630664522014-01-26T01:05:00.218-05:002014-01-26T01:05:00.218-05:00Yes I agree with this piece. These pitbulls and th...Yes I agree with this piece. These pitbulls and their derivatives are bred far too much but why they are biting people I have no idea? perhaps someone can let me know?<br /><br />I had the world changing good fortune to have owned a pit-bull called Lilly.<br /><br />It was all a big mistake. <br /><br />I had seen some very nice looking dogs on my walk with my nephew through some rice paddies collecting guppies for his tank. Very robust healthy looking dogs with wonderful colour, all colours. They intrigued me. I was in a country where I couldn't speak the local language or recognise any cultural signals. I ended up with a champion fighting dogs little bitch puppy. I had no clue what "breed" she was I assumed some native type of extraordinary health. <br /><br />I never stopped marvelling at her gameness and athletic ability. She used to run in mid air if I picked her up and at the size of your average short legged JRT puppy of four weeks she was leaping from my desk to the floor to chase house lizards like an adult cat.<br /><br />It was only when i took her for shots I was informed she was an illegal breed, a pit-bull. Not longer after the breeder handed me with pride tapes of her father and mother beating some top dogs in a fight across the border in China.<br /><br />Luckily for me everyone loved her. The vet dotted on her as did anyone who came across her. She was a small pitbull, lithe and slim very game much like a large hunting JRT.<br /><br />So I learnt she was an excellent snake catcher and dispatched every thing from King cobra to green viper with unashamed joy dozens and dozens of the poor animals. Never getting bitten. She could behead a wasp without being stung and she could neutralise a giant centipede sting in seconds. But she never ever ever bit anyone, and adored children.<br /><br />I learnt that Pitbulls are not bred to bite, in fact if they do they are destroyed and never used to breed more fighting animals. Handlers are not in the business of being bitten.<br /><br />I realise much too much dog for a pet in any but the most dedicated homes and I don't agree with dog fighting so why they are being bred in such numbers is also beyond me.Antonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041212020431214852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-5606725582635092822012-06-13T01:57:11.760-04:002012-06-13T01:57:11.760-04:00'Tis the truth you write, thank you for that. ...'Tis the truth you write, thank you for that. I look forward to reading your entire blog. EXCELLENT!Meals on Wheelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01057744351180201708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-87055952807517018592012-02-27T05:14:03.485-05:002012-02-27T05:14:03.485-05:00Heya!
As a volunteer at a shelter that just recen...Heya!<br /><br />As a volunteer at a shelter that just recently made the decision to adopt out pit bull types, I commend you for talking about the people that really grate the staff/volunteers here. <br />They previously lacked the resources to do the extra checks on people looking for this breed, but as no dogs at the shelter had been euthanized due to lack of space since 2008, and pit types make a full half the dogs there, they set up a pilot program with an area pit-bull rescue. <br /><br />This particular rescue aggressively promotes spay/neuter with fliers just about everywhere, and offer a low-cost clinic a few times a year as well as a training course for pit bull owners (mandatory for adopters, but open to other pit bull owners as well). They've been quite successful, actually, which is why the shelter had them help set up a reasonable adoption policy on the breed: potential adopters have to pay a little extra, do an interview, and submit to a home inspection in addition to the background check done for all adoptions. <br /><br />The problem I see with most other rescues and shelters is they aren't nearly as vocal or honest with themselves/the public about the problem of over-breeding, bad breeding, and bad owners. And it certainly doesn't do the pit bulls or the public any favors to ignore such things.<br /><br />Thanks for being honest!<br />Tacoma, WA residentUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363424776770683268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-19445272667575763672011-12-19T15:51:27.841-05:002011-12-19T15:51:27.841-05:00Hi Mr. Burns!
I did not mean that your blog was r...Hi Mr. Burns!<br /><br />I did not mean that your blog was reviled by the PB 'community,' and I also stated that I am aware that the derogatory posts I read are not representative of the 'community' or even the forum. I've seen your blog on pitbull-chat; the management there strikes me as pretty honest about their dogs.<br /><br /> There is no doubt in my mind that you are pro-dog. And I like the way your mind works. You are a solution-minded person, which is invaluable in policy implementation work (as you know). It's none of my business, of course, but I get the feeling that's what you do from your blog posts. <br /><br /> I will keep what you've said about pit bulls in mind. I do not want to be an ideologue. <br /><br /> Regards,<br /> MargoMiss Margohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738133130130308032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-48439396963214529702011-12-19T13:23:20.256-05:002011-12-19T13:23:20.256-05:00I read your blog every chance I get. I've lear...I read your blog every chance I get. I've learned a lot about dogs and how to raise or handle them fro here and for that, I am thankful. <br /><br />I went to pet smart a few days ago and saw a cage that had two female pits in there for adoption. One was brown and white the other was a small brown breeding pit. Both pits had severe bite wounds because they were busted from a fight ring that were mostly healed. <br /><br />The dogs were super sweet when I was in there with them albeit the little one was shy and I was saddened by their predicament. <br /><br />I told the foster of the dogs that it made me sad to see dogs humped and dumped and that I've warned friends (who've bought and dumped) not to buy a powerful breed and to be sure to check the breeding line and individual pup for the soundest temperament. As soon as I mentioned genetic temperament a rough scowl came across the man's face as though I had blasphemed his dogs that I was obviously in love with. <br /><br />I did not argue further, as we were obviously pit bull advocates with two completely different mindsets on the issue. But if he understood what you're saying here and advocated such, then those two dogs might not have wound up in that cage desperately hoping for a good home...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-12454501240978854902011-12-19T04:22:18.343-05:002011-12-19T04:22:18.343-05:00Miss Margo, the antidote to a lie is not another l...Miss Margo, the antidote to a lie is not another lie, and the antidote to ignorance is not the Internet. <br /><br />You can go to any pet day care place and find pit bulls galore, I assure you. Not only are they not fighting, but most are asleep or at play. The key for most animals is simply socialization. Not all Pit Bulls, to be sure, but MOST.<br /><br />In the meantime, for those who want to know where I stand, see >> Between Two Lies, Lost Opportunity for Pit Bulls >> http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2010/03/between-two-lies-lost-opportunity-for.html<br /><br />This blog is so reviled in the Pit Bull community, that it is featured on a few of Pit Bull boards as a feed! So no, I am not at war with Pit Bull owners in general, nor am I being bashed too much. Perhaps one reason for that is that I am sticking to the facts, which is that Pit Bulls are not as dangerous as wild lions, but ARE being dramatically over-sold and over-bred and, as a consequence, are landing in the wrong hands and in shelters where they are routinely killed at the rate of nearly a million a year. <br /><br />I stand FOR dogs, which means I am not necessarily standing for either causal idiot owners who defend the dogs as a cause OR the fear-driven who have demonized the dogs as a cause. The dogs deserve better on all sides.PBurnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-74255679532617574162011-12-19T04:00:28.129-05:002011-12-19T04:00:28.129-05:00Hello again, Mr. Burns. Thanks so much for your l...Hello again, Mr. Burns. Thanks so much for your lengthy and thoughtful reply. <br /><br /> I have seen you bashed on pit bull forums. That is what I mean when I say "vitriol." I realize that the bashers are not necessarily representative of the pit bull community. <br /><br /> I completely agree with all of the statements you've made in your reply save one: <br /><br />""Not every, or even MOST, pit bulls are dangerous." <br /><br />Yep. That's true.""<br /><br /> Unfortunately, this is not true from what I have researched about the breed, and from what I have personally heard from people who have owned pit bulls in my personal circle, and in my own experience. That last is anecdotal evidence, of course. Nonetheless, the pit bulls I have known all wanted to kill other dogs and pets. When they got loose, the pit bulls in my neighborhood were all a menace in that they terrorized other people's animals. Loose labs did not do this. Perhaps there were pit bulls around who were totally non-threatening and I never knew it. However, I could never say that most pits are "not dangerous." Even if they are not human aggressive, they are still dangerous to other pets and livestock. I have to ask: why are they worth having, when there are so many other breeds of dog (practically all of them) which pose virtually NO threat to either animals or people? What's the point of owning a pit bull, given the risk and liability?<br /><br />Respectfully submitted,<br />MargoMiss Margohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738133130130308032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-82997516691076018192011-12-18T18:38:22.149-05:002011-12-18T18:38:22.149-05:00I actually don't get much flak from folks who ...I actually don't get much flak from folks who own Pit Bulls -- they KNOW this breed is going to death chambers in jaw-dropping numbers. <br /><br />The sad part is not the noise; it's the SILENCE from the folks who claim to care about dogs. And yes, it's the silence about over-breeding in the pit bull community. No other breed is as liklely to be intact as a pit bull, but you will not learn that from the Pit Bull lists and boards, nor will you see illustrations of what a million dead pit bulls a year look like. <br /><br />That's a shameful omission, I think.<br /><br />So far as I can tell, most of my fellow dog bloggers are terried of being beaten up by "Pet Bull" breeders and property rights nuts if they so much as talk about the need to spay and neuter Pit Bulls. <br /><br />The "Pet Bull" people are looking for a cause and have bought into the "breed discrimination" frame. Their argument, boiled down, can be summarized as: "Not every, or even MOST, pit bulls are dangerous." <br /><br />Yep. That's true.<br /><br />It's also true that most of the serious dog bites in this country come from Pit Bulls (see the lists >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_States ) and it's also true that most of the dogs being killed in "shelters" in this country (and the UK) are Pit Bulls. <br /><br />Clearly Pit Bulls ARE a breed-specific problem. No other dog has ever found long-term success in the dog-fighting world. No other dog has gone 30 years with this level of shelter killing. No other dog has seen the tragedy spread across borders and continents. <br /><br />YES the people who own Pit Bulls are often the problem, but so too is the genetic code within the dog. Put a tightly coiled strong dog genetic code in the hands of a bad or ignorant or pollyanna owner, and very bad things can happen pretty quickly <br /><br />Pit Bulls folks say it's "the deed not the breed," but they do not mean the deed of breeding, do they? <br /><br />And do they have ANY solutions they are ACTUALLY pushing to stop the madness of breeding Pit Bulls? <br /><br />Not from what I can see. <br /><br />The result: More death every day. This is the legacy of Pit Bull death apologists. They refuse to recognized that the dogs are being bred by people who claim they love them, are being acquired by people who claim they love them, and are being taken to shelters by those same people when they discover the dog is too much. <br /><br />With Pit Bulls, SILENCE = DEATH.<br /><br />PPBurnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-7646434866338513272011-12-18T17:46:21.578-05:002011-12-18T17:46:21.578-05:00Dear Mr. Burns:
In the interest of full disclosur...Dear Mr. Burns:<br /><br />In the interest of full disclosure, I have no use for pit bulls and I believe the breed should be tightly regulated. <br /><br />You are the only pit bull advocate I have ever heard make these eminently reasonable, principled, logical arguments. I have read all of your pit bull posts. Your position on this issue is very moderate. For the life of me, I cannot fathom the level of vitriol directed against you (and your positions) by other pit bull advocates. There is no doubt in my mind that you are fond of this breed and support its future in society. You give it more sympathy that I can, that's for sure. <br /><br />I cannot say that I support your position(s) here, because I would be happy to legislate pit bull-type dogs out of existence. That said, I am completely convinced that if every pit bull owner and breeder shared your convictions concerning pit bulls and their stewardship, the pit bull 'problem'--attacks and overbreeding--would be tremendously reduced. <br /><br />IMO, you are doing good and important work with this. What you say IS the truth. Most pit bull advocates don't want to hear it and won't be the slightest bit flexible or understanding, but in time, there will be a choice in their communities (depending on where they live, I suppose): regulation or BSL. <br /><br />Best regards. I enjoy your blog! Check it a few times a week!Miss Margohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738133130130308032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-6285898472447401362011-12-17T17:21:39.488-05:002011-12-17T17:21:39.488-05:00Thank you for your honest thoughts on the Stafford...Thank you for your honest thoughts on the Staffordshire/pit bull issue. Animal rights types and breed advocates are wrestling with the wrong end of the alligator in their push to place these dogs by any means. Best Friends has partnered with Petsmart charities in a huge, expensive effort to place shelter pit bulls. This effort includes regional coordinators to find new ways of talking people into considering a dog that they clearly do not want. Meanwhile, back at the AVMA, stats show that Staffies and pit bulls have the lowest rates of neuter and spay. This breed specific problem does not cause Best Friends and the AVMA to consider for one moment that their relentless advocacy for a these dogs is counter productive. The dogs die in shelters in horrifying numbers, pit bull victims are created in horrifying numbers as well. Our lives are changed by these attacks, some lives are ended by them.april 29https://www.blogger.com/profile/01377958791525950902noreply@blogger.com