M
Mid
Guest
Hello all!
I wanted to have a serious discussion but more importantly bring about awareness to the community. As people take the time to get to know me, they will notice that I'm an animal lover. More importantly, I'm a dog lover. I own three dogs; a Bichon, a Cockapoo and...
What does she look like?
A pitbull?
Well, she's not. Bully (yes, that's her name) is a Dogo Argentino but is always confused for a "Pitbull." Did you know that technically "Pitbull" isn't a form a breed? It's more of a group of traits used to describe what a dog looks like, regardless of breeding from the size of their muzzle, to coloring, to the way they stand. It's a form of dog discrimination, technically.
When it comes to dog attacks in the USA, you will more then often hear about a "pitbull" attack then another type of breed attack but did you know that the dogs with the highest dog bite rates are Golden Retrievers, Labradors and Germen Shepherds? Pitbulls rank in the lowest.
People often associate Pitbulls with people who sell drugs, use them as fighters or any form of crim. Rarely if ever do you hear about these dogs being well...a dog. You would be surprised to see a worker of Wall St. walking their Pit down the streets of New York or a family of four playing in the park with these dangerous dogs. They are loving, compassionate and incredibly loyal yet have spent years upon years being abused and tossed into the darkness.
You know, when we first got Bully my mom was absolutely terrified of her because she has been bitten by other dogs (Yes, other dogs. A Germen shepherd and a Rottweiler) throughout life yet after taking the time to get to know her (with a bit of uncomfortable moments), she's gotten to know our dog. She loves her and often time plays with her, something she would have never done months ago.
It's all about perception and personal experience that plays a major role in these dogs lives. Yes, their lives.
Did you know in Denver, if they think your dog is a Pitbull they will take it from you and kill him or her? Of course they give you a chance for a hearing and may even allow you to rehome your dog…outside of Denver, but if you can't then they take your dog and kill it. It may not even be what is considered a Pit, but if they think it is then it's a dead dog walking.
They are banned in various counties throughout America due to attacks that happened on what some would say unsupervised children or irresponsible adults. Most people blame a dog's behavior on how they were bought up in life, excluding those exceptions of those who just have an attitude.
Here's a quote on "Advocate for Saving Dogs," a group you can find on Facebook (It's somewhat detailed, you've been warned) in regards to how they KILL dogs in shelters:
Why did I bring this up?
Because I want people to care just as much as I care. I have every intention of of owning Pitbulls on death row later on in life. I have every intention of donating whatever amount of money I can and volunteering or fostering if it be allowed. I want other people to care just as much as I do, to be aware that that scary dog barking and growling at you may just be as afraid of you as you are of it. That the family dog may just be…the family dog. And there's no reason to kill a dog off just because "it may" do something or another because if we all followed life by that standard, then would the kids of future generations be here too? Keep that in mind.
http://defendpitbulls.com/
I wanted to have a serious discussion but more importantly bring about awareness to the community. As people take the time to get to know me, they will notice that I'm an animal lover. More importantly, I'm a dog lover. I own three dogs; a Bichon, a Cockapoo and...
What does she look like?
A pitbull?
Well, she's not. Bully (yes, that's her name) is a Dogo Argentino but is always confused for a "Pitbull." Did you know that technically "Pitbull" isn't a form a breed? It's more of a group of traits used to describe what a dog looks like, regardless of breeding from the size of their muzzle, to coloring, to the way they stand. It's a form of dog discrimination, technically.
When it comes to dog attacks in the USA, you will more then often hear about a "pitbull" attack then another type of breed attack but did you know that the dogs with the highest dog bite rates are Golden Retrievers, Labradors and Germen Shepherds? Pitbulls rank in the lowest.
People often associate Pitbulls with people who sell drugs, use them as fighters or any form of crim. Rarely if ever do you hear about these dogs being well...a dog. You would be surprised to see a worker of Wall St. walking their Pit down the streets of New York or a family of four playing in the park with these dangerous dogs. They are loving, compassionate and incredibly loyal yet have spent years upon years being abused and tossed into the darkness.
You know, when we first got Bully my mom was absolutely terrified of her because she has been bitten by other dogs (Yes, other dogs. A Germen shepherd and a Rottweiler) throughout life yet after taking the time to get to know her (with a bit of uncomfortable moments), she's gotten to know our dog. She loves her and often time plays with her, something she would have never done months ago.
It's all about perception and personal experience that plays a major role in these dogs lives. Yes, their lives.
Did you know in Denver, if they think your dog is a Pitbull they will take it from you and kill him or her? Of course they give you a chance for a hearing and may even allow you to rehome your dog…outside of Denver, but if you can't then they take your dog and kill it. It may not even be what is considered a Pit, but if they think it is then it's a dead dog walking.
They are banned in various counties throughout America due to attacks that happened on what some would say unsupervised children or irresponsible adults. Most people blame a dog's behavior on how they were bought up in life, excluding those exceptions of those who just have an attitude.
Here's a quote on "Advocate for Saving Dogs," a group you can find on Facebook (It's somewhat detailed, you've been warned) in regards to how they KILL dogs in shelters:
The shelter manager's letter:
"I am posting this (and it is long) because I think our society needs a huge wake-up call."
As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all - a view from the inside, if you will.
Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know - that puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore.
How would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at - purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.
No shortage of excuses
The most common excuses I hear are:
We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat).
Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets?
The dog got bigger than we thought it would.
How big did you think a German Shepherd would get?
We don't have time for her.
Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!
She's tearing up our yard.
How about bringing her inside, making her a part of your family?
They always tell me: We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she'll get adopted - she's a good dog. Odds are your pet won't get adopted, and how stressful do you think being in a shelter is?
Well, let me tell you. Dead pet walking!
Your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off, sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy.
If it sniffles, it dies.
Your pet will be confined to a small run / kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it.
If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers that day to take him / her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.
If your dog is big, black or any of the "bully" breeds (pit bull, rottweiler, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted.
If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.
If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed, it may get a stay of execution, though not for long. Most pets get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.
If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles, chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.
The grim reaper
Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".
First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails. That is, until they get to "The Room".
Every one of them freaks out and puts on the breaks when we get to the door. It must smell like death, or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there. It's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs (depending on their size and how freaked out they are). A euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk it's leg. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood, and been deafened by the yelps and screams.
They all don't just "go to sleep" - sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.
When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back, with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage.
What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know, and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal, and you can always buy another one, right?
Liberty, freedom and justice for all
I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head. I do everyday on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists and I hate that it will always be there unless people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.
My point to all of this is DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!
Hate me if you want to - the truth hurts and reality is what it is.
I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this thing on craigslist and it made me want to adopt".
That would make it all worth it."
Author unknown
Why did I bring this up?
Because I want people to care just as much as I care. I have every intention of of owning Pitbulls on death row later on in life. I have every intention of donating whatever amount of money I can and volunteering or fostering if it be allowed. I want other people to care just as much as I do, to be aware that that scary dog barking and growling at you may just be as afraid of you as you are of it. That the family dog may just be…the family dog. And there's no reason to kill a dog off just because "it may" do something or another because if we all followed life by that standard, then would the kids of future generations be here too? Keep that in mind.
http://defendpitbulls.com/