Where Did It All Go Wrong For Pitbulls
Posted by Lori Light on Monday, March 28, 2011
Under: Breed News
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Article by the Connecticut Humane Society
How did pit bulls change from being an icon for the strength and pride of America to becoming so misunderstood and feared? Pit bulls are not a specific breed but rather a descriptive title that includes more than 20 different pure bred dogs which all have a great deal of positive things to offer their human companions. Examples include the American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier. So what happened? How did these dogs become a beacon for bad publicity and the resulting stereotypes that commonly make them very difficult to adopt if they ever become homeless? There was a time in the not too distant past when the bully breeds were regarded with great respect. Remember the famous Petey, from “The Little Rascals” TV show and the RCA dog that appeared on so many records and advertisements produced by that company? During the World War I era, pit bulls were a symbol of American loyalty and pride and appeared on recruiting posters all around the country. During World War I a pit bull mix named Stubby became the most decorated war dog of that time and was promoted to Sergeant. He was a perfect example of what these breeds are capable of accomplishing when trained and handled properly. During the middle of the 20th century, the bully breeds began attracting interest from many of the wrong people because of their strength, tenacity and “fearsome” looks. These individuals capitalized on two of the most positive traits of these dogs, their loyalty to people and their desire to please their human families. Consequently, “pits” became a status symbol for the drug and gang culture during the 1980’s and have been a topic of bad publicity in the media ever since. Additionally, they are a favored breed for those individuals who participate in the deplorable world of dog fighting which is illegal in our country. The ramifications of this change in public opinion have adversely affected both the dogs and their owners. In some areas of this country as well as abroad, these breeds have been banned from certain towns and cities. There are even some countries that ban the breeds throughout their borders. In today’s world you may not be able to obtain homeowner’s insurance if you are the proud and loving owner of a pit bull or a pit bull mix. The sad reality of this new, modern world is that the bully breeds are much harder to place than other canines and consequently, many shelters and rescue groups are filled to the brim with this type of dog. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to approach the staff of a shelter and comment, “You don’t seem to have any dogs, just pit bulls.” So what can we do to return the reputation of pit bulls to the positive attitude that prevailed during the early 1900’s? The answer is to become educated about breed discrimination, conduct research aimed towards responsible pet selection and ownership, and support the efforts of your local animal welfare and rescue groups to place these great pets into forever homes. Looking for a new dog? Always do your research to learn about the best choice for you and your lifestyle. This will help prevent the need to place your canine for adoption because things aren’t working out. If you are an athletic person who loves to spend time with your dog engaging in all sorts of activities, then one of the bully breeds just might be the right fit. These dogs are intelligent and athletic which makes them excel at obedience and canine sports. They just love a challenge! They are also exceedingly affectionate and loyal to their human companions. This makes them an excellent family pet. Consequently, “pits” will require a great deal of aerobic exercise and training to keep their minds occupied and will also need to spend as much time as possible with their human companions. Because of their genetic background, there are some that may be predisposed to having aggressive tendencies towards other animals so these dogs are not always ideal candidates for off leash activities in a public setting. Before bringing home one of these delightful companions, make sure you research local ordinances that may affect your ability to have this type of dog and also find out what your homeowner’s insurance will allow. The Connecticut Humane Society regularly assists local animal control departments by taking in pets that they are either unable to place or have difficulty placing due to time limits and/or lack of resources. In many instances, these dogs have been part of a police raid and are sometimes deemed candidates for euthanasia because of the circumstances in which thay had been living. Recently, the Connecticut Humane Society was able to help in one of these types of cases by taking 4 dogs that had been part of a raid. We found that these dogs were still gentle and loving despite all that they had been through. They were excellent candidates for adoption. Thanks to the collaboration of many people in this particular case, these fine dogs received a second chance and a new lease on life!
Article by the Connecticut Humane Society
How did pit bulls change from being an icon for the strength and pride of America to becoming so misunderstood and feared? Pit bulls are not a specific breed but rather a descriptive title that includes more than 20 different pure bred dogs which all have a great deal of positive things to offer their human companions. Examples include the American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier. So what happened? How did these dogs become a beacon for bad publicity and the resulting stereotypes that commonly make them very difficult to adopt if they ever become homeless? There was a time in the not too distant past when the bully breeds were regarded with great respect. Remember the famous Petey, from “The Little Rascals” TV show and the RCA dog that appeared on so many records and advertisements produced by that company? During the World War I era, pit bulls were a symbol of American loyalty and pride and appeared on recruiting posters all around the country. During World War I a pit bull mix named Stubby became the most decorated war dog of that time and was promoted to Sergeant. He was a perfect example of what these breeds are capable of accomplishing when trained and handled properly. During the middle of the 20th century, the bully breeds began attracting interest from many of the wrong people because of their strength, tenacity and “fearsome” looks. These individuals capitalized on two of the most positive traits of these dogs, their loyalty to people and their desire to please their human families. Consequently, “pits” became a status symbol for the drug and gang culture during the 1980’s and have been a topic of bad publicity in the media ever since. Additionally, they are a favored breed for those individuals who participate in the deplorable world of dog fighting which is illegal in our country. The ramifications of this change in public opinion have adversely affected both the dogs and their owners. In some areas of this country as well as abroad, these breeds have been banned from certain towns and cities. There are even some countries that ban the breeds throughout their borders. In today’s world you may not be able to obtain homeowner’s insurance if you are the proud and loving owner of a pit bull or a pit bull mix. The sad reality of this new, modern world is that the bully breeds are much harder to place than other canines and consequently, many shelters and rescue groups are filled to the brim with this type of dog. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to approach the staff of a shelter and comment, “You don’t seem to have any dogs, just pit bulls.” So what can we do to return the reputation of pit bulls to the positive attitude that prevailed during the early 1900’s? The answer is to become educated about breed discrimination, conduct research aimed towards responsible pet selection and ownership, and support the efforts of your local animal welfare and rescue groups to place these great pets into forever homes. Looking for a new dog? Always do your research to learn about the best choice for you and your lifestyle. This will help prevent the need to place your canine for adoption because things aren’t working out. If you are an athletic person who loves to spend time with your dog engaging in all sorts of activities, then one of the bully breeds just might be the right fit. These dogs are intelligent and athletic which makes them excel at obedience and canine sports. They just love a challenge! They are also exceedingly affectionate and loyal to their human companions. This makes them an excellent family pet. Consequently, “pits” will require a great deal of aerobic exercise and training to keep their minds occupied and will also need to spend as much time as possible with their human companions. Because of their genetic background, there are some that may be predisposed to having aggressive tendencies towards other animals so these dogs are not always ideal candidates for off leash activities in a public setting. Before bringing home one of these delightful companions, make sure you research local ordinances that may affect your ability to have this type of dog and also find out what your homeowner’s insurance will allow. The Connecticut Humane Society regularly assists local animal control departments by taking in pets that they are either unable to place or have difficulty placing due to time limits and/or lack of resources. In many instances, these dogs have been part of a police raid and are sometimes deemed candidates for euthanasia because of the circumstances in which thay had been living. Recently, the Connecticut Humane Society was able to help in one of these types of cases by taking 4 dogs that had been part of a raid. We found that these dogs were still gentle and loving despite all that they had been through. They were excellent candidates for adoption. Thanks to the collaboration of many people in this particular case, these fine dogs received a second chance and a new lease on life!
In : Breed News
Tags: dog breeds pitbulls laws about pitbulls pitbull laws akc ckc
