At my local shelter

DiamondPuppy0809 · January 2012

They are putting down Pit Bull because "nobody wants them." I had no idea they were doing this until a friend went in to adopt an adorable, friendly Pit Bull mix yesterday. They told him that she was being sent to a Pit Bull rescue organization to be fostered in another city and due to the plane ticket already being purchased, she was leaving regardless the fact that he was willing to pay for her and take her home that very second. They told him they'd write his name down in a book as "looking for a Pit Bull" because otherwise they normally euthanize them. This is ridiculous. I know SO MANY people that love Pit Bulls. My best friend won't settle for any dog unless it's at least part Pit Bull. I love Pit Bulls. They're amazing dogs and I can't believe the shelter is basing their reasoning on crap information. There's no way that everyone that has stepped into their shelter has said, "Give me a dog unless it's a Pit Bull," or "I don't want that dog because she's a Pit Bull." This shelter is getting quite a reputation. Almost anyone I talk to says they'd only go there if it was their last resort or there was an animal there they were absolutely 100% in love with and had to adopt. The only ones being effected by this is the animals. Especially the Pit Bulls, apparently.

Mileysmybaby · January 2012

This is hprrible!!

Alabama · January 2012

The majority of people won't adopt pitbull or pitbull mixes because of the reputation unscrupulous people have given them and dogs that fight and bite/kill other dogs. Because the majority of people will not adopt pit bulls or pit bull mixes, these dogs are a drain on a rescue's resources that could be better spent on dogs that will be adopted. Most shelters do not have the funds or ability to retrain large aggressive dogs. They can be held legally liable for adopting out a dog that later bites someone or kills someone's pet. That's why if a pit bull rescue can't be found for these dogs, they are euthanized

DiamondPuppy0809 · January 2012

I understand that, Bama, it does make sense even if it's unfortunate. But the thing is, so many people would love to be adopting them but don't know that there are any because the shelter isn't even giving them a chance. I haven't seen a Pit Bull up for adoption in months besides the one my friend went to adopt yesterday. And the reason that specific Pit Bull was advertised as up for adoption was because she had been abandoned at the shelter's doorstep after hours and she was clearly malnourished and neglected. Due to the fact that she wasn't simply surrendered to them, she was more more significant because of the rough shape she was in. What about the healthy Pit Bulls that are surrendered because their owner is moving, doesn't have as much time as they used to, can't afford their dog anymore, or just don't feel like putting the effort into caring for a dog? Why aren't they at least advertised for a little while? Maybe there hasn't been any Pit Bulls recently or something but I doubt that's the case if they flat out said "we normally euthanize them because nobody wants them."

Alabama · January 2012

The problem with advertising pitbulls for adoption is that those same people who fight and breed pitbulls for fighting may well come to adopt them and so rather than a family pitbull finding a new home, the shelter puts it into a worse situation. I'm surprised that they advertised this pitbull. Perhaps, since the dog was already scheduled to go to a rescue, they figured if they advertised, they'd get people into the shelter to look at it and maybe those people would look at other dogs and like them or leave a donation. What would be best for the pitbulls would be for the people who want to adopt them, to go to the shelter or call the shelter from time to time to see if there are any. Find local pitbull rescues and adopt dogs from there so they can accept more of the breed from local humane societies and shelters. Your friend may have misunderstood the person. The person may have meant that they get euthanized after a length of time because no one adopts them and the pitbull rescue doesn't have room to accept them.

Trianna · January 2012

It's sad that your shelter euthanizes pit bulls without giving them much of a chance, but if they kept them all chances are they would be overrun with them. Pit bulls are so overbred it's not even funny, because for some reason just about everyone wants to breed them. Not to mention a large portion of people who own them are very bad owners who don't bother getting their dog fixed, or keeping them indoors, etc., because they only wanted the dog due to it's "big, mean, tough dog" reputation. The shelters where I live are always filled with APBTs, Staffies, and American Bulldogs, and I live in a rather rural area where where there are very few strays of other breeds. Our shelters are pretty much all no kill though. To deal with what Alabama said, about some unscrupulous people trying to adopt them, all bully type breed adoptions require home visits and background checks, etc. before they will even consider allowing the person to take the dog. Honestly though, the only thing that will ever solve pet overpopulation is stricter legislation on pet ownership and breeding. Not every person who thinks they have a nice dog or likes dogs in general needs to be a breeder. If breeding was regulated and only breeders who were licensed were allowed to breed then it would be easier to keep dogs out of the hands of bad owners, puppy mills, back yard breeders, and dog fighters.

DiamondPuppy0809 · January 2012

I agree that only people licensed should be able to breed... it would solve so many issues. And anyone without a license should be given a hefty fine (a lot more than it costs to spay or neuter a dog) - that way, people would be running to get their dogs fixed (spayed, especially) to avoid fines. There'd be less pet overpopulartion, irrational decisions about taking a puppy home, less puppy mills, etc. ...If only.

Lizadore · January 2012

Garfieldz Gal wrote:

I agree that only people licensed should be able to breed... it would solve so many issues. And anyone without a license should be given a hefty fine (a lot more than it costs to spay or neuter a dog) - that way, people would be running to get their dogs fixed (spayed, especially) to avoid fines. There'd be less pet overpopulartion, irrational decisions about taking a puppy home, less puppy mills, etc. ...If only.

This is a good theory, but it also as many flaws. In some places as it is you have to pay taxes on your animals, there is troubles with this cause some people just dont pay or say they dont have animals... and putting a licence in place to breed would get as much contraversy as the Breed Specific Laws out there now that ban Pit bull and other breeds for cities. If only this would work it would be AMAZING. And then maybe they could narrow it down to that is dog spacific, as in for house that have some fixed some not fixed dogs. and that is only because there are some dogs that cant get fixed for medical reasons, cant be put under, have hormone issues, ect. my uncles dog it like that, the dog can't be nutured because one he cant be put under he is to sesitve and two he has a hormone inbalance as it is, (the dog is a huge boxer pit mix).

Trianna · January 2012

Nala wrote:

Garfieldz Gal wrote:

I agree that only people licensed should be able to breed... it would solve so many issues. And anyone without a license should be given a hefty fine (a lot more than it costs to spay or neuter a dog) - that way, people would be running to get their dogs fixed (spayed, especially) to avoid fines. There'd be less pet overpopulartion, irrational decisions about taking a puppy home, less puppy mills, etc. ...If only.

 This is a good theory, but it also as many flaws. In some places as it is you have to pay taxes on your animals, there is troubles with this cause some people just dont pay or say they dont have animals... and putting a licence in place to breed would get as much contraversy as the Breed Specific Laws out there now that ban Pit bull and other breeds for cities. If only this would work it would be AMAZING. And then maybe they could narrow it down to that is dog spacific, as in for house that have some fixed some not fixed dogs. and that is only because there are some dogs that cant get fixed for medical reasons, cant be put under, have hormone issues, ect. my uncles dog it like that, the dog can't be nutured because one he cant be put under he is to sesitve and two he has a hormone inbalance as it is, (the dog is a huge boxer pit mix).

Spay and neuter wouldn't have to be mandatory, it is possible to keep an animal from breeding even if it isn't altered. I assume your uncle doesn't let his dog run around and cause a bunch of unwanted litters. I have 2 adult female cats who can't be spayed due to medical issues, but they are kept inside 100% of the time and our male is fixed. We are extra careful about opening doors, etc. when the one goes into heat (the other, even though she's not fixed, has gone into heat maybe twice in her 3+ years of life, both when she was a year old, and shows absolutely no interest in males). Having stricter laws, even though some people would be upset, would be helpful. It would make it easier to seize dogs from suspected dog fighters, puppy mills, and neglectful/abusive owners. My original point was that people who choose to breed dogs should have to apply for a license, so that their breeding practices could be checked on, and that laws that pertain to selling and owning animals should be stricter. With only people who are licensed being legally able to breed, most people would be more careful about those "accidental litters" that some people allow to happen way to often. There are (in my state) already laws like these in place for exotics and native species. You need a permit to own one as a pet, and while the animal doesn't need to be altered it's legally not allowed to be bred. You need another permit to be able to do other things with the animal, like breed or exhibit. The permits are not terribly expensive, not terribly difficult to get, and if you break the terms of your permit or don't bother getting one in the first place you can have your animal seized. A system like that wouldn't be too hard to implement government wide for all animals, and, while some people would still not follow the laws, many more people would. Those who didn't would be easier to prosecute.

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At my local shelter

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