All someone has to do is mention the words “Pit Bull” and almost immediately people conjure up in their minds a dog foaming at the mouth and ready to attack and kill.
Which couldn’t be further from the truth. Pit Bulls are some of the sweetest, loving dogs in the world. They are used by service organizations, across the country for handicapped persons.
Many county, city, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Employ Pit Bulls on a regular basis. Even the military uses Pit Bulls because of their tenacity, and ability to endure longer periods of training and work as opposed to other breeds.
A variety of past and present Hollywood stars have Pit Bulls as pets. Including Helen Keller, and Linda Blair who heads a rescue organization for Pit Bull dogs.
Many of the problems in relation to Pit Bulls comes from the negative publicity in various media outlets. Which continue to report stories with inaccuracies or outright lies about Pit Bulls.
Which leads people who either want an outright ban or euthanization of Pit Bulls based on inaccurate reports and stories.
Every week across the country thousands of Pit Bulls are euthanized, because of the negative publicity, causing people to not adopt them out of fear for their lives and the lives of their family members.
Rescue organizations do everything humanly possible to save as many Pit Bulls as possible, however, the majority are understaffed and cannot find enough volunteers to help them rescue Pit Bulls.
Not many years ago the Doberman Pincher were the breed of dogs that the media portrayed as blood hungry killers. Who through a supposedly physical deformity that led them to become crazy and attack their owners and family members.
Every single dog on the planet has the potential to attack and seriously injure or kill their owners. When, dogs will act according to the way that it’s owner treats the dog.
There are numerous misconceptions in which reporters use to fan the flames of hatred for the Pit Bull. Such as locking jaws. This is a fallacy in itself, other dogs bite and release and bite again. While Pit Bulls hold on, this causes less damage, than other breeds.
A majority of the Animal Shelters, across the country, don’t even bother trying to adopt out Pit Bulls. Holding them the required number of days according to the city, county, or state regulations then euthanize them. Most Shelters use a plastic hand and stick it into the dog’s food bowl while it is eating to see if it bites or attacks the hand. If it does not bite or attack the hand it is put up for adoption. If it does bite the hand the dog is scheduled for euthanization. (This test is hardly fair, a majority of these dogs were starved and are afraid that someone is taking their food away from them.
While more “no kill” shelters are popping up across the country, many more are needed. To save the lives of dogs in need of rescue. While at the same time trying to encourage people to adopt a dog instead of buying one.
Many dogs purchased through pet shops, come from puppy mills, these dogs are kept in horrendous conditions, leading to physical deformities Which over the live of the dog will cost owners thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, if the dogs survives.
Several states have enacted legislation requiring puppy mills to clean up their act or be shut down by the state or municipality. While other states continue to allow them to operate without regulations or restrictions.
While people work to put a stop to dog fighting rings, such as the one Michael Vick ran from his property before his arrest and federal prison sentence. Others crop up as soon as one is closed down by authorities.
With the secrecy surrounding dog fighting rings infiltration by law enforcement is nearly impossible. The conditions under which fighting dogs are kept is horrible to say the least.
A Pit Bull can be the best dog for a family looking for a loyal, loveable companion, who is smart and easily trained.
People need to understand that the horror stories about Pit Bulls is just that. A horror story that is light on facts and is fed with lies and innuendos that have not been verified or researched.
While rescue groups and crusaders fight for these precious dogs, the media is busy 24/7 cranking out their propaganda, with unlimited resources available.
There are numerous groups out there fighting for the rights and reputations of Pit Bulls.
Numerous rescue groups, have documentation about Pit Bulls, that are free for the asking. In addition, you can contact these groups with questions or concerns in regard to Pit Bulls, many are happy to help people see that these dogs are the same as other dogs.
However, until the media stories with negative publicity are stopped. Pit Bulls will continue to be a misunderstood breed.
There are even vigilantes who take the law into their own hands, and either Pit Bulls are killed or injured and left to die.
Some jurisdictions that passed BSL or Breed Restrictions are showing very little if any decrease in the number of attacks in their communities. Causing them to repeal their BSL or Breed Restrictions.
Other communities have regulations in place that discriminate against Pit Bulls requiring their owner to carry insurance on the dog, plus restrictions that no other dog owner or breed of dog are required to abide by.
This is all the result of Pit Bulls being misunderstood by a public, that is fed half-truths and lies by the media.
While Pit Bull owners and rescue groups are working to repair the damage, by educating people to the real truth about Pit Bulls and saving as many as humanly possible.
However, most rescue organizations are already at their capacity or above as are foster homes, willing to accept Pit Bulls.
As a Pit Bull owner, I can say that Pit Bulls are loving, sweet dogs who have been given a bad reputation and are misunderstood by 99% of the population.
If my wife and I hadn’t rescued Blanca, she would have died in 5-7 days from an infection to her uterus. She had teeth gnawed off where she had chewed on either stones or wood, was badly emaciated and threw up twigs and grass for a week. She was so dehydrated that my wife and I had to hold ice cubes in our hand for her. She had pups 3-5 weeks prior to being dumped, and had drank her own milk to survive.
I don’t care what breed of dog it is, no dog deserves treatment like that.
So, do your part and understand that Pit Bulls are the same as any other dog, they are just misunderstood.
Next time you see a Pit Bull, be friendly, instead of passing false judgment, they have feelings they same as you do.