So what's the REAL problem with Pit Bulls?


Honestly?  It's the owners and breeders.  And not just the bad ones!!! Some of the worst offenders are those who get their first Pit Bull, and fall in love with the breed.  Suddenly, they want EVERYONE to own a Pit Bull, and get to work waiting for their female's first heat, because it's time to make some puppies!!!

Though this occurs in every popular breed, Pit Bulls are the most numerous dog in the United States of America.  If you go to most shelters, their statistics will show a much larger amount of incoming Pit Bulls vs. any other breed.  And unfortunately, once most go in, very few go out.  Some shelters have a policy of not adopting out Pit Bulls, others offer them up all the time.  Either way, with all the breed hype, and the usually stricter adoption policies, there just aren't enough good homes for them.  Most Pit Bull owners get their puppies from other sources, where it's no questions asked. 

There is also no nationwide registry for pit bulls, as most litters go unregistered, and unlicensed within any state's licensing requirements.  So, when the AKC publishes that the Labrador Retriever is the most popular pet in America, that's just out of all the AKC registered dogs.  As the AKC does not recognize the Pit Bull as a breed, it is not included in their statistics.  The UKC's second most popular dog is the American Pit Bull Terrier.  It comes in second in registrations to the Treeing Walker Coonhound. (2007 statistic, http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/WebPages/LrnTop10)

So how do we stop this problem? 

SPAY or NEUTER your dogs!

Get your state, county, or local shelter to start fundraising to get a neutering progam in place. In the state of Delaware, they put a three dollar surcharge on rabies shots, and then used those funds to start an assistance program for those on government assistance.  They can get their pet a rabies shot and fixed for $20, which has had an impact on the number of unwanted and unplanned litters. 

Some other locations run free clinics for only pit bulls and pit bull mixes, or any targeted breed.  Some areas have actual laws that all Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes have to be neutered by a certain age, usually 6 months.  These laws are great, but should be enforced for every breed, not targeting one or two. Pit Bull overpopulation is a large problem, but they aren't the only breed out there. Even labs are suffering from poor breeding. 

From the site "stopbsl.com", here is a summation of all the problems that exist from a poorly bred dog:

Irresponsible Breeders Exacerbate Dangerous Dog Problems

Dog breeders play a brief but important role in the development of a dog’s temperament and behavior, and they also help determine a dog’s future when they decide who to place their dogs with.

Irresponsible breeders can produce temperamentally unstable puppies. This may be either intentional (when a breeder wishes to produce vicious dogs) or unintentional (when a breeder produces puppies without any regard for temperament).

Breeders also have control over puppies during important formative stages. Puppies develop social behaviors very early. If a breeder does not properly socialize, handle, and care for the puppies, the dogs can easily develop behavioral issues. This can be seen in “puppy mill” puppies; lack of proper handling and socialization cause the puppies to develop fearful and aggressive behaviors. If the breeder sells and separates the litter at too young an age, the puppies may fail to learn important social skills and can develop aggression and other undesirable or dangerous behaviors.

And finally, breeders decide who to sell their dogs to. Irresponsible breeders may sell their dogs to anyone with money. Without proper screening of potential owners, puppies may easily end up in the hands of abusive, neglectful owners; dog fighters; someone looking for a vicious dog; or someone looking for a status symbol.

In these ways, some breeders contribute to the problem of dangerous dogs.
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BREED STEWARDSHIP