Public fear and ignorance dog the Pit Bull

[Lucky Chaos]

This was in the paper this morning - finally a good article around here!
On the front page too!




Dec. 20, 2003. 01:00 AM

Public fear and ignorance dog the pit bull

NICOLE MACINTYRE
STAFF REPORTER

Curled on a blanket with paws tucked under her chin, Pearl is an anomaly in a room overcome by chaos.

It's breakfast time at the Toronto Humane Society and every dog seems to have lost its mind with excitement. In cage after cage, they leap at the doors, knocking over water bowls and barking together as a deafening pack.

Not Pearl. She stares at the floor of her spotless cage, refusing to look up even for those who call her name.

"She's a really good dog," says Amy White, the society's director of communications. She's worried Pearl's quiet demeanour is a sign the dog is depressed.

"If you walked by her and she was any other breed you would probably think, `Yeah, I'd take her home.'"

But Pearl is a pit bull and sympathy doesn't come easy when you're the most hated breed of all.

"People can't get beyond what she looks like," says White. "If she was a golden retriever, she'd be gone."

Instead Pearl sits, waiting in a room where almost half of the dogs are pit bulls or pit bull crosses.

For the past 10 years, the shelter has seen the number of abandoned pit bulls rise with public opinion that the dogs are dangerous. And last week's pit bull attack on a Mississauga mother and son has helped to harden that perception.

The pits arrive daily as strays that will never be claimed by their former owners. Most aren't aggressive, just ill-mannered and hyperactive. But their reputation precedes them, leaving the humane society with the costly challenge of trying to find good homes for the dogs many view as four-legged killers.

At times, says White, there are so many pit bulls (a term that describes a number of different types of pit-like dogs) for adoption, the society has had to go to shelters outside the city to trade for different breeds of dogs. Pit bull abandonment is an urban problem, so smaller country shelters often don't mind exchanging a dog for a pit or two. Other shelters in the GTA report a problem with pit bulls coming in regularly, but their numbers are lower than Toronto's.

"If we only ever have pit bulls, people won't come to adopt," says White.

Of the 994 dogs the shelter took in last year, 427 were pit bulls or pit bull crosses. No other breed even came close to matching the dog's presence, including the German shepherd, which ranked second at 23 per cent.

The numbers are similar at the Toronto Animal Services' six shelters, where 35 per cent of the dogs are pit bulls or pit mixes. The majority of the pits at both those shelters and the humane society came in as strays. All likely had an owner at one point, says White, who has several theories as to why pits are abandoned so often in Toronto.

In the back of the shelter, she points to litter of pit bull puppies. They're adorable, she notes, and look more like labs

[courtnek]

this is good to hear/ Someone educated in the breed, and trying to help them. What annoys me though, is even though GSD's come in 2nd on the bite list, it's the Pit that gets most of the bad press...

Gsd's are wonderful dogs, but like any dog, if untrained, unexercised, and
mistreated, will become a problem. They are Guard Dogs for God's sake...
Did you know the Police and Military will not "assign" a K9 dog to a person until after 3 MONTHS of extensive training? Now true, they are being trained for something outside of ordinary homelife, but doesnt that tell people something? That maybe this dog needs extra care and training, because of it's natural drives and breeding purpose? Same should be necessary for Pit's...and all large, guarding and "potentially" dangerous dogs. You cant own it unless you agree to have it trained, and prove it was done. I hate to say that, because to some extent it punishes the good and
knowledgeable owners, who would train correctly. But I think it needs to be done, because there are more idiots in the world than good and knowledgeable owners....

[Lucky Chaos]

Gsd's are wonderful dogs, but like any dog, if untrained, unexercised, and
mistreated, will become a problem. They are Guard Dogs for God's sake...[/quote]

Actually they weren't originally guard dogs, they were herding dogs. They just excel as police and guard dogs. :wink:

[courtnek]

I read an article the other day, on all the Lassie's and the movies and TV shows, where the author said "this was a mistake, to portray this dog as
being loving, courageous, responsible and obedient, without a disclaimer in the beginning explaining that Lassie was NOT handled by the actors
at all, that he took all of his commands (yes, they were all male dogs)
from his trainer off set. When the actors called him, he actually responded to the trainers hand signals off set. He was always situated where Lassie could see him, and respond to commands."

Same with Hooch, same with Rin-Tin-Tin...none of them were responding to the actors, but to their trainers. Even Rufus (papillion) was responding
to a trainer for the commercial. 101 Dalmations has caused more Dalmations to end up in shelters now than any other time in history....

I agree that disclaimers on dog movies (any animal movies, really...people tried to keep Bears as pets after Gentle Ben...)
should be loudly and boldy shown before and after the movie, to
remind people that dogs arent like this naturally. They have to be trained to do it.

[courtnek]

Actually they weren't originally guard dogs, they were herding dogs. They just excel as police and guard dogs.

I understand the distinction, but they were also responsible for protecting the herds from wolves and such, so I guess Guard Duty came along with it.

:D :D

[courtnek]

my smilies didnt post...so if that sounded harsh, it was not intended to be.

let's try this again...

:D :D :D :D

[Lucky Chaos]

courtnek napisał(a):

I understand the distinction, but they were also responsible for protecting the herds from wolves and such, so I guess Guard Duty came along with it.

:D :D

True, and fair enough yes they were guard dogs as well. :D

[Sanvean]

Poor Pearl! I hope she finds a family :(