Post by RealPitBull on Apr 13, 2009 15:25:52 GMT -5
Pit Bulls – State of Emergency
By Desiree Bender
After being on call to animal welfare organizations and local law
officials for over ten years, bouncing from one pit bull crisis to the
next, I have concluded that our country is in a steady state of
emergency. The pit bull population in the United States is large and
currently unmanageable, abuse is rampant, breed education is inadequate,
and animal control and rescue organizations are overwhelmed. Communities
across the nation, with little to go on other than sensationalized news
reports, are struggling to cope with myriad issues that have arisen
because of the breed's burgeoning popularity and disproportionate abuse.
Animal welfare organizations are rife with uncertainty and disagreement
over pit-specific issues. Groups have splintered over breed bans. Others
have backed away from rescuing when attempts to rescue, rehabilitate,
and re-home these dogs have resulted in long-term commitments or
tragedy. Liability looms large over decisions to become involved in pit
bull rescue or to take an official stand on legislation.
Ironically, as more and more people gain exposure to the
"breed," fewer and fewer are willing to take necessary action.
With more attention than ever focused on the plight of the pit bull, how
can it be that fewer are willing to intervene?
Effectively managing the pit bull problem is going to require a
concerted effort of animal welfare communities across the nation.
Abdicating responsibility to a few individuals who wear themselves out
addressing individual crises has proven deficient and unfeasible. It is
time to rally the troops and move from a scattered, reactive stance to a
unified, rational, proactive offense. To do so we must first establish
goals and procedures that consistently and adequately address the health
and safety of both pit bulls and the community in which they live.
Pit Bull Issues
Ø Population Explosion
Pit bulls are being reproduced at an alarming rate. This indisputable
fact does engender some consensus in the animal welfare community: We
all know that, before we can positively affect the lives of pit bulls,
we must increase awareness of the hardships the breed faces and, more
importantly, lower the number being born. We agree that operating local
outreach and low-cost sterilization programs is the best means to
accomplish these ends. Unfortunately, finding the resources (money,
venue, volunteers, and supplies) to conduct these programs is only half
the battle. Getting pit bull owners to take advantage of these
opportunities is, more often than not, the stumbling block to success.
Although pit bull owners span the socio-economic spectrum, getting the
average bully breed owner into a spay-neuter clinic is a daunting feat.
Many do not read local newspapers or community bulletin boards. Few surf
the web looking for ways to alleviate the plight of pits. Many
intentionally breed to turn a profit. Some fight their dogs for profit
and/or status. Others chain their dogs in the backyard and forget about
them. Selling this group on the benefits of sterilization and humane
treatment is a challenging prospect. What it will take is having someone
in place who can reach these people. Someone with extensive experience
who can earn their respect with demonstrable knowledge and realistic
expectations. Someone with whom they can easily communicate. Someone who
is not intimidated by posturing, poverty, or ignorance. What it will
take is a team of dedicated experts willing to get out into these
communities and get to know the owners, their dogs, and the neighbors
who are affected by their presence. We can no longer afford to delude
ourselves into believing that this community will come to us.
Ø The Challenge for Animal Services
Animal control officers and animal welfare advocates are faced with
daily challenges involving pit bull type dogs. The overwhelming
problem of overpopulation compounded by the misunderstanding of the pit
bull type dog tend to take their toll on most animal shelter staff,
Most animal control facilities throughout the U.S are inundated with up
to 50% pit bull type dogs. Animal shelter workers are often faced with
euthanizing the majority of pit bull type dogs that enter their shelter,
which can become extremely difficult. Shelter personnel carry a heavy
burden despite the understanding that pit bull type dogs are often
better off being euthanized than holding out at the possibility of
finding a responsible and caring home. Animal welfare agencies need to
expand education efforts and promote responsible ownership as well as
thinking of possible policy and/or legislation changes. All animal
shelters throughout the U.S. should be looking toward implementing a
combination of enforcement and education to address the pit bull
challenge.
Ø Breed-Specific Legislation
As we all know this is an issue that tears at most animal welfare
professionals everyday.
The majority of legislation passed in the U.S. is out of despair on how
to protect pit bulls from owners who put them in the wrong environment
and ignore their special needs. I believe that animal control employees
push for this kind of legislation because they care about pit bulls but
use the fear factor and public safety avenue to get legislation passed.
Animal Welfare professionals are fed up with seeing and dealing with the
horrific abuse and neglect of pit bull type dogs. They feel like they
have no other choice but to ban the breed. I know and understand these
feelings since I have also felt this way. Breed Specific legislations
in many parts of the country is really about protecting the pit bull
type dogs while protecting public safety and keeping pit bulls out of
the hands of the wrong people. There has not been a law passed yet in
the U.S. that did not grandfather pit bull type dogs into a city that
passed breed specific legislation.
We have all read and listened to the same arguments over and over. In
fact, many anti BSL groups make the same points over and over, almost
verbatim. Most either take one position or another while thinking that
is all that needs to be done. BSL is introduced and passed out of
despair from the public and animal welfare professionals. Proposed laws
pushed in front of lawmakers because there were no other options offered
such as new and innovative programs to curb the breeding or programs to
work within at-risk areas in which pit bull type dogs are a status
symbol.
Breed specific law needs to focus on the welfare of the animal and
protection of the public. We need to shift our thinking to focus on the
overpopulation of pit bull type dogs and away from taking rights away
from people. We need to focus the attention on how these dogs are
terribly mistreated, abused and over bred. Local government would
receive praise for their innovation and compassion to help these types
of dogs. Government agencies can address public concern and protect pit
bull type dogs from further abuse by passing breed protection laws
rather than laws that ban certain breeds dogs. Breed protection laws
would bring praise rather than rage from those claiming that pit bull
type dogs are not vicious
In a recent article from the North Little Rock city magazine Mr. Bill
Grace, Director of North Little Rock Animal Services wrote, "It is
refreshing to be able to drive through alleys without seeing miserable
pit bulls confined to logging chains in back yards. This was not only
cruel to the animal, but it also was devastating to a neighborhood. The
neighborhood has returned to normal. Families are walking and kids are
playing in the streets again…..Please be reminded it was never our
intent to take dogs away from responsible owners."
Pit Bull type dogs present a unique challenge and should be considered
"different" until such time when we see a dramatic decrease in
the pit bull population, dog fighting and pit bull type dogs entering
shelters. We must bring the population down considerable before we see
any changes in the how pit bull type dogs are treated and/or the number
of attacks by pit bull type dogs.
Ø Community Influence
Advocates of pit bull type dogs are often called crazy or extremist.
Most pit bull advocates will not address the public's concern for
pit bull type dogs. Residents in areas where multiple pit bulls are
chained and/or not restrained are a concern. Concerns from the majority
of the public are valid and need to be addressed with respect on all
levels. Providing the public with the right information in a
professional manner is detrimental to creating an impact on thoughts
about pit bull type dogs. This is a community problem and we need to
involve the entire community.
Ø Obtaining home insurance and renting with pit bulls
It is nearly impossible for a pit bull owner to find a pit bull friendly
rental property throughout the U.S. This is partly because of the
stereotype of pit bull dogs and their owners but also the threat of dog
bite lawsuits. When someone is injured by a dog bite in an apartment
building, it is now standard procedure for the victim to sue both the
dog's owner and the property owner. Increasingly, the victims of dog
attacks are winning these lawsuits. Judges and juries reason that it is
common knowledge that pit bulls are dangerous, so therefore, the
property owner was negligent by allowing a tenant to keep a dangerous
dog in his building. We cannot blame property owners for doing their
best to keep from being sued. However, we can provide property owners
with tools that will allow them to permit certain pit bull type dog
owners to rent and do so without worry of a lawsuit.
Ø Owner's responsibility and the reality
Repeatedly we hear how we need to hold dog owners accountable for
actions of their dogs. While I agree, this practice it is not working.
When this philosophy does work, it has made its effect after a horrific
mauling by a pit bull type dog. We cannot wait for incidences to happen
before acting and changing things. We continue to make the argument
that it is the owner's responsibility ignores the reality that pit
bull type dogs attract elements of society that has clearly demonstrated
it is not interested in our brand of responsibility. Something must be
done to change the focus on creating laws that protect the dogs rather
than placing blame on individuals who have no regard for the well-being
of a dog nor keep that dog out of positions in which it may harm all pit
bull type dogs by creating bad publicity.
I look forward to learning much here