Post by RealPitBull on Feb 17, 2008 12:50:23 GMT -5
Pity for pit bulls
www.mlive.com/news/flintjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-48/1203225695248390.xml&coll=5
Volunteers seek homes for misunderstood breed GENESEE COUNTYTHE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITIONSunday, February 17, 2008By Ron Fongerrfonger@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6317
QUICK TAKE
How to help
Last Chance Rescue needs more volunteers
willing to provide a foster home for animals,
particularly pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Call
(810) 635-9649.
The Humane Society of Genesee County has
too many pit bulls and has put a temporary
stop on taking in any more of the breed until
its numbers are reduced. For information
on shelter hours and how to adopt, check
the organizations Web site at www.
geneseehumane.org.
The Web site www.pitbulllovers.com urges
new dog owners not to breed their pit bulls
and to have dogs spayed or neutered to help
reduce the number of unwanted animals.
GENESEE COUNTY - The Humane Society of Genesee County is so full of stray and abandoned pit bulls that it's stopped taking any more of the breed, creating what one rescue group says amounts to a crisis.
"We get too many, so for the last week or so, we stopped taking them," said David Tucker, the society's executive director. "Generally, yes, we do take them, but sometimes we get too many."
People are staying away from pit bulls because of the dogs' aggressive reputation and involvement in dogfighting, say shelter and rescue operators.
"People either love them, or they're scared of them," said Ronda Jenkins, a volunteer for Citizens for Animal Rescue and Emergency. "Years and years ago, they were like a family dog, (but) they've gotten a bad reputation. It's a misconception that they are bad dogs."
Pit bulls still can be turned over to the Genesee County Animal Control Department shelter, but the county won't put the animals up for adoption because officials don't want to contribute to the area's dogfighting problem. That means every pit bull not claimed by its owner is euthanized.
One animal rescue group, Last Chance Rescue, places pit bulls into foster homes. But of 20 animals up for adoption in its newsletter this month, 14 are mixed-breed pit bulls, and more foster homes are needed, said Edith Campbell, who works with the organization.
Campbell said things are as hard for pit bulls now as she's ever seen.
"We've got overpopulation," she said. "We've got a bad economy, and the majority of pit people are in the bad economy."
Animal rescue groups are expected to discuss the pit bull problem when they gather this week at a Flint Area Animal Coalition meeting.
Tucker said he hopes to reopen the door to pit bulls soon, but he acknowledged it will take time to adopt out the 11 the Humane Society had last week.
"A typical pit bull takes longer to get adopted than the typical golden retriever," he said.
The Humane Society still takes back any animal adopted from its shelter at any time -regardless of breed -if the owner wants to return it, he said.
Tucker said the current flood of pit bulls isn't new, noting that the society has imposed similar restrictions when numbers swelled in the past.
The poor economy probably has contributed to the problem, he said, leaving pet owners and potential animal foster homes more stressed.
***
www.mlive.com/news/flintjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-48/1203225695248390.xml&coll=5
Volunteers seek homes for misunderstood breed GENESEE COUNTYTHE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITIONSunday, February 17, 2008By Ron Fongerrfonger@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6317
QUICK TAKE
How to help
Last Chance Rescue needs more volunteers
willing to provide a foster home for animals,
particularly pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Call
(810) 635-9649.
The Humane Society of Genesee County has
too many pit bulls and has put a temporary
stop on taking in any more of the breed until
its numbers are reduced. For information
on shelter hours and how to adopt, check
the organizations Web site at www.
geneseehumane.org.
The Web site www.pitbulllovers.com urges
new dog owners not to breed their pit bulls
and to have dogs spayed or neutered to help
reduce the number of unwanted animals.
GENESEE COUNTY - The Humane Society of Genesee County is so full of stray and abandoned pit bulls that it's stopped taking any more of the breed, creating what one rescue group says amounts to a crisis.
"We get too many, so for the last week or so, we stopped taking them," said David Tucker, the society's executive director. "Generally, yes, we do take them, but sometimes we get too many."
People are staying away from pit bulls because of the dogs' aggressive reputation and involvement in dogfighting, say shelter and rescue operators.
"People either love them, or they're scared of them," said Ronda Jenkins, a volunteer for Citizens for Animal Rescue and Emergency. "Years and years ago, they were like a family dog, (but) they've gotten a bad reputation. It's a misconception that they are bad dogs."
Pit bulls still can be turned over to the Genesee County Animal Control Department shelter, but the county won't put the animals up for adoption because officials don't want to contribute to the area's dogfighting problem. That means every pit bull not claimed by its owner is euthanized.
One animal rescue group, Last Chance Rescue, places pit bulls into foster homes. But of 20 animals up for adoption in its newsletter this month, 14 are mixed-breed pit bulls, and more foster homes are needed, said Edith Campbell, who works with the organization.
Campbell said things are as hard for pit bulls now as she's ever seen.
"We've got overpopulation," she said. "We've got a bad economy, and the majority of pit people are in the bad economy."
Animal rescue groups are expected to discuss the pit bull problem when they gather this week at a Flint Area Animal Coalition meeting.
Tucker said he hopes to reopen the door to pit bulls soon, but he acknowledged it will take time to adopt out the 11 the Humane Society had last week.
"A typical pit bull takes longer to get adopted than the typical golden retriever," he said.
The Humane Society still takes back any animal adopted from its shelter at any time -regardless of breed -if the owner wants to return it, he said.
Tucker said the current flood of pit bulls isn't new, noting that the society has imposed similar restrictions when numbers swelled in the past.
The poor economy probably has contributed to the problem, he said, leaving pet owners and potential animal foster homes more stressed.
***
I look forward to learning much here