[fabrizioitwloch]

I was searching through dog ads in the paper today and came across something for the Homeward Bound Dog Rescue. I decided to check out and see who was up for adoption. Low and behold a great looking pitbull puppy was up for adoption. After reading his brief bio I noticed that the site had a link that they wanted all to read that contain important information about the pitbull breed. The window that popped up read as follows:

An Important Word or Two About Pit Bulls:

We at Homeward Bound are constantly amazed at how misinformed people are about Pit Bulls and Am.Staffs. We know the only way to combat "Pit Bulls are viscous dogs!" mentality is through education so we decided that it would be a good idea to list some links that explain Pit Bulls and Am.Staffs. Please take a look at all of these sites before you deem Pit Bulls to be "dangerous" dogs. Pit Bull Rescue Central has a very informative page (http://www.pbrc.net/breedinfo.html) which also explains the good and bad traits of the Pit Bull breed. BAD RAP (http://www.badrap.org/rescue/breed.cfm, http://www.badrap.org/rescue/owning.cfm, and http://www.badrap.org/rescue/myths.cfm) and Missouri Pit Bull Rescue (http://mprgroup.net/misc/breedinfo.html) also includes informative breed information. Thanks for looking at these links! The Pit Bulls and Am. Staffs would also like to thank you as well. Most Humane Societies, shelters, or rescues refuse to rescue a Pit Bull or Am.Staff and/or euthanize them right away without even giving the dogs a chance. That is not fair to the dogs. After all, we've had Pit Bulls in that are much friendlier than Labs! Perhaps the scariest thought is how many dogs are euthanized simply because they look like a Pit Bull or Am.Staff. Take the "Find the Pit Bull" test at http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html to see just how easy it is to mistake one breed from another. Keep in mind that while you are taking this test how many of these dogs would have been killed if they wound up at a pound or Humane Society...

Important Information Regarding Adopting a Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier from Homeward Bound: If you meet all of our Adoption Requirements/Policies and are interested in adopting a Pit Bull from Homeward Bound, please know that we have the right to do a home visit first before any Pit Bull is adopted. We also require reference checks (a veterinary reference is preferred).

You must show us proof that your homeowners insurance does not have a breed ban (most places do, unfortunately). If you rent, you must show us proof that your landlord does not have any breed bans as well. Some communities also have breed bans, especially gated communities.

Pit Bulls are athletic, exuberant dogs so do not adopt one if you want a couch-potato dog - these sweeties need at least one walk a day and at least 30 minutes of playtime.

Please know that Pit Bulls do best as the only animal in the house. We do not recommend that they go to a multi-dog household because they were bred to fight with other dogs. Most Pit Bulls in our program do not have dog aggression but anyone who knows anything about Pit Bulls knows the golden rule - you can never trust a Pit Bull not to fight. Usually dog aggression starts showing up when the dog is 1-3 years old. Please know that DOG AGGRESSION DOES NOT EQUATE WITH HUMAN AGGRESSION - these are two totally different things.

We will only adopt out spayed/neutered Pit Bulls or Am.Staffs and as with every animal adopted from Homeward Bound, they must live INDOORS ONLY


Any that is a pitbull lover or familiar with the breed knows that the previous information is completely false and disgusting. I personally know of a pitbull that happily lives with a mini dachshund and maltese.


I please ask all those who read this to reply with your opinion about this matter.


Thank

[blogwado]

I think that sounds like a surprisingly very responsible Shelter/Rescue.

Most "pit bulls" do have DA to some extent, and is a very common trait. They should never be left alone with another dog/animal. I hope you don't leave your dog home alone with the other two.

The only thing I have a problem with, but most rescues have the rule, is the Inside only rule.

[leareliovag]

I agree with CoolHandJean. I was wondering what part you think is completely false.

[blogwado]

I personally would like to send that rescue a thank you note.

[zCLadw3R]

I agree Jean this sounds like one of the better facilities.

[Assunkkensatt]

Huh? That seemed fine to me. And yes, some pits get along with other dogs, like mine. The rule of thumb is that they don't, and that keeps everyone safer. These people seem to have the right idea. I applaud their effort to educate the public and give pits a chance, unlike most other shelters.

[MegaJIT]

I think that sounds like a surprisingly very responsible Shelter/Rescue.

Most "pit bulls" do have DA to some extent, and is a very common trait. They should never be left alone with another dog/animal. I hope you don't leave your dog home alone with the other two.

The only thing I have a problem with, but most rescues have the rule, is the Inside only rule.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[fabrizioitwloch]

What happen to punishing the deed and not the breed? And yes, our dog is with the other two all the time.

[excholza]

I think that sounds like a surprisingly very responsible Shelter/Rescue.

I agree Jean....I think this Shelter/Rescue has covered all of their bases.

[Assunkkensatt]

I don't understand what you're talking about regarding the deed/breed thing.

[blogwado]

What happen to punishing the deed and not the breed? And yes, our dog is with the other two all the time.

The deed/breed thing has nothing to do with it.

No one is saying Ban Pit Bulls. We are saying understand the breed and its history. It would be like me telling you to watch your beagle around rabbits.

Check out these threads.
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=2779
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=13984

[avdddcxnelkaxz]

It sounds very good to me.

Bully breeds and their mixes often end up in shelters because people don't realize that it is not 'all in how you raise them.' They think if they raise the dog right it won't be animal aggressive, but in most cases that isn't true. Then when the dog 'turns on' and doesn't get along with the other animals in the house, they end up in the shelter or being peddled on CL. It's a shame.

[MegaJIT]

your not making any sense.

[qp0yfHOf]

I think this shelter has done an excellent job in informing possible homes of the breed.
To the OP, all dogs are different. Jewelz dislikes small breed dogs But she loves large breed dogs. I wont dare to let her close enough to one alone though. Anything could strike a dog to become DA.

[gundorana]

Any that is a pit bull lover or familiar with the breed knows that the previous information is completely false and disgusting. I personally know of a pitbull that happily lives with a mini dachshund and maltese.

I please ask all those who read this to reply with your opinion about this matter.

Thank

Actually.... pretty much 100% of that is right on the money! Yes, there are pit bulls that get along great with other dogs... but, there are more that do not, and like they stated... the golden rule when owning this breed is>.... never trust them NOT to fight. Just as soon as you let your guard down and think they never will.... they will.

I have 2 APBT (mix I'm sure, as I have no papers). Mollie is selective dog aggressive.... she likes some dogs just fine.. and some, she is determined to fight. She was fine with all our dogs, until "one day". She was probably close to 2 years old when we got Titus as an 8 week old pup, so she was here first and loved him.... for about 2 years. Then one day, for who knows what reason, they got into a fight. I thought well, maybe it was a one time only thing... let them out again together, another fight. Now, when she walks by his crate, she will snap at him, or he will lunge at her. Titus is a Lab/Husky mix. She gets along great with Zoey, the other Lab and Bella. She gets along for the most part with Maxx, but they have had 2 fights that started over who knows what... and for a while, I couldn't let her near him.. Now, she is allowed to walk past him, but not go outside with him. She will even sniff him, but I'm always right on top of her, and she is never close enough to him for more than just a second. I don't trust her 100% not to try to fight him again at some point. Maybe she will, maybe she won't but that's a risk I'm not willing to take, being as Maxx is about 13 yrs old and he doesn't need that stress.

Bella, loves every single dog she meets.. she thinks everyone is her new best friend. She's about a year old. I hope and pray that she stays that way the rest of her life.... but do I trust her 100% to stay that way? No.... too much of a risk. She may love ever dog she meets for 4 years, 6 months and 28 days... but on day 29, another dog may look at a sun ray that she thinks is hers alone to look at and that may be all it takes to start a fight.

NEVER trust your dog not to fight. They may never fight, but you can never take that risk. Look at it like this... you drive to work every day with your seat belt on, and no accidents.... so one day, you decide not to wear your seat belt, because hey, you've not had any accidents so far, so why bother with it... just ride to work free of the seat belt that day. BUT, that may be the day someone isn't paying attention to what they are doing, are running late for work, or talking on their cell phone and are distracted and don't see the light turn red. Here you come, as you've done for, say 5 years, 365 days every year, same route, same light, never even a close call... but on that one day.... without your seat belt on, and in an instant... you are hit hard enough that you are ejected from your vehicle and die on impact from your head hitting the pavement. Police officer says that without a doubt, if you had been wearing your seat belt, you would have survived the crash, but because you didn't, now your family has to bury you.

Think it would never happen?? There's a reason I used that sceniro... My sister has always been an avid seat belt wearer... she has never left home without having it buckled, not even to run to the end of the street to buy milk. One day, she was a passenger in another vehicle, they had gone to a horse show, pulling a horse trailer with 4 horses in it... 2 people in front 2 in back of a 4 door dually diesel truck. It's dusk.. a kid (that we found out later my kids knew and went to school with), had taken a girl home.... unfamiliar area, he had never been on that street before. He came around a curve, probably driving a little too fast, didn't see a stop sign in time, and.... hit the vehicle my sister was in broadside. 4 people in the vehicle, and only one was wearing a seat belt, the other 3 people in that truck were ejected from the vehicle and died on impact. The one wearing the seat belt survived, but had a broken neck... wasn't paralyzed, but spent 3 months in rehab while recovering from injuries. I saw the pictures of that accident... I saw what happens when a human body hits concrete after being thrown from a vehicle.... Luckily, that person wasn't my sister.... however, my sister was among the dead. The Highway Patrol said without a doubt if they had been wearing seat belts, they all would have survived.... that one day, for some reason we will never know, she didn't put it on... and that one day, all it took was an instant, and things changed.

My point is... you never know. You can never trust your dog 100%, 100% of the time not to fight. You take precautions, you supervise, you make sure you are the most responsible owner you can be... because all it takes is one time... you can leave them together unsupervised hundreds of times with no problems.... but it only takes one time for things to turn out completely different than it did the last time you left them alone. That shelters guidelines are spot on.... If more people would realize that what they have posted as their guidelines, that is what makes a responsible owner... this breed would not be in danger of being banned in cities every month.... this breed would not be on the evening news, if owners would heed every word of what that shelter has in their guide lines. If every owner would be as responsible as that shelter wants those that adopt pit bulls out to be, this breed would be in much better shape.

All it takes is one time... one slip up... to change your life, or the life of your dog, forever.

[jeockammece]

I think that is great that the shelter is giving out that info. At least they are giving them a proper chance and helping to educate the owners. I think it is a very responsible thing for a shelter to do.

I have a foster pit, but on her bio, we recommend no other dogs or just a large male. While she is currently living with 9 other dogs and doing fine. I separate when I'm gone and I supervise all interaction. She loves the other dogs, curled up right now on top of Ripley and Wendy, but she has had scuffles. They could have been deadly for my small dogs if I hadn't been here. Her cuteness and sweet personality can lull you into a false sense of security and then you could end up with a dead dog.

[TheDoctor]

That's pretty much what we tell our adopters, I'm not sure what part you have an issue with? We don't have a problem adopting bully breeds out to multipet homes as long as the owner/s understand the risk and are willing to crate and rotate if they don't get along.

[voodoosdv]

LOL, the OP is kidding right? It's one of these a) Ignorant b) Sarcastic c) Denial

[deermealec]

I had to read that twice to see if I missed something. I didn't see any problems with what was stated . That Rescue definitely doesn't appear irresponsible in my eyes.

[CefGemYAffews]

What happen to punishing the deed and not the breed? And yes, our dog is with the other two all the time.

How is keeping the safety of the dog and other animals first and foremost a punishment???
There are multiple threads by members of this very forum that start with "I never thought it would happen". All stories of their sweet, wonderful pups who LOVE other dogs deciding to turn on. Dog and animal aggression is normal and one should never become complacent about it, no matter how sweet your "pit bull" seems to be to other dogs. It's not a fault and it's not a bad thing. It's just the way it is, and if people were as responsible with OTHER breeds prone to DA, the world of pet ownership would be better off.