The Pit Bull Conundrum.

I've been thinking a lot about dogs.  I'm trying to find a new dog.  The search has been more difficult than I ever imagined.  I have a lot to say on the subject, maybe too much, but that's what blogs are for right?  I will get to all of that once I figure out what I am doing.  For the moment, I want to get some of the clutter out of my head. 


I am not trying to start any debates with this, I know that Pit Bulls are a touchy subject.  If there are any Pit Bull friends out there starting to feel like you need to jump in and defend your beloved companion, please, there is no need.  I have nothing against the dogs.  The dogs are not the problem.  The animals are never the problem. 

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Twenty years ago, the animal shelter I worked in would not adopt out a pit bull.  That policy had nothing to do with what the people who worked in or ran the shelter wanted, it was a dictate of the insurance company.  The shelter was funded by the county and the county would not fund it without liability insurance.  It wasn't a choice.

I never agreed with the practice, but twenty years ago, it wasn't much of an issue.  In all the years that I worked in that shelter we had ZERO pit bulls brought in.  None, nada, zip, zilch.  To that date, the shelter saw an average on ONE pit bull per DECADE. 

It was just about this time that pit bull advocacy really started gaining ground.  The no-adoption policy was being challenged all over the country.  The campaign to change the negative image associated with these dogs was just taking hold and the crusade to “save the misunderstood pit bulls” was really taking off.  Suddenly, even calling them 'Pit Bulls' was anathema.  They were American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers.

That campaign to end the persecution of the breed hasn't been terribly successful, although they did manage to do away with many of the no-adoption policies, including at 'my' shelter.  The dogs still face most of the same challenges that they did twenty years ago.  However, the crusade to 'save' them has had one major, unintended consequence.  It led directly to a massive surge in their popularity, which in turn means that they are suffering through the biggest Pit-Bull-baby-boom ever.  They are now the NUMBER ONE most often bred dog today.  They are also the dogs most often turned into shelters.  There are more of them now than there ever have been and there are more of them euthanized in shelters than ever before.  They now make up 35% of all dogs turned into shelters in the US and that number is as high as 65% in urban shelters.  Last week, I looked at the dogs available in the shelter where I used to work - twelve out of fifteen dogs were purebred Pit Bulls.

If ever there were a living embodiment of good intentions gone horribly wrong, Pitt Bulls are it.  I see the results of this phenomenon every time I drive into work and it plays out in one of two ways:

Scenario 1:  The gang boys strut down the street with their huge, drooping jeans bagging around their knees, ear-buds dangling.  Each group has at least one pit bull straining at the end of a heavy chain lead. 

These gangs routinely breed these dogs to sell to their friends.  I see at least 4-6 of these dogs each day.

Scenario 2:  A young woman in color-coordinated, matching exercise gear is jogging with her very well-mannered, sleek and shiny pit bull at her side.  The dog is missing half of one ear, has numerous scars on his face and is wearing a hot pink harness with little purple hearts and peace signs on it.  

This is one of the crusaders.  She and the three other young woman I see her with rescued their dogs from the local shelter.  Their dogs were produced by one of the first group.  They are doing a great job of demonstrating that these certainly can be very nice, well behaved dogs.  

I honestly can't decide which of these groups is a bigger problem for these dogs.  On the surface, the would-be gang-bangers are the problem, but it is the tireless advocates that have pushed the dogs into such prominence and they die by the thousands because of it.  

I don't know how to cram this genie back in its bottle.  As long as the would-be badasses think it is cool to have a big, mean dog at the end of a chain, they are going to keep breeding them.  As long as we keep promoting them as the perfect pet, they will remain popular, which is the worst thing that can happen to a breed.  At this point, all these dogs can hope for is that this fad, like most others, will finally run its course and they can fall back into obscurity to lick their wounds. 

The Dashing Donkey!

You may recall that Emma came from a not-so-good home, that she has a baby brother and parents with severely neglected feet (find the whole story here and here).  Well, baby brother has gone to his new home and finally has a real name.  Say hello to Dash (Isn't that just the best name for such a dashing fellow, I love it)!

Dash is doing great in his new home.  In true donkey style, he has charmed the whole barn and loves dashing up and down the aisle ways. 

That isn't the end of the good news though.  Finally giving in to pressure from me and Dash's new person, the owner of these donkeys has agreed to sell the jack and jenny as well.  They are going together to their new home this week where they will get the care and attention they are so deserving of. 

It really doesn't take much to have a to have a big impact on the lives of animals.  A little time, a little effort and four (FIVE if you count jenny's next baby, as I am sure she is pregnant again) have wonderful new lives.  Yeah for the donkeys!

Responsibility

There is a lot of talk right now about the lifting of the ban on slaughtering horses for human consumption in the US.  However, the controversy over slaughter eclipses the real conversation we should be having.  The issue isn't about slaughter, it's about responsibility.  As human beings we are responsible for domestic animals.   We created them yet we are failing them.

I have personal experience with the horrors associated with slaughter.  I also have personal experience with the horrors associated with the banning of slaughter.  There are more horses and donkeys being abandoned, starved and abused now than I ever remember seeing.   Much of this abuse stems directly from the devaluation of the animals.  The only good to come out of the slaughter industry is a guaranteed value for every equine.  Practices such as donkey roping or abandonment are a direct result of the donkeys having absolutely no economic value.  It is a hard truth that people don't value what they don't pay for.

If it comes down to a choice of short term abuse followed by slaughter or long term abuse followed by an agonizing death, I guess I would choose the first route.  Personally, I don't like either option which is what drives me to purchase animals in great need whenever I can manage it.  It is why I spent several years working in an animal shelter.  It is partly how I got Emma and how I rescued a pair of driving horses a few years ago, and a mustang before that, and others.......I do this on my own and on my own terms.  I do not ask for money.  I take on what I can handle at any given time.  I acknowledge and accept that I have a responsibility.   I may not have saved thousands but I have saved some.  Think what it would mean if all horse owners acknowledged the same level of responsibility.

If you are unhappy about the ban on horse slaughter being lifted, do something about it.  And I don't mean signing petitions and writing your congressman either, they can't help.  Petitions and letters don't feed horses.  Go out and find an animal that needs help, a 30 second scan of craigslist will provide ample opportunities.   If you don't know how to help on your own, find a rescue group and work with them.  Take responsibility.  We created these animals, we are responsible.  All of us.  

A new home for baby

Well, baby brother is going to have a new home in the Syracuse area.  He is going to be taking on the important task of equine companionship, something that donkeys excel at.

Mom and Dad are looking pretty good, especially compared to their condition back in July.  I trimmed their feet again and gave them another dose of wormer.  While they are not perfect looking yet, they are MUCH better.  Both donkeys are moving so much better.

Jack treated us to a nice, long bray trying to entice us to come back for some more scratching.

 

Jenny really would have liked to jump in the back of the truck and if I thought I could get away with it I'd have let her.  She is so sweet, just like her daughter Emma.  I would have loved to bring her home with me.

Baby brother remained coy and shy but I have no doubt that he will be just as friendly and sweet as the rest with a little time and attention.  

I am so glad to have been able to help these wonderful donkeys.  If anyone out there in cyberspace  wants to dramatically improve your own life, look around for a donkey that needs a little help.  Believe me, there are a lot of them out there.  They will doubly return every bit of love you can give them.