what to do about large number of pit bulls in shelters
In my years of volunteering with my local animal services, I quickly noticed that the big dog sections tend to be full of Pitbulls, and the small dog sections have primarily Chihuahuas. Over the years, I've learned some surprising reasons why.
Why are there and then many Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas in shelters? In that location are so many Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas in shelters because more of these dogs are being bred, considering of breed characteristics like a tendency towards boldness and bravery, and considering of public misinformation and misconceptions.
Understanding why and so many Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas live and dice in shelters is essential to making positive changes. Here'southward what you need to know why there are then many Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas are in shelters.
Why Are All Shelter Dogs Pit Bulls?
Overwhelmingly, Pitbulls are the most common dogs in municipal creature shelters nationwide. If yous happen to walk through an intake shelter that houses little dogs in a separate section, as many do, it may actually appear to you that every dog in the shelter is a Pit Balderdash.
The Nighttime Side of Animal Rescue
Are Shelter Dogs Rescue Dogs?
The terms "Shelter domestic dog" and "Rescue domestic dog" are often used interchangeably, but there are meaningful differences between a dog at a shelter and one at a rescue. Dogs at shelters, even no-kill shelters, are the property of the county and may be euthanized for infinite, behavior, or medical reasons.
Dogs that are "pulled" from shelters by rescues get the belongings of the rescue. These rescues typically have very strict zilch-euthanasia policies except in the most extreme situations.
Brute rescues are private organizations, like the Humane Society, that are funded primarily by private grants and public donations, which they utilise to save and adopt out homeless dogs.
Whatsoever given area in the United States likely has several private rescue organizations. Breed-specific rescue organizations as well as organizations that rescue dogs from detail situations sometimes transport dogs across the state or fifty-fifty across the earth to salvage them and detect them good homes.
Pit Bulls Who are Shelter Dogs are Less Likely to become Rescue Dogs
Unfortunately, in that location is a dark side of animal rescue. Brute rescues, while they strive to save as many dogs as possible, are bound by the laws of supply and demand.
Virtually are dependent on foster homes to firm dogs. The less adoptable and more difficult to handle the dog is, the harder it is to observe a foster or adopter. Rescues must be very conscientious in the dogs that they take on and then they don't go over-burdened with hard-to-adopt dogs.
The logical upshot of this reality is that individual fauna rescues pull not the dogs that may exist most at risk of euthanasia, merely the dogs that they are most likely to be able to rehome, leaving room for them to save another.
Unfortunately for Pitbulls, this breed is not considered highly desirable either to exist placed in foster homes or to be adopted by the public. Pitbull rescues are unfortunately few and far between and well-nigh are constantly bombarded with requests to save dogs, then they can make very picayune paring in the number of Pitbulls that end up existence euthanized.
Bad Labeling
Since genetic testing is not practical for most shelter dogs, a dog's breed is determined by a domestic dog's appearance in the absence of any kind of history nearly the domestic dog. Self-identified dog experts like shelter staff and veterinarians are extremely poor at correctly identifying dog breeds.
Breed identification for a given dog was labeled right if a breed containing at to the lowest degree 25% of a canis familiaris's genetic makeup was selected. five,922 respondents representing all The states states and territories completed the survey.
- Breeds were correctly identified, on average, only 27% of the time.
- half-dozen% of the dogs weren't correctly identified at all
- 22% only had their breed identified 1% of the time
- Just fifteen% of the dogs were correctly identified more than seventy% of the time.
The listed breed for any given canis familiaris at an creature shelter is very unlikely to be accurate. For Pit mixes, the misidentification can be mortiferous.
Many dogs are identified equally Pitbulls, even if they aren't. On the other manus, many dogs with Pit Bull genetics are misidentified as other breeds.
You probably wouldn't guess that this dog is mostly a Pitbull. (The American Pitbull Terrier is not recognized by the AKC, so the breed that is closest to it, the American Staffordshire Terrier, is what shows upwards on genetic tests.)
Despite being over 62% Pit, this dog would be one of the beginning adopted from shelters by people who, "don't desire a Pitbull." On the other paw, another canis familiaris with the same percentage of Pitbull could easily be passed over for, "looking like a Pitbull," specially if it was mixed with a large brood like a Labrador.
Breed History
The American Pitbull Terrier was originally bred to fight animals and other dogs in a ring. As the breed adult, they likewise became favorites of ranchers and farmers to catch feral hogs and cattle, chase, drive livestock, and be companions to their family. Despite the diverse roles of the Pitbull, their history of dogfighting notwithstanding influences the breed today.
According to the United Kennel Club, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a potent, confident dog with a great zest for life. They are enthusiastic and highly trainable. They are great family unit dogs and uncommonly noted for loving children. Assailment towards humans is uncharacteristic and results in removing dogs from the breed pool.
However, the Kennel Club also notes that well-nigh American Pitbull terriers display some degree of dog aggression. This characteristic, combined with a powerful, muscular body and athleticism, means that they aren't right for every owner.
This is a breed that must be well socialized, trained, and handled. Considering they are so able-bodied, they are very adept at climbing fences, so they are not typically safely contained in a fenced thousand.
The AKC recognizes the American Staffordshire Terrier, not the American Pit Bull Terrier. The Am Staff is very similar in advent and history to the American Pitbull Terrier, and generally grouped under the aforementioned label of Pit Bull.
The AKC warns new American Staffordshire owners that puppies and immature adults must exist heavily socialized with other dogs in controlled environments and that the breed should never be left solitary with other dogs. They warned that even in the most well-socialized American Staffordshire Terriers, dog aggression can develop.
The ASPCA draws a connexion between the breed'southward history and its current behavior in their position statement on Pit bulls. All dogs were adult to do different jobs, such as pointers to point and herders to herd.
Pit Bulls were descended from dogs bred to bite and hold onto bears, bulls, and other large animals. When this do was outlawed, the dogs were bred to fight each other instead.
Since Pit Bulls were bred for many years for their fighting ability, it should not come up every bit a surprise that they may be dog aggressive. The ASPCA clarifies that just because the breed shows a trend towards dog assailment does not make them more probable to exist ambitious towards people.
In fact, Pit Bulls tend to be less aggressive towards people than many other breeds, every bit whatever level of homo aggression would be very dangerous to handlers of fighting dogs.
Does this breed history mean that a given dog in a shelter that is labeled a Pit Bull will display dog aggression? No. But it does mean that dogs that are actually Pitbulls may be more than likely than other breeds to brandish domestic dog aggression, especially if their near ancestors were bred for fighting.
Dog Fighting
The further a dog's ancestry is from dogfighting, the less likely they volition be to show domestic dog aggression. Unfortunately, dog fighting is terribly common.
While it is hard to know but how much dogfighting is going on since information technology is illegal, estimates identify the number of people participating in dogfighting in the United States as existence in the tens of thousands. It seemed to pass up in the 1990s, just law enforcement and Animal Control believes that information technology is rebounding.
Fighting dogs on the streets is a mutual component of urban crime. Online communication makes it easy for dogfighters to organize fights, maintain genetic records, and get equipment.
The canis familiaris-fighting world produces a lot of homeless dogs.
An industry that doesn't respect or value creature life has no problem tossing out dogs equally soon every bit they are no longer useful. Breeding dogs are often housed outside on chains, where females in heat are mated by whatsoever passing domestic dog, resulting in countless adventitious mixed breed litters.
This means that a domestic dog in a shelter may accept come up from fighting parents or at to the lowest degree one fighting parent, even if they accept never been fought. Some Pit Bulls in shelters are fightings dogs that were injured, refused to fight, or otherwise lost their usefulness to their owners. Some of these dogs volition bear witness canis familiaris aggression and some won't.
Public Fear and Misinformation
When I walk a Pitbull from my local shelter downtown, I get strong reactions. Some people happily squeal and kiss the dog'south big head, unremarkably while pulling out their phone to show me pictures of their Pibbles like a proud grandparent.
On the other hand, I've gone then far as to pick upward a friendly Pitbull and so a terrified pedestrian felt prophylactic enough to walk by. It's hard to just get for a walk with a Pitbull. Positive or negative, people have opinions near Pibbles.
Public opinion is rarely a wealth of accurate information, but when it comes to Pitbulls, people really get it wrong. Here are some misconceptions almost Pit Bulls that lead to reduced adoption rates.
Myth: Pitbulls are savage and unpredictable
Co-ordinate to the American Temperament Test Lodge, Pitbulls passed 82% of the time, as opposed to only 77% of the full general population of dogs. These results prove what most Pitbull owners already know: that Pibbles are generally very homo-friendly and have steady temperaments.
Myth: Dog aggression = people assailment
APBTs may be more probable to show dog aggression, but they are actually very unlikely to evidence human being aggression. Non just does human aggression become against the breed standard, but dogs who show homo assailment are dangerous in the fighting band and are culled.
While it may exist possible for Pitbulls to be safe with other dogs, and many Pitbulls live happily all their lives being left lonely periodically with other dogs, the Pitbull breed was adult to assault other dogs and large animals, and this instinct is still in the breed.
A Pit Bull that volition fight another dog if unattended is a normal Pit Balderdash. Even if a Pit Bull does not start the fight, information technology has the potential to seriously hurt or impale a dog once in the fight.
– American Pit Bull Foundation
Many Pitbulls are turned into shelters and euthanized every twelvemonth because they brandish normal behavior for the breed and are handled incorrectly by beingness left lonely with some other canis familiaris.
Myth: If my young Pitbull is adept with dogs now, he'll exist adept later on
All dogs prove some changes in personality equally they mature, and for many dogs, maturity is when breed-related instincts and behaviors become strongest.
Pit Bulls have a late maturity, and a Pit Bull that was domestic dog friendly at 7 months old may suddenly show signs of intolerance of unfamiliar dogs around two years old. Spaying and neutering the canis familiaris may help to prevent "turning on" the genetic urge to fight another canis familiaris.
– American Pit Balderdash Foundation
Stories of maturing Pit bulls showing sudden and devastating aggression towards other dogs or pets are all too common and are likely at the base of the misconception that Pitbulls are unpredictable. Sudden assailment at maturity is, in fact, perfectly predictable for the APBT.
Myth: APBTs have much stronger seize with teeth force per unit area than other breeds and have "locking jaws".
A Pit bull's bite force corresponds to jaw size, just like every other breed. Both Rottweilers and High german Shepherds have stronger bite strengths than Pitbulls. Pit bulls can't lock their jaws, although holding a bite is a breed characteristic.
Myth: It is all-time to become a Pitbull equally a puppy considering, "It's the upbringing, non the breed,"
It's the breed. Great socialization with other dogs and animals may result in a well-socialized Pitbull, but information technology won't guarantee a canis familiaris that won't fight. Many people become a Pitbull puppy thinking they tin can curtail any breed-related problems, and then surrender the dog in a few years when breed characteristics come out.
It is actually much better to choose a mature dog with desirable traits since those traits are likely to persist. A five-yr-sometime Pitbull who is friendly with other dogs is likely to remain that way.
The Pit Bull'south Fate
Regardless of whether a dog really is a Pitbull or not, being labeled one can accept disastrous consequences for the canis familiaris. Many more Pitbulls come into shelters than are adopted. Pitbulls come into the shelter more than than any other brood, and they are euthanized in the greatest numbers as well.
Simply one in 600 Pitbulls in shelters will win the lottery and find a forever habitation.
Around 33% of dogs coming into shelters are labeled Pitbulls. In large cities, as many equally 40%-65% of dogs entering shelters are Pits. Around 75% of municipal shelters euthanize Pitbulls immediately upon intake.
Information technology is estimated that ane one thousand thousand Pits are euthanized every yr. That's most 3000 Pitbulls every day. Some estimates are even higher. Nationally, it is estimated that there is a 93% euthanasia rate for Pit Bulls.
Chihuahuas in Shelters
When you consider the imposing stature, powerful physique, and breed history of the Pitbull, information technology may not be surprising that they have a hard time finding new homes. However, many people are very surprised to larn merely how many Chihuahuas are in shelters.
Chihuahuas are common in most shelters throughout the Usa, especially in the south. In some places, such as California, they may even exceed the number of Pit Bulls in some areas.
Chihuahuas are over-represented in shelters for some surprisingly similar reasons to why Pitbulls are the most common breed in shelters nationwide. More than connections tin be drawn between these 2 apparently dissimilar breeds than you might expect.
Breed Characteristics
Chihuahuas may have been popularized as the purse accessories of celebrities, only this is far from a passive breed. Chihuahuas enjoy being with their people and can be trained to ride in purses, only it doesn't mean that they are expert pocketbook pets. Chihuahuas are actually not very good dogs for outset-time domestic dog owners, and they are far from a low-energy breed.
Trend Towards Assailment Towards Other Animals And People
It is non at all uncommon for Chihuahuas to bite, even as puppies. In fact, one study found them to be the most ambitious dog breed studied. They are independent dogs that tend to be suspicious of strangers simply fiercely loyal to their families.
Many Chihuahuas show assailment towards dogs and people that they don't consider role of the family. As too many unsuspecting significant others larn, the Chihuahua may make upwardly their own listen about who is role of the family unit.
Independent
While they are intelligent and many are very trainable, Chihuahuas tin also be more probable to effort to find ways to get their ain way so work to delight yous. Despite their diminutive stature, Chihuahuas have a truthful terrier personality, high prey bulldoze, and a bold and tenacious spirit which can make them a scattering.
Potty Grooming
Many small-scale breed dogs struggle with potty training, and the Chihuahua is no exception. Chihuahua puppies may but be able to concur their bladder for 10 or fifteen minutes at a time, which can make information technology difficult for owners to get them out enough or redirect them every time they make a mistake, making potty training challenging from the first.
Since Chihuahuas take their ain minds, they are very likely decide it is much more comfortable and user-friendly for them to hide a potty accident than information technology is to agree their bladder until you let them out.
Many Chihuahua owners find that information technology is ameliorate to litter box or paper train than ask their dog to go outside every time. All the same, for people who are non aware of Chihuahua potty-training challenges or willing to newspaper-train, surrendering the dog quickly becomes a more desirable choice than dealing with constant potty accidents.
Public Misconceptions
Ever since Chihuahuas were seen peeking from the purses of celebrities, people have been buying them more as accessories than pets. Irresponsible and greedy breeders were happy to sell vast numbers of puppies to people who knew zippo about the brood.
When people grow tired of the little dogs, which tin live up to 20 years, they surrender them to shelters where they may be unlikely to attract an adopter.
Misconceptions accept haunted the Chihuahua for a very long fourth dimension. Both negative and positive misconceptions have been highly damaging.
Chihuahuas are Bag Dogs
Chihuahuas are active, independent, and many are distrustful of strangers. Needless to say, these characteristics don't brand them the best pocketbook dogs. Unsuspecting owners may be shocked when their Chihuahua bites a passerby from within their pocketbook, despite the fact that the Chihuahua has been growling and showing that they were guarding for some time.
Too often, aggressive, protective beliefs in a Chihuahua isn't taken seriously until a seize with teeth occurs. Typically, a seize with teeth similar this results in the Chihuahua being surrendered to the shelter with the label "unpredictable biter."
Chihuahuas are Shivery Scaredy Dogs
It is completely natural for Chihuahuas to shiver much of the time because they're happy, scared, excited, cold, and sometimes for no apparent reason at all. Information technology is a known breed feature and not a sign of any kind of health problem.
It also does not suggest that these dogs are scaredy cats. In fact, almost Chihuahuas are bold, vivacious, dauntless little dogs, despite being and then small. People put off by a shivery little dog in the shelter are unlikely to adopt and have an opportunity to realize the Chihuahua's potential.
Chihuahuas Have Little Dog Syndrome
If I had a dime for all of the times that someone has apologized to me for their small dog's bad behavior past calling it "little dog syndrome", I'd be rich. Niggling dogs do live in a big, potentially scary globe, but they don't necessarily understand themselves in relation to their size.
Many Chihuahuas seem to have no thought that they are small, enjoying the company of large dogs and engaging and all kinds of bouncy play and activities. The tendency of Chihuahuas to bawl aggressively at strange dogs and people actually comes out of the breed'south bravery and trend to protect and guard their people and belongings.
Anyone who discounts the beliefs every bit "Little Dog Syndrome," may be setting themselves upwards for a serious bite.
What Tin Nosotros Do to Aid Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas in Shelters ?
Chihuahuas are as well oftentimes misunderstood by their owners and potential adopters. This breed isn't right for everyone, simply for an owner who understands their unique behavior and admires their vivacious personalities, they can be incredible pets.
The fact that they are deeply loyal and dauntless enough to risk their lives to defend their family unit makes it even more heartbreaking to think of them abandoned and alone at shelters.
Pitbulls are among the most even-tempered, human-loving dog breeds, especially noted for their affection towards children. Many have some of the hardest lives of any domestic dog:
- An underground dogfighting manufacture keeps them in isolation and fail between pitting them against each other in vicious fights for the length of their brusk, hard lives.
- A shelter organisation not equipped to handle vast numbers of Pitbulls and anti-Pitbull legislation results in Pitbulls being euthanized by the thousands.
- A public that doesn't empathise Pitbulls is too probable to carelessness dogs that become unsuitable pets and unwilling to adopt them from the system before they are euthanized.
Treat Every Shelter Dog as an Individual That has Gone Through Trauma
Losing your family, fifty-fifty a non-then-good family, is traumatic for any dog, but for deeply loyal, loving breeds like Pitbulls and Chihuahuas, it can exist fifty-fifty harder. Pitbulls often become highly frustrated in the confinement of a shelter, which can lead to behavior and vocalizations that await like aggression. Chihuahuas frequently shut down when separated from their loved ones, shivering in a corner and refusing to interact.
When you're because a dog to adopt, foster, or volunteer with, keep in mind that you're seeing a dog on one of their worse days. Go slowly, be patient, bring yummy treats, and let each dog reveal their unique personality, regardless of their breed, size, or anything else.
Stop Breeding Pitbulls and Chihuahuas Until the Shelters Aren't Overrun With Them
In some areas, in that location are so many Chihuahuas that they are being shipped north in record numbers. They wander the streets, reproducing at a rate that local rescues tin can't keep upwards with. Customs education about the importance of spaying and neutering is having an touch, only more spay and neuter initiatives could make all the difference in reducing the numbers of unwanted Chihuahuas in shelters.
Given the difficulty of placing homeless Pit Bulls, serious consideration needs to be given to breeding these dogs. Many Pit Bulls must have single pet homes or owners who can safely supervise and keep dogs separated as needed.
These powerful dogs demand plenty of exercise and housing which can resist their able-bodied escape attempts. Breed legislation eliminates entire cities and countless housing options for Pit bulls.
With a powerful breed like the APBT, a dog who requires an experienced and involved owner, with disastrous consequences when mismanaged, it is very, very hard to safely rehome in many cases.
Legislation must be developed that has the teeth to finish dogfighting and the breeding that produces dogs for this purpose. Individuals who are breeding Pitbulls as pets must be clear with prospective owners near what Pitbull ownership entails.
Speak out. Adopt. Foster. Donate.
If you are considering a Pitbull or Chihuahua, please consider adoption. If you lot can't adopt or foster i of these dogs, peradventure you can afford to donate to organizations dedicated to saving them and organizations that brainwash the public and advocate spaying and neutering, like Fix Them All.
Consider going to your local shelter and spending some time with the dogs there. Each of them is agonized for just a piffling bit of human compassion.
If you accept a Pitbull or a Chihuahua, you are an ambassador for the breed. That doesn't mean that your dog volition ever be perfectly behaved. What it ways is that you are honest and articulate with the public almost breed characteristics and the pros and cons of owning these breeds.
Source: https://rescuedoghome.com/why-are-there-so-many-pit-bulls-and-chihuahuas-in-shelters/
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