ASPCA: CASH FOR ADOPTING OUT PITS
Years ago it was discovered that the Animal Farm Foundation was giving shelters that adopted out pit bulls cash rewards. An “Adopt-A-Bull” contest in 2008 asked the question: “What better way to get the word out that pit bulls can indeed make loving and loyal, delightful and devoted companions?” The contest lacked key elements, however, the most important being safety.
The ASPCA has no obligation to share safety issues about pit bulls with the public. On their “Pit Bull Information” web page, they write: “Sadly, pit bulls have acquired a reputation as unpredictable, dangerous, and vicious.” Yet, spelled out in the ASPCA Shelter Guidelines — designed to protect shelter workers — are the unique risks attributed to pit bulls. One of them is that they “attack without warning,” which is equivalent to unpredictable behavior.
42 dogs rehomed by U.S. shelters and rescues have participated in killing 39 people since 2010 according to Animals 24-7. These dog breeds include: 30 pit bulls, 7 bullmastiffs, 3 rottweilers, a lab and a husky. Only 5 shelter dogs killed a person from 1988 through 2009. The numbers since 2010 are staggering and reflect the “reality” of modern sheltering — adopt out at all costs to keep euthanasia rates low.
No temperament assessment test, not even a “state-of-the-art” one, can measure unpredictable aggression. This is the risk every person accepts, knowingly or not, when adopting a pit bull, rottweiler or other dangerous breed.
ASPCA: SHELTER GUIDELINES FOR PITS
There are many guidelines presented in the 19-page document (which appears to be a PowerPoint slide show), as well as a brief history of the pit bull and the results of selective breeding to achieve the “ultimate canine warrior” designation. Some of these results directly correlate to the safety guidelines, such as the pit bull’s genetic “unpredictability” (specifically when attacking), dog-aggression and high prey drive. We’ve listed a few of the guidelines below:
– There are “cases of experienced handlers who had developed good relationships with the dogs over a period of months still being attacked without warning or obvious provocation.”
– Pit bulls “ignore signs of submission from other dogs” and “give no warning prior to attack.” They add that this is “different than normal dog behavior.”
– “Today’s pit bulls” have multiple names including: “Staffordshire Terrier (AKC 1936), American Staffordshire Terrier (AKC 1972, Am Staff), American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier.”
– “These dogs can be aggressive towards humans and more likely to cause fatal attacks to people than other fighting type dogs.”
– “Pit bulls will climb fences, chew up stainless steel food and water bowls, destroy copper tubing of automatic water systems and conventional cages, and attack other animals through chain link fences.”
– “Pit bulls can break through conventional cage doors and destroy typical epoxy paint on the floors and walls.”
“Pit bulls require special housing considerations” and “isolation from other animals if dog aggressive or have a high prey drive.”
– “Install a panic button in rooms housing pit bulls along with other restraint equipment in any room housing pit bulls.”
It seems unlikely that the ASPCA or shelters participating in the “Adopt-A-Bull Contest” will tell potential adopters to install a panic button in their home or that pit bulls attack without warning.
Courtesy of DogsBite.org: http://bit.ly/1MRquZn
For the complete presentation of ASPCA shelter guidelines: http://bit.ly/1D3Cfs8
For more information of shelter dog mayhem visit Animals 24-7: http://bit.ly/1HTLyxn
To read up on the Animal Farm Foundation whose tagline is: “Securing equal treatment and opportunity for ‘pit bull type’ dogs” visit Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education & Awareness: http://bit.ly/1LBv9OE
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