Is ‘Pit Bull Awareness’ becoming mandatory?

Well, it’s October, which means it’s National Pit Bull Awareness Month again.  All month we will be forced to watch, read and listen to banal anecdotal editorials and pointlessly poignant exposes’ about the world’s allegedly most misunderstood dog breed.

This annual celebration comes once again on the heels of a busy September, when at least three people were mauled to death by pit bulls – Connie Storey, 62,  Barrett Hagans, 1 month old,  and Kathy Nichelson,  61.  Not to mention numerous other serious,   though non-fatal, attacks on humans.  (As an aside, some victim advocates have designated October 28 as National Pit Bull Victim Awareness Day in response.)

“Fake news”?

Not to worry, though.  We are reassured by the pit bull advocates who organized Pit Bull Awareness month that pit bulls are misunderstood,  and that they only seem more dangerous than other dogs because of “fake news” and sensationalist media.

(See Pit bull advocacy exposed by the CBC Fifth Estate with host Mark Kelley.)

Though they have never provided any evidence to dispute that pit bulls are implicated in 60-70% of fatal and disfiguring attacks on humans,  and more than 90% of attacks on other animals,  these pit bull advocates still insist that the only problem is unfair prejudice and media bias.  So this month-long event is meant purely to raise awareness of “good” stories about pit bulls, somehow ignoring all the relentless reports of continued pit bull-related tragedies.

Emmet, who recently mauled Lucas Harrison, age 15 months. See Anatomy of a disfigurement by a misidentified shelter pit bull.
(Beth Clifton collage)

(See also Pit Stop Archive.)

California prohibits display of any but shelter dogs at pet stores

Notwithstanding the fervor over Pit Bull Awareness month, I recently saw something outside the usual hype and bluster of pit bull advocacy that caused me even greater alarm than this month-long propaganda parade.

Apparently,  a law has been passed in California this week banning the sales of pets from pet stores unless those pets are provided by rescue shelters.  Assembly Bill No. 485 was promptly signed by Governor Jerry Brown.  While this seems to be a noble and necessary action to alleviate the crisis of abandoned pets,  and is ostensibly aimed at “puppy mills,”  I fear that the motivation behind the bill is much darker.

Pit bull who was later killed by other pit bulls at a Florida “rescue.”

“We do have a problem”

We do have a problem with animal rescue services in this country.  Public animal shelters have become an overworked,  understaffed and overflowing repository of abandoned animals.  The system is buckling under its own weight as more and more pets are dropped off or picked up off city streets.  Though total canine intake is markedly down from the peak reached circa 40 years ago,  because public acceptance of spay/neuter for most dogs has made the arrival of whole litters of unwanted puppies at shelters a relative rarity,  arrivals of adult dogs are as frequent as ever.

(See Why we cannot adopt our way out of shelter killing.)

Three to four million dogs enter shelters every year in the US.  Alarmingly,  almost half of them are euthanized,  mostly due to overcrowding but also in part because a growing percentage of the dogs entering shelters arrive with histories of dangerous behavior

Police officer walks past one of the pit bulls impounded in Dayton, Ohio after passer-by Maurice Brown was mauled to death.

“No-kill movement” making matters worse

A growing “no-kill” movement is only making matters worse, trying to ward off the high rates of euthanasia by insisting that all dogs can,  and should,  be saved.   This concept is unrealistic and has resulted in some terrible side effects,  not least of which is increased overcrowding,  ever more often leading to charges of animal cruelty being brought against the very organizations that are entrusted to provide humane services.

(See Casualties of the “save rate”: 40,000 animals at failed no-kill shelters & rescues.)

What is alarming to folks on my side of the argument is that the vast majority of residents in the nation’s shelters are pit bull type dogs.  In fact,  it is estimated that at least a third and up to 70% of the shelter dog inventory in the U.S. are pit bulls,  compared to about 5% pit bulls in the U.S. dog population as a whole.  And sadly,  most of these animals fail to be adopted,  and must be euthanized.

Alexandra Griffin-Heady and one of the “rescued” pit bulls who killed her younger brother.

(See Pound dog inventory down, no-kill inventory up, in 2015 shelter survey.)

Focus on reducing numbers

Somewhere between half a million and a million pit bull and close pit bull mixes are put to sleep in overcrowded shelters every year.  I agree that it is tragic and unfair to the dogs.  But instead of focusing on how to get more of these pit bulls adopted,  which is what I suspect this California bill is custom-made for,  we should be focused on reducing the number of pit bulls who need to be adopted.

Another controversial proposal was made last month in Los Angeles to remove breed labels from shelter animals, an effort aimed solely at encouraging more people to adopt pit bulls.    A similar measure has previously been passed in other cities,  including an ordinance in Orlando, Florida, which appeared to produce a modest 12% increase in pit bull adoptions.

It is clear that the Los Angeles animal advocates are painfully aware of the overpopulation of shelters and are trying to reduce the need for euthanasia.  We can certainly admire the effort,  but still criticize their proposed solutions.

J. Thomas Beasley awaits his critics. (Facebook photo)

(See Ideas for non-BSL that might really stop pit bull attacks).

Pro-pit bull organizations contribute most to pit bull suffering

Despite the lies and insults of our opponents,  most people on my side of the pit bull propaganda debate are not dog haters.  Most of us,  in fact, are dog owners,  pet lovers,  and animal rights advocates.  Therefore,  we do not enjoy watching the suffering of other animals,  even if they are primarily pit bulls.

But as we have repeatedly pointed out,  the overzealous advocacy of pro-pit bull organizations contributes more than anything we do to the dogs’ continued suffering by encouraging the continued proliferation of the animals.  This is where we have to plant a flag and make our stand.

Just some of the recent human & animal victims of pit bull attacks.

“Conscientious people do not want to own a pit bull”

This California bill will ensure that most – up to 70% – of dogs available for sale and/or adoption, are pit bull type dogs.

One of the reasons conscientious people go to pet stores to buy dogs is that shelters are full of pit bulls,  and many conscientious people do not want to own a pit bull.

This bill will have the effect of ignoring the considered preference of citizens to own a dog breed that they feel comfortable owning,  and will lead to the adoption of unwanted dogs,  which will inevitably lead to those same dogs being abandoned again,  to make their way back to the same shelters.

Dogfighter & pit bull breeder Earl Tudor.

Dogfighters

There are also reasons that pit bulls end up in shelters at a vastly disproportionate rate.  Undoubtedly some are abandoned by dog fighters who breed pit bulls for illegal fighting and want to get rid of dogs who have fought past their prime.  Pit bull advocates want us to believe that dog fighters are exclusively responsible for this en masse abandonment.  But this is absurd.  Most pit bulls are owned by law-abiding citizens who buy into the relentless propaganda funded by pit bull advocacy groups,  like the Best Friends Animal Society and the National Canine Research Council.

Many people get pit bull puppies from bankyard breeders to raise in a peaceful and responsible setting.  Unfortunately,  as pit bulls mature,  their breed-specific instincts also mature,  and adult pit bulls become much more difficult to control.  Many times,  although there are warning signs that go mostly ignored,  a violent incident will compel an owner to give up his beloved pit bull.

Beth Clifton as pit bull rescuer.

(See Why pit bulls will break your heart,  by Beth Clifton.)

Not just “dogs being dogs”

There are countless stories of people who have adopted pit bulls with full belief in the argument that all dogs are individuals and that every dog can be a loving and loyal family pet with the right training and environment.  These people may even get puppies to make sure they are starting with a blank slate,  and can safely raise the dog to be a model canine citizen.  However, they notice small signs of territorial aggression,  unpredictable prey drive,  or other aberrant behavior that they write off as “dogs being dogs.”

But in one instant, they see their world torn asunder when their beloved family pet unexpectedly attacks the neighbor’s cat,  tearing her to shreds.  Or, even more horrifying, the dog suddenly, without any warning,  viciously attacks a friend or family member,  causing intense damage requiring immediate and comprehensive medical attention – or worse.

Blue, above, killed Margaret Colvin, 90, moments after his shock collar (shown above) was removed by Colvin’s daughter. (See How multi-state effort to save the pit bull Blue led to Code Blue for Margaret Colvin.)  (Facebook photo)

Breed-specific aggression

Whatever the individual circumstances are that lead otherwise responsible people to abandon their pit bull at a shelter,  there is a valid generalization that may be made that pit bulls often grow to display breed-specific aggression or prey drive which can make the average pet owner feel anxious or overwhelmed.

Even the ASPCA,  which has been actively complicit in the spreading of pro-pit bull propaganda,  admits that “pet problems are the most common reason that owners re-home their pet.”  They go on to define these problems as “problematic behaviors,  aggressive behaviors,  grew larger than expected,  or health problems owner couldn’t handle.”  Responsible pet owners surrender their pet to a shelter.  Irresponsible owners either pass their pets along to other irresponsible owners,  or simply let their pets run away to become strays who wind up in shelters nonetheless.

(Beth Clifton collage)

“New pit bulls bred for profit”

Regardless of the reasons why people surrender their dogs to shelters, the real problem does not stem solely from their decision.  The real problem is that we still continue to allow average pet owners to get these dogs that we know can be challenging to care for.  We still allow backyard breeders to swell the already-overpopulated landscape with new pit bulls bred for profit.  And we continue to tolerate propaganda that insists,  despite all evidence to the contrary,  that pit bulls are no different than any other dog breed.

Even some pro-pit bull groups seem to get it.  Save-A-Bull Rescue, for example, admits that “There are too many [pit bulls] and not enough people willing to adopt them.”  They go on to note that “[u]ntil we can educate the public and move them to spay and neuter,  we’re just putting a band-aid on a gushing wound.”  They additionally note that a female dog can produce two litters of 6-10 puppies per year,  and that in six years,  that female and her offspring could in theory produce upward of 60,000 puppies.  Even though six years is twice the average age at which unwanted pit bulls are killed in shelters,  that’s still a lot of pit bulls,  and there are already too many.

(Beth Clifton photo)

California bill does nothing to alleviate the problem

The California bill admits that there is a problem with shelter overcrowding,  but it does nothing to alleviate that problem,  at least in the long term.  While there may be some initial relief for the system with increased adoptions,  I predict that many of those adoptions will end badly – either with tragedy or re-abandonment.

If the California legislature and Governor Brown truly want to help the animal rescue industry, they can instead pass comprehensive legislation requiring spay/neuter with tightly controlled licensing and enforcement for breeding exceptions.

This problem has to be addressed at the supply side, not the distribution side.  Make fewer unwanted animals available,  and you will have fewer unwanted animals to distribute.  Compelling pit bull acquisition will only make matters measurably worse,  not only for the animals themselves, but for unsuspecting new owners as well.

Merritt & Beth Clifton

Editor’s note:  perhaps the most insidious effect of legislation requiring pet stores to offer only rescued dogs and cats for adoption is that many pet store owners will evaluate the liability risks inherent in helping to rehome pit bulls,  including from possibly having pit bulls of unknown behavioral history running amok in premises full of other animals,  and simply decide to stop offering any dogs or cats at all.  We have already seen several pet stores,  including some that are part of major national chains,  stop displaying any dogs or cats for adoption,  after adoption partnerships with shelters and shelterless rescues blew up in their faces.

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