Pit bull Debate

[cassiesmom]

I heard this story on news radio tonight. I'm glad the dogs were rescued so they aren't alone in the house with no food or water. How mean of the people to abandon the dogs when they left the house. I hope they are adopted (if they're adoptable now) or go to an organization that can work with them, to get them socialized and ready to be part of a family.

CHICAGO (CBS) – Animal Control workers have rescued two dogs who were abandoned inside a South Side home last week.

WBBM Newsradio’s Mike Krauser reports three Animal Care & Control workers went into the home in the 9100 block of South Paxton Avenue through a broken window, and captured the dogs using snares – long poles with collars on the end.

Workers said both dogs were pit bulls, or pit bull mixes, and were aggressive, but didn’t give them too much trouble. The dogs growled and snarled as they were taken away.

The workers said, once they had the snares around the dogs' necks, it was just a matter of struggling to get them in a van.

There was food left behind in the house when the owners abandoned them inside, but it was still in the bag. The owners had been squatting in the house.

Neighbor Jim Jankovics said he’s head the dogs barking for several days, and was glad to see them rescued.

He said squatters moved into the vacant house about three weeks ago, then left about a week ago, leaving the dogs behind.

[cassiesmom]

I also saw a story in "Woman's Day" magazine about this organization - Jasmine's House, which works with neglected, abused or abandoned pit bulls. They also try to educate people and clear up misconceptions and stereotypes about them.

http://www.jasmineshouse.org/

[Jessika]

In my personal experiences working in a clinic, we RARELY have to muzzle pits that come in for fear of aggression issues. The few we do muzzle is usually for procedures they may find uncomfortable or painful (in which case we'd muzzle ANY dog for it, not just pits).

We have to muzzle FAR more small breed dogs, German shepherds, have to muzzle *every* rhodesian ridgeback that comes in... but rarely any pits due to aggression.

I think BSL is a load of crap. If they want a legislation that will work, they need to focus on the owners, not the breed.

[Bonny]

My friends son has a female pit bull he got from the local pound. She is very timid.

My friend takes her along with her in her car to different places & once even on a fund raiser walk.

Her son is very careful with his dog because where he lives there are little children living upstairs in the house apartment.

He takes her to work with him & she sits in his truck on nice days, he is a carpenter by trade.

I would consider him to be a very responsible dog owner not throwing caution to the wind.

[IRescue452]

The only real warning people need about bully breeds, and the reason I avoid getting one, is hip dysplasia and other joint problems. My sister's dog is only about 8 months and overweight and he has what looks to me like luxating patella in a back knee. I'm working on her now to try and convince her to keep his weight down and see a specialist if she can. I may just go ahead and buy him some joint supplements myself if she's too cheap to do it. Maybe I can convince her to get pet insurance. He's probably going to need it sooner than later.

[Roxyluvsme13]

The only real warning people need about bully breeds, and the reason I avoid getting one, is hip dysplasia and other joint problems. My sister's dog is only about 8 months and overweight and he has what looks to me like luxating patella in a back knee. I'm working on her now to try and convince her to keep his weight down and see a specialist if she can. I may just go ahead and buy him some joint supplements myself if she's too cheap to do it. Maybe I can convince her to get pet insurance. He's probably going to need it sooner than later.

That's sad.

Brennan is a clearly very poorly bred Pit Bull and I can tell by the way his legs are shaped that he's going to have joint problems in time.

He also has horrible allergies (including a corn allergy), and this is also pretty common in Bully breeds.