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My fiance and I do everything we can to perpetuate the fact that pit bulls can make great pets: talking to neighbors, family members that are afraid of meeting our dogs get to know them, and even by posting articles on Gather. The following information is from pitbulllovers.com, a site where I am a member.
The Pit Bull Problem
How Can You Help?
We need your help if we are to succeed in our mission to help the American Pit Bull Terrier survive into the future.
People power is how we can overcome many of the pitfalls the breed is facing today.
When I'm asked by someone, "How can I help the breed?" My answer is, by getting involved on any level you can.
You don't have to rescue a dog, you don't need to donate hundreds of dollars, and you don't have make it a point to educate every person you see about the APBT. A great way you can help the breed overcome it's current problems is by not adding to them.
A few ways that you can avoid contributing to the problem are:
- Not breeding. A lot of people breed their female dog simply because they have a female. I've heard things like, not breeding her is against nature's way. My favorite is, I wanted my kids to witness the miracle of birth. There are more, but none are real reasons to breed a dog. Don't breed and have your dog spayed or neutered.
- Proper Confinement. If you already have an APBT you should keep them properly housed and confined. I'm not saying tie them up and never play with them. I'm saying when they are not with you they should have a nice kennel (or better yet be in your home) or cable/chain tie out that allows them freedom to move around, but is secure enough so they won't escape.
- Obey local laws. If your city has a leash law, obey it. Don't let your dog off the leash because no one is around only to have the dog jump into a passerby's face and scare the daylights out of them. Always obey your local dog laws.
- Be positive. When in public with your dog be positive and not confronting. In short, be polite to rude people. If someone says, "Look at the killer dog with the idiot owner" don't strike out in anger, let it go and move on. Allowing people to get under your skin will only make you and your dog look negative to the public.
Even if you don't currently share your life with an APBT you can get involved. Help out some local rescue dogs by giving them some toys, taking them for walks, or donate some food.
Money is always an issue with rescue organizations and while they would love a donation many prefer toys, food, and foster homes for their dogs. However, a few dollars never hurt anyone. If you are able to donate some much needed money, why not do so?
This way they can focus on getting their dogs re-homed and less time worrying about the day to day expense a dog requires.
Helping in this way can do more for the breed than you might think. I've seen very small donations feed a dog for days. I've also seen the excitement of dogs that get toys. Many times these guys have never had a toy or the chance to play with them.
I'm often asked why I decided to devote my life to the APBT. In a word, love. I love the breed for so many different reasons and it gives my life purpose.
When you look into the eyes of a happy American Pit Bull Terrier you can't help but feel the devotion they give to their people. It's intoxicating and by the grace of God I get to see that a lot.
Related information: Blue Pitbulls and Pitbull Puppies and other destructive forces hurting our breed.
Get Involved and Make a DifferenceHere's a few organizations we support and would like to invite you to take a further look at too. They are doing great things for the breed, but they still need our support.
- BADrap.org - Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls. A wonderful rescue organization out in California. They do wonders for the breed and we support their efforts as well.
- PBRC - Pit Bull Rescue Central. Needless to say this site has had and is still having a major impact on the breeds dilemma. Helping thousands of dogs find homes, educating the public and owners alike, and striving to bring the Pit Bull out of the horrible state it's in now, PBRC is one outstanding web site.
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Comments: 12
Wonderful to hear Paige! I have several articles about pits in my group pitbulllover. And, believe it or not, there was someone on gather that said that he had changed his mind after reading several of the articles I posted. If I only change ONE person's mind, I'm happy to have at least done that!
If they say their last dog was stolen, ran away, was killed by a car or shot, etc, DO NOT give them a dog! And last of all, tell them (in writing on the contract they sign), that if they someday have to give up the dog for some reason, that they MUST return it to you and not give it to a neighbor, friend, relative, animal shelter, or Humane Society. Also, new owners of pit bull puppies need to know that the pups need to be actively trained from the first day they come to a new owner's home. They have to be trained and disciplined the same as a child and it is a long and time consuming process. Otherwise the dog can become a menace to society.
and shannon and i lost a few dogs that were ran over when we were younger. who's to say we had a fighting ring? who is to say that we shouldn't have a dog because ours was stolen or ran over by a car?
I am crying because it breaks my heart how people can fight dogs! It makes you wonder what these kind do to their children!! And there's nothing you can do!
BTW Shannon, your dog is beautiful! You are very lucky!
There is an established correlation between animal abuse and family violence You are right on, when you wonder what these people do their children!