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Why
Not "Recycle-A-Bull?
Why not consider a rescue dog?
The American pit bull has suffered prejudice and worse since
becoming the newest “fad breed” popular with high
risk owners in the mid-eighties. Those who know this breed understand
what a tragedy it is to have these heroic, loyal, fun loving
and good natured dogs synonymous with unwarrented aggression.
Its taken a lot of bad breeding, a lot of bad placement of animals
and a lot of very bad handling of the animals to get them to
this awful situation. The breed still suffers from those ignorant
folks who just keep producing litters of pups despite the huge
overpopulation problem. Because of them, there is always a sad,
silent, immense group of animals being thrown away at
any given time. These are the dogs of rescue. They are often
sitting neglected in back yards, more often they are languishing
in animal shelters. They are young, they are old, they are "game-bred",
they are "champion" show dogs, they are red, white,
blue, brindle, fawn, pied, cropped or natural eared. And there
are thousands of them EVERY DAY. Hundreds die EVERY DAY
in the nation's shelters. Some very, very few make it into the
short term sanctuary of well run rescues. Here they find "three
hots and a cot", and loving hands, yet they still need
something the rescuers cannot give. YOU. They need that special
"One" who will take the pup or dog
and make it his/her life companion. Share a home, a bed, trips,
walks, good times, bad times. They need a home.
Sasha's
Story:
Sasha
was observed lost and scared on the side of the road
by Cindy, pictured above with husband Roy. A couple
hundred miles from home and in a remote area, Cindy
could not ignore the frightened, thin and shivering
little tan bitch. Despite a carload of relatives,
she made room and drove the dog to the local "animal
shelter", a cold, bare kennel at the local water
treatment plant. Cindy drove home, plagued with concern
about the little tan pit bull. A few days later she
drove all the way back across the mountains, picked
the bitch up, and brought it to the animal control
where I worked, thinking that at least there it would
have a chance. I advised Cindy that the dog's chances
were slim indeed. Of course the little bitch Cindy
had dubbed "Sasha" attracted the attention
of inappropriate adopters, and I advised Cindy of
this. She made a tough decision; she adopted the mystery
dog, taking her home to her two cats. Cindy had not
been looking for a dog, nor was she familiar with
the pit bull breed. A year later a happy, healthy
Sasha goes to work everyday as the official greeter
at Dr. Roy's medical office, where wife Cindy also
works. No dog ever had a better life, nor has any
dog ever repaid kind strangers more heartily for their
help. Cindy, Roy and Sasha are playing a big part
in changing minds everyday about the American pit
bull.
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If
you already know and love this breed, a rescue dog allows you
to showcase the truth about these dogs, dispelling myths such
as “the locking jaw”, “rescued fighting dogs
cannot be good pets”, “pit bulls are aggressive to
people” and “pit bulls are only good for fighting”.
After all, our happy, loyal, friendly pit bulls speak louder
than the words of their detractors. Rescue dogs are available
in every size, shape, color or age. There are many good organizations
available to help you find a prescreened rescue dog in your
area. If you are not familiar with the breed, an adult rescue
is the best way to go. Perhaps you have a spouse who is not
quite sure about acquiring a pit bull. If you simply go out
and buy a puppy, you really have no idea what the dog may develop
into. It could be great, but it also might be that this particular
dog is going to be extremely dog aggressive, hyper, and hard
to control. On the other hand, if you chose a young adult dog
from rescue, you could perhaps "ease" the spouse into
pit bull ownership by selecting a submissive, kind, quite dog.
You will be saving a dog - and perhaps your marriage!!!
Rescue dogs rock!
Many of the finest pit bulls have been rescue dogs! Pat Cook's
famous pit bull obedience champions (Hershey and Rollo) are
both rescue dogs. Kris Crawford's active duty Search & Rescue
pit bulls are rescues. The pit bulls currently working with
the government as drug detection dogs are rescues. Rescue dogs
are some of the biggest winners in weight pull competitions.
And, all over the US, rescue pit bulls are working at that most
demanding of jobs - being a great family pet! Actress Linda
Blair (The Exorcist) is dedicated to her rescue pit bulls. Please
read the story of one rescue dog and her dedicated owner below.
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Every
day thousands of dogs across the country are discarded,
unwanted into the streets or at the doors of a shelter.
Dakota was one of those unwanted dogs. She was just
another pup, among a litter of pups that was going to
be discarded…destroyed. But instead, Dakota became
the sole survivor of that litter, because she was rescued
and found a safe haven in her handler's life. Her handler
raised Dakota and nurtured her back to health. Dakota
started very early in life working as a Therapy Dog
and after years of grueling training and a lot of hard
work, she is now a respected Search and Rescue Dog.
Dakota not only saves lives by searching for missing
and abducted children or Alzheimer's patients who have
wandered off, she helps bring closure to families by
finding their deceased loved ones. Even bringing closure
to a grieving nation, like she did when she was called
to search for the 7 astronauts that perished in the
Columbia Shuttle disaster.
Watching
Dakota work is a remarkable sight, and she loves to
work. Her eyes shine, her tail wags with emotion, and
she moves with purpose. More interesting than that though,
are the subtle things that might be overlooked. Like
the smile that reaches the eyes of the elderly person's
face that Dakota has stopped to visit at a local hospital,
or watching 200 children learn life saving skills during
Dakota's Hug-A-Tree or Safety Around Dog demonstrations.
And then seeing Dakota take a moment with each child,
sitting with perfect manners as they pet her. Dakota's
humble beginnings and her success in overcoming obstacles
in her life often inspires physically and mentally challenged
children, encouraging them to overcome their personal
obstacles, or work past their own disabilities. The
most touching moment is often the most difficult to
see. After Dakota has worked as a Search and Rescue
dog to find a lost loved one and, regardless of the
outcome, Dakota's small show of affection, a gentle
nudge or the lick of a hand, as she seems to console
the distraught family.
Why
rescue a dog? Because they can change minds, touch hearts,
and save lives…if someone will just give them a
chance.
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The
price is right!
Rescue dogs generally cost no more than the price
of the spay/neuter and other vet work, plus a small fee to help
support the rescue work. Generally a rescue dog will cost less
than $150. And reputable rescue groups will have the dog current
on its shots, worming, the animal will be spayed/neutered and
probably have microchip ID. What a deal! Why pay $500, $1000,
even $1500 for some "papered mutt"? I have to laugh
at people who put so much stock in "papers" - almost
all pit bull papers are false anyway!!
(According
to, among other proof, Pete Sparks interview in which he stated
that most big breeders, past and current, falsify the pedigrees
of their dogs to increase their sale value or to confuse their
opponents.) And why encourage puppy mills to continue
to flood the rescue situation? To be honest, with hundreds of
pit bulls dying in shelters everyday, you have to wonder
about the integrity of those persons still producing multiple
litters a year. There are exceptions - there are folks out there
who breed an occasional litter of health tested, quality dogs,
folks who have a prepaid waiting list. But for everyone of those
there are hundreds of ignorant people advertising multiple litters
in a single ad. Perhaps you've seen them; full page ads offering
"Litter #1, litter #2, litter #3", etc. Or "all
colors available". And, in the same ilk, the "Dollar
Saver" people, those folks who produce litters to be hocked
in the local papers, simply for cash. Buy from them and you
guarantee there will be another litter in their backyard in
six months... How much you gonna spend on your next best
friend? Don't get chumped on a 'papered mutt'. Save money and
a dog's life - Get a rescue!"
You know what you are getting.
If you start with a puppy, you just have no idea how that dog
will turn out. It may develop a temperament which simply does
not suit your needs. No - it is not "all how you raise
them!" Anyone who tells you that is NOT experienced
with the breed... With an adult rescue dog you have an opportunity
to find a dog which will mesh with your needs perfectly. For
those who want a puppy, however, there are always hundreds of
unwanted pit bull puppies available through rescue nationwide.
You will be saving a dog from death
- or worse...
Most shelters across America are loaded down with pit bulls
right now. Anti-dog groups, such as PETA, use this fact to further
persecute the pit bull, calling for their extinction so that
"nice breeds" will have more room in shelters. Many
shelters DO adopt out pit bulls, and have a large selection
to choose from. Sadly, there has been a recent proliferation
of so called "no-kill" shelters where dogs are warehoused
for months and, tragically, even years. Pit bulls who
end up in these facilities are especially in need of rescuing,
as the lack of exercise or meaningful work as well as the absence
of the ability to bond with one human, causes a rapid deterioration
in the dog's soul. "No-kill" facilities are often
a "fate worse than death" for a dog.
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