High Euthanasia Rates For Area Pit Bulls
Southwest Communities Animal Shelter in Wildomar is having a hard time placing pit bulls.
Photos
Dozens of pit bulls are coming in the door at Southwest Communities Animal Shelter in Wildomar, but not many are walking out with adoptive families.
According to Willa Bagwell, director of Animal Friends of the Valleys/Southwest Communities Animal Shelter, from Jan. 1 through Jan. 20, 48 pit bulls came into the shelter: two were dead on arrival; four were euthanized due to sickness or injury; four were euthanized for shelter space.
But a large number of them, 23, were euthanized because they were deemed “unplaceable” -- they were either too aggressive or their previous owners requested euthanasia, Bagwell said.
“Pit bulls are very hard to adopt out,” she continued. “There is a lot out there about bites – we see pit bulls come in because of what people see in the media and because homeowners insurance often prevents people from having them. You don’t hear about bites from other breeds, but pit bulls seem to make the news.”
Micaela Myers, who serves as public relations director in a volunteer capacity for Pit Bull Rescue San Diego, agrees that negative media attention makes placement an uphill battle.
“Pit bulls got their bad rap in the 1980s, when the media began covering more dog-fighting stories and spreading myths that pit bulls had locking jaws, felt no pain and would fight to the death,” she said. “This sensationalism drew the wrong type of people to own, breed and train pit bulls for the wrong reasons.”
Myers said that whatever breed is popular as a guard dog at any given point in history will have a bad rap.
“In the past German Shepherds, Dobermans, Great Danes, and back in the 1800s, Bloodhounds, all had bad reputations due to people employing them as guard dogs,” she said.
Training a dog to guard or fight is problematic, Myers admits.
“Pit bull type dogs naturally tend to be very human-oriented and loving toward people. When a dog of any type bites, there is usually human error to blame -- i.e., the dog was tied up or abused, trained as a guard dog, or running loose in a pack,” she said. “Dogs and their behavior are human creations. It’s time humans take responsibility for their role in dog behavior and stop blaming the breed.”
Bagwell agrees.
“Pit bulls are usually very good with people,” she said. “They are sweethearts; very loyal. The problem comes when they are raised improperly.”
But Bagwell admits that the shelter takes extra precautions when adopting out pit bulls.
“We interview the families to make sure there's a good fit. We go a step above with the pits,” she said. “We usually don’t adopt them out to families with young children or other animals.”
She said the shelter also verifies that dogs go to homes with secure fencing, and she said that ongoing home checks are protocol.
“We just want to ensure a safe environment for people and the dogs,” she said.
On Monday, Wildomar resident Sandy Waters was out running errands in Lake Elsinore with her 2-year-old white pit bull, Sweetie. A service dog, Sweetie appears to be the antithesis of the pit bull media stereotype. Showing no signs of aggression, Sweetie accompanies her owner everywhere.
Waters suffers from nervous disorders and says she needs a service animal when out in public.
“She helps me deal with people. Normally, I get very nervous," Waters explained. "But she is a big sweetheart and everyone loves her, which helps me.
"She was a rescue puppy and I trained her. I’ve never had a more loyal dog," Waters continued. "My mom freaked out when I got her. ‘Those dogs are dangerous,’ she said.”
Waters said that her mother has had a change of heart after spending time with Sweetie.
“Now she just loves her,” she said. “Sweetie has forever changed her opinion about pit bulls.”
Larry Rand
12:22 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Often the biggest challenge in rescuing a big dog, which I'm doing for the third time, is overcoming bad training or (more often) lack of training because the dog grew to be too much for a former owner to handle (or "forgot" its training while in a shelter). When a dog is as amazingly powerful as a pit bull, the vagaries of its past can be a source of anxiety -- and dogs pick up on anxiety immediately. Dog behavior is indeed a human creation, and one that unfortunately goes undocumented, leaving us to untangle a dog's past in the dark. The situation demands caution.
JoDee Bunn
9:42 am on Monday, February 28, 2011
I have to admit, I am cautiously biased against the pit bull breed due to the media attention they have received. Because of all the negative attention surrounding stories about children, adults, pets, etc., being attacked by pit bulls, I have become untrusting of even the "good" reports about this breed. What source of information can be trusted? I'm afraid that my current opinion concerning adopting a pit bull in need of a good home is this: I am simply left with the assumption that the cons & risks of unpredictability out-weigh the pros on any given day. I am an animal lover, so I do sincerely hope that for this breeds sake, I am completely wrong.
Janice Carabine
10:42 am on Monday, February 28, 2011
I have a friend trying to place one and just cannot :( especially since he is neutered. There are many people out there breeding these dogs and selling the puppies. I see signs all over town. I personally knew two dogs for years who were loves but one, female, later in life became very destructive and the vet had no good answers for them. He said that perhaps something just "snapped in her brain. " She was eating couches, jumping through screen doors and chewing window sills and running off down the street scaring neighbors. She was getting picked up by animal control on a regular basis no matter how the owners tried to secure her in. In the end they put her down. This same dog was an amazing sweet dog , my friends dogs is just into eating chickens and chewing everything. She also has done no training with him. I believe that any breed of dog can be bad or good, it depends a lot on the owners and how much time they put into a pet. I am sorry they have been given a bad rap but I can also understand as I am also a little intimidated by some of them.
Amber
5:23 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011
This type of situation always makes me sad being the owner of a pittbull myself. I have a 3 year old and he is the sweetest dog I've known. He is protective over my 2 year old daughter and cautious of new people around her but in that area he is all bark and no bite. In fact he's never bitten anyone and having many nieces and nephews play rough around him that's a great feat. He thinks of himself more as a little dog I swear, my daughter crawls on him and kisses him all the time while he just lays there. We actually had to get rid of our other dog that was a mutt because she was too snippy with kids. My pitt is also trained and listens very good. And I am not an animal person who didn't particularly want a pitt as my first dog either with all the bad rap I've heard of them over the years but he has really changed ny outlook on the breed. The angry or violent ones get that way as a result of human error, bad breeding, or being trained as fighters.
Janice Carabine
6:58 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011
I am glad you have a good one ;)... and I agree it is breeding, training and human error.
JoDee Bunn
11:45 am on Monday, March 7, 2011
Does anyone know the update/details on the story of the Lake Elsinore woman who was attacked by 2 pit bulls in February? She is an elderly woman who takes regular walks and wears a large wide brim hat. Two pit bull dogs came from their yard across the street to attack her without any provocation. I heard she was left in critical condition; and then to my shock & horror I learned that the dogs were returned to their owner by the authorities!! Any truth to this story? Any comments?
JoDee Bunn
1:41 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
Correction ... the woman lives in "Menifee" (not Lake Elsinore). The link below provides the original story. I wondered if anyone knew of any update or outcome on this story? I personally spoke to the witness's wife, (Aery). She had also helped in the rescuing efforts - and this is how I initially learned of the incident.
http://www.legalpad.com/2011/02/elderly_menifee_woman_severly_1.html
Toni McAllister
2:26 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
Hi JoDee
We have not been following the story because it's outside of Lake Elsinore/Wildomar. The Californian did follow it. A quick search turned up this story from them:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/menifee/2290fc41-929c-5a7a-9437-0e1302e8ba1f.html
JoDee Bunn
5:13 pm on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Thank you Toni. I appreciate you finding that article for me. : )
JoDee
Bryan
2:54 am on Thursday, March 31, 2011
I'm sorry but Ms. Bagwell is another Pit Hater that just wants all pit bulls killed. My wife and I actually rescued our oldest Pit Bull from her shelter ONE day before he was scheduled. We had a rescue pull him to get him out. 4 months old and going to be killed.
NOW, almost 3 years later he's still with us, no viciousness, no aggression, no attacks, no lock jaw, not one single sign of a "killer pit bull"
We've tried to adopt out of there since then multiple times, but are always turned down because we have a family. They will ONLY adopt out to: single owners.
This last week really urked me because I took my 2 daughters to the new facility and one pit bull puppy was so badly emaciated, it couldn't even lift his head up to look at us! While the pit bulls are kept in the outer metal cages, the cutesy, ankle biters are attacking the glass windows and doors in the grand showfloor they have in the main building. There were chihuahua's, shih tzu's, yorkies, and other small dogs that were aggressively growling and lunging out to my daughters who were just standing and looking in the window. (I have video if anyone would like to see.)
I asked the employee, how can a mellow, wagging tail, ears back, licking our hands PIT BULL be kept in the back, while these child aggressive smaller dogs are allowed to be premiered in the showroom and be adopted out?
"Ya, I know, it sucks." That's all he had to say to me.
Ms. Bagwell, get your head outta your ass!
Janice Carabine
7:23 am on Thursday, March 31, 2011
I am at the shelter every week and I do see small and big dogs in the " grand showfloor" and yes, often the dogs come rushing to the windows to see who is there and quite often little dogs bark at people. I also see just as many small dogs laying in their beds looking quite happy. One has to remember the situation they are in here; away from their owners, very often dropped off and tossed aside by people who give up on them for various reasons. Dropped in a night drop on Christmas Eve was one big gorgeous shephard's story . I have also seen some that need some 'groceries' and they come in that way, no one is starving them at the shelter. This shelter is far above what we had before, the staff is great and I have never experienced any negativity or seen any while others are adopting.
Unfortunately, Pitbulls do have a bad reputation in this area due to the overpopulation of them being bred by people who are not licensed breeders and are selling them for fighting dogs only. I tried to help my friend place one who was 1.5 years old recently and the person whom I was sent to wouldn't take him because he was neutered ;(>. I am happy yours is working out for you and your family. A video of one particular day at the shelter does not tell the whole story.
bryan
3:18 pm on Monday, April 4, 2011
Unfortunately, this article is not about the shelter, staff, or the conditions of the animals at Animal Friends of the Valley. This is about the a personal vendetta vs. official business.
Ms. Willa Bagwell hates pit bulls and would rather buy into all the bs about, "its the breed, not the deed." "All pit bulls are ticking time bombs." "All pit bulls will snap" and "All dogs bite, but a pit bulls bite is the most severe."
All of that is just $(%( Whatever!
I've also just spent time reading some reviews about Animal Friends of the Valley. 11 out of 12 reviews were NEGATIVE. All talking about how the staff is arrogant, disease ridden accomadations, and very steep fines and the outrageous, "mandatory donation"
This isn't how I feel, it's how other people view this place. In my mind...all that open space the facility has could EASILY be converted to accomate at least DOUBLE the occupancy that's there right now. It's all for "show".
So let's get back on topic. High euthanasia rate for the local pit bulls picked up by Animal Friends of the Valley.
There was a sweet black 3 yr old pit, he got along great with my family...he was euthanized. The sick puppy I mentioned in my first comment...euthanized. A spoke with an aquiantance and she had lost her pit bull that was chipped. She contacted Animal Friends to confirm they had her dog and she was going to pick it up the next day...that dog was euthanized over some, "unfortunate mistake"
It's ok to admit it, they hate Pits.
Sarah
10:55 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
“We usually don’t adopt them out to families with young children or other animals.”
Gee, there is your answer to why your euthanasia rates are so high for pit bulls!! I can't believe what I just read!! I will NEVER donate to this shelter knowing you don't give pit bulls a FAIR CHANCE to be adopted! I have 2 pit bulls and I would never adopt any other breed...they are so loving and nothing but loyal to our family. At least now I know if my family ever came into your shelter to adopt one, we would be turned away. You should be ashamed of yourselves!!! I am glad to read this article included Sandy Waters and her pit service dog promoting positivity for this amazing breed!
Gina
2:29 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Am I the only one who's ever noticed every time you read about a pit bull mauling, the owner always says... "it was the sweetest dog..." Blah Blah Blah.
The breed is a fighting breed. Just like a Sheltie is a hearding dog... different breeds are "bred" for certain reasons. It's true, all dogs are capable of biting and children should be watched and matched with the right dog. However, Pit Bulls MAUL and kill children and adults alike. They are known to just snap and.
My son was bit by a neighbor's Pit Bull a couple months ago, unprovoked, and we were lucky it was not much worse. A puncture on the inner cheek and scratches. Anyone who owns one is taking the chance and should be prepared to pay medical expenses or more.
If I was Queen they would be outlawed.