HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

A few days ago, I posed a challenge to you all to see if you could Spot the Pitbull. The reason for my challenge was that most people who say that they don’t like Pit Bulls (everyone is entitled to their own breed preferences which is perfectly fine), and even go to lengths to Support breed specific bans in various localities don’t even know what a Pit looks like. Not only do breed brains rip loyal, sweet, well trained family dogs from loving and responsible owners who just happen to be Pit Bulls, but it also targets dogs that do not have a drop of the breed in them. Often times, many people see a dog that has similar markings/coat pattern and assume it is a Pit Bull also. Some are very closely related breeds, but sometimes they are really far off.

The Pit Bull is a medium sized dog, not a large breed.  Two of my readers mentioned that they took the test and their commentary creates an interesting juxtaposition that really proves the point of what folks against BSL (breed specific legislation) site as opposition to it.

Colleen took the test. Read about Colleen’s results HERE.   She mentions that her neighbor owns a Pit Bull, but is a very large dog/has a different body.   Indeed, Pits are NOT large breed dogs, but mediums.   In the past decade or two, people have been breeding them larger and larger so they are a very far cry from breed standards, or are crossing in much larger dogs like a Cane Corso or Mastiff to give them the larger stature.    She also mentions that this dog is unneutered has attacked her neighbor.   If you look at statistics on bite cases, you will see a pattern that clearly shows that unneutered dogs are involved a much higher percent of the dog attacks than dogs that are “fixed.”   Much of their wandering tendency and their tendency to get in a scrap with whomever gets in their way when they sense a female are curtailed when neutered.

Deatren took the test and  .   HERE,   She is an “aunt” to two very loveable Pit Bulls. In the future, I hope that she shows a picture of them!    She thinks that Breed Specific Legislation works on the “one bad apple principle” and its such a shame to penalize loving dogs.    When a dog is part of the family, is kindly cared for, including being neutered, the behavior of the dog is much different.

Dogs, no matter the breed, as a domestic animal, depend on us for their care.  Also, as a pack animal, they look to us and take our lead.   No matter the breed, if a dog is given love, proper care, and clear limits and boundaries, they become a good canine citizen.  Unfortunately, when we don’t, the dog takes the bad rap.  They don’t often look up the leash and consider that their owner may be the one to blame.

There are some very nice Pit Bulls this week that are desperate for homes.  This boy exhibits the typical triangular head of the Pit Bull terrier.  It is kind of obscured with his wide white markings.  This handsome brindle with a white face was treated kindly at one time, as he loves pretty much everyone.   Unfortunately, he has spent some time as a stray.

He is maybe a year, year and a half old at the most, and would thrive in a good home.  He is doing well interacting with the other dogs at the shelter.  He is living on borrowed time at the shelter, and his time is up this friday.  He was supposed to be seen by an adopter, so was held over last time but they never came.

His id number is 42508.   Shelter address:
Heard County Animal Control Center
11818 Ga Hwy 100
Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: 706-675-3570

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