Foster parents are an integral part of successful rescues, especially dog rescue organizations dealing mainly with bully breed dogs like Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs and Mastiffs. Many first-time dog owners are weary of adopting Pitbulls and bully breed dogs directly from shelters, so foster programs can be a great way for potential owners to get to know a dog before adopting. Foster parents know the ins-and-outs of each and every dog and are able to give prospective owners a good idea of what to expect with regard to personality, activity level, play style and compatibility with other animals. Without the support and presence of foster parents, most of the dogs that would otherwise find homes will end up stuck in a shelter, or not finding a home at all. [Read more…]
Let the Pit Bull Bashing Continue
I was searching for my daily dose of online news when I stumbled upon this short port in the Dallas Morning News Opinion Blog, the title of which reads, “The Pit Bull Scourge”. With a title like that I figured this poster must have some solid facts and/or evidence to back up his position as to why Pit Bulls should be considered a scourge to society. I already had my arsenal of facts and myth fighting words ready as I opened up the page, and I was ready to start a war of words with an undoubtedly ignorant Texan that assumes all Pit Bulls are inherently evil creatures. I must say I was very dismayed when I actually opened to the post, turns out it was pointless amalgamation of sentences that could have been transcribed by a 5th grader . [Read more…]
The Problem With Chaining Dogs
I am not talking about putting a leash on your dog to take him for a leisurely walk through the neighborhood, as there is certainly no problem with Fido getting some much-needed exercise to work off the holiday pounds. Instead, I am talking about the practice of attaching your dog to a stationary object, such as a stake or tree, and attaching a leash, chain or rope as a means of confining your canine companion. Dogs are social creatures, and being confined to a small space for long periods of time can cause immense psychological damage. This inhumane practice can harm not only the dog, but also poses a threat to other animals and humans. [Read more…]
The Mike Vick Pit Bulls – One Year Later
Before receiving an email from the Humane Society of the US, I had not realized it has already been a year since the Michael Vick dogfighting controversy first started. In total, forty-seven Pit Bulls were taken from Vick’s residence in Smithfield, VA. Over the past year, many of the dogs taken from the Vick compound have been rehabilitated – some going a handful of rescue organizations, while 22 of them will spend the rest of their days at Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah, a no-kill animal shelter. Only one of the dogs, despite the torture all forty-seven of them endured at the hands of Vick and his crew, had to be put down for human aggression; one out of forty-seven. [Read more…]
Things to Consider Before You Adopt a Dog
Many dogs in shelters and foster care have ended up there because of ill-prepared owners that did not take into account the financial and time considerations that need to be made when bringing a dog into the family; this is especially true with puppies. While no one wants to think about the not-so-pleasing qualities that come along with dog ownership such as destroyed furniture, fleas, medical emergencies, allergies and illness, they are common setbacks experienced by pet owners. As someone that is thinking about bringing a new pet into your home, you need to carefully weigh out the pros and cons as to whether or not you, and your family, is ready for the increased responsibility that goes along with dog ownership. Below are a few topics to discuss before taking the final step in finding a new family member. [Read more…]
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