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Tips for Renting with a Pit Bull

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renting with a pit bullAre you a renter thinking about moving? Do you own a pit bull? As you can probably imagine, apartment hunting with a dog is a bit more difficult than apartment hunting without one. Many landlords don’t want to deal with the liabilities that come with renting to tenants with animals. This is especially true if that animal is a pit bull or bully breed dog. As pit bull owners are unfortunately well aware, bully breed-type dogs often face breed discrimination. As unfair as it may be (and as hard as we are trying to change the status quo!), it is likely something you, as a pit bull owner, will have to consider. Read on for our best tips on winning over those landlords and getting your fair choice of living quarters.

  1. Take your time. While many landlords are not dog-friendly, there are plenty that are. It just might take a bit longer to find them. If time permits, it is a good idea to plan ahead and be persistent in your search.
  2. Include a pet resume with your application. This can be especially helpful if you are attempting to sway a landlord who might not be normally willing to rent to tenants with dogs. It will show that you take pet ownership seriously and will directly address any concerns he/she may have.
  3. Also include letter(s) of recommendation. Along with your pet resume, consider attaching a couple of references from your current/past landlords, neighbors, groomers, and trainers who knew your dog, driving the point home that you are a responsible dog owner and your dog is properly trained and well-behaved.
  4. Meet and greet. If you are in a position to visit the landlord in person, it can be to your advantage to do so – with your dog, of course! It’s easier for landlords to decline dog owners over the phone or email, but harder if they meet you and your well-behaved dog in person. Be courteous and schedule an appointment first; dropping in unexpectedly will probably not be appreciated by most people! If you aren’t able to meet the landlord in person, be sure to include some high-quality photos of your dog with his/her pet resume.
  5. Offer an additional pet security deposit. Again, this will likely help ease the landlord’s mind over potential concerns and further catapult you into “ideal tenant” territory.
  6. Consider renter’s insurance. Be sure to buy a policy that covers your dog and make that clear in your application.
  7. Be honest. Don’t ever try to hide your dog or sign a lease that does not allow dogs. As cliche as it may sound, honesty is the best policy! You surely don’t want to risk being turned in by neighbors or found out by your landlord and potentially be evicted. It’s worth it to wait until you find a place that welcomes you and your pit bull.
  8. Hold up your end of the bargain. After all the campaigning you’ve done for you and your dog to be accepted as tenants, you must follow through and be an exceptionally responsible pet owner! Be respectful of your neighbors, pick up after your dog, keep him/her on a leash, etc. Doing so will set a positive example for those around you (serving as a breed ambassador) and you will hopefully be able to use your landlord as a reference for the next time you move.

We hope that you find these tips useful in your apartment search. If you think we missed anything important, please feel free to let us know in the comments!

Pit Bulls in the Workforce

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Besides being incredibly loving, silly, social, and eager-to-please pets, pit bulls also have pit bulls in the workforceextraordinary value in the workforce. It is perhaps these qualities, coupled with their intelligence, loyalty, athletic ability, stamina, and drive, that make pit bulls the ideal pick for specialized jobs that have a significant impact on our society. A few jobs that pit bulls excel at include:

1. Drug detection. Their ability to sniff out dangerous drugs makes pit bulls excellent police dogs. A pit bull named Popsicle (he was found in an old freezer where he was left to die after being used as bait for dog fights) has the largest recorded single drug find in Texas history – over 3,000 pounds of cocaine with a street value of nearly $1.4 million.

2. Explosive Detection. Some dogs have a talent for detecting explosives, which makes them perfect for military service. A pit bull called Sergeant Stubby, for example, has been called the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be nominated for rank and then promoted to sergeant through combat. Stubby served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front, where he was wounded in action twice, saved his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack, found and comforted the wounded, and single-handedly captured a German soldier.

3. Search and rescue (SAR). Pit bulls Cheyenne, Dakota, and Tahoe are top-rated SAR dogs. The dogs have helped save the lives of many people over the years. They are so good, in fact, that Dakota and her owner Kris Crawford were requested by NASA to assist in the recovery of astronauts after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. Kris and her dogs were even awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of their valuable contributions to the community for over a decade.

4. Therapy/emotional support. Pit bulls’ gentle, affectionate nature make them wonderful therapy dogs, and are frequently used to help veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD as well as people with other mental or physical illnesses. Check out therapy dogs Zen and Blueberry.

pit bulls in the workforceThere are a number of organizations across the nation that are dedicated to training pit bulls for the workforce. Pits for Patriots for example, specializes in training qualified pit bulls from rescues and shelters in the Chicago area to work as service, therapy, skilled companion, and companion dogs for U.S. military veterans and first responders. Animal Farm Foundation, whose mission is to secure equal treatment and opportunity for pit bulls, has formed a collaboration with Austin Pets Alive! and Universal K9 so that rescued and sheltered pit bulls can be selected and considered for detection dog work, which is traditionally reserved for purebred, purpose-bred dogs. It is because of efforts like these that pit bulls are able to prove themselves as treasured members of the modern workforce, fighting the stigma one dog at a time.

How to Celebrate Pit Bull Awareness Month

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October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month! While there is a National Pit Bull Awareness Day as well, there is a bit of uncertainty as to which day it actually is (some sources say October 27, others say October 24, and even others say the last Saturday in October). In any case, we’re going to celebrate all month long.

The purpose of the annual observance is to bring positive attention to and show appreciation for pit bulls and their responsible owners. Here are eight simple ways to do just that:

  1. Share positive stories, photos, videos, and other information about pit bulls. You can do so online via your personal social media accounts or email and when you’re speaking to other people in your daily life. The more positivity and love we spread, the more we will get in return.
  2. Attend a Pit Bull Awareness Month event. Some animal shelters and rescue groups host  pit bull awareness monthfestivals, charity walks, meet-ups, and other celebrations during October. Even if you don’t own a pit bull, it’s a good opportunity to get out and meet some! Check your local shelter or rescue group for upcoming events.
  3. No event near you? Plan your own pit bull party! Invite friends, neighbors, and other community members to come and bring their pits for an afternoon of fun. Check out this site for event planning ideas.
  4. Do something to help. Make this the month you sign up to volunteer at a local animal shelter, commit to fostering a pit bull in need of a home, or donate supplies to a pit bull rescue group. Many rescue organizations rely on donations and volunteers to keep running, so what better month to get in on the action?
  5. Take action in your local or national government. Reach out to politicians about animal rights, especially as it relates to pit bull-type dogs, and let them know that discrimination will not be tolerated. This is particularly appropriate if there is currently any sort of breed-specific legislation pending or already in place in your city. Write a letter, send an email, make a phone call, sign a petition…do whatever you can to make sure your voice is heard.
  6. If you happen to live in area where BSL is not in place or has been turned down in the past, send your local councilmembers a thank you note. Remember that we’re aiming to spread as much positivity as possible this month and it would be nice to recognize those leaders that actively work against BSL.
  7. If you’re a pit bull owner, set an example for others. Be a breed ambassador. Make the choice to gently inform and educate others at any opportunity you might come across.
  8. While this is a time to celebrate pit bulls and other bully breed dogs, make sure you are not bringing down another breed in the process. We are here to end unfair judgment and stereotypes, not to perpetuate new ones. Be kind and loving towards all animals and their owners.

 

Wisconsin Ends BSL Law

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Earlier this year Wisconsin lawmakers moved forward in the national fight against breed-specific legislation (BSL) when Assembly Bill 487/ Senate Bill 450 was passed. The bill reduces the holding time for stray and seized animals in the state, and ends the required euthanasia of animal victims seized in dog fighting operations.

wisconsin ends BSL lawUnder the current law, “if the owner of an animal that is being held in custody (by a local governmental unit or other person, such as a humane society, on behalf of a local governmental unit) is convicted of a crime related to animal fighting and the animal is one year old or older or shows indication of having participated in fighting, the animal must be euthanized.” This law did not allow for any kind of behavioral analysis or rehabilitation for the animal in question; it was an immediate death sentence. Under Bill 487, however, “if an animal has been taken into custody because it is believed that the animal has been used in any crime against animals or that it constitutes evidence of a crime against animals, it must be retained in custody.” The bill also allows the local governmental unit or other person with custody of the animal in question to demand payment from the animal’s owner for the custody, care, and treatment of the animal every 14 days.

The passage of this bill is a victory for those who oppose BSL. Pit bulls who are rescued from illegal dog fighting rings in Wisconsin have now been given hope for rehabilitation and a future life full of happiness and love. While the passage of this bill is certainly cause for celebration, we must remember that we are still fighting a far larger war. A number of U.S. states still allow for breed discrimination. Let us use this small victory as motivation to continue the fight against injustice. No dog should be killed simply because of what he/she looks like or because a human decided to commit a crime against him/her.

What To Know Before Adopting a Pit Bull

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adopting a pit bullIt’s no secret that owning a dog comes with responsibility. But in many ways, owning a pit bull requires even more responsibility. Pit bull owners face some tough challenges, like breed stigmatization, discrimination, and bias. It’s not for everyone, but being a pit bull or bully breed owner can be one of the most rewarding experiences you could have.

Ask yourself the following questions before you adopt to help you decide if a pit bull is the right dog for you:

–What are you looking for in a dog? Consider what traits or characteristics are important to you. Pit bulls are loyal, intelligent, silly, affectionate, and sometimes stubborn creatures. They need moderate daily exercise and ongoing socialization. Every dog varies in his/her specific requirements, however, so be sure to ask as many questions as you can and obtain us much information as possible about the particular dog you want.

–Are you ready and willing to be a responsible dog owner? This means having your dog spayed/neutered (if you adopt from a shelter, they require it), training your dog, making sure he/she is always wearing up-to-date identification, and keeping him/her socialized. Being a responsible pet owner requires time and money, so be sure you are at a stable point in your life in order to make this commitment.

–Do you have other pets? Make sure your existing pet(s) and the dog you hope to adopt will be
able to coexist. While many dogs can live comfortably with other animals in the house, not all can. It is important to introduce the animals (and human family members!) prior to adopting to be sure everyone gets along. Check with the rescue or shelter staff to see if the dog has been evaluated for compatibility with other animals.

–What are the federal, state, or local laws pertaining to pets in general and pit bulls specifically? Do some research about the area where you live to ensure there is no breed specific legislation in place, which bans dogs who look a certain way, regardless of their actual temperament or behavior. If you rent or have a homeowners association, make sure a pit bull-type dog is allowed under those terms. Also be aware that if you own a pit bull or other bully breed dog, finding housing in the future may be difficult. Creating a pet resume can help.

–Are you willing to stand up for your pit bull? If you’re thinking about adopting a pit bull, perhaps the most important thing for you to understand is that once you do, you become a breed ambassador. Being a breed ambassador means separating yourself from the stereotypical pit bull owner and proving to the public that pit bulls are not the scary, violent dogs they are so often perceived to be. You must peacefully and patiently combat the negative stigma surrounding pit bulls on a frequent basis. You are your dog’s advocate from now on.

Above all else, understand this: if you adopt a pit bull, you will have a loyal, loving companion for years to come. Yes, owning a dog is sometimes hard work. And yes, being a breed ambassador can be hard work, too. But the joy of sharing your life with a canine companion is unparalleled, and for the right person, a pit bull is the perfect fit.

 

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