The WM Pet Connection

By Rebecca Sebek

I visited an animal shelter in Ohio to inquire about their volunteer program. This particular animal shelter is supported by a well known, well beloved local weatherman whose name is prominently displayed when you walk into the shelter. Most dogs that are at the shelter are strays. They don't take owner surrendered dogs. If Pit Bulls come to the shelter without any tags, they are euthanized. The shelter tries to reach out to rescue groups or other shelters but nine times out of 10, the dogs are put down. When I heard this I looked at the volunteer coordinator and said, "...This goes against my values and feelings. Thank you for your time." I got up and left. I was appalled that these dogs are singled out year after year because of stupid, ill-educated people like Michael Vick who think it is "cool" to breed and use these dogs for fighting. I hate to break it to people but any dog, that means any breed, can turn mean, be mean, and attack!


Like many states, the state of Ohio has strict polices on Pit Bulls to the point that they're basically banned and automatically euthanized. In my opinion, this isn't fair. These dogs can't speak for themselves and tell you how their owners raise or treat them. Why should they lose their life because some human beings aren't that bright?


Many people are probably unaware that pit bulls were once the dog of choice in America. In fact, they're the only dog to grace the cover of Life magazine three times. They were popular in the 1900's and the mascot of World War One and World War Two and featured on recruiting and propaganda posters.


FYI: The original "Petey" on the Little Rascals was an American Pit Bull Terrier.


Pit bulls are highly intelligent, loyal, and great with kids. In fact, they were referred to as "nanny's dogs." They are not human aggressive; they become human aggressive because their owners train them to fight and attack.


All dogs, like individuals, can be unsavory and have behavior issues. And, they can score high or low on tests. According to the American Temperament Test Society, the American Pit Bull Terrier scored 86% which is higher than the score for the Yorkshire Terrier. Visit ATTS to learn more about temperament scores. You may be surprised how well your favorite breeds did.


Pit Bulls are often used as narcotic and bomb sniffing dogs. Popsicle, a pup that was abused and found in a trash bag inside a freezer, went through dog training school in Front Royal, VA with U.S. Customs canine-enforcement officer Sally Barr. She was surprised at how well Popsicle did in the program. In fact, Popsicle found the largest contraband at the Mexican border. This Pit Bull went from being trash to a hero.


Get the facts before you judge Pit Bulls. Remember that saying about "judging a book by its cover" before you denounce Pit Bulls as the worst dogs on the planet. It's not their fault human beings helped them fall from grace by training them to fight other dogs and attack people. Pit Bulls lose their lives while their owners get off with little or no jail time and a small fine. The punishment for owners should fit the crime. If they use Pit Bulls to fight other Pit Bulls then owners should be thrown into a boxing ring with the latest champion and see how long they last. Owners should also face stiffer penalties like being barred from owning animals, work with the Humane Society's Human Education programs to educate the public about Pit Bulls, and undergo psychological treatment. Until something is done to promote education about Pit Bulls, these poor dogs will be labeled "trouble" from the time they're born and that isn't fair.

Why Are Pit Bulls Treated Inhumanely?