Why so many pit pulls?

[Anonymous]

Spay/neuter campaigns have been extremely successful with pretty much everyone except the segment of the population that finds pit bulls desirable. Thus no more “mutts” that make great family dogs.

After months of monitoring the intakes at my local humane society and county shelter) we went to a reputable breeder for this reason (and please miss me with the “no such thing as a reputable breeder” nonsense).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because a lot of people who want pit bulls intentionally choose not to get them fixed which leads to a million pit bull mixes in shelters. People who actively seek out pits often like them for aggression, and think fixing them will decrease their aggression.

It's a frustrating cycle. And what we should really be doing is forcing pit owners to fix their dogs, going after breeders that cater to these owners, and really cracking down on backyard breeding, which is illegal. But the whole conversation gets disrupted by people who adopt pits from shelters, fall in love with their specific dog, and then become very defensive about the rep pit bulls have, and fight against "discrimination" against the breed. It's exhausting.

I increasingly think you should need to get a license in order to have a dog, in order to ensure responsible dog ownership, make sure animals get fixed, and make it easier to take dogs away from people who abuse them or are otherwise irresponsible with them.

Until then, yes, like 95% of shelter dogs are pits and pit mixes.

But who in their right mind buys a dog for “aggression”? Why are so many people doing this? This is the part I don’t understand.

MAGAs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because a lot of people who want pit bulls intentionally choose not to get them fixed which leads to a million pit bull mixes in shelters. People who actively seek out pits often like them for aggression, and think fixing them will decrease their aggression.

It's a frustrating cycle. And what we should really be doing is forcing pit owners to fix their dogs, going after breeders that cater to these owners, and really cracking down on backyard breeding, which is illegal. But the whole conversation gets disrupted by people who adopt pits from shelters, fall in love with their specific dog, and then become very defensive about the rep pit bulls have, and fight against "discrimination" against the breed. It's exhausting.

I increasingly think you should need to get a license in order to have a dog, in order to ensure responsible dog ownership, make sure animals get fixed, and make it easier to take dogs away from people who abuse them or are otherwise irresponsible with them.

Until then, yes, like 95% of shelter dogs are pits and pit mixes.

Thank you for this explanation as I have always wondered this. In australia they're all greyhounds!
so funny- and not funny

Biggest greyhound racing industry in world has led to overbreeding and systematic cruelty to animals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ws checking the website daily and as soon as they posted a dog that was NOT pit-mix i raced down to the shelter as fast as humanly possible. I think "my" dog was in that shelter for about 14 hours. He's a total love and I totally got lucky.

You are lucky/smart because lots of “rescue” groups are also checking these sites daily and will immediately scoop any dog that is a small breed or otherwise a desirable mixed breed. Then they charge people an arm and a leg to “adopt” from them. It’s a big scam.

[Anonymous]

It’s not that so many people buy a dog for aggression, it’s that those are the dogs that aren’t fixed and breed. The vast majority of people with purebred or nice mixes fix their dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because a lot of people who want pit bulls intentionally choose not to get them fixed which leads to a million pit bull mixes in shelters. People who actively seek out pits often like them for aggression, and think fixing them will decrease their aggression.

It's a frustrating cycle. And what we should really be doing is forcing pit owners to fix their dogs, going after breeders that cater to these owners, and really cracking down on backyard breeding, which is illegal. But the whole conversation gets disrupted by people who adopt pits from shelters, fall in love with their specific dog, and then become very defensive about the rep pit bulls have, and fight against "discrimination" against the breed. It's exhausting.

I increasingly think you should need to get a license in order to have a dog, in order to ensure responsible dog ownership, make sure animals get fixed, and make it easier to take dogs away from people who abuse them or are otherwise irresponsible with them.

Until then, yes, like 95% of shelter dogs are pits and pit mixes.

But who in their right mind buys a dog for “aggression”? Why are so many people doing this? This is the part I don’t understand.

Tons of people. People who want to use the dog for protection. People who want to intimidate others with their dog. (Think, in a dangerous part of the city or think of all those homes with big “beware of dog” signs on them to deter people from coming into their property). People who are into dog fighting (this is unfortunately pretty common in many areas). People who think it’s badass to have an aggressive dog at their command. I don’t agree with any of the above but it doesn’t take any imagination really to think of a reason someone might want a dog known for being aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because a lot of people who want pit bulls intentionally choose not to get them fixed which leads to a million pit bull mixes in shelters. People who actively seek out pits often like them for aggression, and think fixing them will decrease their aggression.

It's a frustrating cycle. And what we should really be doing is forcing pit owners to fix their dogs, going after breeders that cater to these owners, and really cracking down on backyard breeding, which is illegal. But the whole conversation gets disrupted by people who adopt pits from shelters, fall in love with their specific dog, and then become very defensive about the rep pit bulls have, and fight against "discrimination" against the breed. It's exhausting.

I increasingly think you should need to get a license in order to have a dog, in order to ensure responsible dog ownership, make sure animals get fixed, and make it easier to take dogs away from people who abuse them or are otherwise irresponsible with them.

Until then, yes, like 95% of shelter dogs are pits and pit mixes.

But who in their right mind buys a dog for “aggression”? Why are so many people doing this? This is the part I don’t understand.

People who want dogs for protection, as guard dogs, people who fight dogs for money, men who think having a really aggressive dog makes them look tough.

[Anonymous]

I agree that I wouldn’t choose a pit bull for my family and that too many unsavory people think they need guard dogs and don’t spay and neuter. The results are too many unwanted litters and sadly so many end up in shelters and are euthanized.

However, must we have some version of an ‘I hate pit bulls” thread every week in the pet forum?

[Anonymous]

Wow i have lernt a lot from this thread - I had not realized this scenario re: lack of mutts. Also about the "rescue" scheme. I totally lucked out with this shelter mutt. I have only had these kinds of dogs my whole life and so much appreciate them.


And the doodles ain't doin it.

[Anonymous]

BC they are illegal in PG County so when someone is caught with one or turns on into the shelter there, PG County will transfer it to a shelter in a different jurisdiction (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, AA county, Moco).

We had same experience trying to adopt in Alexandria and Arlington. At the time we had young kids and both DH and I worked full time so the shelters would always tell us we couldn’t have dogs bc of the age of our kids or that we would be gone for 6 hours (even if we got a dog walker) BUT good news they had pit bulls we could adopt. make it make sense.

So we went with a private adoption. But we tried for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ws checking the website daily and as soon as they posted a dog that was NOT pit-mix i raced down to the shelter as fast as humanly possible. I think "my" dog was in that shelter for about 14 hours. He's a total love and I totally got lucky.

You are lucky/smart because lots of “rescue” groups are also checking these sites daily and will immediately scoop any dog that is a small breed or otherwise a desirable mixed breed. Then they charge people an arm and a leg to “adopt” from them. It’s a big scam.

What are some examples of the scam groups? My kids are wearing me down on getting a pet someday so I want to know what red flags to watch out for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because we have spayed/neutered all the family friendly dogs. The only ones accidentally breeding are bully mixes, and the rest of shelters are puppy mill products or BYB dogs.

I have had many rescue dogs and will have more in the future, but there aren't well bred golden retrievers turned in to shelters. They are returned to the good breeder they came from to be rehomed.

There are golden retriever rescues as well as many pure bred breeds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that I wouldn’t choose a pit bull for my family and that too many unsavory people think they need guard dogs and don’t spay and neuter. The results are too many unwanted litters and sadly so many end up in shelters and are euthanized.

However, must we have some version of an ‘I hate pit bulls” thread every week in the pet forum?

It is tedious, I agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because we have spayed/neutered all the family friendly dogs. The only ones accidentally breeding are bully mixes, and the rest of shelters are puppy mill products or BYB dogs.

I have had many rescue dogs and will have more in the future, but there aren't well bred golden retrievers turned in to shelters. They are returned to the good breeder they came from to be rehomed.

Good breeders will actually require in the contract that the dog be returned to them or they have to approve the placement if you no longer want the dog. Likewise, if the dog is mistreated, they can take back the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spay/neuter campaigns have been extremely successful with pretty much everyone except the segment of the population that finds pit bulls desirable. Thus no more “mutts” that make great family dogs.

After months of monitoring the intakes at my local humane society and county shelter) we went to a reputable breeder for this reason (and please miss me with the “no such thing as a reputable breeder” nonsense).

This is your opinion that there are 'no more mutts' that make great family dogs, not fact. Plenty of people have!