Save 90: July 2015

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

RESCUE WELL-A rescue for rescues. And more.

Lets start with a big thank you to Save 90's newest advertiser: Robyn Geller Productions. Robyn wasn't able to make a video so we'll make do with her business card!

Something New
Save 90 is always interested in new ways to help animals. So, when I saw an article online that included photos of animals available for adoption, I thought, "What a great idea!"
So, now, each Save 90 blog post will have photos of pets available in our area. Here are the featured pets for this post:

Mooberta-available at BARCS
Link to the BARCS site: http://baltimoreanimalshelter.org/adopt

China-available at the Baltimore County Animal Shelter
Visit Baltimore County Animal Services on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BaltCoAnimalServices?fref=ts

Seville-available at the MD SPCA
Link to the MD SPCA's website:
http://www.mdspca.org/adopt/pets/

Norman-available at the Baltimore Humane Society
Link to the Humane Society's website:
https://bmorehumane.org/adopt/steps-pricing/

Obviously, there are many more wonderful animals at all our local shelters. If you're looking for a new pet, please adopt.

Commission underway
It's been a long time coming (over 5 months), but the
Baltimore County Animal Services Oversight Commission is about to hold its first meeting. The Commission, established by the Baltimore County Council, is charged with looking into the Baltimore County Animal Shelter and making recommendations for improvements in its operations.
Save 90 believes the Commission should not have an
"us vs. them" mentality. Those running the shelter want to save as many lives as possible. The Commission's research and recommendations should facilitate their efforts.
The meetings are open to the public, but the public is only allowed to observe, not participate.
The first meeting will be held July 21st at 6 P.M. (tonight as of this post) at the Towson library branch at 320 York Rd.
Save 90 encourages anyone interested to attend.

Changes at the Baltimore Humane Society
The Baltimore Humane Society is accepting applications for a new Executive Director. Jen Swanson has left that position to be the new Executive Director of the Harford County Humane Society. Save 90 wishes her the best.

Howard County Animal Welfare Society
There have been increasing complaints about conditions at the Howard County Animal Welfare Society, a private, non-profit shelter that's not affiliated with the county government-run Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Center.
Save 90 is looking into these charges, and has learned that Howard County Animal Control is conducting an investigation. This subject will be on the agenda at a future public meeting of the Howard County Animal Matters Hearing Board.
Apologies: I previously wrote that this issue would be discussed at tonight's meeting of the Animal Matters Hearing Board. This was inaccurate. The date that will happen has not been set, but the meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Here are some questions Save 90 posed to a spokeswoman for the Howard County Police Dept. (which runs Howard County Animal Control), and the spokeswoman's answers.
Q: Has the Animal Welfare facility been notified that it needs to provide medical care to particular animals?
A: Yes. These details are part of the ongoing investigation.
Q: I would like to get a copy (through email if possible) of the citations that are outstanding. Do they specify the changes necessary and a time frame under which changes must be made?
A: These documents are not yet available while the investigation is ongoing.
Q: Which state and federal bodies have been notified of Animal Control’s citations and investigation? Have they gotten involved or do they only get involved if the facility’s problems reach a particular level of seriousness?
A: Animal Control is working with partner agencies to address possible issues related to animal care, licensing and finances. The specific details are not available at this time while the investigation is open, but we encourage you to come to the Animal Matters Hearing Board meeting when this case is addressed.
Save 90 will be following up.

Now onto the main subject of this post
Rescue Well-A Rescue for Rescues. And More
How do you save thousands of animals a year? That's the task facing the Baltimore County Animal Shelter as well as other open admission shelters like BARCS in Baltimore City. Animals pour through the door in an endless stream, day after day after day.
With a limited number of cages, a finite amount of money, and never enough adopters, some animals must be euthanized to make room for more.
Shelters that want to save as many lives as possible must be creative. And they need to make use of resources offered by rescue groups that pull dogs and cats for foster and adoption, as well as other organizations that can provide resources. One of the organizations that helps shelters in our area is called Rescue Well.
A woman named Christine Sandberg, who is Vice President of a rescue group called ReLove Animals, founded Rescue Well in 2011 under the ReLove umbrella. Rescue Well's initial mission was to help BARCS with post-adoption support.
But seeing more need, Christine began expanding the group's mission, establishing partnerships with other shelters and even agencies like the Veterans Administration.
Here are some of the other tasks that Rescue Well has taken on:

Pet Placement

Rescue Well volunteers comb Craig's list ads, yard sale sites, etc. where people offer animals for sale or for free, and offer to work with these pet owners to find safe homes for their animals.

Coordination with Baltimore City Animal Control

Sandberg visits Baltimore neighborhoods with many at-risk animals...ones that are not spayed/neutered, are left chained or tethered outside, are malnourished or mistreated, or are likely to end up in area shelters. When she finds problems, she offers pet owners advice on how to comply with animal regulations. When pet owners refuse to cooperate, Rescue Well reaches out to Animal Control to step in.

Free Spay/Neuter

Rescue Well is offering free spay/neuter surgeries for some pets through a MD Dept. of Agriculture grant.

Less Expensive Pet Food

The group offers dog and cat owners pet food bought in bulk.

Hotline

Rescue Well has a hotline for those needing help, or those who want to anonymously report pets in distress.

It's impressive to see Christine and Rescue Well in action. I hope you'll take a peek in this short video (just over 2 minutes).

In the last several months, the Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS) has begun collaborating with Rescue Well. Here are some of the things Rescue Well has been doing for BCAS:
1. Temporary boarding or fostering for pets with rescue pending
2. Transport
3. Surrender intervention-when residents contact the shelter, they are referred to Rescue Well. In an effort to keep those pets in their homes Christine says, "We give them advice on things like crate training, walking techniques, potty training tips, and, when appropriate, refer them to the list of trainers recommended by the shelter. Sometimes we make house calls if the issue merits it, say, if they need a larger crate or different food to try."
4. Post-adoption assistance (when adopters contact the shelter because they're having issues with adopted pets).
5. Supplies/owner support (i.e. food, cat litter) for residents who indicate they need assistance, and we also connect them to area pantries for long-term assistance.

When asked how Rescue Well is handling this extra work load, Sandberg says the organization has added more people, including Jamie Rodriguez who has been assigned as the group's manager for BCAS.
Here's part of a recent post from the BCAS Facebook page about a cooperative effort with Rescue Well:
"Baltimore County Animal Services sent out a rescue plea for some moms and their baby kittens, who were too young to adopt. The wonderful King Street Cats rescue agreed to take two moms, their babies, and two other kittens.
King Street was not able to accept the cats & kittens until the end of the week. So, shelter staff sent Jamie DeRita-Rodriguez from Rescue Well... an email asking if they had a temporary foster. ... Jamie responded promptly to say they had a temporary foster and Christine Sandberg from Rescue Well would pick them up and transport them later that day...
We are so thankful to everyone that helped!"
This kind of life-saving assistance makes an enormous difference and, clearly, the folks at BCAS, are thrilled to have it.
Sandberg is determined to continue Rescue Well's growth. She says,"We're going to keep innovating and...attacking the causes of animal abuse and surrenders, and I believe we'll keep going until we no longer need to."
Animal activists are happy to see BCAS building relationships with rescues and other groups like Rescue Well.
The more the shelter integrates itself into the network of resources offered by area groups, the more animals it can save and place in forever homes.
And that's what it's all about.
By the way, if you would like to contact the Rescue Well hotline, the number is 410-456-1392.

Once again, thank you to Save 90's newest advertiser,
Robyn Geller Productions.

Message to Save 90's readers:
It's always challenging to find companies willing to support this blog. Please ask the companies and restaurants, etc. with which you do business if they would be willing to buy an ad on
Save 90.
Please inform them that all money raised goes to rescue groups and animal shelters. If you or someone you know would like to buy an ad or make a donation, contact me at debstone01@comcast.net. Thank you!

Here's a complete list of Save 90 advertisers (Save 90 hopes you'll support them):

Chesapeake Contracting

Needles and Threads of Ruxton

Bare Necessities

Edie Brown Associates

The Mark Building Company

Studio of Makeup

BJS Insurance

Parsonizing Dry Cleaners

Graul's Market

Zibazz Hair Studio

Linens and Lingerie

Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collection

Nationwide Nissan

The Jewelry Lady

The Big Screen Store and The Sofa Store

Barre at the Quarry

The Lichter Group

The Little Shoebox

Window Consultants, Inc.

Matava Shoes

Gourmet Again

Four Corners Travel

Charles Levine Caterers

Len Stoler Auto Group

Eddie's of Roland Park on North Charles Street

Studio 111

Great Finds and Designs

Stone Mill Bakery

The Manor Shopping Center Merchants Association

The Silberstein Insurance Group: Employee Benefits Consultants

The Suburban House Restaurant

Zibazz Day Spa and Makeup Art

Steven Caplan, Esq.

Anne George (Bark Busters)

Greetings and Readings

Mary Jane Buettner, Author

About Faces

Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital

Cavalier Realty
Octavia Boutique
Andy's Animals
The Red Garter

Alexruz Photography
Robyn Geller Productions

Individual Contributors to Save 90:

Jim and Bonnie Hunter

Marty Sitnick

Elmo Barranco

Eric Brennan
Amy Elias
Sheldon and Jamie Caplis
Kathleen and Jim McGee

Recipients of Save 90 (Each has received a check for $750):

Animal Allies Rescue Foundation

Adopt a Homeless Animal

Feline Rescue Association

Tara's House

Bella's Bully Buddies

Homeward Trails

Recycled Love

BARCS

Baltimore Humane Society

Rescue Well
Seniors for Seniors

Total funds raised so far: $8566.00

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Pit Bulls-What's Real.What's Not.

Before we get started, I want to say thank you to the latest Save 90 advertisers:

The Red Garter

and

Alexruz Photography

In addition, Save 90 thanks new personal contributors for their generosity:

Amy Elias

Sheldon and Jamie Caplis

and

Kathleen and Jim McGee

All money raised through ads and contributions is donated to rescue organizations and shelters.

You'll find the latest ads below the text of this post, along with a complete list of Save 90 advertisers and contributors. There is also a thank you message from the latest animal rescue group to receive a donation from Save 90, "Seniors for Seniors", and a list of all the organizations that have received a $750 Save 90 contribution.

Now on to the latest news:

Success and Then Some! Baltimore 500 Update

Woo Hoo! The Baltimore 500 needs to be renamed the Baltimore 805.

You may have read in the last Save 90 post that the

Baltimore County Animal Shelter (BCAS) participated in the Baltimore 500, along with members of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (the MD SPCA, BARCS, and the Baltimore Humane Society). The aim of the Baltimore 500 was to find homes for 500 cats, by offering free adoptions during the month of June.

We're in the middle of kitten season, and the shelters are full of litters needing homes. So, it's a particularly important time to increase adoptions.

The number of adopted cats hit 805 for all four shelters. The BCAS total is 150. Truly wonderful.

The Baltimore County Animal Shelter's participation in these efforts is another indication of positive change.

But Wait. There's More.

As Baltimore County prepares to conduct a pilot Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program for free-roaming cats, it is suspending its practice of giving citations to those who redeem TNR'd cats at BCAS.

Here's what this is about. Some of the cats in our community have already been TNR'd by animal advocates (even though the county has not approved of the practice). Sometimes these TNR'd cats are among those picked up by Baltimore County Animal Control and taken to the shelter.

Animal advocates often redeem these cats at the shelter and take them back to the areas where they were found (which is the principle behind TNR).

Until recently, these people faced fines and citations every time they redeemed one of these cats. But Baltimore County is changing its policy.

Take a look at the following, written by a local animal advocate who has redeemed 19 cats since the fall of 2014:

"Today, I received notification that ALL my pending citations were withdrawn and my newest one was reduced to a warning."

This is wonderful news and shows commitment to the concept of TNR as the county prepares to begin its TNR pilot.

To learn more about TNR, here's a link to a Save 90 video about the Community Cat Project in Baltimore City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6wzXge74s4

And more.

Baltimore County has filled the two new shelter positions of volunteer coordinator and foster coordinator, and both staff members are on the job. The county says once they are settled in their new positions, they will be introduced to the public.

Reduced Shelter Fees

Baltimore County has announced new reduced fees for adoption, micro-chipping and spay/neuter procedures with further reduced fees for U.S veterans. In addition, there are further reduced adoption fees during the July 4th holiday from July 1st-5th. This makes these important services more accessible to low-income residents.

Here are the new lowered fees with comparisons to the previous costs:

New Fee: New US Veteran Fee July 1-5 FormerFee

Spay/Neuter Dogs $20 Dogs $20 Dogs $65

(includes micro- Cats $20 Cats $20 Cats $50

chipping,

first distemper and

rabies shots, deworming

and county license)

Adoption Dogs $50 Dogs $25 $25 Dogs $65

Cats $40 Cats $20 $20 Cats $50

Micro-Chip $10 $10 $25

Baltimore Humane Society-What a Great Idea!

This spring, the Baltimore Humane Society started taking shelter animals to visit dementia patients at Stella Maris. This is great for the patients and for the dogs who get time out of the shelter as well as socialization.

Applause to Bmore Humane!

Now on to the heart of this post:

Pit Bulls-What's Real. What's Not.

"Pit Bulls"...say these words, then sit back and listen to the polarized debate that erupts.
Some will describe these animals as the terrorists of the dog world...inherently vicious, not to be trusted. Others believe that Pits have been unfairly demonized (and abused) because of the failings and criminal behavior of some owners, and that the vast majority of these dogs are victims of misconceptions perpetuated by the media.
Regardless of your point of view, one thing's for sure: our shelters are full of Pit Bull-like dogs (so-called bully breeds) that need homes.
In a recent check of the Baltimore County Animal Shelter's list of available dogs, 27 out of 32 were listed as Pit Bull Terriers.
This is not just a local problem. The ASPCA looked at 45 shelters in 2014 and found that bully breeds ranked number one in intake as well as euthanasia.
So, these animals get hit from all sides. Their numbers are high. Their ongoing demonization makes it more difficult for shelters and rescues to find homes for them. It's a perfect storm that leads to high euthanasia.
If you care about animals, this is a tragedy and must be addressed. Where do we begin?

Let's start with full disclosure
Despite all my work with the animal community, I admit I've been affected by the many stories I've seen and heard about Pit Bull aggression. I'm nervous when I meet a new Pit Bull unless he or she is outgoing and obviously friendly. I know how strong Pit Bulls are, and I don't want to be a bite victim.

That said, my step-daughter adopted a Pit Bull that was truly a gentle soul...well-behaved, sweet, and friendly. And I've met many other Pit Bulls that are the same.

I'm confused. Is my apprehension of these dogs justified or not? Surely I'm not the only one who wants to know the truth. So, let's discuss what's real and what's not.

What is a Pit Bull?
There is, in fact, no AKC recognized Pit Bull breed. Rather, the term, "Pit Bull" describes a number of dog breeds. Those commonly referred to as Pit Bulls are American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and
English Bull Terriers.
But other breeds are often misidentified as Pits...like Mastiffs

American Bulldogs

Boxers

and Plott Hounds

People make mistakes about the breed because we have come to think any short-haired dog with a square head and jaw is a Pit Bull. Shelter employees often make the same mistake when they identify the dogs in their care. According to the National Canine Research Council, DNA identification of breeds has shown that labeling of mixed-breed dogs in shelters is extremely unreliable.
So, if you adopt a dog that's labeled a Pit Bull, what you actually get is a mystery. It could be one of many breeds that are Pit Bulls or not, or it could be a combination.
These traits (square head and jaw) are also frequently used to determine the breed of animals involved in cases of bites and maulings. Surely many of these aggressive dogs are mislabeled as well.
And when a vicious dog is mistakenly identified as a
Pit Bull, it unfairly adds to the narrative that Pit Bulls are dangerous.

See if you can correctly identify which dog is a Pit Bull in the test at this link: http://www.pickthepit.com/

History
According to the ASPCA, Pit Bulls are descendants of the original English bull-baiting dog—a dog bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. This form of sport was outlawed in Britain in the 1800's.
That's when people began breeding bull-baiting dogs with terriers to make a more agile animal, and began fighting the dogs against one another.
Once the dogs made their way into the U.S., they were not just used for fighting but also for herding, and protecting livestock and families.
The ASPCA says, "Pit Bulls...not used for fighting were considered ideal family pets—affectionate, loyal and gentle with children."
In fact, Pit Bulls were so beloved, they were known as "America's dog" and were represented throughout popular culture during the first half of the 20th Century.
For example, they were featured on U.S. recruiting posters during World War I.

Pit Bulls were on the WWI battlefield too. One named
Sergeant Stubby was the official mascot of the 102nd Infantry, participated in 17 battles, saved his regiment from mustard gas attacks, and once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants. He was even awarded a gold medal by General John J. Pershing.

Pit Bulls appeared on television and in advertising. One played Petey in the TV show, "Our Gang".

A Pit Bull was featured in ads for Buster Brown Shoes and RCA Victor

And Pit Bulls even graced the cover of Life Magazine. Three times.

Many famous people had Pit Bulls as pets including two
Presidents (Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt), as well as
Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, Fred Astaire, and Humphrey Bogart.
After WWII, the Pit Bull's popularity began to decline, as other breeds came into favor, but the dogs maintained a good reputation until the 1980's. That's when stories of the dangerous fighting dog became common in the media.
Many think the negative publicity actually added to Pit Bulls' woes as their tough reputation made them popular among gang members and other criminals. As a result, people increasingly associated these dogs with the worst element of society.
But despite all of that, tests conducted by the
American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) show the vast majority of American Pit Bull Terriers are, in fact, good dogs. The ATTS tests for a dog’s ability to interact with humans, human situations, and the environment.
In 2013, the Society tested 870 American Pit Bull Terriers. 86.8% passed the test.
That's better than many other breeds including Collies (80.3%), Beagles (80%), even Golden Retrievers (85.2%)!
Surprised?

But wait-isn't fighting part of the Pit Bull's genetic makeup?
Yes and no. First of all, you have to remember many of the dogs we identify as Pit Bulls are mixes...they have two or probably more different breeds in their lineage. Their genetics have strayed from purebred genetics.
And there's great disparity even among dogs of the same pure breed.
According to the ASPCA, "...tremendous behavioral variation exists among individuals of the same breed or breed type...behavior develops through a complex interaction between environment and genetics."
So, in addition to variations within breeds, a dog's environment and socialization play an enormous role in its behavior. There are many periods during a dog's development that greatly affect its behavior.
According to Baltimore Animal Trainer and Behavior Counselor Marty Sitnick, "An animal's socialization is particularly important in the first 16 weeks of life. Animals exposed to all kinds of things during that time, including different people, other animals, even noisy things like vacuum cleaners will likely be well-adjusted, happy, and loving, and unlikely to act aggressively out of fear."
An absence of socialization and training during each critical phase can result in all kinds of negative behavior, including aggression. And because many Pit Bulls are mistreated at the hands of dog fighters and other criminals, clearly they're not getting the kind of socialization and love and training that a cherished family pet would receive.
But if you believe Pit Bulls are naturally aggressive toward humans, consider this: Sitnick says even animals chosen for fighting must be gentle toward humans. Otherwise, there would be too much of a risk for the people handling them.
Think about it. It makes sense.
An article written by Karen Delise called
"The Pit Bull Placebo
The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression", published by the National Canine Research Council, elaborates on this point.
Here's an excerpt:
"Even if we were to believe the claims of dog fighters about the extraordinary ability of the Pit bull, one cannot conclude that this translates into aggressiveness or dangerousness towards humans... Throughout history most types of dogs were bred for specialized aggression or behaviors towards specific prey (Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, Rat Terrier, Foxhound, etc.). A dog encouraged, either by artificial selection and/or by training to excel in hunting, fighting or killing other animals, has never been considered a precursor or basis for aggression towards humans."
The Delise article is very thorough. Here's a link:
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/uploaded_files/publications/230603563_Pit%20Bull%20Placebo.pdf

Dog Fighting and Pit Bulls
Dog fighting is a federal offense in the United States but takes place in communities all over the country. It's a tragedy for the animals. They not only face injury and death through fighting, but are often starved and otherwise abused to encourage aggressive behavior.

This blood sport really came front and center in 2007, when football quarterback Michael Vick faced charges for an interstate dog fighting ring run on his Virginia property.
Articles about the case included horror stories of dogs that didn't perform well in the ring and, as a result, were shot, hosed down and electrocuted, even hanged. Vick and his partner reportedly killed one dog by slamming it to the ground repeatedly until its neck was broken.
Vick pleaded guilty to federal felony charges and served 21 months in prison. But then there was the dilemma over what to do with the dogs found on his property.

Many insisted they should be put down because of their obvious violent nature and killer instincts. But animal organizations maintained there was still hope for them. And in fact, there was.
Reports say only two of the dogs were euthanized, one for behavior and the other for injuries. Forty-seven went to sanctuaries to be rehabilitated. They became known as the "Vicktory" dogs. Some remain at sanctuaries today while others were successfully adopted and became loving members of their adopting families.
Two even received therapy dog certification, and accompanied their owners to visit hospital and nursing home patients, as well as kids in school!
As horrible as the Michael Vick case was, it had a silver lining. Because the Vicktory dogs were such success stories, many animals seized in subsequent dog fighting cases have also been allowed to survive. Many have gone on to lead happy lives as beloved pets.
If animals forced to fight can recover from their mistreatment and go on to have wonderful outcomes, any thinking person would have to pause before condemning all Pit Bulls as vicious.

Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL)
Yet breed discrimination is widespread in many countries and jurisdictions in the U.S. Some places outlaw Pit Bulls entirely through something known as Breed-Specific Legislation or
Breed-Specific Laws (BSL).
Here in Maryland, Prince Georges County legally prohibits
Pit Bull ownership.
Surely this was done with good intention in an effort to protect public safety. But a host of agencies and groups say this effort is misguided. Among those opposed to Breed Specific Legislation are The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the American Bar Association, the American Humane Association,
the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the ASPCA.
Why? The CDC says there is no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.
The AVMA says, "In contrast to what has been reported in the news media, the data CANNOT be used to infer any breed-specific risk for dog bite fatalities."
The ASPCA blames BSL for a host of "negative consequences". Among them,

owners of outlawed dogs go into hiding to prevent detection, avoiding licensing and even proper veterinary care, creating implications for the dogs and public safety.
Good owners and dogs are punished under BSL.
BSL compromises rather than enhances public safety when limited animal control resources are used to regulate or ban a certain breed of dog, and the focus is shifted away from routine, effective enforcement of animal laws like licensing laws, leashing laws, and laws that require owners to control their dogs, regardless of breed.

The Solesky Ruling
In 2012, a 10-year-old boy, Dominic Solesky, was viciously attacked and severely injured by a dog reportedly identified by its owner as a Pit Bull. Dominic's father, Anthony Solesky, sued the dog owner's landlord.
This ultimately led to a ruling by Maryland's highest court, the MD Court of Appeals, which deemed Pit Bulls "inherently dangerous".
The Court also ruled that landlords and owners of
Pit Bulls could be held liable in an attack, even if there was no evidence that they knew the dog was dangerous.
As a result of the ruling, anyone who wanted to sue needed only to prove that owners and landlords knew the dog was a Pit Bull. This would make them financially responsible for injuries.
After the Solesky ruling, Amy Wiedefeld, a board member of a Pit Bull rescue and rehabilitation group called "Baltimore Bully Crew", says her organization "began to receive an obscene number of requests for... help." These calls came from Pit Bull owners who could not find housing or whose landlords told them they had to move out if they didn't get rid of their dog.

In 2014, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed a bill passed by the MD General Assembly that negated the Solesky ruling, by replacing it with breed-neutral legislation. The law now holds all dog owners liable for their dogs, regardless of breed... and landlords and other third parties no longer face strict liability.
But all those housing problems have not gone away. Many landlords maintain their rental restrictions. That's partly because most insurance companies won't grant policies to landlords if their renters have Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Akitas, Dobermans, and some other breeds.
Amy Wiedefeld continues to advocate for renters and work to educate landlords and insurers. She insists the issue isn't about
Pit Bulls, but rather about responsible pet ownership. If an owner's dog is up to date on shots, has no bite history, and is spayed or neutered, she argues, they should be allowed to rent.
The spay/neuter component is extremely important. According to the ASPCA, more than 70% of all dog bite cases involve un-neutered male dogs, and 97% of dogs involved in fatal dog attacks in 2006 were not spayed/neutered.
No one wants reckless owners and dangerous dogs in their community. But Wiedefeld believes every dog and owner should be considered on their specific merits and that a blanket ban is unfair and unreasonable.

Myths
There is widespread belief that Pit Bulls have locking jaws. This is a myth. No type of dog has been found to have a mechanism that enables them to “lock” their top and bottom jaws together.
Their jaws are also not the strongest in the dog world. According to NationalGeographic.com, their jaws exert 235 pounds per square inch. That's lower than the average for all dogs which is 320 pounds per square inch.

Media Distortion
Media stories about Pit Bulls play a huge role in public perception of the dogs.
Unfortunately, a sensational story draws more readers and listeners than a boring one.
After all, which of these headlines would grab your interest:
“Family Pit Bull Mauls Tot to Death” versus

“Abused Chained Dog Kills Toddler”
That's an example of media manipulation included in
"The Pit Bull Placebo" by Karen Delise. Here's another excerpt:

"Not only are there different types of biased reporting, but the media has been relentless in pursuing all things “Pit bull.” Despite claims to the contrary, there is no question the media vastly over-reports Pit bull attacks as compared to other breed attacks.
- In September 2003, a young boy was killed by a Husky-type dog in Alaska. The incident was covered briefly in only two Alaskan newspapers.
- In December 2003, an elderly woman was killed by a “pack of Pit bulls” in Florida. (None of these dogs were actually Pit bulls—four were identified by animal control as Lab mixes and two were Pit bull mixes.) This story was covered in over 200 major U.S. newspapers and television stations, and was reported in newspapers in Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Canada.
- In 2004, a man was killed by his large mixed breed dog in California. The briefest mention of this attack (less than 50 words) could be found only in the local newspaper.
- A month later, a child was killed by a Pit bull in Michigan and this story ran in over 100 national and international newspapers."

Here's another story involving media distortion mentioned in
"The Pit Bull Placebo":
“Grandmother mauled to death by family’s Pit bulls” (Newsday, December 10, 2002) One article claimed that one Pit bull was “covered in blood.” This same Pit bull in another
article “appeared to have blood” on him (the him was actually a female dog). One neighbor claimed, “the dogs were vicious, they barked a lot and looked vicious.” Another neighbor claimed they were nice dogs...
The daughter, the owner of the dogs, could not believe they would have killed her elderly mother. She hired an independent forensic pathologist from the renowned Henry Lee Forensic Institute to review and re-evaluate the findings of the initial autopsy report. Only then was it discovered that the woman had died from a cardiac arrhythmia, and the few bite wounds on her body were non-lethal and post mortem. Her death was attributed to natural causes and it was determined the dogs did not participate or contribute to her death. There was a dangerous dog hearing which resulted in both dogs being released back to the daughter.
No retraction or correction was ever printed about this “Pit bull attack.” This incident remains permanently archived in the newspapers and on the Internet as a “Pit bull-related fatality.”

It is true...some Pit Bulls may be aggressive. But so are many other dogs. The media just doesn't tell you about them because those other breeds don't have the Pit Bull's reputation, and, as a result, those stories just aren't that "sexy".

The Role of Humans in Dog Aggression
Owning a dog is a great responsibility but not all dog owners act responsibly. That irresponsible behavior is often to blame for terrible outcomes.

Many fail to spay and neuter their dogs.

Most people think the only reason to spay or neuter their dog is to stop animal overpopulation, but in fact, this also plays an important role in aggressive behavior. As I mentioned earlier, the ASPCA says more than 70% of dog bite cases involve un-neutered male dogs, and 97% of dogs involved in fatal dog attacks in 2006 were not spayed/neutered.
By the way, the Pit Bull that attacked the Dominic Solesky was male and was not neutered.

People leave dogs chained outside.

The Humane Society of the United States says an otherwise friendly and happy dog, when kept continually chained and isolated, often becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and aggressive.
And the ASPCA says a chained or tethered dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than a dog that is not chained or tethered.

People mistreat their dogs.

The ASPCA says 84% of dogs involved in fatal attacks in 2006 were maintained by reckless owners. They were abused or neglected, not humanely controlled or contained, or allowed to interact with children unsupervised.
Should we blame the dogs in these cases or their irresponsible owners?

Where does this leave us? Are Pit Bulls dangerous or not?
  Here's what seems to be the only sensible response to that question: there is no blanket answer. Every dog must be evaluated as an individual. There are aggressive dogs of every breed, and some of them are Pit Bulls.
Should you be cautious when meeting a new Pit Bull? Yes. You should be cautious when meeting any dog.
But if you take the approach that each dog should be judged as an individual, you will find there are a huge number of very gentle, loving, wonderful Pit Bull-type dogs.
  Unfortunately, as long as Pit Bulls are favored by dog fighters and criminals and are abused to create aggressive results; as long as people fail to have their dogs spayed/neutered; as long as owners neglect and abuse their dogs; as long as people use their dogs for guarding and keep them chained or tethered outdoors; as long as the media continues to report stories of Pit Bull bites but say virtually nothing about the hundreds of thousands of other bites each year; the Pit Bull's bad reputation will be difficult to break.
Save 90 hopes this post can contribute to setting the record straight. Please share it.
   And if you want to see some of the amazing Pit Bulls in our area, check out the three vignettes in this short video (less than
2 1/2 minutes).
If a picture is worth a thousand words, video must be good for a million.

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