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Dogs Labeled ‘Pit Bull’ Wait 3 Times Longer for Adoption

Discussion in 'Rescue & Adoption' started by Vicki, Mar 24, 2016.

  1. Vicki

    Vicki Administrator Staff Member

    Dogs Labeled ‘Pit Bull’ Wait 3 Times Longer for Adoption: Study

    Melissa Chan March 23, 2016

    Even if they aren't actually pit bulls

    Dogs that are labeled as pit bulls in shelters wait three times as long to be adopted than dogs that look like the breed but are classified differently, according to a study published Wednesday.

    Researchers found that potential pet owners were less likely to take home a dog if shelters called it a pit bull because the breed is negatively perceived and considered less friendly and more aggressive than other breeds. “We were surprised how very similar looking dogs sometimes get labeled ‘pit bull’ and other times as something completely different,” said Lisa Gunter, the author of the study published in the journal PLOS ONE. “These dogs may look and act the same, but the pit bull label damns them to a much longer wait to adoption.”

    Gunter and the other researchers said assigned breed labels at shelters can be inaccurate and based on sometimes misleading appearances. The research suggests that dogs could be inadvertently penalized when labeled as a pit bull breed. “In the shelter, removing breed labels was associated with increased adoptions and reduced length of stay for all breed groups, particularly pit-bull-type dogs,” the study said. “Given the inherent challenges of breed assignment based on morphology, removing breed labels from kennel cards and online adoption profiles may be a simple, low-cost strategy to improve shelter dog outcomes.”

    Dogs Labeled ‘Pit Bull’ Wait 3 Times Longer for Adoption
     
  2. Mislabeling dog breeds HAS TO STOP!
     
  3. succiboi

    succiboi Pup

    I mean, the average family isn’t looking for a dog with a high potential for dog/cat/human aggression, so a pit bull is not the right choice in most cases. Furthermore, things like this are what encourage shelters to label every obvious pit bull as a ‘lab mix’ and push them onto families not prepared to handle them. So I agree that intentional mislabeling of breeds has to stop, as it is unfair to both the dogs and adopters.
     
  4. GrChHaunch

    GrChHaunch Top Dog

    Here is the problem. It is not so much the people aggression, is that people think they can train these dogs to get along with other dogs. It has been my experience that doing so is impossible. No matter how much socialization, at some point they start (not all bu nearly lall) no matter what you do.

    Karen and Chad are determined to take spot to the park and it does not end well. I made tat mistake with my first dog.
     
  5. slim12

    slim12 Super Moderator Staff Member

    I would never doubt the first post. It is the same when a dog bites someone. If he/she remotely resembles a pit bull it is then a pitbull. Period.

    And true there is always that chance and there are exceptions to the rule.

    I have had one dog that put his mouth on me with ill intentions. I got my first bulldog in maybe 1982 or so and since then I have never seen a bulldog that would defend anything. Every dog I ever owned would load up with any one willing to pet them on the head and leave willingly.

    I have had a couple that would turn toward me and somewhat snap back to make me let them go but that is resolved with good handling.

    The best female I ever owned was a Patrick/Eli bred bitch and I bought her brother and she was bought by a buddy of mine. He took her to the dog park, to the vet, the play ground, to pet store and he was socializing the shit out of her. When she was 6-8 months old a little foo-foo dog grabbed her by the nose and thousands of dollars in vet bills later he gave her to me.

    It is in them and can be buried with time and effort. It will never come out when you have a heightened awareness or you are prepared/on the ready. It will be at the most inopportune time. Sort of like to give themselves a few more seconds/minutes to rain down a bit more of hell.

    S
     
  6. GrChHaunch

    GrChHaunch Top Dog

    I have a Face Book friend who works w/ dog rescues and the SPCA. The one guy I know is actually a good guy and means well. We are friends via some political stuff (we actually have opposite political views but have come to respect each other). Having studied this group (The Humaniacs) for a long time, I am sorry, but most of them want to put down every pit bull they can get their hands on. He is a good guy but most of that group is a bunch of angry feminists and Karens who think it is their mission to end pit bulls, or anything remotely resembling a pit bull.

    They believe the most incredible nonsense like bait dogs etc. You cannot reason with them whatsoever.

    As someone who lives in an urban environment (very different from most of the guys here who have yards in more rural settings) you just have to accept some facts: If there is ever any kind of problem...anything whatsoever, your dog will be blamed. If I take my dog for a walk, run on the bike, and someones Shepard gets loose and attacks it, it will be the pit bulls fault. Always. Chad and Karen will absolutely freak if they see a real bulldog go against a Shepard or Rottie, or whatever and they will call the police and it will be your fault, no matter what. Even if you carry a breaking stick and get your dog off quick.

    Discrimination against his breed, or anything that looks like it is total and absolute.
     
  7. slim12

    slim12 Super Moderator Staff Member

    Very true, if it looks like a pit bull and something happens it will to the fault of the pitbull and the pitbull owner. That is a constant..

    Most vets recommend spaying/neutering the dogs that come thru their clinics. I get that and have no issue as there are enough dogs in the world already. But most vets go to the next level when "pit" is involved in that scenario.

    The last female I bred went to day 65-66 and was showing no signs of being ready. I took her to a local vet and when they called all the puppies were dead and she was full of infection and had a lot of damage to her uterus. They needed to spay her. I simply did not believe them. Fortunately one of my son's good friends works there as a vet tech. He called her and she said it was pretty bad and that she believed it would be best for the dog.

    And I am so pre-dispositioned in my opinion that I am taking the word from the three year vet tech over the 25 year veterinarian. And in that case it was the health of the dog that mattered not the opinion/feelings of a humaniac.

    S
     
  8. GrChHaunch

    GrChHaunch Top Dog

    I think it was the Bhagwan Rajneesh who said "Have no expectations, therefore you will never be disappoint." Applied to this breed, have absolutely no expectations of fair treatment and you will be OK.
     

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