pitbullsmatter-blog

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"Yet it only takes a brief look at the history of pit bulls to realize that the dogs are not the problem; the humans who misuse them are. For over a hundred years, holding the owners personally responsible was enough to prevent attacks, and the breed was perceived as very child-friendly. With outreach and education, it may be possible to restore that image and rehabilitate the pit bull’s reputation, restoring an iconic American dog to its rightful place among mankind’s best friends." Exactly! Read my mind Cesar! https://www.cesarsway.com/about-dogs/pit-bulls/how-did-pit-bulls-get-a-bad-rap

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Aww, hope she overcomes her fears! Looked like a pit bull didn't she? That's why you should never judge a book by its cover! Not that there's anything wrong with pitties in the first place!

Guess the Breed(s) (rules)

This is Casimir. She’s is 2 years old, weighs 70 pounds, and is approximately 25 inches at the shoulder. She is skittish around dogs and will bark her head off at them; she also barks at passing cars and anything new or different in the house or yard. She LOVES people though and will do anything for a treat. 

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Not the usual post, just thought I'd share

Why Declawing is a Bad Idea (An 1-minute guide)

Read More

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Whoaaa I totally forgot about this blog!

zomg! I am magically typing this through my bff’s brain as I sleep, yep sound asleep here snoring on MY bed…what?

Hey guys, I seriously forgot about this blog! I had to try a few times to get the e-mail right, but then I remembered, my dog has his own e-mail :O

There was something I wanted to post on my own blog, but I feel like any of my animal rights/bsl/rah rah rah rants should probably be posted here since most people who follow my little buddy will be interested in it.

I’ve been watching this series called “Fatal Attractions”. I know, sounds like some sort of sexual dealy… but no, it’s all about people who own exotic animals and how things can go extremely wrong for them, especially when the animal is not properly taken care of (no shit).

So there was one (I should say like three???) episodes on owning big cats, mostly tigers, and one story was actually in Ontario! What are the odds!

It goes on to tell the story about a man who owns a bunch of big cats, he keeps them in an enclosure, he ties them up on ropes in his drive-way (uhh??) and he lets them come in his home.

SO! specifically, the part I want to get to is about his tiger who he was showing to a young boy because the boy was doing a report on tigers for school (I totally did a report on tigers in the 7th grade and no one showed me a fucking tiger) and the boy apparently made a sudden movement and the tiger lunged and injured him. Alright… So nothing is done about said tiger, no one says okay mr. tiger man, maybe you should give up your tigers and let them live in a slightly more natural home.. Nope, mr. tiger man loves his tigers and it was the little boys fault for moving too fast anyway.

Time goes by and mr. tiger man is mauled to death by his tiger.

Big surprise? No, not really. These are actual beasties that can kill you and they will, because they are FUCKING WILD AS BALLS. This whole “the kitteh cat unnerstanz i loves him”, no, no he fucking doesn’t. Go get a dog.

Anyway, I may be being a bit mean, but it pisses me off.

You can still own a tiger in Ontario! BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE A PIT BULL?! You cannot own a dog that has been bred to be a family pet for centuries? You cannot own a dog who is just like any other dogs, but has some different features?

ALL DOGS originated from wolves. We started off as goddamned cavemen and it’s said that we would have NEVER survived if it weren’t for the packs of wolves we picked up as our buds who helped us hunt and kill and shared in the noms.

My actual, serious, point is is that you can have a tiger, it can attack a small boy, and you are allowed to keep said tiger, but if my dog ever bit anything, it would be taken and put down. Sounds completely reasonable don’t you think?! I don’t see what’s so irrational about that now do you… Keeping a wild animal with true wild instincts, nothing that has been bred out of them since we domesticated them, but not being able to have a domestic dog who has been bred over the years to be a faithful companion?

Totally makes me want to rant my face off even more.

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If you ever feel alone in your battle against BSL, or you just can’t stand the dirty looks you get from strangers as you and your furbaby walk down the street, remember that you’re not alone. Not only are there TONS of us normies battling alongside you, trying to end discrimination, but there are plenty of celebrities fighting right alongside all of us. Here are just a few: 1. Wil Wheaton - Owner of two rescued pit bulls, Seamus and Marlowe. Is never quiet about standing up for his breed when a different celebrity may bash on the breed and the “thugs” who own them.  2. Rachel Ray - Probably being one of the more famous pit bull owners, Rachel spreads her love for her dogs everywhere she goes. She has owned many pibbles, and it seems like she is always raving about her love for her little girl, Isaboo. Rachel also recently had a cop on her show who rescued a pit bull he was called out to handle. He picked up the “vicious animal” and took him home. Oh, did I also mention that Bo, the vicious animal in question, was also on the show with his loving officer. Rachel gave them a year supply of amazing dog food and treats. 3. Jon Stewart - This comedian has very strong political views, and many watch him to get some ease and laughter on our political plight. He is also the loving parent to two rescued pit bulls, Monkey and Shamsky. The set of “The Daily Show” is open to the staff’s pets, and according to dogster.com and The Bark, there are at least four dogs roaming the set unsupervised on any given day. Sarah Palin said that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull was lipstick. Stewart countered with, “One is unfairly maligned in spite of evidence that it is no worse than any other dog, and one is an artificial demographic that is no better or worse than any other mom.” And, during the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal, Stewart used his show to show his disgust. “He calls [dogfighting] a sport! I’d like to cover him in liver and let the dogs see if he’s as fast and elusive as they say he is. My guess is no.” 4. Cesar Millan - And, last but definitely not least, is my personal hero, Cesar Millan. Millan has taken in Michael Vick dogs, who live within his pack, as well as the dogs with the worst behavioral issues who were stuck in our country’s natural disasters, like Katrina, and could not find their owners. Cesar has shown the world time and time again that with proper exercise, discipline, and affection, ANY dog, no matter the breed or it’s past, can be a loving member of any family.

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The sad facts about dogfighting http://humanesociety.org/issues/dogfighting/facts/dogfighting_fact_sheet.html

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Let’s talk about my wrinkly sleepy baby

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Yes! And when the animal (ok im pretty much referring to puppies/dogs here) misbehaves, people think they “didn’t get a good one” and send it back to the shelter! Or maybe it didn’t come from a shelter, well now it is, just because the owners didn’t take the time to train it properly and it became a terror! If your going to get a dog TRAIN IT! Obedience classes are not a bad idea if you can’t train the dog yourself, and some people might say, well, I don’t have the money/time/etc.. then why did you get a dog!? Same for any other animal. Maybe you don’t have to train your cat or parrot, but please Please PULLLEASE make sure you know what your getting into! Also, many animals are euthanized in shelters each year simply due to lack of space. No kill shelters may send their extra animals to a different shelter just to make more room: a shelter that may or may not be a kill shelter. The point is, do your research, make sure your ready for the commitment of getting an animal and please #adoptdontshop. There’s many great pets just waiting for you to give them a second chance!

this is your yearly reminder that animals are not toys. they are a huge commitment. even small pets like hamsters and fish can be expensive and require a lot of work. if you’re planning to get someone a pet as a gift this holiday season, please only do so if you’re 100% sure that they are willing and able to take responsibility for the well-being of a living thing, potentially for years or even decades.

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A friend posted this on my Facebook, and I wanted to share and give proper credit to @cheesymeatballpibble especially on #nationalpuppyday ❤️#endBSL

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Are Pit Bulls Vicious?

Ok, so as you may know from my previous rant, my shepherd Sadie recently got attacked by two dogs (no they weren’t pitbulls) which inspired me to write up my first actual article on, well, pitbulls. They stir up a lot of controversy so I’ll give you the facts and from there you can decide whether you agree or not. Really, I can’t make you believe my point of view or the evidence, but I will post it here to educate those who actually want to learn a thing or two. (WARNING! Really long!! Skim through as you please) But read the whole thing, or at least check out some of the sources before arguing. Seriously. be educated first before trying to criticize me or make a snap response with something you heard or read. —————- Pit bulls are not inherently aggressive or vicious. Ok, allow me to rephrase. Gotta look at the facts, after all. Pit bulls were used for dog fighting which means some were bred for aggressiveness toward other animals, but extreme loyalty and docility towards humans. Why? If the dog fighter had to pull the dog out of the ring during an intense dog fight or the like, but the dog turned around and snapped, that dog fighter may not have arms anymore. Therefore they were bred to be friendly towards humans. You need to be cautious around other animals, sure, but many do perfectly fine if they are raised right and socialized properly (what about Cesar Millians 40ish pitbulls that all get along living in one space! Some even have a history of aggression! Even if you don’t like Cesar, that is not the point, the point is they coexist PEACEFULLY! It can be done!) which is the OWNERS responsibility if they are going to get a pit bull or any other dog for that matter. When somebody chooses to get a dog as a pet they have an obligation to take care of it and train it properly. Some are perfectly fine anyway, and wouldn’t dream of hurting anyone. (Ever see those cute pitbull and cat or pitbull and kid videos?) not to say they couldn’t because they are animals and are unpredictable, let’s not be naive. But that applies to any animal. Horses can hurt people. Parrots. Cats. Cows. Labradors. That’s the risk you are willing to take when you get an animal. You just have to be knowledgeable, do your research and take proper measures to reduce that risk as much as possible. It’s not the ‘breed’ it’s the individual dog. Other breeds can (can, not necessarily will) kill other animals anyway. I know a Boxer who is gentle as can be with cats, chickens, guinea pigs, mice, birds, horses and goats. Keep in mind boxers were once and still are prized for their hunting skills. It’s “in their genetics” (a common anti-pitbull argument explaining why they attack people/animals) yet he apparently doesn’t act on these ‘genetics’ due to the owners training and socializing him very well Cats crawl all over him, literally and I feel kinda bad for the poor guy as he just sits there and tolerates it. Same can be for pit bulls. Stop blaming genetics or pure instinct because there are many other factors and that is very rarely the sole cause of a vicious attack. Saying all pit bulls are vicious in any sense of the word is BREEDist! It’s like saying all black men are criminals. Some are, yes but NOT because they are black, or men! Pit bulls CAN be vicious and aggressive dogs—with the wrong owners and/or environment. Same goes for: Golden retrievers, poodles, border collies, German Shepherd, chihuahuas, greyhounds, Labradors, Australian shepherds, Rottweilers, beagles, Dobermans, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu… get what I’m saying? Truth is ANY dog can be vicious if raised wrong. I’m repeating myself here a bit because so many people don’t get that. My 5 month old puppy got viciously attacked by two Purebred Great Pyrenees while we were on a walk. It was the classic the dog ‘just snapped’ scenereo. Which is actually subtle signals that humans fail to notice, such as a stare or micro expressions with their body language and face. NO dog “just snaps.” yes, a dog fight can happen within seconds, but there are still signals, subtle (a certain look) or not so subtle (growling, baring of teeth.) Should Great Pyrenees be banned because two individuals almost killed my dog? Let’s see here: They were left alone in the yard all day and had escaped because they were not properly contained. Seems like they weren’t socialized, exercised or given much attention either. They’d done this before but the owners admit to doing nothing about it. The living environment was all wrong for them and they were likely bored and frustrated. Who’s fault was that now? hmmmm? STOP blaming breeds, and START banning IRRESPONSIBLE owners!! Many pitbulls live a normal life, never attacking anyone except with huge slobbery kisses. Of course the media dosn’t want you to pay attention to that, but rather demonizes them and reporting any unknown attacking dog as a “pit bull” to get more views. Someone even called a new station after they reported a stray ‘pitbull’ attack. They were asked if they could verify if the dog in question was actually a pit bull. They said no. “How can you report a pitbull attack if you don’t know if the dog was a pit bull?” They were asked. After that, the news station didn’t answer. Another news report had a story about a Border Collie killing a child. The picture in the article was of a pit bull, and most of the comments below were anti-pitbull. There was another article about a pack of dogs attacking a human. Some of these were clearly not Pit bulls, but the only picture shown was of the one dog who was a—you guessed it, pit bull. Then there was an article about a Jack russel killing a baby. The comment section was again, all about how bad pit bulls were. Really though, do you think they DNA test every attacking dog? If it looks like a pit bull, it’s a pitbull. Except when it’s one of the other 24 breeds (you read that right) that commonly get mistaken for pitbulls. If you lump such a broad and random category of dogs together, of course the numbers will be higher! It was even admitted that there is no official well.. ANYTHING for authenticating dog bite reports. That means somebody could report something and add it to the numbers, even if it’s not accurate. That is the truth behind the number of pitbull attacks being higher than other dogs. They even did an experiment where 7 dogs identified by the SPCA they were in as ‘pitbulls’ were picked at random and DNA tested. Only 1 was a purebred APBT. 3 were pit mixes. Three had no pit bull at all in them. Yet if they were in Ontario or other such places they would have to be put down and/or restricted just because of how they look. (Ever heard of Lucky the Labrador? The neighbours of the owner though it looked like a pitbull so reported it. The officer refused to look at the CKC papers registering Lucky as a purebred lab. They wanted to take it away to be destroyed. This happened in Ontario. Look it up.) If they had attacked someone it would be added to the pit bull bite statistics that the pit haters so often point to. Not to mention the fact that not all dog bites are reported. If a toy or small sized dog were to bite someone, it dosn’t do as much damage. If a pitbull bites someone it is much worse because they are strong dogs. What they don’t have is a locking jaw. That’s a ridiculous myth, and if you put a pitbulls skull next to a Labradors or a chihuahua you will find they are pretty much exactly the same, except maybe different sizes. There is no mechanism that locks the jaw. That is just pure determination and high pain tolerance from the dogs part. Many towns across the US have been repealing their pitbull bans because (surprise!) it had not reduced the annual number of dog attacks. Ontario has had a pit bull ban since 2005 and yet the number of attacks have gone up! The only reason that pitbulls could up the bite statistics in a realistic way is because there are more of them. The controversy surrounding pitbulls has drawn attention to the breed, making them in high demand. The bad rap means many bad people looking for a “tough” dog will get them as a status symbol, and mistreat them, continuing the cycle of them having a bad rap. If more pitbulls are demanded, more will be bred leading to being more of them. There is also a lot of stray pit bulls (more of them in the first place=more strays) and strays are much more likely to attack people or other animals than family pets, regardless of breed. How did we come to hate pitbulls so much anyway? Many used to be called “Nanny dogs” and were left with children because they were so good with kids. (Never leave children unsupervised around ANY dog!) As well, many were used as an all around working farm dog. It’s the thugs and dog fighters who recognized the intimidating appearance and traits of the breed, and used it to their advantage in blood sports such as bull baiting and dog fighting. That’s when they started to get a bad rap. But pitbulls weren’t really considered more vicious than other dogs till the 2000s when the bite statistics (which are skewed anyway) started to rise. The American Tempermant Test Society tested many different breeds for good tempermant (friendly, non-aggressive, not shy or fearful) and pitbulls passed and were ranked even higher than the golden retriever. Pit bulls are determined and loyal and that is their downfall. Many bad owners use that intense loyalty to the owner to train them to do bad things. Their determination keeps them going, even when it’s painful. With a loving pack and a good home, these dogs are said to be very sweet and affectionate. But then again, who knows? Can’t judge a dog by its breed after all. Some are sweet and affectionate, some are more shy, some are independent, outgoing, maybe very obedient or not as obedient as you’d like… the point is they are ALL individuals and that’s what matters! BSL is getting GOOD dogs put down! Not all pit bulls are vicious, and not all vicious dogs are pitbulls! I could make this longer adding the stories off all those who have sweet, loving adorable meme ers of the family that happen to be pitbulls but I think I made my point. BSL IS BS!! HELP END THE BULLY SH*T LAWS! I leave you with some sources, a quote and a suggested search Google gave me: “are boxers and pitbulls the same?” ——— In the 70’s they blamed the dobermans, In the 80’s they blamed the German Shepherd, In the 90’s they blamed the Rottweiler, Now they blame the Pitbull. When will they blame the humans? -Cesar Millan —————————– Sources: - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/pitbullattacks.htm - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/breedbansbadidea.htm - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/breedbanslabradormistake.htm - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/breedbanspersecutionontariostyle.htm - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/mandatoryeuthanasiapitbullterrier.htm - http://knowledgenuts.com/2014/03/08/the-dog-breed-that-was-actually-bred-to-be-friendly/ - http://www.pickthepit.com - http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8112394 - http://americanpitbullfoundation.com/problem-people-pit-bulls/ - https://www.google.ca/amp/s/m.mic.com/articles/amp/107398/here-s-what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-pit-bulls?client=safari - https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/The-Role-of-Breed-in-Dog-Bite-Risk-and-Prevention.aspx#references - http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/pitbulls-used-be-considered-perfect-nanny-dogs-children-until-media-turned-them - http://www.salon.com/2013/02/05/in_defense_of_the_pitbull_partner/ - http://www.fairdog.dk/elements/documents/research/canine-behavior.pdf - https://www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Raising-My-Dog-Section/Responsible-Ownership/Your-Responsibilities-in-Case-of-a-Bite-Incidents - http://www.yourspca.org/pages/bred-to-love/dispelling-common-myths-about-pit-bull-terriers - http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/2013/03/19/the-truth-about-pit-bulls/ - https://www.google.ca/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3710598?client=safari - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002331500310X - https://www.google.ca/amp/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/500558/?client=safari - http://patch.com/missouri/townandcountry-manchester/don-t-judge-a-dog-by-his-looks

- https://www.google.ca/amp/globalnews.ca/news/2527882/torontos-pit-bulls-are-almost-gone-so-why-are-there-more-dog-bites-than-ever/amp/?client=safari Not enough? Something I missed? Something innacurate? Tell me! We can discuss more on this topic!

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You want to talk statistics? How about this?

#pitbullsofig #pittymom #dontbullymybreed #pitbulls