Pitbull/mix Information Taskforce (PIT)

We got a LOT of feedback from the initial column. Wow! Here's a sample:

"(sing to Blowin in the Wind) How many deaths will it take till WAIF knows that too many good dogs have died..."

"I still miss Jockster." (Pitbull/mix WAIF euthanized after it made a well-behaved appearance at last year's big SpringFling fundraiser).

"Here's an idea for a WAIF motto: We adopt the easy ones."

"As an accountant, I wonder if WAIF has ever done a cost analysis. What's more cost effective? Helping owners keep their pets, or seizing pets, feeding, housing, medicating, and maintaining them for a year and killing them anyway? Guess WAIF has money to burn."

"WAIF is afraid to adopt Pitbull/mixes or dogs that even look like Pitbull/mixes. And that's just the truth. It's part of WAIF's culture. They say discouraging things to people who come to see them and use a negative tone of voice. I won't volunteer there anymore. It's too sad."

"Please remove me from you pit info task force e-mail list. Also please refrain from adding WAIF Coupeville Shelter or The WAIF Oak Harbor Shelter to this e-mail list." (WAIF shelter manager)

"I hope they don't kill Smiley. He's a good dog in a bad situation."

"There is a great website out of Denver that is raising money to sue the government for implementing the breed ban there(and hopefully to reverse it). More than 1400 dogs have been killed since 2005 there simply because they were pit bulls. Makes me nauseous. Just google Denver B.A.N.D. Breeding Awareness Not Discrimination. Great cause to donate to!"

"Shelters like WAIF kills strays that look like pitbull/mixes, but I don't understand how they can be sure what kind of dog a stray is."

This last comment posed an interesting question, so we created a quick "Find the Pit/mix" quiz at: http://www.msbmoran.com/Pets/PitmixQuiz.html

See how you do. Then try the "Find the Pit Bull" quiz at:

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v3.html

To quote the well-respected Animal Farm Foundation.org website, "It is impossible to breed label dogs of unknown history and genetics solely on the basis of their appearance. There is so much behavioral variability within each breed, and even more within breed mixes, that we cannot reliably predict a dog's behavior or his suitability for a particular adopter based on breed alone. Each dog is an individual. We must take the lead and free ourselves from stereotypes that imply simple solutions to complex issues, in order to better serve our animals and society."
Amy Marder, VMD

Meanwhile Smiley waits.

The good news is that WAIF now has an appeals process, which we were sent in writing by the new Executive Director.

So if you are turned down and you feel it is unfair, you no longer have to resort to storming around WAIF's parking lot yelling! (We've seen it happen and it isn't pretty). Instead, you may appeal!

And that's a good, civilized way to handle things. We were instructed to write a letter requesting a review of the decision by the Executive Director. From there, we may appeal to the Board of Directors.

This is extremely healthy for everyone involved, especially the animals. It isn't good in matters of life and death for one person to have total, unchecked control.

Any legitimate organization needs fair, clear, and consistent procedures, and a system of checks and balances. Plus, a review process shows respect for people who want to adopt or foster animals.

In our case, we weren't even given the chance to fill out an application for Smiley! Our references weren't checked, our plans to build him his own private yard were ignored, and information about us was inaccurate (we still have no idea where it came from).

What if an applicant has potential difficulties that can be corrected (better fencing needed, another pet in the home spayed, whatever)? Creativity and kindness can go a long way for the animals' welfare and the shelter's image in the community. For example, we would have been happy to organize a pack of "Hammer Hounds" to assist with fences for FREE.

Nonprofit shelters like WAIF that accept taxpayers' money are quasi-public. They have a responsibility to conduct themselves openly and professionally. The public can legally challenge the expenditure of public funds if it loses faith in a shelter's integrity.

Admittedly, these dogs tend to attract some people who do not deserve them, and some of the dogs will never be suitable to adopt, but we know there are also many area families (at least 140 so far -- nice to meet you!) who would make good adoptive parents for many Pitbull/mixes. The families and the dogs deserve serious case-by-case evaluation and the right support.

Killing strays based on their looks, or warehousing special needs dogs until they go kookoo isn't good enough. Crying over their dead, euthanized bodies because "no one wants them" is a cop-out.

To see models for two pit bull/mix programs that really care about these special placement dogs:

Pit Bull Hall

Pit Bull Rescues San Diego

We will keep you posted on our appeal. Likewise, if you are a responsible person who has been turned down trying to adopt an alleged Pitbull/mix from WAIF or elsewhere, write us about your experience.

"I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it." ~Abraham Lincoln