Pitbull understanding Month
I’m broken on October’s pitbull understanding month.
When you set a group of dogs aside as well as label them differently, people view them differently.
Pitbulls are just dogs. That’s the message, right?
I believe we might do a bit much better conveying that message.
For example, let’s stop with the memes floating around that compare pitbulls to harmful as well as fierce things. Let’s stop telling people what is “more harmful than a pitbull.” exactly how is that helping the dogs? It’s just making them noise scary to people who really don’t comprehend dogs.
It’s time to re-consider the general message, as well as what we’re truly saying.
You told me with That Mutt’s Facebook page that pitbull understanding is still necessary, as well as you’re right.
As long as canine daycares still ban them, we requirement awareness, you said.
As long as training classes, house complexes, “dog friendly” hotels, cities, counties as well as even countries ban them, we requirement awareness.
As long as shelters as well as pounds are killing them, we requirement awareness.
This is all true. I can’t suggest these unfortunate realities.
But here’s a difficult question:
Are you prepared to view pitbulls as just dogs?
As a pitbull lover, are you prepared to stop seeing pitbulls as “more needy” than other dogs? Are you prepared to stop seeing them as “more likely to be abused” or “more likely to be misunderstood” or “more likely to be killed in a shelter”?
Could we even think about dropping the term “pitties”?
If we really want to assist get much more pitbulls adopted, I believe it’s essential that we begin seeing them as just dogs. We want everybody else to begin seeing them as “just dogs,” so it’s time for us to do the same.
If I honestly look at myself, I understand with certainty one of the reasons I like pitbulls is since for many years I saw them as “needing someone.” needing me. Isn’t that what draws a great deal of us to dogs in general? Isn’t that why a few of us embrace as well as foster dogs?
The believed of rescuing a pitbull makes me feel great since I would be taking in a canine “no one” wants.
But do you see where that believed process is wrong? Those of us who like them the most are frequently the ones spreading pitbull myths.
Pitbulls are among the most prominent dogs in America! They’re far from “unwanted.” Yes, of program there are still people who requirement lots of awareness. however in general, people like pitbulls. We’re holding the dogs back if we pretend otherwise.
Phasing out pitbull-specific programs
The animal Rescue league of Iowa has just recently made the decision to phase out its “pitbull” particular programs in purchase to include pitbulls within the larger group of “dogs,” according to a blog publish featured on animal farm Foundation’s web site, a group with the objective to protected equal treatment for pitbulls.
There is a time for pitbull understanding programs, as well as Des Moines needed it extremely terribly three years ago, according to the post. That’s why animal Rescue league produced its “Pit Crew” breed ambassador program at the time. because then, the group has made a big difference as far as showing people that pitbulls are typical dogs.
But now animal Rescue league states it’s time to relocation ahead as well as stop separating the pitbulls from other dogs.
“Do we continue down the path of ‘Team Pit Bull’ where we focus so heavily on ‘pit bull’ dogs that people see them as different?” wrote animal Rescue League. “Or do we re-integrate back into the path of ‘Team Dog’ where we show people that ‘pit bull’ dogs are just dogs?”
The group is selecting the latter – to include its “pitbull programs” within its general “dog programs.” nothing is altering except exactly how the pitbulls are branded.
Of course, this doesn’t imply every city is prepared to stop its pitbull ambassador programs. Some areas are currently in determined requirement of starting pitbull awareness, just as Des Moines needed to do three years ago.
Phasing these programs out ought to be the supreme goal, as well as each city will reach that point at different times. Eventually, a shelter’s “pitbull training classes” ought to be included in its “dog training classes.” Its “pitbull spay as well as neuter clinics” ought to be moved into its “dog spay as well as neuter clinics.” as well as so on.
“Ambassador programs are a tool to assist begin adopting out dogs,” according to animal farm Foundation. “But beyond that, the programs can have unintentional consequences that make ‘pit bull’ dogs seem different as well as unfavorable or scary, which implies the window for having such programs needs to be temporary.”
I couldn’t agree more, however I’d likewise like to understand what you think.
We can’t get stuck in separating out the pitbulls, right? At some point, we requirement to relocation forward.
Could we realistically shift “Pitbull understanding Month” to “Dog understanding Month”? I believe we’re getting quite darn close to that.
We want politicians to stop seeing pitbulls as different than other dogs.
We want landlords as well as canine daycare owners to stop seeing them as different than other dogs.
We want the general public to stop seeing them as different than other dogs.
Are we prepared to do the same?
What do you think? Is pitbull understanding still necessary? What ought to the message be?