General Discussion

dballance

(5,756 posts)

55. I volunteer at the local Humane Shelter.

Wed Jun 18, 2014, 09:24 AM

Jun 2014

A few weeks ago we had the most loving Pit Bull at our shelter. It was clear from his injuries he was recently part of a Michael Vick sort of a dog-fighting establishment. It was quite apparent to all of us at the shelter that he was not the aggressive sort of fighting type. So it's no wonder he was abandoned and came to us.

He was quite the loving lap dog. Well, maybe not just my lap but all over my body kind of love. He wasn't a small dog. We, here at the Oregon Humane Society are not exactly a "no-kill" shelter. I'd say we're a "low-kill" shelter. We will euthanize animals that are very ill with no chance of recovery. We will euthanize animals that have a severe, and I do mean severe, history of biting and aggression. We do our best to rehabilitate animals that have aggression issues and try to get them to the point where they can be adopted. Fortunately, we succeed in those efforts more than we fail.

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Children Need Pit Bulls: A Picture Book [View all] baldguy Jun 2014 OP

BAD IDEA! boston bean Jun 2014 #1

I wish people would spay and neuter roody Jun 2014 #2

That is very true! etherealtruth Jun 2014 #5

Pit Bulls are killed out of unreasoned hatred, uninformed fear & outright prejudice. baldguy Jun 2014 #7

millions of unwanted dogs aof all breeds are killed elehhhhna Jun 2014 #21

And what of the *wanted* dogs that *should* exist? Do they get killed as well? baldguy Jun 2014 #23

Pitbulls are being killed....because they bite people wercal Jun 2014 #88

Thank you for your post. SheilaT Jun 2014 #91

Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #101

Haters are gonna hate. NutmegYankee Jun 2014 #105

I voted against hiding the post you're responding to. delrem Jun 2014 #133

Some of their owners have freaked me out. nt arthritisR_US Jun 2014 #137

But now you speak about their owners. delrem Jun 2014 #138

Untrue - the three most aggressive breeds are Dachshunds, Chis and Jack Russell Terriers adigal Jun 2014 #150

I've been around my share of dachshunds and jack russells, SheilaT Jun 2014 #159

Here's the link adigal Jun 2014 #164

That's such BS. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #189

What do you think about the fact DirkGently Jun 2014 #211

+++++++++ uppityperson Jun 2014 #212

Ok show me a youtube video of a 911 call "My Chihuahua is killing my mother and I can't stop him!!!! Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #214

You're mistaken. Killing machine stories go back at least a hundred years. Boudica the Lyoness Jul 2014 #221

Oh dear. You understand what an "anecdote" is, right? DirkGently Jul 2014 #223

Please don't consider irresponsible roody Jun 2014 #145

This is so silly....I have brought thousands of dogs up from the south adigal Jun 2014 #149

Why is it necessary to bring thousands up from the south? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #171

We don't kill most breeds up here and we have no puppies adigal Jun 2014 #185

Sounds like the south needs to come into the 21st century TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #187

In the suburbs and rural areas, they don't care adigal Jun 2014 #188

Yeah, it sounds pretty back asswards. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #190

You forgot, BAD and IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS! nt arthritisR_US Jun 2014 #136

I tried to post an image etherealtruth Jun 2014 #3

No, they don't seveneyes Jun 2014 #4

Thanks for the reminder to donate to Victoria Wilcher, TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #6

Victoria was maimed because of her own kin. baldguy Jun 2014 #12

..and their four-legged shredding machines. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #16

So, you are advocating the murder of a member of my family baldguy Jun 2014 #19

What are you babbling about? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #22

"Those dogs got off easy..." Considering those dogs were KILLED, baldguy Jun 2014 #24

My money is on the lovely little girl, and not the dogs. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #25

And would you finally admit you would kill my dog as well? baldguy Jun 2014 #28

Make sure it sticks to gnawing the red rubber ball in the background TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #29

So you acknowledge that the responsibility is on the owners, then. Scootaloo Jun 2014 #30

Bullshit! The BSLs you support take away well-behaved, properly socialized dogs from their families baldguy Jun 2014 #31

Alcoa or Reynolds? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #37

You support BSLs. BSLs kill innocent dogs & deprives their humans of loving family members. baldguy Jun 2014 #39

I don't know what a BSL is, never heard of it, TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #50

Breed Specific Legislation, which goes along with fearing or hating all dogs of a particular style uppityperson Jun 2014 #60

A family friend has a son with no penis or testicles, thanks to a Pitt bull joeglow3 Jun 2014 #98

How is that *MY* dog's fault? baldguy Jun 2014 #106

How is Sandy Hook *MY* guns fault? joeglow3 Jun 2014 #107

Train your gun NOT to shoot someone. baldguy Jun 2014 #108

So, you oppose all gun legislation? joeglow3 Jun 2014 #110

Far from it. All guns should be registered & all gun owners should be licensed. baldguy Jun 2014 #114

So, you put pit bulls up there with constitutional rights? joeglow3 Jun 2014 #118

You put the "rights" of inanimate objects over those of living, breathing, FEELING creatures? baldguy Jun 2014 #120

No. I put them both down extremely low. joeglow3 Jun 2014 #121

But you're willing to allow humans to continue to be massacred by guns. baldguy Jun 2014 #123

Real numbers don't tell the story joeglow3 Jun 2014 #128

Real number do tell the real story. baldguy Jun 2014 #130

I never said keep all the guns joeglow3 Jun 2014 #134

Guns can be locked up Boudica the Lyoness Jul 2014 #222

Looks like a cute dog. MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #33

Awww, cutie pie. roody Jun 2014 #40

Yes, she is. baldguy Jun 2014 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author Mugu Jun 2014 #47

Love her ears! get the red out Jun 2014 #54

we've been looking for that dog! snooper2 Jun 2014 #57

Awwwww BigL Jun 2014 #78

She is a beauty malokvale77 Jun 2014 #96

There are no bad guns, only bad gun owners. joeglow3 Jun 2014 #99

This sweetie looks just like my neighbor's Pit that chased off some creep following me home IVoteDFL Jun 2014 #183

That is EXACTLY what my redneck neighbor said about his gun. joeglow3 Jun 2014 #97

Creepy comment. "Kin?" Like "those people?" Really? DirkGently Jun 2014 #61

I don't agree it's entirely due to their upbringing. hollowdweller Jun 2014 #8

As you imply, we humans should breed dogs for companionship and behavioral traits... targetpractice Jun 2014 #15

You can breed for temperament. You can't ensure temperament by DirkGently Jun 2014 #63

You bring up a good point about socialization beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #72

"Hate me all you want, I'm gonna love you right back... Demo_Chris Jun 2014 #9

Does it include photos of children mauled by pit bulls? LisaL Jun 2014 #10

. baldguy Jun 2014 #34

Pit Bulls are like firearms. dilby Jun 2014 #11

30 vs 30,000 baldguy Jun 2014 #17

Compare number of pit bulls in the US to number of Firearms. dilby Jun 2014 #18

You can't even multiply correctly. baldguy Jun 2014 #20

No I think my figures look about right. dilby Jun 2014 #41

A gun death by suicide is less dead than a gun death by murder? Sorry, it don't work that way. baldguy Jun 2014 #43

I think that is the argument gun owners always make. dilby Jun 2014 #46

Guns can not be trained not to shoot. 10,000 kids are injured each year by guns, with 500 dead. baldguy Jun 2014 #48

Are you actually comparing a gun to a living being? etherealtruth Jun 2014 #111

People are "just like firearms" in exactly the same way. DirkGently Jun 2014 #66

That is true and it's why I don't leave my children alone with strangers. dilby Jun 2014 #67

Nor would anyone argue for leaving them with a strange dog. DirkGently Jun 2014 #68

This again??? Really?? n-t Logical Jun 2014 #13

Children probably shouldn't be around dogs capable of such immense bite pressures. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #14

Yeah, because a spike-studded collar just radiates cute and cuddly. scarletwoman Jun 2014 #26

Ha! Good point! elias49 Jun 2014 #44

A poor choice artistically, considering the intended message. Throd Jun 2014 #45

Again, judging individuals based on what they look like is irrational. baldguy Jun 2014 #49

Maybe if all whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #27

Way more inspirational for children than TV MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #32

. baldguy Jun 2014 #35

Really? De Leonist Jun 2014 #69

Not everybody is a dog whisperer cpwm17 Jun 2014 #87

Misbehaving ? De Leonist Jun 2014 #92

What might that dog have done to... say, a toddler? nt MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #203

Hard to say..... De Leonist Jun 2014 #206

I knew this thread would go this way. flvegan Jun 2014 #36

Reminds me of nothing as much as the Heritage Foundation panel on Benghazi: baldguy Jun 2014 #38

Very poor argument. DetlefK Jun 2014 #51

99.9999% of Muslims in the world do not want to kill you. baldguy Jun 2014 #102

Do have hard numbers? DetlefK Jun 2014 #205

here is a rational voice on the topic of kids and pits DrDan Jun 2014 #52

Bad logic, up and down. Any large dog can do harm. DirkGently Jun 2014 #58

I have wondered for some time - which group originated this "you cannot identify" meme DrDan Jun 2014 #62

Eck. Cheap shot. And it's simply the truth regarding pit bulls, like it or not. DirkGently Jun 2014 #65

Of course whenever you want to post a media account of a courageous pit whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #71

Not anything I ever post DirkGently Jun 2014 #74

I don't ascribe concepts like 'evil' to animals whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #76

And you can't tell either biology or instinct from a dog's appearance. DirkGently Jun 2014 #79

So my neighbor was wrong about what kind of dog he had? whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #85

So if this one awful dog was a "Pit Bull," you have proved something? DirkGently Jun 2014 #89

I don't remember any cases of a poodle ripping out the tongue of a child, or any other breed for DrDan Jun 2014 #147

Don't you know some folks don't want to hear that? theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #155

their excuses are getting lamer and lamer . . . as the attacks pile up DrDan Jun 2014 #157

Well, Golden Retrievers sometimes tear children's legs off. DirkGently Jun 2014 #174

Because focusing on nebulous claims of "breed" gives you selective memory? DirkGently Jun 2014 #173

I don't believe anyone has claimed ALL attacks were from pit bulls DrDan Jun 2014 #175

Okay, Dr. Backpedal. What exactly DO you claim? DirkGently Jun 2014 #176

the facts are clear - pits do MORE than their share of bites, deaths, maulings, and tragedy DrDan Jun 2014 #177

Buut .. none of your "facts" have held up yet. DirkGently Jun 2014 #180

So your horrific anecdote proves a case DirkGently Jun 2014 #182

How about a husky eating the head of a child? uppityperson Jun 2014 #194

Yep. Agree. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #81

The dog in the Bakersfield attack was a lab/chow mix. Jenoch Jun 2014 #127

That's right -- thanks. Chow Chows can be bitey DirkGently Jun 2014 #135

Animals don't just "get angry" unless your asshole kid sticks a pen in his ear adigal Jun 2014 #154

oh really . . . DrDan Jun 2014 #156

You are taking one attack, which has extraordinary circumstances, nd painting a whole breed adigal Jun 2014 #158

that "one" pit bull attack occurs daily - and typically a child is the victim DrDan Jun 2014 #160

Sigh. They don't attack more than other dogs. adigal Jun 2014 #163

the injuries are significantly more serious, hence the increased scrutiny DrDan Jun 2014 #170

I do understand that. I hate what happens to pits in the wrong hands. adigal Jun 2014 #186

We had a family friend have their 3 year old's penis and testicles torn off by a pitt bull joeglow3 Jun 2014 #179

I pulled a fox terrier off the genitals of a friend's toddler. uppityperson Jun 2014 #195

With the pit bull, there was no "in time" joeglow3 Jun 2014 #196

I have students who characterize an entire race of people as bad or lazy because of a few kids adigal Jun 2014 #161

no hatred or fear - just able to see the violence and havoc these dog create daily DrDan Jun 2014 #162

Please don't make assumptions that I don't adigal Jun 2014 #165

It's the same logic as all bigotry. DirkGently Jun 2014 #198

And the original post reads: "Children Need Pit Bulls" TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #166

In England, they were the Nanny Dog adigal Jun 2014 #167

Do you have a citation for that? XemaSab Jun 2014 #199

Yep, all those mauled "asshole kid"s had it coming, right? nt Union Scribe Jun 2014 #209

I wish more could be done get the red out Jun 2014 #53

I volunteer at the local Humane Shelter. dballance Jun 2014 #55

May you have a million blessings for your work. Thank you. n/t adigal Jun 2014 #168

Dear Pit Bull haters.... De Leonist Jun 2014 #56

Yeah I've met several whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #59

I'm sure that was a sad and horrific experience for your son and wife to go through.... De Leonist Jun 2014 #64

I remember the neighbor getting the dog as a puppy whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #70

I was savagely attacked by a Great Dane when I was 17. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #73

Were you maimed? whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #75

Yes, but slightly. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #77

Sorry to hear that whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #80

My world view is constantly evolving. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #84

Indeed. The mythology of Pit Bull superpowers. DirkGently Jun 2014 #83

The Dane that attacked me was an intact male, a pregnant female was on the premises. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #90

That seems the one pattern that is repeated. DirkGently Jun 2014 #95

Your posts upthread are outstanding. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #100

Thanks. Rather avoid protracted arguments, but DirkGently Jun 2014 #109

Your willingness to speak up makes me want to do the same. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #117

How do you know that's a pit bull? XemaSab Jun 2014 #126

Bless you!!! Your post restores my faith in mankind. n/t adigal Jun 2014 #153

And I invite you to sit down with the son of a family friend of ours joeglow3 Jun 2014 #210

Ugh....I don't honestly know what to say to that De Leonist Jun 2014 #215

That is a point pit bull supporters try to use joeglow3 Jun 2014 #216

I don't deny that..... De Leonist Jun 2014 #219

Do you have a link to the claim that most pit bulls are automatically put down? pnwmom Jun 2014 #82

A friend had 2 mixed breed dogs of different physical compositions. Guess which one bit, was deemed uppityperson Jun 2014 #86

I have rescued hundreds of pitbulls and the only dog that ever bit one of my kids adigal Jun 2014 #151

These threads always end the same way War Horse Jun 2014 #93

They certainly are High Maintainance...... De Leonist Jun 2014 #181

I suspect you are right War Horse Jun 2014 #191

No one, child or adult, needs an assault dog. nt Llewlladdwr Jun 2014 #94

Are you serious ? De Leonist Jun 2014 #200

I've done a 180 on pitbulls... WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #103

You are a wonderful person! etherealtruth Jun 2014 #112

Is that sarcasm? WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #115

I have a pitbull rescue etherealtruth Jun 2014 #144

"Only a punk would hurt a cat or dog." WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #201

Thanks etherealtruth Jun 2014 #207

You are one of those rare people that make me think there is still hope for the human species. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #116

Well, balls, I think I should quit posting for the day on that note. WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #119

The injuries inflicted upon me by animals pale in comparison to the damage done by humans. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #122

I'll leave you with one more before I turn in for the night... WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #124

A local guy here in Dallas... malokvale77 Jun 2014 #104

To the people who want to ban Pit Bulls: How would that work, exactly? beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #113

My family is dogsitting a pitbull for a friend, and he's one of the sweetest dogs I've met killbotfactory Jun 2014 #125

in our local shelter, 50 of 60 available dogs are pitbull mixes "surrendered by owner" kwassa Jun 2014 #129

Maybe you should ask the owners. Some people just shouldn't be allowed to have a dog. baldguy Jun 2014 #131

The dogs are not victims. kwassa Jun 2014 #132

Shelter dogs are indeed victims. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #139

It is one hell of coincidence, then, that all these dogs given up are pit bull mixes ...... kwassa Jun 2014 #192

They got them for a fashion accessory. roody Jun 2014 #146

Because of ignorance like seen on this thread and landlords who are idiots adigal Jun 2014 #152

Because bad owners seek them out to begin with? DirkGently Jun 2014 #184

Whatever. Not a dog I will get for my 7-year-old. kwassa Jun 2014 #193

Do you want to explain the "real" reason? DirkGently Jun 2014 #197

I don't know what the problem with these dogs is. kwassa Jun 2014 #204

"These dogs" = "those people." Judging by looks is just bigotry. DirkGently Jun 2014 #208

Again, +++++++++++ for your well stated civil posts. uppityperson Jun 2014 #213

Some of the latest victims theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #140

Prove that those dogs were pits! XemaSab Jun 2014 #143

Says someone with an OP quoting Clifton. flvegan Jun 2014 #217

Why do you like pit bulls? XemaSab Jun 2014 #218

Why do you hate them? flvegan Jun 2014 #220

The hits just keep on comin' theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #172

ANYONE Jenoch Jun 2014 #141

As a child I was attacked by a pitbull Separation Jun 2014 #142

In Georgia, they are not allowed to be adopted, only rescued adigal Jun 2014 #148

No they don't. NCTraveler Jun 2014 #169

I have big dogs gwheezie Jun 2014 #178

The hell they do. Owl Jun 2014 #202