Humane Society working to fix pit bull reputation

Pity the pit bull. Adored by family members, feared by strangers, the breed stands for everything both right and wrong with dogs.

Now, the Bellevue-based Seattle Humane Society has started a campaign to promote the adoption of pit bull and pit bull mixes in King County.

Receiving a $50,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, the Humane Society will be offering free spay and neuter surgeries to over 750 pit bulls, with no cost to current or expectant owners. About 30 percent of dogs donated to shelters are pit bull breeds.

The campaign has yielded successful results so far, as pit bulls and other dog adoptions have increased in the last month.

“We are already seeing fewer dogs in shelters because of the new spay/neuter programs,” said Rhonda Manville, Director of Marketing for the Humane Society.

While events and news stories in recent years have painted pit bulls as aggressive, sometimes untamable animals, dedicated individuals within the pet world have stood behind their four-legged friends to debunk this myth.

According to Kirstan Sanders, who works with Recycle-A-Bull Rescue and Families Against Breed Bans, few news reports reveal the full story behind the dogs’ past.

“Typically, when a reporter talks of the 'family pet', they don't know that it was a dog tied to a shed on a 4-foot chain, never fed or watered, left to the elements and never socialized,” she said. “If it was any other breed with that fact pattern surrounding his or her living situation, the press would be talking about the horrific abuse the dog endured.”

Seattle Humane Society CEO Brenda Barnette agreed.

“For people who tell us they are concerned or afraid of pit bulls, we actually like to talk about how the media has depicted this beautiful breed of dog.”

She described pit bulls as playful and obedient under the tutelage of a caring owner.

“We want a family or an individual who will be a good ambassador, who will really take training, handling and managing their dog as a very serious responsibility so that the reputation their dog has in the community is one of a good citizen,” she said.

As with almost all other pet adoptions, the Humane Society will also provide new pit bull owners with a six-week training program that teaches them the basics of handling a dog.

“We honestly believe the best way to really get the family off on the right foot is to start the training so they learn the right language,” said Barnette “Also, if they are encountering any behavior that they don’t understand or want to correct early in the relationship, they have a trainer right there to talk with about it.

“Pit bulls are amazing family kid dogs when you find a great one,” Barnette added.

For more information on adopting a pit bull, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.seattlehumane.org/" http://www.seattlehumane.org/.

Edwin Ortiz is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.

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