Shelters Overwhelmed With Fighting Dogs

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

25 Jul 2007 07:18 PM

The dogs seized from Michael Vick's property may be the most famous dogfighting survivors headed to animal shelters this month... but they aren't the only ones. Animal control and police departments around the country have seized dozens of injured and abused pit bulls from dogfighting operations in homes, barns, yards, and on the streets.

In July 2007:

• Six dogs were seized in Columbus, Ohio.
• Thirty-seven dogs were seized in South Holland, Illinois.
• Four dogs were seized in Chicago, Illinois.
• Thirty-one dogs were seized in Reelsboro, North Carolina.
• Twenty-two dogs were seized in Richland County, South Carolina.

And that's just a sampling of the numbers and locations from around the United States. (Statistics from the Humane Society of the United States.)

An animal shelter may be the best home that these dogs have ever known. In a dogfighting situation, animals are trained to be aggressive through deprivation and abuse. The dogs may be confined to chains or small cages when not "training". They may be malnourished or be suffering from untreated injuries. In the shelter, these animals finally experience regular meals, veterinary care, and a kind word or touch. These dogs may be given a toy for the first time ever.

Pit bulls and pit mixes account for approximately thirty percent of the nation's shelter dog population. In urban areas, pit bulls and pit mixes may account for upwards of seventy-five percent of shelter populations.

What can you do to help?

• Donate time and/or money to your local shelter.
• Adopt a shelter pet!
• Become a pit bull ambassador and help teach people that these dogs aren't "evil" or "mean".
• Spay and neuter your own pets, and promote spaying/neutering in your community.
• Report suspected dogfighting activities to your police, animal control, or animal shelter.
• Encourage lawmakers to enact legislation that protects animals.
• Encourage lawmakers to seek stiffer penalties for dog and other animal fighting.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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