THE TRUTH ABOUT PIT BULLS: “THE MOST FEARED & THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD” by Global Animal

(PIT BULLS/BREED DISCRIMINATION) There’s no doubting the contentious divide in perceptions of pit bulls across the globe. To some, these dogs are considered dangerous killers who should be banned outright, whereas others view them as misunderstood victims ofbreed discrimination.

In the newly released book, Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon, author Bronwen Dickey demonstrates how negative views of pit bulls are often shaped by misunderstandings of the breed and its history. She points out that while many cities and countries ban pit bulls as a dangerous breed, there’s actually no scientific evidence that proves this notion as fact.

In the Q&A below, Simon Worrall asks Dickey how these dogs went from “mascot to monster,” and how her book attempts to restore the reputation of this polarizing breed. — Global Animal

National Geographic, Simon Worrall

In 2014, while playing near his house in Phoenix, Arizona, four-year-old Kevin Vicente was savagely attacked by a pit bull named Mickey. But when the authorities sought to put the dog down, public opinion swung behind the dog, not the boy.

The incident illustrated the bitter divide in perceptions of pit bulls—as Bronwen Dickey, author of Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon, has discovered to her own cost. By attempting to show that negative views about pit bulls have often been shaped by misunderstandings of the breed and its history, she has unwittingly become a heroine for the pro-pit bull community and the target of threats and harassment from those who see her as an apologist for a vicious animal. Her bookstore appearances now require security, and her home has been equipped with surveillance cameras.

When we caught up with the author by phone, she explained how her own pit bull, Nola, confounded her fears of the breed; how the story of the pit bull is deeply interwoven with the history of the United States; and how a foundation in upstate New York is trying to restore the reputation of this most polarizing breed.

From 2005 to 2015, pit bulls killed 232 Americans, about one citizen every 17 days. They are banned in the United Kingdom and several other countries. Shouldn’t they be banned here?

No. The first thing I did when I was consulting this book is reach out to the experts in the animal sciences to talk about what’s going on with these incidents and how best to prevent them. Fatalities are incredibly rare. In the U.S., we have 320 million people and between 77 and 83 million dogs. So your chance of being killed by any type of dog in the U.S. in any given year is one in 10 million.

People who have studied these cases, like Jeffrey Sacks at the CDC, have shown that when it comes to fatalities caused by pit bulls, the breed identifications are often not accurate. The title “pit bull” has expanded so dramatically over the years that people are lumping any dog with a large head and short coat into that category rather than separating out each of the pit bull breeds.

So you are disputing the statistic?

I am. A study on fatalities between 2000-2009 in the journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that in over 80 percent of those cases there were four or more significant factors related to the care and control of the dog. These were dogs that had not been socialized; were large and sexually intact; and had no relationship to the person who was killed. In other words, perfect storm of factor upon factor.

I have to confess: I have never met a nice pit bull. They are the only breed I avoid when walking my Dalmatian. It is an inherently aggressive breed, isn’t it?

[Laughs] I guess it’s dueling anecdotes. But, first of all, it’s not one breed, it’s four. There’s the American pit bull terrier; the American Staffordshire terrier, which was the American Kennel Club conformation breed that branched off from the American pit bull terrier when folks wanted AKC legitimacy and didn’t want to be associated with the American pit bull terrier riff-raff. There’s the Staffordshire bull terrier, which has been a conformation breed since the 1930s; and the newer breed called theAmerican bully, which was derived from the American Staffordshire terrier in the 1990s.

Secondly, there’s no science that bears that idea out. When people say, “Oh, these dogs are bred for fighting,” it’s true that the original breed, the American pit bull terrier, which originated in 1889, was developed for fighting. But the three other breeds that are lumped into this category have always been dog show conformation breeds. They don’t have that heritage. The fact that they get lumped in is part of the problem because we’re basing things on what they look like and not necessarily what theyare.

You tell us that pit bulls used to be among America’s favorite breeds—Petey, the famous dog who was part of Our Gang/The Little Rascals was a pit. How did they go from mascot to monster?

It’s a long, involved story. The short version is: The dogs were really popular during WWI and the Depression, when there was this nostalgic feeling around the average blue collar working Joe. That’s always been the demographic the dogs were most popular with. They were seen as all-American: no fuss, no frills, everyday dogs. In the 1950s, with the consumer boom after WWII, there was a huge push toward kennel club breeds and the pit bull fell by the wayside.

But in the 1970s, there was this well-intentioned move by the humane movement to stamp out what was left of illegal dog fighting. In order to do that, they partnered with the media to put dog fighting on the front page of every newspaper in America. In doing so, they encouraged wild speculations about these dogs that were not based in science or historical fact—things like they have 5,000 pounds of jaw pressure. And the more terrified everyone became, the more people who probably should not have had these dogs, wanted them.

Tell us about your own experiences with pit bulls. Have you owned them? Would you trust them around your children?

I grew up in the 1980s, and I was always terrified of them. It wasn’t until I started to meet some that I began to question those assumptions. My own pit bull is called Nola. She is seven and is extremely affectionate, wonderful, and smart. I always hesitate to invoke that example because the fact that mine is wonderful doesn’t negate the fact that there are really nasty dogs out there! [Laughs] You can’t make broad generalizations. I have met everything from the most scary and unstable pit bull to the most bombproof and mellow. It’s such an individual thing.

Mickey the pit bull nearly killed a child but ended up in a cushy, air-conditioned cell while the boy could not find funds for medical surgery. Aren’t we in danger of treating animals better than human beings?

Yeah, if we aren’t careful we are. That was one of the things that troubled me. It was a major media spectacle. Kevin Vicente was severely bitten. He was temporarily blinded in one eye and his jaw was broken. Everyone thought the dog would be euthanized. Instead, there was this social movement, with thousands of people signing petitions to save the dog and sending in donations, while the fund for the boy’s treatment hardly gained any donations.

Today, Mickey is living in an air-conditioned cell in an Arizona jail with a thousand-dollar webcam so people can see what he’s doing. Thank goodness, after the attention the case received, the Vicente family has had more donations. This is a child who really suffered, his family suffered, and that deserves an incredible amount of compassion. But once a dog becomes a symbol like that, people can act in ways that are not rational.

You use the term “battlefield mentality” when discussing the number of dogs shot by police. Unpack this problem for us, as police in America today seem to be shooting more than just innocent dogs.

There’s a great book about this by Radley Balko called, The Rise of the Warrior Cop. We don’t know the exact figures, because no one’s required to keep a comprehensive list of dog shootings, but we can probably guess there are thousands every year. It seems to be shoot first, ask questions later. There have been police who shot and killed dogs at the wrong house or killed dogs who were just going about their business.

It mostly comes from fear. Obviously, the police have a very difficult job. But the trigger-happy mentality is pretty bad. There was a case in Idaho recently where a policeman shot a dog in a car because it barked at him. The officer claimed that he was shooting a vicious pit bull. In fact, the dog was a registered black Labrador.

Is dog fighting still a serious problem?

Dog fighting is a serious problem, but all the cruelty investigators I consulted said that it is decreasing. It happens both in the country and city. There is professional dog fighting, which has traditionally been white and rural. Then you have urban dog fighting, which is more a one-off, “I want to see if my dog can beat your dog.” Both are forms of torture and need to be eradicated.

It takes place mostly in Louisiana and Texas, though there was a major bust in Missouri a while back. It’s getting a lot smaller because technology is allowing cruelty investigators to be very savvy about catching these guys. That’s a good thing because the more it’s pushed out the better.

You visited a place called Animal Farm Foundation. Tell us about this rescue operation and a dog called Pinto.

Animal Farm Foundation was founded by a now retired literary agent named Jane Barkley, who lives on a horse farm in upstate New York and wanted to restore the reputation of the American pit bull terrier as a mascot. She wanted to give shelter dogs a chance that they were not receiving in most shelters in America. When she started, most shelters in the U.S. denied pit bulls without giving them the chance at adoption.

One of the things they do when you stay at the farm is to have a shelter dog be your roommate, so the dogs can get used to a family environment and they can get more information about how the dog behaves in that environment. Pinto had been in an animal control facility, fairly isolated for the first six months of his life. Yet he was a perfectly normal, fun, happy little dog. This stressed to me how resilient animals are, in general. Not just pit bulls but dogs as a species.

What do you love about pit bulls, Bronwen? And what advice would you give to our readers if they are thinking of owning one?

What I love about pit bulls are the same things I love about dogs. I know that sounds odd because I spent all this time writing a book specifically about pit bulls, but I really did come to appreciate that all dogs are the same species. They all share more than 99.8 percent of their DNA.

The story of the pit bull is fascinating because it is such an American story. Whether you love or hate them, they’ve been a huge part of who we are from the Battle of Gettysburg onward. There have been many highs and lows, they have come through so much, and they are still with us. They will always be a powerful symbol.

For people who are thinking of getting a pit bull, I would say, focus on the individual dog in front of you. I wouldn’t say get a dog just because it’s a pit bull, just as I wouldn’t reject a dog out of hand just because it’s a pit bull. Find the dog that is right for you and works for your lifestyle. Be aware, you may face some issues with housing and insurance. Those problems are real, and they’ll take a while to solve. But, by focusing on the dog in front of you, you will make the best choice.

Courtesy of ….. globalanimal.org

Sgt Stubby's Story

This article was printed by the "New York Times", 4 April 1926

STUBBY OF A.E.F. ENTERS VALHALLA Tramp Dog of No Pedigree Took Part In the Big Parade in France

Stubby is dead. He was only a dog and unpedigreed at that, but he was the most famous mascot in the A.E.F. Stubby took part in four major offensives, was wounded and gassed. He captured a German Spy and won more medals than any other soldier dog. He led the American Legion parades and was know to three Presidents. He was, indisputably, a fighting dog. His Arlington is to be the Smithsonian Institution.

Early in life Stubby longed for a career. Realizing the value of education, the brindle and white "bull terrier" abandoned his nomadic life for that of a student. Selecting Yale University as his alma mater, he was soon recognized there was a prodigy. His progress, however, was interrupted.

America entered the war and the First Connecticut Regiment, later merged into the 102d Infantry, Twenty-sixth Division, was ordered to Yale field for training. Though delighted with his intellectual environment and his frolics in the huge Bowl, Stubby came to the conclusion that he ought to do his bit by his country. It was hard, after five peregrinating years, during which he had often been hungry and cold, to leave the only scene of peace and hospitality he had ever found. But in such a time, when men were parting from mothers and wives to defend the honor of Uncle Sam, was he, a mere wanderer without dependents, to think of self?

Stubby joined up. One morning a bugle sounded the departure from camp. Crammed into a train loaded with equipment, he was started South. He knew not where he was speeding. His recent contacts with scholasticism, however, stood him in good stead. Tennyson had said something memorable--"His not to reason why, his but to do and die".

At Newport News the soldiers were hustled aboard a transport. Here difficulties arose. Stubby was not on the roster. He had no enlistment card. The officers were stern and unknown to him.

Corporal J. Robert Conroy perceived his hangdog look and was touched. Wrapping him into the greatcoat slung on his arm and admonishing him to be quiet, he smuggled him up the gangway. Stubby lay still, with bated breath, until released into a coal bunker. Without diminishing allegiance to all his comrades, Stubby from that moment adopted Conroy as his master.

On Feb. 5, 1918, he entered the front lines of the Chemin des Dames sector, north of Soissons, where he was under fire night and day for more than a month. The noise and strain that shattered the nerves of many of his comrades did not impair Stubby's spirits. Not because he was unconscious of danger. His angry howl while a battle raged and his mad canter from one part of the lines to another indicated realization. But he seemed to know that the greatest service he could render was comfort and cheerfulness.

When he deserted the front lines it was to keep a wounded soldier company in the corner of a dugout or in the deserted section of a trench. If the suffering doughboy fell asleep, Stubby stayed awake to watch.

In the Chemin des Dames, Stubby captured a German spy and saved a doughboy from a gas attack. Hearing a sound in the stillness of the night, the dog, who guarded sleeplessly, stole out of the trenches and recognized--a German. Attempts by the German to deceive the dog were futile. Seizing his prisoner by the breeches, Stubby held on until help arrived.

Stubby, on other leaves, visited Nice, Monte Carlo and Nancy. At Neufchateau, the home of Jeanne d'Arc, he was presented with the first of the many medals he subsequently won in dog shows and Victory loan drives. Upon his return to the front he found himself in the thick of the Meuse-Argonne fray, which was to end the war.
story

After armistice Stubby spent his time congratulating and being congratulated. Traversing the streets of Paris, he was recognized by hundreds of French, English, Australian and American soldiers. And then on Christmas Day, at Mandres-en-Basigny, he met President Wilson. Stubby the dog to whom rank insignia made no difference, offered his paw. Little had he expected that he was to be known and greeted by three Presidents.

Back in his native land he was demobilized at Camp Devens, Mass., April 20, 1919. Parading with his famous division in Boston, he was reviewed by Governor Calvin Coolidge. An aquaintance was started which was renewed at the American Legion convention at Kansas City jin 1921, attended by Vice President Coolidge, and at the convention in Omaha 1926, attended by President Coolidge.

On parade Stubby always wore the embroidered chamois blanket presented to him by admiring Frenchwomen and decorated with service chevrons, medals, pins, buttons and a galaxy of souvenirs. On the end of his modernly bobbed tail a German iron cross was appended, the possession of which Stubby never explained.

Conroy's decision to study law at Georgetown University brought him and Stubby to Washington. There Conroy became secretary to Representative E. Hart Fenn of Connecticut and Stubby met Representative William P, Connery Jr. of Massachusetts and B. Carroll Reece of Tennessee, old friends from the Twenty-sixth Division, in Congress. His buddies were coming into prominence. One day Stubby encountered Major M.D. Arnold and Captain J.W. Boyer, both of the old Y. D.

Besides being painted by Charles Ayer Whipple, artist of the Capitol, Stubby had the distinction of being photographed with General Pershing.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy | Connecticut Military Department

Book Review: Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon

In the summer of 2005,I attended my first City Council meeting where the discussion was about pit bulls (I had no idea this would be the first of literally dozens over the next decade). This suburban community was considering placing a ban on "pit bulls" and when questioned about why he was considering it, the city's mayor said that he felt the need to keep "those kinds of people" out of their nice community.

Well. What do you mean by "those people?"

A year later, I was in a different city council meeting, and one of the city leaders at the time was looking to pass restrictions on "pit bulls".  When he was pressed about the undue burden this would put on owners of pit bull like dogs, he matter-of-factly responded "Well, we're not going to enforce this on people like you.".  What do you mean by that?  "You know".

Indeed I did.

Dogs have evolved with humans - they're bred mostly by humans and live with humans. Thus, any conversation in dogs has to naturally include the human element or the entire context of the discussion is lost. And that discussion has to include how some humans feel about other humans that are different from them. The certain type of people perceived to be the owners of certain types of dogs.

And Bronwen Dickey's Book "Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon" dedicates 267 deeply researched and wonderfully composed pages to putting the legend, myth and truth of pit bulls into the proper human context.

Pit Bull dives deep into the history of pit bulls, from the streets of the Five Points District in New York (think "Gangs of New York") to their role as chosen pet for President Teddy Roosevelt.  From their role as working farm dog to film star on the Screen with Our Gang. And from the role of dog used for the cruel act of dog fighting, to beloved family pet..  And along the way, the dogs' image represented the people who kept them as pets and companions.

Pit Bull also delves into the frequency throughout history that groups in power used seizing people's pets, people they viewed were "beneath them" as a way to claim power over them -- as was often done by owners of slaves and was done by the Germans in seizing dogs owned by Jews in the 1920s and 30s.

But maybe more importantly, Pit Bull places the rise in fear about pit bulls during the 1980s and 1990s in a social and political context. It discusses the plight of urban cities following the suburban flight of the 70s and 80s -- which led to large increased in abandonment of the urban core. This led to and increase in poverty, and with that poverty came increases in violent crime (violent crime in this country spiked in 1993).

The rise in crime led to an increased need, and desire, for guard dogs in many communities. Pit Bulls, with a tough reputation and affordable access, became a popular go-to type of dog.

Socially this also coincided with the rise of hip hop culture -- which both reflected inner-city society and created it.  The 24 hour news cycle that came with the rise of cable tv (and then later the Internet), created a large demand for eyeballs on news. Fear sells eyeballs (and eyeballs sell advertising) and nothing quite created fear like pit bulls. The 24 hour news cycle also played a role in the spread of myths and misinformation -- things that started as inaccurate quotes in newspapers were often spread over hundreds of news outlets that became such "common knowledge" that even research papers reported them as facts. Even today, some still have life.

(I was literally asked about whether pit bulls have locking jaws by a news reporter for a respectable news organization as recently as a month ago, in spite of pit bulls and locking jaws having been a myth that dispelled by science decades ago).

It would be easy to dismiss the negativity surrounding pit bulls as something only created by people seeking to eliminate them. But sadly, some of the most damaging elements of the pit bull reputation came from the people who were in a position to protect them, but often unknowingly or unwittingly also cited the misinformation based on the same fears and stereotypes that led people to fear them in the first place. Much of it still happening by well-meaning proponents of pit bulls today.

And while proponents and opponents have spent the past 30 years debating about the dogs, racial stereotypes and institutional red-lining has escalated the problem for pit bulls in this country (the brief section on the insurance companies alone is worth the purchase price).

But in the end, Pit Bull covers the dramatic increase in knowledge brought on by the increasing scientific literature. It also talks about many of the people that have changed the focus from "the dogs" to the "people and their pets" that are getting to some of the root causes of problems -- poverty, lack of education, discrimination, and fear for their beloved dogs.

I can't stress enough how highly I recommend Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon. I believe it is easily among the three "must read" books for anyone in animal welfare -- or for anyone making policy decisions about animals. It is one of the most thoroughly researched books I've ever read about dogs, and presented in a very readable, entertaining fashion. And whether you are a newcomer to animal welfare, or a relative old-timer, or if you make policy decisions about animal welfare, this book will make you smarter, and make you question many of the things you think you know about dogs -- and the people who own them.

The book hits stores TOMORROW - May 10. So pick one up at your local book-seller or viaAmazon. Or, if money is tight, check out your local library. Here locally, the Johnson County Public Library has four copies coming (and a waiting list).  The Kansas City, MO Public Library also has four copies.

Read it.

Editor's Note:  In the essence of full disclosure, I was given a free copy of an early version of the book to review. I also have had the pleasure of talking with Bronwen on a few occasions as she researched and wrote the book -- to the point that I would now call her a friend. But that aside, I promised her I'd write an honest review, even if I hated the book. I've read and researched a LOT about dogs, and pit bulls, over the past 11 years--- including reading dozens of research papers, tens of thousands of press articles, dozens of books and written thousands of blog posts on this topic. While I would never claim to know all there is to know on this topic, I think I'm fairly knowledgeable. That said, I learned a LOT from this book. The book is loaded with information that is presented in in a way that was easy and entertaining to digest (which isn't easy to do). And even the information I was familiar with was packaged in a compelling and interesting way. This book deserves all of the praise it receives.

For more reviews:

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Retrieverman

Barkpost

 Editor's Update: Tonight, as a pretty harsh reality that puts an exclamation mark on the book (and this post), my wife just got home from a city council meeting where pit bulls were on the agenda, and the conversation in this small community involved keeping "those people", "white trash" and "gold chains" out of their community. The discrimination is alive and real...and it has nothing to do with the dogs. 

KC Dog Blog

The Humane Society of Indianapolis will no longer feature breed labels on the kennel cards of adoptable animals

(Photo: Sarah Myers)

Sarah Myers is looking for a new place to live.

Myers, 28, is a server at Mesh on Mass who rents a one-bedroom apartment on Massachusetts Avenue with her boyfriend, Mike Miller. They recently found out their year-old pit bull mix, Boyd, may no longer be welcome.

The couple moved into their apartment Jan. 1, but the building's owner plans to institute a new “no dog” policy.

So, what's the big deal? They could easily find another dog-friendly apartment, right? Myers said not so.

“When we decided to move back to Indy from Louisville last year, we called more than 25 apartments in the Downtown area before we found one that would accept Boyd,” she said. “A lot of them didn’t allow dogs, but most of them had breed restrictions.”

Many apartments don't allow certain breeds that insurance companies deem to be aggressive, including pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers and German shepherds, said Lynne Petersen, president of the Indiana Apartment Association.

Myers fears that even if she finds a pet-friendly property, Boyd’s breed will prevent them from easily finding a new apartment.

INDIANAPOLIS STAR

Meet the man who rescues animals from extinction

"No one has ever said, can I meet your dog first," Myers said, adding she was turned down many times based on his physical description or photos alone. She describes Boyd as a "goofball" and a "snuggle-monster" that loves cats, kids and people.

"He will always make you laugh, and he's really laid back. He will always do what you want to do, he's a people pleaser," she said.

When Myers adopted Boyd from the Humane Society of Indianapolis, the shelter described him as a pit bull mix. But last month the Humane Society stopped identifying animals in the shelter by breed.

"We are promoting our animals as individuals, and we are asking the public to get to know an animal based on their exhibited personality traits,” said Kelly McKinney, customer service and adoptions manager. Labeling dogs as a pit bull mix can hinder the successful placement of animals into a home, she said.

The organization is one of a handful of shelters nationwide that have removed breed labels from the animals' information cards. Instead, the shelter will place animals in personality categories including "athlete," "class clown," "bashful" and "lazy bones." A kennel card will list the animal's category, a description of that personality and the animal's name, age, gender, weight, color and adoption fee. There might also be specific notations such as "Needs a quiet home" or "Would make a great running partner."

"Breed labels are usually just educated guesses based on physical appearance," IndyHumane wrote in a statement. The Humane Society says an animal's environment, history and other factors play a more important role in a dog's behavior.

IndyHumane is the largest, private nonprofit shelter in Indiana and currently cares for about 315 puppies, kittens and adult dogs and cats (including those in foster care), taking in more than 3,000 animals a year.

Should a patron inquire about a dog's breed for an apartment rental or insurance policy, IndyHumane staff will be available to offer an educated guess.

Petersen said that while she isn’t aware of IndyHumane’s decision, she doesn’t foresee it having any impact on current rental practices. “If there is a question of a breed, the best practice is to get some kind of certification.”

Shawna Ping, president of the Casa del Toro Pit Bull Rescue, said the removal of breed labels on-site is a progressive step.

"Regardless of what is written on a piece of paper, people are going to make their decision based on a look of a dog." Ping said "pit bull" is not a breed but a general description of a type of dog. The American pit bull terrier is a recognized breed, but the term "pit bull" has evolved to describe dogs with common physical characteristics including a stocky body type and square-shaped head.

"Even if the dog has no pit bull whatsoever, but the person perceives and will automatically have stereotypes in mind just because of way dog looks," she said, adding that just as not all golden retrievers are child-friendly, not all pit bulls are aggressive. Casa del Toro Pit Bull Rescue describes its dogs by behavior traits and temperament.

Several shelters across the United States have removed breed labels from adoption shelters and websites, including the Fairfax County Animal Shelter in Virginia. The shelter launched the initiative almost a year ago.

"At least 75 percent of the time, even a vet makes a wrong guess so we have no business making those pronouncements because they're likely wrong," said Barbara Hutcherson, the  shelter's acting director. Hutcherson said it's hard to say whether there has been an increase in adoptions since removing the labels, but the move has led to some great conversations with staff and visitors.

So far, the change has been well-received by customers at Fairfax County, and according to Hutcherson, there have been no complaints.

While people visiting the Indy Humane shelter at 7929 Michigan Road won't see dog breeds listed on kennels, indyhumane.org will still identify dogs by breed or breed mix. The shelter is unable to remove breeds from the website due to limitations with the database provider, McKinney said.

Ping said she encounters similar issues when advertising a pet for adoption on websites such as Petfinder.com, which also requires a breed listing.

"There is no option for American Kennel Dog, so we're pigeonholed into something; the only other alternative is to not use those resources," she said.

Ping thinks the removal of breed labels on animal kennels will increase adoptions.

"People are going to adopt a dog, take it home. And if it ends up being a great pet and they find out later it's a pit bull, they're not going to take it back and say it's a vicious murderer. Taking something that could be inherently fearful and making it accessible is crucial to the movement."

Myers, who plans to fight the property management company’s decision should they choose to institute a "no dog" policy, is building a portfolio for Boyd with testimonies from previous landlords and neighbors, as well as photos of Boyd out in the community. She even registered him as an emotional support dog.

"I have a lot of anxiety about this whole situation." She said the thought of looking for a new place to live makes her sick.

"I feel like I’ve exhausted all my resources. If there are places that allow dogs, they're going to tell us, 'They just can’t look like your dog.' "

Call IndyStar reporter Leslie Bailey at (317) 444-6094. Follow her on Twitter @Lesalina, facebook.com/lesalina and Instagram @Lesalina.

http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2016/05/04/without-label-more-pit-bulls-adopted/83249332/

TV star advocates for pit bulls on local visit

BY JUDY ENDO, CITIZENS' VOICE COLUMNIST

Being an animal lover, I obviously watch those channels that are devoted to my personal passion. And one such show that was a huge hit with me was Animal Planet’s Pit Boss starring Shorty Rossi. I never missed an episode, and when the show went off the air after six seasons, I was upset not knowing what happened to the characters and Shorty’s Rescue.

So when I heard that Shorty was coming to town, I was beyond excited and knew I had to make an interview happen and share it with my readers. On Friday, April 22, I was able to make it all come together, with the help of Shorty’s local friend and hostess, Diane Gubbiotti. Shorty was scheduled to have his new sidekick, pit bull service dog Francis, in for a spa session at the Pawsitively Perfect Pet Salon in Pittston. So I arranged for a one-on-one interview during the time that Shorty would be waiting for Francis to be groomed.

Above, left, Pets columnist Judy Endo with Pit Boss star Shorty Rossi and his pit bull service dog, Francis. SUBMITTED PHOTO / JUDY ENDO

I walked into the salon at 9 a.m. and immediately saw Shorty speaking inside with a gentlemen. For that moment, I could pretend I was on his reality show! I was very excited and had to maintain a professional demeanor as opposed to acting like a gushing groupie, although I did tend to mix it up a bit at times. The owner of the salon, Diane Milazzo, and her staff were extremely gracious and welcoming to me during my visit. Adorable cupcakes were brought in that looked just like blue pittie Francis, courtesy of Purple Squirrel Bakery in Pittston

.

After Shorty was assured that Francis was being well tended to (doting dad) we sat down to chat. Shorty (Luigi Francis Shorty Rossi) is currently residing in Mexico. Francis is eight months old, and a rescue off the streets of Tijuana. Shorty stated that stray dogs are a big problem there. Francis was approximately six weeks old when plucked off the streets to begin training for the Pets, from page C1 important work of a service dog to accompany Shorty as he travels doing his presentations. The trip to Pennsylvania was Francis’ first flight, and he did great!

I want to assure the readers that former service dog, pit bull Hercules, Shorty’s co-star on Pit Boss, is doing well and living large in retirement in Mexico. Hercules was recently ill with an infection and high temperature. Shorty was terrified that he would lose him and even broke down during his presentation when discussing this. Thankfully, Hercules responded well to antibiotics and was soon on the road to recovery.

Shorty is a man with an interesting past, having left home at an early age, and being imprisoned for 10 years. Shorty acquired his first pit bull at age 14, developed a love of animals, and turned his life around by devoting his time and energy to his heart breed, the pit bull. In Mexico, Shorty currently resides with nine pit bulls in all! And yes, Valentino and Athena, both featured on Pit Boss, are two of them. Shorty explained the process of trying to find a successor for Hercules. Valentino did not like crowds. Another pit bull decided that his primary goal was to protect Shorty. And another did not like children and would growl. All of these traits were obviously undesirable for a service dog. So far so good with Francis, a very sweet and friendly boy who is calm, cool and collected, obsessed with laser lights and shadows on the wall, and convinced that the big door in the ballroom at Mohegan Sun is evil and threatening.

Francis had a couple of confrontations with that door during Shorty’s presentation, and Shorty stopped talking to remind Francis “Hey Einstein. It’s a door!!!!!” Ha ha. Francis is still young and discovering the world, and this trip to Pennsylvania was a BIG deal for him. Francis wore his finest to the presentation, looking absolutely adorable in his tux.

 Image Gallery for TV star advocates for pit bulls on local visit

Image Gallery for TV star advocates for pit bulls on local visit

Shorty’s message is clear. He wants to promote the misjudged and misunderstood pit bull and speaks of breed awareness, animal rights, and breed legislation. Shorty stated that one problem we have in Pennsylvania is that insurance companies will not cover home owners if they own pit bulls or other breeds deemed dangerous such as Dobermans, Rotweillers, and German Shepherds. Shorty defines pit bulls as being high maintenance, highly intelligent, and very strong and encourages people to do research and educate themselves about the breed before making the commitment to rescue one. Shorty said that pitties were known as nanny dogs and starred on shows such as Little Rascals. Their bad reputation was brought about by bad people who opted to breed and use them to do battle in the horrible sport of dog fighting, which caused their bad reputation to escalate. In actuality the statistics of people being bitten by pit bulls is very low.

Shorty has traveled extensively, visiting 42 cities in the last year as well as other countries such as Latin America. Two caretakers care for his pitties at home while he is on the road. Shorty stated that all but two are very friendly. He stated that you could walk out with the TV. Then after contemplating this statement, Shorty corrected himself and said that you would be hurt by the stampeding herd as they raced to greet you and ran over your a@@. And I would absolutely believe this to be true. So in addition to his two protectors, I would not plan on entering Shorty’s residence unannounced anytime soon.

Shorty spoke of the discrimination and judgment that he faced throughout his life as a little person. When you look differently, or in my own personal case, sound differently than the “average” person, people can be quick to judge. Lack of facts and wrong conclusions can be extremely damaging to that person. I loved Shorty’s message to follow your dreams and ignore opposition from others. Great advice.

For all you fans of Pit Boss, Shorty said it was his decision to end the show although Animal Planet wanted to renew for another season. The demands of the show were so great. Working 14 to 16 hours a day, they had no life. Shorty moved permanently to Mexico, and Ashley and Ronald no longer work with animals, nor are they in touch. Shorty said that Sebastian is still “his man” and is involved in production and animal welfare. As mentioned previously, Hercules is a couch potato.

Left, cupcakes were delivered decorated to look just like blue pittie Francis, courtesy of Purple Squirrel Bakery in Pittston. SUBMITTED PHOTO / JUDY ENDO

A big thank you to Shorty, Diane Gubbiotti, Diane Milazzo, and of course the Luzerne County SPCA for sponsoring this wonderful event. Hey, did you know that Shorty lived for one year on Glen Lyon??! Yes, in 2002. Hey, I can’t make this stuff up! In conclusion, in Shorty’s words “You believe you are saving the dog’s life, but they are saving yours.” Thanks Shorty, for all that you do. I was thrilled to meet you!

Dog bless

Judy Endo is a lifelong resident of the Wilkes-Barre area. She has been a professional dog trainer/competitor since 1980. She is a member of the Wilkes-Barre Dog Training Club, DogHouse Dancers Freestyle Club, and Therapy Dogs International, for which she is also a certified therapy dog evaluator. A lifetime animal lover and strong supporter of animal rescue, Judy currently owns rescue dogs and cats.

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Pit Bull Incorrect Breed Identification Study

Breed identification is used in dog adoption, lost and found, and regulation. In animal shelters, staff members usually assign breed according to what relinquishing owners report their dogs to be or based on appearance alone since most dogs arrive without a known pedigree.¹

Today, there is a negative public perception of pit bulls and labeling a dog as a pit bull can have a negative impact on its adoptability. Sometimes these negative impressions have resulted in bans on owning pit bulls in hopes of guarding public safety.

To date, there is no universally accepted definition of a pit bull, nor is there a universally accepted method of breed identification.² Kimberly R. Olson¹, BS; Julie K. Levy¹, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Bo Norby², CMV, MPVM, PhD ¹Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, University of Florida; ²Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 4 staff members at 4 different shelters each recorded the suspected primary breed of 30 dogs, for a total of 16 observers and 120 dogs.

In this study, the terms American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, and pit bull were included in the study definition of pit bull-type breeds. Blood was collected from each dog for DNA breed signature.

Dogs were coded as “pit bull” if American Staffordshire terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier were identified to comprise at least 25% of the breed signature.

Agreement among individual shelter staff members regarding identification of pit bulls was determined with the kappa statistic.

 The sensitivity and specificity of each staff member’s identification of pit bulls with DNA breed signature as a gold standard was calculated.

Results: 

1. 120 total dogs: 25 “true” pit bulls by DNA analysis + 95 “non-pit bulls”

2. Shelter staff identified 55 out of the 120 dogs to be pit bull type breeds

3. Only 36% of these dogs actually were true pit bulls by DNA analysis.

4. Shelter staff missed identifying 5 (20%) of the 25 true pit bulls.

5. Only 8 (32%) of the 25 pit bulls were identified as a pit bull by all staff.

6. Accuracy in breed assignment varied among individuals, with sensitivity for pit bull-type breed identification ranging from 33% to 75% and specificity ranging from 52% to 100%.

7. The shelter staff agreement had a kappa value that was poor to fair (0.093-0.324).

Conclusions:

1. DNA analysis failed to confirm pit bull-type breeds in the pedigree in more than half of the dogs identified as pit bulls by shelter staff at the time of the study.

2. One in 5 dogs genetically identified as pit bulls were missed by shelter staff

3. One in 2 dogs labeled pit bulls by shelter staff lacked DNA breed signatures for pit bull terrier-type breeds.

4. Lack of consistency among shelter staff in breed assignment suggests that visual identification of pit bulls is unreliable.

5. Focusing on other attributes of dogs such as personality, behavior, and history instead of breed may help predict safety of individual dogs towards people and other animals.³

6. Public safety may be better preserved by recognition and mitigation of risk factors for dog attacks and on identification and management of individual dangerous dogs,rather than on exclusion of particular breeds.

4,5 References: 1. Voith VL, Ingram E, Mitsouras K, et al. Comparison of adoption agency breed identification and DNA breed identification of dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2009;12:253-262. 2. Delise K. The Pit Bull Placebo: The media, myths, and politics of canine aggression.

http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/uploaded_files/publications/230603563_Pit%2 0Bull%20Placebo.pdf.

Accessed July 22, 2011. 3. Bradley J. Dog Bites: Problems and Solutions. Baltimore. Animals and Society Institute. 2006. 4. Schuller CM, DeBess EE, Lapidus, JA, et. al. Canine and human factors related to dog bite injuries. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2008; 232:542-546 5. Berkey J. Dog breed specific legislation: The cost to people, pets and veterinarians, and the damage to the human-animal bond in Proceedings, Annual AVMA Convention 2009; 1-5. Acknowledgements:

The authors would like to thank the Merial Summer Scholars Research and the Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Programs at the University of Florida. Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program is underwritten by a grant from Maddie’s Fund®, The Pet Rescue Foundation (www.maddiesfund.org), helping to fund the creation of a no-kill nation.

We thank the four animal shelters that participated in this study, Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, the Jacksonville Humane Society, Marion County Animal Services, and Tallahassee Animal Services. Finally we thank Michael Crandall, Sylvia Tucker, Niora Fabian, and Jaime Willson for their hard work and making this study possible.

http://www.maddiesfund.org/Documents/Resource%20Library/Incorrect%20Breed%20Identification%20Study%20Poster.pdf