When shelters label pits as something else...

• 10-23-2009 1:34 AM

  Beejou Joined on 03-31-2008 Washington Posts 282 Points 30

  When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact Just a random survey of you guys.  I personally love Pit Bulls and have no issue with them, but I've noticed a LOT of animal shelters label what is obviously a pit, or pit mix, as something they aren't. I have a problem with this. I know they're trying to make sure a loving animal doesn't get a scary stigma, but all breeds have their own traits and I think it's unfair to tell someone they're adopting a "lab/vizsla" or a "lab/cattle dog" when they're getting a pit. On one hand, I'm glad if good dogs are finding homes, on the other, I think dogs may be getting poorly matched because of this.   What do y'all think?

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 2:06 AM

  In reply to Beejou

  sillysally Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 3,826 Points 45	Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact  I agree.  No matter what it is, the dog should be as correctly labeled as possible.  When shelters deliberately mislabel dogs they do a disservice to the adopters and an even bigger disservice to the dogs IMHO. ~Christina~ Sally the Pibble Mix Jack the Lab "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"
  	Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 7:38 AM

  In reply to sillysally

  georgie4682 Joined on 09-10-2007 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts 1,629 Points 430

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact Actually, when I was looking for a puppy my shelter had a LOT of pit mixes.  In fact, I had a hard time finding something that wasn't labeled pit or pit mix, staffy mix, or Amer. bulldog mix.  Our shelter also requires classes with them if you are unfamiliar with the breed.  They have a special label "Diamond in the rough" ( I think is what its called) and those dogs only go out to families who are willing to do everything in  their power to raise their dog the right way.  I was actually pretty impressed with the program they offered to people who adopted their pits and pit mixes. GeorgAnne, Lady (beagle mix? - 15 Years), Max (GSD/cattledog - 10 years), Benny (pom - 4 years) - CGC, and Finn (lab mix) 8 months - CGC Buster - greyhound mix - 9/1994-2/7/09

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 8:01 AM

  In reply to Beejou

  crysania Joined on 09-04-2008 Syracuse, NY Posts 158 Points 45

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact I agree that shelters should label dogs as properly as they can, but that being said sometimes you really have NO idea.  Plenty of mixes end up looking "pit bullish" without actually having pit bull in them.  I've seen some lab/boxer mixes that look a bit like a pit bull.  So maybe they honestly DO believe the dog is something other than a pit.  Or perhaps they feel that if they don't label them pits, then if the person who adopts them and their vet never labels them a pit, then they won't have trouble with BSL down the road?  If I worked in a shelter I would be hesitant to label a dog as pit just to avoid possible issues with BSL nonsense. Someone on a board recently posted about a dog their rescue was taking back in because the person's home owner's insurance refused to keep insuring them because they told them their dog was a chow mix.  The dog COULD have chow in it, but it could also be collie, retriever, or any other dog.  It's hard to tell.  I would be more likely to stick with a "safe" dog by BSL standards than risk labeling it something it might not be, thus creating major problems.

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 8:32 AM

  In reply to crysania

  AgileGSD Joined on 09-16-2007 Posts 1,038 Points 65

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact crysania: I would be more likely to stick with a "safe" dog by BSL standards than risk labeling it something it might not be, thus creating major problems.   It is a real problem here when shelters try to stick with "safe breeds". We have BSL and owners of APBTs are required to have specific home owners insurance. I have seen a lot of of obvious APBT mixes as well as purebreds being called mixes of everything ranging from Lab to Greyhound to Corgi to "Terrier" mixes at shelters. With some mixes you don't know but with some it is pretty obvious and is very obvious when you have a purebred APBT. I like the breed but people should know what they are getting and consider if the dog will fit well into their family. Instead of going along with the image the media portrays of the breed, why not promote the breed and educate the public about them?

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 8:42 AM

  In reply to AgileGSD

  crysania Joined on 09-04-2008 Syracuse, NY Posts 158 Points 45

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact Right, there are cases where it's obvious the dog is purebred pit or staffy or some other bully breed.  But there are many cases where it's not quite so obvious and the dog could be a mix of a lot of different breeds.  Staffy or pit could be in there somewhere, or it might not be.  And in the cases of a mix, you really never know what you're going to get.  A dog could take more after one side or the other and the more possibilities mixed up in there, the less certain one can be of what the dog is going to act like.  I mean, if you look at a dog and say "well, I could see possibily lab, boxer, pit, staffy, viszla, weimaraner" or any other number of breeds in there, then you're NOT going to be able to tell someone who this dog may or may not act, and I'd rather give it a generic "lab mix" label at that point instead of dooming the dog to be affected by BSL when it may not even be any of those dogs. By all means YES of course shelters should label dogs with what they believe they really are (our shelter has many pits and pit mixes, though some of the pit mixes don't really look very pit bullish to me), but when they have no clue at all it just seems unfortunate to throw "pit mix" on the dog when it very well may NOT be. I'm tired.  Does that make any sense? lol

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 8:51 AM

  In reply to crysania

  Laurelin_429 Joined on 11-07-2006 Texas/OK Posts 1,309 Points 100

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact My cousin was in this boat. He lived in an area where pit bulls were illegal and he adopted a pup from the local humane society. It was supposed to be a Jack Russell mix. I know you can partially blame my cousin for not being so breed savvy but he believed the shelter when they told him the pup would be a small dog. His pup grew up into a 65 lb tan and white pit bull mix (it's obvious he's a pit x), which he had to call a boxer mix because George was illegal where he lived. He and I are pretty sure the shelter labeled that litter wrong on purpose. Luckily my cousin moved and is now in a BSL free area. Papillons- You can't just have one

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 9:05 AM

  In reply to Laurelin_429

  crysania Joined on 09-04-2008 Syracuse, NY Posts 158 Points 45	Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact  It could have been purposeful, it might not have been.  Puppies are SO hard to identify.
  	Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 9:23 AM

  In reply to crysania

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 9,917 Points 655

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact The shelter where I volunteered had no qualms about pit bulls or calling it like it is, in fact they called some dogs pits that really weren't!  What annoys me more is making up this list of mixes that is either like 5 breeds long or just not right at all.  Some dogs really are just MIXES.  Why does everyone have to know exactly what they are?  Our shelter calls anything with a short coat and erect ears a GSD mix, anything small with mostly white is a JRT, etc.  If it's not really obvious or you don't actually know, I would just call the dog a mix.  Otherwise I see people adopting dogs based on what they know about the breed and breed traits, but the dog is something totally different. http://vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net http://www.schhmi.com

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 9:45 AM

  In reply to Liesje

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 10,921 Points 3,345

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact Liesje: Why does everyone have to know exactly what they are?  Liesje I agree with you in my heart of hearts -- BUT ... Why?  Because of the misinformation out there, and the people "in power" who make snap judgments and suddenly people are told they can't live there, can't keep their dog, or you've got some idiot wanting to confiscate it.  I'm honestly not sure what the answer to this is (other than smacking the news media upside the head and making them pick up poop to see that ALL dogs have THAT issue).  Education works only as far as it goes, but SO OFTEN the people "making decisions" are the people in management at apartment complexes, at some desk at an insurance company, etc. who wouldn't know a rottweiller from a chihuahua anyway but these sorts of decisions literally have the power to tear families apart. I live in the South -- and I love it here, but the "dogs belong outside" mentality makes me crazy particularly when you couple that with intact dogs who are intact merely because no one cares (I'm NOT talking about  well bred dogs, dogs shown or some intelligent reason like that).  But you can go to Animal Control on any given day and find about 90% of the dogs there are all  very likely some form of a pit or boxer mix.  They all roll into what is known down here as "dangerous dog mix". So the shelters get the brunt of all of that As a dog person I don't give a flying flip what "breed" a dog is.  I really don't.  I have never **IN MY LIFE** bought a dog and I probably never ever will.  I'm pretty breed saavy -- because it's the responsible thing to do and I can probably name the breed-related health issues of most breeds. BUT in this world you HAVE to care simply because in order to get insurance on your home, have a place to live, and in many areas even be able to walk your dog down the street ON LEASH you have to know -- because other people with their self-centeredness and greed have made it a problem for EVERYONE. And btw -- by "self-centeredness and greed" I'm not just talking about indiscriminate breeders - I'm talking about irresponsible journalism, people on power trips who know nothing about dogs but know everything about trying to get their own way, and anyone else who fits in that category. We care only because we have to care -- and honestly, it is FAR more of a problem in some areas than others.

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 10:02 AM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 9,917 Points 655

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact calliecritturs: Liesje: Why does everyone have to know exactly what they are?  Liesje I agree with you in my heart of hearts -- BUT ... Why?  Because of the misinformation out there, and the people "in power" who make snap judgments and suddenly people are told they can't live there, can't keep their dog, or you've got some idiot wanting to confiscate it.     But even if the shelter makes up some mix that doesn't include any pit-type, the dog can still be confiscated in many places.  It seems like in the BSL places it's really up to the ACO's to decide if *they* think the dog is a pit or pit mix regardless of what the shelter papers called it. http://vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net http://www.schhmi.com

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 10:12 AM

  In reply to crysania

  sillysally Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 3,826 Points 45

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact crysania: Right, there are cases where it's obvious the dog is purebred pit or staffy or some other bully breed.  But there are many cases where it's not quite so obvious and the dog could be a mix of a lot of different breeds.  Staffy or pit could be in there somewhere, or it might not be.  And in the cases of a mix, you really never know what you're going to get.  A dog could take more after one side or the other and the more possibilities mixed up in there, the less certain one can be of what the dog is going to act like.  I mean, if you look at a dog and say "well, I could see possibily lab, boxer, pit, staffy, viszla, weimaraner" or any other number of breeds in there, then you're NOT going to be able to tell someone who this dog may or may not act, and I'd rather give it a generic "lab mix" label at that point instead of dooming the dog to be affected by BSL when it may not even be any of those dogs. By all means YES of course shelters should label dogs with what they believe they really are (our shelter has many pits and pit mixes, though some of the pit mixes don't really look very pit bullish to me), but when they have no clue at all it just seems unfortunate to throw "pit mix" on the dog when it very well may NOT be. I'm tired.  Does that make any sense? lol   The way some BSL is written it does not matter what the shelter says about breed.  If the dog has certain arbitrary "breed characteristics" of the banned breed it can still be labeled as such by the authorities. I have to say that I've seen *tons* of "lab mixes" that I feel are very obviously either pit mixes or purebred pits on Petfinder.  I don't want people adopting a pit bull when they think they are getting a chocolate lab mix.  I have both a pit mix and a lab, and they are both fantasic dogs, but they are both very distinctively different dogs and different things can be expected of them. Also, if you know the breed you can at least check to see if your homeowners will allow it and change companies if you set on a particular breed.  otherwise, you might very well end up with a dog that your insurance company decides looks too much like a doberman, pit, etc. and be under the gun to return the dog or get different insurance.  ~Christina~ Sally the Pibble Mix Jack the Lab "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 11:06 AM

  In reply to Beejou

  losinsusan Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 430 Points 175

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact I see this in our area as well.  And I am surprised how many come in the dog park with pit mixes and say oh they said it is a boxer mix or lab mix.  When to most of us, it is obvious what it is.  I have asked our local rescue why they do this mislabeling thing and they said because if they put pit mix they don't get adopted.  What I find interesting is I don't recall even hearing of pit bulls 25 years ago, and yet in a short amount of time they seem to have procreated with just about every breed of dog!   Is it that so many pitties are left entact?  Or are they just horny devils? (I am teasing here, don't freak out on me).  I just remember years ago most mixes seemed to be black lab mixes and now it is pit mixes.

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 11:23 AM

  In reply to losinsusan

  Pit_Pointer_Aussie Joined on 04-13-2007 Upstate New York Posts 1,530 Points 125

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact Rosco's papers from a reputable Boston shelter say "Beagle mix". I was told he was 30 pounds and full grown. I was 22, renting my apartment and honestly had never seen a pit before. If you look at my sig, he's clearly an Am Staff or pit mix of some kind. The shelter got lucky that I am responsible, and that once the vet told me he was a healthy pit bull puppy who would put on another 30, I ran out and started researching immediately, made the commitment to finding housing that would accept him until we bought a house, trained him and raised him responsibly, etc. Intentional mis-labeling really gets me mad, because I always look at Rosco and think, where would he be if I wasn't the one they placed him with?

  Post Points: 0

• 10-23-2009 11:43 AM

  In reply to Beejou

  Abbeyroad86 Joined on 08-26-2009 Posts 124 Points 35

  Re: When shelters label pits as something else... Reply Contact Beejou: Just a random survey of you guys.  I personally love Pit Bulls and have no issue with them, but I've noticed a LOT of animal shelters label what is obviously a pit, or pit mix, as something they aren't. I have a problem with this. I know they're trying to make sure a loving animal doesn't get a scary stigma, but all breeds have their own traits and I think it's unfair to tell someone they're adopting a "lab/vizsla" or a "lab/cattle dog" when they're getting a pit. On one hand, I'm glad if good dogs are finding homes, on the other, I think dogs may be getting poorly matched because of this.   What do y'all think?   This bothers me tremendously.   I don't know if I wrote about it on here but I knew a family that adopted a Lab/Boxer mix (well so they were told).  The dog was very obviously a purebred American Pit Bull Terrier.   They lived in a BSL area.    One day they were out walking the dog with their child and a cop stops them and tells them they can't have a Pit Bull in this area.   And that they have to surrender it right away to be destroyed.  And they told him he is a Lab/Boxer mix and they could go and get the paperwork.  The cop said if they didn't hand over the dog then and there they would arrested for some stupid reason (hindering the law or something) They handed the dog over and he was euthanized right away and they didn't even get a chance to fight for him.  They went back to the shelter and told them what happened and they said it really wasn't their problem, they made a best guess on the dog.    They then went back and sued the shelter for their deposit, adoption fee, and for damages.  Which actually paid for the childs counceling over this.  The kid was devastated this was the very first dog the kid ever had and he was just ripped from his arms really. I like Pit Bulls but I find it wrong to hide that a dog has pit bull in it from the potential owners.  I feel it takes a very special person to own a Pit breed and not everyone is up for it.   I also feel that with BSL a lot of people are going to get hurt because a lot of people dont know what a pit really looks like and they go in adopting this lab mix and don't even know its part or mostly pit bull.  In my county most of the dogs in our shelters (larger dogs that is) Are mixed with Pit bull.  And every single dog that I have come across in person that has pit in it was simply labled Lab mix (if the dog was mostly black or a light tan or white color).  If it was brindle or dark brown it was labled boxer mix.   And my shelter admitted most of the dogs we get in are pit mixes but we just put what the other obvious breed is.   Some of those lab mixes have no lab in them at all.  It bothers me tremendously.   Whenever I know someone going to adopt, I said make sure you know what to look for.  If you want a pit, most of the larger dogs are mixed with pit.  If you want something without pit in it, don't get a lab mix go over to the hounds and hound mixes, thats usually a safe bet.   Thats just at a few local shelters we have.   I like the pit bull breed but that is not the right breed for me so when I go in, I am very careful when looking for a new dog.   I don't appreciate the fact that they try to pull a fast one on potential adopters and a dog that has pit in it is not for a first time dog owner.   AGain great dogs but need an experienced dog owner. I don't like feeling like the shelters are lying to us.   Sure they get a home, but at what cost later down the road, for the dog.  Especially if the dog is not matched with the right owner or gets moved into a BSL area because the owner is clueless about the dogs pit side. A Dog is a true friend for life

  Post Points: 0