Summer is coming, and for many that means long days at the beach or pool. You know what could make that even better? Sharing all of that with a dog you’ve just recued from a shelter! Recently there have been quite a few videos going around about shelter dogs and all the struggles they face. In these videos you can see dogs whining, or recovering from horrendous injuries, or even comforting each other in the shelter. Approximately 3.9 million dogs enter shelters every year, and about 1.2 million of those are euthanized.
Rescuing a dog is a big commitment, and not everyone can handle that. (Which is OK!) It isn’t an easy thing: you have to remember to bring doggy bags everywhere, you can’t just take a spur of the moment trip, and you may have to wake up at 5 a.m. and stand in the pouring rain just so they can go out for half a minute. But it is one of the most rewarding things ever. Dogs show love to everyone, and they always will. They’ll be the ones who run up to you just as soon as you open the door, even if you don’t necessarily want them to. They’re the ones who can tell you’ve had a rough day, and who will bring you their favorite toy to cheer up. Thing is, once you adopt a dog you have a best friend for life.
I have two pit bull/beagle/boxer mix puppies that although weren’t rescued from a shelter; they were rescued from a lady whose dog unexpectedly had a litter. Ask any of my friends about my dogs and they can tell you their names and exactly what they look like, because I love them that much. Pit bulls often get a bad reputation because of dog fighting, but they are some of the sweetest dogs out there. Most people see pit bulls as these vicious dogs that will attack any and everything. That is completely not the case; yes, some pit bulls are vicious just like some people are vicious.
Generalizing an entire breed based on the bad actions of some whilst completely ignoring all of the amazing ones is just as bad as generalizing people that way. Pit bulls were originally herding and protecting dogs, and as a result are protective to a fault. They will protect those they love in any situation. If I’m sitting outside my one pup Tiny is laying down beside me, and Skunk (the other one) has probably shoved himself on to the chair and is sitting at attention scanning the yard. And if someone passes by, doesn’t matter if they’re on the other side of the street, the both of them are up and barking as loud as possible.
Despite all of this, http://caninejournal.com reports that 40 percent of all dogs in animal shelters are “bully” breeds, and 20 percent of those are pit bulls. Additionally, 22 percent of pit bulls that enter shelters are euthanized regardless of their temperament. Go to a shelter, take a look around. You’ll see dogs that just desperately want a home and love. It doesn’t have to be a pit bull you fall in love with and adopt, but please don’t ever write them off just because of their breed. Just a warning, once you get to the shelter chances are you’ll find the dog that melts your heart. So be prepared to surprise everyone with your new best friend!
