Recently in pit bulls Category

Thanks to Daily Breeze crime reporter Larry Altman for alerting us to the news that a 24-hour tip line to report dog fighting has been launched in Los Angeles County.

The program will pay tipsters up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of individuals involved in dog fighting. From the press release:

Beginning today, residents can call 1-877-NO2FITE and provide information about a dog fighting ring, an upcoming dog fight or an individual who is involved in dog fighting.

If someone is aware of a fight in progress, they should call 911 immediately, said District Attorney Steve Cooley.

"Our goal is to encourage citizens to help law enforcement root out a brutal crime that often goes unreported and occurs in the shadows," Cooley said during a press conference.

The Humane Society of the United States is co-sponsoring the program. 

Calls will be answered by a person 24 hours a day.

The Humane Society estimates that dog fighting is widespread in L.A. County. And dog fighting, Cooley said, often leads to busting people of other crimes, including drug dealing and weapons possession.

"We expect that these tips will be a starting point for major criminal investigations," he said.

I still remember talking with a young boy, probably about 10, at the Long Beach dog park one afternoon maybe 15 years ago. He was walking home and stopped by just to visit the dog park with a friend. He mentioned to me that someone in his neighborhood was involved in dog fighting and that the kids sometimes went to watch. I was horrified and urged him never to watch such a thing, that it was both immoral and illegal, and that someone really should report it. But ever since I was sorry I didn't try to get more information out of him about who and where so I could have reported it to the authorities myself.

Animal control and police officers I've spoken to since acknowledge dog fighting goes on in our local communities. But because it operates in such an underground world, they have a very hard time getting enough details in a timely manner to make arrests.

Maybe this hotline and the monetary rewards will help.  

These photos are tough to see. Many of these neglected and abused dogs have come into the Harbor Animal Care Center as a result of the city of L.A. expanding the shelter's territory, according to the shelter volunteer who sent this to us.

The third dog shown here, a 10-year-old brown pit bull terrier, will be picked up this weekend by a group called Shadow's Fund, which specializes in senior dogs. The group would like to take more -- and they're searching for others to help -- but they are filled to capacity as well.

If you can help, please let the shelter know. The facility is doing its best to shelter and find new homes for abandoned and stray dogs, but they are sometimes overwhelmed by the numbers and need. The shelter's phone is 310-548-2632. They are located at 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro. Feel free to email this link to folks you know who may have resources to help.

Can anyone save any OR ALL of these 20 REDLISTED DOGS????   Please?

This DOG - ID#A1072622 I am an unaltered female, brown and white Pit Bull Terrier. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years and 0 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 23, 2009. So-- she arrives at the shelter TODAY and is redlisted immediately!!!  Because they know, no one would want a starving, mangey, exhausted sad dog like this one!!!  7-days and we won't have to witness this reminder of human cruelty & neglect any longer!  Can anyone give her a second chance at a real life, please?

This DOG - ID#A1072450 I am an unaltered male, brown and tan German Shepherd Dog. The shelter thinks I am about 6 years old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 22, 2009. Straight on to the redlist for this old boy!  He looks like a real character!  Surely someone would appreciate his "Walter Matthau" face????!!!

This DOG - ID#A1072247 I am an unaltered male, brown Pit Bull Terrier. The shelter thinks I am about 10 years old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 21, 2009. Starving, emaciated, skin condition  and ten years-old - who's going to rescue him?  REDLIST!!!!  What were these ten years like for this poor dog?  A nightmare to be sure!  Would anyone like to turn his nightmare into a dream come true?

This DOG - ID#A1071810 I am an unaltered female, black and tan Rottweiler. The shelter thinks I am about 9 years old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 20, 2009.

This DOG - ID#A1070873 I am an unaltered female, gray and white American Pit Bull Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 15, 2009.

This DOG - ID#A1070638 I am an unaltered male, fawn and white American Staffordshire Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 14, 2009.

ROCK N ROLL - ID#A1070566 My name is Rock n roll and I am an unaltered male, black and white American Pit Bull Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years and 0 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 14, 2009.

CLOUD - ID#A1070565 My name is Cloud and I am an unaltered male, blue and white American Pit Bull Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years and 0 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 14, 2009. If those eyes don't get you, then nothing will!  What a lovely boy!  Home, please?????

SPANKY - ID#A1069259 My name is Spanky and I am an unaltered male, gray and white American Pit Bull Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years and 0 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 08, 2009. Spanky, I do know.  I named him.  Awful photograph, beautiful dog! Young, rambunctious and highly trainable.  Sweet natured boy.  Will anyone give him a chance to live longer than a year, please????????

TINK - ID#A1068702 My name is Tink and I am an unaltered female, black and tricolor German Shepherd Dog mix. The shelter thinks I am about 6 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 06, 2009.

This DOG - ID#A1068619 I am an unaltered female, tan Chihuahua - Smooth Coated mix. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years and 0 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 06, 2009.

NIKKI - ID#A1068581 My name is Nikki and I am an unaltered female, black Labrador Retriever and Akita. The shelter thinks I am about 6 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 06, 2009. Nikki is a bit shy, but very sweet girl, who is looking for a forever home with someone who wants to spend time with her. This is a very adoptable girl, who is ONLY six months old.  Please rescue her -- she will make a wonderful companion dog!!!

OSO - ID#A1067310 My name is Oso and I am an unaltered male, tan and black German Shepherd Dog and Chow Chow. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years and 1 month old. I have been at the shelter since Sep 30, 2009.

CHATO - ID#A1067308 My name is Chato and I am an unaltered male, red Pit Bull Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 year and 1 month old. I have been at the shelter since Sep 30, 2009

MAX - ID#A1064364 My name is Max and I am a neutered male, tan Chow Chow and Pit Bull Terrier. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years and 1 month old. I have been at the shelter since Sep 19, 2009 Max is a very appealing little guy, with a pronounced underbite!  Very cute!

STARLA - ID#A1061750 My name is Starla and I am an unaltered female, white and brown Australian Shepherd and Chow Chow. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years old. I have been at the shelter since Sep 08, 2009. Beautiful girl.  Loves people.  Needs a home IMMEDIATELY!!!!

JOEY - ID#A1056225 My name is Joey and I am a neutered male, brown Chihuahua - Smooth Coated mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 year and 2 months old. I have been at the shelter since Aug 16, 2009. Oh come on, Joey won't take up too much space and he's adorable and a very nice little chap!  He's wondering what he's doing on the REDLIST!!!! HELP!!! Someone must have made a mistake!!!  But no, he's been at the shelter over 2 months!!

MICKEY - ID#A1054028 My name is Mickey and I am a neutered male, brown and white Chihuahua - Smooth Coated mix. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years old. I have been at the shelter since Aug 06, 2009.

CHICO - ID#A0934142 My name is Chico and I am a neutered male, white and tan Pit Bull Terrier. The shelter thinks I am about 4 years old. I have been at the shelter since Sep 11, 2009 Chico is a lovely boy, who walks well on a leash and loves humans.  He's very appealing and is already over the adolescent stage!!!   Wonderful dog, who deserves a wonderful forever home -- BEFORE IT'S too late!!!  Please help him!

This DOG - ID#A1069450 I am an unaltered female, brown and white Cocker Spaniel mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years and 0 months old. I have been at the shelter since Oct 08, 2009.

Being in TV news is tough, judging by this CNN video.

These stories are just so horribly sad for me.

In a story posted this morning on the Daily Breeze Web site,  AP reports that as many as 350 dogs have been seized and 20 people arrested in dogfighting raids across five states.

Animal groups say it's the largest simultaneous raid of dogfighting operations in the U.S. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals cooperated in the investigation. The raid was conducted by task forces involving federal, state and local law enforcement agencies:

Dogfighting is banned throughout the United States and is a felony in 48 states. President George W. Bush signed a law two years ago that increased penalties for activities that promote or encourage animal fighting after a long campaign by animal-welfare groups.

Who knows how many of these dogs can now be rehabilitated as pets. Dogs who lose are executed. And sadly, weaker, smaller animals, including cats, are often used as "bait" by these criminals to "train" the fighting dogs to be viscious.  

It all makes you wonder who the real animals are in these cases, doesn't it?

Somewhat related: Weigh in on our earlier post about pit bulls. 

Few topics spark more controversy among dog owners and non-dog owners alike than pit bulls: Are they inherently dangerous?

What prompts pit bull attacks? Nature or nurture?

I'm no expert. There are several friendly, well-behaved pit bulls I've known through the years at various off-leash dog parks. I've also had two of my dogs attacked by off-leash pit bulls (one at a dog park; the other incident occurred when a huge pit bull literally snapped its leash being held by a way-too-young child and charged across the street where I was leash walking my two dogs. The pit had my Australian shepherd Mercy on her back yelping within seconds; fortunately a man doing yard work nearby ran to our rescue and finally wrestled & kicked the pit bull off).

I confess that I keep an extra close eye on the breed when they're around until I'm reassured that particular dog is "ok." It helps to have a clearly responsible owner who keeps close watch on their dog as well. Heavy chain or spiked collars and owners who appear enamored of the "gang" look raise an instant red flag for me.  

My very un-expert view is that pit bulls do carry fighting dog genetics that may cause them to be aggressive. But owners also play a major role and can be a big influence by raising the animals with love along with lots of basic obedience and discipline. They should always be careful in public to follow leash laws. (A friend who once adopted a pit bull was told by her dog trainer that she'd have to demonstrate she had exceptional control over her dog to avoid scaring neighbors or others who might see them out on a walk.) 

I bring this up because fellow blogger Diana Chapman, a former Daily Breeze reporter, posted last weekend about an incident in which a neighborhood pit bull killed a cat. I can't imagine witnessing such a horrific sight, but her teen son did. She suggests a law requiring pit bulls to be registered with the authorities. She writes:

To me, this is a much better solution than outright bans on the animals, which some cities have done, or trying to prevent future breeding. Ruling dangerous dogs as potential weapons ... could give police and animal control the ability to confiscate such animals and cite owners for neglect.

Web sites abound about pits, both pro and con,  Voices on both sides are passionate.                                 

What's your take on the issue?