2008 summary

2008 was not all that much better about 2007 for the pit bulls.  We have downsized over the past couple of years for personal reasons.  Our rescue efforts have diminished even more this year.  It was a combination of having less foster homes, busier lives and less people looking to add a pit bull to their lives.  The numbers of pit bulls needing assistance has multiplied exponentially and it seems as though shelters have more and more. I can't walk into a shelter without seeing several pit bulls or pit bull mixes in need.  When the economy takes a downturn, pets are usually the first to suffer. That itself has seemed to multiply as the months progressed through the year.  I have seen larger and larger numbers of older dogs needing homes, which is surprising since the general up keep on a healthy older dog is minimal compared to that of a puppy.

I don't know if the housing crisis has played as much of a hand or if that was used as an excuse to get rid of pets.  There have always been problems when people moved with little regard given to whether their pets will be welcome and no regard that their pet will likely lose it's life because of their lack of concern.  There are those precious few that are desperate for help and welcome advice on how to make their housing situations better but for the most part that is not the case.  Just as many people are acquiring puppies but not as many are maintaining them for their whole lives.

I continue to hope this year improves. 2009 will be better. We have to believe that.