Bust of dog-fighting ring revives debate over pit bulls as pets
By CHERYL WITTENAUER
Associated Press Writer
For many, the pit bull is the poster dog for danger, a fight-to-the-death
vicious canine that inspires fear and projects macho.
They're behind a growing trend of "dangerous dog" bans and restrictions in
U.S. communities barring certain breeds, and vehement debate about whether
fighters can go on to be pets.
Ledy Vankavage, like other passionate pit bull enthusiasts, said most pits
are "extremely human friendly," little "wiggle butts" that don't deserve the
bad rap they've been given.
Pit bull advocates say even among the dogs unlucky enough to fall into the
hands of people who stage fights between them - like the 25 seized last
weekend in southeast Missouri - some can be saved and placed into homes with
responsible owners. They also admit some cannot.
"They should be judged as individuals, and if they're temperament tested and
found to be sound, they should be re-homed," said Vankavage, a Collinsville,
Ill., lobbyist and attorney for The American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals.
"They're just dogs, not werewolves."
Vankavage said her ex-fighter, Che, one of three rescued pit bulls she
adopted, occasionally tussles with the others over chew toys. He also
submits to ear licks and being chased off the bed by her cats.
The Humane Society of Missouri's bust last weekend of a large,
well-organized, professional dog-fighting ring in Stoddard County has
revived the debate over the disposition of such animals, and whether the pit
bull, a term that encompasses the American pit bull terrier, the American
Staffordshire terrier, and the Staffordshire bull terrier, can be a pet.
The Humane Society of the United States says pit bulls are naturally social,
well-behaved animals content to be part of the pack. But some are
selectively bred for extremely high levels of aggression toward other dogs,
and exploited in illegal and very lucrative fighting rings across the U.S.
Those that demonstrate a willingness to stay in the fight, even while on the
verge of death, are "game dogs" used for fights, loaned out for $1,000 stud
fees, and bred for puppies valued as high as $10,000 each.
Those that don't survive the culling process are killed, often brutally by
electrocution and drowning, as in the Michael Vick case, said John Goodwin,
who oversees animal fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United
States.
"This desire to kill is completely artificial in what is otherwise a pack
animal," Goodwin said. "To breed for aggression is counter to canine nature
and instinct."
Those that aren't bred for aggression "are the cuddly, well-socialized
companion animals" touted by their advocates, he said.
Goodwin does not believe dogs bred for aggression are adoptable. He
recognizes some may be fine, but predicting is unreliable.
He said criminals put these dogs between a rock and a hard place, and that a
greater effort on rooting out dogfighting and breeding for aggression, would
resolve the issue.
The Humane Society of Missouri takes the position that all animals rescued
from a bad situation deserve a second chance at life.
Tim Rickey, director of rescue and investigation, said the pit bulls seized
last weekend are dog-aggressive, but it's unclear to what extent, yet they
are friendly with humans. They're being evaluated by experts.
However, Rickey said it's dealing with potentially dangerous animals that
cannot be placed with just anyone.
Rickey said his worst fear is placing the dogs where they'd be at risk of
being caught up in another fighting ring.
He said animal fighting is underground and widespread in Missouri, its
perpetrators well networked.
Pit bulls are swamping already overburdened U.S. animal shelters, and
account for a third of new arrivals. Many shelters don't adopt them out,
fearing they will pose a danger or be victimized by criminals.
Instead, many shelters work with pit bull rescue groups that screen and
temperament test the dogs and carefully decide if and with whom they are
placed. Grand champion fighters are often euthanized or sent to sanctuaries.
On the other hand, "I've known dogs that come out of the ring and want
nothing more than a hug," said Marcy Setter, education director for Pit Bull
Rescue Central, an online adoption site, founded in Missouri.
She said rescued pit bulls have been used for search and rescue, bomb
detection and other services.
In the Michael Vick case, experts have determined that some of the seized
dogs have placement potential.
Amy Nash, an animal control officer in Peculiar, south of Kansas City,
volunteers with Missouri Pit Bull Rescue. She said pit bulls are U.S.
shelters' "death row dogs" that would be destroyed if not for rescue
efforts. Currently, she's doing temperament testing with Justice, a "poor
little shell of a thing," that was "wandering around Kansas City, beat up."
Alice Moon-Fanelli, an animal behaviorist at Tufts University, said she's
seen "as many pit bulls with separation anxiety as with aggression.
"I'm not part of the doggie racism movement that generalizes on all these
breed bans," she said.
"There are plenty of good dogs, good breeders, bad dogs and bad breeders.
Pit bulls get such a bad rap because when they do damage, they're so
powerful. But how many pit bulls never do any damage?"
Karen Delise, founder of the National Canine Research Council, said the
question isn't whether dogs seized from a fight can be placed in a home.
It's whether the people who have profited and taken pleasure from their
suffering can be rehabilitated before their release to the community.
"What guarantees their behavior will be acceptable to people who live around
them and the animals who encounter them?" she asked. "That's the disturbing
part."
© 2007 Belleville News-Democrat and wire service sources.
All Rights Reserved. http://www.belleville.com
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