Happy Fall everyone!
This week we want to talk a bit about the need for folks to stop breeding pit bulls. These dogs (and pit bull mixes) are the most at-risk dogs in animal shelters all across the country. They are difficult to adopt and out-of-state rescues we regularly send dogs to, for the most part, will not accept pit bulls. Because of this, Have A Heart will only house one pit bull or easily identified pit bull mix at a time.
According to statistics from Pit Bull support organizations, such as the American Pit Bull Foundation, 1200 pit bull-type dogs are euthanized daily in the U.S. One statistic even reported that 90% of homeless dogs are pit bulls or bully breed mixes, with 93% of them being euthanized.
Pit bulls are often discriminated against by breed restrictions in communities and homeowner insurance companies. These all relate to safety concerns such as bites and aggression toward other animals.
Even though euthanization rates across the country continue to decline, 2023 data from the Shelter Animals Count reports 359,000 dogs and 330,000 cats were euthanized in the U.S.
Because Have A Heart is designated a NO KILL shelter, we get calls from all over Arkansas asking us to take animals. An animal shelter can be designated a no kill shelter if they have a live release rate of 90% or more. Our shelter will euthanize animals only for severe health conditions and aggression that would endanger the community.
Pit bulls are high energy, devoted, loving, playful and happy dogs the majority of the time. When you go to adopt a dog, please evaluate the dog, not the breed. The fact is, all dogs have the potential for aggression under certain circumstances.
The leading causes for dog attacks include:
- Irresponsible ownership,
- Neglect or abuse,
- Failure to neuter, and
- Inadequate supervision of large or strong dogs around infants and children.
Let’s address these problems in our own communities.
Have A Heart Pet Shelter would like to work with the communities in our area to reduce the number of breeding pit bulls and pit bull mixes.
Because of the stigma of pit bulls and mixes, the Shelter has historically only taken one at a time into the Shelter.
We will spay or neuter any pit bull or pit bull mix for $25 at one of our upcoming clinic days.
Please call the Shelter and give us the information needed for scheduling.
Our dog of the week is a handsome boy that fits this category, Rocco!
We don’t label them Pit Bull mixes but call them terrier mixes so they will not be discriminated against. Rocco is probably part lab. He was found as a stray off South 14 near Yellville. Rocco has been at the Shelter since April 11th. He is such a very good boy, although he tends to get really excited with high energy and is very playful.
Rocco has been well behaved with other dogs and has some shelter play yard friends. It is sometimes very hard to get his leash on him since he gets so excited about going outside. We are willing to do a 50% adoption fee ($50) for Rocco so he can get out of the Shelter and into his very own home. Applications will be thoroughly screened to make certain he goes to a good home.
Our cat of the week is Mia!
Marvelous Mia was surrendered by an elderly gentleman who had her all her life. He had to move out of state and in with his children. Sadly, he couldn’t take her with him.
Mia is a beautiful, sweet girl and is only three years old. She doesn’t appear to have any issues with dogs and is very friendly.
If you’d like to meet Rocco, Mia, or any of our other adoptables, please call the Shelter at 870/449-7387 or stop by at 657 Highway 202 West in Yellville during our normal business hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm.