FACTS ABOUT PITBULLS

The American Pit Bull Terrier was the number one family dog during the first part of the 20th century.

So What Happened?

The wrong people realized this breed is extremely loyal and eager to please.

Now: Click here to see the ABC Channel 7 News segment

Pit Bulls on TV:

Then:

Petey of the Little Rascals fame was a Pit Bull

Helen Keller owned a Pit Bull

Pit Bulls in advertising

According to the American Canine Temperament Testing Association, 82.5% of the American Pit Bull Terriers that took the temperament test passed, compared to a 77% passing rate for all breeds on average. In the test, a dog is placed in a series of confrontational situations. The first sign of aggression or panic is a failure of the test. Pit Bulls have achieved the fourth highest passing rate of all 122 breeds tested. Click here to view an article on the new Alabama Supreme Court's ruling that there is no genetic evidence that one breed of dog is more dangerous than another.

It is estimated that there are 60,000 Pit Bulls in the city of Chicago alone. This number is so high because people are breeding them for the wrong reasons. Most of them are living in hostile surroundings. It is an amazing testimony to the breed that although 95% of these animals suffer abuse / neglect we rarely hear of any problems. One analogy is, if there was a sudden increase of people being injured by red cars, would we ban red cars? No! Common sense would dictate that red is a more popular color choice.

Dog fighting is the number one abuse towards animals in an urban environment. This is why when you watch Animal Precinct on Animal Planet almost every arrest made involves cruelty to pit bulls.
Read the article Betting on Cruelty that shows the connection between animal abuse and crime.

"It's time people stop closing their eyes to the source of the problem and start to face reality. The pain you see in the eyes of the dogs in this section IS the sad reality of too many Pit Bulls."
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/sadreality.html

It is the very qualities that make the American Pit Bull Terrier an outstanding companion dog- intelligence, loyalty, courage, trainability - that attract the criminal element to this breed and make it the most commonly VICTIMIZED. At criminal hands, pit bulls are trained by brutal methods to fight other dogs to the death, and to protect their owners during drug deals. Taunting, beating and starvation are common. People's pets (cats, dogs, rabbits) are used as bait to increase aggressive behavior. One dog actually had metal bottle caps sewn under the skin of his neck to insure he was in constant pain resulting in vicious behavior. Complete lack of socialization (being kept in garages, backyards, abandoned buildings) further exacerbates the situation.

Click here to read an article from the N.Y. Times written by the adopter of a Furry Friends pit bull, about the mentality behind dogfighting .

Dog fighting is a sadistic "sport" in which two dogs are placed into a ring and forced to fight until one of the dogs is either severely injured or killed. Fighting dogs are torn apart alive. If the loser survives the fight, he/she may be set on fire, left to die, suffocated or worse by a frustrated owner. One dog that lost a fight was attacked by a mob that raised a car and crushed the dogs head under the lifted wheel. Typically thousands of dollars are wagered on a single fight. This form of gambling is considered less risky than selling drugs. There are only three police officers in the entire city of Chicago assigned to stop this cruelty. Thousands of dogs are fought in Chicago every night. In addition to being an animal welfare issue, this is a child welfare issue. The adults involved in dog fighting often bring their children to watch. Children are further desensitized to violence in an already violent society. Cruelty investigators report that dog fighting attracts individuals involved in gambling, drug dealing, illegal weapons, gangs and prostitution. The correlation of animal Cruelty/Abuse with Serial Killers can clearly be seen by clicking here.

Furry Friends Foundation proudly supports the Chicago Police Department's Animal Abuse and Control Team. Sergeant Steve Brownstein and his officers work tirelessly on a daily basis to investigate animal cruelty claims and put an end to dog fighting on the streets of Chicago. Their dedication and hard work has lead to an increased rate of prosecution for dog fighting and animal abuse misdemeanors and felonies. Since May of 1999 the Animal Abuse and Control Team has saved over 1500 animals and has filed over 300 animal cruelty-related charges. "Hats off to the Chicago Police Department's Animal Abuse and Control team"..........

During World War I, the Pit Bull was often used to represent America. In the photo to the left, the Pit Bull (representing the American military) is protecting kittens (representing the American people) from the German Mastiff (representing the German armed forces).

Pit bulls in the war

The Furry Friends Foundation accepts the largest number of American Pit Bull Terriers in the Chicago area. It is not accurate to assess a dog based on appearance, pedigree or history. Every individual animal needs to be evaluated on its own merits. There is no reason to assume that because a dog has been injured and scarred that he/she is unadoptable, or should be termed a "fighter". Most pit bulls that end up in animal shelters bearing heavy scarring are there because they would NOT fight, and were discarded by dog fighters. These victims deserve special consideration, not condemnation. Some animal shelters condemn any dog that has a pit bull look as "unadoptable" without any evaluation. This death sentence is unfair and unsound.

Max before

Max after

Owner education and careful animal selection is the key to successful adoptions. All animal shelters must be careful to protect the American Pit Bull Terriers from owners who are incapable and unwilling to provide responsible ownership.

Pit Bull Heroes Popsicle, drug sniffing dog for the federal government. Click here for his story.

STUBBY, Pit Bull Terrier mix, WWI. The most decorated war dog in U.S. history.
She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California. Click here for her story.

What can we do to help regain this wonderful breed's former popularity and reputation?

Duke, above, is still available for adoption.

"Hey Harper, Lily's sneaking a drink out of your sipper cup!!"

Write to the Mayor and the Superintendent of Police requesting more officers be assigned to the Animal Abuse Control Unit.

Honorable Richard M. Daley
Mayor of the City of Chicago
121 N. LaSalle St., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602

Philip J. Cline
Superintendent of Police
City of Chicago
3501 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616

* Be a court advocate for the animals once the case of abuse comes before a judge. You can find dates, times and locations on The Buzz page.

*ADOPT a pit bull from Furry Friends Foundation or another pit bull friendly shelter and be a good ambassador for the breed. It is estimated that only one out of 600 pit bulls gets a home in the US.

*Help us educate the public that these wonderful animals have been receiving poor publicity for too long and deserve a fair chance and a good, loving home.

Please read this wonderful and informative article "Bad Reputation" by Cindy Wolff

Click here to read the fantastic article in City Talk. We're guessing the photo above is Maddie's (to the right) long lost ancestor because the resemblance is uncanny.

Education about the American Pit Bull Terrier is such an important part of how we can help this breed regain it's reputation we have made the information on this page available in letter form for you to print, copy and share with others.
Click here

For more information check out these web sites:

BadRap.org

American Pit Bull Terrier Frequently Asked Questions

Dogwatch

American Temperament Test Society's website http://www.atts.org

The top six reasons why BSL doesn't Work, brought to us by the American Kennel Club.

Breed-specific laws are not the best way to protect communities. An owner intent on using his or her dogs for malicious purposes will simply be able to switch to another type of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety. The list of regulated breeds or types could grow every year without ever addressing responsible dog ownership. Deeds, not breeds, should be addressed.

Breed-specific laws are hard to enforce. Breed identification requires expert knowledge of the individual breeds, placing great burden on local officials.

Breed-specific laws are unfair to responsible owners.

Breed-specific laws increase costs for community. Shelter costs for the community could rise as citizens abandon targeted breeds and adoptable dogs of the targeted breeds would be euthanized at the shelter.

Some communities have had their breed-specific laws overturned on constitutional grounds. Because proper identification of what dogs would be included is difficult or impossible, the law may be deemed unconstitutionally vague. It may also be found to involve the taking of property without due process.

Strongly enforced animal control laws (such as leash laws), generic guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs and increased public education efforts to promote responsible dog ownership are all better ways to protect communities from dangerous animals.

Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the AKC, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Animal Control Association, the ASPCA, the National Animal Interest Alliance, and a host of national animal welfare organizations that have studied the issue and recognize that targeting breeds simply does not work.

For more information from the American Kennel Club visit thier web site at www.akc.org

Unfortunately.. Breed Specific Legislation is coming up everywhere in the United States so we have found it necessary to create our own page in attempt to stop BSL. Please visit our new page http://www.furryfriendsfoundation.com/Truth03/StopBSL.htm
for additional information.

A child, a pup, a blood sport
Spring brings rise in dogfights staged by kids for fun

U.S. Dog-Fighting Rings Stealing Pets for "Bait"
National Geographic News

The story of search & Rescue Pits

From wild on the streets of New Jersey, to humane educator....

When it was time to fight, the starving dogs were led to a bloodstained pit ringed by beer kegs and a barbecue grill..... abuse in Fort Worth Texas

Pit bulls have been faithful companions to all sorts of different people. Here is one story about the first American cross country automobile trip with their sidekick 'Bud'.

Pit Bull Saves Child In Fire

Pit Bulls in the News--This is Hysterical, SO funny except for the part about the AR "nutters". Many, many of the people that have adopted pit bulls (and other animals) from Furry Friends Foundation are involved in the animal rights movement. FFF itself is not just a group supporting animal welfare, but animal rights as well. We believe that respecting and being compassionate towards ALL animals is the only way to elicit change in how the human community as a whole treats the animal community.

Pit Bulls' views on life

A positive pit bull article.

The pros and cons of adopting a pit bull:
http://pitbullsontheweb.com/mpr/misc/breedinfo.html

Your Eyes , an innovative way to use Petfinder.com

Pete The Healer

Pit Bull saves the life of a child:

The "Pitcasso" of the Art World

Give a dog his day

Father and son die while trying to drown their pit bull that would not fight.

Photo Gallery for Pugsley's trip

AND EVEN MORE STORIES:
courtesy of pitbullsontheweb.com

To see a Slide Show of our wonderful collection of vintage photos click here.

HERE IS A LIST OF FOODS NOT TO FEED YOUR DOG !!!!

Grapes and Raisins: Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill a dog

Onions: Onions destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia.

Chocolate: Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death.

Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous. A dog can consume milk chocolate and appear to be fine because it is not as concentrated, but it is still dangerous.

Coffee, Coffee grounds, tea and tea bags: Drinks/foods containing caffeine cause many of the same symptoms chocolate causes

Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis.

Animal fat and fried foods: Excessive fat can cause pancreatitis.

Bones: Bones can splinter and damage a dog’s internal organs.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes can cause tremors and heart arrhythmias. Tomato plants and the most toxic, but tomatoes themselves are also unsafe.

Avocados: The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart

Nutmeg: Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures and death

Apples, Cherries, Peaches and similar fruit: The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. Unlike humans, dogs do not know to stop eating at the core/pit and easily ingest them.

Raw eggs: Raw eggs can cause salmonella poisoning in dogs. Dogs have a shorter digestive tract than humans and are not as likely to suffer from food poisoning, but it is still possible.

Salt: Excessive salt intake can cause kidney problems.

Food that most dogs can eat:
Some “human” foods are good for dogs. Most of these are healthier than the boxed treats you buy in the grocery store. . This is just a small list of examples of foods dogs can eat, not a list of every food they should eat. Dogs won’t necessarily get all the nutrients they need if they eat these foods exclusively, so check with your veterinarian if you are interested in feeding your dog a home cooked diet.
Any food that causes stomach upsets or digestive problems in your dogs should be avoided. Like people, some dogs cannot tolerate certain foods

Meats:
Meats should be boneless and it’s best if the skin is removed.

Skinless, boneless chicken breast
Skinless, boneless turkey breast
Boneless fish

Vegetables:
Dogs have shorter digestive tracts than humans and cannot digest most vegetables whole or in large chunks. It’s best to put them through a food processor before giving them to your dog
Carrots
Green Beans
Lettuce
Potatoes
Yams

Grains:
Grains should not be given in large amounts or make up a large part of a dog’s diet, but these foods are generally safe in small amounts
Rice
Bread

Dairy products
Use caution with dairy products as they are high in fat and can cause pancreatitis, gas and diarrhea. Usually, nonfat plain yogurt is safe in small amounts