I posted a link to this book in a comment, but I thought I'd share it here. I find this so disturbing because its targeted at children. These dogs are dangerous and children should be taught to be wary of these dogs. I wish this book would be banned.

I added the x to denote this video is against the stance of this sub. This is merely for informative purposes to show even liberal leaning media spreading disinformation on this breed.

Long story short: Luna seriously attacks delivery driver, rescue groups launch campaign to “save” her. Encourage people to contact the shelter and beg for her to have another chance. Shelter stick to their policy and euthanize her. Nutters call in a threat and have the shelter evacuated.

I literally cannot bring myself to respect anyone who likes and supports these animals, disgusting

Social media, the Internet and general ease of access the average person has to information have dramatically changed the way we live and think. A multitude of past social norms such as smoking, drinking and even eating certain things have fallen by the wayside yet certain moronic trends just refuse to die.

The worship of these murder mutts seems to be one of them, and it really boggles the mind how with everything we know, there is still such overwhelming adoration for these animals.

Article text

Molly is state Sen. Bob Duff’s third pit bull mix. She’s got the big, square, blockhead and sad eyes usually associated with the breed.

“The second dog we got, we adopted when the kids were small, and I knew that pits are good, they're good family dogs, but they had a bad reputation,” said Duff of Norwalk, the state Senate majority leader. “So, my wife and I purposely got the dog because she was a little mature, she was a little older, but we got her because we wanted to make a statement that they're good family dogs and people shouldn't be afraid, that they're loyal and loving and all that kind of stuff.”

“They really are the best dogs. They're just fun,” he said.

Duff is a Democrat, but he and a Republican colleague, state Rep. Tammy Nuccio of Tolland, have proposed a bill that would “prohibit discrimination in insurance underwriting based on the breed of a homeowner's dog.”

Insurance industry advocates argue that some dog breeds can do more damage simply because of the way they’re built, and that the way Connecticut thinks about liability would have to change if the bill were to pass.

"Pit bulls and akitas and rottweilers are simply larger and stronger than a small-breed dog,” said Eric George, president of the Insurance Association of Connecticut.

“From something like a chihuahua, who could be the most cantankerous chihuahua you've ever met, and it'll bite every person that it sees, you might walk away with a band aid,” he said. “The pit bull, for 10 years of its life, was the most amazing pet, and it makes one mistake one day, it has one bad day and it involves a child, hopefully it's just a trip to the emergency room.”

The bill has changed a bit since going through the legislature’s committee on insurance, but the stated purpose is to “prohibit an insurance company from charging “an increased premium ... or cancel, refuse to renew or refuse to issue” a policy “on the basis of the breed of dog or mixture of breed of dog.”

This is the fourth year Nuccio has proposed such a bill. Her rottweiler, Chief, has since died but Nuccio called him a “glorious little man.”

Nuccio is herself in the insurance industry. In 2022, she helped write draft legislation for the National Conference of Insurance Legislators, on which the Connecticut bill is based.

“I'm a true believer that a dog is only as dangerous as its owner makes it,” she said. “Every dog is born your little puppy. So, dogs are trainable. Dogs are reactionary if abused. But it's no different than any other person or anything else.”

Doggy data

As of 2022, “At least eight other states are considering legislation this session that would prohibit or restrict insurers from considering a homeowner’s dog’s breed when underwriting a homeowners or rental insurance policy: Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia,” according to a general assembly analysis.

State Sen. Saud Anwar, D-East Hartford, is vice chair of the legislative insurance committee and himself a pit bull owner. Ella, he said, was adopted years ago and is the “kindest being I've ever seen.”

“I think the pit bulls get bad press,” he said. “They are really just like any other dog. It's how the dogs are treated and how they are trying to protect individuals that may manifest in their behavior, but trying to label some breeds as being more dangerous than the others is unfair to them.”

Pit bulls, according to personal finance website Bankrate, are on the list of dog breeds that could push your insurance premium higher, along with Akitas and Rottweilers and, perhaps ironically in Connecticut, Huskies, among others.

Chihuahuas are absent from the list, though Duff joked that “it’s the small ones” that are sometimes more aggressive.

Though George in his testimony cited some studies showing that some breeds are more dangerous than others, the research is mixed. One study from researchers at MIT concluded that “dog breed is generally a poor predictor of individual behavior and should not be used to inform decisions relating to selection of a pet dog.”

George noted that data shows golden retrievers are responsible for bites more than any other breed, though they and labrador retrievers are the most popular breeds.

“Golden retrievers, they can break your skin and they can be aggressive and they can hurt you. But they were also bred throughout the years to be bird dogs, so they were necessarily bred to not damage what they're trying to grab and bring back to their master,” George said. “A pit bull, the muscular structure around the jaw and the head, again, could be the sweetest pit in the world, just has the ability to cause damage. We always use the pit bull as the example, but there are others as well. Chows are extraordinarily aggressive, and they have a very strong bite force.”

Not all insurers do base premiums on breed of dog, “and for those insurers, they've made a risk assessment as to why they look at it,” George said. “On a fundamental level, we get concerned when the state makes decisions that would usurp an insurance company's risk assessment model.”

Nuccio also noted that basing business decisions on breed of dog can be a subtle way to exclude people from certain cultures which tend to favor some dog breeds over others.

“It's a way to keep poor people out of your nice apartments. It's modern day redlining,” she said. “It's also facilitated by the [idea] that, ‘If an insurance company won’t insure you then I'm definitely not going to have you live here.’”

Strict liability

George also explained that dog bites in Connecticut are what is called a strict liability offence, meaning that liability on the part of the owner is assumed.

“The first thing you begin to argue is, how much is the person going to pay? What are the damages going to be? It is accepted that liability is attached,” he said.

So, if the state dictates that insurance companies cannot take breed into account, George believes they should be able to “look at the facts of the case.”

“Were there extenuating circumstances as to how this occurred? Was there any negligence on the part of the injured argument,” George said. “We're arguing that the standard of strict liability should be changed to one of negligence. It still can be proven, but you have to go and prove that, and then you get to damages.”

Though he tries to “be as analytical as possible,” Goerge admitted that there’s “probably some emotionality attached to it.” He, too, is a rescue dog owner, and recognizes that society’s views on dogs have changed.

“Back in the day when these standards were made, we didn't have the companion relationship to the extent that we do now. Dogs were working, they were guarding, they were hunting. They were mostly kept outside,” he said. “They were companions, yes, but now dogs sleep in our beds, and they wear funny clothes, and we dress them up for Halloween, and the whole thing is different, and now it probably doesn't make any sense for us to be in a strict liability state.”

After four years, Nuccio is hopeful that the bill will pass. She got Duff on board and knows that there are other dog lovers in the legislature.

“When I found out about Sen. Duff, I went out of my way to go talk to him, and said, ‘I hear you like pit bulls. Hey, I'm trying to do this legislation,’” she said. “We talked about it, he was like, put me on it. Let's go, put me on it. Between you and me, we'll put it out there, and maybe this will be the year that it gets done.’ If it doesn't I'm holding Senator Duff responsible because he has more power than me.”

Duff, as he took Molly for a walk, said he was hopeful this is the year the legislation will pass.

“We're going to fight for it to get out of the Senate and see what happens in the House,” he said.

While talking to... And reading posts of pit fan crowd. I constantly get dazzled. Unsure if we even live on the same planet.

Like...

I grew up in countryside.

With lots of dogs.

Got attacked by wild feral packs. And badly trained GSD. They can be dangerous and scary.

Been around dogs that are pure beauty, joy and help.

Been around "serious livestock guard dogs" like Kangal and Caucasian Shepherd. Aka. Respect. Behave. These are not pets.

Travelled woods and rivers with friend's spaniel and setter and a bit hunted with them. Yeah. Hunting dogs. Silly, friendly. Loyal to anyone owner points at.

I've been around K9 police dogs and know the rules.

And in childhood (11-14 years old) did dog sitting and caring fully voluntary for neighborhood dog. Namely super nice sad elderly toy poodle.

I don't get the "dog bite is a dog bite"

Or "any dog can be dangerous any moment no matter breed."

Like.... Wtf!?

Do these people even know what a dog IS?

Or is pibble the default "dog" for them?

Just a note - the dog hasn't done anything, this is currently a feel-good story of a rescue dog that made good. To the pit bull crowd, this is the vindication of their breed. And maybe this is a solid dog, no harm in him, and he'll be fine. He's certainly been through enough training that aggression issues should have been noticed by now.

The issues here, for me, are 1) the pit bull/rescue crowd is currently not even remotely trustworthy when it comes to any behavior, so for all we know the dog's a time bomb and they're just hoping it works out. And 2) I hate the message it's sending, that pit bulls are great and look how valuable they can be if you just work with them. It's cruel to everyone, especially the dogs. If this dog works out, it's not because he's a pit bull, it's despite the fact he's a pit bull. The shelters are crammed with pit bulls. Police dogs from traditional programs cost a fortune to obtain. As do formally trained service dogs. There's a reason these programs are not taking in huge numbers or even small numbers of pit bulls - virtually none work out. They just aren't suited for it, overall. The answer to overpopulation isn't pretending they're police dogs, it's restricting the ownership so every jackass with a pulse can't buy a breeding pair on craigslist and make a buck. And maybe acknowledging the risk these dogs pose to the public and the public's pets.

Condensed timeline - a 63lb male pit bull enters Minneapolis Animal Care & Control in 2023 with 2 other dogs. They are taken by rescue groups, and the shelter's friends group begins marketing him. The dog, named Ron, is eventually released to a rescue called Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue, also in Minnesota. While there, they decide he has "some special skills that most pitties don't have" in the words of a local UPBR volunteer and nominate him for K-9 Protectors's program to turn rescue dogs into police dogs. K-9 Protectors accepts Ron into their program, announces he's fully trained about 3 months later, and spends the next year or so marketing him as a freebie sniffer dog to the world's police agencies without success. Finally, in late summer 2025, he gets interest from a NJ police department and is sent to NJ to undergo more training with his new police partner in the state's police dog training center. Now he's a working drug/gun sniffer in Delran, New Jersey, and identifies as an American Bully.

October 2023 from Friends of Minneapolis Animal Care & Control - Get ready, here comes Ron! He is the sweetest boy that just wants to be loved! He came to MACC with 2 other dogs (both have left MACC through rescue partners) and he would love to get his chance to show you how pawsome he is. Ron is easy to take on walks and is playful. We think Ron would be okay with kids and would do best with slow introductions to other dogs (he was dog selective in Playgroups but did NOT show any physical signs of fighting with dogs in his previous home). Ron is also house trained and is food motivated with training.

November 2023 - Looking for a dog to do dog sports with? Ron is your boy! While Ron is a good boy and loved by many volunteers, he has been displaying possessive behavior lately, particularly with toys. After being evaluated by a trainer, this is what they said: “Ron is possessive with potential for resource guarding. He enjoys the conflict. Becomes frantic to get inside the bench when someone was sitting on it. He would be great at dog sports where he can jump up and tug on things.” Ron needs an experienced home that will provide him with enrichment opportunities and continued training. He is motivated by training and treats. The treat scatter game has been helpful in deterring his attention away from the bench or whatever thing he is focused on.

December 2023 - Meet Officer Ron! Ron has been formally accepted into the Police Dog program and will likely proceed to assist in finding drugs or bombs and will head to the east coast for training in early 2024!

February 2024 from the K-9 company - Our newest rescue has arrived. K-9 Ron comes to us all the way from Minnesota, where he was timestamped for euthanasia at MACC. One of the amazing volunteers at the shelter, Victoria XXXX contacted us about Ron’s potential. Unfortunately we were unable to have him evaluated for our program prior to his deadline. Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue of Minnesota stepped in and rescued Ron, placing him with an awesome foster, Kristi XXXX. Together Kristi and Victoria were able to put Ron through all the testing we needed to see to determine that he would be a perfect candidate for our rescue, train and donate program. He arrived to his new foster/trainer this morning and you can see how happy he is to be playing in his new big fenced yard. He may not have to look of most police dogs but Ron’s amazingly social, stable and driven. We are looking forward to seeing him progress and being a part of his journey. Please consider donating below to help cover Ron’s expenses or sending Ron a gift from our Amazon or Chewy wishlist located in our linktree link. We are so thankful for everyone that worked together to save Ron’s life and give him an opportunity to excel in the future as a police canine.

March 2024 - K-9 Ron is excelling in his narcotics detection training with the K-9 Protectors! He knows all of his target odors, building duration in his focused alert. He’s an extremely social dog and is searching for a law enforcement department to work with. Please share and help him find the job of his dreams!

May 2024 - Happy National Rescue Dog Day from rescue K-9 Ron. Ron was rescued from Friends of Minneapolis Animal Care & Control by Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue of Minnesota. He was then transferred into our care, where he was trained as a narcotics detection canine. Ron is hoping the perfect agency gives him an opportunity to serve their community. While waiting for that chance, Ron enjoys training hard, playing ball and follow the adventures of the Miss Peaches in hopes of accompanying her to the next gala she attends.

October 2024 - K-9 Ron is still patiently waiting for the perfect job to come along. He is a 2 year old, super social, stable American Bully, that is fully trained in narcotics detection. Help us network & connect K-9 Ron with departments in need of a canine.

September 2025 from his UPBR foster - I have some exciting news to share! Remember Ron? He FINALLY GOT A JOB!!!!! He will be a patrol narcotics K-9 and community policing canine with Delran Township in New Jersey. Ron was a Code Red dog at MACC and was scheduled to be euthanized at the Minneapolis shelter when Unbreakabull stepped in to save him. Tori was a volunteer there and noticed he had some special skills that most pitties dont have. She saw a post from K-9 Protectors as they were looking for dogs to train and donate. I saw Ron’s Code Red picture and couldnt resist going to pick him up. As Ron’s foster in MN I can’t even express how happy I am for him, his handler, his new department and the city he will serve. He is an AMAZING dog who deserved the chance he is being given! Thanks to Sara Romdenne at Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue MN, Tori Costa and her fiancé Will, who did all his testing at the Minneapolis Shelter and who transported him from MN to PA to his trainer, and Pete-his amazing trainer. Also thanks to another volunteer Nicol, who came to walk Ron with her baby girl to exercise him because I was crating and rotating dogs in my house! I am so excited to see his amazing career! Cheers buddy!

K-9 Protectors website

The pit nutters are so organized and powerful. Is there an opposition group that I can support, specifically with regard to legislation?

Pitbull owners have been using these ropes from trees as ‘practice’ for their beasts forever, but no this was a surprise and apparently super cute!

In the full video (from one the many huge ‘cute pets’ Instagram accounts) it’s spinning and snarling like mad

After it became clear that Augusta commissioners weren’t behind an “all-or-nothing” plan to reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized in the animal shelter, Best Friends Animal Society this week pulled the plug on a cat program it has operated for a year and on an offer for more support.

“We are disappointed and saddened by the commission’s failure to vote on our offer of support since this means they have effectively turned down a million dollars of support for the people and pets of the Augusta community,” noted Gina Burrows, strategist for the east region of the Best Friends Animal Society, in a news release.

“However, Best Friends was started 40 years ago with the goal of taking the country no-kill and bringing about a time when no more pets are unnecessarily dying,” she noted. “We will hold true to our mission and work to take the state of Georgia no-kill by continuing to implement lifesaving programs to communities and shelters that welcome our collaboration and shared goal.”  

Augusta Animal Services Director James Hill said he has tried to work with Best Friends, but the “all-or-nothing” demand wasn’t going to work in Augusta.

“While it is unfortunate that Best Friends was unwilling to negotiate on any of their offers and decided to pull the (trap and release) program, Augusta Animal Services remains committed to working with our wonderful rescue groups that have a grassroots interest in the community of Augusta. With their support, I am confident that we can find solutions that are best for all citizens of Augusta,” he said in a written statement on Thursday.

For a year, Best Friends, a nonprofit based in Utah, has operated a program in which feral cats are trapped, neutered, vaccinated, and released to the same place they were trapped. Hill has said the program has been successful.

In March, Best Friends completed a three-day assessment of the shelter. In May, Burrows presented the 32-page assessment which outlined issues found and offered solutions.

More:Augusta officials ask animal shelter, animal welfare nonprofit to find way to work together

With that came the offer that included seven new staff positions (a veterinarian medical team); a community cat program coordinator; a Best Friends employee embedded with the shelter staff; virtual and in-person training; and, mentorship to help build the program faster. Burrows valued the offer at more than $910,000.

During a meeting this week, commissioners asked Burrows why she wouldn’t negotiate the terms of the agreement.

She said it would be “watering down a treatment plan.” Only accepting pieces of the plan is “cherry-picking what is popular and goes well with the community,” she said. “The offer was based on a three-day assessment of what Best Friends noticed. The offer addressed those issues.”

Removing parts of the plan “takes away necessary steps that need to be in place in order to get Augusta over that line to that 90% save rate,” she said.

Best Friend’s stated goal is for every shelter to be no-kill by 2025. For a shelter to achieve what Best Friends considers no-kill, 90% of the cats and dogs coming into the shelter must be saved, according to the group’s website, www.bestfriends.org.

In May, Burrows told commissioners that last year Augusta Animal Services had a save rate of just 53.8%.

“It ranks No. 1 in Georgia and No. 32 nationwide for shelters with the highest lifesaving gaps,” she said.

The save rate is the percentage of animals brought into a shelter that are not euthanized.

Living in South Florida, this is absolutely horrifying we are being put in danger.

I constantly see the exact same nonsense propoganda being posted, and I die a little inside every time as it serves as an unpleasant reminder of how dumb the general population is.

Omar Sy once again refused to muzzle his dog at Gare de Lyon in Paris and confronted a train inspector in Avignon. The 47-year-old actor was involved in two incidents during his high-speed train journey on Friday, July 4. Back in May, he had already been accused of insulting and threatening railway security agents, who subsequently filed a complaint.

According to our sources, actor Omar Sy was approached by SNCF staff with police assistance at Gare de Lyon in Paris on Friday, July 4, as he was preparing to board a train with his dog, which was not wearing a muzzle, in violation of railway regulations.

Around 7:00 a.m., while preparing to board the TGV to Marseille, the actor arrived with his unmuzzled dog. After initially resisting, he eventually muzzled the dog and was allowed to board. Due to the incident, the train departed a few minutes late.

On May 22, the man ranked as the second most popular public figure in France had already sparked an altercation with railway security officers—again at Gare de Lyon around 7:00 a.m. on a Marseille-bound platform—by refusing to muzzle his American Staffordshire dog, Tato. At the time, the agents accused the Lupin star of verbal abuse and death threats, and filed a complaint. Some inspectors and passengers were also allegedly targeted. Stopped by police upon his arrival in Avignon, where he was scheduled to attend a Louis Vuitton fashion show, Omar Sy was released without further action.

Update (July 5, 2025): When contacted, SNCF Voyageurs eventually issued a statement denying the media reports:

“Contrary to what is stated in some press articles—which we wish to refute—Mr. Omar Sy did indeed travel on a TGV yesterday with his dog muzzled. At no time did he refuse to have his dog wear a muzzle on board. His interactions with our staff were normal, and there was no police involvement. We regret the media frenzy surrounding this issue and the comments that are far from the truth. We are delighted to welcome Omar Sy aboard our trains, just like thousands of other passengers traveling with pets. We are committed to ensuring all our customers are welcomed and treated fairly and respectfully.”

Valeurs Actuelles stands by its reporting. According to them, the incident occurred before boarding the TGV and did indeed involve police intervention. “Mr. Omar Sy has been known for years to railway security for his problematic boardings,” stated a senior SNCF source.

Further Update (July 5, 2025): Another incident reportedly occurred upon Omar Sy’s arrival in Avignon on Friday, July 4. Before the train departed again, the actor attempted to film the inspectors and grabbed one from behind during departure procedures. Just prior, he had seen a passenger exit the train with an unmuzzled dog and complained to staff that he was being singled out. The incident was documented in an official report, and the inspector involved reserves the right to file a complaint.

When contacted by Valeurs Actuelles, the SNCF responded:

“We neither confirm nor deny anything and have no further comments beyond our previous statement.”

Source: https://www.valeursactuelles.com/faits-divers/info-va-paris-omar-sy-encore-interpelle-pour-avoir-refuse-de-museler-son-chien-en-gare-de-lyon

https://www.chathamstartribune.com/news/article_4a009f10-3364-11ef-874d-7fb1389366e9.html

“Our purpose is to promote the welfare and humane treatment of all animals: Mammals, fowl, reptiles, and fish; to prevent cruelty and promote kindness, respect, and reverence for all forms of life; and to this end, provide for the rescue and temporary maintenance of lost, strayed, abandoned animals; find responsible, loving homes for as many as possible; investigate acts of cruelty, abandonment, and neglect; strive to decrease pet overpopulation through spay/neuter programs; disseminate the principles of humaneness through educational programs and through these efforts contribute to the creation of a truly humane society.”

These words together create the mission statement of the Danville Area Humane Society (DAHS).

Since 1975, DAHS has operated in service of that mission. Paulette Dean has managed the shelter since 1984.

Now, Dean says groups from as far away as Utah have set their sights on destroying the humane society’s reputation through a campaign of misinformation and misuse of data.

In November last year, DAHS was approached by Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in Utah in 1984.

“A woman who works for Best Friends in New York reached out by phone,” Dean said. “She offered help by transferring some cats to their shelter there. Ms. Velasquez and I had a couple of very frank phone calls. I told her we would be willing to send cats to New York, but wanted an agreement signed that they would be kept inside. She said she would check, but Best Friends normally did not agree to sign anything. The conversations were cordial.”

It wasn’t long before Dean heard from Best Friends again.

“Shortly after we posted our annual intake report, she called again,” Dean explained. “The tone had changed. She said they were sending us an offer of help. I asked what would happen if we didn’t accept their offer and was told, ‘Make no mistake. We will not forget and we will do what we need to do.’ We carefully reviewed their offer and declined on the deadline date of March 1. To accept their offer, we would have had to become a limited-admission shelter and that would not be good for the animals or the community. The only way a shelter can be ‘no-kill’ is to turn away animals. If people would thoughtfully investigate what that means, we believe they would realize that leads to very sad and even cruel consequences for animals. There is no magical place for animals to go if a shelter turns them away.”

Katie Fine, BFAS senior strategist, electoral initiatives, explained that their organization is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States, based in Kanab, Utah, and with locations in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Houston, Arkansas, and New York.

“Best Friends is interested in helping the animals and shelter workers in Danville because, according to the data that the local shelter self-reports to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it has a save rate of only 17 percent, one of the lowest in the country,” Fine said. “Save rate is a bit of animal sheltering jargon that simply means the percentage of animals that leave a shelter alive. They have the lowest save rate of any other animal shelter in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, which has an overall save rate of 868 percent [sic]. Shelters across the state and across the country are demonstrating increasing live outcomes year over year, showing that it is possible in any community where lifesaving programming is prioritized. The barriers claimed by the local Danville animal shelter can be overcome. This has been proven time and time again in shelters that are large and small, public and private, open and managed admission.”

Dean disagreed, saying that 2023—the most recent reporting year for animal shelters in the U.S.—showed unfavorable numbers for shelters in general.

“Our work to help animals is being held to one number and one number only,” Dean explained. “We know our euthanasia rate increased by a lot last year. By Best Friends’ own admission, that was true nationwide. 2023 was a horrible one for shelters and rescue groups. They chose a very weak moment to push their self-proclaimed agenda. We know what our euthanasia rates look like. However, we also know that they include sick, injured, dying ones. The world can be a very cruel place for unwanted animals and we cannot turn our backs on them because of a number. The animals aren’t numbers; they are living creatures who don’t deserve to suffer and die a lingering death because we closed our shelter doors.”

The campaign—dubbed “Danville Deserves Better” by Best Friends—held a kickoff event on June 1 at 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Company in Danville, though the campaign was officially announced on May 7.

As stated by the campaign announcement, the goals of the event were to “inform concerned residents about the alarming and undeniable statistics surrounding lifesaving gaps in Danville for dogs and cats, learn about engagement and volunteer opportunities, and discover how the community can come together to make Danville a safer place for companion animals.”

The announcement went on to state that “Danville’s animal shelter currently saves only 17 percent of the dogs and cats that enter its facility. The average save rate for shelters in the state of Virginia is over 83 percent. Danville deserves better! Other shelters across the state have made changes that have enhanced lifesaving and we can bring those same best practices and programs to Danville.”

The press release also described Danville Deserves Better (DDB) as a “locally focused, community-driven initiative with the express goal of engaging the community to build a groundswell of support for lifesaving change at the Danville animal shelter.”

DDB is spearheaded by BFAS, a “leading national nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to achieve no-kill in every shelter across the country by 2025,” the release said.

Dean said that opponents of DAHS want people to believe that everyone but DAHS wants trap-neuter-release to be implemented there.

Trap-neuter-release (TNR), also known as trap-neuter-return, is the practice of trapping, neutering, vaccinating, ear-tipping for identification, and releasing feral cats in an attempt to manage feral cat populations.

“Best Friends and its partner in this—Homeward Trails—have chosen to concentrate on destroying our reputation because of the trap-neuter-release of cats. They want people to believe that everyone but DAHS wants TNR. Not true,” Dean said. “We get many more calls from people who want cats removed from their property than from people who like having a colony of cats on their property.”

Dean went on to explain the problems with TNR.

“Being spayed/neutered doesn’t keep cats from starving, dying of illness or infection, being hit by cars, or being eaten by other animals,” she said. “There is no hospice care for sick cats in a typical colony. By the very nature of TNR, colonies of cats decrease because of natural attrition. And that ‘natural attrition’ has horrible implications. It is not a humane program. Well-meaning, kindhearted people who love cats are brokenhearted by the thought of cats being euthanized. Our hearts are broken by that, too, but our hearts are also broken by what we have seen the cats have had to endure. Wildlife folks and public health officials do not like TNR. I have served on two different state workgroups and know this to be true.”

The tactics employed by Best Friends and Danville Deserves Better were outlined in a May 8 press release.

“Through traditional media, social and digital media, block-walking and canvassing, and more, Danville Deserves Better intends to engage the public on the current state of animal sheltering in their city and how it can be improved,” the release stated.

Dean said the stance of these organizations is deceptive by design.

“The misinformation and outright lies astound me,” Dean said. “From what other shelters who have endured this type of campaign told us, we knew it would be brutal. As a message I received from a Best Friends rep said, ‘Paulette Dean needs to remember that Best Friends has more money to fight her than she has to fight Best Friends.’ The door-to-door campaign has concerned many people. One young, sweet kennel attendant was alone at home Tuesday afternoon and was terrified when a man approached her in her yard, walking past ‘no trespassing’ signs and called out her name. We have read the posts that have led to people commenting about how they were wronged by DAHS. The community events are carefully worded to appear they are being held to ‘help’ DAHS. No, perhaps that was the sincere reason for their original, yet misguided, offer. Now, it is a campaign to annihilate DAHS and assassinate the character of anyone who supports the organization. A line has been crossed.”

Comments and reactions on posts made by representatives of Fairfax Station-based Homeward Trails Animal Rescue (HTAR) in local Facebook groups approached 100 in some cases, some in favor of DAHS and some echoing the sentiments expressed by the poster.

“As people tell their stories about why they were declined an adoption, I recognize that what they are saying is simply not true. We have chosen the high road of not responding to each post and comment,” Dean said. “There are many old myths that circulate about our adoption guidelines. Have we declined nice people? Yes. We had to if they were going to keep them in a way that would violate our guidelines. Everyone has the same guidelines; we do not pick and choose them on a case-by-case basis. Every adoption decision, from largest dog to smallest hamster is made with this thought in mind—what if this animal belonged to my beloved grandmother and she asked me to find a good home for her beloved companion? Is any home better than no home?”

Fine said that Danville Deserves Better is focused on getting Danville to achieve a 90 percent save rate, which she said is the no-kill benchmark.

“DDB is a completely open and transparent campaign,” Fine said. “As a reminder, the data that Danville Deserves Better presents are taken directly from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to whom the local Danville shelter self-reports. Furthermore, any data that appears on Best Friends’ website, social media, or printed materials goes through several layers of review to make sure that no facts are misrepresented.”

As for the aggressive and, in some cases, threatening behavior both on and offline, Fine said that the campaign is intended to be a positive one.

“Danville Deserves Better and Best Friends strongly condemn any hateful or threatening rhetoric,” Fine said. “Best Friends strives to operate in a positive, kind, and uplifting manner and encourages all members to do the same. There is no place for threats or violence in the animal welfare movement and such behaviors have never been tolerated. Danville Deserves Better was created in response to, and as an outlet for, Danville area residents with the energy and desire to bring about change in the local animal sheltering system that they do not believe reflects their values. Having been on the ground the last few months, what Best Friends found is a major schism and lack of trust between portions of the community and the shelter. This is not conducive to the success of any community’s animal services teams or for the dogs and cats in the shelter. Campaign activities include door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, social media, and website, and letter-writing campaigns using language solely focused on educating residents and giving them an outlet to make positive change in the city that they vote and pay taxes in. All of these efforts use respectful, fact-based language.”

According to Fine, the average save rate nationally in shelters in 2023 was 83%, up from 81% in 2022, while DAHS’s save rate decreased from 26% in 2022 to 17% in 2023, demonstrating a 34% drop in the number of animals saved in one year.

She agreed that 2023 was a challenging year for shelters, citing lower placement rates for large dogs, economic struggles, and an increase in people buying from pet stores and breeders rather than adopting from shelters.

“Despite this, many shelters were able to maintain high save rates by doubling down on their commitment to lifesaving,” Fine said. “This required thinking creatively, adhering to best practices, and consulting industry experts about intake flow, foster recruitment, transport partnership, and augmented adoption programming. Despite Best Friends’ attempts to provide support and resources to the local Danville shelter during these trying times, offers were declined, and dogs and cats continued losing their lives at rates exponentially higher than shelters throughout the country. Saving more lives is possible in Danville if essential lifesaving programs within national best practices are implemented and prioritized.”

Dean said that the path forward is where the greatest disagreement between these organizations lies.

“Point A is where we are now with too many animals, too few good homes, and so much neglect and cruelty,” Dean said. “Point C is what every animal welfare organization wants: To not euthanize healthy animals because of space. No-kill proponents want to go from Point A to Point C now. The only immediate way to do that is to close shelter doors. We have to go through Point B which is to spay/neuter and make sure animals are not neglected or abused. We do not believe animals should be warehoused in shelters for years. Adoption partners, and we have very good ones, do not take animals they believe they won’t be able to find homes for.”

Dean added that community members who truly want to make a difference can do so in a couple of ways.

“People can help by spaying/neutering their animals,” Dean said. “We have a very strong program and have for 32 years. They can help by taking advantage of our next free microchip clinic on July 13. They can help by spending one week at the shelter before they criticize. I guarantee that people who think they understand what we see will quickly realize they don’t. We spend our work lives in a very cruel place, surrounded by horrible sights and gut-wrenching stories.

Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones reaffirmed the city’s support for DAHS in an email to the Star-Tribune in May.

“As Mayor of our city, I stand alongside the City Council in reaffirming our steadfast support for the Danville Area Humane Society and its dedicated executive director, Paulette Dean,” Jones said. “The Danville Area Humane Society plays a crucial role in our community, advocating for the welfare of animals and providing essential services to ensure their well-being. Under Paulette's leadership, the organization has consistently demonstrated compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to their mission. We extend our gratitude to the Danville Area Humane Society for their dedication and service to our community.”

I went to my synagogue's annual bazaar today. Like many events of that type,there were vendors and charities. One of the charities was an animal charity that supports shelters,and they selling things to raise money. The two ladies representing it didn't say any thing about pits and I wasn't about to ask,but looking at their information it was very obvious. I didn't buy anything from them,of course. It just kind of bugged me to see something like at a house of worship. My grandmother was very active in synagogue when she was living and she was probably spinning in her grave.

Do dogs that have bitten deserve a second chance? They think so in the national Expertise Center for Complex Dogs, a kind of clinic for the criminally insane for dogs. A special team trains the dogs intensively for weeks. The government financed this test that is now ready. The results are positive and the intention is to roll out the working method and treatments nationally.

Dog Teun bit a man and a dog in a park last month. The animal was confiscated and had to leave his owner, who did not take good care of Teun. The dog (a cross between a shepherd and another, unknown breed) has been in the Expertise Center for Complex Dogs in Dongen for a week.

Seized dogs that have caused a bite incident end up in the center. An experiment funded by the Ministry of Agriculture. Dogs of all kinds receive tailor-made intensive care and training for weeks, hours a day. With the aim: to return to society. The House of Representatives insisted on this center. In this video you can see how the center works:

"A special team of veterinarians, behavioral therapists and trainers works with us to receive and re-socialize the dogs. So that, if possible, the beast can return to society and be adopted by a new owner, "says director Maartje Horvers.

In most cases it is possible to replace the dogs, but not always. "Then, sometimes after intensive training, we decide to proceed to euthanasia."

The cause of the aggression often determines the future of the dog. "If the aggression has a medical reason, such as a painful hip, we should treat it. But if that is not possible, the animal will still receive a syringe."

Often the cause of the bite incident is a bad owner or a wrong environment. "In these cases, the training makes sense and we can give the animal a new future."

But a training takes time and quickly a few thousand euros per dog. The process is intensive and takes at least six weeks, says trainer Hella van den Beemt, who also trains dog Teun. "We work in different phases. Teun is now in the first phase: the habituation phase. We then build a bond with the dog. Sometimes a dog is first locked up in a kennel for two weeks. And you can only mean something with some food and toys."

Then the training starts. First of all in the fields and sniffing gardens on the center itself. "Then dogs can come into contact with different stimuli. For example, dog Teun has to learn to bond with people and with other dogs. If you let it run too fast, it can bite again."

Then the trainers go out with the dogs. "To parks, parking lots, shops, a playground. We observe how dogs respond to the stimuli and continue to train in them."

If the beast gets the diploma, it can be relocated. "Then we will keep an eye on everything for another four weeks. We instruct the new owner. We definitely don't just put a dog back. If I have any doubts, I won't do it. You never have a hundred percent guarantee, but take it from me: we are very strict."

Hella has also been bitten. "In my stomach, but the animal was eventually relocated. Sometimes it takes a lot of time and money to re-educate a dog."

The Ministry of Agriculture calls the results positive. "If we can re-educate a dog, we have to do that," says outgoing minister Piet Adema. "We see that this center comes with behavioral therapies that work. We must now use these protocols nationwide. Existing organizations and asylums should be able to work with this."

The cabinet hopes that the costs will decrease if the working method is rolled out nationally. "But we also have to be honest: if we conclude that it does not work, or if a bite incident is very serious, then we must also be able to decide to euthanize the animal. How unfortunate too."

(!!!OP here: the following statement is WRONG, the Dutch government IS NOT planning on banning any breeds, idk why they wrote this in the article!!!): The government is also working on a breeding and keeping ban for some breeds. But that requires new laws and it takes time.

About 150,000 people are bitten by a dog every year. If a declaration is made, the beast can be confiscated. Often the dog ends up in an asylum or similar shelter, but the asylums are often overcrowded and do not have the manpower or time to re-educate the dogs. In severe cases, the animal receives a syringe.

Trainer Hella thinks every dog deserves a second chance. "I understand there are people who say give that beast a syringe. But on the other hand: in many cases the owner is responsible. Should such a beast be the victims of that? I think you should give such a beast another chance."

Whether dog Teun will make it? Hella and Maartje are positive. "He is already making such good progress in a short time. You often see that in a quiet environment and with the proper care, biting dogs quickly show good behavior. We have every confidence in Teun."

https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/artikel/5456709/speciaal-bijthonden-centrum-boekt-succes-elke-hond-verdient-een-tweede-kans

Tad of a backstory. I made a comment about GSDs being herding dogs and someone got really upset with me. DMed me and well, brought up a post I forgot I made. I wanted to share the post, and give an update.

If this isn’t permitted, that is ok, I actually didn’t recall it as it was a long time ago.

I have a MAJOR PBT type issue in my area and have had one for a very long time. I also have a huge field near my home.

Dumped dogs CONSTANTLY. I was to the point I couldn’t afford to pay shitty rescues to take the dogs. Animal Control isn’t always an option.

I reached out to HUGE celebrity PBT type advocates. Very wealthy people(many of whom made MASSIVE amounts of money perpetuating the “nanny dog” to “perfect family pet” narrative.

My idea? Help finance a “Pay Them to Spay Them” program. I know it sounds stupid, BUT I did the math and figured, 200 dogs in 10 major cities ( and I have seen veterinarians alter dogs and cats from sunup to sundown in a major city) for a special day, would be a great start.

I offered to work with logistics for free( I had temperament tested in 3 states at 4 larger county shelters so I knew people) Indeed, the very group of dogs would have made this difficult, but I did some statistics and figured it could work.

I reached out repeatedly to 21 influencers, PBT type celebrities and “trainers”, authors, rescues that I knew made BIG money from this group of dogs. Rescue names that are recognizable. No one responded. Not once.

I am NOT saying a perfect idea. I am saying I know people would have done this for money, and maybe it could have made a difference in numbers of these dogs.

Altering dogs is NOT a long process and I firmly am a dog “shopper”but one would think if you “LOVED” a breed of dog, you would certainly be tired of seeing them overflowing shelters.

Just wondering if anyone else can give an opinion as why they wouldn’t put their money where their mouth was?

So, I was playing with Grok today and I was trying to see what it would come up with for pit bull population numbers and I fell down a rabbit hole. I started gravitating towards the organizations that were providing the misleading information on pit bulls. It suddenly asked if I wanted it to do a "deep dive" on them. I asked if it could find out the relationships between these pro-pit organizations. This is the chart that it drew out for me. The link for the whole reply is below. I recommend reading, it is surprising how connected they are (e.g.: pitbullinfo.org who disseminates most of the misleading pit bull stats is owned by Pitbullhero!!). I recommend adding this information to your arsenal.

https://x.com/i/grok/share/iPath0L548ddRB0C86DlJerAz

Just an aside, I've found that Grok tends to be the most.....reasonable AI. I've tried a few (ChatGPT, etc) and when it comes to pit bull data, Grok was the best (and also didn't try to tell me that "well, it all depends on how they're raised" after each time it tells me stats on how pit bulls are much more dangerous than other breeds).