Living in LoCo
Pit Bull Lovers Demonstrate Against County's Adoption Policy
Erica Garman at 12:53 p.m., May 5, 2009 (12 comments)
RELATED LINKS:
Photo Gallery: Protesting the Loudoun County Animal Adoption Policy
Pit Bulls To Have Their Day In Court
Board Retains Ban on Pit Bull Adoptions
The dogs smiled on East Market Street in Leesburg. It was a cool and overcast day, and these pit bull terriers (and pit bull mixes) were outside the Loudoun County Courthouse this morning with their owners to take a stand against Loudoun County's animal shelter policy that bans the adoption of canines with pit bull characteristics.
Ronald Litz of Sterling and Animal Rescue of Tidewater located in Norfolk are suing the county to get this practice overturned. The trial began this morning.
Litz argues that because of this adoption policy, the county's animal shelter in Waterford is euthanizing pit bulls in greater numbers than dogs of other breeds.
The Virginia Attorney General opined in 2006 that canines in the state must not be euthanized based solely on their breed. Litz contends that the Loudoun County Animal Shelter has ignored the Attorney General's recommendation and continues to show bias against pit bulls that end up in the shelter.
Currently, all dogs that come into the shelter are given a battery of temperament tests to determine if they are adoptable. Based on these tests, pit bulls are then either transferred to other shelters in the region that allow their adoptions or they are euthanized.
The dogs and puppies who were outside the courthouse this morning were perfectly well-behaved and lovable pets.
Lacy Warner of Middleburg brought her four-month-old puppy Chewy to the courthouse this morning "so puppies like these don't get killed."
Katie Beam, the Middleburg Humane Foundation adoption coordinator and a licensed vet technician, brought her large 1-year-old cane corso mix, Cecelia to the protest.
Stephanie Perkins of Front Royal also works for MHF. She had four-month-old pit bull mix Twinkie on a leash. Twinkie is currently available for adoption through the foundation.
"These dogs are not given a chance to go into loving homes," Perkins said. "Dangerous dogs should stand alone individually - not be condemned immediately because of their breed."
Do you think pit bulls should be adoptable from the county's shelter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments field below.
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Poodles are MUCH worse than pit bulls. I'd much rather have my friend's pit bull, Levi's, than one of those horrible little ankle biters!! Levi's is a peach! He's a big baby who likes nothing more than long walks and to lie on your lap watching tv. Mistreat any animal, regardless of the breed, and they will defend themselves.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 5, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I had known about this-I would have brought my 12 year old pit to the party. He would have loved it. I hope the county loses BIG and has to pay out lots and lots of money. Oh, and that they start complying with the law, too. Jerks.
Posted by qazwsxedcrfv (anonymous) on May 5, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pit bulls should be adoptable from all animal shelters. There are thousands and thousands of loving pit bull family pets in this country. They are a great breed. I've owned them for 12 yrs. They are loyal, smart, athletic, love people, and good with kids. Remember Petey from the Li'l Rascals? Loudoun Co animal shelter should be ashamed of themselves for discriminating and killing all these great dogs.
Posted by janw.miller (anonymous) on May 6, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I had known - I would have brought my pit mix as well. I hate breed specific policies especially when it's the people bringing out these bad characteristics in the animals.
Posted by rumbly45 (anonymous) on May 6, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you HIT it rumbly- the owners should be punished and the dogs retrained! you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. i know horrible yorkie poos and cocker spaniels and fantastic pit bulls and rotties. ANY DOG CAN BITE. pits shouldn't be singled out because of their brute strength and scary first impression- especially when the ears are cropped. look closely, ok not TOO closely if you don't know the dog!- and you will see sweet loving, intelligent eyes, and a playful puppy inside of any properly trained and loved pit bull.
discrimination and breed profiling is wrong! oh wait- wrong blog posting... lol
Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on May 6, 2009 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
any dog can bite, but not all dogs can kill.
Posted by Hondo5 (anonymous) on May 7, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since the state prohibits breed-specific policies, LCAS needs to be smacked in the courts. That said, most of the PB's brought in are from the not-so-nice areas in the eastern end of the county, no one will claim ownership, and the dogs aren't well socialized. Draw your own conclusions.
Posted by gieriscm1 (anonymous) on May 7, 2009 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I knew, I would have brought my Staff and Pit Bull mix and might was well bring the Rottie too because they are next. Both of them are complete wusses and are just loving pets. I've met Pomeranians that are way more vicious than these two are.
Posted by BurtReynolds (anonymous) on May 7, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hondo, good point about killing- that's where training comes into play. not everyone should own a pitbull...
Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on May 7, 2009 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hondo, regarding your comments that "not all dogs can kill". You might be surprised... here are some of the breeds that have killed...daschunds. Labradors. Pomeranians. Newfoundlands. St. Bernards. Cocker Spaniels. But have no fear, out of the millions and millions and millions of dogs in the US, only about 2 dozen dogs of a variety of breeds commit the ultimate sin. Compare that to what people do to people, and I'll take my chances on any dog any day!
Gieriscm1, I prefer not to draw my own conclusions. Please provide facts. "Not well socialized" doesn't mean bad dog. It just means no one has taught it how to be a good dog. Most are very eager to learn, and very few are a lost cause.
That's something the shelter should be doing. Did you know that animal control/the shelter gets about $2.5 million taxdollars a year and only takes in about 3,000 animals a year? That's a pretty astronomical amount per animal per year and I believe is the highest per animal or per capita cost in the region. I believe Loudouners should demand more for their animal control and shelter dollar. And should accept no less than a model shelter and animal control staff with no less than the highest degree of compassion. Right now, you're not getting it.
Hats off to the legal team and to the plaintiffs - and all you concerned citizens -- for taking the shelter to task. I hope it has a favorable outcome, which will only serve to save more innocent pets.
Posted by pgdog911 (anonymous) on May 7, 2009 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With a budget like that, why is the shelter killing ANY animal? What the heck are they doing with their money? Maybe the county should contract out for shelter services. Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) does an excellent job. I bet they could do wonders for the animals with $2.5 million per year.
Posted by qazwsxedcrfv (anonymous) on May 8, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My Lab may bite you, but it won't maul you and send you to a hospital via a medevac....
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0509/62...
Posted by truthseekerva (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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