Put any dog in a cage that has a concrete floor and constant noise, no one socializing with the animal or playing, you will find deterioration of behavior after three months. The bias against pit bulls is ill-placed. Look at the fate of most of Michael Vick's fighting animals. Some of them are now therapy dogs. The policy is bias based on fear. I don't think laws should be created on that basis. Next thing you'll see is a border fence around Loudoun County...

Posted by Dawa_Lhatso (anonymous) on January 23, 2009 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Since July 1st, 49 dogs have been put down, euthanized, because they are pit bull or pit mixes....? Who is the expert at Loudon County Animal Shelter that postively identifies the breed of dog, especially in a mix breed?

Only 17 have been moved from the shelter to rescues in the last year compared to the 49 the shelter has killed in half as many months. Yet Rizer feels the shelter has "had really good success".

I'm baffled by this logic.

Posted by wvpitubullhaven (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This has been going on for as long as I can remember. The policy is pushed HARD by the HSUS to all Animal Control agencies across the country. They also kill any dog that might be a wolf dog cross. HSUS collects every bite or death report on these dogs and distributes the horror stories to the agencies. They fear a lawsuit so they do what the HSUS tells them to do.

There is NO definitive test to determine a breed of dog, in fact DNA tests on a wolf and a poodle will yield the same results. They look at a dog and decide if it is a pit bull or wolf dog or cross, that's all the "expert" does. Looks like a pit bull, might be part wolf? Kill it.

All they the plaintiffs need do is get the records and it will become clear the AC has been putting down most pit bulls for no reason except their breed.

Posted by datdamwuf2 (anonymous) on January 24, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"We believe that the policy that we have is a good one and protects the public and also provides for an appropriate discharge of those dogs," said Supervisor James Burton (I-Blue Ridge.)
________________________
I respectfully disagree with Supervisor Burton's statement. Unfortunately, such a policy just allows the shelter to foist animals on other shelters that are FAR LESS fiscally capable of taking on the added burden. Unfortunately, other shelters are all too aware of Loudoun's position and realize that to decline to take these dogs will ultimately lead to their death. With the Loudoun shelter/AC budget somewhere near a whopping $2.5 or $3 million, it seems unfair, almost coercive. The shelter takes in about 1000 animals a year. By Jiminey, that's a lot of money.

I'm afraid it looks more and more like an excuse to dump dogs and get them "off the books" of the Loudoun shelter.

I don't for a minute believe that the BOS "believes everything they read on the internet/see on TV." As a legislative body, I am sure they are open to reviewing the facts about this situation. I would be happy to provide them with the data that refutes their current position. I would hope they are open to additional information.

Posted by marylanddogfederation (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have experience in both Shelter work and working with pit bulls and many other breeds erroneously assumed dangerous. Euthanizing a dog based on breed is wrong and fails to address the issues of owners creating risky pets through intent or ignorance.

Who is making the determination of what is a pit or what should be put down? I have sent segments of various breed standards to legislators and have had all of them "deemed" a pit when not one was any of the breeds commonly lumped into pit. Behavioral evals only see the dog on that given point in time and not the true temperament of the dog. An overzealous evaluator may push a dog to the breaking point when in actuality that dog has been showing a lot of tolerance. I have worked with various dogs who "failed" these tests but in actuality were reacting to far more who were pushed to breaking and them deemed risky. How are the evaluators doing their jobs? Do they understand different breed traits?

Loudoun is in violation of state law. Just because a dog is a pit does not mean he is dangerous. A Golden does not equal safe. It is time people start to realize this. Loudoun is denying people the right to adopt a dog of their choice. And who there is determining a viable rescue for pits? This nice little loophole could state that no rescue is viable as a way to keep the barbaric practice of euthanizing a dog based solely on breed, assumed breed or cross.

Loudoun needs to stop what they are doing. Loudoun needs to work with groups like the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Maryland Federation to help create sane and reasonable policies for all dogs.

Posted by Homemom (anonymous) on January 25, 2009 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Honestly, I'm less concerned with the temperment tests given to the dogs. I trust that the individuals employed at the shelter are well equipped to make this judgement. What concerns me more is that there is no mention of any special requirements for those interested in adopting a pit bull. I am more troubled that individuals with no dog handling experience or skill are permitted to adopt ANY dog, let alone a pit bull. Adopting an animal is a huge responsibility and far too many dogs, regardless of breed, are at shelters because the people who owned them weren't responsible. I want to know that someone adopting a pit bull knows how to handle the breed is and isn't just adopting a pit because it makes him or her look "cool."

Posted by jjabrams55 (anonymous) on January 26, 2009 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My pit/lab mix is the most docile, lovable dog you will ever meet. Thank God I live in MoCo and had the opportunity to get her off death row before they killed her!

Posted by susan.buchanan (anonymous) on January 26, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have owned Rottweilers and Pitbulls for the past 22 years. I lived in neighborhoods were people were very worried at first.After properley introducing my dogs to the neighborhood kids and giving them advice on how to treat dogs of any breed they soon relieved me of my dog walking duties.Everyday at 5pm sharp there were kids at my door asking if they could take Shane and Gus on there walks.Soon everyone loved my boys. My Pitbull is no exception.He is probabley the most affectionate dog I have ever met and I am glad he is in our home.Of all these "aka" Horrible Killers I have owned not so much as 1 incident have we encountered in over 20 years. We live on 32 acres and our dogs run lose all the time when we are out with them.Deliverymen,Mailmen and new guest are always a given and they greet everyone the same way. The truth is in the enviroment,training and love you show an animal. These are energetic and smart dogs that need companionship and room to move. Because of our Pitbull I can honestly say that Life is the Pits. LOL

Posted by caledford (anonymous) on January 26, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pitbulls are not misunderstood, they are simply ticking time bombs in most cases. Pitbulls are not even breeds of dogs, they are generally mutts based off of certain recognizable breeds specially picked and bred for fighting, taking pain and abuse, and murdering other animals. That is a pitbull and they are time bombs. There are hundreds of qualified breeds of dogs out there and all can be good protectors and pets.

Ask the one that escaped out an apartment in my building last night and for no reason savaged the neighbor's dog, attacked an officer, and almost wound up in a live shooting in front of the building. Ask the owner about how sweet he is normally, about how well he's been raised, and how much love she gives it. "A whole lot" she'll claim.

Sure, they are all peachy, until their bred and born instinct to murder other animals comes out one day when you least expect it.

Need a weapon then get one. Need an alarm system? Get on. Need a pet? Get anything but a dog renowned for attacking people and pets and statistically backed to randomly blow up like a wild hard-to-kill muscled time bomb.

Posted by harperguy (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Harperguy, what town do you live in? I would like to look up the report on this supposed incident. If what you are saying is true? there will be one. I have met more uneducated people like yourself and most have a wild tale of horror and carnage that can't be proven. Check the history of pitbulls. It is not the one you spin. I in the other hand can show you a police report and medical records of a Dalmation attack on my Rottie. I guess we should get rid of them too. Not everyone has a dog for or security. Mine will let anyone in the house at any time. Every dog has survival and prey instinct in them. That is why we call them animals.

Posted by caledford (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My sons pit bull protected me from a boxer who tried to attack me at my mailbox he came running up the street and bit me twice on my leg. My sons pit bull chased him off and I called 911 then my pit sat and waited with me till the police got there. my six year old son loves his pit bull.We have a mother from the group of children at our bus stop pick them all up and take them to the bus stop His pit bull walks my son and his friends and the mother for that day to the bus stop every morning all of the mothers agree that they feel much safer with my sons 90 pound pit bull watching out for them. I'm from Arizona and there are a lot of rattlesnakes around my sons pit bull has killed about 6 of them in our yard or one of my sons friends yards hes just a big love bug looking to protect the kids!

Posted by rmk166 (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Article...

take a look at this link...Pretty funny you don't see any of this in the papers...

Posted by kbuffington (anonymous) on May 5, 2009 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

nobody ever thinks it will happen to them, but take a look now you pit bull(crap) lovers: http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1737077&nid...

Posted by hmac008 (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I checked the link. How terrifying. I wonder if this incident will be reported on in the papers.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)