Removing Psychological Barriers

Over the weekend I got an email from one of the regular readers of this blog with a little update on what was going on in her community in Ohio.

Not long ago, her community had a policy in place where they did not adopt 'pit bulls' out of the city shelter. Once a 'pit bull' entered the shelter, it was basically death row for that dog -- with the exception of the few dogs that made it into 'pit bull' rescue.  Like Indianapolis did last week, their shelter made the decision to adopt dogs directly into homes (just like they do all other breeds) -- assuming the dogs passed temperament tests.

The impact from the change has been pretty amazing.

-- More people are getting exposed to 'pit bulls' because they see them when they come to a shelter (when they would normally not have even thought to go to a breed-specific rescue).

-- Folks are getting the opportunity to interact with a 'pit bull', many for the first time in their lives.

-- Many people are starting to ask questions about them, and so they've been supplying literature about 'pit bulls' to people looking to adopt dogs.

Not all of the curious people will adopt one of the dogs -- but she reports many having changed attitudes and no longer have the same fears they did prior to meeting the dogs.  Some have even adopted one for themselves. She writes:

"In the past two weeks, we have had some great pit bull adoption stories where people have come in not looking for a pit bull, even showing some ill feelings toward the stereotypes, but have decided to adopt one after meeting it. This is even after they had choices of other breeds that are more easily owned in our pit bull-law-ridden state."

A couple of weeks ago I posted about undoing the problems we've created - and how so much of our situation of too many 'pit bulls' dying in our shelters is because of problems that we've created in attempts to help.  Some of the things that we need to do:

    -Undoing the laws that make it impossible to adopt these dogs to good owners.

    -Undoing the negative perceptions that exist about the 'breed'

    -Undoing shelter policies and adoption requirements that cause a back log of dogs in our shelters and lead to high euthanasia rates for the dogs.

We don't need more laws to do it, we need to remove the barriers.

One shelter in Ohio is making a difference. They're adopting out 'pit bulls'.  They're exposing more people to 'pit bulls' who may have a negative perception of the breeds who otherewise may never have taken the opportunity to meet a bully. They're finding homes for dogs.   They're ending the backlog. 

I want to make one other note on the negative public perceptions. 

Honestly, I can hardly blame people for having negative associations when people talk about 'pit bulls'.  For the past 2 decades, the media has done little but vilify the breeds. At some point, people just develop the perception as if its true without really doing much investigative work on the subject.

I once fit into that category.

When my wife first mentioned the idea of getting a 'pit bull', I thought she was nuts. But because it was important to her, I did some research. I went to a few shelters around town and met a few dogs -- and fell in love with one. I think it's amazing how easily a lot of the perceptions are overcome just by meeting a pit bull. They're not what people often think after years of only reading media reports. I often cringe at the thought of how many city council members vote in favor of a ban on a breed of dog they've never even met before. Think about that for a second -- voting to ban a breed of dog you've never even seen. (And let's face it, most of these cities that put in breeds like Cane Corsos, Dogos, Presa Canarios, and Japanese Tosas -- and likely 'pit bulls' -- have never met most of those breeds). Wow.

A little education can go a long way. Maybe that education will come from meeting a dog in the shelter. Maybe it will come from meeting one out in a city park, or at the local coffee shop. But if you can create the opportunity, you should do it.

Thanks for the email-- and a tip of the hat to a group of people who are getting it right.

Comments

[Robert Garnett]

When I first started walking dogs at our shelter I was uncomfortable about walking "Pit Bulls" but I was going to walk every dog in the shelter(an equal opportunity walker so to speak). I quickly found out that the best most loving dogs to walk were those people referred to as "Pit Bulls" So much for being brain washed by the press and not checking for myself.

[Brian Cluxton]

Brent - great post. Which shelter in Ohio is that?

[MichelleD]

Actually, you have the story a little wrong. We did research and decided AGAINST getting a pit bull based on all the "worst case scenario" information given by the rescue. And when I told one of the rescuers that she said "Good" - how is that for saving lives!

We got Grommit instead - the GSD mix that "could be worse" depending on what he was mixed with. And when SweetP came along she was in such bad shape we had to take her in - although we were still worried. We learned better and SweetP never left.

Not that all the information was bad. We do not leave SweetP and Stella out together when we're not there. But we've learned who are dogs are based on each individual dogs personality and limits - not on the worst case scenario. For all the "Punish the deed not the breed" rhetoric very few breed enthusiasts treat them that way. And not just "pit bull" enthusiast - most "breed" people are pretty persnickity thinking THEIR breed is so much more in need of special consideration.

They're dogs people.

[Donovan]

Great example that all the hard work is starting to yeild results...some days this stuff seems overwhelming and impossible - so thanks for putting in focus, Brent.

[Donovan]

Good post, Brent. Goes to show that all the work is paying off for the dogs.

[Selma]

Great post!

I was a little leery of 'pit bulls' for awhile too - even though along with Rottweilers, they were the most popular dogs in my old neighbourhood.

Now, imagine you've never seen one and aren't a dog person. It's impossible not to be nervous, thanks to our noble media and you-know-who.

The shelter is to be commended. I agree with Donovan, I think all the hard work by so many people in so many areas is finally starting to 'take'.