Yes, it’s Pit Bull Awareness Month again! This is the time of year when we remind our readers that regardless of classification, pit bulls and their lookalikes, figure among the most misunderstood and unfairly stigmatized dogs in the world. They deserve much better, so we’ll continue to push back against the myths, assumptions, and preconceptions that endanger so many wonderful dogs. Rescue dogs have enough going against them, they don’t need us to invent reasons for making their lives more difficult. And as we’ll see some have an even tougher row to hoe than others.
Pitties are deserving of the same respect and care as other dogs
“Pit bull” is not a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). It’s more of an umbrella term that encompasses at least five different breeds, but there’s no real consensus around which, or even how many, should be included. Generally speaking, it is some subset of “pittie-looking” terriers and bullies. The confusion deepens when dogs are randomly labeled based exclusively on their appearance, not genetics. In a pervious article debunking pit bull myths, I discussed how profiling hurts both pit bull-type dogs and unrelated lookalikes.
Like any other dog, pitties are individuals. Nevertheless, they get an undeserved bad rap for being members of a mystery “breed” that no one can define but is blamed for every bad behavior under the sun. This has led to countless unnecessary deaths and ineffective policies like breed bans, all while absolving owners of responsibility (for more onbreed bans see this AKC article).
Some are smaller and less driven, but, as a rule, pit bull-types do tend to be energetic, muscular dogs with a strong desire to please their humans. This doesn’t make them unsual, it makes them dogs. As with any powerful, medium to large breed, the correct approach is intelligent, responsible dog ownership and doggone common sense, not banning and euthanasia.
Meet some hard-to-place special needs pitties this Pit Bull Awareness Month
Throughout Pit Bull Awareness Month, we’ll be featuring some of our most adoptable pittie and bully-type “Dogs of the Week,” starting with beautiful Freya and handsome Samson. But, in this article, I thought I would highlight some extra difficult to place Rescue Ranch pitties. They deserve better too, but they have to work even harder for the love of a family and warmth of a real home. Please keep them in mind.
Our 2 deaf pittie-bully mixes
Rodeo
When I first wrote about Rodeo back in September of 2021, he was three and a half years old and had already been with us for over a year. Now, two years later, he’s still at the Sanctuary waiting for a miracle. Since then, he has developed a strong friendship with a lovely, ball chasing, tripod border collie/pittie mix named Lydia. They’re quite the dynamic duo and could be fostered or adopted together. At 74 pounds Rodeo is impressive, but, as the video demonstrates, he’s smart, enjoys human attention, and is eager to interact. He just needs that special adopter or foster who understands him and is willing to put in the time required to give him the home he deserves and craves. Rodeo video and bio. Lydia video and bio.
Junie
Like Rodeo, Junie, a dalmatian/bully mix, is profoundly deaf. This very special, wiggly, affectionate girl would make a good family dog. She walks on leash, loves people, is good with children, reasonably dog-social, and enjoys walks as well as cuddling on the couch! She’d make some lucky adopter a unique and faithful companion. Junie video and bio.
Ramona, energy in spades!
Yes, Ramona is still with us. This small package of perpetual energy, has really struggled to find a home. Her special need is her dog-reactivity and over-the-top energy. We believe that given enough time in the right home, she would probably come down a notch, but so far she hasn’t had any luck finding the right setting. When I wrote about Ramona a year ago, I hoped that her positive qualities and fun-loving nature would outweigh her challenges in the eyes of potential adopters, but, like Rodeo, she’s unfortunately spending the best years of her life in a rescue yard instead of a loving home of her own. Ramona video and bio.
Ella still trying to connect
I talked about Ella in a June article on special cases. This young pittie mix came to Rescue Ranch as a very sick puppy. Whether because of her ordeal or because she was born that way, Ella is in constant motion and has difficulty processing information. She strains to understand cues, although she’s always looking for them and doing her best. She’s smart, eager to please, and playful but requires understanding and patience. She responds well to gentle affection. A stable, calm home with a female adopter or foster would be so good for her. Any takers? Ella’s bio.
Bella looking for her very own person
Bella came to Rescue Ranch in 2021 after losing her lifelong owner in tragic circumstances. She is a work in progress. Her main issue appears to be trust. She also reactive when she’s confined behind a barrier. That being said, she walks very well on leash and is more relaxed out in the open. It seems that if she accepts you, she’s loyal, friendly, and companionable. In other words, if she’s yours, she’s yours. We feel that she would blossom with the right adopter or foster, but finding that person has been challenging. She is a love project for someone willing to accept her as she is. Building trust first will be the key, perhaps through day fostering. We’d love to help her find happiness. Bella’s bio.
