YOU’RE not cynical, but your completely accurate representation expresses THEIR cynicism (and hypocricy) brilliantly

Does anyone think that a single one of these “saved” dogs got any kind of evaluation beyond “Pit bull — kill it?”

Over on Blue Dog state, we have reports of two “big” cases in which “dog-fighters” were “busted,” all their dogs confiscated and quickly killed, including baby puppies, and the “dog-fighters” prosecuted vigorously — only to be found not guilty.

I don’t care whether they were not guilty because they weren’t fighting dogs, because they had Johnny Cochran’s smarter nephew for a lawyer, or because HSUS and law enforcement are the Keystone Kops — they have been found innocent under the law, but have been punished prior to trial by having their animals kidnapped and killed.

So I can see a more nefarious motivation here: “We’re going to screw up this prosecution (and/or) We know these guys weren’t really dogfighters, we just don’t like them — so we are going to ensure that they are punished regardless of due process of law — we’re going to kill all their dogs and represent our killing of these owned dogs as evidence of their debased cruelty.”

Am I sounding cynical today? Seems when I indulge the dark suspicions, I end up being right most of the time. Hate that.

Bingo! That’s just it. There is always a way to fail any dog. If the powers that be deem all pits, bull terrier or mastiff type dogs un-adoptable, it becomes a self fulfilling prophesy. If they want an excuse to kill more dogs to open up runs or save on cleaning, “fearful” or “shy” works just fine too. Barks at a neighbor? “dog aggressive”, kill him. Growls after being poked repeatedly in the head with a rubber hand? Even if she shows no concern or aggression towards actual human beings of any size in any capacity or situation? Kill her. Shows concern or “excessive interest” in the examiner playing with or pinching his foot? Red flag, your dead. Makes steady eye contact with examiner? He’s challenging the examiner, never mind his politely cocked head, low wagging tail and the submissive play-bow roll over he just did etc… kill him.

Until dogs are judged with common sense, as individuals, it will be very hard to reach no-kill goals. But very easy to find a quota of dogs to kill to make it cheaper and easier for those who don’t want to deal with any potentially “difficult” dogs.

Get them in a normal home setting, and they’re fine. They warm up and relax.

But at that time, the shelter wouldn’t let us take out the Shelties who “showed fear.” They were killed. What a waste.

I recently fostered a fabulous EB who was failed in his temperament test at a county shelter because he jumped o the gate of his run when the tester approached.

Several other shelter workers were horrified, called in a tester from Marin Humane who passed him which let him make into rescue where he proved rock solid and was quickly adopted. Shelter workers have confided in rescue since that the tester has set in stone breed biases and routinely fails dogs of breeds she dislikes which are then killed without the management ever raising an eyebrow.

People see what they want to see. By approaching any dog’s run or crate in the right manner I could make them jump or lunge if I wanted to/ And exercise starved, confused, frightened or poorly socialized dogs will often leap or lunge when confined but relax the moment you say “hi” and open the door.

By the sort of criteria used in many “shelters” every dog who barks at their owner’s front door when a stranger knocks should be blue solutioned.

In my neck of the woods, we don’t consider adopting them out as putting them back on the streets. We consider it putting them in good homes.

Emily, I’m with you on the lunging. Also, I’ve never seen it as a breed specific behavior. Here in NY it’s an equal opportunity behavior, lol!~

Cait, is that a bounce or a BOING!, lol!~ One of my favorite things to do was to get about 20-30 kenneled dogs to all sit nicely at the front of their runs and not bark or bounce when somebody walked in. I think the dogs thought I was nuts ;)

It’s heartbreaking that they just mass euthed. Every dog deserves to be given a fair evaluation.