8/9/13 - Itâs no secret that the pit bull breed tends to get a bad rap and more negative publicity than others but a local animal shelter is working to change that. The Humane Society of Livingston County has been highlighting pit bulls and pit bull mixes at the shelter this month to hopefully generate a more positive perception about the breed. That can be a difficult task considering itâs usually the only breed to make the news. Just this week, a Rochester man lost part of his tongue after sticking out his tongue while face to face with a friend's pit-bull. Shelter Manager Sarah Mews tells WHMI that in the shelter industry, they donât like to label any dog as being bad or more likely than another to bite but in experience with handling dogs, itâs the smaller breed dogs like Chihuahuas that tend to bite someone but because they donât do as much damage, thereâs not as much coverage. She says unfortunately any publicity pit bulls receive is usually negative so it just reinforces a negative image with the public. With any dog, she says itâs more about their training, how theyâre treated and how theyâre raised. Mews says pit bulls are a very loyal breed and very intelligent and can be placed in homes with other dogs, although they should always be introduced prior. She says there doesnât need to be any different precautions for the breed, other than owners should be aware that neighbors may not necessarily appreciate it. In that situation, Mews suggests trying to educate and show them that the dog youâve adopted or rescued is friendly and can be in the neighborhood without posing problems. More information about the breed and the Humane Society can be found through the link below. (JM)
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