Rochester canine rescue group say pit bull myths are just that

Dustin is a delighted, lovable dog with an excellent sense of humor, but that was not generally the case. Not so extensive in the past, he was observed in a industry — his leg mutilated, his spirit crushed.

He is 1 of the hundreds of pet dogs that rescue group 716 Paws — a volunteer-operate, Buffalo-based nonprofit with a Rochester chapter — areas with foster households each individual yr. Dustin was also among the handful of animals highlighted at this earlier Saturday’s pet adoption function held at PetSmart on Jefferson Road, an party that the rescue organizes each and every month.

But unlike several of the other pups up for adoption, the black doe-eyed pit blend has way too usually been handed up by those people seeking their future furry loved ones member. That’s simply because pit bulls — frequently referred to as “nanny canine” thanks to their light spirit close to little ones “Petey” from The Minimal Rascals could possibly arrive to thoughts — are notoriously supplied a poor rap.

And in accordance to advocates, way too quite a few persons believe that it.

Dustin’s path to Rochester was a extended just one. When he was just a puppy, he was identified with his brother hobbling in a field in Texas, each individual of them bleeding and lacking a limb. It is considered they had been possible mutilated intentionally.

A close by shelter introduced them in and posted a movie of the two, which is how Danielle McCall — co-founder of 716 Paws — uncovered about their dire circumstance.

“I despatched a message to my husband or wife and mentioned, ‘I really don’t treatment what we gotta do, just get these puppies right here,’” McCall says.

So with the aid of a vacation grant provided by PetCo, Dustin and his brother had been flown to Rochester to be rehabilitated. However his brother was adopted rapidly, McCall surmises that Dustin has been ignored due to the fact of his shade — black dogs and cats are the toughest to undertake out — mixed with him becoming what McCall lovingly refers to as “a tripod.”

But, although it could be off-placing to some, Dustin’s missing limb does not halt him from participating in and managing close to, as any puppy dog would do. And although he was at initial timid and tentative, the dependable treatment he’s been getting has permitted him to blossom.

Opposite to preferred perception, the time period “pit bull” does not depict a certain dog breed the American Kennel Club doesn’t even acknowledge pit bulls, for example. In most people’s minds, a pit bull-kind dog is a person with a specific “look” — this kind of as those with substantial, block-formed heads and pretty short coats. Arguably, they in shape someplace inside of the course of breeds referred to as “bully breeds,” a generic time period employed to discover different terrier-style canines.

To see how lots of of these marginalized pups want residences, seem no even more than the adoptable canine at Rochester’s city shelter on Verona Road. There, you will come across pit bull immediately after pit bull, producing up just about the entirety of obtainable dogs.

It is the misconceptions about pitties that usually lead to them becoming handed in excess of in favor of far more well-liked breeds. But pit bull enthusiasts will inform you that this will make no perception, preserving that they are usually gentle, faithful and welcoming.

One particular of those self-described “die-tricky pit bull-lovers” is Lisa Skavienski, proprietor of East Rochester’s DogEducated, a pet dog teaching and behavior session enterprise. “They’re clever they are pretty enjoyable to train,” she claims.

Skavienski, who is also the human companion to pit bulls, has seen firsthand the stigma that frequently comes together with pits. “I’ve expended a superior portion of my job attempting to undo all of the misinformation that is out there about pit bulls,” she claims. “There’s no pet dog that’s inherently intense or vicious.”

In accordance to both equally Skavienski and McCall, pit bulls — like any other dog, regardless of breed — involve schooling.

“Do you have a kid and just say, ‘Have a wonderful lifetime. We are not gonna do something with you or instruct you anything? No,” McCall suggests.

Apart from misperceptions about pit bulls them selves, there are also misunderstandings about breed discrimination rules. These kinds of laws do exist — for illustration, all those enacted in Ontario, Canada — but not in New York point out. Listed here, municipalities can’t ban pit bulls or any other breed. And as of final 12 months, neither can insurance organizations for all those looking for homeowners’ coverage.

As for Dustin, even although he’s continue to searching for a for good home, many thanks to his loving foster relatives and rescue, he is in fact just one of the fortunate kinds. Contrary to so lots of other younger, healthy, loveable pet dogs — many of whom wind up as tiny more than a statistic at the county shelter — he is currently being specified education, exercise, and enjoy.

716 Paws hosts their regular animal adoption party at PetSmart on West Ridge Road in Rochester on the 2nd Saturday of just about every month. For now, in any case, Dustin will be there.