Suburban shelters, dog owners working to change pit bulls’ image
By Erika Wurst For Chronicle Media — March 23, 2016
Humane Society of Aurora volunteer Stacey Studier gets a big smooch from Bronco, a Pit Bull mix, at the Aurora Animal Control facility on Thursday, March 17. (Photo by Steven Buyansky/for Chronicle Media)
Of the 31 dogs sitting inside cages waiting for adoption at the Aurora Animal Control Shelter this week, 19 of the animals belong to the pit bull breed, a statistic that doesn’t surprise shelter director Rick Smith.
“They’ve been a very popular breed for 20 years and are being bred pretty fast. There’s an overabundance of them in the community,” he said.
And, in the local shelters where pit bull mixes remain the most common dogs up for adoption, Smith said that often times, getting these animals out the door and into homes are no easy tasks.
Sometimes the animals, who are usually under 2-years-old, come into the shelters scared, untrained or under socialized. Either the animals’ owners have relinquished them to the shelter, or left them roaming the streets to later be found and taken by the county, Smith said.
“We get some beautiful, beautiful pit bulls off the street,” Smith said. “A lot of these dogs have been well taken care of. You gotta wonder what happened to the owner. Did he move? Did he just set it loose?”
None of those things matter, Smith said. What does matter is getting these animals their forever homes.
Often times, finding these homes can be difficult, said Dr. Georgie Ludwig, acting director of the DuPage County Animal Control and veterinarian/owner at Lombard Veterinary.
Humane Society of Aurora volunteer Stacey Studier gives “Buddy” a treat at the Aurora Animal Control facility on Thursday, March 17. (Photo by Steven Buyansky/for Chronicle Media)
“We do have an ongoing issue trying to place pit bulls because of some discrimination against the breed,” she said. “It’s a lot easier to adopt out a golden retriever.”
But, if anyone knows the love and companionship a pit bull can provide, it’s Ludwig, she said.
“My experience in private practice with families that have adopted pits is that they are fun, friendly, loyal, loving members of the family.”
In fact, one-third of of the staff members at Lombard Vet own pit bulls or pit mixes themselves, she said.
“I’ve grown very fond of this breed and see the very best traits in (pits),” she said. “What we know is that every dog needs to be judged individually.”
In Aurora, a group of more than 40 volunteers work with the wayward animals to get them ready for adoption. They walk, play and socialize with the animals until they’re family-ready.
Bronco, a Pit Bull mix, makes the best of his playtime outside on Thursday, March 17. Humane Society of Aurora volunteers will bring every dog at the Aurora Animal Control facility outside for play and socialization. (Photo by Steven Buyansky/for Chronicle Media)
“We give all the animals an opportunity to be rehabbed and get to the point where they’re adoptable,” he said. “Very few we are unable to calm down to the point where they can be managed.”
The dogs are taken out to local farmer’s markets and events as a way to get the animals some face-time with prospective owners.
Kendall County Animal Control Director Laura Pawson, who has a 17-year-old pit bull of her own, has been a huge advocate for the breed during her time at the shelter.
Last month, all five dogs at the small shelter were pits or pit bull breeds. Through a promotion to help get pits out the door, two of the animals were adopted, she said.
“We’re a small shelter, but pits or pit mixes outweigh any other breed we see,” she said. “Usually pits stay longer. Little dogs or anything really cute go right away. Pits take more time on the adoption floor.
Humane Society of Aurora volunteer Ashley Giben holds on to Jordan, who dives for a tennis ball during a walk outside the Aurora Animal Control facility on Thursday, March 17. (Photo by Steven Buyansky/for Chronicle Media)
“It’s really unfortunate because we really love them so much and are trying to change people’s view points to see how wonderful pit bulls are.”
Both Ludwig and Smith are also making this a priority at their shelters.
Smith said he’s definitely seen a decrease in stigma surrounding pit bulls as a dangerous breed over the last decade.
“I’ve been in business for 35 years, and over the last 10 years, the stigma has gone,” he said. “People with families come in looking for pit bulls when years ago they were afraid of them.”
To help get the animals out the door, Kendall County has offered up not only promotions, but often times helps owners out with cages and supplies to kick off the adoption.
“We try to be creative and find new ways to present the breed,” she said. And, it seems to be working.
Humane Society of Aurora volunteer Stacey studier plays with Pit Bull mix Howard at the Aurora Animal Control facility on Thursday, March 17. (Photo by Steven Buyansky/for Chronicle Media)
The same can be said for pit bulls in Dupage County, where Ludwig has been featuring the animals on Facebook and working to educate the public about the breed.
“We do a very good job of placing so many,” she said. “We’re not euthanizing for space at DuPage County. We’ve been very successful in getting a number of pits out of our facility and into private homes.”
“Once pits are screen and get into homes, they are agreeable animals who can be very calm, fireside dogs for families,” Ludwig said.
Learn more about pit bills
For more information on the pit bull breed, visit, Animal Planet
Or The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
A Pit Bull mix who has yet to be named, looks out of his cage on Thursday, March 17. According to Humane Society of Aurora volunteers, about 90 percent of the dogs at the Aurora Animal Control facility are Pit Bull varieties. (Photo by Steven Buyansky/for Chronicle Media)
If you are interested in learning more on adoption, click on the links below
— Suburban shelters, dog owners working to change pit bulls’ image —
