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Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) encourages you to consider bringing a Pit Bull into your life. (Photo by AC&C)

Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) encourages you to consider bringing a Pit Bull into your life.

Photo by AC&C

Out of the Cage! (January 2011)

Consider Adopting a Pit Bull

by Julie Bank, Executive Director, Animal Care & Control of NYC

When Bob entered the Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) Brooklyn Care Center, he was scared. His tail was tucked between his legs, eyes looking away; he acted like he wished he could curl up into a ball and disappear. He was rescued from an abusive situation by one of our field officers.

Immediately rushed to our clinic, Bob's scratches were cleaned, an open wound attended to, and he was given fresh water and food. That food was gobbled up so quickly it seemed like he hadn't had a meal in a year. Almost immediately, his tail started to thump on the table and the tightness that symbolized stress in his body began to relax. A shelter staffer scratched him on the head and Bob pushed into his hand for more. In a gentle tone, the staffer said, "Don't worry, we will find you a new home, it will all be OK," as he walked him to a kennel with a comfortable blanket and a toy.

But was it going to be OK? Bob, a brown, big-headed Pit Bull type dog, is the hardest animal to place. Not because they are any less deserving of love and attention. Not because they aren't gentle and able to be a boy's best friend. But because of public perception and fear based on lack of education and experience. At one point in time, the Pit Bull (a name that describes so many different breeds of dogs) was the most popular dog in America. Its likeness appeared on television shows as a symbol of family and loyalty. Today, our community has perpetuated a new stereotype that has turned into bigotry towards a specific breed(s) that is like no other bigotry I have seen. Rather than looking at each dog as an individual to identify his unique qualities, socialization level, and training experiences, we have taken to categorizing all into one type. As a result, wonderful animals have died in shelters just because they are misunderstood.

Now back to Bob. As he waited in the shelter, I have got to believe that if he thought like a human he might have started to give up hope. Instead, his true personality came out. He began to trust people and he turned out to be a big, silly, and loving dog who happened to know his basic commands of sit, stay, and down. On a Thursday afternoon a woman and her son came into the shelter waving a picture she downloaded from our website. It was Bob she was looking for; something in his eyes told her that they needed him as much as he might need them. During the meet-and-greet, Bob snuggled up to the boy and a new bond was formed. As Bob left with his new family, a shelter worker smiled and then turned to greet a new Pit Bull who was being turned into the Care Center.

Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) encourages you to consider bringing a Pit Bull into your life. We have three adoption centers located in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island. You can view pictures of adoptable animals by visiting the AC&C website.

 

Employment Opportunity at AC&C

Are you into social networking and website development? Do you want to help animals? If you answered "yes" to both questions, check out an exciting new Social Media Associate staff position at AC&C!

 

Julie BankAbout the Author

Julie Bank is the Executive Director at Animal Care and Control of NYC (AC&C). She has over 20 years of animal welfare and non-profit management experience specializing in sheltering, education, and outreach. She shares her home with a rescued French Bull Dog named Lola, a kitty named Carmen, and Nemo the fish. To contact Julie or to learn more about AC&C, visit www.nycacc.org.