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“BeeBee”
My personal bias in favor of Introduction
Pit Bulls and Pit-Mixes
• The vast majority of pit bulls seen in
private practice are affectionate
pets that present no problem to the
practitioner
Introduction
• However, the dogs presenting in the
shelter are often seized by the
humane law enforcement department
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
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for fighting and have to be held for
long periods of time, sometimes more
than a year
1
Introduction History of the Breed
• Pit Bulls can undergo a great deal of stress • Knowledge of hx of the Pit-bull breed
in the shelter from confinement can help shelters safely house and
• Cases of experienced handlers who had handle Pit bulls
developed good relationships with the dogs
– Safe for the dogs
over a period of months still being
• Physical and psychological well-being
attacked without warning or obvious
provocation – Safe for the handlers
2
History of the Breed History of the Breed
• Lack of excitement in this new sport of • Goals of changing the fighting
dog fighting
• Bulldogs were large and clumsy
bulldog breed
• Fights were slow, less thrilling – Maintain certain characteristics of
• Owners looked for ways to change the original bull-baiting bulldog
breed
– Add traits that would make the dog
– To make better fighters
– To attract spectators and gamblers
a more effective fighter in the
“pit”
3
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
= Pit Bull Terrier
• Characteristics for fighting dogs: • New breed
– “Gameness” • Sport of organized dog fighting grew
• Most sought after trait of all fighting dogs • Further attempts to create even
• Refers to willingness to continue fighting better fighting dog
despite physical pain and suffering
• “Deep Game” = “Dead Game”
• Bred outside of Staffordshire,
England
• Bred for fighting in the “pit”
4
Reproductive Physiology Breed Health Problems
• Reach maturity at about 2 years of • False pregnancy
age • Hip dysplasia
• Onset of estrus is about 10 months • Cranial cruciate rupture
• Average litter is 7-8 pups • Mast cell tumors
• Increased susceptibility to parvo virus and
• Monorchids may not drop their Babesia infection
testicles until 4-5 months of age
• Bite wound abscesses
5
Fighting Classifications Fighting Classifications
• The Professional • The Professional
– Owner makes substantial investment – Dogs on performance enhancing steroids
(time and money) – Dogs on chronic ABS therapy
– Travels the country for fights – $$$ from high stakes matches and stud
– Knowledgeable about law enforcement fees
investigation techniques
6
Training and Conditioning of the Training and Conditioning of the
Fighting Pit Fighting Pit
• Training starts at young age and continues
through dog’s fighting career • Bait animals
• Pups are introduced to rough play and – Cats
extensive exercise – Rabbits
• Live small animals are used as toys – Weaker dogs
– Used to build confidence during training
• Pups are trained to jump up, grab, and hold
onto live animal – Used to reinforce aggression
7
Training and Conditioning of the Caring for Pit Bulls in the
Fighting Pit Shelter
• Unique nutritional programs • The care of aggressive pit bulls in the shelter
– Maximum level of nutrients and should be restricted to 1 or 2 staff (or
volunteers) who have been trained in animal
calories behavior and restraint techniques.
– Supplements added • Staff should always work in pairs with
aggressive animals.
– Often sold by well known fighters
through underground magazines
Caring for Pit Bulls in the Caring for Pit Bulls in the
Shelter Shelter
• Pit bulls should not be allowed to have
• It is important to establish a good rapport unrestricted or unrestrained contact with
with any animal in the shelter, but other dogs
especially with pit bulls that may be held
• When cleaning cages they should not be
for long periods of time
permitted to run free in the ward with
• Establishing a routine and spending time other dogs, and should be walked and
with the dog will go a long way to exercised by experienced personnel only
establishing a relationship of trust
Caring for Pit Bulls in the Caring for Pit Bulls in the
Shelter Shelter
• If being walked in a corridor, for example,
no other dogs should be in close proximity
• Restriction of access to the dogs is
• For personal safety, staff should always
important in court cases in order to
work in pairs with any aggressive animal,
but particularly with pit bulls
preserve the chain of custody of the
evidence, as well as for human safety
• Pits don’t always give the traditional signs
of warning before they bite
8
Caring for Pit Bulls in the Pit Bulls Require:
Shelter
• Lots of exercise and attention
• Pit Bulls are high energy • Special housing considerations
• Isolation from other animals if dog
dogs who can be extremely aggressive or have a high prey drive
destructive when bored! • Careful monitoring for weight
changes
9
Housing Housing
• Secure and padlock doors
– To foil escape artists • Avoid placing pit bulls directly
– To prevent dogs opposite or adjacent to other dogs
from being stolen – Especially opposite other fighting dogs
Housing
• Provide bedding- towels or blankets
– Thin hair coats
– Subject to developing pressure sores QuickTime™ and a
Housing Housing
• Install a panic button in rooms housing pit • Staff should also be trained in ways to
bulls along with other restraint equipment break up a dog fight
in any room housing pit bulls • Methods to use on pit bulls that are
• In case of an emergency, staff will know to fighting include bite sticks to pry open
go to the assistance of other staff their jaws, poles, or water directed in their
immediately face and nostrils with a hose
• Pit bulls are tenacious when fighting, and • In extreme cases where all else has failed,
they have very powerful jaws mace or pepper spray may be sprayed
toward their face
10
Behavior and Placement
Behavior Considerations
• Fighting dogs are bred for dog to dog • Temperament test or otherwise evaluate
aggression, not human aggression their behavior before considering
placement
• They often bond very closely to humans
• Placement must consider all characteristics
• They often do not signal or warn of an and adopt to experienced owners only
attack, and may not respond to normal May be dog aggressive and friendly to humans
signs of submission when fighting May be people and dog friendly
May be dog and human aggressive
11
Guidelines for Cruelty Cases and
Nutrition in the Shelter Holding Animals Long-Term
• Feed high quality dry food twice a day • Document a complete and
• Feed on a higher plane of nutrition- avoid
generic food
accurate description of the dog
– Used to lots of exercise and activity • Good medical records can be essential
– Can lose weight due to stress to the successful prosecution of a
• Use treats judiciously to avoid unwanted cruelty case
weight gain in sedentary dogs • They may be admitted as evidence in
the case
• Cruelty cases may stay in the shelter • Perform a complete physical exam
for weeks to months (PE) on entry to the facility
• Important to maintain a written • PE should include an all systems
record of their health status even if evaluation, not just a record of the
they are no longer being treated abnormal values and findings
12
Guidelines for Cruelty Cases and Guidelines for Cruelty Cases and
Holding Animals Long-Term Holding Animals Long-Term
• Document all entries legibly in the medical
• If necessary and not medically record. This is a legal document. Do not
contraindicated, the dog should be white out or erase incorrect entries
tranquilized to perform the exam • Record the dog’s initial and subsequent
• PE should be performed within the weights
first 24 hours of the dog’s entering • Scan for a microchip and check for a
the shelter. tattoo (inner ear, thigh and groin most
common)
13
Cruelty Cases
Signalment or Description
• Court cases can be lost if the description
• Be prepared to answer the questions: of the animal is not accurate
- How long did it take for this condition to • Owner’s name or complaint number
develop? • Species and breed
- Was this animal suffering needlessly? • All colors
- Prognosis? • Gender-include spay or neuter status
• All other pertinent identifying
characteristics
- Scars, different eye color?
- Dewclaws, etc….
14
Physical Examination TACC Scale for
dogs
Photographs
• Use 35 mm camera and film
• Digital photography is admissible A picture
in court
• Take both close ups and distant
can be
views
• Use a label with name, date, etc
worth a
• Use a ruler in photo to measure thousand
lesions
• Use flash if necessary words
• Take lots of pictures
15
Treatment Protocols
• Vaccinate
• Perform fecal and use broad spectrum
dewormer as a matter of routine
• Consider performing heartworm test
• In all cruelty cases, perform lab work and
take radiographs
16
Vaccinations Vaccinations
• Vaccinate for rabies upon release or • If the dog has been bitten by an unknown
follow regulations for rabies animal and has no vaccination history, he
vaccination if a bite case should be treated as a rabies exposure and
should either be euthanized for rabies
• If the dog has bitten someone, he testing or held in quarantine for 6 months
must be held for 10 days and and vaccinated one month prior to the end
vaccinated at the end of that period. of the quarantine.
• If the dog is currently vaccinated, he must
be revaccinated and held for 45 days for
observation.
17
Observations About Pit
Observations about Pit Bulls
Bulls
• As they regain their strength and vigor,
they may revert to their normal behavior • Use treatment regimens that
and sometimes become more aggressive minimize risk
• It is very difficult to make the decision to - Once or twice a day dosing
euthanize after the staff has bonded with - Oral drugs that can be hidden in food
an animal that has been rescued from an
- Ivermectin for mange instead of dips
abusive situation
18
Great References
• Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and
Staff
– Edited by Lila Miller and Stephen
Zawistowski
• Blackwell Publishing
• 1-800-862-6657
• www.aspca.org
• www.sheltermedicine.com
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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