What Most of Us Never See or Know...

 While responsible dog owners are wondering how the American Pit Bull Terrier is gaining such a bad reputation, breeding beyond anyone's wildest imagination is going on in the inner cities (and other areas), only to result in still more breeding, dogfighting, abuse, abandonment, and often euthanasia.

In an article in the Courier-Post April 18, 1998, written by Harold T. Nedd, exactly what is happening to the breed is clearly defined. This article, whose headline is "Dogs bring big bucks" and whose sub-head is "Breeding pit bulls feeds families, egos" focuses on the situation in Camden, NJ. According to the Courier-Post, "In South Jersey's roughest city, even teen-agers like Luis H.* look for a little edge. (*note - last names and addresses, presented in the original article are omitted here for privacy reasons.)

Luis H., 17, of N. Camden with three
of his pit bull terriers, which he
plans to breed, and which will
later be given away or sold.

"For the 17 year old dog breeder, his way of rising out of poverty is selling pit bulls from the backyard of an old row house in a North Camden neighborhood for $1,000 apiece. "The money helps his mother and grandmother, neither of whom speak English, pay the rent and buy food. "H. knows there's plenty of money to be made selling pit bulls, a bulldog and terrier mix that's become a status symbol for youths in the city. And police say a new attitude has many street thugs turning away from the risk of long jail terms for drug dealing and choosing instead to make fast thousands by betting on pit bull fights. "Many of the young breeders are unaware of a city law requiring a dog owner to either have the animal neutered or pay a $500 registration fee for a breeder's permit. H., for instance, gave no indication he knew anything about the law. To these young people, breeding is simply a business that helps them survive.

" 'Pit bulls are good at fighting. You can make nice money off these dogs,' said H. `With a litter, I can make enough money to buy a house.'

"But the over-breeding of pit bulls has brought a surge of dog-bite cases and animal cruelty complaints. Some city neighborhoods are so overrun with stray pit bulls that residents keep baseball bats handy for protection.

While city officials admit to being lax about enforcement, the Mayor vows a crackdown, and did appoint a task force last September to study the problem. The article continues, "Pit bulls make up nearly half of the 200 strays collected every month from city streets. Much of the problem stems from irresponsible owners who buy a `big, bad pit bull' to boost their egos, and then abandon it when it loses its appeal, said Kelly M., animal control officer for Camden City.

" ` When they don't meet their expectations - the dogs can't fight the way they want them to fight, they don't look mean any more, or they are not as appealing as before - they call me to come and get them,' said M.

" `And when I pick them up, they can't walk, their ears are chewed off and the females stomachs are hanging from being bred so much,' said M. `They breed them nonstop, one litter after another like a machine. When they're used up, they surrender the dogs to me.'

"M. said the breeders are mostly kids whose parents are often unaware they have dogs. That's because the dogs are kept out of sight in abandoned houses, alleyways and garages. It's common to walk into an abandoned house after getting an anonymous call, she said, and find a female pit bull tied up, looking like she just finished nursing, and the puppies gone.

" `They only want the adult dogs until they breed, and then it starts all over again,' M. said.

"Luis H. doesn't deny any of this. He looks to get rid of his dogs every six to eight months, selling or giving them away after they've had a litter. Right now he has three dogs. A typical litter of eight puppies for each would yield about $24,000. And that's if each dog is bred only once.

"Danny B. is another young pit bull breeder. B. of R. Street, East Camden, two weeks ago surrendered to animal control officers the mother of a litter of eight, but kept the puppies.

" `The puppies always sell faster,' B. said. `Every young kid wants one (a pit bull). If you have a pit, you're cool.'

Angel C. recently bought a pit bull puppy. His mind is already set on making back the money he spent.

" `When she reaches mating age in nine months, I can mate her and sell the puppies for $250 each,' said C., 17, also of East Camden. He sells pit bulls for less because he mates pit bulls with other breeds, while H. only mates pit bulls.

"But many of the breeders can't sell all their dogs, so they simply turn some loose on the streets, officials and residents said."

The article proceeds to describe how irresponsibly some owners behave when their dogs come into heat, and they don't want to deal with it. They often are let loose to be mounted by any dog that comes along.

Angel C., 17, of East Camden, with
his 3 month old `pit'; her future
is already planned to be bred to
make back her purchase price.

The article continues to elaborate on the problems of stray/turned-out dogs that then menace and seriously injure people. Sometimes they are alone and sometimes in packs. The article continues:

"Such cases have led cities such as Cincinnati to make it illegal to own a pit bull. Ohio law requires pit bull owners to carry $50,000 in liability insurance."

Animal rights activists pressured Camden Mayor Milan on this problem, and he did formulate the aforementioned task force. Their recommendations were to be received by him March 30.

"Among the key recommendations are creating a city-run animal control office that would be responsible for making sure, among other things, spaying and neutering laws and dog registration requirements are met. Another recommendation is for a private veterinary hospital to place animals when they become sick so they are not abandoned on the street. These would be in addition to a campaign aimed at preventing cruelty to animals."

Friends of Terriers Commentary

 It would be easy to jump all over Camden for being lax, and until now, they have been. However, one of the problems all inner cities face is a proportionately higher degree of crime directed at people than in other areas. With limited city resources, this does make animal cruelty and animal-related crimes a lower priority for law enforcement. Now that citizens are being more affected and victimized due to the gross neglect, use and abuse of pit bull terriers, perhaps cities will sit up and take notice and make an effort to address the problem.

The problem is people. The pit bull terrier has become to these "breeders" a product - a totally disposable item that is only as good as its last litter and the revenue it brings. There is no attachment - this loving breed is not an animal to be appreciated or loved in return - just a commodity to trade or dispose of. Crumple it up and trash it. Who cares?

Many of us do, and many of us feel helpless in the face of this terrible circumstance that has spun out of control. The same scenario is undoubtedly going on in every city in this country. It certainly is in the state of New Jersey. Dogfighting is a felony offense in NJ - yet it seems arrest and conviction are not being used to address this problem. It is rarely heard of in the newspaper stories you read about the breed. This would undoubtedly be one avenue if authorities chose to enforce existing state laws.

Certainly the other would be a campaign directed at cruelty to animals, or rather, kindness to animals. It would need to be begun in pre-school and continue through grammar and high school. Respect for animals needs to be taught in the home and in the school. Families that love and respect animals have kids that do the same. For others, school may be the only answer. Increasing numbers of studies have made clear the connection between abuse of animals and later crime against humans. Hopefully, more people will come to know and believe it, and take action in teaching children respect for all life.

Partner, loved and cherished by Coral.

 The issue addressed in the Courier-Post article has no simple solution. But there are solutions, even if they aren't overnight or simple. Pit bull terriers are devoted, wonderful dogs - they deserve better. Maybe you can be a part of the solution. Think about it.