Well, it sounds like good news... But the HSUS has "promised" things before and then went back on their word. We'll see if they practice what they preach here. One minute Wayne Pacelle says that "Pets are individual beings like us, who deserve a chance at life, like us" then proceeds to lobby IN FAVOR of killing cats and dogs in shelters.

Any progress on the "shelters are killing five million cats and dogs every year because the HSUS tells them that it is the "humane" thing to do" front?

That would be monumental news, indeed, if we could change the status quo of killing, into something more ethical, humane, compassionate, respectful and life saving= no-kill policies.

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This is great news ,Hsus has to live up to what was agreed upon , because they would have to answer to Best Friends and the other animal groups,involved
I LOVE ALL PIT BULLS

RITA FROM BROOKLYN

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I don`t trust HSUS at all.
Talk is cheap.

They need to prove themselves and donations to HSUS should cease until they do.

Give your money to Rescue Organizations that actually rescue,shelter and help these dogs.

Wayne Pacelle needs to go!
That would be a real good beginning to show that HSUS is serious about change.

I just had a look at their site
http://www.hsus.org/protectseals.html

and Wayne Pacelle`s Blog.
http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2009/04/fur_is_down.html

and something just jumped out at me.

Look closely at our website, and you’ll see other victims of the grim fur trade—including Canada’s baby seals. I warn you, however, these images are very graphic and disturbing. But to not show them would be to spare the Canadian government the shame it deserves for sponsoring this bloody slaughter that is underway as I write these words.

Doesn`t a Canadian Province have a Breed Ban on Pit Bulls and pit type dogs?
I`ve read that thousands of pit type dogs have been killed in Canada since that ban was enacted.

Where`s HSUS`s and Wayne`s concern over those Canadian dogs?

They`re absolute Hypocrites!

19,400 Seals killed HSUS?

I wonder if a Canadian can tell us how many 'Pit Bulls' and Pit type dogs have been killed to date because of their Breed Ban?

HSUS,put up a picture of a dead Canadian Pit Bull and a running total of dogs killed by their Ban and have Wayne write about Canada`s shame on his blog, then perhaps you will have some credibility.

DO NOT DONATE TO THESE HYPOCRITES!

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In regards to Ontario's ban on pitbulls. This 1 province of the 10 that make up the country of canada. I own a pitbull and live in British Columbia where there are more pitbulls and pitbull crosses than any other breed. BC is the most open minded province in canada and many people own wolf dogs,monkeys,tigers and so much more so pitbulls are never targeted as being bad dogs here.Ontario has made a big mistake banning these animals and it should not reflect Canada as a whole.

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Nathan Winograd:
http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?page_id=166

Appreciation for BF, dismay at capitulation by other participants, distrust of HSUS, pushing for MORE

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Well Charlesandmaxxum
You can see the true priorities of HSUS

Save the Canadian Seals but who gives a crap about the Canadian Pit Bulls

That`s why it`s impossible to take them seriously.

If you live in Canada I hope you contact HSUS about the Great Canadian Pit Bull Hunt

Ask them if the dogs have to be taken out on ice floes and shot in full view of the cameras before they get mentioned on the HSUS site and Wayne Pacelle talks about Gov`t shame?

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What does a person do about a regular abandoned pit bull? We've had one in our pound for the last 4 months. Anybody out there know of an organization that may be able to help. This dog is in the Haddam Dog Pound, state of Connecticut.

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So much for no kill. Best Friends will approve Animal control decisions to euthanize dogs if they aren't adoptable or they can't place them?
This seems like a sell out for some publicity. Nathan's right. The dogs lost.

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I'm not saying to ignore or forget the past, but I hope many will follow Best Friend's lead in celebrating the great milestones outlined in this article and in moving forward to a positive and productive future. If HSUS fails to make good on these agreements, I'll be right there with everybody slamming them. Until such time, I am going to take them at their word. I am grateful to HSUS and to all of the groups for meeting on this issue, and I'm grateful for the list of positive outcomes set forth in this article.

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Best Friend's Ed Fritz just posted and said, "I would like all of us to take a moment and appreciate this change by HSUS."

If anyone wants to do this literally, they can do so at the following link: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2009/04/meeting_of_the_minds.html

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I would like all of us to take a moment and appreciate this change by HSUS. It is always easy to point out what 'could be', or 'should be' better. This is one large obstacle that is going away.

I would like all of us to start focusing on how we can take this opportunity to apply it to the actual saving of animals. This change will help everyone advocating for these breeds that are discriminated against in turning the undeserved image around. It's more than about dogs seized in cruelty cases.

It is really now up to us...all of us. And this is the way it should be...people, not huge organizations, helping each other and their communities develop safe and humane policies towards animals.

Ed Fritz
Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog campaign
Best Friends Animal Society

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I think this is wonderful news. It shows a willingness for groups with differing philosphies to work together towards a common goal. This is a great start - and just that , a start. Hopefully we can all continue to work together and do what is best for the animals. Only time will tell. But we should at least keep a glass half full attitude, and remain cautiously optimistic.

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Ed Fritz, I very much appreciate your work. But I for one, do NOT trust HSUS. I will NOT forget the puppies.. and all the others.. killed at their urging. I will NOT let them disappear their own history in their Orwellian "we have always been at war with Eurasia" style. IF they admitted their policy was wrong, I might trust them. For now, all I can guess is that some major donors laid some big whupping on them and that's what made them change some words. Will they go in to the places where bust dogs NOW languish and expend some resources... or even some words...to save them? Let's see their ACTIONS.

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I just had a look at the Canadian(Ontario) law DaisyCajunMomma

The change you`re referring to

At one point the law regarding muzzles targeted all pits as well as any dog that resembles a pit bull it is now limited it to just pit bulls.

was reversed on Appeal in the Ontario Superior Appeal Court.

Apparently that Decision is being appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada

http://www.bannedaid.com/index.php?pr=Court_Decisions

Their law once again applies to all dogs that fall under this def`n below which seems to be pretty vague.

This is the def`n of pit bull in Ontario
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90d16_e.htm#BK1

<blockquote>“pit bull” includes,

(a) a pit bull terrier,

(b) a Staffordshire bull terrier,

(c) an American Staffordshire terrier,

(d) an American pit bull terrier,

(e) a dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to those of dogs referred to in any of clauses (a) to (d); (“pit-bull”)[/quote]

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Not slamming Canada because of that 1 Province,I`m slamming HSUS for their hypocrisy.

....But to not show them would be to spare the Canadian government the shame it deserves for sponsoring this bloody slaughter that is underway as I write these words.

Pacelle`s not talking about the Ontario Gov`t and the Pit Bull slaughter that`s underway as he wrote those words.

No money to be made off dead dogs in a back room I guess.

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Donnie -- I think it's totally unfair to criticize Best Friends for agreeing that truly unadoptable dogs should be destroyed.

Do you really think Best Friends or Nathan Winograd or anyone else for that matter is going to sign up to take a bunch of dogs seized in fighting cases that have been determined by behavior experts to be not adoptable and/or dangerous? What should they do with them since they're not adoptable? Should they keep them in a kennel forever? And should they keep them in a kennel that could have housed/saved 100 adoptable dogs in that one dog's lifetime?

Like another poster said, lots of adoptable dogs already die. That needs to change, but it is still a fact. If a group or sanctuary doesn't offer to take all the adoptable dogs that exist in the country, that doesn't mean they're not no kill, and so if they don't offer to take all the dogs that are deterimined unadoptable in these cases, that especially doesn't mean they're not no kill.

To Mary who posted about a dog at the Haddam Pound in CT--maybe try getting pictures and a bio and the dog's animal # and who to contact at the shelter and email it to a bunch of groups including BF, and also email it to any of your neighbors, friends, cowokers etc. For some reason it seems like rescue groups are mad about not getting to save the dogs from the fight cases and at the same time they're saying they have no room and saying no to taking the "regular abandoned pit bulls" like the dog you want to help though.

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Spindletop is a hoarder. Don't send dogs there.

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1) I can't imagine anyone who's sane listening to Nathan Winograd. Who in their right mind believes his rhetoric that there is NO pet overpopulatioin problem? That is the most ludicrous statement out there. I think his book "Redemption" should be called "Deception," since he's deceiving so many who are not being practical and just don't get reality...and also believe it's OK to withhold shelter statistics that show the real truth.

2) Where will all the pitbulls from raids go? I guess it will be like the puppymill raids -- while dogs die by the droves in shelters on a daily basis, the dogs who get rescued from raids get to live. Lucky them. If folks in pitbull rescue don't have room to help 1 dog in a shelter today, where exactly will 150 dogs go then? How do they not have room for 1 pitbull but somehow all have room for 150 pitbulls all of a sudden?

3) Until the demand by RESPONSIBLE dog owners/guardians equals the supply of dogs in shelters, and until the puppymills, pet stores, and backyard breeders are stopped, dogs will continue to be euthanized. Until our taxes go toward proper shelters and shelter personnel, the animals will continue to die. And the list goes on. I personally am not up for adopting a dog from a shelter to any Joe Schmoe on the street so they can be neglected, abused, chained, etc. To move dogs out the shelter doors just to increase adoption rates is careless.

To those who continuously promote the fantasy of no kill, are you the ones who will house the 5-8 million animals that get euthanized every year? Yes, a no-kill society is an ideal to reach for, but it's certainly not practical today. Very sad for all involved, esp. the animals. But thankfully, we're all doing our part to make it better.

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The pressure is on them this time. Let's see if they change their policies instead of just quickly writting them off.

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I don't trust the HSUS. Wayne is on a power trip and a marketeer at best. What, exactly, does their evaluation entail?

It's very easy to evaluate to failure. It happens in the workplace all the time; it's called a performance review. And if you don't like me, I get a bad review. And there ain't nothin' I can do about it...

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Mary100751, In case you haven't already tried them, how about BAD RAP in California or Spindletop in Texas? If the pittie is adoptable, the Arlington, Virginia Animal Welfare League has as of 2008 begun to adopt out pit bulls and have on occasion taken them in from other locations.

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Capitulation means surrendering or giving up, so I don't understand why one post considered the participants to have capitulated when you consider the outcomes delineated in Best Friend's article above. I can understand the distrust at this point but think that the exact opposite of capitulation has been occurring in that many have actually steadfastly refused to give up this fight on behalf of the dogs.

Also, BF's article references one of the meeting's outcomes as, "The HSUS has a new policy of recommending that all dogs seized from fighting operations be professionally evaluated, according to agreed upon standards, to determine whether they are suitable candidates for adoption." I don't think this statement is vague. HSUS never has had and won't have in the future decision-making powers with regard to the disposition of dogs in fighting cases. What they have had and will continue to have is the ability to make recommendations. Said recommendations have gone from previously recommending automatic euthanasia to "a new policy of recommending that all dogs seized from fighting operations be professionally evaluated."

I certainly hope that dogs in future fighting cases which pass behavior evaluations will be adopted and/or rescued, just as I always have the general hope that any dogs suitable for adoption will be adopted, rescued (or redeemed by their owners); but that is, sadly, often not the end result for millions of dogs. Since many great dogs already get killed in shelters all over the country when owners don't redeem them and no one else adopts them or rescues them, I would venture to say that some dogs that pass behavior evaluations in future fight bust cases will also suffer that same fate. The number of animals adopted/rescued in future fight bust cases will likely be impacted by the amount of media attention surrounding the case.

For the person questioning what the evaluation will entail, the BF article covered that issue and states, "The organizations will form a working group to develop future protocols for cooperation in addressing the needs of dogs seized in raids, such as how to assist with the housing of fighting dogs, how to conduct professional evaluations, and how to screen potential adopters." Clearly all of those things couldn't be adequately developed in just the one meeting.

With regard to HSUS and BSL, it should be noted that they have clearly supported BSL with respect to breed-specific spay/neuter but have clearly opposed it in all other forms, i.e., breed bans, muzzling and other restrictions: http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/dangerous_dogs.html

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I'm cautiously optimistic about the news that HSUS claims to be on board with Best Friends on this issue. Time will tell if they can walk the walk and not just talk the talk, particularly in light of recent deaths.

I'm not sure how anyone can read Redemption by Nathan Winograd (and also read the statistics cited by him and by Animal People) and still hold to the old "too many animals, not enough homes" mindset.

Animals die in shelters for a number of reasons, not the least of which is a marketing problem. People buy mill dogs which creates a demand for more mill dogs. People get animals from breeders or from friends. If more people adopted instead of buying (I believe the figure is something incredibly small like 3% more), the supposed "need" to kill shelter animals would no longer exist.

If you have not read Redemption, I encourage you to do so and decide for yourself. Ignore the comments made by trolls in this thread and do not feed them.

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I really believe that everyone should read Redeem ption by Nathan Winogard. It is eye-opening and the bottom line for him is saving lives. I went to my local shelter and they used every excuse in that book to kill healthy dogs and cats. I also do not trust HSUS. I look to Best Friends and the No Kill Adovacy center to help promote animal welfare.

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I live in Ontario Canada and am ashamed to say that is it my province where the pit bull ban is in effect. I can not respond accurately to the number of dogs euthanized because of the ban, the government wouldn’t release such a number. But can give you a brief run down of our new laws. When the law was passed there was a deadline for all bulls to be spayed or neutered (a no-breed law), that date has since passed. The breeding and selling of pit bulls is illegal in Ontario. All pit bulls, when in public must be muzzled. At one point the law regarding muzzles targeted all pits as well as any dog that resembles a pit bull it is now limited it to just pit bulls. During the time where all dogs that resembled pits had to be muzzled I was forced to muzzle my American Bulldog: yes it was that wide-spread. If anyone identified your dog as a dog that looked like a pit bull you had to have it muzzled, boxers, bulldogs, mastiffs etc…ridiculous.

There are many Ontario based rescue groups who help shepherd stray and rescued pits out of province but this can only happen if people who find these dogs contact the rescue operations not their local Animal Services. Once the pits are in the care of the authorities the dogs aren’t given much chance. Our government-run Animal Service say that any bulls brought in are given a fair chance at adoption however in a society where the media and government have created such a fear towards these animals not many families travel to the pound/shelter with a pit bull in mind.

I have had the opportunity to help rescue and transport a few pits out of province thru the help of http://pitbullcoop.2ya.com/ and their connections. My husband is with the police, there is protocol they are supposed to follow – I chose not to follow it. A quick Google search will bring up pages of rescue operations in Ontario, Canada and abroad – these are the people who need your dollars, dog food, crates, blankets etc.

We were watching Dog Town this weekend, an episode highlighting the Michael Vic dogs (may he burn in Hell) and I said to my husband – in 15 years the only place we will see pit bulls will be on TV, Ontario won’t have any more left. That will be a sad sad day.

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Considering that HS$U$ is ACTIVELY helping to write BSL that is going to affect my dog and the many "pit bulls" that I foster in Indianapolis, I'm rather underwhelmed by the HUGE amount of wiggle room that H$U$ has left for itself to make it nearly impossible for any rescues to actually try to help dogs that have been seized from suspected fight operations. When directly pressed on the BSL issue, H$U$ officials all reply with the same "form" e-mail statement:

HSUS opposes any breed ban. We have not endorsed the Indianapolis measure. We have, however, offered input to the drafters in order to correct some of the flaws in the language. It is early in the process and we would be foolish not to try to influence it in a positive way, such as eliminating inflammatory rhetoric about pit bulls. We believe in having dialogue and trying to be constructive when officials begin drafting these measures.

The average layperson is going to think that if H$U$ helped to WRITE the BSL then they must SUPPORT it. Note that Wayne's message did not include any comment to the effect that they were trying to help strengthen breed neutral anti-abuse, anti-neglect, anti-cruelty or anti-tethering ordinances. They are ONLY looking at MSN for "pit bulls" as identified by broad physical charactics.

Grr...no kudos for H$U$ from this Hoosier!

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I agree with d2or3.

Calling pet overpopulation a "Myth" sure feels like it's calling Bull**** on the millions that die in shelters every year and on everything we've all been doing all these years to try to reduce that (under?)population that gets killed in shelters.

A lot of the people who may have gotten some pieces of good information out of this book have chosen not to even pick it up because the title of the book immediately puts off many in the exact audience it would have done well to reach.

One thing is for sure, though, the high volume/low quality breeders sure love it!

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Well maybe people should stop making Pit Bulls unadoptable by spewing nonsense about them and the shelters might not be so full.

And maybe BSL should be outlawed worldwide so perfectly good pets aren`t seized and end up in Shelters.

And maybe Mandatory Neuter laws should be killed which also causes animals to end up in shelters.

And

Neutering should be encouraged through education and financial assistance.
Do the math
The end result of mandatory Neutering is NO animals.

Neutering should be encouraged by offering free or subsidized neutering.

And maybe the animals with the BEST temperaments should move to the front of the line regardless of where they came from.

I have a feeling that people would then be screaming about all the Pit Bulls at the front of the line and would find some other excuse to make them unadoptable.

It`s funny how none of this was going on back in the 50`s,60`,,70s and even the 80`s.

Pet`s used to wander around unneutered,they used to socialize with each other,the Media wasn`t hyping EVERY little incident about certain dogs and life was a heck of lot better for both animals and people.

The Animal Rights folks like PeTA are playing up this overpopulation and irresponsible Breeder nonsense to end the whole concept of pets.

Nathan Winograd isn`t perfect but he`s got a better handle on things than those who kill 97% of the animals that fall into their hands.

Lay off the overpopulation mantra and quit making certain dogs unadoptable and do more to adopt them out.

We`ll have NO animals if you keep it up and that`s EXACTLY the goal of Animal Rights people like PeTA

I`ll choose Nathan`s way ANYTIME.

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Don't think you'll find too many people here who judge dogs by breed instead of deed.

Don't think you'll find too many people here who disagree with the fact that nonsense is being spewed about pit bulls on a regular basis.

Don't think you'll find too many people here who don't loathe breed bans.

Don't think you'll find too many people here who don't support public education and spay-neuter programs.

You'll also not likely find a huge number of PETA fans here either (some but I'd venture to say not many).

All the things PibbleDawg just pointed out there is a need for actually support the fact that pet overpopulation is not a myth.

I personally think Nathan W. has a lot of very good ideas, and some others I don't agree with. A great many of us totally disagree with his take that pet overpopulation is a myth. The cause and/or solution may be up for debate, but the existence doesn't seem to me to be.

Tell the ghosts of the millions that died in shelters last year just how mythical pet overpopulation is.

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I think Winograd has a more realistic evaluation of this new Policy.
Very iffy,very vague

We shall see.
Looks like just a PR campaign as far as HSUS is concerned.
I imagine the Wilkes slaughter hurt their fund raising efforts.

And why shouldn`t HSUS be expected to use their resources to help these dogs?

They certainly fund raise off the backs of these dogs they help to kill.

Just remember that if donating to HSUS.
I`m not sure why anyone would, but you`re paying for slick campaigns,you`re not helping animals by donating to HSUS.

I reiterate
Donate to those who are actually helping animals.

Take a wait and see stance with HSUS.

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Ontario, Canada has put out a Pit Bull band......all puppies born from a certain date have been taken to labs, or killed, and all existing dogs have to be neutered, or spayed..and must wear mussels....how can they blame one breed...I have an American Bulldog...and my neighbors complain all the time...saying he looks scary, and shouldn’t be in a close nit community..It’s sad so many newspapers, and TV shows gets people hating them...Most people who hate them, have never even met one...just hear things through others..who have probably heard it on TV!!!Frustrating!

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I live in a State where is against the law to have a Wolf Dog. People with wolf dogs will say in passing that "I have a Husky Mix too". How crazy is it that you can't openly say to other Wolf Dog Families how much they love the Breed? The funny thing is that there are so many Wolf Dogs in Alaska that the numbers would be staggering!! As long as there are sled dogs and wolves; there will always be wolf dogs! Can you help us too? Please!!

With Sincere Regards,
Judy and Boo
kwetcipenes@yahoo.com

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