There is a statistic that pit bulls have the highest intake and highest euthanasia rate in American shelters, particularly Los Angeles. While I don’t disagree that there is some truth to that, I believe the numbers might be inflated due to the high level of mis-identification. Before there were software programs that made a shelter worker pick a one breed from a drop-down menu, there were just people making guesses as to the make-up of the dog and coming up with either substantially detailed descriptions such as “Jack Russell/Rat Terrier/Yellow Lab/Pointer/Springer Spaniel Mix” or ridiculously simple descriptions like “Medium sized brown dog.”
Now they only get to choose one breed for their paperwork, and that descriptor can lead to them being adopted or being euthanized. Given that dogs have yet to figure out a way to verbally tell us their heritage, it’s still all a guessing game. I find these to be most common classifications:
1. Blocky head and stocky build - American Staffordshire (pit bull)
2. Tan color, long tail, pointy muzzle - German Shepherd (shepherd)
3. Small, short haired dog with pointed ears that shivers a lot - Chihuahua
When Christy called to ask if I could foster a three-legged pit mix, in my mind, I pictured a stocky, blocky-headed dog with a silly grin. Finding fosters is difficult; finding fosters for dogs labeled as “pit mixes” is near impossible. I don’t care what their genetics are, and I’ve always helped any breed with no criteria. However, now the wildcard of Tucker is always on the table, so I have to have one rule: she needs to get along with Tucker.
Simultaneously to Christy dialing my number, Shelley emailed me the story and a video of the little girl. She did not look like what I had expected. Lilly is small-framed white female dog with a round head, tan ears, and freckles. Okay, maybe there’s a little pit in her genes, but not much. And she didn’t have three legs—so Christy’s description was wholly inaccurate.
[Note: I did not take this video, so please forgive the incorrect orientation and black bars on the side.]
Now they only get to choose one breed for their paperwork, and that descriptor can lead to them being adopted or being euthanized. Given that dogs have yet to figure out a way to verbally tell us their heritage, it’s still all a guessing game. I find these to be most common classifications:
1. Blocky head and stocky build - American Staffordshire (pit bull)
2. Tan color, long tail, pointy muzzle - German Shepherd (shepherd)
3. Small, short haired dog with pointed ears that shivers a lot - Chihuahua
When Christy called to ask if I could foster a three-legged pit mix, in my mind, I pictured a stocky, blocky-headed dog with a silly grin. Finding fosters is difficult; finding fosters for dogs labeled as “pit mixes” is near impossible. I don’t care what their genetics are, and I’ve always helped any breed with no criteria. However, now the wildcard of Tucker is always on the table, so I have to have one rule: she needs to get along with Tucker.
Simultaneously to Christy dialing my number, Shelley emailed me the story and a video of the little girl. She did not look like what I had expected. Lilly is small-framed white female dog with a round head, tan ears, and freckles. Okay, maybe there’s a little pit in her genes, but not much. And she didn’t have three legs—so Christy’s description was wholly inaccurate.
[Note: I did not take this video, so please forgive the incorrect orientation and black bars on the side.]
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Lilly, then named Chloe, came into the shelter with a shattered femur. Looking at the x-rays, I have no idea how this dog was up and about walking around. The pain must have been mind-numbing.
TAPS was considering pulling her, amputating her leg, putting her into foster care while she healed, and then placing her in a forever home. I said once she healed enough to need someone to push her to learn to walk again, I would totally be up for it. Tucker is great at getting dogs up and about and playing. However, this is not a welcome trait when a dog needs bedrest.
Tucker is a boy, and a teeanage boy at that. His signature play move is hip-checking: he swings his big butt around, smashing into another dog (or person’s kneecaps... or coffee table... or dining room chair should any of those be in the line of trajectory.) When the doctor said they could save the leg and Lilly would have pins in her to stabilize her hip while she healed, I didn’t think fostering her was a good idea at all.
TAPS pulled her even without me fostering. (I’ve never known them to turn away any dog once they’ve gotten involved.) Christy agreed to foster, and so after Lilly’s surgery, she spent Thanksgiving weekend with Christy in her animal friendly house.
Tucker is a boy, and a teeanage boy at that. His signature play move is hip-checking: he swings his big butt around, smashing into another dog (or person’s kneecaps... or coffee table... or dining room chair should any of those be in the line of trajectory.) When the doctor said they could save the leg and Lilly would have pins in her to stabilize her hip while she healed, I didn’t think fostering her was a good idea at all.
TAPS pulled her even without me fostering. (I’ve never known them to turn away any dog once they’ve gotten involved.) Christy agreed to foster, and so after Lilly’s surgery, she spent Thanksgiving weekend with Christy in her animal friendly house.
It was abundantly clear that Lilly had once been in a home. She wanted to sit on the couch (not allowed); she was housebroken; she didn’t mind the cat at all; she didn’t guard her food; she liked toys. But there was one slight problem:
Christy recently lost their dog Liza after a long sickness. Holly, her other dog, is still grieving (as are the humans.) I hoped that Lilly’s presence in the house would give Holly a distraction and help heal her broken heart. But it was too soon.
The two dogs got along all right in the beginning, but Lilly tested the waters, taking a stand and claiming her crate and even a doorway to the room where her crate was.
Holly, being a sweet 13 year old dog grieving her sister, just wasn’t up for the fight. “Whatever,” was her response, and rather than just walking through the doorway, walked away. Lilly felt powerful, and continued to growl every time Holly would try to go through that doorway or go near the crate. If Holly ignored her and pushed past, there was no altercation. But every time Holly backed down and went away, Lilly got the upperhand and her rudeness escalated.
Holly took the stance of avoidance. If Lilly was in the room, Holly was not. There was no real threat, and no dog fight would ever ensue, but Holly, quite frankly, is just too old for this shit. She’s had fosters before, and they’ve all gotten along just fine. It’s not fair for Holly to be displaced. When you foster and have your own dog, you own dog comes first. So when Christy called, I said, “Let’s give it a try right now.”
Twenty minutes later, Lilly was in my living room, and Tucker was playbowing, swinging his butt around, and trying to flirt with the little lass.
Christy recently lost their dog Liza after a long sickness. Holly, her other dog, is still grieving (as are the humans.) I hoped that Lilly’s presence in the house would give Holly a distraction and help heal her broken heart. But it was too soon.
The two dogs got along all right in the beginning, but Lilly tested the waters, taking a stand and claiming her crate and even a doorway to the room where her crate was.
Holly, being a sweet 13 year old dog grieving her sister, just wasn’t up for the fight. “Whatever,” was her response, and rather than just walking through the doorway, walked away. Lilly felt powerful, and continued to growl every time Holly would try to go through that doorway or go near the crate. If Holly ignored her and pushed past, there was no altercation. But every time Holly backed down and went away, Lilly got the upperhand and her rudeness escalated.
Holly took the stance of avoidance. If Lilly was in the room, Holly was not. There was no real threat, and no dog fight would ever ensue, but Holly, quite frankly, is just too old for this shit. She’s had fosters before, and they’ve all gotten along just fine. It’s not fair for Holly to be displaced. When you foster and have your own dog, you own dog comes first. So when Christy called, I said, “Let’s give it a try right now.”
Twenty minutes later, Lilly was in my living room, and Tucker was playbowing, swinging his butt around, and trying to flirt with the little lass.
In person, Lilly looks nothing like a pit bull. I would have guessed Cattle Dog mixed with a Spaniel. Maybe a terrier in there, but not an American Staffordshire Terrier—more like a Jack Russell Terrier. She is super sweet, rather vocal, and seemed to like Tucker. Our main concern was that she would play with him and injure herself.
So, back to Christy’s she went.
The next night, I got another call from Christy. Lilly had hurt herself, possibly trying to escape the crate while the family was at work, and Christy needed someone to drive Lilly back to the vet. Of course I said I’d do it.
Now that I’ve switched up saddles for my trusty steed, I need to get more adept at taking photographs. The kids are a hell of a lot safer back there and I’ve made it first class comfy. I cut up an old egg crate mattress pad, doubled it up and laid it on top of the PetDek I bought that fits just right on the lowest level. It is then padded with a fleecy blanket and couple of towels. Great for long distance lounging, but terrible for taking pictures while in the driver's seat.
So, back to Christy’s she went.
The next night, I got another call from Christy. Lilly had hurt herself, possibly trying to escape the crate while the family was at work, and Christy needed someone to drive Lilly back to the vet. Of course I said I’d do it.
Now that I’ve switched up saddles for my trusty steed, I need to get more adept at taking photographs. The kids are a hell of a lot safer back there and I’ve made it first class comfy. I cut up an old egg crate mattress pad, doubled it up and laid it on top of the PetDek I bought that fits just right on the lowest level. It is then padded with a fleecy blanket and couple of towels. Great for long distance lounging, but terrible for taking pictures while in the driver's seat.
Lilly is currently at the vet’s where she can be watched and kept safe until her leg is a bit more stable. But she still needs a foster home. If you have a quiet home, please consider helping Lilly out with a safe, warm place to stay while she gets on all four feet again. She’s not a pit bull. And even if she was, it doesn't matter. She’s a dog; a dog in need.
If you’re interested in fostering, please contact Christy at TAPS at info@tapsusa.org.
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