Photo credit of HSUS
Great new strides are being taken to save the lives of dogs seized from dog fighting rescues. For years, when Pitbulls and other breeds have been seized from busts on dog fighting operations they are almost always euthanized without given a chance at another life.
The reasoning behind that is on many occasions a dog who has experienced such violence and trauma is rarely able to live as a normal pet, but as many rescue dog owners know - some dogs can recover and not return to such behavior and become dangerous.
The Humane Society of the United State, Best Friends Animal Society Rescue and several other organizations recently met in Las Vegas to make changes to the procedures surrounding dogs rescued from the busts.
According to the HSUS the changes are as follows:
- 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, and that dogs deemed suitable for placement should be offered as appropriate for adoption or to approved rescue organizations. The HSUS will update its law enforcement training manual and other materials to reflect this change in policy.
- The groups agree that all dogs should be treated as individuals, and they are the true victims of this organized crime. They also agree to support law enforcement and animal control agencies when decisions must be made regarding the dogs deemed unsuitable for adoption and in cases when rescue organizations and adopters are unable, within a reasonable time frame, to accept dogs from such raids that have been offered for adoption.
- 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.
Participants at the meeting included Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society of the United States, BAD RAP, ASPCA, National Animal Control Association, Maddie's Fund, Nevada Humane Society and Spartanburg Humane Society.
It's great to see the new chances these dogs will be given, instead of immediately getting a bad rap and deemed unplaceable these great organizations are realizing each dog is different and needs to be treated as a individual.
Congratulations to all the people who made this possible and to the dogs who will be given a second chance!
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