"The Pit Stop Sanctuary"

How You Can Help

I believe that many people would like to help animals in need but maybe they just don't know how. Well, we have put together a few things to help you out.

After much research and education on the breed... if you are sure you would like to have a "pitty" then adopt one from your local shelter. Due to their strong will, strength and loyal personalities people need to be sure they can handle a pit bull before adopting or buying one. Many people just want to be able to say "I own a pit bull" but they do not take into consideration the animal's needs. All breeds are different and some have stronger qualities than others. So please, always keep this in mind.

If you have no interest in getting a dog then please try to donate to your local animal shelter. Many shelters will euthanize pit bulls especially if they were used in dogfighting due to some believe they cannot be rehabilitated or mainly because they do not have the finances or the staff to rehabiliate the dogs.

A really big point that I cannot stress enough is for everyone to report any animal neglect, cruelty or abuse. These innocent animals cannot speak or defend themselves so we must be their voice and protect them. If we do not stop these cruel and inhumane acts then who will? You can report any suspicious activity to your local law enforcement or to a nearby humane society or shelter.

Although dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and carries a felony charge in most, there are still a few states in which it is not taken seriously. If you live in a state where dog fighting is a misdemeanor, write to your legislators and ask them to make this crime a felony. Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center, http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/advocacy-center/ , to find out what the penalty for dog fighting is in your state and how to contact your legislators.

If your local shelter is facing a pit bull dilemma, volunteer to help keep adoptable pit bulls and pit mixes mentally and physically fit by exercising them; you can also lead a chew-toy drive at work to collect rawhides or hard rubber playthings to keep them busy or help create a fund-raiser to support a free sterilization program for pit bulls in your local shelter.

Do your kids have questions about dog fighting? Visit the children's website, ASPCA Animaland, https://members.webs.com/ , for information about dog fighting that's written especially for kids.

Visit Pit Bull Rescue Central, https://members.webs.com/ ,for information on adopting and caring for American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and pit bull mixes.

www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/dog-fighting/pit-bull-cruelty.html

There are so many people that disapprove of animal cruelty but as their owners we must stand up and do something. People see awful stories on the TV and turn the channel or read stories in the paper and turn the page. We cannot keep ignoring these acts and hope they go away on their own.

If you know of a child or teen who is hurting animals, please report his or her behavior to the proper authorities—kids who assault animals may eventually act out on people. The ASPCA offers a list of ways to intervene when a child or teen displays dangerous behavior around animals.

Mythbuster: Pits are unpredictable & aggressive with food.

Preventing Fatal Dog Attacks

Dogs have killed at least 20 Americans so far this year,including a 3 day old infant, a 20 yr old man and an elderly couple last month alone. In two of the three attacks, the killers were pit bulls. In the last 27 years, more than 320 people have been killed by dogs- nearly half of them pit bulls. Though still small, the number of dog-bite fatalities is increasing; from an average of 13 a year in the 1990s to more than 30 annually in the recent years.

In response, local governments from Prince George's County, Md., to Dodge City, Kan., and Denver, Colo., have enacted "breed-specific" legislation banning the possession of pit bulls. Montana, Oregon and Hawaii are considering state-wide bans. Jim Graham, a councilman in Washington,D.C., wants to bar pit bulls from the nation's capital. "Anyone who has been near a pit bull can tell you why they need to be banned," Graham says. "There is something endemic in this breed that prompts violence and cruelty when RAISED IN THE WRONG HANDS."

Animal-protection groups like The Humane Society of the U.S. say the problem lies with IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS, NOT THEIR PETS. "PIT BULLS ARE THE FAD [DANGEROUS DOGS] RIGHT NOW, BUT IF THEY ARE BANNED, RECKLESS PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY FIND ANOTHER BREED," says Adam Goldfarb of The Humane Society, which supports consumer education and strict enforcement of leash laws. Besides, the group claims, THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION IS EFFECTIVE. U.S. CITIES WHERE PITBULLS ARE OUTLAWED HAVE NOT SEEN DRAMATIC DECREASES IN ATTACKS, NOR ARE THERE FEWER DEADLY DOG BITES IN GREAT BRITAIN, WHERE PIT BULLS HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

Highlighted capitalized areas were done per website owner and my question is this....... When BSL laws go into effect, WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THE WELL BEHAVED, GOOD TEMPERAMENTED PIT BULLS THAT HAVE NEVER SHOWN ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSION AND ARE FAMILY PETS......LIKE MINE?

Sept. 2009; PARADE.COM

Crunch and Munch

These easy to make biscuits are a wonderful treat for that special pooch in your life. Don't be surprised if you catch her begging for more!

Ingredients:

1 package dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 pint vegetable or chicken stock

3-1/2 cups unbleached flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup rye flour

2 cups cracked wheat or wheat germ

1/2 cup dry milk

1 teaspoon salt (optional)

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Add to vegetable or chicken stock. Next, combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl; add stock mixture.

3. Knead mixture on a floured surface for about 3 min., working into a stiff dough. Roll out to a thickness of 1/4 inch. You can cut them into bars or use a dog-bone cookie cutter.

4. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon milk. Brush each biscuit with a little of the egg/milk mixture and place on cookie sheets. Bake for about 45 min.

5. Turn off the heat, but leave the cookies in the oven overnight. This makes them hard and crunchy.

6. Give biscuit to dog and watch dog munch away! 

Makes 4 to 5 dozen dog biscuits

Brought to you by: www.aspca.org