Pit Bull | Every Dog Has Its Day: Pit Bull Rescue In Colorado Springs

When you hear the words “pit bull,” you may think of a menacing or aggressive dog from some sensationalized headline – but that could not be further from the truth.

For over 100 years, pit bulls—a breed that humans created—have fallen victim to a negative reputation. But there is hope on the horizon, as people and organizations in Colorado Springs and beyond work to shift the public’s perspective on this misunderstood breed.

“Pit bulls are the number one surrender that we see at our rescue,” says Bill Rodriguez, Director of No Hound Unhomed. “Most of it is because the dog wasn’t trained properly as a puppy. Pit bulls, like any other dog, take work to raise properly.”

These wonderful creatures make up the largest percentage of dogs in shelters across the United States. On June 14, 2021, more than half of the dogs listed on the Humane Society of the Pikes Region webpage had pit bull roots.

Pit bull companionship

Gretchen Pressley, Community Relations Manager of The Humane Society-Pikes Peak Region, encourages animal guardians to practice responsible pet ownership.

For example, it’s important to provide enrichment for your dog’s physical and emotional well-being. Pressley also urges residents to socialize dogs as much as possible.

“Training classes are a great way to make sure that your dog can behave in public and can interact appropriately around other dogs,” she says. “The more that we demonstrate how well-behaved our dogs are, the more dogs of all breeds will be embraced by our local community.”

And although pit bulls have always been legal in Colorado Springs their reputation has undoubtedly been tarnished by public perception. Last November, Denver residents voted to lift the breed ban that had been in place for more than 30 years — but owners are still required to obtain a permit in order to have a pit bull. Other Colorado cities have followed suit by repealing breed-specific legislation, including Aurora and Commerce where bans were lifted in early 2021.

History, responsible ownership, and shifting stereotypes

Pit bulls are descendants of the English bull-baiting canine, created to bite large animals, but some were then trained for dogfighting due to their eagerness to please their owners, not because they are naturally aggressive.

Remember the 2007 case in which former football quarterback Michael Vick was found guilty of promoting dog fighting and sentenced to federal prison? Forty-nine of his dogs were seized and many were given a second chance and became “Vicktory Therapy Dogs”, routinely visiting hospitals and hospices.

And a report from the American Temperament Test Society found that 87.4 percent of the American pit bull terriers tested had a good temperament, a score that placed them higher than 105 other breeds of dogs, including German shepherds and golden retrievers.

At the end of the day, pit bulls are individuals who depend on humans for survival and socialization. By providing them with care, training, and supervision, we ensure that stereotypes will slowly shift. When we give our animals what they need, they return that love tenfold.

Affirmative affection

Our dogs love us with wholehearted devotion, and in many ways teach us to how to love in return. This was certainly the case with Raffi, the most traumatized yet sweetest pit bull whom I have encountered.

I picked up Raffi from a local rescue the day before his scheduled euthanasia. He was not aggressive, just like so many other pit bulls; he was simply the wrong breed in the wrong place, and for that he had been placed on death row. He was mangy and scared for his life from living as a stray, and he also had Ocular Proptosis, because he had which he had sustained a severe blow to the head. Through visits to a vet, it was also discovered that his back was probably broken years before.

While the rest of his history is a mystery, what I do know is that he enjoys warm towels and running full speed through our fenced yard. One of our favorite daily rituals is “warm blanket mornings,” where I heat his favorite blanket in the dryer and gently wrap him up. Whiskers out and paws daintily tucked under his chest, he always gives my hand a nuzzle as if to say, “This is the best day of my life.”

The Maverick Observer, or “The Moe” as we affectionately call it, is an online free-thinking publication interested in the happenings in our town. We launched in February 2020 to hold our politicians and businesses accountable. We hope to educate, inform, entertain, and infuse you with a sense of community.

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• Aurora Eliam View all posts